First Communion "Star Wars" Mass with Light Saber Blessing

Hohenbrunn (Catholic news). There is a tremendous departure presently in southern Germany, which had its source in association with four parishes (St. Stephen in Putzbrunn, Ortisei in Sunnyvale, St. Magdalena in Ottobrun and St. Stephen in Hohenbrunn), from the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. It wasn't Darth Vader who gave the blessing to the first communion children. This was personally undertaken by Pastor Christoph Nobs with a bright green laser sword at the celebration of a Star Wars First Communion Mass. The idea for the stars-War Communion came from Nicolas Gkotses community director. Star Wars had been a theme for the children in their religious instruction and so he tried to communicate the gospel in this way in a timely manner. - "May the force be with you!"

 Source: Lightsaber blessing hi-münchen.de

Eucharistic Miracle in Sri Lanka? Buddhist Vandals are Forgiven by Cardinal Ranjith

(Colombo) A group of Buddhists devastated the Catholic Church of St. Francis Xavier in Angulana, in the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The vandals smashed a 143 year old statue of Mary. However, their goal was the Blessed Sacrament. The perpetrators tore the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament from the altar, broke it up and set it on fire. According to police, at least 30 liters of kerosene were poured over the tabernacle, to put it on fire. However, by some miracle the consecrated Hosts did not burn in the tabernacle which was damaged but remained intact.

When the sacristan discovered the vandalism, he rang the church bells, so that the faithful flocked together. The Catholics of the Archdiocese of Colombo are shocked by the incident.

Many look to the integrity of the consecrated hosts as a miraculous intervention. A Eucharistic miracle, which should demonstrate the power of God, and shame the attacker, as it happened in Lanciano, Bolsena and many other places over the past 2000 years? "A great miracle has happened, mediated by Jesus in our country and it will give the attackers a message: No one can destroy Christ and His love. No one can harm Him," were the quoted voices of local Catholics by Asianews.

Pastor Christo Viraj Fernando and his chaplain Kasun Fernando condemned the violence. At the same time, they called on the faithful to remain calm, to thank God for the wonderful integrity of the consecrated Hosts to pray for the conversion of the perpetrators and to forgive them.

Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo has initiated investigations. The intact Hosts were brought to safety in order to allow the police, but also the church to inspect them. The Cardinal will perform the reconsecration as competent bishop for a church desecration according to church canons, before the church can be reopened for worship.

The incident occurred on 5 June at about 10 clock in the evening. Initially, Buddhist extremists were thought of as they have attacked Christians for months in Sri Lanka, but it may also be an attack from the Islamic minority. The attacks usually are a result of Buddhist extremist organizations Bodu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya. A new phenomenon, the police and the public are faced with new challenges. Previously religiously motivated violence were a rarity on the island.

On Monday, the police arrested four teenagers. They are said to have done the deed while intoxicated. The facts did not correspond to the first suggestion, that there were two Buddhists and two Catholic perpetrators. According to police, all four perpetrators were Buddhists. Cardinal Ranjith has shown them the spirit of Christian love in public, such as the Sunday Times reported from Sri Lanka.

Text: Asianews / Giuseppe Nardi Image: Tamil Week Trans: Tanc

Ad Features Blasphemous Dipping Host into Sauce

(Melbourne) With a blasphemous ad, an Australian food distrubutor is advertizing its dipping sauce. The advertisement shows a Bishop who is giving Communion. A communicant takes the Host half in her mouth, then pulls out a jar of sauce and dunks the Host in, in order to make it "more tasty". The sacrilegious tastelessness makes clear the general acceptance in secular circles, that in contrast to other religions like Judaism and Islam, Christianity can be insulted with impunity.

The evil ad was eventually pulled.

THE controversial online ad showing a sacramental wafer being dipped into a jar of yeast spread during a Catholic mass has been withdrawn days after its release. 

The ad was produced to promote the AussieMite spread and had caused widespread anger among Catholics. At the time, its creator, Mick Hunter from Sydney agency Grown-Ups, said the ad was "probably a bit sacrilegious" and made in the hope of going "a bit viral". But in a statement released through its Facebook page, AussieMite said it never intended to cause offence. 

"We sincerely apologise for any offence caused. It was never the intention to do so, but we recognise that for some it did. 

"We have listened to your comments and removed any and all instances of the campaign from our social media channels. Furthermore, we have requested for the ad to be removed from all other channels. 

"We are a small family-owned company looking to establish ourselves and a product we believe in and love. 

"We sincerely hope that this will not dissuade you from buying AussieMite in the future." 

AussieMite founder Roger Ramsey said he had been shocked by the reaction. He said a death threat had been left on the company's telephone message bank but he had not taken it seriously. "I didn't think there would be such an emotional reaction," he said. "It was only intended to be tongue in cheek and a bit of fun. "   

Our intentions have always been to do good not create division. Our values our concerned with the health and well-being of the consumer." 

Time heals all wounds. The positive thing is that by and large the vast majority of the Catholic and other Christian communities have embraced the apology and are prepared to move on."

Apparently, there was also a death threat from one of the several million Catholics who lives in Australia.  We probably don't have to imagine how many there would have been had Jewish or Islamic sensibilities been offended.

Church Vandalism Grows in France -- Thieves or Satanists?

(Paris) in France  acts of vandalism taken place against churches. One of the most recent cases occurred to the Church of Saint Jean Valence (Department of Drome) in southern France, the altar  was set on fire by criminals or Satanists.  The deed was committed on the 10th of May. The parish of Saint-Émilien to which the church belongs, stated: "On Friday, the 10th of May, it was severely damaged by arson, a church from the time of Saint-Jean. We pray for the perpetrators and we ask God to protect His Church. "

On 17 Thus May the regional newspaper La Voix du Nord that was broken in the church of Saint Vaast Ecuires in northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais. The tabernacle was broken into and a chalice and stole the cup with the consecrated hosts. To gain entry to the church, or the perpetrators then broke the main door, inside the door to the sacristy. They also stole a monstrance, a silver chalice, and the ciborium with the consecrated Hosts. . The loot had no particular value. "The symbolic damage is far greater than the value of the stolen items," the newspaper quoted the mayor Philippe Cousin as saying.

