Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Soutane is A Sign of the Avant-garde of the New Clergy
Editor: The Soutane is a prayer.
An outer sign of the inner decay of the Presbyterium
Father Hendrick Jole in Interview: The Soutane is the sure sign of the avant-garde of the new clergy.
[kreuz.net] "I decided some years ago to wear the soutane," says the Mainz Priest, Father Hendrick Jolie, on Monday in an interview with Linz website, 'kath.net'.
Father Jolie sees the priestly robe in connection with Benedict XVI's approach to the "hermeneutic of continuity":
"The Pope maintains with this formula that there are not "two Churches" -- one before and one after the Council, rather one Roman Catholic Church."
That is also the reason, according to Father Jolie, why Benedict XVI. has rehabilitated the Old Mass and has explained the Council in the light of Tradition.
He quotes the Pope: "What was holy to previous generations, remains for Holy and great for us as well."
Father Jolie forsees the conclusion in that: "In the sense of the Hermeneutic of the continuity the Soutane is neither pre- or post-Conciliar."
One must take insults in stride
The Soutane is much more suitable -- "and it is shown itself to be very practical" -- to afford the opportunity, to make the spiritual stand out visibly in public.
It makes the man also more concerned, that the Priest is "other":
"That is often lumped together as being "reactionary" or "conservative", and I take that in stride."
Actually: "Priests, who observe with Pope Benedict the hermeneutic of continuity are neither conservative nor progressive."
Father Jolie sees in them the avant-garde of the new clergy.
A sad sign of disobedience
The Clergyman points out that the law of the Church requires that a priest is obligated (duty bound) to wear priestly clothing:
"For that reason there is a sad sign of disobedience and the disunity of the clergy, if the priest ignores this duty."
That is for Father Jolie an outer sign of the decay of the presbyterium.
For: "Wherever priests are not in unity with each other, they fail also to be united with their flocks.
Original, krez.net...here
© Photo: Nick in exsilio, CC
Boston Archdiocese Blocks Catholic Blog
Something seems to be going on in the Boston Archdiocese that ought to be concerning to all Catholics (Boston-area and beyond), anyone who values freedom of speech, and Catholic bloggers across the country. Maybe it is all coincidence. You can decide for yourself. Things have been pretty predictable on this Catholic blog since we started it in June. Traffic has grown by leaps and bounds, but we started noticing something unusual for the first time late last week. Daytime traffic to the blog and visits from the Archdiocese of Boston in Braintree suddenly plummeted, and evening traffic from random ISPs suddenly picked up. It happened shortly after we published "Caritas Coincidences" which revealed an array of additional conflicts of interest and coincidental political contributions–all publicly available information–that would cause even more people to start questioning the deal to sell Caritas Christi to Cerberus. (That transaction is undergoing review by the Attorney General, and public participation–including offering input–has been invited by the state and is a protected right).
By coincidence, at about the same time, we started getting reports from multiple sources and channels that the Archdiocese had blocked access to the Boston Catholic Insider blog from within the Pastoral Center. We published Caritas Coincidences: Part 2–with more information readily available to the general public–and got more confirmations that the site was being blocked.
What exactly is going on? Here is what we can tell you beyond those reports. A number of local people go to 12:05pm Mass at the Pastoral Center, and coincidentally, the other day a faithful Catholic was there in Braintree for Mass and went on one of the public Internet terminals in the lobby to catch-up on the latest from Boston Catholic Insider. (We are flattered that the blog is daily reading for many people around the Archdiocese and beyond).
They got back a message from an Internet content filter saying the following: "Content blocked by your organization. Reason: This Websense category is filtered." They brought a friend back for Mass yesterday and by coincidence, when they were trying to get their daily fix of Boston Catholic Insider, they got the same message. Click on the picture to the right to see the message.
Read more:
http://bostoncatholicinsider.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/boston-archdiocese-blocks-catholic-blog/#comments
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Pelosi Wants NY Mosque Opponents Investigated
In an op/ed piece by Penny Young Nance of FoxNews.com, she reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling for an investigation into those who oppose a mosque to be built at Ground Zero. As Nance puts it, "For Ms. Pelosi it seems there is nothing the government shouldn't investigate, control or inject itself into as long as it serves the interests of liberal elites."
Never mind that the overwhelming majority of 9/11 victim families opposes building the mosque so close to such hallowed ground. Ms. Pelosi evidently believes these families have formed some kind of vast right wing conspiracy to inflict sensitivity upon those who would kow-tow to a controversial Muslim cleric.
Read further:
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-raleigh/pelosi-calls-for-investigating-those-opposition-to-the-mosque-at-ground-zero
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Conference About the Future of Thomism in Poland
By Fr. Bernhard Blankenhorn, OP
DSPT Alumnus, 2006
The Thomist tradition that lies at the heart of the DSPT identity is over 700 years old. The vibrancy of this age-old school of thought was evident in Warsaw, Poland in early July. Over seventy Dominican friars gathered there for a three-day conference, entitled Dominicans and the Challenge of Thomism xlink. The brethren, most of them young, came from Canada, the USA, Nigeria, Ireland, Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, the Ukraine, Poland, Australia, Vietnam and Taiwan. Four DSPT professors and two alumni (pictured below) were among the participants: Fr. Richard Schenk, OP, Fr. Michael Sherwin, OP, Fr. Anselm Ramelow, OP, Fr. Michael Dodds, OP, Fr. Bernhard Blankenhorn, OP, and Fr. Bryan Kromholtz, OP.
DSPT Professors and Alumni at Dominicans and the Challenge of Thomism conference, Warsaw, Poland
Read further...
DSPT Alumnus, 2006
The Thomist tradition that lies at the heart of the DSPT identity is over 700 years old. The vibrancy of this age-old school of thought was evident in Warsaw, Poland in early July. Over seventy Dominican friars gathered there for a three-day conference, entitled Dominicans and the Challenge of Thomism xlink. The brethren, most of them young, came from Canada, the USA, Nigeria, Ireland, Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, the Ukraine, Poland, Australia, Vietnam and Taiwan. Four DSPT professors and two alumni (pictured below) were among the participants: Fr. Richard Schenk, OP, Fr. Michael Sherwin, OP, Fr. Anselm Ramelow, OP, Fr. Michael Dodds, OP, Fr. Bernhard Blankenhorn, OP, and Fr. Bryan Kromholtz, OP.
DSPT Professors and Alumni at Dominicans and the Challenge of Thomism conference, Warsaw, Poland
Read further...
Business Interests Are Often the Vanguard of An Advancing Army: Afghanistan
Afghan, Tajik and Pakistani Leaders Meet in Russia
Read further...
MOSCOW — Twenty years after the last Russian soldier walked out of Afghanistan, Moscow is gingerly pushing its way back into the country with business deals and diplomacy, and promises of closer ties to come.
Russia is eager to cooperate on economic matters in part by reviving Soviet-era public works, its president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, said Wednesday during a summit meeting with the leaders of Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan, the second such four-way meeting organized by Russia in the past year.
In fact, Russia has already begun a broad push into Afghan deal-making, negotiating to refurbish more than 140 Soviet-era installations, like hydroelectric stations, bridges, wells and irrigation systems, in deals that could be worth more than $1 billion. A Russian helicopter company, Vertikal-T, has contracts with NATO and the Afghan government to fly Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters throughout the country.
Read further...
Future of Russia is impossible without renewal of national self-identification - Patriarch Kirill
Pskov, August 18, Interfax - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia believes the future of Russia depends on solid national self-identification based on Orthodox tradition.
"Today it's impossible for our Motherland to move further without renewal of our faith, our national self-identification, renewal of our shared spiritual system of values and shared responsibility of people for the country, Motherland, our children, for the future," the Patriarch said on Wednesday speaking to five thousand Pskov residents gathered at the Oktyabrskaya Square in the city center.
He stressed that foundation of Russian solidarity is not an ideology, but the Orthodox faith that "besides high and saving spiritual ideas, brings powerful ethic norms forming national character."
Read further...
"Today it's impossible for our Motherland to move further without renewal of our faith, our national self-identification, renewal of our shared spiritual system of values and shared responsibility of people for the country, Motherland, our children, for the future," the Patriarch said on Wednesday speaking to five thousand Pskov residents gathered at the Oktyabrskaya Square in the city center.
He stressed that foundation of Russian solidarity is not an ideology, but the Orthodox faith that "besides high and saving spiritual ideas, brings powerful ethic norms forming national character."
Read further...
Mexican Judges Bribed for Homosexual Ruling
GUADALAJARA, August 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Guadalajara yesterday told reporters that the Cardinal Archbishop of that city has proof to back up his contention that the justices of the Supreme Court were in some way "fed" by backers of homosexual "marriage" and adoption in order to gain their votes in favor of the policies.
Responding to threats from Mexico City Governor Marcel Ebrard to file charges against Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez for "moral damage," archdiocesan spokesman Antonio Gutiérrez Montaño expressed little concern, and said that the archbishop would prove his charges if necessary.
