Can we can the "first names" of priests and religious? Please?

Okay, I realize many Protestants hop on the words "call no man Father" yada yada yada. This argument is handled pretty much in this essay.

Only don't go there yet. Or if you do, please come back, especially if you're a Catholic because I'm talking to YOU.

Would you PLEASE stop addressing and/or talking about priests and religious by their first names?

Recounting of a recent fellow parishioner about something or other in the parish:

She: "And so Kevin said blah blah blah and Carlos answered blah blah blah and then Bob said blah blah blah to which Tanya said blah blah blah, and then Jonathan said blah blah blah, only then Joe said blah blah blah but then, Olga replied blah blah blah...

Me: "Huh? Who?"

Turns out my good friend was referring to several priests and sisters. Who knew?

Look, good people. The ordained — and religious as well — didn't go through a lot of stuff, only to be addressed by the guy who pumps your gas. By omitting their titles—titles conferred upon them by God—you're dumbing down the respect their office deserves. So please. Cut it out.

"But Kelly...my parish priest insists that I call him by his first name!"

Don't do it. Politely decline, if necessary. Pray for him, certainly. He may very well think that, by doing this, he's "coming closer" to his flock. Bah (forgive the pun). What he's in fact doing is relinquishing a precious bit of his authority as a pastor.

Address those called by God by their proper titles.

Save the first name bit for your physicians, senators, and presidents, if you must. (And iff they'll let you.)

Thanks!

"It is right and just!" Why are too many Boston priests hesitating over the new Roman Missal?

It is right and just, of course to give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is also right and just to teach the folks in the pews the long awaited prayers of the Mass which are scheduled to begin, for English speaking congregations, on the First Sunday of Advent.

I am not to begin to be an "apologetic" for the changes in the Missal. They're great and long overdue.

What I'm wondering is simple: when the bleep are priests, in my Archdiocese anyway, going to help us get used to it? When Advent comes? After that? Next year? What?

I live in Boston.

Which is often called the "Hub of the Universe." It's also one of the largest center of Catholics in the United States.

Yet, I've still not heard one iota about "The New Missal" (and by the way, I'm starting to despise that term) from the churches and chapels I attend, which include The Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Saint Francis Chapel, and the chapel at Massachusetts General Hospital (and it is only my good angel who is preventing me from linking to all).

There are some exceptions, I'm sure. I've found one. Our Lady of Victories Parish, in the South End, blessedly, is offering parishioners not just the new responses, but the Scriptural reasons behind the new and beautiful words.

But what I've heard from priests I know, when asked about the lack of education to the folks in the pews? Well, here's a sprinkling:

What "New Missal?"

The Archdiocese should take care of this.

We're busy with other important things.

This last one makes me cry. What in God's world could be more important than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? What?

Come on, Fathers. Help us out here. It is right and just.

Around the blogs...

Jeff Miller wants a vote.

Father Z talks about the blood of Saint Januraius. (Very cool.)

Sister Mary Martha answers an interesting Rosary Question.

Jill Stanek lets us know what's going on in Taiwan and other stuff.

Mark Shea is a'rattlin' that tin cup, God love him.

Cardinal O'Malley meets with his fellow Capuchins...and talks about so many things.

Enjoy!

"Tragedy" vs. "Attacks"

The word "tragedy" when applied to 9/11, always bugged me.

A "tragedy" is, for example, when a child dies, accidentally, of an inexplicable disease.

Or a mom is killed in an automobile accident.

Or someone falls off a roof while attempting to fix a leak.

No one's at fault. There's no one to blame. All we can say is: "this is God's will" and try to deal with it. With prayers, one hopes.

Today, I grumbled—to myself, I thought, but evidently not without earshot—at the words of our parish program: "...the tragic events of September 11, 2001."

"They weren't `tragic' events," I mumbled. "It was an attack."

My good friend Father Jonathan Gaspar, overhearing me, quipped: "I know what you're going to blog about tonight."

I denied it vehemently. No way!

Father Gaspar was, as it turns out, correct.

Here's the thing:

Whom do you forgive when a child dies of an unknown disease? The disease?

Whom do you forgive when a mom dies in a car accident? The accident?

Whom do you forgive when the guy falls off the leaky roof? The leak? The roof itself?

Bosh.

The reason we need to understand that 9/1/01 wasn't a "tragedy" but rather an attack is very simple, at least to a Christian.

It gives us the opportunity to forgive.

While you can't forgive a roof, or a disease, or an accident, you—and I—can surely forgive those who attack us.

That's the point. Hard as it might be, we are bound to forgive our enemies. That surely must be the only reason why God created enemies in the first place.

Because God did create those who attacked this country ten years ago. And you know what? He loves them very much. God doesn't deal in trash. He deals in love.

Most of you heard the readings of the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time today. The Scriptures fairly scream the word: FORGIVENESS!

So stop the "tragedy" baloney and call it what it was: an attack by our enemies.

That, you see, clears our eyes from the dimness that clouds the commandment Jesus left us:

Love. Forgive. Seventy-times times seven. In other words? Always.

May our Merciful Father forgive and continue to love us all. Amen.

This weekend's challenge: forgiveness

Ten years ago, some people committed suicide in order to kill thousands of Americans. I was personally affected but this isn't what this post is about.

Here's the thing: if you're a Christian, these people—what's more, the people who sent them—must be personally forgiven. By you and by me.

If you're a Christian, you must forgive those who rejoiced in the deaths of our fellow countrymen.

If you're a Christian, you must not only forgive them...you must pray for them. That's it. That's your job and that's my job.

Easy? Probably not. Essential? Ask Jesus.

You know what you have to do. It's time to do it.

That's it. Let's roll.

About "war crimes"

I am constantly amazed by folks who think War is a game where there are somehow "rules" as to how the "game" is played. This is absurd.

