Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Ahhh... another shining moment for the ACLU
Love, hate, or indifferent to Tom Monaghan, ya gotta admit... something foul's afoot at the Town of Ave Maria, Florida. And I ain't mentioning any names, but it's initials are ACLU.
Monaghan dismisses questions about whether the town will tolerate non-Catholic views. But he created a stir last year when he was quoted as having said in a speech to a Catholic men's conference that pharmacies wouldn't be allowed to stock condoms or birth control pills and that cable TV would show no pornography.
Monaghan has since said he misspoke. Project manager Donald Schrotenboer says the town will obey all local ordinances, but officials "would prefer" that businesses sell only products consistent with a family-friendly environment.
That hasn't appeased the ACLU of Florida, which says it will continue to monitor the town. Monaghan's "comments on the record give us legitimate concerns about the community he's creating," says Executive Director Howard Simon.
Gee, I wonder why the Amish and Hassidic Jews don't get this kind of attention? But hey, would you expect any less from an organization whose very foundation is entangled with that of the Communist Party, USA?
Monday, July 30, 2007
Helmet tip to Mary Martha of Back Home To Rome
I bumped into this refreshingly honest posting yesterday. Thought I'd share it with you...
People talk all the time about 'Catholic guilt'. I have even joked about it myself. But honestly, I just don't feel much Catholic guilt. After all, I was raised in the 'I'm ok, you're ok' spirit o'Vatican II Catholic Church. A 'post guilt' Catholicism as it were.
Last night as I was going through some family papers and found an echo of the old Catholic guilt machine in a church bulletin from 1957. The bulletin was saved because it includes the banns before my parent's wedding. However, what I really found fascinating was the window into the average 1950s parish on an average week.
The absolute best entry was this:
We wonder why forty public High School students have consistently missed the Religious Instruction Classes on Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. Their inconvenience in attending the classes could not be so much greater than that of the 110 faithful students each week. It is difficult to see how those students of their parents can lightly cast aside so serious an obligation of religious required by the laws of the Church. Can a detailed course of religion mean so little to them?
I can't imagine any parish including something like this today. It could be an interesting experiement to try... but I don't think the results would be pretty.
The first problem with an entry like that in a modern bulletin is that religious instruction for public school students in this diocese ends in 8th grade. The standard seems to be one hour a week during the school year until confirmation in 8th grade... and that's it. No further religious education offered - let alone encouraged. I wonder when it was decided that at age 13 we knew all we needed about Catholicism and were free to go.
Secondly, in my lifetime I have never seen any reference to the laws of the Church in a bulletin - let alone our obligation to follow them. Well, perhaps there have been references in the bulletin at St. John Cantius, but that's a special case. I am talking about the standard parish bulletin in a standard suburban parish. Try as I might, the only obligations I can recall being raised are to the building fund, and to volunteer with the local 'peace n' justice' organizations.
Finally, I am most impressed by the straight up 'calling out' of both students and parents for failing to attend religious education classes. I just don't think it would work in many parishes today. We are all too steeped in the post Vatican II world where nothing is really required of us by the Church. If a priest actually pointed out that we were failing in our obligations the Church the negative reaction would be swift.
I will admit that I often look back at the solidly Catholic world that my parents were raised in and I am nostalgic for something I never experienced (I was born in the 70s). However, I have to admit I am only nostalgic for half of that experience. I would have liked the religious education classes that lasted through high school... but I don't know if the Catholic guilt would suit me all that well.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Oops... I mean "Islamic Self-Expression Seminars"
An interesting little story from The Scotsman, entitled Papal aide warns of 'Islamisation of Europe'. Hey sports fans... is the writing on the wall any clearer? A resurgent Catholic Church allied with the various Eastern Orthodox (remember when the Pope recently referred to the E.O. as our 'Sister Churches'?), together defending Christian Europe against, as Monsignor Gaenswein put it; Islam not being a single force but a religion of extremes, with extremists who "turn to rifles for their goals".
Here's the article;
The principal aide to Pope Benedict XVI has issued a stark warning over the danger of the "Islamisation of Europe". Monsignor Georg Gaenswein speaks with the full authority of the Catholic Church about a Muslim domination of Europe. He made it clear that Europe's Christian roots are under threat from a resurgent Islam. He also spoke of Islam not being a single force but a religion of extremes, with extremists who "turn to rifles for their goals".
His comments come just a year after the newly appointed Pope enraged Muslims worldwide with a speech linking Islam with violence. It led to churches being burned in the West Bank, a nun being shot dead in a Somalian hospital and the Iranian president accusing him of being in league with the US president, George Bush, to "repeat the Crusades" of old.
But Mgr Gaenswein has defended Pope Benedict's speech, saying it was an attempt by the Pontiff to "act against a certain naivety". Vatican watchers say this is clearly aimed at western governments who bend over backwards to accommodate Muslims at cost to their own native Christian cultures.
Now if we can just get the average European to grow a back-bone and actually defend their homeland.
Mac tagged me
If you could invite your five favorite saints to dinner, what would you serve them to eat, and why?
Favorite Saints? -- The Holy Mother, St. Jude, St. Peter.
What would you serve them? -- Something recently clubbed to death.
Why? -- I'm a caveman.
I tag anyone who would like to play along!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
And other myths concerning everything Traditional
1. By it's very nature, the TLM prohibits lay participation in the Mass. Wrong. To quote Pope John Paul II; "silent prayer is active participation".
2. Traditionalists believe that you have to be a baptized Catholic to even hope of attaining salvation. All non-Catholics are going straight to hell. Wrong. That particular heresy (Feenyism) has been rejected by the vast majority of Traditionalists. In fact, some of the more strident supporters of Invincible Ignorance are Traditionalists, probably because they actually understand what I.I. really teaches.
3. During the TLM, the priest turns his back to the people. Wrong. The priest joins with the people in facing God physically present in the Tabernacle. It really is all about God, and not all about us.
4. The SSPX is sedevacantist (believes that there is currently no valid pope). Wrong. The SSPX has always looked upon our pope as the valid, legitimate Pontiff of the Holy Catholic Church.
5. Traditionalist reject ecumenism. Wrong. Traditionalists wholeheartedly accept and embrace ecumenism. That is if you define true ecumenism as converting heretics and pagans to the One True Church.
6. The Latin Mass didn't even exist until the Council of Trent (the mid-1500's). Wrong. The Latin Mass dates back to the time of Pope Saint Gregory the Great in the 6th century. Even before that, the Canon of the Mass dates to the 4th century, and the Latin Mass itself was in it's infancy in the 1st century. The Consecration has remained unchanged since Saints Peter and Paul first preached in Rome.
7. Traditionalists reject Vatican II. Wrong. The vast majority of Traditionalists recognize V2 for what it really is... a valid Council that essentially said "let's talk about this" rather than "this is the way it's going to be".
8. Mel Gibson is "an SSPXer". Wrong. Mel Gibson attends Mass as celebrated by a so-called independent priest.
9. Traditionalists expect you to wear expensive clothing to Mass. Wrong. Traditionalists expect everyone to wear their best... even if their best is a pair of overalls and a pull-over shirt. No one should ever purposfully dress-down to attend Mass. After all, we're going to The Lord's House, not a barbecue at the beach.