"Mr. Ebrard has the liberty to proceed as he wishes," said Gutiérrez Montaño to the Mexican newspaper Milenio, reportedly adding that if a lawsuit were filed, the cardinal would reveal the proof he has for his statement, and "will not retract nor apologize" for what he has said.
Read further...
Responding to threats from Mexico City Governor Marcel Ebrard to file charges against Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez for "moral damage," archdiocesan spokesman Antonio Gutiérrez Montaño expressed little concern, and said that the archbishop would prove his charges if necessary.
"Mr. Ebrard has the liberty to proceed as he wishes," said Gutiérrez Montaño to the Mexican newspaper Milenio, reportedly adding that if a lawsuit were filed, the cardinal would reveal the proof he has for his statement, and "will not retract nor apologize" for what he has said.
Read further...
Being a Polish missionary in Scandinavia
[Sunday Catholic Weekly] Rev. Msgr. Ireneusz Skubis talks to Fr Leszek Kapusta, CSsR, a Redemptorist working in Denmark.
Rev. Msgr Ireneusz Skubis: – You have been realising your priesthood in special missions...
Fr Leszek Kapusta, CSsR: – For over 23 years I worked mostly in South America; I worked 15 years in Bolivia. I finished my studies in moral theology in Madrid. For almost five years I have been working in Copenhagen, Denmark, at first ministering among Spanish-speaking people and for three years working with Poles.
– What is the Polish community like in Denmark and how have you been working with them?
– Denmark is relatively close to us because we are neighbours through the Baltic Sea and that’s why there are numerous Polish people there. They came to Denmark in various times: at the end of the 18th century and at the beginning of the 21st century; after World War II, during the ‘Solidarity’ times; the recent Polish immigrants came to work here. Today there are over 20,000 Poles in Denmark, most of them living in Copenhagen and in the vicinity as well as in other big cities like Odense or Aalborg. This is my first ministry among the Polish people and I am satisfied with this work very much.
Read further here...
Rev. Msgr Ireneusz Skubis: – You have been realising your priesthood in special missions...
Fr Leszek Kapusta, CSsR: – For over 23 years I worked mostly in South America; I worked 15 years in Bolivia. I finished my studies in moral theology in Madrid. For almost five years I have been working in Copenhagen, Denmark, at first ministering among Spanish-speaking people and for three years working with Poles.
– What is the Polish community like in Denmark and how have you been working with them?
– Denmark is relatively close to us because we are neighbours through the Baltic Sea and that’s why there are numerous Polish people there. They came to Denmark in various times: at the end of the 18th century and at the beginning of the 21st century; after World War II, during the ‘Solidarity’ times; the recent Polish immigrants came to work here. Today there are over 20,000 Poles in Denmark, most of them living in Copenhagen and in the vicinity as well as in other big cities like Odense or Aalborg. This is my first ministry among the Polish people and I am satisfied with this work very much.
Read further here...
Baptist's Relics Deliver Jump in Church Attendance in Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, clerics and government officials have high religious—and economic—hopes for a recent discovery: fragments of what some believe to be the remains of John the Baptist.
By Joe Parkinson SOZOPOL, Bulgaria—Archaeologists and clerics here say they have unearthed bones belonging to John the Baptist, an itinerant preacher revered by many Christians as the last of the Old Testament prophets. Bulgaria's government is looking to the discovery for salvation—of a financial sort.
The remains, including a skull fragment and a tooth, were uncovered last month during the excavation of a fourth-century monastery on St. Ivan Island, off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. They were in a sealed reliquary buried next to a tiny urn inscribed with St. John's name and his birth date.
Read further:
http://mobile2.wsj.com/device/article.php?CALL_URL=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704216804575423673016971944.html?
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By Joe Parkinson SOZOPOL, Bulgaria—Archaeologists and clerics here say they have unearthed bones belonging to John the Baptist, an itinerant preacher revered by many Christians as the last of the Old Testament prophets. Bulgaria's government is looking to the discovery for salvation—of a financial sort.
The remains, including a skull fragment and a tooth, were uncovered last month during the excavation of a fourth-century monastery on St. Ivan Island, off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. They were in a sealed reliquary buried next to a tiny urn inscribed with St. John's name and his birth date.
Read further:
http://mobile2.wsj.com/device/article.php?CALL_URL=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704216804575423673016971944.html?
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Dominicans accept first vows from novices in biggest class in decades
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Statistics show a drastic fall in the number of people entering religious life since the 1960s, yet, the Dominican Province of St. Joseph accepted first vows Aug. 7 from 21 novices -- the province's largest novitiate class since 1966. Father Bill Garrot is the province's outgoing vocations director -- and the man who the current vocations director appointed this summer, Father Benedict Croell, said played a key role in the "harvest" that yielded the 21 novices. In response to dismal novitiate numbers, in 2003 the province decided to hire Father Garrot as a full-time vocations director to engage in more rigorous recruitment efforts than a part-time director could. Before Father Garrot was hired, the province had suffered through "chaotic period" from 1993 to 2002, where the province transitioned between three or four different vocations directors and novitiate numbers were about five per year. "This kind of woke everybody up," Father Garrot said in an interview with Catholic News Service in Washington at the New York-based province's House of Studies. Father Garrot said those numbers rose to about eight to 10 a year during his time at the province, from 2003 to 2010. The 2009 novice class had 11 men in it, a total almost doubled in 2010. "Stability in a vocation program does matter. I was appointed as a full-time vocations director, but not many diocese or religious orders seem to have the luxury of appointing a man to do full-time recruitment work," he said.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pious Russians Pray For Rain: Dramatic Storms End Draught
Editor: Since praying for rain for the last few weeks, the terrible drought and wildfires will be brought to a close, none too late for the people of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Hopefully, it will help save at least part of Russia's harvest which will be severely hurt by this summer's meterological extremes.
Read further at interfax, here...
Read the rest here, at Pravda...
Read further at interfax, here...
Russia 's record-breaking heatwave looks set to come to a dramatic end, with a severe storm now heading for Moscow after battering St Petersburg.
[Pravda] Nearly 100,000 people around St Petersburg were left without power, rail services were halted and trees felled amid high winds and heavy rains. Moscow is expected to be hit later. Temperatures there dropped to 25C on Monday after nearing 40C for weeks, BBC News says.
The storms yesterday in four regions, including the Leningrad region around St. Petersburg, packed winds as high as 30 meters per second (67 mph), the Emergency Situations Ministry said on its website today. Almost 79,000 people still had no electricity at 6 a.m. local time, and all customers should have power back by 8 p.m., the ministry said.
Read the rest here, at Pravda...
Fallout Continues from ELCA’s Gay Clergy Decision as Lutheran Churches Leave
CHICAGO, August 16, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The departure of several more congregations in central Illinois from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has once again highlighted how the denomination’s decision to approve active homosexual clergy has triggered a slow, steady bleeding of congregations.
One year ago this month at its national convention, the ELCA voted "to open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships."
The policy change was decided by more than 100 votes – 559 in favor to 451 against; but since the vote the ELCA has both dropped in members and congregations.
Read further...
One year ago this month at its national convention, the ELCA voted "to open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships."
The policy change was decided by more than 100 votes – 559 in favor to 451 against; but since the vote the ELCA has both dropped in members and congregations.
Read further...
Bishop Richard Josef Werberberger Has Passed
+Werberberger was a Benedictine of Kremsmunster and Bishop of the Diocese Barreiras in Brazil.
Linz [kath.net/pm] The Benedictine Bishop Richard Josef Weberberger was born on September 5, 1939 in Bad Leonfelden, grew in Gaspoltshofen, and attendex the Gynasium Kremsmunster, left the Stift and went to Salzburg and Rome. AFter his preistly ordination in 1964 he was the cooperator in Kremsunster and Sattledt, Chaplain of the Benedictine Sisters in Steinerkirchen and religious and philosophy instructor at the Gymnasium in Kremsunster and in Schlierbach.
P. Rochard Weberberger OSB left for Brazil in 1974 and was a pastor in the city of Barrereis. In May 1979 he was the Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Barreiras and on 11 July 1979 he entered the office as the first Bishop of Barreiras. For 12 years he was the member and standing advisor of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB) and from 1998 to 2003 President of the regional Bishops' Conference of the Northeast.
He was an honorary citizen of several cities and of the State of Bahia. In 1999 he was honored in the Land of Upper Austria with its human rights prize. In 2009 Bishop Weberberger celebrated in Stift Kremsunster his 30 year Bishop's anniversary and received a great golden plaque with a star for service to the Republic of Austria. In May 2010 he became seriously ill and was hospitalized in Linz.
Link to kath.net...
Linz [kath.net/pm] The Benedictine Bishop Richard Josef Weberberger was born on September 5, 1939 in Bad Leonfelden, grew in Gaspoltshofen, and attendex the Gynasium Kremsmunster, left the Stift and went to Salzburg and Rome. AFter his preistly ordination in 1964 he was the cooperator in Kremsunster and Sattledt, Chaplain of the Benedictine Sisters in Steinerkirchen and religious and philosophy instructor at the Gymnasium in Kremsunster and in Schlierbach.
