What IS "the sign of peace" anyway...and is it necessary?

Last week, Dom blogged on a rather wacky comment the celebrant made during the homily:

During daily Mass today, the priest in his homily said that since we’re all one big happy family, we should hug one another during the Sign of Peace.

Now that's just plain weird to me. Although I must admit that in my missal, after stating that the Deacon (or priest) says "Let us offer each other the sign of peace," the red instruction adds:

"The people exchange a sign of peace and love, according to local custom."

What's your "local custom?" If I were able to invent my local custom, I'd ditch the rite entirely. (Actually, the rite is optional and I silently but heartily bless any celebrant who omits it.)

Here's what I'm wondering:

Are you a sign of peace fan? If so, why, exactly? If not, what do you dislike about it most?

Me first.

Although I sympathize with Dom's aversion to the hugging thing, you know what jars me the most?

The "peace sign!"

You know what I mean. Folks looking like they just left Woodstock, waving their V-shaped index and middle finger around to everybody.

I can sorta understand it, since the rite was introduced during the 1960s, but it's a tad too hippie for me. And as a quasi student of history, I tend to think of the gesture in Churchill's terms, as in "V for Victory."

What about you?

(And Dominus vobiscum!)

National day of reparation for the desecration of the Eucharist, Friday, August 1

Although there's certainly no reason to wait until then.

From Zenit.

Doctors appeal to save life of Milan woman condemned to death by her father an the court

ROME, JULY 28, 2008 - Twenty-five doctors are appealing to Italian courts for the life of a 37-year-old woman who has come to be known as Italy's Terri Schiavo.

Eluana Englaro was condemned to death by starvation by a Milan court earlier this month. The decision was a new development in a near 10-year court battle waged by her father, who seeks to deny her hydration and nourishment.

More here.

Motu Proprio in Boston...what a difference a year makes

A blog on the Motu Proprio, June 29, 2007...

Flash forward a year later:

The Traditional Latin Mass (aka as the Extraordinary form of the Mass) is celebrated at Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, every Sunday at 11:00 AM.

As a parishioner, it is my privilege to welcome those who formerly participated in this Mass at the now suppressed Holy Trinity Church. I realize the space isn't exactly what you're used to, but we're trying our best...and it's an inspiration to see you all each Sunday.

Dominus vobiscum!

Abortion Changes You website

If you've had an abortion...if you are the loved one of a woman who has aborted...if you have no personal experience with abortion...if you are a pro-life worker...if you are pro-choice...if you have no real viewpoint on the subject...

If you are bewildered at it all...if you don't understand...

If you've ever wondered what "this abortion thing" is all about...please visit Abortion Changes You.

NYT rejects McCain's op-ed...uh...surprised?

From Drudge, today:

An editorial written by Republican presidential hopeful McCain has been rejected by the NEW YORK TIMES -- less than a week after the paper published an essay written by Obama, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

The paper's decision to refuse McCain's direct rebuttal to Obama's 'My Plan for Iraq' has ignited explosive charges of media bias in top Republican circles.

'It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama's piece,' NYT Op-Ed editor David Shipley explained in an email late Friday to McCain's staff. 'I'm not going to be able to accept this piece as currently written.'

To paraphrase AllahPundit at Hot Air:

Congratulations, Senator!!! In being rejected by the Gray Lady? My man, you can now claim to be A Conservative!!!

"Neither Catholic nor priests:" Is the Boston Globe starting to get a clue on "women's ordination?"

On Friday, the headline blared:

3 women to be ordained Catholic priests in Boston

Somehow, The Globe got the memo that there ain't no such animal as Catholic "women priests"...even in Boston.

In yesterday's "For the record" section (the title of which is a euphemism for "We screwed up") we read:

The main headline on a report in yesterday's City and Region section may have led to the erroneous impression that three women will be recognized as priests by the Roman Catholic Church after their ordination tomorrow. As the report and a subordinate headline made clear, the women's status after the ordination is a matter of dispute. Although the organization hosting the ceremony will consider the women to be Catholic priests, the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Boston will regard them as having excommunicated themselves and therefore as being neither Catholic nor priests.

Close, but no cigar. The publication has a ways to go. The above was carefully noted as a "clarification" rather than a "correction," and the women's status after the sham ceremony is not a matter of dispute at all. Within its own "clarification," The Globe errs when it writes the words "after their ordination." (Even the AP has taken to putting the word "ordination" in quotation marks.)

And it wasn't just the headline that needed correcting, excuse me, "clarifying."

In the body of the story, I count at least five instances of inaccuracies identical to the story's headline (which called for "clarification").

• The three being ordained are women.
• But the women being ordained...
• The women are to be ordained...
• Among those already ordained is Jean Marchant...
• The ordination will be Sunday afternoon...

C'mon, Globe Guys. You can get it right if you'd only try!

Sources are here and here.

(And if you want to read the gory details of today's "ceremony," here ya go.)

Too late for Phil Gramm, but it could be that we ARE a whining nation

According to consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow, Gramm was on to something.

"I think the way consumers feel about things is very emotional," Yarrow told "Good Morning America" today. "Those emotions are trumping reality, creating a snowball, which makes the economy worse. It's not as bad as consumers feel like it is."

* * * * *

"We've had great prosperity for the last few years," Yarrow said. "We had very cheap gas. We've had a lot of increase in our home values. We've had it really pretty good as the stock market increases. Emotion is always caused by this mismatch between what we perceive and reality. It's really emotion, the psychology, that's contributing to our economy right now in a negative way."

* * * * *
In an interview with the Washington Times this week, Gramm agreed.

"We've never been more dominant; we've never had more natural advantages than we have today. ... Misery sells newspapers," he said. "Thank God the economy is not as bad as you read in the newspaper every day."

* * * * *

Personally, I — as one who has, as my good friend points out to me, "difficulties" paying her debts — see much more sense in the above comments than I do in the...well, whining. One reason I have "difficulties" paying my bills is simple: the work isn't rolling in as it was several years ago and I haven't been running out to get it.