An anti-war site "uncovered" [gasp!] an instance where [gasp!] innocent people were killed in War and are Outraged at this Heinous Crime. Here is my response to them, and to you:

~~~~~~

War is really bad. War destroys all sorts of people. Born and unborn. All creatures made in the image of God. This is what war does.

If it weren't so sad, I'd be amused by the term "war crimes." War IS a crime. Against humanity. Against God's children.

And you've gotta love the word "heinous." What the bleep does that mean? That sometimes killing is "un-heinous?" C'mon.

Folks. We're at war. You can't pick and choose, much as we'd all like to. War sucks. People die in wars. People don't merely die (after all, people die in hurricanes, volcanoes, car accidents, illness, old age, etc.) In war, people are killed by OTHER PEOPLE. People who, in my faith, are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

That's what war does. It kills people. Accept it.

But please don't come back to me and tell me that "some wars" are justified. I believe some wars are, but you folks who want to pick and choose "who gets killed and who doesn't"...forget about it. I don't want to hear from you because you are hypocritical, at best.

I also don't want to hear from you about our "WWII heroes," our "Korean War Heroes," nor do I want to hear from you about our "Revolutionary War" heroes. I don't want to see you celebrating Independence Day because there wouldn't BE an Independence Day if it weren't for War. (Wars which, in case you don't know, killed innocent people.)

I don't want to hear you extol Davy Crockett, General Patton, Bill Clinton, FDR, JFK, Barack Hussein Obama, or ANY American — including our troops now out there trying to save our sorry asses — because that would be hypocritical of you, too.

War makes otherwise decent people do indecent things. That's what War is all about. It's...horrible.

You have a choice. And, to their credit, some doves *have* made that choice. They have courageously condemned war under ANY circumstances. I respect those people tremendously.

These are people I'll listen to. But for the rest of you who want your cake and eat it too? Screw.

I don't want to listen to your "rules" about what's "fair" in War. Because contrary to the saying, nothing's "fair" in War. It's not a game. It's about killing each other.

May God have mercy on us all.

I love when Father Bob Lowrey celebrates Mass because I forget who he is when he does so

Sounds nuts? Think again.

Father Bob Lowrey, OMV, a priest at Saint Francis Chapel in Boston, hasn't celebrated Mass for quite a while, except as a concelebrant.

But he's beginning to do so again (and would no doubt chastise me soundly for even blogging about this but I have a feeling he'll never see it so I feel pretty safe) and this is unquestionable evidence -- as if we need it -- of God's love for His Church.

He is, to my mind, the perfect example of how priests should celebrate Mass while facing the congregation. I wish I could videotape him. Were I able to do so, I would beg the Pope to make the tape required viewing, a zillion times over, for every priest and seminarian.

How is this so?

For one thing, there's no "hi, how are ya" or "hey, have a great day" at either the beginning or end of the Holy Sacrifice. Father Bob epitomizes Father's Z's often quoted "read the black, do the red." I presume, for physical reasons, Father Bob doesn't give homilies anymore. Which, in a way, is too bad, because I remember vividly his ability to break open the Scriptures...stunningly.

But, in another way, it really doesn't matter.

Father Bob, with his impeccable determination to, like Saint John the Baptist, "decrease as the Lord increases," doesn't need words to preach the Gospel. His actions...or perhaps his inactions (he does nothing that isn't necessary to celebrate what is the most beautiful gift God has given us...the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) really do speak far louder than words.

In Persona Christi

I've known Father Bob for many years. I'd like to think we are friends. To converse with him is a joy. But when he's behind the altar at Mass, I forget all that. All I can concentrate on is the Blessed Trinity...and on the Sacrifice of Jesus taking place, right then and right now. The Lord has given us many gifts...not the least of which is Father Robert Lowrey, OMV.

And if anybody tells him I've blogged about him...I'll get even with you! :-)

Archbishop Dolan really DID trump "60 Minutes"

I just watched an interview with Archbishop Timothy Dolan by Morely Safer. I didn't really want to see it...call it a mood thing...but my husband thought it'd be interesting to me, so I did.

Sheesh, the Archbishop lovingly creamed Mr. Safer! When I grow up, I'd like to be like His Excellency. Affable, loving, and as strong as spun silver, Archbishop Dolan pulled absolutely no punches and captured the show for Catholicism...and for Christ.

I didn't realize it was a rerun, and planned to blog more about it, but hey, why should I when the able Tom Crowe did it 153 days ago! Read his post. You'll be glad you did.

A dark night of the soul...why me? Why *not* me?

Our wise old Church has discovered that if you will act as if you believed belief will be granted to you; if you pray with doubt, but pray with sincerity, your doubt will be dispelled; if you will surrender yourself to the beautify of that liturgy the power of which over the human spirit has been proved by the experience of the ages, peace will descend upon you.

--Father Ensheim to Larry in The Razor's Edge, a novel by W. Somerset Maugham

Good writer, Maugham. I've read this book several times, and some of his short stories -- Miss Thompson comes to mind -- but don't know much about him and don't really care to at this point so if you'd refrain from commenting about him I'd appreciate it.

I'd rather believe his words, given to the fictional Father Ensheim to the equally fictitious Larry Darnell, were somehow inspired by God...Who seems, for the moment, to have forsaken me.

Yes, indeed. Of all people, Kelly Thatcher, aka Patricia Lynn Marie Kelly Clark Thatcher, is...doubting.

I don't want to doubt. I love my God...who seems to have left me alone. Temporarily, one hopes. The only times, lately (and let's not get all dramatic about this...it's only happened within the past few days...or has it been months, sporadically spaced?) I've found solace is when I'm in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and guess what? My life choices have made 24/7 Presence not exactly possible.

So. I'm doubting. I'm praying. And oddly enough, I believe my prayers are heard. Mary, for example, seems to understand. But God? My Father? My Abba? Where is He?

Where the bleep ARE You?

It's funny, really. And I mean funny, in a humorous way. Dark humor, no doubt, but still...wasn't it just last Sunday night that I pondered, with the help of the Pope's book Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, Jesus crying out the words of Psalm 22? And smugly, if it must be confessed, completely understanding the fact that this most lovable, most adorable, God-made-Man was taking on Himself all of my fears, all of Israel's fears...all of my sins.

I have committed so many sins. Only a God could withstand them all.

Yes, I know that to deny God's merciful love is the greatest sin of all. Yet knowing that, how easy it is to fall into this denial.