P. Rochard Weberberger OSB left for Brazil in 1974 and was a pastor in the city of Barrereis. In May 1979 he was the Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Barreiras and on 11 July 1979 he entered the office as the first Bishop of Barreiras. For 12 years he was the member and standing advisor of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB) and from 1998 to 2003 President of the regional Bishops' Conference of the Northeast.
He was an honorary citizen of several cities and of the State of Bahia. In 1999 he was honored in the Land of Upper Austria with its human rights prize. In 2009 Bishop Weberberger celebrated in Stift Kremsunster his 30 year Bishop's anniversary and received a great golden plaque with a star for service to the Republic of Austria. In May 2010 he became seriously ill and was hospitalized in Linz.
Link to kath.net...
Guidance; When a Priest Engages in Public Sin
ROME, AUG. 17, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.Q: May you please help me to answer these delicate questions? When a priest is in grave sin and publicly known to be in mortal sin (drunk often; with women, etc.) and the bishop allows him to say Mass publicly, what does canon law say about this? Or, if a priest has even impregnated a woman and then encouraged her to get an abortion (a reality for us here), shouldn't that priest have sanctions put on him rather than letting him celebrate Mass publicly? If the bishop says he is not to judge the priests, then who should? -- K.G., Sudan
A: These are indeed delicate questions and sad ones to answer. I am not a canonist and so cannot answer regarding the intricacies of the canonical process. However, I can offer some moral pointers with respect to the sacraments.
A priest who falls into grave sin, just like any member of the faithful, should seek sacramental reconciliation as soon as possible. Meanwhile, he should abstain as far as possible from celebrating the sacraments.
Read further... Zenit...
A: These are indeed delicate questions and sad ones to answer. I am not a canonist and so cannot answer regarding the intricacies of the canonical process. However, I can offer some moral pointers with respect to the sacraments.
A priest who falls into grave sin, just like any member of the faithful, should seek sacramental reconciliation as soon as possible. Meanwhile, he should abstain as far as possible from celebrating the sacraments.
Read further... Zenit...
Liberal Nuns Cash in on Disintegration of Catholic Education
Sisters who sold Loretto High for $7.75 million can begin spending, appellate court rules
[California Catholic Daily] Attorneys for the Diocese of Sacramento and seven donors to the now defunct Loretto High School are mulling whether to appeal an unfavorable ruling in a dispute over $7.75 million the sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary received when they sold the campus last year.
Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto joined seven other plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an order of women religious that ran Loretto High School for 54 years before announcing that the girls’ college-prep school would close its doors for good in June 2009. The sisters cited declining enrollment and financial hardship.
At issue is an estimated $4.5 million donated to the school from a 2001-2002 fundraising drive. The money was used to double the size of the campus, construct a new science building, a performing arts center, visual arts studios, a swimming complex, an athletic field, additional parking and for renovations of some of the already existing school buildings.
Read further at California Catholic Daily ...
Texas Priest Father Rodriguez Does a Great Job on ABC TV
Father Michael Rodriguez of San Juan Bautista Church thoroughly answers charges related to his strident, but necessary teaching on homosexual, with clarity and charity. It's impossible not to see this man speak and not be convinced of his genuine concern for the salvation of souls and his love for the Church.
See it here, link to ABC.
El Paso article, here.
h/t to TC at FE.
See it here, link to ABC.
El Paso article, here.
h/t to TC at FE.
San Salvador's Archbishop Thinks Archbishop Romero to be Beatified
The Archbishop of San Salvador wants to avoid instrumentalizing or politicizing the deceased, in order to make the beatification process of the current Congregation in Rome easier.
The Archbishop of San Salvator, Jose Luis Escobar Alas, awaits an upcoming beatification of the murdered Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero (1917-1980). The Archbishop said this on Sunday in San Salvador at a Press conference on the 93rd Birthday of his predecessor murdered 30 years ago. Archbishop Escobar wants to avoid instrumentaliziing or politicizing the death, in order to make the job of the current Congregation in Rome more difficult. [Hence why it stalled out the first time.] "We will pray to God, that Archbishop Romero will soon be beatified," said ++Escobar to the website "Terra".
Romero was murdered in 1980 during a service. For his protest against oppression and exploitation and as a voice of the poor, he was well-known throughout Central America. The back ground of the murder is still not widely known today. The suspected wire puller was never apprehended.
According to reports from an independent "truth commission", which attempted to uncover crimes committed during the Civil War in El Salvador, Robert D'Aubuisson, Major of the Salvadoran Army and Chief of the suspected death squads, was the primary instigator of the murder. Later he founded the conservative right "ARENA" -Party and ran unsuccessfully for the office of President. He died in 1992 of cancer. Pope John Paul II. visited Romero's grave in the Cathedral of San Salvador.
The advocates for this will want to de-emphasize the political and military nature of ++Romero's activities which led to his assassination, but it's unavoidable that his motives were not the defense of the Catholic Faith, but in defense of a political programme being promoted by the Soviet Union.
In any event, even John Paul II stopped short of beatifying or honoring the Archbishop owing to the controversial nature of this prelate in his own country, by members of the Church who viewed Romero's meddling in politics as unproductive and even supportive of the Marxists who were building "base communities" and pushing for greater centralization of the economy (against the best interests of the country as it turned out).
Of course, US Catholic is wild about +Romero's beatification, as they probably feel it will give more fuel for their social-justice and anti-Church initiatives.
Cardinal Schönborn Praises Medjugorje, Again
A Morsel For the Stupid Neoconservatives
Austria. [kreuz.net] This Sunday Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna praised the false Marian apparition site, Medjugorje in the boulevard magazine 'Krone'. The Cardinal recalled his then meeting with the youth that are there every summer. The young people could not see much in the village besides the stony ground and supposed poverty. But they sense: "Mary is near them".
Link to original...
The Krone's late editor, Hans Dichant, and the publication itself has been very ++Schönborn friendly, despite its advertisements for prostitutes and pornographic content. The Cardinal eulogized him at his funeral and presided over the Mass.
It's a very evil magazine, see for yourself. It has an entire section featuring extremely indecent pinup photos.
Also, Cardinal Schönborn will be attending this years Ratzinger Schulkreis as reported by Dici to discuss the "hermeneutic of continuity.
H/t: Tom
Monday, August 16, 2010
It Was the Rosary: Mainz Priest Talks About Vocation
The mixed marriage of parents of the well-known Mainz Priest, Father Hendrick Jolie, produced an alienation from religion in his family. But suddenly, everything changed and nothing was the same as it was.
[kreuz.net] I was not "unpious" as a young person, explained the well-known Mainz Priest, Father Hendrick Jolie, in an interview today with the Linz site 'kath.net'.
The clergyman came from a mixed marriage. "It created a kind of distance from the Church," according to him.
Then suddenly came the change: "the transformation of my Father's conversion in the 80s had deeply influenced me."
The future priest started to pose new questions: "how can a man, who is the business manager of a large convenience store chain standing in the middle of the profane world, suddenly become so pious? Why did he pray the rosary and go to Holy Mass [sic] so often?"
The example of the Father spurred the son: "I began in any case, to regularly pray the Rosary."
Because of that the life of the future Priest changed in a few months "fundamentally":
"I gave up my original career plans and entered the seminary in 1985."
Fr. Jolie didn't have a doubt: "Today I am absolutely sure, that I have the Rosary to thank for my vocation."
Read original, here....
The Relics of St. John the Baptist Are Authentic
[Standart, Bulgaria] The relics of John the Baptist recently discovered in the Black Sea town of Sozopol are authentic, declared Vatican expert Michael Hesseman, according to Minister of Diaspora historian Bozhidar Dimitrov. Mayor of Sozopol, Dr. of History Panayot Reizi handed over the reliquary to Father Ivan of the local St. George church. Yesterday, thousands of laymen gathered in town to see the valuable reliquary encased in gold and silver, a gift from PM Boyko Borisov. The relics of John the Baptist were moved to the reliquary lined with red velvet and further on will be kept in it.
“The relics have already worked the first miracle – they made Finance Minister Simeon Djankov to allot money for further research and excavations on the Sveti Ivan and Sveti Kirik islands near Sozopol,” Minister Dimitrov jokingly commented. He added that he was sure the investment would pay off as crowds of pilgrims were expected in Sozopol.
Elena Dimitrova
Link to original...
“The relics have already worked the first miracle – they made Finance Minister Simeon Djankov to allot money for further research and excavations on the Sveti Ivan and Sveti Kirik islands near Sozopol,” Minister Dimitrov jokingly commented. He added that he was sure the investment would pay off as crowds of pilgrims were expected in Sozopol.
Elena Dimitrova
Link to original...
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Healing From God's Herb Garden: Nuns Work With Pharmaceutical Experts
For many centuries Monastic medicine was the only hope for the sick -- today modern researchers are tapping the old knowledge.
Plants from the herb book of Leonhart Fuchs from the year 1545. The representation is of high quality botanically speaking.
The powerful towers of the Church of St. Michael reach into the sky. They overlook the cloister garden of the Oberzeller Franciscans. Sister Leandra Ulsamer grows lavender, sage and hyssop. The herbs grow faster in the hot summer weeks than at other times so that the Franciscans have all their hands full to bring in the rich harvest.