10. No one understands what's going on at a TLM. That would be true only if you're;
a. Illiterate.
b. Too lazy to ask "hey, could someone explain to me what's going on"?
c. Too lazy to learn some of the more basic prayers in Latin.
d. Irreversibly stupid.
Understanding what's going on at a TLM isn't really all that difficult. Just don't expect everything to be dumb-downed and spoon-fed to you. Yes, we're expected to put forth at least some effort.
Otherwise known as the Diocese of Linz
Probably the best blog in the Catholic Blogosphere that shines the light directly on the cockroaches infesting the pantry of Catholicism; Catholic Church Conservation by the laconic Gillibrand.
From the land of sprouts and exceptionally good waffles, Gillibrand is in the proverbial catbird seat to view the goings-on in The Church in Europe. Unfortunantly, much of it ain't pretty. Especially in the LSD-induced Diocese of Linz, Austria.
Yesterday, I was viewing some of the more disturbing pictures that Gillibrand posted from Linz. As I disconnected from the internet, the little pop-up that says "disconnect" came up and superimposed itself on the pictures from Linz.
I couldn't help but think to myself "yeah, there's a disconnect alright".
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Just a decent story about the Catholic Church from the secular media?
Helmet tip to Simon-Peter Vickers-Buckley of Simon Peter Says
If you thought the freeing of the Traditional Latin Mass was a miracle, get ready for this... a secular newspaper actually had a decent story about The Catholic Church... on the front page, no less.
The Raleigh News & Observer ran a front-page article entitled As church grows, priest ranks shrink. Yeah, it sounds like a grim story, but it isn't. It's actually pretty uplifting.
Of course, there's the requisite nay-sayer from Catholic University of America who can't seem to say anything positive about H.E. Bishop Burbidge, even though in the one year and handful of months that Bishop Burbidge has been here, the Diocese of Raleigh has gone from 1 or 2 men entering the seminary a year (sometimes a whopping zero)... to 21 this year alone. That didn't happen by accident.
Anyhow, I'm not going to post much from the article, except these two rather short paragraphs. They sum it all up;
But there is a curious thing about the new crop of Catholic priests. Many of them, such as Burbeck, who is 23, have a passionate commitment to the Catholic Church. At a time when many Catholics blame their priests for the horrific cases of sexual abuse of children, Burbeck said that in embracing the church, he felt not qualms but clarity.
"That's the reason I was created," Burbeck said referring to his desire to become a priest. "That's the meaning of my life."
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Not to be confused with Ass-houl the Bee
Remember a few weeks back when I posted on the demise of Farfour the Islamic Terrorist Mouse? Well, if there's a void in your life that only a suicidal muppet can fill, today's your lucky day.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, suicide bombers and homicide bombers of all ages... I give to you - Nahoul the Bee
Click here for the transcript.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
"He's rolling back Vatican II!" And that's a bad thing?
An interesting article from the Washington Post. The headline says it all;
Papal Mystery: Is Benedict Downplaying Vatican II by Decrees?
As you can pretty much guess, it's a whine-fest. But hey... we all knew that was coming.
But here's what I want to ask --- what was the purpose of the Second Vatican Council? Seriously. I want someone to tell me. All I've heard was the standard party line about "a fresh breeze" and "bringing The Church into the modern world". Surely, there's got to be a better reason than that drivel.
And I know that many of you will give well thought-through answers. So in all fairness, let me specify my question with the following specifics; for the entire 2,000 year history of The Church, every Council was called forth to defend Holy Mother The Church. Examples include;
The Council of Nicea fought the heresy of Arianism.
The Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon fought the heresy of Nestorianism.
The Council of Trent fought the heresy of Protestantism.
The First Vatican Council fought the heresy of Rationalism.
And with all that said, the fruits of those councils are multiple and manifest. The Church always emerged stronger. And I think we all know what the fruits of Vatican II have shown themselves to be. Billion dollar pay-outs. Empty seminaries. Empty rectories. Empty convents. Empty pews. Empty faith.
The Church has been in a free-fall for 40 years. Time to be honest... Vatican II was the catalyst. So what heresy was Vatican II called forth to do battle with? Know what? There never was one. As I look upon the state of The Church present day, I sometimes get the distinct impression that the only thing Vatican II ever did battle with, was Catholicism.
Sure, things weren't picture perfect prior to 1962... but were they SO BAD that we needed a Church Council to fix things? At least back then, most Catholics actually went to Mass on a regular basis. Most Catholics actually went to Confession on a regular basis. The vast majority of Catholics actually believed in The Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Can the same be said present day? Sadly, no.
And as I've stated many a time on this blog, very little within the actual documents of the Second Vatican Council are binding on pain of sin (Lumen Gentium, and all that did was reiterate 2,000 years of Church teaching. Nothing new). The vast... and I mean VAST majority of V2 is quite honestly up for grabs.
But you know.... the more I think about it, the more I tend to look at the whole Vatican II question in a much bigger picture. By golly, I think I've answered my own question.
Sometimes in order to get healthier, you have to initially get sicker. Bring the disease to the surface so the doctors can treat it. Something about (as the Holy Bible puts it) pruning away the diseased limbs? Maybe, just maybe... in the grand scheme of things, Vatican II was suppose to happen so we could have Pope Benedict usher in a leaner, meaner, purer Catholicism.
All in God's good time. Right?
Just thought you'd like to know
Anyone remember the John Jay College of Criminal Justice study of just a few short years ago? Yeah... I see one or two of you raising your hands. That's what I thought. Face it... The John Jay Report has been buried about as deep as the Warnings of Our Lady of Akita.
To refresh you memory;
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- When the bishops' National Review Board issued its report Feb. 27 (2004) on the causes and context of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, it paid particular attention to a long-controversial issue -- the ordination of homosexually oriented men.
That 81 percent of the reported victims of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy were boys shows that the crisis was characterized by homosexual behavior," the board said. In light of that, it said, "the current crisis cannot be addressed without consideration of issues related to homosexuality."
The report drew the 81 percent figure from the John Jay (College of Criminal Justice) study on the nature and scope of clerical sexual abuse of minors, which was released at the same time as the report.
Yet the Lavender Mafia is just as strong as ever. I'm sure that most of you have heard of the organization called "Dignity". For those that haven't, it's a pro-sodomite/lesbian/sadist/masochist/transgendered/bondage/whatever freaky thing comes to mind "Catholic" group. I've even found one of their affiliate groups, known as "Defenders of Dignity" espouses the following;
Defenders/SF is a Leather/Levi club, chartered by Dignity, the national gay Catholic organization. Defenders take a stand for the sacredness of our leather sexuality and explores practical ways of integrating sexuality and spirituality.
Although we are a Catholic leather club, our members come from many different denominations and spiritual traditions. Men and women of all spiritual paths are welcome.
"Sacredness of our leather sexuality"? "A Catholic leather club"?
Enough. It's time Catholics stood up to this garbage. At the risk of being called "politically incorrect".... at the risk of being called "intolerant"... at the risk of being branded a "homophobe". Stand up and say that you're fed-up with our Church being hijacked. Stand up and say that you will never accept what is an abomination to the Eyes of The Lord.