Evidently the McCain camp doesn't see it this way. Or perhaps Mr. Gramm is just one hell of a stand up guy. In any case:

"It is clear to me that Democrats want to attack me rather than debate Senator McCain on important economic issues facing the country," Gramm said. "That kind of distraction hurts not only Senator McCain's ability to present concrete programs to deal with the country's problems, it hurts the country. To end this distraction and get on with the real debate, I hereby step down as co-chair of the McCain campaign and join the growing number of rank-and-file McCain supporters."

Sources: Good Morning America and AP

Words from Tony Snow, 1955-2008

"I don't know why I have cancer," Tony wrote in Christianity Today last year, "and I don't much care." He continued, "We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face to face.

"Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main and faith to live — no matter how their days may be numbered."

May he enjoy everlasting life.

Mass senate officially declares homosexual folks...stupid

The Massachusetts Senate today passed a bill that would repeal a 1913 state law that prevents gay and lesbian couples from most other states from marrying [sic] in Massachusetts.

***

"There are very few laws on the books that I can say that I'm ashamed that they're on the books," said State Senator Mark Montigny, a New Bedford Democrat. He said he opposed the law because of the "immorality of discrimination."

Mark, you oppose the law because you're a politician. Cut the !@#.

"This is a very simple law, contrived in shame, and it exists in shame and we ought to wipe it off the books," he said.

Funny you should say that. I feel the same way about the Massachusetts Ridiculous Supreme Court decision called "Goodridge vs. the Department of Public Health."

"The 1913 law is a shadow, a terrible shadow. It represents a segregationist past that is best put to rest and put to rest quickly," said Senator Harriette Chandler, a Worcester Democrat.

Hey, Harriette, babe...you -- or your predecessors -- shoulda thought of that earlier. But then, you guys really didn't care about that "shadow" (your word, not mine) before, did you?

(The law in question originated when Massachusetts tried to prevent interracial couples from crossing into their lily-white state to marry. So much for The Commonwealth's Much Vaunted History of Tolerance.)

Okay, Mark, Harriette, et al: quick question:

How come it took you guys — and by "you guys" I mean the much hailed (erroneously, if anybody has ever, for example, lived in Boston already knows) Liberal Folks for Equal Rights for People of Color almost a century to repeal the law???

Don't know? I didn't think so.

Another question:

Since most states still don't recognize same-sex "marriage," what good will this move do? For the folks you're trying to "help," I mean. Because once they go back home, chances are their "marriage" won't really be worth bleep. Don't care? I didn't think so.

So what's the point?

"Well, Kelly...it's all that wedding cake income, for crying out loud!"

Ah, yes! I'd forgotten, forgive me. And double shame on me, since the story appeared just today (July 15) in today's City Section of The Boston Globe.

A few hilarious, except they're so sad, snippets...on the "boomlet":

A study conducted for the state's Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development predicts that an economic boomlet in hotel bookings, banquets, and wedding cakes would result from repealing a 1913 state law that prevents gay and lesbian couples from most other states from marrying in Massachusetts.

Morality, personal liberty, and constitutional law have been the usual battlegrounds in the fight over gay marriage. Now Governor Deval Patrick's administration is injecting something a bit more pedestrian to the debate: economic development.

Way to fight for "equality," Deval...you capitalist devil, you!

Consider these numbers: An estimated 32,200 same-sex couples from elsewhere would travel to the state to get married over the next three years. That would pump $111 million into the economy and yield another $5 million in marriage license fees and sales and occupancy taxes.

Hey, that's the way to show How Much We Care about our homosexual friends. Tax 'em! It's a Massachusetts tradition, after all...make 'em feel like "family."

And, incidentally, rob California of those wealthy New Yorkers!

The study [performed -- surprise! -- by a group which studies stuff like this] considered a host of factors, including the percentage (roughly half) of the 22,000 same-sex Massachusetts couples counted by the US Census Bureau who have married here already, the typical expenditures for tourists visiting the state for two days and one night, and the likelihood that most same-sex New Yorkers wishing to marry - given that Governor David Paterson in May directed all state agencies there to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states - would travel to Massachusetts, not California, for their vows.

California, watch out...Deval's cooking up something to rob you guys blind.

"If that bill comes to me, I will sign it and sign it proudly," Patrick said yesterday.

Unconfirmed are rumors that the governor is licking his chops as he perfects his recipe for "Deval's Same-Sex Wedding Cake."

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(And thank you for abiding this self-promotion!)

Eulana Englaro condemned to death by starvation.

Please pray for her father and for the court of Milan.

And next: Who REALLY wrote the Ave Maria: More at 11

File this story under "Stupid Stuff." I mean, it's a prayer, for Heaven's sake. Who gives a bleep who wrote it? Nobody seems to pay attention to the main point: to Whom the prayer is addressed.

Dear Michaelle Jean Governor General of Canada: Goodbye!!!

If you haven't read Canadian born and bread George Peate's open letter to that country's General Governor over the Order of Canada presented Henry Morgentaler (whose claim to fame is facilitating mass abortions), then I wish you would.

(And not incidentally, former New Brunswick lieutenant-governor returned his Order of Canada yesterday in protest to the Morgentaler award. H/T to the Christian Conservative.)

By the way...I truly ache for pro-life folks like George who are ashamed, or at least feel ashamed right now, of their country. After about 40 million legal child murders in my own homeland, I can understand this sense of bewilderment, and yes, shame.

But I hope they come to realize that it's not their country they should feel ashamed of. Rather, it's the liberal, "me first, morality last" mentality they need to fight. Every day, every hour, every second, while praying for the souls of those people who would sell theirs to the devil if the ink was good enough. But I think they know that already.

May God bless Canada.

"Confessions of an Ex-Feminist" has a couple of good tips to get 'em back

Dr. Lorraine Murray, Ph.D, accounts her trip from Catholicism to radical feminism, and back again in this Zenit interview.

Two great hints on lovingly shepherding:

I believe it is crucial for priests, who have received extensive education in theology, to take active roles in parish RCIA programs. Converts to the faith should become well-schooled in the teachings of orthodox Catholicism, so they will really understand the beliefs they are embracing.