In both cases, the perpetrators are unknown. It is still unclear whether they were vandals, thieves or Satanists. Police are investigating.

Iconoclastic Play Directed at the Mother of God

Edit: when the reviewer here says “iconoclastic” he thinks of it as being something positive.   This is the real war on the woman.  It attempts to portray Mary as a menopausal East Coast liberal.  These sorts of events have been closed down and disrupted in Europe by courageous youth.  Why not in New Jersey?

It was not quite the Blessed Mother I knew. But actress Fiona Shaw’s Mary was blessed in all her humanness on display at the Walter Kerr Theatre where she flawlessly embodied the mother of Jesus in the iconoclastic “The Testament of Mary,” by Irish playwright and author Colm Toibin. 

Her Mary was raw and naked in many ways. And that could explain the protests mounted by the American Society of Tradition, Family and Property on opening night. 

While some sang “Ave Maria,” others held signs that read, “It’s fiction, not truth, but 100 percent blasphemy.” The producers responded in a Playbill online statement, “The Testament of Mary explores in a very serious way, something that matters to all of us. It is neither anti-Mary nor anti-Christianity but a portrait of a very human woman a mother who is trying to make sense of and come to terms with the tragic death of her son.”

Link to source...

Church Desecration in France -- Consecrated Hosts stolen from the Tabernacle in Vienne

(Vienne) in the French city of Vienne, there was a sacrilege. The parish of Naintré the tabernacle was broken into during the night from Sunday to Monday. The perpetrator or perpetrators forced entry into the Church and stole two consecrated Hosts from the tabernacle which served for Eucharistic adoration. The perpetrators broke most of the radial parts of the monstrance. They then set off in search of other consecrated hosts in another tabernacle in a side chapel, in which, however, no Most Holy Sacrament of the altar was reserved.

The pastor lamented that the media have not even taken note of the blasphemous sacrilege. "If someone had laid hands on a mosque, all would have been screaming for a media scandal. But what of it when it happens to a Catholic Church? ", As L'Observatoire de la Christianophobia reported. Satanists are suspected as the perpetrators.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: L'Observatoire de la Christianophobia\
Translated: Tancred

 Link to Katholisches...

Priest Caught in Liturgical Abuses Sues to Have Video Removed

Edit: the SSPX German District has even offered to buy this parish a hall where they can celebrate Carnival (Mardigras).

It's also interesting to note that these kinds of vandals have a sense of shame and appear concerned about the effect such campaigns as this will have on their already flagging reputations.

(Katholisches, Stuttgart)  The Society of St. Pius X has published a video n their website, on which depicts Dean Schanzle from Ochsenhausen and a carnival society which blasphemed the Most Holy and defiled the  sanctuary.  The Deann would like the publication withdrawn by way of a legal complaint.

In 2013 Dean Schanzle may again damage the All Holy and the sanctuary again with a carnival society.   He said to the 'Schwäbischen Zeitung':  "A fool's Mass will be offered again in Fasnets-Hochburg. We receive people there who otherwise aren't church goers."

The Society of St. Pius X is refusing to remove the video frm its site, which according to their account doesn't violate any intellectual property right.    The action is born "of the pilgrimage church of Ochsenhausen, which is neither the private property of Dean Schanzle nor that of the parish community.   Every Liturgical service belongs to the whole Catholic Church, not only t a particular parish community",  say the remarks there on pius.info's page.

And Now, The Erotic Liturgy

That Homily Spoke to Me

Edit: This "Liturgy" is protestant, but it would be easy to see something similar going on in many parts of decaying Germany's Catholic institutions.

If you ever really wanted to keep people from going to Mass, this is it!  Mass attendance in Germany and the West in general of course is catastrophic, and this is a significant part of the reason why.  This Liturgy is actually a lot more underwhelming, embarrassing and nauseating than it is erotic.  

It really underscores the delusion on the part of the presumably (kath.net says he is) homosexual pastor and the people who tolerate him.

A Nassau-Hessian homosexual Pastor:  "We are crying for God with desire."

Wiesbadent (kath.net/idea)  In order to make a powerful media echo, about 200 [Mostly over 60] visitors packed a church to have an "erotic Liturgy" on the 5th of August in the Wiesbaden city district of Mainz-Kastel.  It was held under the motto, "In the Vineyard of Love".  Numerous media reported about the service in the internet editions, by "Frankfurter Rundschau", the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", the "Suddeutsche Zeitung", "Die Welt", "Stern", "Focus" and of course "Der Spiegel".

Edit:   The local was unimpressed, but the pastor's language is quite deplorable and odd.  Why should people be subjected to this sort  of thing?

Ralf Schmidt of the Erlöserkirche ("Church of the Saviour") in Wiesbaden, western Germany, had promised a service celebrating the divine element of physical love, news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Sunday. 

"There is no life without eroticism, and no life without God," he said during his sermon, the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper reported. "Taste each other, look at each other, feel each other, feel how friendly life can be. My backside, my hands, my tongue, my penis, my earlobes are the landing spots of love. In this way we want to enjoy what God has given us, even though we don't have paradise anymore. Because love comes from God, not the devil." 

Later, he led his 200-strong congregation in a swaying dance as they held hands to foster a sense of intimacy, while the organ played Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender."

Link to the Local.... 

Warsaw Archbishop: Madonna Concert 'Vulgar and Self-Indulgent"

The protest was also held against the timing of the concert in Poland, on the memorial of the murder of 200,000 of their countrymen  in the 1944 uprising against the Germans.