We've witness what happens when we placate the perverts (we ordain them to the priesthood). We know what happens when we're "inclusive" (they destroy The Church from within). We've seen first hand what happens when we're "tolerant and accepting" (they end up raping our sons).
Anyone remember what Our Lady of Fatima said? "God the Father is already much offended."
This must end now. And for those who still think I'm wrong, I challenge you to point out to me anything that's "normal" about some guy sloshing his penis around in another man's feces filled colon. Nothing's normal about it. It's sick. It's filthy. It's perverse. It an insult to God.
'Nuff said.
Look here!
I've recently found Jacob's Well. A Catholic book store up Canada way. They just started up, so swing on in, and possibly pick something up for either yourself or a friend!
Monday, July 23, 2007
What Happens When Two Thirds Of A Nations Bishops Formally Embrace Heresy?
Absolutely nothing
Helmet tip to Derek Remus of Milites Veritatis
Almost 40 years ago, a little known abomination happened up in Canada. A lil' something known as "The Winnipeg Statement". Essentially, most of the Canadian Bishops flat-out rejected Humanae Vitae, The Church teaching on (in general) human sexuality, but specifically, artificial birth control.
The Winnipeg Statement left a mile-wide loop hole for Canadian Catholics to freely participate in abortion, homosexuality, artificial birth control, call for women's ordination, etc.
The now infamous "Paragraph 26", which in one breath claims loyalty to the teachings of the Pope, then in the next, trots out the "follow your conscience" drivel. And as we all know, when our so-called shepherds start spouting that "primacy of conscience" clap-trap, it's nothing more than a $50 phrase for the 25 cent sentence - "if it feels good... do it".
Specifically, here's paragraph 26;
"Counsellors may meet others who, accepting the teaching of the Holy Father, find that because of particular circumstances they are involved in what seems to them a clear conflict of duties, e.g., the reconciling of conjugal love and responsible parenthood with the education of children already born or with the health of the mother. In accord with the accepted principles of moral theology, if these persons have tried sincerely, but without success to pursue a line of conduct in keeping with the given directives, they may be safely assured that, whoever chooses that course which seems right to him does so in good conscience.”
OK, so what does all that mean? In an article on Wikipedia;
The [Winnipeg] statement was met with immediate and vocal opposition, which found root especially among conservative pro-life activists. The objections of opponents to the statement are perhaps best summarized in the writings of Msgr. Vincent Foy, who contends, among other things, that the Winnipeg Statement:
The Conference of Canadian Bishops have never retracted The Winnipeg Statement. In fact, a year after they authorized it, they stated; "Nothing could be gained and much lost by an attempt to rephrase what we have said in Winnipeg. We stand squarely behind our position but we feel it is our duty to insist on a proper interpretation of that position."
So the next time you hear of individuals who proudly refer to themselves as "Winnipeg Catholics"... you now know what they're talking about. We Traditional Catholics have a word for these kinds of folks... they're called Protestants.
So to all you Winnipeg Catholics, you've lost. Your love affair with Protestantism is as much a failure as you are. Good bye and good riddance.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Here's the title and the first paragraph...
SUNDAY
~ It's An Age Old Question
But I think I know the answer
If someone gives a monkey a loaded gun, and that monkey shoots someone... do you blame the monkey or individual who gave the monkey the gun in the first place?
~ You Think The Pope's A Big Quentin Tarintino Fan?
Could be
With all this talk about Pope Benedict "taking us back to the Middle Ages", could it be that THIS is what he meant when he freed the Traditional Latin Mass? Or do you think this is the real message The Holy Father desires to convey to some of the more disloyal bishops of the world?
SATURDAY
~ Looks Like I'm In Good Company
Nothing hurts like the truth
In the past, I've had a few malcontents refer to me as a "showboat" and "simply going for shock effect" when I posted pictures of the end product of abortion... specifically, murdered children.
~ The Spirit Of Vatican II Fantasy League Scouting Report
The American League
Archbishop Rembert Weakland; Best known for paying out $450,000 in hush money to his ex-boyfriend. "He's a multi-talented player. Able to both pitch and catch!" - Paul Marcoux. Now very wealthy ex-boyfriend of Archbishop Weakland
But I think I know the answer
If someone gives a monkey a loaded gun, and that monkey shoots someone... do you blame the monkey or individual who gave the monkey the gun in the first place?
Father Raymond J. de Souza, chaplain to Newman House, the Roman Catholic mission at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, has penned a crackerjack (I love that word... "crackerjack") article simply titled Sin and Expiation.
The article itself is centered on the gazillion dollar pay-out by Cardinal Mahony in Los Angeles, and as Fr. de Souza correctly points out;
The Church in the United States has become far too bureaucratic and institutional, rather than innovative and evangelical, over the past three generations. The only way to curb bureaucracy is to starve it of funding. This is not the most pleasant way to do it, but it will serve that necessary purpose.
Overall, it's a spot-on piece by the good Father. There's only one real flaw I read;
...the Church has now removed from her ranks those priests who did prey upon the most vulnerable, betraying in a most iniquitous way the grace of their ordination. New procedures, prompted both by genuine horror at the abuse and the fear of future liability, have been implemented so that it would be near-impossible now for an abuser to continue in ministry. Children are indeed safer.
Now we come to the monkey and the gun conundrum. Father de Souza places the focus (and blame) directly on the minuscule percentage of "priests" who preyed on kids. The generally accepted number is approximately 2.5%. That's pretty much the same number as doctors, fry-cooks, lawyers, construction workers, architects, retired Marine Corps Master Sergeants (like myself), rocket surgeons, brain scientists, etc.
But do we place all the focus and blame on the 2.5%, or the roughly two thirds of American Bishops who allowed, and in many cases, protected priests accused of sexual abuse to remain in close proximity to children?
Yes, Fr. de Souza has correctly pointed out that the Church has now removed from her ranks those priests who did prey upon the most vulnerable... but I can't help but wonder when the Church will remove from her ranks those BISHOPS who ALLOWED sexual predators in Roman Collars to prey upon the most vulnerable.
As for me, I blame the individual who gave the monkey the gun.
Could be
With all this talk about Pope Benedict "taking us back to the Middle Ages", could it be that THIS is what he meant when he freed the Traditional Latin Mass? Or do you think this is the real message The Holy Father desires to convey to some of the more disloyal bishops of the world?
Now that I think of it... His Eminence Irving Cardinal Rhames, Archbishop of Los Angeles does have a certain ring to it.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Nothing hurts like the truth
In the past, I've had a few malcontents refer to me as a "showboat" and "simply going for shock effect" when I posted pictures of the end product of abortion... specifically, murdered children.
Well, Father Frank Pavone of Priests For Life has some very interesting and powerful things to say during the March for Life 2007 Youth Conference recently held in Ottawa, Canada. Here's some of the article; (emphasis mine)
Fr. Frank Pavone on the Power of Graphic Abortion Images
I told you that I had been involved in this since I was your age, been working on this fulltime across the world, worked with the Holy Father, and Mother Teresa and all these people, worked with the pro-life movement on every level. There is no single thing that I have seen more powerful to change people on abortion than simply showing them the pictures.