"Primroses and lemon balm are ripe in the early part of the year for our herb trees", reported Sister Leandra. "We have harvested enormous quantities of St. John's Wort, mullen, peppermint and sage."
The Sisters started this garden 21 years ago with a small corner. The sisters will plant the herbs for their evening tea. Today their herb garden in Oberzell by Wurzburg with around 100 different types of herb is one of the largest in Germany. "And every year we add four, five plants onto it," said Sister Leandra. Right now she has introduced the new fine leafed olive herb that helps with indigestion.
Sister Leandra went to another patch and cut some twigs out. "The hyssop will bloom in a bit a very beautiful blue, its oil is an ideal treatment for bronchitis and dry cough", she declared. The herb belongs to the mysterious plants of the ages. Already in a prescription at the medicine school of Salerno in the year 1066 it reads: "Blue hyssop clears the chest of harmful mucus."
Modern science is also interested in the medicinal knowledge of the monks. The historian of medicine Johannes G. Mayer has worked for 10 years together with Sister Leandra. His "Cloister Medicine Research Group" at the University of Wurzburg has systematically harvested its way through the medieval sources.
Are there any surprising discoveries? "That is the important discovery, that they used penicillin-like stuff in the cloister medicine, he said. "With a mixture of moldy cheese, honey and portions of sheep dung was put together and applied directly to the wound. Unfortunately, we could not reconstitute this, to discover what cheese was used."
For the astonishing prescription comes from the Lorscher Arzneibuch (Lorsch Medical Book), which dates from the time of Charlemagne in the year 795. This valuable Codex was first rediscovered in 1989. A donation of the Pharmacy Company Boehringer Ingelheim made possible the translation and scientific research.
The existing work from the Imperial Abbey Lorsch at Worms contains around 150 pages and 500 prescriptions, which astonishingly comes in part from Antiquity. The unknown author made the admonition from biblical texts, the duty to help the sick by means of God-given healing plants.
The so-called cloister medicine had its flowering between the 8th and 13th Centuries. The art had been lost through the chaotic upheavals: the migrations, in the final collapse of the Roman Empire (476) and the plague of the time of Justinian, which came from Egypt to wide parts of the Mediterranean and European homelands. Up to a quarter of the population died by the ravaging epidemic, which broke out again in 770. People lived in the most primitive of circumstances.
Early Christianity perceived in the fury of the plague, war and the migrations the unmistakable hand of God. The ancient healing arts were lost in great part during these dark times. [Obviously, if he was copying the herbology texts, they must not have been lost. Most historians view the Dark Ages as an indeterminate period starting not long before St. Benedict's birth and ending around the millennium.] It was the monk, Benedict of Nursia (480-547), in whom the flames of knowledge burned again. At Monte Casino near Naples he founded a Cloister (Monastery) where he established his revolutionary [sic] rule.
Most Europeans were incapable of reading and writing. The monks however were obliged by Benedict to read and copy the old writings, to which also belonged the pre-Christian works of Medicine. Benedict rejected the old Christian teaching [Where that teaching is, this author doesn't say.], that all sickness is sent from God. "The care for the sick is a duty for everyone; one should serve them, as though they were Christ Himself," wrote the founder of the Benedictine Order. He established with this the foundation of cloister medicine.
Pope Gregory I, called "The Great" (540-604), was very impressed with Benedict's Rule, that he declared it binding for the entire Roman Church. Gregory I even turned his parents Villa on Monte Celio near Rome into a Benedictine Cloister.
Already there were healing herb gardens in all of the Cloisters of Europe, which increased even more the healing capabilities of the monks in the infirmaries. The Emperor Charlemagne the Great (747-814) undertook the mission to care for the sick in his Empire and ordered the foundation of herb gardens for his cities.
The last great medicinal author of the high middle ages was the mystic, Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), Abbess of the Benedictine Cloister on the Rupertsberg by Bingen on the Rhine. Her work "Physica" (Natural History) and "Casae et Curae" (Cause and Cures) have been discovered in recent years. Critics doubt in any case, that the writings are authentic, there is nothing original from her time.
After Hildegard the Cloister slowly lost its monopoly in the healing arts. Worldly Universities like the school at Salerno were founded, which contains the legend that it was founded by a Greek, a Latin, an Arab and a Jew.
At the University of Wurzburg, Mayer and his team of chemists, pharmacists and doctors have identified around 600 healing plants of cloister medicine. "What then can be taken away from this is for the manufacturer to decide", he said. The Research Group for Cloister Medicine has been financially supporter by Pharmaceutical Company GlaxoSmithKline and the Martin Bauer Group, who want to supply the herbs and extracts for other producers.
"Germany is the worldwide leader in the analysis of the contents of medicinal plants", says Medicinal Historian Mayer. That corresponds with the good reputation of the plants' healing properties in the country. Since 2004 a few cases have been filed against St. John's Wort in cases of depression. Otherwise the past year has seen, according to IMS Pharma Scope, a value of 796 Million Euro sold in Pharmacy Phytopharmaka alone, which was in large part the result of private business. They were distributed to Drug stores, Reform homes and supermarkets. The most popular are the cough and cold remedies, heart medicine and cancer as well as stomach and digestion.
"For the most part it is still not clear which stuff is exactly responsible for the effect, sometimes there are in any case, several," said Mayer. There has been great progress, however, with valerian and hops. "With valerian it is the roots, with hops the umbels, which produce a completely valuable mixture of materials."
The ligands in the valerian have an effect similar to caffeine or nicotine, they effect like the hormonal material adenosin, explained Mayer. "A person can drive a car with it and take a test, if one is very upset. That is the ideal remedy, to calm down." One can sleep better, but it doesn't have the side effects like many other synthetic sleep tablets, which can paralyze the organism.
"A harmless sleep", says Mayer, "is very important, especially for cell regeneration and for the assimilation of the experiences of the day. Valerian does not afterward disturb these important bodily functions." When you actually compare hops and passion flowers, then these sleep and calming remedies are clearly superior to synthetic drugs.
While modern medicine can isolate individual substances, nature offers an entire concert of ingredients in place of single instruments, Mayer insists. We almost know that from the everyday. Caffeine operates completely differently when it is applied as a single isolated substance, than as Coffee, Tea or consuming a Guarana plant. "We believe it is senseless to isolate a material which then, often does not have the complex effect which the complete plants have, as clinical studies show.
Sage slows the building of neurotransmitter acetylcholin, so the patient with Alzheimers or Dementia could profit. In any case, there are still more precise studies of the dosage which have yet to follow, sage also contains the nerve poison thujon. [An ingredient in absinthe, yum, yum] The saying, "whatever is effective has side-effects" doesn't just apply to synthetic medications, but also some medicinal plants have poisonous ingredients.
For this reason before the healing of sickness it is always the healthy lifestyle which is important. And here also Mayer has learned from the Rule of Benedict of Nursia -- whose attribution one finds in the English word for "nurse".
"Ora et labora et lege -- pray, work and read", the motto of the Benedictine order is also for the Wurzburger Medicine Historian of greatest importance. "That comes from an actual relationship between sleep and waking, from work and rest, it is important also for nourishment, from which imbalance I can be easily effected by illnesses," said Mayer. The mid-day nap is a central component of life in a Cloister, whose positive effect for modern sleep research has been established, "that's definitely been frowned upon, but after a little nap you are clearly more alert and capable."
One can also read this in the advice of the Middle Ages as from a modern Fitness expert, explained Mayer. "Don't eat too late. Meat of mammals like pork or beef were only intended for Feast Days and sickness. Otherwise one ate fish and poultry."
Even alcohol was allowed in small quantities, as Mayer reports, in the rule of the Benedictines it says that the Abbott should take care, that every monk gets one roman measure of wine per day, which is about 0.27 Liters thus about a quarter Liter. That is the exact quantity which is recommended by modern medicine as foreseeable tolerable.
But for a swallow of wine it is in these days too early. Sister Leandra takes a swallow of wine after lunch, prays an hour and finishes with by taking a nap.
Now there are waiting in the garden around 40 white-haired visitors. These also she shows her blooming glory, St, John's Wort, the healing herb and powerful blooming stripped blossoms. "it is beautiful that there are always more people taking interest in what good the herbs can do", says Sister Leandra.
And perhaps she will betray her recipe for overeating, to bring the life's spirits back into swing again: "For that you need some stems of rosemary in the best Bordeaux wine, leave to set for a few days and take a little glass with every meal." Get well.
Original, here...
Anti-Christian Film Cancelled in Lebanon
Lebanon, In Lebanon a historically inaccurate film, produced in Iran, about Christ has been cancelled. The film denines the Crucifiction of Christ and portrays the Son of God as a mere prophet. Christians protested successfully against the program. The Maronite Bishop Béchara Raï (70) of Byblos is pleased with a statement urging the cancellation of the series. The film would have seriously libeled Christ and His Church.
Link to kreuz.net...
Link to kreuz.net...