I also would love to see more priests leading occasional “refresher” courses open to all parishioners, because many people in the pews are eager to defend their faith but lack the tools to do so. Lay Catholics need to have a copy of “The Catechism of the Catholic Church” handy and to consult it often.

Get it? The key word is PRIESTS. I'm sorry to have to say this, but I'm very weary of lay people in charge of RCIA "programs." I'm especially weary of lay people not owning — much less eager for access to — the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

This does not make me a bad person.

This, however, makes me an alert person, to some degree, at least.

Am I saying "Lay People are Bad People?"

Not in the least. I'm a Lay Person myself.

Okay, bad example.

What I mean is, many, many, MANY Lay People are Good People. The Gospel, the Word of God, tells us that we all have the obligation to spread the Good News.

One thing, though?

Too many Lay People get it screwed up.

Actually, so do too many priests, but that's a different blog. Why? Because, just to name one reason, priests are gifted by the Holy Spirit in more ways than we are. Priests know better. If a priest screws up, it's a good chance it's deliberate. If a Lay Person errs, it might be an honest mistake — or a dishonest lie, I don't know.

I do know that I used to work with an RCIA program in my parish, where, among other novelties, folks were "encouraged" to criticize the Words of Christ.

Example: Matthew 19:9

I remember distinctly a woman opining that she "disagreed with this Gospel." I looked toward the Lay Man in Charge (actually, he was a seminarian) for, surely, his correction of the lady's "opinion" but in vain. Alas, time was up, class was over.

Yeah, yeah, I know, this is just one example.

I've got more, and so, I've no doubt, have you.

I am bloody sick and tired of hearing that "lay people must take the place of priests."

BULL !@#$%^&*())))_*&&^%$#$##!!!!!!!!

It simply cannot be done.

In today's Gospel (Matthew 10:1-7) we learn that Jesus called the first apostles. While all of them weren't the greatest, all of them were chosen. Chosen! As are, as the fathers comment, their successors.

Ask the Father for good priests, for Heaven's sake.

Another thing I'm tired of? In the Mass Intercessions? The way the prayers are carefully worded (because, of course, we're not really praying to God, oh no, we're massaging each other) when it comes to praying for vocations to absolutely not omit the vocations of Marriage, The Single Life, and all that crap.

Huh? Come on, people!

Of course you know as well as I do that I'm not dissing the vocations of Marriage and The Single Life. But that's not why these intercessions are made.

They're made because we'd rather avoid antagonizing The Lay People than publicly admit to Our Father that what we really need down here is PRIESTS!!! You know, the male kind! The ones who answer Christ's call!

Please. Pray for more good men to hear the call of Christ to the priesthood. Thank you.

Wikileaks methodology on Texas Catholic hospitals looks "reasonable" say biostatisticians

Unfortunately, the data is anything but "reasonable" if one is involved in a Catholic hospital.

See Our Sunday Visitor for the story. (Also? Pray.)

What would Henry VIII think?

LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - The Church of England's governing body confirmed on Monday it will ordain women bishops but also approved measures to accommodate traditionalist opponents.

* * * *

After six hours of debate over the direction to be taken by the 450-year-old church, the solution hammered out by the synod was a typical Anglican compromise that sought to avoid a mass walkout by opponents of women bishops.

I pray they will walk out and come back to the 2,000+ year old Church.

Source: The New York Times (Reuters)

Dr. Henry Morgentaler and his "health and humanitarian work in Canada"

In an article in Canada's Calgary Herald published today, July 4, Susana Martinuk writes:

Dr. (I use this term loosely) Morgentaler made abortion 'legal' through a challenge to the Supreme Court. The Court struck down the law against abortion in 1988. Twenty years later, Canada still has no law against abortion at any time during gestation, but we do have an international reputation for having the most liberal abortion policies in the developed world. Apparently, this is something to be celebrated.

He made abortion available. His great healthcare legacy is a chain of private abortion clinics where doctors can make great wads of cash outside of the medical/ethical oversight of hospital committees and other doctors.

Finally, he is credited with making abortion safe. He said this week that his efforts made abortion "one of the safest surgical procedures" and women are no longer killed, injured or left infertile.

She then goes on to succinctly debunk the "good doctor's" accolades.

Worth the read.

Not incidentally, you can do something about this.

For Canadians wishing to have the Order of Canada rescinded from Henry Morgentaler, click here.

For non-Canadians wishing to participate in a similar petition, click here.

A baby is led to death by "Catholic" hands...and hey, we're sorry for the "mix-up" and "embarrassment"

Here's the first part of the story, blogged here.

Here's the...aftermath.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Catholic leaders in Richmond are apologizing after a mix up enabled a 16-year-old illegal immigrant in a Catholic charity's care to get an abortion with help from charity staffers.

What "mix-up," you ask?

Good question.

First, let it be know that Bishop DiLorenzo has apologized.

"I express my profound apology for the loss of life of one of the most vulnerable among us," DiLorenzo wrote.

And continues:

"And I apologize for the profound embarrassment this has caused the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, and Catholics throughout the United States."

Embarrassment?

Try this test.

Substitute the words "sexual abuse" for the words "loss of life" in the Bishop's apology and how do you think his words would be accepted? (You don't have to change a thing in the second paragraph...the result would be the same.)

And this gets much, much worse.

The bishop had advance knowledge of the January procedure, but he said he was told by the charity's executive director, Joanne Nattrass, that there was nothing they could do to intervene.

Nattrass issued a statement saying she learned Jan. 17 that the girl was scheduled to have an abortion the next morning.

The information was relayed to the bishop, who Nattrass said replied that "I forbid this to happen." But Nattrass said she and other authorities were led to believe they could not stop it.

Could somebody explain this to me?

Could somebody explain this to folks, say, belonging to Operation Rescue, for example, who have stopped many an abortion?

Could somebody explain to me why Nattrass and DiLorenzo couldn't have presented themselves at the charity offices that night to forbid the action?