Warsaw (kath.net/KNA/red)  A Madonna concert on the anniversary of the Warsaw uprising has been condemned by the Polish capital's Archbishop Henryk Hoser in his reflection on the event.  The churchman described the show for the Warsaw radio station as "blasphemous, vulgar and self-indulgent".

The call for the freedom of art with may not justify the "deafening bedlam" on this day.  "There's no excuse for this",  said Hoser according to Polish news agency HAI's report.

Every year Poland recalls its countrymen on August 1st who were murdered when the Nazis put down the uprising.

The correspondence of the Madonna's appearance was criticized by many Poles.  Around 55,000 people supported the protest of the conservative youth organization "Youth Crossing".  They also criticized that the pop star insults the Catholic Faith.

Because of the Catholic protest the Warsaw city council insisted that the singer run a two and a half minute information video on the Polish Uprising of 1944.  This was reported by Cathnews USA.  This also happened to the applause of thousands of fans. [groan]

The national statidum is in the Archdiocese of Warsaw-Praga not far from the Cathedral of Archbishop Hoser.  Already in 2009 the Poles protested against a Madonna concert on the Assumption.  The Catholic Church then declined the Catholic right-wing committee to have a Mass for the protest.  It was not opportune, was the reasoning.

(C) 2012 Catholic News Agency KNA Inc. All rights reserved.

Devilish "Energy Drink" Blasphemes the Mass in Poland

Edit: We got this from an organizer at Polish Facebook group Satanizm nie przejdzie - bojkot produktów Agros Nova, to ban satanic advertisement of an energy drink and its insult to the Mass in Poland of all places.  It just goes to show you that things are getting bad all over.

Catholics, Christians, all believers in God! Poland is under an assault of corporate-sponsored satanism in the form of the "Demon Energy Drink" advertisement campaign. Our young are being corrupted with praises of demonic values and occult symbolism. We have to put an end to it! Our page promotes a boycott of all the grocery products of Agros-Nova, a company that makes "Demon Energy Drink" in Poland. The more likes we have, the bigger chance we have to be successful. I urge you to add your "like" to this page [called "Satanism shall not pass - boycott of Agros Nova products"], even if you are not from Poland. This is very important! Satan is attacking the last major Catholic country in Europe. We need to stand up and defend it!

Contact information, here.

Agros Nova Sp. z o.o.
al. Stanów Zjednoczonych 61 a
04-028 Warszawa
tel. 717 17 00
faks 717 18 00
export@agrosnova.pl
www.agrosnova.pl

Agros Nova Sp. z o.o.
Zakład w Łowiczu
ul. gen. Wł. Sikorskiego 5
99-400 Łowicz
tel. (46) 830 27 00
faks (46) 837 54 37

Agros Nova Sp. z o.o.
Zakład w Tymienicach
Tymienice 88
98-220 Zduńska Wola
tel. (43) 823 53 22
faks (43) 825 38 33

KZPOW Włocławek Sp. z o.o.
ul. Wieniecka 27
87-800 Włocławek
tel. (54) 236 0081 - centrala
(54) 236 4301 (tel/fax)
(54) 236 0228 - Dział Sprzedaży
faks (54) 236 4256 - Dział Sprzedaży
kzpow.sekretariat@agrosnova.pl
sprzedaz.kzpow@wp.pl

Insensitive "Ale Mary's" Bar Owner Continues the Hate

Edit:   Here is one of the bar owners, Tom Rivers, with a smug and irrepressible grin on his face in a recent article in a local Baltimore paper. As of yet he hasn't said he will open up a Simonbar Schul and call it Mad Dog 20/20.

It's been interesting that despite the prima faciae hate speech being directed against the Catholic Church that it continues

In a way it's not surprising, since the bar owner has proven to be vulgar and disrespectful in the extreme as when the concerned forum owner of Fisheaters approached him in a very friendly way. I don't think he'd tolerate anyone talking to his female relatives the way he wrote to her by completely unnecessary verbal putrescence.

It's also not surprising that the media, both local and national has been unsympathetic and even disrespectful in their own right.  Local Baltimore Fox affiliate lied when it said that it tried to contact leaders of the group opposed to "Ale Mary's" blasphemy initially.  They still haven't contacted anyone.  They also weren't interested in Tom River's threatening and offensive behavior either.

Despite attempting to justify this farce, they've appealed to the Archdiocese which gave far less than a resounding endorsement, and claimed to have a certificate that justifies the objects use.  We've tried to respectfully contact the Archdiocese, but no further clarification has been given.  

We'll assume that is a green light for more prayer and fasting.

There is going to be a rosary said before the bar on the Sunday after Corpus Christi at 230pm.  All Catholics and non-Catholics who find this sort of thing detestable are invited to attend and show solidarity.

Here are some of the other blogs:

Something Twisted Veneremur

The Sissyness of Catholic Bashers Fisheaters

Ale Mary's Sacrilege Storm

Women of Grace Joan Benkovic

Pink Plastic Statue

Here's the back story from a local blog:

My eyes scan the ecclesiastical accoutrements of the surroundings and fixate on the pink Jesus statue on the center of the bar that appears to be watching over the inhabitants of this small earthly kingdom. During the course of the afternoon, our good-natured host and owner of the establishment, Mary Rivers, relates a story about a time when this Fells Point flock was deprived of its rubicund protector. Apparently some pub crawling philistine had the audacity to pilfer the good shepherd. A thorough inquiry into the matter was conducted by Mary’s husband and co-owner, Tom Rivers. His investigation uncovered evidence that suggested the likely suspect had covered the expenses incurred that day with plastic. A careful audit of the receipts revealed the culprit, and an amount, proper and in keeping with the seriousness of the transgression was added to the offender’s credit card. Of course it wasn’t long before there was a call received at the bar questioning and protesting the apparent seizure of funds. But after a tactful interrogation a full confession was made, and a suitable penance was imposed. It was agreed that the attached monies would be returned if Jesus was restored to his rightful place, and that a public act of contrition be offered up to the local patrons. As to how this second coming played out, I can’t quite say. That part of the story got lost in the pleasant fog encountered after several pints of Brewer’s Art Resurrection Ale.