Show them what it looks like. I have challenged the media over and over again. Show the public what an abortion is because we can justify anything with our language. If you are a smooth talker, if you know how to manipulate language and logic - you can convince anyone of anything. But pictures, that is another story.
Some people think abortion just makes the baby kind of disappear. They still don't appreciate that it is an act of violence. It is only the pictures of the aborted children, torn apart, limb from limb that convince people that abortion is an act of violence.
"America will not reject abortion until America sees abortion." And that is true for every country. Canada will not reject abortion until Canadians see it and you can make that happen.
You have somebody who disagrees with you on abortion - just ask them one simple question, "Have you ever seen one?" And you know what a lot of people will say - "Oh, no, no I don't have to see one but I am pro-choice." Ya, and you are also scared, you are also a coward. You think something should be allowed and you don't even have the courage to look at what you are allowing. You think something should be legal and you don't even have the courage to look at it in the face.
Show people, challenge them and let me tell you - as I get emails every day - you will hear people say, "I was 100% pro-choice until I saw those pictures." We get emails everyday saying that the people who went to our website and saw the pictures of the babies began to cry and in a minute, they moved from being 100% pro-abortion to being 100% pro-life.
See the Priests for Life website
http://www.priestsforlife.org/images/index.htm
WARNING FROM VIR SPELUNCAE CATHOLICUS... I clicked on that link. I had to turn away. It was, quite simply, horrifying. "Constitutional Right", my ass. It's freaking murder, plain and simple.
Well, if I'm going to talk the talk, then I'd better walk the walk. Scroll down for just one of the many pictures. Again, this is VERY GRAPHIC. But like I said at the beginning of this post... nothing hurts like the truth.
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The American League
Archbishop Rembert Weakland; Best known for paying out $450,000 in hush money to his ex-boyfriend. "He's a multi-talented player. Able to both pitch and catch!" - Paul Marcoux. Now very wealthy ex-boyfriend of Archbishop Weakland
Sister Joan Chittister; Contributor to National Catholic Reporter. "Always swinging at pitches no matter how ridiculously far outside the strike zone. Also possesses an eerie resemblance to Lou Gehrig" - Rita Larivee, editor of NCR
"It's a man, baby!" - Austin Powers
Bernard Cardinal Law; Former Archbishop of Boston. "Wicked fast speed ahhn the bases. Ya gotta keep a shaaap eye on this guy. Can be gaahn before yuh know it. Whut aaah ya.... wicked retaaaaaaded??!!" - Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly
Father Richard McBrien; theology professor, The University of Notre Dame. "Confusing player. Nasty habit of never showing up in uniform. Changes rules in the middle of the game, somehow gets officials to agree with him. Has ruined some of the most promising young players in the game, yet his team keeps re-hiring him" - The Blessed Virgin Mary, AKA: Notre Dame
Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, PA and Chairman of the USCCB Liturgy Committee; "Unorthodox approach to calling the signals on the field. Instead uses extra large cue-cards and is known to sometimes simply yell instructions. Believes players are too stupid to learn the signs" - Doofus McGoofus of the Diocese of Erie
Roger Cardinal Mahony; Archbishop of Los Angeles (for the time being). "Not worth the money. Hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars... nothing to show for it but a losing record and an equally worse comb-over" - The 4,349,267 Catholics of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Friday, July 20, 2007
It was true in the Marines... it's true for The Church
My last tour of duty in The Corps was as the Director for the Corporals Leadership Course. For the young men who had just become Non-Commissioned Officers, this was their first official course of study in the fine art of leadership.
Whenever we'd pick-up a new class, one of the biggies I tried to impart on these youngsters was that a good subordinate leader never ever ever bad mouths the Old Man in front of the troops. Oddly enough, more often than not, "the Old Man" is in actuality a 27 yr-old Captain.
But anyhow, I'd ask them "have any of you ever witnessed a Corporal or a Sergeant inform his Fire Team/Squad/Platoon that they have been tasked with a rather unpleasant duty, and said "leader" stated words to the effect of "it's not me... it's that Captain (or Lieutenant, or Gunny, or Staff Sergeant) that's making me do this!"
Sadly enough, a couple of hands would always raise. And of course I'd ask "and what did you think of these so-called 'leaders'?" The various answers all boiled down to the fact that the troops may have thought that Cpl. XYZ or Sgt. ABC was "on their side", but eventually realized that Cpl. XYZ or Sgt. ABC were nothing more than moral cowards, and without fail, the troops quickly lost all respect for them.
As far as The Church goes, we saw a lot of that sort of thing happen during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. I looks as if some think they can still get away with that nonsense.
Case in point; here's some from an article in the Modesto Bee; [emphasis and comments mine]
Catholic bishop clarifies pope's statement
The Catholic Church is deeply committed to Christian unity and to acting on these words of Jesus. I consider it important to clarify possible misconceptions about the recent statement coming from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and ratified by Pope Benedict XVI. [Who appointed this particular bishop to "clarify" for the CDF and The Holy Father?]
Let me first say how much we respect our Christian brothers and sisters. In the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church affirmed that the church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church and is also "present and operative in the churches and ecclesial communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church." [Again, a reference to the birth of Catholicism... Vatican II.]
While the Catholic Church believes that there may be essential elements missing in other churches and ecclesial communities, she clearly acknowledges the elements of truth and sanctification that are in them. [There is no "may" about it. There are essential elements missing.]
In reality there is nothing new in this statement which has not already been discussed in ecumenical dialogue for 40 years. It is a response to a number of questions submitted to the congregation about certain Catholic theologians who may have gone beyond legitimate interpretations of Vatican II teaching. [Soooo, was 33 AD - 1962 AD correctly known as "The Lost Years"?]
The document in no way states that salvation is to be found only in the Catholic Church. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. The work of Christian unity is the work of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for this great gift of God and recommit ourselves to walking humbly on the path to oneness in Christ. [Translation: Screw you, Pope Benedict]
STEPHEN BLAIRE
bishop, Catholic Diocese of Stockton [I couldn't help but notice that he failed to capitalize Bishop, and that he made a conscience effort to ensure that he was of the Catholic Diocese of Stockton. Mustn't alienate the Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc. We're all essentially equal, you know]
How sad the good bishop failed to note that the CDF also affirmed that while other Christian bodies can play a role in bringing people to salvation, it is in the Catholic Church that "the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth." The Vatican document makes a further distinction between Orthodox churches that have preserved valid sacraments, and should be recognized as "sister churches," and Protestant groups that have not preserved the Eucharistic presence.
Disloyal subordinante leaders destroy unit moral and effectiveness. And they eventually cause troops to get killed in combat. We knew how to deal with the likes of them in The Corps. It sure would be nice to see The Church rediscover that particular tool of leadership.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
There's a word for people like this. They're called "barbarians"
From The Daily Mail (of London). Here are some of the lowlights;
Honour killing victim raped and tortured 'to let her soul out'
Honour-killing victim Banaz Mahmod was raped before she was tortured and died an agonising death, it has emerged. The 20-year-old Iraqi Kurd disappeared in January last year, and her body was found buried in a suitcase in a garden in Birmingham three months later. Prosecutor Victor Temple, QC, told the Old Bailey that her ordeal lasted two hours and she was subjected to rape and other degrading sexual acts. Banaz was garrotted for five minutes but took half an hour for her to die as her killers stamped on her neck to "let her soul out".