Could somebody explain to me why Nattrass and DiLorenzo DIDN'T SIMPLY CALL THE BLEEPING COPS???? (What happened is bleeping illegal in Virginia.)

This killing (and no, I don't mean "mix-up") is far more horrendous (and no, I don't mean "embarrassing") then any story of clergy sexual abuse I've ever heard. And I live in Boston and have heard plenty.

Two children in Virginia were horrifically abused, with the cooperation of Catholic Church leadership. One is a living, albeit wounded, 16-year-old immigrant girl. One is a dead baby.

Outcry, anybody? Shall I expect the so-called "survivors' supporters" to raise the roof?

I'm not holding my breath.

Source: AP

Source: The Catholic Virginian, Bishop's Addresses Loss of Life

Source: The Catholic Virginian, Catholic Charities Director Responds to Media Inquiries

Casual Sunday Cancelled!

Trust the Curt Jester to inject a bit of humor into a 'way too sad situation.

God bless you, Archbishop Burke!

Please remember in your prayers the people of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. They are losing a remarkable, Catholic leader. May the Holy Spirit give them an equally holy and strong shepherd.

How the ignorace of journalist Sally Quinn made a Slate journalist a better Catholic

The whole article is good, but the last paragraph is a 10 strike.

General Peter Pace, Medal of Freedom, and the 110,2345th reason for my admiration of George Bush

How not to judge, from Saint Augustine

I know I've blogged this before, but it bears repeating. It has to do with Jesus' words in today's Gospel:

Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?

Saint Augustine has some practical advice on how to avoid judging others. It's based on the premise that "a thief thinks that everyone else is a thief."

"Try to acquire those virtues which you think your brothers lack," says Augustine in Enarrationes In Psalmos, "and you will longer see their defects, because you will not have them yourselves."

Very cool.

"Let God Be Your Dread": new blog

I was struck by the way the words of Jesus in today's Gospel—"Fear no one"—fit this new blog that blasts apart the notion of "conspiracy theories," along with examining the dangers of obsession and paranoia. See it here.

Okay, "Peter Canisius"...here's your plug on St. Joan of Arc parish. Again.

Like many Catholic bloggers, I'm sure, I received a letter from "secret agent Peter Canisius" (google the saint for more info on this guy's namesake).