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Pope Took a Spontaneous Tour in the Mini-Popemobile
Italy. [kreuz.net] One Wednesday the Pope Benedict XVI together with his brother, Prelate Gerog Ratzinger, took a spontaneous ride in the Mini-Popemobile for around 150 Meters. Carbineri on the scene were surprised according to reports by the Roman daily 'Il Messaggero'. On the coming Sunday, on the feast of the Assumption, the faithful expect the Pope as usual for Mass in his Parish Church.
link to source, kreuz.net...
link to source, kreuz.net...
Turkey: Nationalist Protest Against Divine Liturgy on Assumption
Several thousand Greek Orthodox Christians in Turkey arrive on Sunday at the Sumela-Cloister in the East of the Land. There the Nationalists hope to protest against the Christians.
Constantinople (kath.net/KAP)
Several thousand Greek Orthodox Christians in Turkey will arrive according to their Patriarch Bartholomeos I on the this Sunda as "Peace Ambassadors" to the Sumela Cloister in the East of the Land. The Christians have waited for a long time for this day, said the Patriarch of Constantinople in an interview for the daily "Sabah" (Friday Edition). In view of protests by Turkish Nationalists against the Liturgy on the Feast of the "Assumption" said the honorary head of around 300 Million Orthodox Christians in the world, that he trusts in the security measures of the authorities.
The ancient Sumela Cloister in the south Black Sea city of Trebizond is the sanctuary location for a Marian Ikon, which was painted according to legend by St. Luke. After the exile of the Greeks by the Turkish-Greek population exchange in the 1920s the Cloister was abandoned and declared a museum. The Orthodox Christians struggled for years to get permission for a Liturgy to be celebrated in the Cloister. Bartholomaios I thanked the Culture Ministry for this, that this is the first time such an event is taking place.
Right leaning local politicians in Trebizond have been protesting in the past days. They accuse the Christians of using the Liturgy on the 15th of August to summon a restoration of the Byzantine Empire. The Ottomans conquered the then Byzantine Trebizond in 1461 on August 15th which is also the beginning of the uprising of the Kurdish PKK-Rebels against the Turkish State. For this reason, the Liturgy will become a demonstration of "revenge", according to the right national newspaper "Yenicag".
The Police in Trebizond, a bastion of National Rightists, took a local politican and a local journalist into protective custody. The Patriarch has said, that he has no doubt that the security forces will take every necessary precaution.
Link to original, kath.net...
Photo taken from Kara Lahana, Turkish travel site...
Priest Doesn't Show up for a Wedding, In Austria: Cardinal Schönborn Saves the Day!
The coupe was ready and dressed, the guess assembled in the church and the muicians were ready to play -- only the Priest wasn't there: The horror scenario happened to two betrothed in the Viennese neighborhood of Floridorf.
The pastor had completely forgotten the marriage. The 30 year old Iris and her 27 Year old partner [sic] were so angry after 8 months of planning and expectation that they threatened to leave the Church. Now the Archdiocese has promised to compensate the couple for the wedding, inclusive the blooming bridal bouquet, organist and church rent.
The abandoned couple estimate the costs of the Church wedding with 150 invited guests to be 2000 Euro says the Austrian daily "Heute". In order to prevent them from leaving the Church, Cardinal Schönborn is going to save the day by personally presiding at their wedding.
Original, here...
The pastor had completely forgotten the marriage. The 30 year old Iris and her 27 Year old partner [sic] were so angry after 8 months of planning and expectation that they threatened to leave the Church. Now the Archdiocese has promised to compensate the couple for the wedding, inclusive the blooming bridal bouquet, organist and church rent.
The abandoned couple estimate the costs of the Church wedding with 150 invited guests to be 2000 Euro says the Austrian daily "Heute". In order to prevent them from leaving the Church, Cardinal Schönborn is going to save the day by personally presiding at their wedding.
Original, here...
Now we have real evidence – sexual abuse is not a ‘Catholic problem’ | CatholicHerald.co.uk
When the Nazis were engaged in attempting to use the alleged sex abuse by priests to push the Catholic Church in Germany out of education and public life, its was actually the Brown Shirts where it was dangerous for a child's innocence in that regard.
The following article brings a study which indicates that sexual abuse is much more common outside of the priesthood than within it, but it proves something else that we knew all along, that this media campaign has been launched by shadowy and nefarious figures at the New York Times and at the hands of ACLU Attorney, Jeff Anderson, who's clearly sold his soul.
This was never about the victims. It is about attacking the Church's teachings, which arouse such contempt and hatred in the modern world.
Now we have real evidence – sexual abuse is not a ‘Catholic problem’ | CatholicHerald.co.uk
The following article brings a study which indicates that sexual abuse is much more common outside of the priesthood than within it, but it proves something else that we knew all along, that this media campaign has been launched by shadowy and nefarious figures at the New York Times and at the hands of ACLU Attorney, Jeff Anderson, who's clearly sold his soul.
This was never about the victims. It is about attacking the Church's teachings, which arouse such contempt and hatred in the modern world.
Now we have real evidence – sexual abuse is not a ‘Catholic problem’ | CatholicHerald.co.uk
Louisville Man Comes Back to the Church After 80 Years
In the annals of people who returned to their childhood faith after a time of alienation, few have had a longer sojourn than James O'Bryan.
The Louisville native has reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church after being away from it for more than 80 years.
In the end, O'Bryan reconciled with the church because of the actions of a priest — the same reason he said he left in the first place.
O'Bryan, now 89 and living in northern California, was one of three plaintiffs who sued the Vatican in 2004, alleging that the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church had orchestrated a cover-up of sexual abuse through centuries of secret policies. He said he was sexually abused by a Louisville priest in 1928.
Read further...
The Louisville native has reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church after being away from it for more than 80 years.
In the end, O'Bryan reconciled with the church because of the actions of a priest — the same reason he said he left in the first place.
O'Bryan, now 89 and living in northern California, was one of three plaintiffs who sued the Vatican in 2004, alleging that the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church had orchestrated a cover-up of sexual abuse through centuries of secret policies. He said he was sexually abused by a Louisville priest in 1928.
Read further...
French Clerics Refuse to Baptise Muslims
Rome (AsiaNews) - A group of Christians and Muslims from Algeria, Morocco and France have planned a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Saint Augustine, their countryman, that will lead them to Milan and Pavia, where the remains of the North African saint of Hippo lie. There are several Muslim converts to Christianity among the group, some for over 40 years, others for just over a year.
It is the first time that Christians of North Africa have ever organized a similar pilgrimage. It will take them from August 26 to 28 to Milan, where Augustine was baptized by Ambrose in 387, to Pavia and the basilica of san Pietro in Ciel d’Oro (see photo), which houses his remains in time to take part in local celebrations, the feast of the saint on August 28.
The group has long desired to make this pilgrimage and had also wanted to include an audience with the pope. Among the pilgrims, 17 are of North African origin, 14 are converts from Islam and two are catechumens. There is also a future seminarian; the other 10 are of French origin, all accompanied by Fr Alexis Doucet, S.J.
Read further...
It is the first time that Christians of North Africa have ever organized a similar pilgrimage. It will take them from August 26 to 28 to Milan, where Augustine was baptized by Ambrose in 387, to Pavia and the basilica of san Pietro in Ciel d’Oro (see photo), which houses his remains in time to take part in local celebrations, the feast of the saint on August 28.
The group has long desired to make this pilgrimage and had also wanted to include an audience with the pope. Among the pilgrims, 17 are of North African origin, 14 are converts from Islam and two are catechumens. There is also a future seminarian; the other 10 are of French origin, all accompanied by Fr Alexis Doucet, S.J.
Read further...
Friday, August 13, 2010
More Proof: Only Catholic Monasteries Showing Growth
There's a blog out there from a Monastery which has traded in its Romanesque and Gothic medievalism for the brutalist architecture, conjuring up distopic miseries and visions of Hiroshima, or the post-modern world in which most of these Monastics spend their time. Actually, the blog is a lot like a women's fashion magazine about overly simplified religious subjects; a kind of writer's workshop at a vanity press. It's the way the author of the article goes on about the Monk's possession of cell phone and keys that's so disturbing, wistfully embarking upon an article which really ignores the ugly truth as to why Heiligenkreuz is so successful at winning vocations, nearly doubling its numbers to 88, despite its presence in one of the most anti-clerical countries in Europe with one of the worst Primate Cardinals. So, the whys and wherefores should be obvious, even to those who reside in the confusion of modernism and indifferentism which reigns supreme at Collegeville.
What they're doing now, in lieu of making an authentic monastic witness, is attempting to explain away the success of other monasteries in attracting vocations by appeals to beautiful music and simplicity. Could it be the order and purity of this Cistercian community's monastic witness that we see, clearly, why young people are willing to sacrifice their lives? One of the posters tries to explain it this way, and it's the typical response:
Critical mass, no, it's authenticity. These men have a mission. As the following video shows, that's why anywhere you go in the world, from France, to Germanyand the United States that Religious Communities which have either restored or maintained authentic Monasticism are prospering and conversely while those who do not, are dying.