Last month her father Mahmod Mahmod, 52, and his brother Ari Mahmod, 52, were found guilty of murder. They ordered her execution because they believed she had shamed the family by falling in love with the wrong man.
They will be sentenced to life tomorrow with Mohamad Hama, 30, of West Norwood, south London, who pleaded guilty. Others who took part in the killing are on the run. Judge Brian Barker, the Common Serjeant of London, sat today to assess the extent of Hama's involvement. Mr Temple told him that according to Hama, Banaz was killed at her family home in Mitcham, south London.
Mahmod Mahmod ordered the killing of his daughter Banaz Mahmod, alongside his brother Ari Mahmod. Hama had been secretly taped laughing as he spoke of the murder to an unnamed visitor who visited him in Belmarsh prison after his arrest.
Mr Temple quoted Hama as saying: "I swear to God it took more than two hours. Her soul would not leave her body - it took over half an hour. I swear to God, my foot was on her back. I was kicking or stamping on her neck to get her soul out. She was stark naked, only wearing pants and underwear."
Hama went on: "The wire was thick. The soul would not just leave like that. The cord was around her neck, I could not remove it."
Granted, not all moslems participate in "honor killings"... but it's an accepted practice within islam. After all, when was the lasttime any of us saw tens of thousands of moslems protesting against "the radical moslem" practice of honor killings... or suicide bombers... or carving peoples heads off... or flying airplanes into buildings?
Never, that's when.
By the way... don't believe the drivel concerning the islamofascist claim that they'd never dream of killing "innocent people". Folks, by virtue of us being non-moslems, that makes every single one of us guilty in their eyes of blasphemy against the moon god, oops... I mean allah.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Simply amazin'... ain't it?
A few weeks ago, I pointed out that of the over 300 members of the USCCB, less than a dozen United States Bishops have come out and stated publicly that they would refuse Holy Communion to pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians, per the directives of The Holy Father. Less than a dozen out of 300. Isn't that pathetic?
Anyhow, I can't think of all that many American Bishops that have come right out and stated that they would obey the recent Summorum Pontificum, per the directives of The Holy Father, no ifs, ands or buts. No nuancing, no "exploratory committees", no "revisions the sacramental norms"... none of that nonsense.
Can anyone name more than a dozen US Bishops that have just come right out and said they will support The Holy Father without reservation? I can't.
New to The Lair
First up, everyone's favorite slavish liturgical translator, Father John Zuhlsdorf of "What Does The Prayer Really Say?". An absolute must for everyone. Informative, biting, witty, smart.
And a newbie to the Catholic blogosphere... so everyone swing over to his blog and say hi, show him where the bathrooms are, sit with him in the cafeteria, etc... Richard of "Scriptural Rosary". Besides, who can't help but be impressed by someone who has the Scriptural Rosary memorized!!?? And he wears cool hats, too.
And a special welcome back to our very own "I once was lost, but now am found" PreVatII! He's back from his 'round the world travels. From being lost in the swamps of Jersey, to Timbuktu, to Whisper Alley in Kinville, Okinawa, to Subic Bay, to Tijuana, back to parts unknown. Welcome back!!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
With my luck, Bishop Burbidge will be his replacement
Excellent commentary from Phil Lawler of Catholic World News;
To restore credibility, Cardinal Mahony should resign
by Phil Lawler
special to CWNews.com
Jul. 17, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Five years ago Cardinal Roger Mahony was reportedly encouraging Vatican officials to ask for the resignation of Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law. Using the same logical arguments that the American prelate presented in 2002, the Vatican should now ask Cardinal Mahony himself to step down.
The sensational cost of the sex-abuse scandal for the Los Angeles archdiocese far exceeds the devastation in Boston. The $660-million legal settlement announced on July 16 is nearly five times the total of the financial damages in Boston. Combining that settlement with previous agreements, lawyers' fees, and other associated costs, the overall price to be paid by the faithful Catholics of Los Angeles will approach $1 billion.
And two other stories dovetail nicely into the above commentary.
The first is from The California Catholic Daily concerning the LA pay-out entitled "About $67 per Catholic, more than $1 million per parish".
Can you even IMAGINE your parish coming up with a million bucks?
And the second is from the Catholic News Service entitled "Black Catholics must work to keep urban schools open, speaker says".
Hey, it's up to all of us to work to keep Catholic schools open, urban or otherwise. But ya gotta admit... it sure would be a damn sight easier if our "leaders" weren't shelling out close to a BILLION dollars because they protected rapist "priests". Ya think?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Where's all that "obedience to the pope!" I've been hearing about so much of? (Silly me, that only works if you're trashing the SSPX)
Some of article #1 (from Catholic World News) -
Pope Benedict uses older ritual for his private Mass
Vatican, Jul. 16, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI, who recently issued a motu proprio allowing all Catholic priests to celebrate the old Latin Mass, uses the older ritual himself for his private Mass, CWN has learned.
Informed sources at the Vatican have confirmed reports that the Holy Father regularly celebrates Mass using the 1962 Roman Missal.
Shortly after his election in April 2005, Pope Benedict ordered renovations of the Redemptoris Mater chapel in the apostolic palace. The changes included replacing the free-standing altar at which Pope John Paul celebrated Mass with a longer altar, closer to the rear wall of the chapel and with a tabernacle in the center. The new arrangement allows for the Pope to celebrate Mass in the ad orientem posture required for the older ritual.
Some of Article #2 (from the Wilmington Red Star... oops, the Wilmington Star News)
Papal retreat: Vatican II undone
by Paul Wilkes
With last Saturday's proclamation reinstating the Latin rite Mass, Pope Benedict XVI made the most dramatic statement of his still young papacy and, sadly, has charted a path to a Church that the vast majority of Catholics neither want nor need. Most dramatic until Tuesday, that is, when the Vatican proclaimed that you who attend Protestant - well, we can't call them churches anymore - places, to be "wounded," and obviously second-class Christians.
First the Latin rite. At a time when Catholic priests are already in short supply and overburdened, they will be required to provide a Latin Mass for any "stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition." And if they do not oblige, these "faithful" are encouraged to go to their bishop for redress, and if he is not forthcoming, to the Vatican.
Some would say: So what? Who is harmed by reinstating the Latin mass? There has been a battle in South Carolina over flying the Confederate Flag over the capitol building. Who is harmed, advocates ask? Of course, it is not the valor or sacrifice of Confederate soldiers at stake here, but what the flag has come to signify for many people: racism, bigotry, hatred. The authoritative British Catholic weekly, The Tablet, brands the Latin Mass a "flag of defiance."
I happened to be in a small Midwestern parish when the first papal announcement was made and the visiting priest, whose distinguished 52 years in the priesthood has taken him to Africa, Harlem, the United Nations and scores of parishes, was nonplussed.
"Ridiculous," he said. "I felt the Latin Mass was ridiculous as a young priest when I was mumbling into a wall, set off from the people, and it is even more ridiculous now when we've finally reached a point when people are active participants in this magnificent act of God's love."