I'm hanging on by my fingernails to prevent this fall. Intellectually, I know that God my Father knows this. 'Course, intellectually, I know that E=MC squared but am at a loss to explain it. Or to understand it.

I really don't like this.

Yet, what is my loneliness to compare with that of Jesus on the Cross? Nothing, I know that. Am I wallowing in self-pity? Indeed, I believe I am.

Yes, yes, I know about Mother Teresa, John of the Cross, all of them.

To put it bluntly: what have they to do with me? I'm no saint. I'm not a missionary, a thinker, a doctor of the Church.

But DAMMIT, I AM a child of God! Even I, like the Canaanite woman and her daughter, get, like the dogs, the scraps from the table of the saints. Or should.

Well, this selfish tirade (only it's not really a tirade...I'm too weary for that just now) has certainly gone on long enough. I plan to post this silly--very silly--blog, share it, perhaps...and hope.

And pray. With sincerity. As if I believe my doubt will be dispelled.

What Messiah are *we* waiting for?

The Jews, in Jesus' time, are and have been and no doubt will be criticized—and perhaps rightly so—for expecting a Messiah who would (a) expunge the enemies of the chosen people and (b) elevate Us Good Guys.

"My kingdom is not of this world," Our Lord said, countless times. We get it.

But do we?

I don't know about you, but I often do NOT get it.

And you know...I'm not sure even the most devout Christians get it.

I've been—what? Guilty? Whatever—of "piously" echoing the prophet's plea: "How long, O Lord?!?" when facing what I deem to be evil.

But "how long" for what? Do I anticipate eagerly the Second Coming of Christ in order to Banish All Those Evil People?

If so, I am not getting it.

After the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, he was given the "keys to the Kingdom." Yet, moments later, while rebuking his Messiah for His determination to face the Cross, he was rebuked himself..."Get thee behind me, Satan!"

Maybe it's just me, and I pray that it is, but from what I hear and read from truly devout Christians? I doubt it. I think that sometimes we're like Mrs. Zebedee...asking, goaded on my our all too human perspective of creation, that our families, our friends, be given positions of "power" when the "Kingdom finally comes." And to hell with the rest of those nasty folk: the anti-Christians, the "cafeteria Catholics," the abortionists, and all those other sinners.

And that's all wrong.

First of all, the Kingdom is already here. Jesus proclaimed it. Second of all, it's "not of this world!"

So all of our lamentations, our grievances, our "hey, this is unfair" complaints? They're about as silly as those folks in the desert complaining about the taste of the manna.

The answer is Love.

No, I'm not talking about a Beatles song, or about ignoring evil. But what I've come to realize is quite simple: Jesus is Love, and as Love, is concerned with all of us...even, no actually especially, those people we humans, sometimes, long to see expunged.

Can we, do you think, take a furlough from our lofty seat of judgment? For example, can we, instead of writing frantic letters to the papal nuncio, take a moment to pray for the subjects of our letters (and, by the way, for the Nuncio as long as we're at it)? Can we quietly refrain from loudly announcing our intention to boycott thus and so retailer—yes, boycott it if we will, but quietly— and use the energy we would spent on organizing such a boycott to simply pray for the people we are boycotting? In other words, can we cut the crap about How Good We Are and spend some time praying for those who's actions offend our sensibilities?

We won't get much worldly notice for doing this.

But do we really give a bleep about "worldly notice?" What good, in the end, will that do us? His Kingdom is not of this world, after all.

How about us?

Facebook welcomes unborn babies to your families!

Very cool. If you're pregnant, or your wife is pregnant, Facebook evidently acknowledges that your unborn child is...a child!

In editing your family member profile, you can now add "I'm expecting" to your clan. Kudos to the Social Network.

Around the blogs...

Flash: new RCAB hiree Chris Kickham is actually Father Bob Kickham's brother, not cousin. [yawn]

Father Z wants to scare the hell out of us

Jeff Miller discovers blogger Father Thomas Dowd is actually a bishop ;-)

Father Longenecker ponders on atheism and madness...or at least shizophrenia

Mark Shea refers us to Cody Willard on Ron Paul

Atonement Parish and George Weigel wonder why Francis Ford hasn't been beatified

Most important: Melanie asks for prayers for Lucie Lin Frazier and her family. Lucie died last night. Thank you.

"Maria talking about abortion" and her make-believe "Aunt Lucia": Latinos, you're being used.

Here's the thing. I'm BLEEPING PAYING for some cartoonish idiot and her equally idiotic "aunt" to sell folks on abortion. BLEEPING TIRED of it!

Governor Patrick, take this horrible site DOWN! Now!

(Here it is, Guv, just in case you have the same difficulty navigating the web as you evidently do governing the Commonwealth.)

(Generally I don't get this upset about things but when I'm asked to pay for some bone head -- offense definitely intended, Governor Patrick -- advocating kids and older females to commit something something heinous -- like killing a child, and, not incidentally, killing the mother's spirit as well -- well, heck, what can I say? I get ticked off.

By the way, you Latina and Latino amigos o' mine -- how do you feel about being USED to promote the destruction of your children? I mean, come on. Look at the "image" of "Maria." Look at what her "Aunt Lucia" says? Are you falling for this? You're being USED, friends.

The "procedure" that was promoted to reduce the population of African Americans -- and succeeded -- is now being used against you, folks. You're going to stand for it?

Personally, I find it interesting that "Maria Talks" is under the auspices of the "Health and Human Services" Director JudyAnn Bigby, don't you?

Medjugorje: let's be careful out there

"Mary, pray for us, and soften the hearts of unbelievers."

I saw this Medjugorje-related post on Facebook and truly pray that it refers to unbelievers in Christ, rather than those of us who have serious doubts about the apparitions of Our Lady to some kids in Yugoslavia.

For those from Mars, a bit o' background: ;-)

On June 24, 1981, six children in the town of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia (today, Bosnia-Herzegovina), began to experience phenomena which they alleged to be apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This apparition had a message of peace for the world, as well as a call to conversion, prayer and fasting. It also entrusted to the children secret messages about events to be fulfilled in the future. These "secrets," confided individually to different visionaries, have not been revealed to the public. The apparitions themselves have continued almost daily since 1981, with some of the now young adults continuing to experience them regularly (those who have not yet received all the secrets intended for them) and others not. Originally they occurred on a hilltop near the town where a large Cross commemorating the Redemption exists. They have since occurred in many other places, including the parish church, St. James, and wherever the visionaries happen to be located at the time of the apparition. (compliments of EWTN)

Here's what scares me and prompts me to pray:

There are some people—the visionaries of course, but thousands of pilgrims—who Truly Believe in the Medjugorje apparitions. I have heard and spoken to many, many good folk who have traveled there, returning with (and I don't doubt their testimony, by the way) Rosaries that have been turned into gold, healings (both physical, and perhaps, spiritual...perhaps) and a myriad of "miracles."

I put "miracles in quotes because I'm not sure from whence these "miracles" derive. Hence, my prayers.

I'm afraid for people who have put all their faith in Medjugorje.

I'm afraid that, if—and this is a very plausible "if"—the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, receives and reports the revelation that the "apparitions" at Medjugorje are either not real at all, or, perhaps worse, the work of demonic activity (don't HIT me! It's possible!)? I fear the loss of faith in the Church of Jesus Christ...something even the most devoted Medjugorje pilgrim, I would hope, find appalling. At least, Our Lady would.

Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Archbishop Chaput: "Our Choices Shape Our Eternity"

In Muslim countries like Pakistan, many of the young men begin studying the Koran as soon as they can read. In fact, many of them learn to read using the Koran. They read and discuss the Koran every day, for hours each day, every day of the week until they know it by heart. Many of them can recite whole sections of the Koran without thinking. Little by little, like water dripping on a stone, it shapes their whole view of the world—what’s right and what’s wrong; what’s important and what’s not.

Here in America, we have a similar kind of training. It’s called television. The typical American spends between three and seven hours a day watching TV and sees well over 2 million commercials in the course of a lifetime.

Great blog by the Archbishop. Read the whole thing here.

Father Roger Landry: Toward the true pastoral care of those with same-sex attractions

Father Roger Landry wrote a very loving piece...far, FAR better than I could have expressed it, but putting into words what I've tried to express...and what I've tried so hard to tell myself.

One piece -- of many! -- struck me:

Gay pride is an expression that embraces something far different than respect for all those with same-sex attractions. Rather it connotes: treating same-sex activity as a quasi-sacrament to be celebrated instead of a sin to be confessed; approval and advocacy of same-sex relationships, lifestyle, unions, and "marriages;" rejection and ridicule of Biblical and magisterial teaching on human sexuality; and acceptance of a deeply-flawed anthropology that totally marginalizes the meaning of God's having made the human person in His image and likeness male and female (Gen 1:27).

But there's so much more. Please read the entire column here.

Saint Cecilia's Parish...and how Father Unni (inadvertently perhaps) got me thinking

So, anyway, Father Unni, pastor of Saint Cecilia's Parish in Boston, and his parishioners, have evidently got their way in being allowed to "celebrate" Mass this Sunday to "celebrate" the "LGBT" community.

(Parenthetically, I've got a question: what do the sexual preferences of people have to do with transgendered folk? I never quite understood that.)

From the website (and yes, it is from the parish website...please don't tell me it's a "link" okay? It's right on the home page):

Please join the entire Saint Cecilia parish community for next Sunday's eleven o'clock liturgy where we will reaffirm that Saint Celia is a place of welcome for all, including the LGBT community.

Okay, what's wrong with this paragraph?

First of all, I believe the Sunday "liturgy" is called a "Mass."

That said, the purpose of a "Mass," at least for Catholics, isn't to "reaffirm" anything except the Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Who isn't even mentioned in the notice, by the way) and to celebrate the fact that His Sacrifice is repeated, and that, through the words of His priest, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity is made present under the species of bread and wine.

This is a bleeping MIRACLE, folks! And it isn't even mentioned. The notice seems to be glorifying the wrong people.

But wait...there's more!

In order to mark the occasion, Mass will be followed by a reception and a bountiful table. [And then it goes on to ask for help to provide foo for the "feast," yadda, yadda, yadda.]

This is all wrong.

Forget the fact that sin seems to be the star of the show. I mean, taken as it is, maybe they're merely saying "we welcome everybody who happens to be sexually attracted to the same gender, those who are attracted to their own gender and also to the opposite sex, and, while we're at it, those who truly believe they're not the gender they find themselves strapped into."

Maybe. (I doubt that, to be honest with you, but it's nice to think I might be wrong in my doubts.)

The real question is this:

When and why did we start "celebrating" all sorts of things other than Jesus Christ?

I mean, we have Masses to "celebrate" everything from long-time married couples, to the Boy Scouts, to those Who Have Contributed to The Church, to All Those Varied But Worthy Causes—well, the list goes on.

And so, this whole SNAFU has gotten me thinking (ouch! my head!):

Why don't we slow down, stop dislocating our shoulders by patting ourselves on the back, and remember what the Mass is all about?

If we're not ready, or catechized enough, to even acknowledge the sacred mystery of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, then we're damn well not ready to start sharing the stage—or, in many cases, including evidently this one—to usurp the celebration of the most loving God-made-Man.

You know, there's another option:

Most celebrants offer their Masses for a special intention, which is generally announced before the Mass begins, or perhaps during the Eucharistic prayer, or in the Prayers of the Faithful, or all three.

Can't we just stick to that? As in: "This holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for the unification of all Christians." Or "This Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for the intentions of the Boy Scouts of America." Or "This Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for all married couples celebrating their [fill in the number] anniversary." Or "This Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for those who are living with same-gender attraction."

You get my point.

May we consider the notion of keeping the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the celebration of Christ's Sacrifice for us...and leave the partying for a time more appropriate?

My cousin Steve Hardoin on Casey Anthony

I admit that I have not been following the Casey Anthony trial at all but of the little I know of it, it is sad that another young life was lost at the whim of her mother. I do have to wonder though, if it were just two years earlier, and the mother facilitated for someone to help birth the baby somewhat, then take a pair of scissors to the back of the baby's skull, then have the baby' brains sucked out before crushing the skull, Casey might have been heralded as a heroine activist for feminine rights.

Read the whole thing here. It was posted July 5.

(Interesting to note that this point was picked up by Rush Limbaugh yesterday.)

Evangelization: how do we do it?