Just to illustrate this point, there are two videos. The one for one for Heilegenkreuz in the Vienna Wood in Austria, above the ancient battlefield where the Turks who were then menacing Europe were driven back in 1683, the monks are young, orderly, simple. The vestments worn are baroque and at least one of the liturgies depicted in the video is being celebrated ad orientem (Mass facing God in the Tabernacle) with a reverence never seen at the Monastery from which 'Pray, Tell' originates. The video has more than a half-a-million hits on youtube. Is it any wonder they've got so many new vocations, leaving the old liberals at Collegeville to remark with scorn that they don't believe they'll make it...
Now, it was hard to find videos about Collegeville, but there is this one which shows a Monk who is supposedly on restriction for molesting among others, a 9 year old child, stalking a victim.
Here they are, burying a credibly accused homosexual predator, Father Bruce Wolmering:
We'll just leave you with more scenes from Heilegenkreuz. A truly beautiful and Catholic place in the heart of old Europe. They've even got black, baroque vestments
What they're doing now, in lieu of making an authentic monastic witness, is attempting to explain away the success of other monasteries in attracting vocations by appeals to beautiful music and simplicity. Could it be the order and purity of this Cistercian community's monastic witness that we see, clearly, why young people are willing to sacrifice their lives? One of the posters tries to explain it this way, and it's the typical response:
Sociologically speaking, there is the issue of “critical mass” – both the Heiligenkreuz and Nashville religious have it. It allows them to attract members easily and isn’t necessarily tied to their ecclesial vision. Critical mass isn’t something American parishes or religious have figured out I think in terms of applying it to institutional management and planning.
Critical mass, no, it's authenticity. These men have a mission. As the following video shows, that's why anywhere you go in the world, from France, to Germanyand the United States that Religious Communities which have either restored or maintained authentic Monasticism are prospering and conversely while those who do not, are dying.
Just to illustrate this point, there are two videos. The one for one for Heilegenkreuz in the Vienna Wood in Austria, above the ancient battlefield where the Turks who were then menacing Europe were driven back in 1683, the monks are young, orderly, simple. The vestments worn are baroque and at least one of the liturgies depicted in the video is being celebrated ad orientem (Mass facing God in the Tabernacle) with a reverence never seen at the Monastery from which 'Pray, Tell' originates. The video has more than a half-a-million hits on youtube. Is it any wonder they've got so many new vocations, leaving the old liberals at Collegeville to remark with scorn that they don't believe they'll make it...
Now, it was hard to find videos about Collegeville, but there is this one which shows a Monk who is supposedly on restriction for molesting among others, a 9 year old child, stalking a victim.
Here they are, burying a credibly accused homosexual predator, Father Bruce Wolmering:
We'll just leave you with more scenes from Heilegenkreuz. A truly beautiful and Catholic place in the heart of old Europe. They've even got black, baroque vestments
Catholic Diocesan Employees Using Birth Control Will Be Termed in Wisconsin
MADISON, Wisconsin, August 12, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Catholic Diocese of Madison says they will abide by Wisconsin law requiring them to offer insurance coverage for artificial birth control – but they are making absolutely clear that they will fire any employee who willfully uses it in defiance of Catholic teaching against contraception.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the diocese, which is headed by Bishop Robert Morlino, made the decision after discovering that the financial costs to become self-insured were too high.
A new state provision that went into effect January 1 requires health insurance companies to include contraceptive services as a “mandated benefit.” Only self-insured groups are exempted, such as the La Crosse and Superior dioceses.
Link to read further at Lifesite...
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the diocese, which is headed by Bishop Robert Morlino, made the decision after discovering that the financial costs to become self-insured were too high.
A new state provision that went into effect January 1 requires health insurance companies to include contraceptive services as a “mandated benefit.” Only self-insured groups are exempted, such as the La Crosse and Superior dioceses.
Link to read further at Lifesite...
No Murderers as Co-Workers
Russia. [Kreuz.net] The Milk Bottler, 'Russia Moloko' wants its employees to be subject to a Moral Catechism of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the future no mothers will be hired, who have murdered a chid. "We don't want to work with murderers" -- exclaimed the Chief of Russkoe Moloko, Wassili Boiko-Weliki, yesterday to radio 'Moscow Echo'. Consequently, employees will be dismissed, who are in a wild marriage or only recognized by the state and are found to be living together. By the middle of October such employees must be married in the Church.
Kreuz.net Reports...
Of course, the AP picked it up and here's the story by the Toronto Sun, you get a real sense that they are shell shocked by the story and don't exactly know how to respond to it, that a Plant Manager would fire one of his employees for having an abortion. That's a sacrament and a rite of passage in the modern west.
Kreuz.net Reports...
Of course, the AP picked it up and here's the story by the Toronto Sun, you get a real sense that they are shell shocked by the story and don't exactly know how to respond to it, that a Plant Manager would fire one of his employees for having an abortion. That's a sacrament and a rite of passage in the modern west.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Germany: SSPX Not a Significant Factor in Church Departures in 2009
Editor: In response to the author of the piece at kath.net, it can only be said that they should strive for accuracy in honest in this as they do in other things: The Traditionalists never left the Catholic Church, and it's Bishop Williamson who hasn't denied the Holocaust in Germany where it's a crime to speak one's mind. In any event, these figures for the Church are promising and show that the German people can, as many of them always have, think for themselves.
This should also put a bit of a stopper on those Austrian Statistics indicating 100,000 departures. You look at this, after lifting of excommunications, the German Church was still growing.
Germany: Church Departures Only Climbed Slightly in 2009
This should also put a bit of a stopper on those Austrian Statistics indicating 100,000 departures. You look at this, after lifting of excommunications, the German Church was still growing.
Germany: Church Departures Only Climbed Slightly in 2009
The numbers in departures are climbing only lightly despite the conflict concerning the SSPX: According to the Bishops' Conference, 123,681 Catholics left their Church; in the previous year (2008) there were 121.155.
Berlin (kath.net/KAP) The German Bishops' Conference have published the numbers of those leaving the Church for the year (2009). The numbers have climbed only lightly, despite the conflict with the SSPX: According to the Bishops' Conference 123,681 Catholics left their Church in the previous year; in that year (2008) there were 121,155. The number of Catholics are estimated at 24,9 Million, which is 30,5 % of the population.
The appearance of the debate about the readmission of the Traditionalists in the Catholic Church and the scandal surrounding Holocaust denier [Bishop] Richard Williamson has demonstrated hardly any measurable effect on the number of Catholics in Germany.
A small decline is shown in the number of baptisms: In 2008 there were still 185,600 people baptized, while there were around 179,000 in 2009. At the same time there were in 27 German Diocese 4,009 entrants in the Catholic Church and around 8,649 returning to the Church. In 2008 there were 4,388 entrances and 9546 returning to the Church.
According to the available "basic data of the Church's life" the number of regular Mass attendees sank from 13,4 to 13,0 percent. The number of secular priests was given at 13,158 while those in religious orders stands at 2,209. The orders in Germany were numbered at 4,609 Monks and 21,982 Religious Sisters and Nuns. Additionally, there are 1,906 men and women belonging to secular institutes.
Original, here...
Christians in North Korea, Three Executed
Seoul (AsiaNews) – North Korea’s Stalinist regime has discovered some underground Christians in a house church in Pyongan Province. All 23 who met to celebrate a religious function were arrested. Three were tried and given the death penalty, which was swiftly executed, sources told AsiaNews. Confirmation about the incident also came from the North Korea Intellectual Solidarity, a group of North Korean exiles.
According to the sources, the arrests and executions were carried out in mid-May. “At that time, right after the disastrous currency reform, police discovered 23 Christians in Kuwal-dong, Pyungsung County, in Pyongan Province, who met at an underground church. After their arrest, they were interrogated at length. Eventually, the group’s “ringleaders” were sentenced to death and executed. The others were sent to Kwan-li-so (Penal labour colony) No 15 in Yodŏk.”
These North Koreans discovered underground Christianity when some of them travelled to mainland China for work.
Read further, Asia News...
According to the sources, the arrests and executions were carried out in mid-May. “At that time, right after the disastrous currency reform, police discovered 23 Christians in Kuwal-dong, Pyungsung County, in Pyongan Province, who met at an underground church. After their arrest, they were interrogated at length. Eventually, the group’s “ringleaders” were sentenced to death and executed. The others were sent to Kwan-li-so (Penal labour colony) No 15 in Yodŏk.”
These North Koreans discovered underground Christianity when some of them travelled to mainland China for work.
Read further, Asia News...
Episcopalian Consecration at OLG Catholic Church Cancelled in Alaska
Archbishop Schwietz has moved Episcopalian "consecration" out of OLG Catholic Church, here.
Catholic Government: Mike Voris is not a Republican
Who knew? From looking at him, you might think he was Joe College Republican, but NO!
h/t: Ut Unum Sint
h/t: Ut Unum Sint
German Chicanery Against Catholics: The Kulturkampf Against Germany’s Catholics Continues
The Kulturkampf Against Germany’s Catholics Continues
We'd already talked about this a few months ago and as we predicted it then, the School (Realschule) owned by the Don Bosco Schulverein and the German Province of the SSPX will not be able to continue operating thanks to the flimsy pretexts of the German authorities.