I tend to give Mister Canisius a relatively wide berth, but this does bear notice. I checked it out and it's legit. Here's the email in full and unedited:

~~~~~~~~

For more information contact:
Father James Cassidy Phone: 612.823.8205
Father James Debruycker - ,jdebruycker471@mac.com,jdebruycker@stjoan.com

DON'T MISS the MINNESOTA ARCHDIOCESE GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES HEADED UP BY JULIE MADDEN.
As announced in the Saint Joan of Arc bulletin last week:

Pride Week at SJA: Please join us on Wednesday, June 25 at 7 pm in the church for a prayer service to celebrate and give thanks for the gifts of our Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered community. Celebrate with us in prayer and song – we'll be joined by guest musician and SJA favorite Ann Reed. This service is part of Pride week in the Twin Cities. FFI on the week's events contact Julie Madden at the Parish Center.

See a more extensive list of MN Catholic GLBT Archdiocese Activities at:
http://www.stjoan.com/glfr.htm

Check out the parish calender for the Voice of the Faithful meeting on June 26:
http://www.stjoan.com/calfr.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update:

The Curt Jester publishes a letter from the communications director of the Archdiocese here.

At this writing (June 24, 9:17 PM Eastern Time) the offensive links remain.

Virginia charity probed for helping teen get abortion...and the kicker?

The charity is called "Commonwealth Catholic Charities."

This story is so ugly it's tough to comment.

You tell me.

Here's the recently released AP story.

Here's the PR released by "Commonwealth Catholic Charities" on the "unfortunate event" released yesterday.

Just to prepare you, here's the opening graphs of the CCC fluff:

In January 2008, a minor in foster care in Richmond, procured an abortion while receiving support services from Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC).

An investigation of this unfortunate event revealed that some members of CCC staff assisted the minor in preparations leading up to the abortion, and that one member of staff signed the consent form necessary for the minor to have the abortion. The minor was taken to and from the abortion facility by a person associated with CCC.

Neither agency nor diocesan funds were used to pay for the procedure. A subsequent investigation also revealed that about two months prior to the abortion the minor had been assisted by CCC staff with implantation of a contraceptive device.

The irony of the AP story has got to be this paragraph:

"...the conference [that would be the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, no less] acknowledged some responsibility for the incident and said it has revised agreements with the more than 1,700 Catholic Charities offices nationwide to explicitly bar services that contradict Catholic teachings. Catholics are strongly opposed to abortion, and it isn't clear why the organization assisted the teen."

Uh...how is the world to know that "Catholics are strongly opposed to abortion" when stuff like this happens?

Stuff like—incredibly—this:

Members, and perhaps leaders, of the Roman Catholic Church evidently not content with breaking Church law have taken it upon themselves to break civil law. On abortion, no less.

Now this is a Scandal with a capital S.

"Don't worry, Mommy, Jesus loves me just as I am": Mentally disabled give Eucharistic Lesson

The Eucharist teaches the lesson that "Jesus loves me just as I am," said the founder of an organization that ministers to mentally handicapped people.

QUEBEC CITY, June 20, 2008 — Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche Community, spoke Monday to the 49th International Eucharistic Congress, under way through Sunday in Quebec.

Vanier told the story of a mentally handicapped boy from Paris on the day he received his First Communion: "After Mass, which was a family celebration, the boy's uncle, who was his godfather, said to the child's mother: 'What a beautiful liturgy! How sad it is that he didn't understand anything.'

"The child heard these words and, with tears in his eyes, said to his mother: 'Don't worry, Mommy, Jesus loves me just as I am.'"

Vanier affirmed: "This child had a wisdom that his uncle was yet to attain: The Eucharist is God's gift par excellence."

More here, from Zenit.

Obama on fathers and...conception

Addressing a packed congregation at one of the city's largest black churches, Senator Barack Obama on Sunday invoked his own absent father to deliver a sharp message to African-American men, saying, "We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception."

Jeff Miller nails the inconsistency in the last sentence.

What, you mean somebody becomes a father at conception? Can you be a father of a tissue mass or a product of conception from his point of view? He does seem to be rather inconsistent since if the responsibility of a father starts at conception then everything he has said in the past or the way he voted is totally at odds with this.

For more, see Jeff's post here.

Very cool Father's Day commercial from Dairy Queen

H/T to Tim Lockwood!

Incidentally, I think it's a great idea to give something to priests on Father's Day. Saint Francis Chapel offers a Father's Day Mass Novena, and it's a privilege to enroll my parish priests in the prayers.

Happy Father's Day!

Image courtesy britanica.com.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty...

Tim Russert, R.I.P

Tim Russert died suddenly today at the age of 58. I'm going to miss him. I'm going to miss the man I consider to be one of—if not the—last true gentleman in the main stream media.

Diane at Te Deum laudamus! tells us that the Russert family had just returned from Rome, where they celebrated the recent graduation of Mr. Russert's son, Luke, from B.C.

Requiescat in pace, Tim Russert.

First, contraception. Then abortion. Then...virginity?

As Europe’s Muslim population grows, many young Muslim women find themselves caught between the freedoms that European society affords and the deep-rooted traditions of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations.

Gynecologists report that in the past few years, more Muslim women are asking for certificates of virginity to provide proof to others. That in turn has created a demand among cosmetic surgeons for hymen replacements, which, if done properly, they say, will not be detected and will produce tell-tale vaginal bleeding on the wedding night. The service is widely advertised on the Internet; medical tourism packages are available to countries like Tunisia where it is less expensive.

Fake virginity. What will they think of next?

Some feminists, lawyers and doctors warned that the court’s acceptance of the centrality of virginity in marriage will encourage more French women from Arab and African Muslim backgrounds to have their hymens restored. But there is much debate about whether the procedure is an act of liberation or repression.

Or stupidity?

I'm not downplaying the plight of Muslim women who are, figuratively as well as literally, screwed if their loss of virginity is found out.

But nowhere in the article do I see mention of a logical, non-failing, let's-think-beyond-the-moment solution for their younger sisters.

You libs keep telling yourselves that abstinence is a foolish notion.

The French College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians opposes the procedure on moral, cultural and health grounds. The French College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians opposes the procedure on moral, cultural and health grounds.

I'd oppose it on all these grounds and add sanity to the list.

“We had a revolution in France to win equality; we had a sexual revolution in 1968 when women fought for contraception and abortion,” said Dr. Jacques Lansac, the group’s leader. “Attaching so much importance to the hymen is regression, submission to the intolerance of the past.”

Dr. Lansac, I believe, is sadly missing the point.

And correct me if I'm wrong...but is the good doctor calling the Nation of Islam regressive and intolerant?

This? From France???

Source: The New York Times

Excommunication works! Edward Florek, for example