Okay, a Protestant lady I know slightly—she's involved in ministry—and I were chatting casually about a Catholic priest who's a mutual friend. The lady clearly thinks the world of him, which was nice enough to hear. But then she said:

"I just love Father X. He truly makes me wish I could become a Catholic priest."

Then she shrugged away the notion and went about her business, saying breezily something like "of course, your Church won't let me."

I wish her sentence would've stopped at the word "Catholic."

This has been bothering me all day. Should it? I truly don't know.

"Father, Your Son has asked that we ask you to send workers in Your harvest. Grant that I be the sort of Catholic others will want to emulate. In the Name of Jesus. Amen."

Planned Parenthood Lies. Again. Does anybody actually believe their you-know-what?

Hello Indiana and all the ships at sea! Breaking news bulletin? [yawn] Your state Planned Parenthood organization has been [yawn] once again caught in a [yawn] bleeping LIE!

The crickets are cheeping not because this boring per se...but because it's so bleeping predictable. Planned Parenthood was built on lies, has operating on lies, and continues to operate on lies.

Founded on the notion that A Better World could be obtained by eliminating, or at least "controlling," the population of blacks, the disabled, the mentally challenged, and other "undesirables," Planned Parenthood has a knack for getting itself caught in everything from child sex trafficking to being merely stupid. All to worship the baal called Abortion which, of course, is murder but in the PP dictionary is described as a "woman's right." Crap, right? 'Course it is.

The latest? Back in May...

...when threatened with the loss of your money and my money funding its monstrous activities, the outraged organization sent out a press release on behalf of its Indiana "projects." Included in the hissy fit was this interesting tidbit [read: LIE]:

The law [defunding PP] deprives Medicaid patients of their choice of health care provider in violation of federal law.

Not so. You, Cecile Richards, were speaking like a moron. And a liar.

As if anybody with a brain needed to know this (and evidently, folks do!) Live Action did what they do best...exposed the lie.

Get this, folks, in Indiana and elsewhere: NO WOMAN needs Planned Parenthood, be they Medicaid patients or ordinary folk to obtain preventative health care!

Tell me, ladies...if the local baby killer in your city folded, would you be screaming that you would no longer be able to obtain, say, a pelvic or mammogram? Didn't think so.

In other news—surprise!—President Obama is apparently threatening to cut off poor folk from health care unless legislators take note of his stamping and screaming temper tantrum and give the baby-incinerators the dough they want.

Adopt-a-Soul-in-Purgatory Project!

Can you imagine a greater joy -- outside of meeting God, naturally -- than to meet someone you've "sponsored" to Heaven...in Heaven?

We all know that there are super organizations -- PLAN comes to mind, but there are many others -- who give us the opportunity to "adopt" a child, or adult, and monetarily, and with loving letters and gifts and so on, help this person on his or her journey through this life.

But what about eternal life???

The plan is simple. I'm assuming you pray daily for your deceased loved ones. This plan helps you pray someone you don't even know into Heaven!

Where to find them?

You can find them anywhere. An obvious source is a church. How many stained glass windows, for example, have you admired? Look closer. Chances are, there are those who've dedicated that window -- or statue, or font, or candle, or, for you priests, the sacred vessels -- to a deceased loved one. There you go -- that's your "sponsored soul." Or, if you're browsing through the paper, or reading the news on the Net, or overhear someone on the subway talk about a deceased friend or relative...need I go on? The fact is, a gazillion people die every day. This, then, is our fodder.

Yeah, I know, we're busy...and yet...

By asking the Holy Spirit to help you, you will come across somebody -- anybody -- who would greatly appreciate your prayers. And if you forget to pray for him or her or several? Not to worry! Jesus, through His Spirit, will surely remind you. I know. I've been blessed with these reminders for years, and I'm so grateful to Jesus for them that I could just kiss Him!

No kidding. I'll be reading a book, or blogging, or doing a crossword puzzle, or whatever and suddenly Mr. So-and-So and/or Ms. What's-Her-Name will jar my mind and I know, without a doubt, it's God reminding me of my commitment.

When this happens to you, thank the Lord!

And then offer a brief prayer for your adopted soul(s). I guarantee you, you -- and they -- will be abundantly rewarded!

God love you!

Whoa! Obama's Big Brother approach to physicians?

WASHINGTON — Alarmed by a shortage of primary care doctors, Obama administration officials are recruiting a team of “mystery shoppers” to pose as patients, call doctors’ offices and request appointments to see how difficult it is for people to get care when they need it.

Complete article here.

The government could survey consumers directly, but patients may not accurately recall how long it took to get an appointment, and their estimates could be colored by their satisfaction with the doctor, researchers said.

Let me understand this. The government could ask consumers directly, but, gee, they might've been satisfied with the service and therefore their opinions would be "colored?"

I understand that there's a shortage of physicians. What I don't understand is why hassling them is going to improve the problem.

Weird.

Pius XII and the Jews: for Catholics and others who THINK, rather than the so-called "thinking" catholics

I'm linking this blog to a rather lengthy article. So, no offense, but all you "progressive catholic folk" may have trouble reading it. I ask to you to try. There really aren't any big words.

A key paragraph, regarding that old wheeze that Pius XII was "Hitler's Pope:"

Curiously, nearly everyone pressing this line today—from the ex-seminarians John Cornwell and Garry Wills to the ex-priest James Carroll—is a lapsed or angry Catholic. For Jewish leaders of a previous generation, the campaign against Pius XII would have been a source of shock. During and after the war, many well-known Jews—Albert Einstein, Golda Meir, Moshe Sharett, Rabbi Isaac Herzog, and innumerable others—publicly expressed their gratitude in Pius. In his 1967 book Three Popes and the Jews, the diplomat Pinchas Lapide (who served as Israeli consul in Milan and interviewed Italian Holocaust survivors) declared Pius XII “was instrumental in saving at least 700,000, but probably as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands.”

Read the whole thing. And please...use the brains the Good Lord gave you, if you choose to do so.

Okay, so Keith Olbermann's not the brightest bulb in the socket, but about Galileo...

Sorry, but I've heard—for years!—the unadulterated...

(...for you those of you who actually like shows like "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," the word is synonymous with easier words like "pure," and "utter," along with phrases like "out-and-out")...

...crap about the Catholic Church and Galileo.

Now personally? I never watched that Olbermann guy when he was on real TV and wouldn't dream of troubling myself to watch him on—what's it called?—oh yeah, "Current TV."