The Society of Pius X is going to lose a dormitory to a harmless error in filing out a form. Anti-clerical hate for the Church from judges have an opportunity to grab hold by the tuft.
[kreuz.net, Saarbrücken] The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X must close their School in Saarbrücken because their dorm will finally be closed.
This is according to the news agency 'DPA'.
The owners of the Dorm, the School and a Grade School in Saarbrücken is the Dom Bosco Educuational Society of SSPX.
The Upper Court Authority in Saarland has an appeal against the Society which is against the appeal to dismiss the closing.
The judgement is not revocable.
The Church-Hate is what decides in National Socialist Germany
Already in April the Social Ministry of Saarland withdrew the permission of operation for the school.
The pretense: In the dormitory there were more children housed than what were approved in 2007.
The reason: The Society renovated the Dormitories since 2007 according to the prescriptions of the Youth Office. They did this in order to make more living space.
The completed rooms were used by the dormitory, however were not reported to the authorities.
Because of this form error it was made known in April, it was found that the Dormitory had concealed too many children.
The Society made an appeal against the closing. As has been shown today, in vain.
In May the judicial authorities decided, that the Dormitory may only be opened till the summer vacation.
The Pedophile-Odenwaldschule was still opened though
In the most recent judgement the upper court determined that the closing will take place immediately.
The anti-clerical court has swelled the laughable form mistake into a "systematic deception" of the number of dormitory spaces.
The school operators have "deprived the children of State control" and "illegally operated" the dormitory -- so went the escalating accusations of the Judge.
For that reason the court refused the proposal of the owners of the School.
It goes without saying that the Society of Pius X can not operate the School without the dormitory can't continue to maintain the School.
Original article, kreuz.net...
Monks Making Caskets Getting Sued by Government in Louisiana
by Tim Drake Thursday, August 12, 2010 6:39 AM
Can the government restrict the monks of St. Joseph's Abbey in Saint Benedict, La., from building boxes? Yes, says the state, if those boxes are for the deceased.In 2007, the monks at St. Joseph's Abbey started St. Joseph Woodworks for the purpose of building simple wooden caskets as a means of supporting themselves. Monks in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota have been in the casket-making business for years.Before they were able to sell even a single casket, the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors told them that their sale of caskets violated state law, which says that you cannot sell "funeral merchandise" unless you're a licensed funeral director. Were the monks to sell their caskets, they would risk both fines and imprisonment.
In order to sell caskets legally, the monks would have to apprentice at a licensed funeral home for a year, take a funeral industry test, and convert their monastery into a "funeral establishment," installing equipment for embalming."We are not a wealthy monastery, and we want to sell our plain wooden caskets to pay for food, health care, and the education of our monks, said Abbot Justin Brown.
This morning, the Arlington, Va.-based Institute for Justice is holding a press conference on the front steps of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on behalf of the monks. They are announcing a federal lawsuit to fight against the state funeral board's attempt to shut down their casket-making business.
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/state-goes-after-monks-for-the-sin-of-selling-caskets?utm_source=NCRegister.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5cabccafc8-RSS_DAILY_EMAIL#When:11:39:08Z
Can the government restrict the monks of St. Joseph's Abbey in Saint Benedict, La., from building boxes? Yes, says the state, if those boxes are for the deceased.In 2007, the monks at St. Joseph's Abbey started St. Joseph Woodworks for the purpose of building simple wooden caskets as a means of supporting themselves. Monks in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota have been in the casket-making business for years.Before they were able to sell even a single casket, the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors told them that their sale of caskets violated state law, which says that you cannot sell "funeral merchandise" unless you're a licensed funeral director. Were the monks to sell their caskets, they would risk both fines and imprisonment.
In order to sell caskets legally, the monks would have to apprentice at a licensed funeral home for a year, take a funeral industry test, and convert their monastery into a "funeral establishment," installing equipment for embalming."We are not a wealthy monastery, and we want to sell our plain wooden caskets to pay for food, health care, and the education of our monks, said Abbot Justin Brown.
This morning, the Arlington, Va.-based Institute for Justice is holding a press conference on the front steps of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on behalf of the monks. They are announcing a federal lawsuit to fight against the state funeral board's attempt to shut down their casket-making business.
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/state-goes-after-monks-for-the-sin-of-selling-caskets?utm_source=NCRegister.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5cabccafc8-RSS_DAILY_EMAIL#When:11:39:08Z
Uzbekistan Cracks down on Heretical Sects
OSLO, Norway (ABP) -- Authorities in Uzbekistan continue to repress worship in unregistered churches, according to a new report by an international news service that monitors religious freedom.
Police in the Mirzo-Ulugbek District of the capital province of Tashkent raided a group of Baptists from an unregistered church gathered at a home July 28 to celebrate the "spiritual birthday" of a member of the congregation, Norwegian-based Forum 18 reported Aug. 5.
Twenty-three people -- some of them young children -- were taken to district police headquarters and detained. Ten were released the following evening, nearly 24 hours after the 9 p.m. raid.
Read further...
Police in the Mirzo-Ulugbek District of the capital province of Tashkent raided a group of Baptists from an unregistered church gathered at a home July 28 to celebrate the "spiritual birthday" of a member of the congregation, Norwegian-based Forum 18 reported Aug. 5.
Twenty-three people -- some of them young children -- were taken to district police headquarters and detained. Ten were released the following evening, nearly 24 hours after the 9 p.m. raid.
Read further...
Students Oppose Appointment of Moral Philosopher
Students at St Andrews University have voiced concern over the academic appointment of a high- profile British philosopher.
Professor Roger Scruton has been named quarter-time professorial fellow in moral philosophy and is due to take up his new role at St Andrews in the spring.
But the decision has been criticised by the students’ association who claim his views on homosexuality could create an “uncomfortable” atmosphere for gay students.
Read further...
Professor Roger Scruton has been named quarter-time professorial fellow in moral philosophy and is due to take up his new role at St Andrews in the spring.
But the decision has been criticised by the students’ association who claim his views on homosexuality could create an “uncomfortable” atmosphere for gay students.
Read further...
ACLU Paladin Jeff Anderson Vows to Continue His Dark Crusade Against the Church
Jeff Anderson says this isn't for the faint of heart. He's intent on continuing his own quest for whatever it is he's questing for, in his office, replete with ecclesiastical furniture, and shrines to civil rights battles of the past, and it seems to be clear that he's intent upon winning another one.
The ACLU member and Democratic Party supporter is not deterred by the recent collapse of the Kentucky case. There are dark and powerful forces on his side which have collaborated with those powers within the Church, to destroy the Church.
Ultimately, this isn't about justice for the boys who were preyed on by cruising homosexuals, this is about destroying the Church, disolving what remains of its steadfast and intransigent moral claims, as Jeff Anderson reveals his hand, it should become clear when he says:
The ACLU member and Democratic Party supporter is not deterred by the recent collapse of the Kentucky case. There are dark and powerful forces on his side which have collaborated with those powers within the Church, to destroy the Church.
Ultimately, this isn't about justice for the boys who were preyed on by cruising homosexuals, this is about destroying the Church, disolving what remains of its steadfast and intransigent moral claims, as Jeff Anderson reveals his hand, it should become clear when he says:
For decades the strange practice of treating the Catholic Church as a state has been bad for women's equality, gay rights and reproductive freedom. The Holy See's fictive statehood allows it to promote its retrograde views on gender and sex in diplomatic settings and during treaty negotiations.
Now, the unfolding sexual abuse scandal reveals another dark side of the Holy See's claim to statehood: the extraordinary immunities claimed by the pope in the face of conspiracy accusations that span the globe.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Ann Coulter To Appear at Event Promoting Homosexuality
Contact: Peter LaBarbera, Americans For Truth About Homosexuality, 630-546-4439, AmericansForTruth@gmail.com
CHICAGO, Aug. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- Americans For Truth About Homosexuality President Peter LaBarbera today urged conservative pundit Ann Coulter to reconsider her appearance at "Homocon," a September event for the homosexual Republican group GOProud.
LaBarbera said:
As a fan of Ann Coulter, it pains me to see her cave in to political correctness and lend credibility to the phony homosexual "conservatives" over at GOProud. Worse, Coulter is sending a dangerous message to young Americans that homosexuality is OK. (It's actually a sin.) Fully half of GOProud's top 10 federal priorities center on using the Government to advance homosexuality, including:
#4 - "Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" -- Homosexualizing the military is reckless, especially in wartime. GOProud claims to defend "individual rights," but what about the privacy rights of normal soldiers who don't want to bunk and shower with men who lust after other men? Moreover, if DADT is repealed, the military will become a massive government bureaucracy for pro-homosexual "diversity" -- subjecting millions of tradition-minded servicemen to Orwellian, same-sex propaganda to enforce its new lavender crusade. (Chaplains: beware.)