Enemies of the Church Don't Shrink From Using Violence

Not a Synagogue?  That's ok, then.

The hate filled media pogrom against the Church is bearing fruits:  In NS-Germany a Church is repeatedly damaged on different occasions.

(kreuz.net)  A view at the desolation greeted the visitoors on Thursday to the Catholic church oof St. Micheal in Oberndorf.

This was according to the website 'schwarzwaelder-bote.de' on the 18th of May.

Oberndorf am Neckar is a 14,500 population city in the vicinity of Rottweil in Baden-Wurttemberg.

In the Holiest Place

Unknown perpetrators raged above all in the altar space. (not really a sanctuary)

The Easter candle lay broken into individual pieces and strewn all over the floor.

There are two large puddles in the altar space.

The criminals sprayed water from spray cans taken from an adjoining room and in various places water was poured from the Eastern water font.

Were the Perpetrators Minors?


The church was attacked just before Easter.

Then one of the church vandals trod on an altar cloth and left a foot imprint.

"It wasn't especially large",  said the site, citing lay representative Helga Dlugosch.

She suspected that the crime had been committed by minors.

Vandalism Even DURING the Liturgy


Miss Dlugosch regularly appears in a grey alb with a green stole as a sash on the altar.

In this attire she plays the Deacness or standing co-celebratrix.

At the changing of bread and wine, she stands with her hands folded inclining herself in the direction of the altar.

Link...kreuz.net...

Baltimore Archdiocese Apparently Makes no Provisions to Protect Spiritual Legacy

 (Baltimore Sun photo by Kim…)

Edit: St. Peter the Apostle Church in the decaying Archdiocese of Baltimore  has been closed.   It was built over 170 yeas ago.   Now that it's been closed, there are serious concerns about integrity and oversight since it seems there is no coherent policy in place with respect to sacred objects of churches within the diocese which have been and are to be closed in futre.  Diocesan representatives are completely unaware of or at least uninterested in revealing what plans they have for disposing of a parish's res pretiosa.

It is legitimately feared that these objects will fall into the hands of those who have no respect for them. Especially since calls to the Diocese reveal that the staff has very little understanding of either the significance of sacred objects or their proper disposal and sale.  We'll quote again the appropriate canon: [cf. Western Catholic Reporter]

The law of the Church (canon 1171) indicates that blessed objects and those used for worship should not be put to inappropriate use, even if privately owned. These objects should be transferred to the diocesan offices where they may be given to another parish or otherwise properly disposed of. 

In the seventies, there was a lot of church building  and not so helpful renovation.  Now, after years of abortion on demand and a birthrate barely above replacement, Catholic institutions are being closed down and sold off.  Of course, the abuse-hoax doesn't help.   Also, many churches were denuded of much of their sacral character in this time period, as a new vogue of trendy ritualistic minimalism and a spirit of experimentation and curiosity took over the scene.

It needs to be said that no other institution, religious or otherwise, has had to bear the legal burdens the Catholic Church has.  Sex abuse scandals against public schools just don't get the attention, for obvious reasons.  Apparently, even the large publicly owned school districts can become targets for such litigation.

Litigation aside, Catholic Diocese are selling their properties and along with them, the sacred objects.  Unfortunately, these are not likely to be disposed of properly.  They are likely to be sold to secular parties who likely as no are eager to use the objects for disrespectful, indeed, sacrilegious purposes.

This was the case in Baltimore recently, where for the last seven years, a bar  called Ale Mary's has appeared which features Catholic sacred objects such as chalices, a monstrance, a holy water font which are used in a kind of faux-church setting where patrons often mock Catholic rituals, objects and personalities.

Blasphemy at Ale Mary's Continues: Diocese Pretends Not a Problem

Edit First of all, we'd like to announce that there will be another protest against the blasphemy at Ale Mary's on the Sunday following the Feast of Corpus Christi, June 10th, in reparation for the outrages against Our Lord, His Church and ministers in the post-Catholic town of Baltimore.  A peaceful Rosary will be said and that is all.  We're also happy to report that the last Rosary vigil was a great success and we look forward to doing this as long as it takes the bar to go out of business or for the owner to come to his senses.

Nothing Justifies this Act of Blasphemy

Just: a couple of things on this situation.  There has been a lot of coverage and the Archdiocese even got involved, or at least someone who claimed to represent the Archdiocese in this matter.  Both the Archdiocese and the perpetrators claim there is a "certificate for sacred use".  We'd like to see that and in any case don't believe it exists.   Even if it did exist, it doesn't permit the owners to abuse and commit sacrilege, and it doesn't excuse Diocesan officials from trying to ignore the issue as they apparently have for a long time.

Chalice Once Used in Holy Mass 

Diocesan Representative Intervenes and Says Nothing

We'll never tire of pointing out that whether or not these items are actually blessed is not important, but since the owners of the bar and certain individuals in the media are using a statement from Catherine Combier-Donovan to justify blasphemy, it's something which needs to be addressed.  Despite the fact that the Liberal run Diocesan newspaper made some stunningly interesting comments seemingly supportive of the blasphemy,  they  actually stopped short of giving an endorsement to "Ale Mary's".

Additionally, there are a few problems with what Ms. Combier-Donovan, the Diocesan representative,  is saying, however.  First of all, there is no ritual for "deconsecrating" objects that are consecrated as she suggests.

In fact, when she was contacted by phone, she demurred from saying what this "ritual" was.

The truth is, that Sacramental items should  be, according to Church law, either respectfully destroyed or buried.   Since her expertise is in modern Liturgy, perhaps she might not be aware of the importance of sacred objects, or any canons related to them.  Here is a citation for your edification, [Western Catholic Reporter], :

The law of the Church (canon 1171) indicates that blessed objects and those used for worship should not be put to inappropriate use, even if privately owned. These objects should be transferred to the diocesan offices where they may be given to another parish or otherwise properly disposed of. 