Neither, evidently, would the Catholic League's Bill Donohue, but somebody in his organization taped the silly show and got Bill's dander up. With good reason, I guess, although most "thinking" Catholics I know are hip to The Galileo Myth. And The Inquisition Myth. And so and and so on.

(I love using the adjective "thinking" in the correct way to describe Catholics, by the way..."progressives?" Do take note. And hey, folks, guess what? Research and libraries have been invented and there's even talk about something called The Internet coming along to make fact-checking a little easier.)

Anyhoo, since I'm quite fond of Bill Donohue, I'm posting his review here for your reading pleasure.

OLBERMANN'S IGNORANCE IS APPALLING

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June 22, 2011

On last night's edition of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," the host claimed that Galileo was punished by the Catholic Church for "his belief that the earth orbited the sun and not the other way around." He also said that "the Church acknowledged errors had been committed in assessing Galileo's scientific beliefs. They did that in 1992."

Commenting on this is Catholic League president Bill Donohue:

It is not for nothing that Olbermann's new show is drawing such phenomenal advertisers like "Furniture Fix" and "Gyro Bowl." Indeed, whenever a show has to rely on junk products for revenue (the sure give-away is when they advertise that the buyer gets "two for the price of one"), it's an ominous sign. More than ominous is the intellectual acuity of Olbermann.

The fact is that the belief that the earth revolves around the sun was first broached by Copernicus, in 1543, and that was many moons before Galileo was even born. Copernicus not only did not get into trouble with the Catholic Church—he was a priest. Moreover, when Galileo first floated Copernicus' idea, he was bestowed with medals and gifts by Pope Urban VIII. What got him censured was his arrogance: Galileo argued that his hypothesis was a scientific fact, something which even the scientific community of his day scoffed at. It is instructive that Father Roger Boscovich didn't get into hot water with the Church at the time, and yet he also explored Copernican ideas.

It is false to say that in 1992 the Catholic Church acknowledged errors in dealing with Galileo. That happened in 1741 when Pope Benedict XIV granted an imprimatur to the first edition of the completed works of Galileo. What happened in 1992 was the release of a Pontifical Academy report on the controversy.

If Olbermann were simply wrong, that would be one thing. But it was his snide delivery that was really offensive. Glad we taped his new show—we knew it wouldn't be long before he threw a low-blow at the Catholic Church.

Contact the executive producer, David Sarosi: countdown@current.com

Ow! My eye! (on Matthew 7:1-5)

When I read today's Gospel this morning (Matthew 7:1-5) my first thought was:

Gee! This is EXACTLY what so-and-so, and Madame X, and Mister Z, and What's-His-Name should read...sheesh, they're always judging everybody!

When I heard it at Mass today, I found myself narrowing my focus on Just Whom Exactly I would point this passage out to.

While the priest read on—it's a short passage, which outta give you an idea of how fast my mind was working—I'd made a mental list of folks to contact, which included, but was not limited to:

My Husband (he's always correcting me!)
Some of My Fellow Bloggers (always with the criticisms, sheesh!)
Certain Clients (gee, with what they're paying me, do they expect perfection?)
Many Fellow Parishioners
My Neighbors (okay, okay, we'll get to mowing the bleeping lawn!)
My Own Blog Commenters (especially that guy "Edward" who criticized my profession in my blog on Father Unni...wait, though, parenthetical comment coming up!)

(Edward wrote in the comments box, with tongue no doubt firmly planted in cheek:

Father John,

Please stop celebrating Mass with those in the advertising industry. It is an industry that functions by manipulating your flock into thinking they have needs not met by Jesus and the Church. It is because of the advertising industry that people feel it is more important to consumed material goods than to attend Mass.

We, of course, pray for people like Kelly and understand why she may act upon her economic needs but that is no excuse for doing so. Surely the Church can not be put in position of endorsing the advertising industry by giving communion to those who do such things.

I gotta tell ya, this post cracked me up. It's true...I'm in advertising and spend a great deal of time trying to convince others to spend their hard earned money on things they probably don't need.)

A N Y W A Y...

After the Gospel was proclaimed, the priest—to my utter astonishment—said:

This Gospel tends to make many people I know want to grab their phones and/or send an email or in some way tell people how lousy they are because they judge others.

Naturally, I was flabbergasted. At first. And then—I couldn't help it, honest!—had to muffle my laughter. At myself.

I judge, you judge, all God's children judge.

The point is...we're not supposed to. Yes, it's a spiritual work of mercy to gently, and with much love, try to correct wrongs. But that's a far cry from judging people.

Judging people—in the words of our President—is above our pay grade. (And there I go again!)

Folks, pray for me. Continue to correct me, if I'm wrong. And try very hard not to judge me...and you know what? I'm going to try very hard to do the same.

I have no choice, really. See, I've got this plank in my eye that keeps me from seeing clearly. And only God's grace—and my genuine contrition—will remove it.

Father Z on Father Corapi and our times...can't say any more than that

Folks, it's not that bad! :-)

[sigh]...You could almost here it through the computer. Still another person—embarrassingly enough, probably my age or thereabouts—on Facebook, wondering "What Was Wrong With This Generation?!?!?!?"

Folks, relax. Really! People have been asking this question, I'll wager, since Eve asked Adam if Cain has "issues," sheesh.

There's nothing more Wrong With This Generation than there has been since you were a kid, since your parents were kids, since your grandparents were kids, and if you don't believe me, I've asked the late, great Mr. Paul Lynde (may the Lord welcome him into His arms) to repeat the words he mourned in the 1963 hit, "Bye Bye Birdie." I coulda uploaded a video but you know what? I want you to sing along and laugh out loud. Mr. Lynde, if you please:

Kids! I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids! Who can understand anything they say?
Kids! They're disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers. (And while we're on the subject)

Kids! You can talk till your face is blue!
Kids! But they still do just what they want to do!

[plaintively]
Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way?
Oh what's the matter with kids today?

[now stare into the camera, or your computer, and sniffle]
Kids! I've tried to raise them the best I could. Kids. Kids!

Laughing, singing, dancing, morons! (And while we're on the subject)

Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock 'n roll!
Why can't they dance like we did,
What's wrong with Sammy Kaye? [uh...who's Sammy Kaye? The name sounds sorta familiar]

Oh, WHAT'S the matter with kids today?