An excommunicated board member of a breakaway St. Louis Catholic parish has reconciled with the Church after meeting privately with the Archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond L. Burke. Archbishop Burke has said he is “profoundly happy” about the man’s reconciliation. Edward Florek was excommunicated in December 2005 for his membership on the St. Stanislaus Kostka Corporation board of directors, which opposed Archbishop Burke’s parish restructuring plan and brought in a renegade priest to staff St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.

From Archbishop Burke:

"The purpose of an ecclesiastical censure like excommunication is the return of a member, who has broken communion with the Church, to full communion with the Church. I thank God that Mr. Florek has returned to the Catholic Church and is no longer under any censure from the Church."

Praise God, and welcome back home, Mr. Florek!

h/t: The Curt Jester

Father Pfleger: a non-Catholic seems to nail it

The function of a bishop: Saint John Baptist de la Salle on Saint Norbert

June 6 is the memorial of Saint Norbert, Archbishop, Norbertines founder. About him Saint John Baptist de la Salle wrote:

“The eminent virtues of Saint Norbert led to his being chosen bishop in spite of his reluctance. In this position he could not tolerate vice, and he denounced it boldly in all those who were scandalously abandoning themselves to its practice. On this account some people were offended and looked for a chance to kill him. How true it is that the impious and the dissolute cannot tolerate anyone who opposes their disorderly life. Saint Norbert escaped this danger; then he fought a heretic who denied the presence of the body of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and he destroyed the error. Is this not the function of a bishop, to oppose vice and to maintain the faith in its vigor and strength?”

Thanks to those terrific folks, the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament.

Foot progress report

Okay, I know this news isn't as important as the Democratic primary elections which (finally!) seem to be ending, but what the heck...it's my foot we're talking about here.

For those of you who don't remember, I broke my foot in several places on Easter Sunday. Since then I've been, consecutively, immobile, in a cast, a bit more mobile, still in a cast, then crutches, then some wacky boot...with crutches. Bottom line: since Easter I haven't exactly been Miss Twinkle Toes and pretty much housebound except for doctors' appointments and Sunday Mass. Actually, I missed the entire Easter Season except for Pentecost Sunday when I began to attend Mass again. (Many thanks to my friend and co-worker, Alden, for bringing me the Blessed Sacrament!)

Today, X-Rays showed marked improvement and to my utter delight, my doctor took me off both the crutches and the boot, "unless needed."

What the bleep does "unless needed" mean?

I hope to find out Thursday when I see the physical therapist. In the meantime, I've been cautiously walking around in real shoes, with no crutches! Admittedly it's a tad painful and I feel a bit dizzy, but still...it's wonderful!

Step back for a couple of weeks, Father Pfleger: Cardinal George

"...I have asked Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina’s Parish, to step back from his obligations there and take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties, effective today. Fr. Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time. While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the Church’s regulations for all Catholic priests."

Please join Cardinal George and the parishioners of Saint Sabrina's prayer for Father Pfleger.

Thanks!

Father Pfleger apologizes...

...and we have to forgive him.

Chrysostom on the unborn John the Baptist

From a commentary on the Gospel for today's Feast of the Visitation:

See how new and how wonderful this mystery is. He has not yet left the womb but he speaks by leaping; he is not yet allowed to cry out but he makes himself heart by hi actions...; he has not yet seen the light but he points out the Sun; he has not yet been born and he is keen to act as Precursor. The Lord is present, so he cannot contain himself or wait for nature to run its course: he wants to break out of the prison of his mother's womb and he makes sure he witnesses to the fact that the Savior is about to come.

Saint John Chrysostom, "Sermo Apud Metaphr., Mense Julio"

Women's "ordination": it doesn't get much clearer

Cardinal O'Malley builds email list

Sects for every Catholic? Weird article on women Catholic "priests"

The whole article is rather odd, but this graph struck me as particularly peculiar:

Lauder [a guy who divorced and remarried but is looking forward to "ordination"] said the Roman Catholic Women Priests sect teaches the Roman Catholic faith, but is less judgmental and more inclusive that traditional Roman Catholic sects.

Huh? I didn't know I belonged to a sect!

Memorial Day

Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun
From the hills, from the lake, from the sky
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.

Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.

(click here)

Corpus Christi: Benediction

Many parishes, after Mass on the Feast of Corpus Christi, are graced with a Eucharistic Procession, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and Benediction. (In fact, at Saint Clement's Eucharistic Shrine here in Boston, Exposition follows Mass every Sunday.)

Here is an EWTN tape of Benediction and the exit procession at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, with the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration.

Archbishop Chaput fills in the gap in his words used by "Roman Catholics for Obama '08"

In a thoughtful and candid First Things article, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver recounts his early involvement with politics, including his work with Robert Kennedy's 1968 presidential run and his later involvement with the candidacy of Jimmy Carter.

The piece was prompted by the use of the Archbishop's published words by a group called "Roman Catholics for Obama '08." The group's website accurately quotes Chaput as follows:

So can a Catholic in good conscience vote for a pro-choice candidate? The answer is: I can’t, and I won’t. But I do know some serious Catholics— people whom I admire—who may. I think their reasoning is mistaken, but at least they sincerely struggle with the abortion issue, and it causes them real pain. And most important: They don’t keep quiet about it; they don’t give up; they keep lobbying their party and their representatives to change their pro-abortion views and protect the unborn. Catholics can vote for pro-choice candidates if they vote for them despite—not because of—their pro-choice views.

However, the Archbishop points out that sentences immediately following the above quote were omitted. They are well worth reading:

But [Catholics who support pro-choice candidates] also need a compelling proportionate reason to justify it. What is a “proportionate” reason when it comes to the abortion issue? It’s the kind of reason we will be able to explain, with a clean heart, to the victims of abortion when we meet them face to face in the next life—which we most certainly will. If we’re confident that these victims will accept our motives as something more than an alibi, then we can proceed.

Actually, Archbishop Chaput's entire column is well worth the read, for all Catholic voters, Obama supporters included.

When the Gospel reading refers to a child as an "it"...

From today's Gospel (Mark 9:30-37) according to the NAB:

Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Now, according to the RSV:

And He took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them: "Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

This "it" thing has bugged me since I first heard it. Certainly we don't know whether the Lord took a girl or boy into his arms, but in the cause for political correctness, I'd much rather have the child assigned some gender...some humanness for Heaven's sake. Call "it" "her" if that makes everybody feel better—but "it" isn't really acceptable...is it?

Once again, this time in California, the courts decide that 2+2 equals...whatever

I'm not sure what bugs me the most about stuff like this...the blatant exploitation race ("after all, interracial marriages were once illegal") or the complete lack of kindergarten-level logic. As in:

“The right to marry,” Chief Justice George wrote, “represents the right of an individual to establish a legally recognized family with a person of one’s choice and, as such, is of fundamental significance both to society and to the individual.”

Somebody get on the phone and tell Oedipus he wasn't wrong after all.

Boston TV team report 100+ priests accused of abuse living "among us"...how come nobody else is reporting this?

Last night, WBZ TV news reported that its "I-Team:"

...has found there are at least 100 priests living in our cities and towns -- priests who the archdiocese has taken out of service because of credible allegations of sexual abuse.

Most of them never had to register as sex offenders because their cases never went to criminal court.

Anne Barrett Doyle and Ed Clohessy, who have showed up on the pages of Boston media, especially the Globe, on an extremely regular basis, are nowhere to be found in that paper nor, in fact, did I find anything about this story anywhere, except for a mention on a blog or two.

This perplexes me. If you read the story (or watch the video which is on the same page) it seems like a potentially Big Deal...up to and including Cardinal Sean O'Malley's refusal to comment (although I thought the reference to his "handlers" was a bit much).

So I'm wondering...why hasn't anybody else in the main stream media—especially here in Boston—leaped on this? I'm honestly at sea here.

A few years ago you couldn't flick on the tube, launch your browser, or pick up a newspaper or magazine—anywhere in the country or the world, for that matter—without some reference to Boston's clergy abuse scandal. Now, when it looks like there's a story again (and trust me, or rather don't trust me as a journalist because I'm not) only a lone voice in TV land is talking.

What's up?

I sincerely have no clue. But this silence (and yes, I realize it's only been a day but that hasn't stopped wire services and other outlets before) is disturbing. There are doubtless other reasons, but I can only imagine two:

1.) That there's something factually wrong with the story or
2.) It's not "news" anymore.

Any ideas?

Governor Sebelius, please cooperate in your own salvation!

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius should stop taking Communion until she repudiates her support for the “serious moral evil” of abortion, the Catholic archbishop for northeast Kansas says.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, also criticized the governor Friday for her recent veto of a bill imposing new restrictions on abortion providers.

Not a "problem?"

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said the governor had not seen the column, [in the archdiocesan newspaper The Leaven] but said “receiving Communion has not been a problem in the past for her.”

Well, gee, the thing is, it is a problem not just for you, governor, but for all the Catholics in your state. Just because you haven't been denied the Sacrament doesn't mean it's "not a problem." In fact, this makes it more of a problem!

From Archbishop's The Leven column:

The Governor has spoken to me on more than one occasion about her obligation to uphold state and federal laws and court decisions. I have asked her to show a similar sense of obligation to honor divine law and the laws, teaching and legitimate authority within the Church.

And isn't this the crux of the matter?

I have not made lightly this request of Governor Sebelius, but only after much prayer and reflection. The spiritually lethal message, communicated by our Governor, as well as many other high profile Catholics in public life, has been in effect: “The Church’s teaching on abortion is optional!”

Please honor Archbishop Naumann's request and pray for Governor Sebelius, and that his action will help alert other Catholics to the moral gravity of participating in and/or cooperating with the performance of abortions.

Thank you, and Happy Pentecost and Happy Birthday to the Church!

Source: Prime Buzz

Cast off

Okay so they took my cast off today...good news.

Not so good is that I've got this Darth Vadar boot on again and can't walk without crutches for at least another month.

Sheesh.

Our Lady of Laus, pray for us!

And under still more folk to pray for...

Why doesn't every Catholic observe Ascension Thursday on...Ascension Thursday?

This is just plain weird to me. Yesterday I discovered that Ascension Thursday — which is always on a Thursday given that it's the fortieth day after Easter Sunday, and that's because that's how long Jesus stayed here after His Resurrection, for pete's sake — is only a Holy Day of Obligation in the dioceses of Boston, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia, and Omaha.

Everybody place else in the U.S.? It's transferred to the following Sunday.

How come?

According to this fellow (and I've no reason to doubt him):

However, because attendance at Ascension Thursday Masses had been falling for years, the bishops of the United States, in accordance with canon law, petitioned the Vatican to allow the celebration to be transferred to the following Sunday.

How weird is that?

By the way, remember to begin your Novena to the Holy Spirit!

Update #1:

Scott Richert, linked above, clarifies with regard to my use of the term "diocese:"

...Ascension is still observed on Thursday in the
ecclesiastical provinces (not dioceses) of Boston, Hartford, New York,
Philadelphia, and Omaha. Each of those provinces is made up of
multiple dioceses--for instance, the ecclesiastical province of
Philadelphia includes ALL of the dioceses in Pennsylvania.

Update #2:

Scott adds:

By the way, I've set up an e-mail reminder for all of those who would
like to pray the Novena to the Holy Ghost between now and Pentecost.
All they have to do is to sign up for the reminder, and then each day,
they will receive an e-mail with that day's prayers. When the novena is over,
the e-mails stop (unless the person signs up again).

You can sign up for the novena here.

Bishops: I know you were busy with the Papal visit and all but Communion is...serious

Following Bob Novak's Washington Post column expressing dismay at politico Rudy Giuliani receiving the Blessed Sacrament at the Papal Mass in New York, New York's Cardinal Archbishop Egan expressed similar dismay, explaining that he and Giuliani had reached and "understanding...that he was not to receive the Eucharist because of his well-known support of abortion."

"I deeply regret that Mr. Giuliani received the Eucharist during the papal visit here in New York, and I will be seeking a meeting with him to insist that he abide by our understanding."

I support and pray that the Cardinal Archbishop will be able to shepherd the Catholic ex-mayor into understanding the gravity inherent in receiving the Blessed Sacrament while not in communion with Catholic teaching, which includes — which somehow the Cardinal did not seem to address — irregular matrimonial status.

But there are further personalities involved here, aren't there?

Also receiving the Sacrament during the papal visit were Senators Kennedy, Kerry, and Dodd, along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Novak gave Washington's Archbishop Wuerl some heat for this, since the reception occurred during the Mass in Washington. Fine. But I don't think the total responsibility belongs on Egan or Wuerl.

Have you ever heard a sermon regarding the proper disposition for receiving Holy Communion?

I haven't. (Wait...once I did. It was when Cardinal Law was still in Boston and at Sunday Mass he castigated Hillary and Bill Clinton from receiving, I believe it was, in Africa. But that was about non-Catholics and Communion, not about Catholics.)

Again. It's the job of all clergy — actually, all of us, but certainly the clergy! — to get us to Heaven.

This is not done, in my opinion, by ignoring people who bring down condemnation upon themselves by receiving the Blessed Sacrament while not properly disposed!

Can I get an amen here? For heaven's sake — literally — the pulpit folk have got to start preaching on this stuff! I know many people, Catholics included, who have no idea regarding the gravity of the Blessed Sacrament...even that little caveat in most missallettes doesn't go very far.

You go, Saint Anthony!