Inappropriate Princess of Randomness 

One local reporter named Amy Phillips [late forties], who is not only a self-proclaimed authority on catholicism, but an "Inappropriate Princess of Randomness",  went so far as to suggest that she understood that these items were important to Catholics, but go ahead and abuse them anyway, "it doesn't seem like a problem to me". Amy Phillips, who writes for the anti-Catholic 'Washington Times'  had a number of factual inaccuracies in her report as well, which ranged from the number of protesters who were ranged before the bar peacefully praying the rosary, to a description of the bar's owner, Tom Rivers, as "personable and friendly" and most egregiously of all that in her professional opinion that so much fun is being had at "Ale Mary's" bar, that there just can't possibly be anything wrong with it.

Even the Diocesan spokesperson, who is not qualified to judge the matter, did not give the endorsement the bar and its supporters seem to be looking for.  In the weaselly way of chancery employees who interact for the public, she was sure to attempt to cover herself when she wrote:

“Whether this is appropriate in a city where there is a large Catholic population may be not the best judgment,” Combier-Donovan said. “I think what happens is it’s shocking to people’s sensibilities. When it shocks, I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”

Take note that the spokesman is concerned about the largeness of the Catholic population.  Is the being of an object suddenly dependent on a 2/3rds majority?

It shouldn't matter whether there are a large number of Catholics in a city.  You'd hope that a chancery official herself would not be guilty of espousing heretical ideas related to epistemology.  Yes, empiricist rationalism was condemned by the Catholic Church and just because you're not aware of something real, doesn't mean it doesn't exist or that it doesn't have qualities contingent to it depending on its form and state.  In any case, an item's sanctity has nothing to do with how many people there are who believe it to be so.  It either is or isn't.

She assures us that things that shock are "bad", but then she doesn't explain what it is that's shocking or why we should be concerned if it is.  She is eager not to take a position one way or another.

Another concerning thing is that she says that there is some kind of ritual related to "desanctifying" objects.   Actually, there is no such thing.  She suggests also, confirming the bar owner's story that there is some kind of "certificate allowing secular use for a de-sanctified sacred object".   This is a complete fabrication on the part of this woman and the bar owner.  There is no such document.  There is no such ritual in the Catholic book of rituals, the rituale.  In any case, since the owner by his own admission purchases so many of these items on the internet, can we ask if he received such certificates for all of these items?

In truth, merely selling them, which in itself can be a sinful and sacrilegious act, apparently effects the desanctification, the sullying of the object concerned.

The problem of theft isn't something we here had been concerned with.  Although now that it's been brought up by the owner, it's not a ridiculous suggestion, since theft does happen, sadly, not infrequently.  Does he know that these e-bay items aren't stolen themselves?

Regardless of whether or not these items were purchased brand new, never having been blessed.  Even if they were sold legitimately, they would have to be purchased with the notion that they would be used respectfully.

Somehow, using them as common drinking mugs, candy dishes or vulgar deocrations with Mardis Gras beands draped around them in a kitchy and often vulgar atmosphere, doesn't sound like respectful, and stretches credulity when those who operate the bar say it is.

A Question of Tom Rivers' Character and Temperament

In fact, the owner of the bar, who has been accused by bar patrons of being disrespectful and anything but friendly in the past, has made bigoted comments about Catholics and others.

In fact, when he was addressed respectfully, he was been very nasty.  Mr. Rivers says that he's been physically threatened in e-mails.  Considering the untruthfulness of his claims to be respectful to Catholics, that also seems difficult to believe.  It might also be possible that some of the nastier of his bar patrons are calling him up to give truth to the lie, or perhaps there are others who dislike Tom Rivers for other reasons unrelated to his blasphemy of Catholic objects.  That seems more likely than that the belligerent and disrespectful Tom Rivers has been threatened by law abiding and peaceful Catholics who've only asked him to stop abusing these objects and disrespecting them.

Here's the interaction he had with someone who addressed him respectfully,  and even said nice things about his bar and posted it on her Catholic forum Fisheaters:

Hi, I'm writing to express my concern and sadness over your using Catholic sacred objects in a secular way. I don't know why it is that Catholic ritual items and themes are OK to use in this way, or why it's deemed okay to even ridicule Catholics in ways that no one would dream of ridiculing Jews or Muslims. While my guess is that you have no intent to insult Catholics, you likely have picked up on this "zeitgeist" and, without thinking, just went along with the style of aesthetics you've chosen for your restaurant (whose menu looks yummy, by the way!). I ask you, though, to please consider how you would expect Jews or Muslims to respond if their religion were used in this way, and why you chose Catholic imagery but not that of another religion, and how you would feel and think if someone were to do this to your religion (or, if you are Catholic, why you would do this to the Lord's Church). Seriously: why Catholics? From Madonna's early work to Nicky MInaj, from "Piss Christs" and dung-spackled Madonnas, from Jay Leno to Bill Maher, from sitcoms to Hollywood movies -- our society routinely picks on Catholics, holds us and our religion up for ridicule, abuses our liturgies and sacred symbols -- all while (rightfully)  never doing such things to Jews or Muslims, and even reacting defensively those few times it IS done to those religions. Why is this? Do you really think it's OK? And would you consider stoppping being a part of that sad trend?

With all due respect, and wishing you the love and peace of Christ,

Tracy Tucciarone

Thomas Rivers responds:

Wow you really like to talk.. My god has a sense of humor.. Sorry yours is so closed minded. Have a nice day.

I wrote back:

So does mine. So let's make fun of Jews and Muslims!