Ladies and gentlemen of River City—whoops, wrong musical, sorry! Anyway, folks, I've seen teens and twenty-somethings acting like jerks, sure...but not as jerky as I was at their age. More to the point, I've seen this generation act, talk, walk, pray, sing, dance, enjoy life, and love God with an enthusiasm that makes me want to...well, sing!

Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way?

Because they're human beings...and God loves 'em! You love 'em too, okay? Thanks!

Archdiocese of Boston cancels "gay Mass" at Saint Cecila

Boston Globe story here.

Please, Father Unni. An open letter to Father John Unni, Pastor, Saint Cecilia, Boston

+JMJ+

Saint Ephrem

Father John J. Unni, Pastor
Saint Cecilia Parish
Boston, Massachusetts

Dear Father Unni,

In reading your parish bulletin of June 5, 2011, I was struck by the prayerful vibrancy of your parish. Please be assured that your parishioners, particularly the ill and deceased for whom you have asked prayers, as well as yourself, are remembered in my daily conversations with Our Lord.

Too, one cannot help but be inspired by, and grateful for, the active, Christ-like activities of so many of your parishioners. And, of course, the progress your parish has made in your renovations is nothing short of amazing, particularly given these difficult economic times.

It is, I know, not usually up to the sheep to counsel the shepherd. Yet I fear I cannot remain silent at a disturbing notice I read in your latest bulletin:

Liturgy to Commemorate Boston Pride 2011

The Rainbow Ministry of Saint Cecilia Parish invites all friends and supporters of the LGBT community to a Mass in celebration of Boston’s Pride Month. The liturgy will take place on Sunday evening, June 19, at six o’clock, with a reception following. The theme of the liturgy, “All Are Welcome,” honors Christ’s message of hope and salvation to all people. We will also celebrate the diverse community that finds its home at Saint Cecilia and acknowledge, in a special way, the generous and warm welcome extended to the members of the Jesuit Urban Center in 2007. The Mass will be celebrated by Father John Unni and concelebrated by several of the priests who faithfully ministered at the Jesuit Urban Center for so many years. Please plan to attend this special liturgy and support the diversity that makes Saint Cecilia such a special place.

To put it in the only way I know how: What the BLEEP are you DOING???

Forgive my emotional response, but in this case I believe it is called for. Because you see, dear Father Unni, I truly believe that you are sincere in your desire to be what is called "inclusive"—and I admire that tremendously.

Only you're going about it the wrong way.

Perhaps you do not quite see it this way, but this is the way it is: in trying to be "inclusive" to your parishioners—to say nothing of others who might be attracted to the message you are sending out—you are, in fact, abetting the exclusion of your flock from the Catholic Church.

Surely you are well versed in Church teachings. We, as one Body in Christ, embrace all, of course. We do not, under any circumstances, condemn those who, for whatever reason, are sexually attracted to those of the same gender. Indeed, we pray for them, and offer whatever support we can. The apostolate Courage comes immediately to mind, but there are many other resources...including loving pastors.

I beg you, Father Unni, please do not use—I might say abuse—the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to "celebrate" what is clearly contrary to the teachings of the Church as handing down to us by the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

I understand that there is a movement afoot, calling upon people to protest this Mass to Cardinal O'Malley. I pray that this not happen, which is why this is an open letter. I pray that it not be necessary. I pray, above all, that you reconsider your plans and turn your enthusiasm, instead, toward saving the people entrusted to you...and to recognize what the word "inclusion" really means.

May The Risen Lord continue to bless you, and may we all benefit from the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ,

Kelly Thatcher

This outta make "mainline Protestants" happy...

DURHAM, N.C. — For decades, mainline Protestants have been beset by bad news: declining numbers, aging membership, waning cultural influence. A new study from Duke University Medical Center, however, gives these Protestants one reason for cheer: they seem to have larger brains than born-again Christians, Roman Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated.

As a Roman Catholic, you'll have to forgive this pea-brained question: what's a "Mainline Protestant?"

Celebrate the anniversary of my Baptism with me!

By the grace of God, I'm celebrating with gratitude my Baptism into the Catholic Church, and wish to renew the vows made by my parents and godparents when I was a baby. Join me if you'd like to!

I reject Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Amen and alleluia!

Osama bin Laden: must he have been murdered?

Like, I hope, many people, my sister was quietly appalled at the blatant rejoicing of a death of a human being. On her Facebook page she wrote:

I'm trying to figure out the morality of this Bin Laden assassination. Although I don't think it's wrong, but indeed right and just, I don't think the death of another human being should be celebrated. For sure not in a manner reminiscent of New Year's Eve or some team championship.

I gave her post the old FB "thumbs up" and commented that it was well put. And it is well put.

But I need to go further.

I need to ask: was it necessary to kill this man, in the manner which, according to reports, he was killed?

To understand my question, you need to understand my perspective on all human life, on all creation. All creation is, or once was, good, created by a God who doesn't deal in creating crap.

You also need to understand that, from a Christian perspective, it is the duty of all to insure that all souls -- indeed, ultimately all bodies united with their souls -- end up in Heaven with the God who loved them into being.

When the news broke of the assassination, I obeyed without questioning the impulse -- or was it the prompting of the Holy Spirit? -- to pray for the man's immortal soul...to beg for mercy on him.

What followed -- what assaulted all of my senses -- was an eerie chorus of media-covered celebration. Celebration of a man's death.

I can, I believe, understand the all-too-human instinct to celebrate the end, please God, of the activities of a man driven to terrorist, terrifying, unholy acts.

But what I can't understand? The usurpation of a right belonging only to God: condemnation to Hell.

"Rot in Hell" was the headline blazing the New York Post. "Hell has a new citizen" wrote at least one Catholic priest on Facebook. It didn't end...it hasn't ended, although I hope it does soon.

"I disapprove," said Agatha Christie's famous detective Hercule Poirot, "of murder." I do too, and not just because "the Church says so" but because it robs a beloved-by-God soul of any chance repent for past sins.

And while I know nothing about the waging of war, the tactics of the battalion, I still have to ask: wasn't it at all possible to capture Osama bin Laden, rather than destroy him? To give him every opportunity available to save his soul?

Of course, despite what the New York Post and others who have presumed -- without any right to do so -- it may well be that his soul was saved, hard as this may be for you to believe.