Hey!

I'm blogging from my own computer!

And, against all odds, ALL my data has been recovered!

It took days, but it got done...THANK you, Saint Anthony!

(sigh)

Friend Alden, meaning no disrespect to the Saint, insists that I give some credit to the Disk Warrior doo-dad. Done.

(But you and I know that SAINT ANTHONY RULES!) ;-)

No, Scott D. Pomfret...this "loony tunes Catholic whackjob" didn't rat you out

Remember this post?

Turns out the blogger got in a snit because (at first) he didn't get a ticket to the Mass celebrated by the Holy Father last Sunday...and blames me.

April 7

Loony tunes Catholic whackjob blogger-snitch picks up on my blog. She prays for me (and apparently rats me out to the Archdiocese).

Now which four items in this post are true?

1.) I may be "loony toons"
2.) I'm definitely Catholic
3.) I may be a "whackjob"
4.) I did and still pray for the guy

And the lies?

1.) That "snitch" thing. Trust me on this one Scott: had I "snitched" on you I would've let you know it.
2.) I did not "rat you out" to the Archdiocese of Boston. Hard as it is to believe, I'm not really tight with the PTB there, you follow me?

What I wrote was and remains my point...that Scott's motivations for wanting to attend the Papal Mass apparently weren't the best.

But Scott old buddy? To wah-wah-wah about the difficulty in getting your Admit One Pass after blogging about what you might or might not do at the Mass is pretty lame. And to blame others for your, uh, inconvenience is lamer still.

Hope you enjoyed yourself.

Catholics in the "real world": stupid quote o' the week goes to Forbes!

Today's Boston Globe included in its "VoxOp" (a feature that gives us snippets from blogs and web sites on various issues) the following quote from one Jon O'Brien from Forbes.com:

"Clearly, the great majority of US Catholics are thinking, believing, and acting in a different way than the hierarchy. That does not make us bad Catholics, we do take our faith seriously, but we also live in the real world."

Huh?

Could somebody send a memo to Mr. O'Brien explaining the not-too-subtle fact that, if one is a Catholic, then the "real world" is the one promised to us by Jesus Christ, founder of said Church, which, not incidentally, is an apostolic Church, which means that the hierarchy consists of successors to the Apostles whom, by the way, were hand picked by none other than Jesus Christ?

What, exactly, does Mr. O'Brien believe is the "real world?" And how the bleep does he (and his compatriots, noting that he uses the plural pronoun) figure that by "thinking, believing, and acting" in opposition (never mind "differently" — that's a soft word for "in opposition") to the hierarchy makes him and them "serious" Catholics?

They can't be serious!

Incidentally, the Globe, uh, forgot to credit pundit O'Brien with his, uh, full credentials, which Forbes.com thoughtfully provides:

Jon O'Brien is "President of Catholics for Choice."

Kelly plays Katchup...and miracles!

Hey folks!

It's been a while and I've got some really good excu -- er, reasons for my absence, but first:

Praise God!!!

You can read Michael Paulson's whole story about five abuse victims of the Boston Archdiocese meeting with the Holy Father starting here.

But the absolute best part is toward the end of the three page story:

[Abuse victim Olan] Horne asked [Father John] Connolly to hear his confession. It was the first time, Horne said, that he had been to confession in 30 years.

Can you imagine the partying going on in Heaven???

Now about me...

I'm not using my computer on accounta my hard drive crashed. Now that wouldn't be so bad except that it chose to crash at the precise time my automatic back-up maker was in use. Result? All my data -- all of it -- may be gone. We're using some sort of doo-dad called "Disk Warrior" (you Mac geeks might be familiar with it) to retrieve the stuff, but so far, nada.

Which explains why the Catholic Crossword Puzzle folks got zilch this weekend, among other things.

If the data is irretrievable (although why it should be is puzzling...I did ask for Saint Anthony's help, after all) I might ask you folks to email me, so I can get your addresses. Like I said, as of now, everything is lost. But we'll wait a bit on that.

In other news, my broken foot is still broken. Two more weeks in a cast and then some therapy is in the offing. Those of you blessed enough to receive Communion daily, please be grateful! (I know you are, actually.)

Anyway, that's the story. I plan to access this computer as often as I can...and to try not to pester Saint Anthony too much.

Thanks for reading!

Pope should discuss abuse prevention through PROGRAMS? Come on.

Disappointing quote from Cardinal O'Malley today in the Globe:

O'Malley said he would like to hear the pope "express sorrow and regret to those who have suffered and to their families," and also to hear the pope discuss the church's efforts to prevent further abuse through programs.

Programs.

How about a little something about holiness? About reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, for the liturgy, for the Church, for all of our brothers in Christ?

Here's the thing.

If we, all of us, simply follow the dictates of Christ, both scripturally and those handed down via Tradition through the Holy Catholic Church, we don't need any bleeping programs!

What we need is to listen to the Holy Father when he tells us to be holy. As Jesus tells us.

Programs. Sheesh.

I'm no doctor, but men can't get pregnant

Jeff Jacoby's column on the oohs and aahs of the lady-who-thinks-she's-a-guy Tracy LaGondino's pregnancy is worth the read.

But particularly so is this parenthetical comment:

(Why, come to think of it, do the people who insist gender is fluid and subjective so often argue the opposite when it comes to race?)

Why indeed? There's no logic in this insistence. There may be a "feel good thing goin' on thing" to it...but no logic.

And the odd headline of the week belongs to...

"Gift gags?"

I thought the Archdiocese of Washington was "anti-gag"...I mean, they pushed like heck to have that bobble-head Metro ad (which I thought was actually very good, except for the costuming of the doll) pulled.

Well, we all make mistakes. :-)

Not probably the best reason to go to a Papal Mass

What saddens me most about this poor guy is his self-description (other than that of a writer):

Scott D. Pomfret is the author of Since My Last Confession, a Gay Catholic Memoir, and a lector and eucharistic minister at the gay-friendly Saint Anthony Shrine, Boston MA.

Really sad. Don't email him. Pray for him. And pray for Saint Anthony's Shrine. And for the Franciscan friars who believe they run it.

Thank you.

Bishop Fulton Sheen...

...not only cracks me up but makes me glad to actually have a television set in my temporary "quarters."

Actually, I owe a great big Deo Gratias to EWTN. Now that's something worth watching!

Oh, well, I know I'm no doubt preaching to the choir but to tell you the truth I've never been all that big on any TV in recent years (no doubt an explanation for my tears on the aforementioned "Leave it to Beaver" episode.

But being pretty much stuck in a room where there alternative is reading or trying not to notice that (a) nature is calling again or (b) the skin inside your cast itches, the tube (and many thanks to my buddy Alden for bringing it down for me) suddenly doesn't look all that awful.

Yesterday, I watched a Bible study course on Exodus — particularly on the plagues of Egypt. Fascinating stuff! Today — after receiving the Blessed Sacrament from said good friend Alden — I was able to watch a number of Masses and Holy Hours. One Mass was great...it included, during Communion, an audio Act of Desire!

God is good.

Getting "the weepies" sheesh.

Okay, something's definitely wrong here.

Granted, I've got a broken foot.

Sure, I'm pretty much stuck in a makeshift room on the ground level (with permission to hobble out when nature calls and no permission to sneak a peak at email, etc. but I try to do it once a day anyway).

But there is simply no excuse for what I allowed to happen today:

I broke into sobs at a Leave It To Beaver episode!

Good grief.

Pray for us, Papa!

Photo courtesy pbs.org

Remembering Servant of God John Paul II on the third anniversary of his departure from this world.