He responds with:

I'm not making fun of anyone. And it's has taken over 7 years for someone to start complaining . This has nothing to do with faith... This all started because some thin skinned homophobic girl got her patties in a bunch for calling her out on a lie. You shouldn't believe everything you read. Open your mind!! Think for yourself  !!

So I say: 

Why do you think I believe everything I read and need to "open my mind"? Because I'm religious?

Are you using ciboria, chalices and holy water fonts in your restaurant for anything other than the Eucharist, the Precious Blood,  and holy water?  If you are, then what is that I've read that I shouldn't believe?

It sounds like my mind is more open than yours because I think you should have your waitstaff wear Jewish kippot, tefillin, and prayer shawls, and you should have mezuzah holding flowers on each side of your door! And play the Muslim call to prayer once an hour or so, or maybe call a particularly filling menu item "The Jihad" -- and reward the eating of it with a T-shirt bearing the likeness of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)!  Come on, man, open your mind!

It may have taken over 7 years for someone to start complaining because, like I said, it's par for the course to make fun of Catholics and Catholicism. That's likely so because we're not known to drive planes into establishments that offend us, or call Abe Foxman or the SPLC to get lawsuits going, charge people with hate crimes, and close restaurants down by yelling something comparable to "antisemite."  Instead we write letters, asking nicely, and get accused of needing to "open our minds," of being types who have no sense of humor, and of being people who are so stupid we believe everything we read.  Guess we're taking the wrong tactics with stuff like this.Alas.

Happy Easter.

And he says:

Opinions are like assholes everyone has one!!! I just keep mine to myself. I didn't  ask to see yours, but you seen to like sticking it in peoples faces. Put on some pants. Gods speed

Quote

Cute, huh? He doesn't answer any of my questions, doesn't take my and other Catholics' concerns seriously, insults Catholics when we complain we're being insulted, and -- the kicker -- is apparently a major pussy who only ridicules people who he knows won't fight back.  He seems to be too chicken to do to Muslims and Jews what he does to us. And WE KNOW IT. And so does anyone reading this.

Oktoberfest Mass! First Communion in Beer Tent

Edit: really nice kids, but it's a terrible shame they have no understanding of what's going on in the Mass, and no wonder.  What a horrible initiation into deeper Christian life.

Hanging out at the Beer Garden During "Mass"

Germany.  Last Thursday a Domincan, Father Paul Schäfersküpper, held a First Communion Mass in a beer tent in the Munich festival hall Bayernland.  This was according to the website 'oktoberfest-life.de' with photos.  Father Schäfersküpper is the director of the department of Tourism, Healing and Pastoral Care for the Archdiocese of Munich-Freising.  The First Communion involved two sons of carnival employees.  They consumed the Blood of Christ grimmaced -- which is clearly visible in photographs -- ostentatiously about the taste with their lips.  With that they gave the impression that they did not understand what was happening in the photos.

Check out more photos here Link to kreuz.net...

As He Looked at the Cross, He Wanted to Shove Off

Quite a Resemblance

Edit: kreuz.net doesn't bother much with this man's self-justification,  unlike Independent, but it does offer some interesting insights.

The German corpse desecrator Gunther von Hagens has just released his last blasphemy.  But God -- in whom he does not believe -- put a spoke in his plans.

(kreuznet)  Gunther von Hagens (67) is a very devout atheist and desecrator of corpses.

For his last desecration he took a large number of human bones and woven material to cobble together a plastic Christ and hang it on a cross.

The church-hate daily 'Welt' reported on this.

The controversy of desecrating corpses has made von Hagens a multimillionaire.

Fleeing from the Cross

Gunther von Hagens
© Jorgebarrios, Wikimedia, CC

Von Hagens was there as the tree was felled and cut into an over three meter high cross.

AS the Cross was erected for the first time, the corpse desecrator had tears in his eyes:

"Let's shove off",  he said and turned away.

The Corpse Desecrator's Health is at an End

The atheist is a ruin.  He has been suffering since 2008 from a severe form of Parkinson's.

His speech center is severely damaged.  He shudders so much that he can hardly be understood.

25 pills in the morning and 25 pills in the evening keep him alive.

There are electrodes implanted in his head to prevent his quivering.  The electrodes protrude from his head.

Grasp the Pope's Attention

In order to give his blasphemy cross the largest possible notoriety, Hagens has planned a crusade over the Alps to Rome.

He wants to display his corpse desecration in front of banks churches and ski resorts.

The trip was supposed to end at the Vatican.

The necrophile even hopes, "that the Pope will personally personally struggle with it himself".

Last Stop Hall

Actually, as his accomplices nailed the figure on the cross on the 20th of February, the corpse desecrator lay in the hospital.

His state of health may prevent his "Crusade to Rome".

Now the blasphemy is in a hall in his corpse desecration worship in the 20,000 population city of Guben-- situated on the Polish border.

Link to kreuz.net...

Blasphemy: German Parish Displays Pornographic "Art"

Diocese of Münster:  The hate of the Conciliar Sect in the Church is put on display -- it shows itself in sexual depravity and an aversion to the holy.  In the Diocese of the Lion, no less..

(kreuz.net, Münster) From the 26th of February to the 15th of April a pornography expedition was held in the church of St. Erpho in Münster, Westphalia.

The pornography expedition bore the misleading title "Between Caritas and Eros -- Love".

Really Infamous

One of the church sponored "paintings" features a woman raising her shirt to reveal her bare breasts that's been smeared on an old Mass book.  The page on which this is done is August 9th, the Feast of St. John Vianney.

Women are portrayed as playthings in various nakedly erotic themes in sick sex fantasies.  Of course, you can bet that the argument against philistinism will be employed.

Kreuznet goes into some detail about the various paintings and has pictures at its website, they are clearly pornographic and blasphemous.

It's one thing when those who are not Catholic mock our beliefs, but it's especially incredible when those who are sworn to defend and declare the Catholic Faith, as clearly the pastor of this parish was sworn to do, promote such blasphemy themselves.