The priest saw the edict as the latest in a series of efforts to unravel Vatican II practices, starting with the papacy of John Paul II. "They've killed off the best theologians, made the bishops into frightened schoolboys, and created an atmosphere of reporting minor liturgical infractions that rivals any totalitarian government," he said.
And, as for you Protestants, fear not: We Vatican II Catholics join you in our belief that the one, true God looks out lovingly upon us all, wherever we worship. [emphasis mine]
Note: the Red Star trots out self-proclaimed "Catholic expert" and known dissident, Paul Wilkes, every time they want to trash the Catholic Church. Which is at least weekly.
Or does this fall into the "Hissy-Fit" category?
WARNING! Harsh language alert. Even more shocking, it's not me using the harsh words!
I want everyone to see the handiwork of one who has been excavemunicated. As many of you already know, there has been a bit of a... hmmmm, shall I say "disagreement"... between myself and another blogger concerning both myself and Former Altar Boy giving the lions share of the credit for keeping the Traditional Latin Mass alive over the past few decades to the SSPX.
As I've stated in the past, even though I attend a Diocesan Mass, I have to be honest enough to state that if it weren't for Abp Lefevbre and the SSPX, then the Traditional Latin Mass would have been smothered to death years ago. If it weren't for them, there never would have been an Ecclesia Deo Commission nor would there have ever been a Motu Proprio.
Folks, we gotta be honest, and give credit where credit is due. But anyhow, here's what greeted me this morning;
General has left a new comment on your post "Was It The Motu Proprio, Or Possibly Something Els...":
Why do you keep defending SSPX? The rest of protestant christendom were raised as separated. SSPX is willfully separating now because they are a bunch of gay, schismatic corn-holers. Kevin, are you a gay, schismatic corn holer? Is that why you keep posting pictures of men in fairy suits?
Kevin, seriously, do you fantasize about gay sex? I think you do.
If you were in my platoon you'd never make it through you little panzy. Are you really a marine? Or just some poser, national guard wanna-be? The devil dogs I know don't have time for this nonsense of who faces what way during mass. The Marines I know have seen too much death to worry about some schismatic pansies in France who want to thumb their nose at the Holy Father.
Publish this comment.
Reject this comment.
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by General to The Lair of the Catholic Cavemen at 8:23 PM
Be it known that only three bloggers know that my given name is Kevin (and now everyone does, but that's no problem), and all three of those folks have been banned from The Lair of the Catholic Cavemen for various reasons. Of the three, one is a woman, and even though we've had differences in the past, I'd like to think that she wouldn't conduct herself as posted above. I can eliminate her. So I have it narrowed down to just two. And of those two, one has pretty much dropped off the radar. I can eliminate him.
That leaves one. The same one who has attempted to use the National Guard reference before in a sorry attempt to insult me. BTW, nice job of degrading millions of those who have served their nation proudly as Guardsmen. Not that "General" has ever served. A First Phase Marine Corps Recruit is a hundred times more the man then "General" could ever hope to be.
"General" is a perfect example of the old saying we had in the Marine Corps; hell hath no fury like a non-combatant.
Let me say this to "General"... junior, you're a punk. I can't think of a better way to put it. Just "punk". You're a sad, pathetic excuse for a human being. You're a prime example of a "cyber-tough guy". There's no doubt in my mind that you'd never have the guts to talk trash to my face. You'd just quiver. So "General", the whole world now knows what a fraud and coward you really are. I can almost see you now crying into your pillow. In between pillow fights, that is.
BTW "General", did you notice that there's a time stamp on your message? I have SiteMeter, you idiot. I know exactly who and where you are.
Time to get back to fighting this stupidity
From monstrance to monster. The Feast of Corpus Christi becomes an insipid, dumbed-down, non-Catholic dress-up party.
Holy Family Primary School in Canberra, Australia has an odd way of teaching young Catholic children what the Feast of Corpus Christi is suppose to be about.
Instead of instructing said Catholic children that Christ Himself loves us so much, He has made Himself available to us all in The Blessed Sacrament, and specifically, this feast solemnly commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist, this is what Catholic children were taught....
Everyone should dress up like someone or something that started with the letter "C." Among the costumes were a court jester, a clairvoyant, a chicken, a cow, a clock, a compass...and this unmistakably Catholic icon... (as identified on the school's website) "a Canuck with a chainsaw". Clearly referencing "slasher" horror film villains such as those in "Friday the 13th" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." How charming.
I guess a cross, or a crosier, or a cruet, or even St. Edmund Campion were out of the question. Way too Catholic. After all, clowns, cows and 'Canucks with Chainsaws' explain the Feast of Corpus Christi better than any example I have or could ever hope to give... huh?
Seriously, what does a compass or a chicken have to do with the Feast of Corpus Christi?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Where's all that "obedience to the pope" talk I hear from the liberals?
As Benny16SurfRider pointed out to me today, Father Zuhlsdorf over at What Does The Prayer Really Say? also has a running series of posts concerning official responses to the Motu Proprio.
I gotta say this, yet again.... those in the past who screamed "obey the pope!" when it came to their rabid attacks on the SSPX, also happen to be the same ones who are one inch away from being totally out of control concerning the Motu Proprio.
While I'm at it... why is it that the liberals consistently refer to the both heretical and schismatic Protestants as "our seperated bretheren" are the same ones who sneer down their collective noses at the SSPX as if they're no more than scum?
Let the pouting of Roman Protestant bloggers begin!!
I came across yet another wimpy "Progressive" blog this fine morning, where the owner of such decided to attack my partner-in-crime, Former Altar Boy. Specifically, FAB's posting from yesterday entitled "Who Is More "Inside" the Church?"
Much like a drowning man clutching at a sword, the ever delusional and confused Tony over at "Catholic Tickle Fight" (or some such childishly named blog more befitting 12-yr-old girls at a sleep over) had to take his swipes at the FAB, Remnant columnist Brian Mershon, and the SSPX.
Now I realize that the Progressives are uber-pissed. And uber-pissed they should be. They just got smacked with a triple whammy of reality... and they don't like it one bit.
First, the Motu Proprio comes out. Then it slowly starts to dawn on them that this flirtation with Protestantism (AKA: The Spirit of Vatican II) just had it's punk card pulled. And to complete the hat trick, folks who have never set foot in an SSPX Chapel (like FAB) have the gall to point out that the SSPX is more in line with the desires of The Holy Father than the heroes of Roman Protestants everywhere; such as Cardinal Mahony, Bishop Trautman, Bishop Brown, etc, etc, ad nauseum. But hey, in all fairness to Tony, I never really did expect him to pay any attention to the obvious or to ever utilize common sense.
But the Gold Standard of Panic for Tony is when he stated "Protestants cannot be charged with the sin of separation. The SSPX can." What planet is this guy on? I guess he's never heard of the Protestant Revolt of the 1500's nor of the 30,000 and ever growing heretical and schismatic Protestant sects world-wide. Seriously folks... how is anyone suppose to take a blatantly stupid comment like the one Tony made, and still take him seriously? Simple - we can't.