I hope so. And I plan to continue to pray so. And to pray that in the future, we give our fellow human beings the basic right to repentance, and everlasting life.

Pray for us, Blessed Papa!

MA Catholic Bishops: take "Maria Talks" site down!

I realize the bishops are busy, especially on the heels of the Easter Octave and the beatification ceremonies in Rome...still -- it's about time! Thank you.

Mass. Catholic Bishops Target Sex Ed Website

Mr. Patrick, take this site down!

About mariatalks.com

AIDS Action Committee (AAC) developed this website with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).

Which means, if you live in Massachusetts, you're paying for it. You're paying for stuff like this.

Alleluia!

The strife is o'er, the battle won! Happy Easter to you!

Massachusetts state-funded web site steers teens toward abortion

A state-funded sex education Web site that tells teens an abortion is “much easier than it sounds” has drawn fire from outraged pro-lifers who say mariatalks.com is glossing over ugly truths, steering teens toward the controversial procedure and counseling them how to keep mom and dad in the dark.

“The commonwealth is using taxpayer money to tell kids how to get a secret abortion, and that’s wrong,” said Linda Thayer, a former Boston schoolteacher who is vice president for educational affairs of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, which this week took aim at the site.

“This is a misuse of state funds, especially for parents who are taxpayers,” said Thayer, who also blasted the Web site for “deception by omission” for describing abortion simply as “when the contents of the womb (uterus) are removed.”

More here.

This site, which I'm paying for, should be dismantled.

Scotty (Brown), they hardly knew ye...

From the March 9 2011 Mass Citizens for Life blog:

Senator Brown voted for the pro-life House version and against the anti-life Senate version. The votes were mostly along party lines, but some Republicans voted against us.

Please call in your thanks immediately! (202) 224-4543

On today's vote on defunding Planned Parenthood:

Five Republican Senators voted not to defund Planned Parenthood. Scott Brown (MA), Susan Collins (ME), Mark Kirk (IL), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Olympia Snowe (ME).

Should I still breathlessly call in my thanks? Sheesh.

Welome back, Norma Jean Coon!

Formally, I relinquish all connection to the program of Roman Catholic Women Priests and I disclaim the alleged ordination publicly with apologies to those whose lives I have offended or scandalized by my actions. I ask God's blessings upon each of these folks and their families.

Read her complete statement here. May God bless you, Dr. Coon!

And under the strange but true category, we have...

President Obama finally and quietly accepted his “transparency” award from the open government community this week — in a closed, undisclosed meeting at the White House on Monday.

Remember: this is a secret!

How much did her "Yes" cost Mary?

Today, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, I reflected on the Seven Sorrows of Mary as I tromped around the city. I didn't get much further than the first three -- the ones that have to do with Jesus as a child: Simeon's Prophecy, The Flight Into Egypt, and The Loss of Jesus.

The Flight Into Egypt stopped me

It was sad -- I was saddened -- to think about how Mary felt, far, far, away from home, in a strange land. I pictured her leaning against, I don't know, a pyramid maybe, lovingly watching her young Boy playing in the sand, thinking about how her parents -- Anne and Joachim -- were missing these terrific years of their Grandchild's growth. A sad moment, sure, but imagine the excruciating pain she felt when she considered the reason they were in Egypt in the first place...to escape the fate of all of those babies slaughtered. I couldn't get the vision out of my mind.

Then, the Mass!

And what a joyful celebration it was, at Saint Francis Chapel. The opportunity to kneel at those profound words of the Creed. The Roman Canon. The exquisite prayers. The Eucharist. It was, it remains, a joyful thing to know that Mary said "yes."

Followed by the Rosary

It being Friday, we prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries, which complemented (or so I thought) my earlier meditation on the Seven Sorrows. Only...I wept.

And then, the Stations of the Cross

With, of course, the "Stabat Mater." You know, I think I can sing the entire "Stabat Mater" and cry, even without praying the Stations. In any case, I kept wondering: what did this cost you, Mother, this "yes" of yours?

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done to me according to thy word!"

Of course, Mary knew the Lord's Prayer long before Jesus taught it to us -- at least, the gist of it. And, exhausted but somehow exhilarated, I walked home thinking that, while, indeed, her "yes" cost her plenty, her "yes" also glorified this woman: this woman who so eagerly cooperated in our salvation.

"Full of Grace"

The term means "without sin." This Lady, the Immaculate Conception, wasn't just conceived "full of grace"...she remained so, despite, as the world would say, "against all odds." How much did her "yes" cost Mary? An awful lot, while in this vale of tears. But -- rejoice! This woman, assumed into Heaven, body and soul, is now the Queen of All Creation. Which might make you feel pretty good, until you consider this:

She's Your Mother and She Loves You!

Thank you, my most Blessed Mother. Thank you for your "yes."

Christ in Me (The Deer's Cry: Saint Patrick's Breastplate)

I passed by many an overflowing pub today as I walked the sunny streets of Boston, and that was fine, but what was finer still was when, after resuming my walk after Mass, a gentleman smiled at me and wished me "God's blessings on this holy day."

May I wish you the same? I do! And a glorious Lent as well!

A Timely Public Service Announcement:

Hey!

Set your clocks and watches ahead 1 hour right NOW!!!

Don't wait! Do it NOW! Otherwise you'll FORGET and THEN you'll be LATE tomorrow!!! You've been warned, so do it NOW!

This has been a public service announcement from the Lady in the Pew.

You're welcome! :-)

NPR: "non-bigoted, non-racist, straightforward point of view"...uh huh

Okay, I'm thinking that by the time you view this, NPR will issue some apology. And yes, I know it was a sting job. And no, I don't want to debate the morality of sting jobs. I'd be happy, however, to debate the question of why I outta pay for a station that calls me and people who believe as I do...stupid. :-)

Clueless in Seattle University

The oldest and largest of Seattle University's schools and colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences builds upon and continues the traditions of Catholic and Jesuit higher education and offers a wide variety of degree programs in the humanities, social sciences, professions, and the arts.

Traditions of Catholic higher education?

How does that jive with internships at, for example, Planned Parenthood?

Sheesh.

Pro-life Jane Russell, RIP

Her favorite book is the Bible. She reads a passage from it every day.

A longtime pro-life activist, she opposes the use of abortion in any circumstance including rape or incest.

Read more about the lady -- and I mean lady -- here.

Let's not forget the souls in Purgatory!

At Mass today, the intention was for the souls in Purgatory. I love when people do that!

Here's Kathy Schiffer's take on this: "Purgatory and Presumption: Please Don't Forget to Pray for Me!