Source....

Blasphemous "Ale Mary" Bar Owner Uses Racial Slurs?

Update: there will be a peaceful Rosary Procession, starting in front of "Ale Mary's" Bar starting at 2pm and going around the block. All of good will are invited to attend.

1939 Fleet St, Baltimore, MD

[Baltimore, EF] There is a bar in Fells Point, Maryland where sacred objects, some apparently purchased on e-bay, are being used in disrespectful and blasphemous ways by the bar owners and patrons of the bar.

The bar owners maintain in their official statement that these objects have been "de-consecrated". We're not sure how he could know that in the first place since e-bay purchases don't require you to know who the original seller of the objects are.

One commenter on the facebook page "500,000 Against "Ale Mary's" Abuse of the Sacred and the Sublime" noted correctly that the most guilty parties in this transaction are those who sold the articles in the first place. There is an interesting article in the Catholic Encyclopedia which describes a situation where a priest in financial straits sold his breviary (an important prayer book especially for priests) and his silver chalice to a pawn broker. When the priest died, his heirs were charged by the Church to recover the objects under pain of excommunication. There was no mention of whether or not the object was deconsecrated when it was sold. So, it seems as though even when objects are sold to profane parties, like pawnbrokers, or on e-bay, the object in question still retains its blessed status. In fact, the holding of Church property may incur an excommunication, per New Advent:

The twelfth canon of the Œcumencal Council of Lyons (1274) pronounces excommunication ipso facto against those lay persons who seize and detain the temporal possessions of the Church (see Friedberg, "Corpus Juris", II, 953 and 1059) and the Council of Trent followed suit in its Sess. XXII (De ref. C. xi) by launching excommunications latæ sententia against those who usurped many different kinds of ecclesiastical property.

Since the owners identify themselves as "brought up Catholic" it might be that such excommunications do not cause them any fear, but it does implicate them in an ecclesiastical crime, in addition to their violation of positive divine law, or more precisely the 2nd Commandment.

Tom Rivers has claimed in various interviews he's given to the national press that he bears no malice to those who are concerned about the blasphemy taking place in his bar. It would be an encouraging sign if that were the case, but it's a lie. The owner has accused the one individual who's made the complaint of being a liar and those who are concerned about his transgressions as having a "screw loose" or "cowards". He even went so far as to spend the money, or illegally obtain the information through other sources, to check on the financial status of protest members.

Obviously such statements like this are not the mark of a person who wishes well or "doesn't care":

Sucks don't it jen!!! Go back to your little post the other day with pic of the
menu box outside. Sounds familiar doesn't it?? And I own the place... I have put
my time in behind the bar, I shake hands and kiss babies now. My time is my own
to do with what I like. I pay my bills unlike some people that we have here in
this thread. I wont say who ... It's not you though jen.

Yet it's not just Tom River's rudeness, and alarmingly rude behavior, it's his apparent penchant for using racial slurs and attacking his customers and using a racial slur. This review which we found on the restaurant review site Urban Spoon appeared on March 8th 2011. It's strange that more hasn't been made of it, but the description sounds remarkably like the brash and arrogant work of the Tom Rivers. At this point, we've contacted the reviewer "CraigOlney" who made the review. It certainly sounds a lot like the bar's owner and many of its patrons:

What an awful experience at this place, some friends said to check it out, so myself and a couple people did. Well, after waiting for over 30 minutes for someone to wait on us, a server did come by to get us drinks, that took another 25 minutes, we asked to speak with the manager, well a stocky man with a head way too big for his body came out to say he was the owner, he told us that if we didn't like the way he runs his bar at his own pace then we can go "F" ourselves, then tells us that we had better not think about taking one step outside without paying or he will have us thrown in jail with all the "N's". So, we dropped our cash, had to hold back my one buddy from knocking him out, and left. Worst experience ever in a Baltimore establishment, this guy is a blatant racist and should have his bar shut down. What an eyesore on Baltimores great restaurants. Never will myself or anyone I know spend a dime with that bigot.

Comments closed till further notice because of the ill-will and hatred spewing forth by close-minded patrons, and probably the owner too.

This review has been in existence since 2011. Apparently, it's stood the test of time, and it certainly does create a strikingly accurate portrait of the owner and his insensitivity to minorities. I'm sure the people he allegedly assaulted weren't black too. He apparently only attacks people who won't fight back.

Anti-Catholic Baltimore Sun "Weighs" in on Blasphemous Bar

Many Will be as Shocked as Belshazzar Was

Definition Hypocrisy: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense. 

Edit: most of the world isn't going to understand the significance of the Mass, that it's the unbloody commemoration of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, the most sacred event a Catholic can experience in this life. What is a sacrilege? A sacrilege is a deliberate, or otherwise, confusion of divine and profane categories. At a bar in Baltimore, the rituals, ministers and symbols of Catholicism are offered as accompaniments to carousing and boozing.

Disgraceful!

The owner doesn't plan on honoring the concerns of Catholics who do object to this sacrilege, and the anti-Clerical Baltimore Sun has written an article sympathetic of those who have no respect for Catholicism, and despite spending their lives being educated in Catholic schools have almost no understanding of the importance of the symbols that they hold in contempt.

   
In all fairness, we must also mention that these objects are no longer conseecrated, most likely, although they may have been purchased as part of a sacrilege from E-BAY.

 In any event, what gets lost in the shuffle is that Catholic rituals and Catholic beliefs are held up to ridicule here. That owner insists that he intends no disrespect, but the lie is given to that in his public comments and the rude way he treats those who call with concerns about his blasphemy.

His patrons share his contempt for Catholic things, and they can be seen in blogs and comment boxes, building on to the offense which is this bar.