But you know, this is exactly what FAB was pointing out. Ecumaniacs like Tony (and others Roman Protestant bloggers I've read the past few days) will give heretical Protestants a pass (if not a big ol' hug followed by a sloppy kiss), but will go after the SSPX with nothing short of what can best be described as blood lust.
Just so there's no confusion, be it known that I don't attend Mass as celebrated by the SSPX, I attend a Diocesan Mass. Does that still qualify me as a "Rad-Trad"?
And now it's time for some brutal honesty... if it weren't for Archbishop Lefevbre and the SSPX, there would have never been a Motu Proprio, an Ecclesia Dei Commission, or even a Latin Mass present day. It would have died decades ago. Archbishop Lefevbre kept it alive. And for that, we should all be eternally grateful to him. I know I am.
But you know what? I think I really know what caused The Spirit of Vatican II wimps to melt-down... their favorite whipping boy was right all along. And they're having a REALLY tough time dealing with it.
Oh, by the way... has anyone else noticed that initially it was everyone associated with the SSPX was considered excommunicated. Then the laity who attend a Mass as celebrated by the SSPX weren't considered such. Only the Clerics, Religious, and Third Order were considered excommunicated. Then another change from Rome came down, and the priests, Religious and Third Order weren't considered excommunicated, only the Bishops. Hmmm... in just a few short years, the numbers of those considered excommunicated by Rome went from one million down to just four.
It really isn't all that hard to see what's going to happen next. I can spot the obvious a mile away. Too bad Tony can't. But then again, he's busy kissing Protestant ass.
But I gotta tell ya
Last week I was speaking with a friend who is in the final stages of entering the seminary. Keep in mind that this individual was a rarity not all that long ago... a seminarian under the age of 25. Anyhow, I tread very carefully when I asked him how his fellow seminarians are reacting to the Motu Proprio. He responded with "you gotta be kidding! Almost half of the incoming class are Traddies!"
That got the wheels turnin' in the ol' brain housing group. I've been saying for quite some time that it took 40 years to get things this screwed up, and it'll take years for things to get squared away. The Motu Proprio is by no stretch of the imagination some sort of overnight cure-all.
Then that got me to thinking about my own parish priest, a more humble, holy man you'll never meet. As many of you know, when I wasn't doing so well a few months back, it was this priest who literally and figuratively dropped everything to get to the hospital to give me Last Rites... twice.
As I posted about him last January - "Over the next two days, I was given Last Rites twice by my wonderful, but wishes to remain anonymous, parish priest. I don't remember the 2d Last Rites [they knocked me out for a couple of days because my intestines were swelling out of my body, and they didn't think that the remaining small bowel that was stitched together would "remain viable" as they said. That's when my family was told that I was probably going to die], but on the first one, I remember him being clear, calm and straightforward. He would ask me "Do you understand what I just said?", and "now slowly say your Penance to me". What an excellent priest."
Anyhow, I said to Father last Sunday, "Father don't take this as an insult. Take it as the compliment that it's meant to be. But I don't think you'll ever see a Bishop's Ring. But the young men that you influence now most certainly will wear one someday."
I use to think that Father X came along 100 years too late. Boy, was I wrong. He's here exactly at the right time.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Clergy and laity who pray for the Pope at every Mass or Protestants and other heretical sects?
Hat Tip to PreVat2
In the introduction to his report of an exclusive interview he had with Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), on Summorum Pontificum, Remnant columnist Brian Mershon, had this profound observation:
“The irony is that many Catholic bishops, priests and faithful who hold almost exclusively the sacramental ecclesiology [which defines Christians as having “degrees of unity” of communion with the Church instead of the more juridical understanding of “membership” in the Church] are often those to claim the SSPX is “outside” the Church, while at the same time calling Protestants “separated brethren” and refusing to use the terms “schismatic” or “heretic” to those who are further away from the body, heart and soul of the Church. In other words, they will often engage in ecumenical events and worship services with those who don’t share the same Faith and sacraments and no ordained priesthood, but will be the first to warn Catholics against attending Mass at an SSPX chapel with other Catholics.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Yep... that pretty much defines "hard"
A special helmet tip to Tom over at Confounding The Wicked
While conducting counter-insurgency operations this morning with Battalion Landing Team 3/1's Lima Company, [Cpl. Gareth] Hawkins' vehicle was hit by a massive improvised explosive device, shattering his right leg and injuring two other Marines. Within minutes of the blast, Hawkins was set to be flown out of the area and into the hands of higher medical care.
According to 1st Sgt. Gary Moran, Lima Co. First Sergeant, Hawkins didn't want to leave until he was reenlisted by battalion staff here, more than 14 kilometers from his position.
"Hawkins just got hit in a major blast that could've killed him," Moran said, "and he said, 'First Sergeant, I don't want to fly out … I want to go to (the Combat Outpost) first'." The First Sergeant said he was stunned. After assessing Hawkins' condition, movement to the COP was approved. While lying on a litter in the surgical area, Hawkins, straining words through extreme pain, gave his reasons for the unusual request.
"'Cause it's motivating," said the Spokane, Wash. native. "I was going to reenlist anyway, this is what I wanted to do." Throughout the surgical station, Marines and medical personnel could be heard murmuring "(expletive) motivating, man …," and "that's crazy." Hawkins wouldn't budge.
The Battalion Executive Officer, Maj. Kevin Gonzalez, along with the Career Retention Specialist Staff Sgt. Chandrash Malapaka, and several others crammed into the tiny room for the ceremony. "We're going to do the short version of this," said the Executive Officer.
Raising his right hand, Hawkins took the oath of enlistment by 1st Lt. Warren A. Frank, his platoon commander. With no time for the usual formalities of backslaps and handshakes, Hawkins was immediately carried out via litter and evacuated.
Standing by his sense of duty and raw determination in the face of extreme pain and uncertainty, Cpl. Gareth Hawkins has epitomized the battalion motto of "3/1 Hard."
For those who don't know, 3/1 is the Marine Corps designation for the 3d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Click here to see his Top 10 reasons to hate the Moru Proprio
One thing I'll give Bishop Trautman... at least he brought up the Motu Proprio on his diocesan web site. He's batting .400, but at least he said something.
That's more than I can say for Roger Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles. As of this date and time (11:00 EST, July 13, 2007), absolutely nothing on the Archdiocese of LA web site even makes the slightest of mentions of the most earth-shaking news to hit to Catholicism since Vatican II.
But they do have a listing (the very first on their menu) of various languages that Mass is celebrated in. If one counts "African-American" and "Native-American" Cultural Focus as languages, then Mass is celebrated in 31 languages... from American Sign Language to Vietnamese.
Shockingly enough... Latin isn't listed. They love saying how they do offer it in accordance with Ecclesia Dei, but it's location is uber-secret. I guess they're on double secret probation.
The Archdiocesan newspaper, The Tidings (or as I call it... Low Tidings) ran a story on the MP. They're batting .400.
My hometown diocese, San Diego (I grew up there), has zilch on their web site. I guess they're still busy selling off church property to pay for rapist "priests". But the diocesan paper, The Southern Cross, did mention the MP in a story from the Catholic News Service (the official news organ of the USCCB).