 They refer to those who hold revere these symbols and don't want to see them manifestly disrespected (as they clearly are in the personal testimonies on the site and in the comments section on the first article we featured on this place) as "nut balls".  Anti-Catholic paper writes:

Tom and Mary Rivers, who opened Ale Mary's about seven years ago, say they've gotten about a dozen angry phone calls and about the same number of emails in the last week or so. And, as both of them were raised Catholic in Baltimore, [Are Baltimore Catholics less Catholic than elsewhere?  Being raised Catholic doesn't guarantee respect for others beliefs, apparently]  they still can't believe anyone would have a problem with what they consider fun decor. "With the exception of these nut balls I've had one person in seven years say this is kind of in bad taste," Tom Rivers said. "And that person still comes in here." The couple  says that all of their religious items were donated by customers, including the monstrance behind the bar.

Kiddish Cup

Despite the disrespectful photograph which appears in the article, the journalist in question who wrote it after appearing on the FB group "500,000 Against "Ale Mary's" Abuse of the Sacred and the Sublime", she is blissfully unaware of the strident hypocrisy.

 Clearly, the owners of the bar and many of its patrons wouldn't be too happy if the things they find sacred or important were denigrated and held to ridicule in such ways. Imagine if a similar bar were in existence which featured and ridiculed Jews or Muslims. It's unlikely that a bar of this type would get insurance coverage, and would certain face closure.

 In normal societies, like Singapore, for example,  such disrespectful behavior toward Catholicism isn't tolerated, actually, like Singapore, for example. Imagine if a bar were build around a Jewish house of worship, complete with mezuzah's, satirical pictures of respected Rabbis hanging on the wall? Imagine too if the beginning of Colt's games were signaled at the bar with a shofar horn? Or instead of chalices, imagine if patrons drank from kiddush cups?  How about a game of strip dreddle?  Two can play at that game!

Shofar Horn

Obviously, if you insult Jews or Muslims, it may not only be physically dangerous to do so, but you can also lose your liquor license and find yourself out of business for offending such as they. Since the state of journalism is so poor at the anti-Clerical paper, we've sought to augment it by our own contribution.

"Ale Mary" Dive Bar Uses Monstrance and Chalices for Drunken Revelries

Edit: A definition from Wikipedia is useful here: Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things.^[1] Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy,^[2] while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy. 


[Fell's Point, Baltimore, MD] There was a show called "Cheers" on television years ago.  It was bawdy and vulgar yet there were some borders it was not safe to pass in the early 80s when the show first aired.  It depicted a homey place, reminiscent of an unpretentious neighborhood bar with a hint of old world ambiance and Boston charm.  The heavy wooden furniture and the bar spoke of permanence, elegance,  and  that favorite piety of secular artists, human dignity. It was not always clear who the show's buffoons were, but you knew them when you saw them, and sometimes, it was a comedic mailman who could be the most noble in the simplicity of his fears.  Some other writer said something about irony being lost on a society which had no shame.  That's why we'd like to wield a metaphorical hammer.  Perhaps there are others who can put a better finish on the details of what we will tell.

Satirical painting: priest displeased with Nun?

All we can say is that sometimes evil is really mundane and some of us don't realize that we're not only bufoons needlessly offending  people's religious sensibilities, but far worse than that, we're offending God.  Even the name of the bar, a pun on the Blessed Mother's name seems calculated to be offensive.

Would you like some candy?

 We're not talking about this place, but it's not far from Boston, but it boasts a similar unmistakable charm you'd expect in New England with friendly folks. One of the features of the bar, and there are many, is its unmistakable Catholic ambiance. It's called, Ale Mary's and is located in Fell's point Maryland. One can just smell the faint aroma of the ocean as you think about it. The food is inexpensive, but if you're Catholic you might find it too expensive for the peace of your conscience to see the sacramental elements of your religion appear for the sake of decoration in peculiarly deliberate ways.

Chalices Used for Holy Sacrifice Being Abused by Patrons

It's not surprising, but it's not acceptable either that chalices which are used in Catholic Mass for the consecration of wine which becomes the blood of Christ, are used by patrons to drink (and get drunk from). They're made of precious metals, sometimes jewels, but their use in such a secular setting is strange and unsettling. No less than the inexplicable painting of a priest with a stole, looking aghast or in surprise at a nun who has her back to him. The most disturbing thing in the restaurant is the monstrance which is behind the bar used as decoration. The monstrance is large ornate disk, often resembling the sun, which is surmounted in a long stand with a heavy base. It contains a crystal compartment at the center of the disk where a consecrated communion Host can be placed inside and it allows the priest to elevate the entire object by the stand for the veneration of the Sacrament it contains. Seeing this monstrance here in this bar, covered with mardigras beads and a mustached smiley face where the Host would normally be is a little bit like finding family heirlooms in the hands of people who not only use them for purposes for which they were never intended, but use them in disrespectful ways.

Mustached Smiley Face Seems Particularly Malevolent

We found out about this recently and the individual who sent this to us wrote an e-mail complaining about the display of these religious items and even offered to purchase them. Far from being treated with the respect she deserved, her concerns were met with derision. 

Despite the bar owner claiming that no one cared about this clearly blasphemous display of religious artifacts, he asked her to remove an entry she made under the bar at a public site allowing comment on establishments. As he berated our friend, the proprietor insisted as an argument to justify his sacrilege and disrespect for Catholic sacramentals, that there were even Bishops and priests who thought that his blasphemous inclusion of religious articles was comical and that there was nothing wrong with this display.

Apparently, there's some truth to what he says, because Catholic clergy, including senior, does frequent this place.

We'll be praying a Rosary in reparation for having seen this blasphemy.  Hopefully, the proprietor can be persuaded to part with these items before word of this affects his business either spiritually or financially.


Give them a call:

Corner of Fleet & Washington Sts.
Fell's Point
Baltimore, MD.
21231
410-276-2044 

Other Sites Linking

Angelqueen, Catholic Forum [Excellent Commentary]

Creative Minority Report

Transfigurations

Cathinfo

American Conservative

Free Republic [Lots of Comments]