It was a rather terse snippet that summed up the release of the MP as essentially "[the Pope's] time-honored Vatican tradition: clearing his desk". From there, five whole sentences about the freeing of the Traditional Latin Mass. Hey, if Bishop Brom wants to ignore the runner on 3d, that's his call. But like I said... he's probably really super busy selling off church property. One must set priorities, you know.
The Diocese of Tucson is conspicuously silent as well. But they do have a link prominently displayed to report rapists "priests". Wow... I'm underwhelmed.
I'm genuinely surprised by the reaction of Archbishop Weurl of Washington, DC. I'll admit that I don't trust Archbishop Weurl... especially since his refusal to stand-up to pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians. But anyhow, the Archdiocesan web site states "We will be putting together a committee to revise the sacramental norms and facilitate implementation of the motu proprio by its effective date in September". Hmmm.... certain catch-words jump out at me. "Committee", "revise", "facilitate". Sheesh... why all the drama? In the words of a certain shoe company -- "just do it".
And in all fairness, I did come across more than one Diocesan web site that hasn't been updated since July, 6th, the day before the Motu Proprio was announced. I'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt in the meantime.
But you know... the news isn't all bad.
But the winner of the 1st Annual Vir Speluncae Catholicus "Gee, I'm Glad He's My Bishop" Award is His Excellency Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, NC.
News
Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Letter on the Roman Rite
On Saturday, July 7, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI promulgated motu proprio the Apostolic Letter On the Use of the Roman Liturgy Prior to the Reform of 1970. (Summorum Pontificum).
The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge will meet with advisors to begin pastoral implementation of the Holy Father’s instructions. Directions given in the Apostolic Letter will be effective September 14, 2007, the feast of the Triumph of the Cross.
No double-talk, no catch phrases, no seminar-speak, just straight talk. "...begin pastoral implementation...". No committees being formed. No "ascertaining what constitutes a stable community". No searching for loopholes to end-run around The Holy Father.
There's only one thing I don't like about Bishop Burbidge being the Bishop of Raleigh... I got a nasty feeling that he'll be leaving us fairly soon (at least within 4 years). I can easily see him moving onto an Archdiocese one day soon.
Catholicism is a dish best served centuries old
Did you ever notice that those who detest everything Catholic pre-1962, always rationalized their hatred of the SSPX by screeching "obedience to the Pope!"? Well... where's their obedience now?
Bishop #1 ~ From the Brian Mershon interview with Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X.
Q: Some within the Church continue to state the SSPX is in schism; how do you answer to the following question? When was the last time 6,000 schismatics prayed in Rome during the Year of the Jubilee in 2000? When was the last time schismatics sent a spiritual bouquet of 2.5 million rosaries to the Holy Father?
A: And we have an even better argument in the [Pope’s] letter that accompanies the motu proprio on the Mass where the Holy Father says it is an internal matter within the Catholic Church—in the Church.
It clearly states that it is not about a schism. It is about an interior dispute which requires an interior reconciliation within the Church.
So we have it from the word of the boss. Our Pope says it is not a schism.
Bishop #2 ~ The Official Statement from Bishop Trautman on Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter “Summorum Pontificum” (with appropriate commentary from the learned Patrick Archbold of Creative Minority Report ;
The recent apostolic letter of Pope Benedict XVI on widening the use of the liturgical books of 1962 is prompted by his desire to reach out to those Catholics in schism [It seems that no matter how many times this gets corrected, they still say it. So it must be true.] because of their non-acceptance of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. [Only the crazies you see, nobody who accepts V-II wants it.]
The Second Vatican Council, an ecumenical council of the Church [in case you didn't know], restored and adapted the liturgy recommending vernacular languages for the worship life of the Church [he must have forgotten about V-II mandating the retention of Latin, oops.] Pope Benedict, sensitive to those still clinging [what are the young clinging to?] to the Tridentine Latin Mass (the 1962 missal) and liturgical rites prior to Vatican II, now grants a more generous application of that former liturgy.
Since the Diocese of Erie already permits the celebration of the Tridentine Mass in two locations, St. Ann Parish in Erie and St. Bernadette Parish in Saegertown, I do not foresee a pressing pastoral need on the part of our people. [The diocese of Erie is composed of the thirteen counties of Northwestern Pennsylvania with a Catholic population of about 225,000. Geographically, it is the largest diocese in the state covering 9,936 square miles! Yup, two is plenty.]
In the future, I will be issuing diocesan norms to help apply and order the specifics of the pope’s letter. Priests who might want to celebrate the Tridentine Mass [before being banished to the smallest coal town in Pennsylvania] will be given a rubrical and Latin exam to comply with the pope’s own statement, “The use of the old missal presupposes a certain degree of liturgical formation and some knowledge of the Latin language.” [One can only imagine the type of exam that the good bishop will concoct...Please translate the entire Webster's dictionary into Latin, you have 30 minutes...starting now.]
Further, there will be need to ascertain that the common good of the parish prevails and to ascertain what constitutes a stable community [Oooh, the hurdles he will think up for this one!] of those requesting the 1962 missal. We must keep in proper perspective [read, "my perspective"] the pope’s more generous use of the liturgical rites prior to 1962. The pope himself has said: “It is clearly seen that the new missal will certainly remain the ordinary form of the Roman rite.”
As my partner-in-crime, Former Altar Boy, posted the other day;
At the end of an article on the Pope’s motu propio Summorum Pontificum in the bulletin at our Latin Mass chapel, was this warning:
“BE prepared for the following arguments and zingers in just about every article to be published on the Classic Roman Rite:
1. Anti-Semitic
2. Sexist
3. Roll back Vatican II
4. Priest turns back on people
5. No one understands Latin
6. No one attends Old Mass
7. Permission already exists
8. Ultra-conservatives
9. All who favor Latin Mass are SSPX ‘extremists’
Watch your popular media and certain Catholic publications and see how close the author was.
If Bishop Trautperson were playing Major League Baseball, he'd be making $50 million a season. He's batting .400, and the Motu Proprio hasn't even been implemented yet.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Mirror, mirror, on the wall... who the queerest one of all?
WARNING!! Yeah, yeah... harsh language --- graphic images --- we know the drill
More fairy follies from that national Theater of the Absurd, better known as the Democratic Party. The sphincteristas and the "farts are an aphrodesiac" crowd are actually going to debate on who's 'the gayest'.
Here's a wee bit of the article;
Democrats Will Debate Which Candidate is the Most "Gay"
Debate is most likely to become showcase for Sen. Hillary Clinton
By Peter J. Smith
LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The leading Democratic presidential candidates will hold a televised debate to determine which one candidate will best represent and promote the interests of the homosexual agenda.
Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Chris Dodd have agreed to participate in the debate, which portends to become a spectacle of one-upmanship as to which candidate is the most pro-homosexual.
The debate is scheduled in Los Angeles for August 9 at 9PM EST and is sponsored by Viacom's homosexual television network LOGO and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the most influential lobby of homosexual activists in the United States.
These four Democratic candidates will discuss a range of homosexual issues including gay "marriage", civil unions, discrimination based on sexual orientation, homosexuals in the military, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS etc.
I think we all know who the winner of this little abomination is.