# 7 - "Opposing any anti-gay federal marriage amendment." Coulter must know that America might be just one Supreme Court justice away from legalizing oxymoronic homosexual "marriage" -- which would undermine religious freedom in every state in the nation. A Federal Marriage Amendment could be the only way to stop this Roe v. Wade-like disaster. And since when did state-enforced homosexual "marriage" -- with its corrosive effect on liberty and linkage to Homosexuality Promotion in schools -- become "conservative"?
GOProud is non-committal on ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act), which would federalize workers' "rights" based on homosexuality and gender confusion. A truly conservative organization would fight this federal power grab -- and GLBT lawyers' dream legislation -- tooth and nail. Ann, are you aware that these days it's Christians like Julea Ward and Matt Barber who defend biblical truth -- not "gays" -- who are victims of corporate discrimination?
One must ask Coulter, who professes Christianity:
· Would you speak at an event for "Republicans For Responsible Porn Use," or "Republicans for Higher Taxes," or Republicans for Choice [Abortion] -- if such groups took legitimately conservative positions on other issues like gun rights?
· Does God condemn only Democratic "men who lie with a male as one who lies with a woman" -- while giving Republican sodomists a pass?
Homosexual practice may be hip in New York City, but objectively it is always wrong and unnatural, and often unhealthy. Thankfully it's also changeable, as proved by thousands of ex-gay men and ex-lesbians. Ann: why don't you speak instead at a conference for former homosexuals? It's not PC, but it would be far more consistent with your conservative principles than celebrating GOProud -- which works directly against the Republican Party's pro-family and pro-marriage platform.
Please reconsider and nix your GOProud talk -- in the name of true conservatism.
Link to original...
CHICAGO, Aug. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- Americans For Truth About Homosexuality President Peter LaBarbera today urged conservative pundit Ann Coulter to reconsider her appearance at "Homocon," a September event for the homosexual Republican group GOProud.
LaBarbera said:
As a fan of Ann Coulter, it pains me to see her cave in to political correctness and lend credibility to the phony homosexual "conservatives" over at GOProud. Worse, Coulter is sending a dangerous message to young Americans that homosexuality is OK. (It's actually a sin.) Fully half of GOProud's top 10 federal priorities center on using the Government to advance homosexuality, including:
#4 - "Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" -- Homosexualizing the military is reckless, especially in wartime. GOProud claims to defend "individual rights," but what about the privacy rights of normal soldiers who don't want to bunk and shower with men who lust after other men? Moreover, if DADT is repealed, the military will become a massive government bureaucracy for pro-homosexual "diversity" -- subjecting millions of tradition-minded servicemen to Orwellian, same-sex propaganda to enforce its new lavender crusade. (Chaplains: beware.)
# 7 - "Opposing any anti-gay federal marriage amendment." Coulter must know that America might be just one Supreme Court justice away from legalizing oxymoronic homosexual "marriage" -- which would undermine religious freedom in every state in the nation. A Federal Marriage Amendment could be the only way to stop this Roe v. Wade-like disaster. And since when did state-enforced homosexual "marriage" -- with its corrosive effect on liberty and linkage to Homosexuality Promotion in schools -- become "conservative"?
GOProud is non-committal on ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act), which would federalize workers' "rights" based on homosexuality and gender confusion. A truly conservative organization would fight this federal power grab -- and GLBT lawyers' dream legislation -- tooth and nail. Ann, are you aware that these days it's Christians like Julea Ward and Matt Barber who defend biblical truth -- not "gays" -- who are victims of corporate discrimination?
One must ask Coulter, who professes Christianity:
· Would you speak at an event for "Republicans For Responsible Porn Use," or "Republicans for Higher Taxes," or Republicans for Choice [Abortion] -- if such groups took legitimately conservative positions on other issues like gun rights?
· Does God condemn only Democratic "men who lie with a male as one who lies with a woman" -- while giving Republican sodomists a pass?
Homosexual practice may be hip in New York City, but objectively it is always wrong and unnatural, and often unhealthy. Thankfully it's also changeable, as proved by thousands of ex-gay men and ex-lesbians. Ann: why don't you speak instead at a conference for former homosexuals? It's not PC, but it would be far more consistent with your conservative principles than celebrating GOProud -- which works directly against the Republican Party's pro-family and pro-marriage platform.
Please reconsider and nix your GOProud talk -- in the name of true conservatism.
Link to original...
Cardinal Burke Says No To Eucharistic Monsters and Serviettes
The soon-to-be Cardinal has taken the occasion of the Pope's apparent blessing of Altar Girls, and L'Osservatore Romano's to make it known that none of this non-sense will be tolerated at the TLM. One wonders whether there will be women readers, however?
Just remember that today's disobedience and abuse become tomorrow's concessions as was the case with everything from the altar nave, Mass said versus populum, insistence upon the vernacular, Communion in the hand, altar girls and women readers.
Link to Hermeneutic of Continuity, here.
To Raffaele, here
And Rorate Caeli, here.
One wonders, however, shall we dance?
Liturgical "Dancers" courtesy this blog, here.
Just remember that today's disobedience and abuse become tomorrow's concessions as was the case with everything from the altar nave, Mass said versus populum, insistence upon the vernacular, Communion in the hand, altar girls and women readers.
Link to Hermeneutic of Continuity, here.
To Raffaele, here
And Rorate Caeli, here.
One wonders, however, shall we dance?
Liturgical "Dancers" courtesy this blog, here.
Farmer's Mass in New Prague, Minnesota
Editor: Farmers have been going to Mass on Sunday for centuries, without the benefit of mechanization, modern communications or modernism. Farmers, at least Catholic ones, also abstained from work on Sundays. It was a time to meet with family, neighbors and go to Mass and Vespers toward the end of the day.
Read further...
Farmers and others in the New Prague area whose schedules make it difficult for them to attend Sunday morning Masses now have a new option: an 8:15 Saturday night Mass at St. Scholastica in Heidelberg.
For several years, Father Elgar Bockenfeld celebrated a late Saturday Mass at St. John the Evangelist in Union Hill. But after Father Bockenfeld’s death in January, it was discontinued.
About 250 people regularly attended the Mass. Some came from as far as 30 miles away.
Read further...
Damian Thompson Attacks Papal Trip Organizers...on Twitter
He's been very critical of the goings on for awhile and is even attacking the organizers on Twitter. It's just nice that someone with a serious soap box is taking these people to task and holding them accountable because it seems that almost no one else is. He writes:
This is sure to appeal to his artistic non-Catholic friends. It's about time someone took a bite out of artistic mediocrity, even if it were only from the province of artistic competence.
But he's asking another, more important question, why should religion be left to people who don't care enough about it to be competent at it. Most of them who are in charge, whether in the UK or elsewhere, couldn't tell you the 10 Commandments or the Precepts of the Church. Could it be that the last half century of ecclesiastical malaise has left us with a diet of mostly dull porridge?
Many people object more to being infantilised more than they object to being told they are sinners, it seems.
It's been a long lament for those of us on the outside of the power structure who have to endure what's passed on to us. Many of us have made temporary and indefinite measures by finding the Sacraments as much as possible as they were before the Conciliar malaise.
Is this high level of incompetence intentionally meant to drive more people out of the Catholic Church in England than have been in the past years? Here's a bit of what he's talking about with some really cool urban beats and the usual Mass brunch fare some of you may be familiar with:
Link to Papal Visit, here.
At least the production values were solid. That's a jamming soulful piano in that track.
You can hear the mediocrity and incompetence, at least some of it, here at a Catholic Radio Station opened just for the purpose. As a foretaste of this, the organizers plans to cover a group of youth who'll sit outside the Pope's temporary residence all night and sing him lullabies, not that there's anything wrong with that. He also promises to sing the praises of Catholic Charities. You can bet that they will be covering some liturgical abuses, as well as Father Freddy Fraggles...
.@thepapalvisit It's your fault for putting out tacky stuff that no one with any taste could like. You make Catholics look like prats.
This is sure to appeal to his artistic non-Catholic friends. It's about time someone took a bite out of artistic mediocrity, even if it were only from the province of artistic competence.
But he's asking another, more important question, why should religion be left to people who don't care enough about it to be competent at it. Most of them who are in charge, whether in the UK or elsewhere, couldn't tell you the 10 Commandments or the Precepts of the Church. Could it be that the last half century of ecclesiastical malaise has left us with a diet of mostly dull porridge?
.@thepapalvisit And what about that awful, error-strewn booklet with its computer game-style cover? Non-Catholics were cringing.
Many people object more to being infantilised more than they object to being told they are sinners, it seems.
@thepapalvisit You can't even write a literate tweet! Yet Mass-goers pay your wages.
It's been a long lament for those of us on the outside of the power structure who have to endure what's passed on to us. Many of us have made temporary and indefinite measures by finding the Sacraments as much as possible as they were before the Conciliar malaise.
Is this high level of incompetence intentionally meant to drive more people out of the Catholic Church in England than have been in the past years? Here's a bit of what he's talking about with some really cool urban beats and the usual Mass brunch fare some of you may be familiar with:
Link to Papal Visit, here.
At least the production values were solid. That's a jamming soulful piano in that track.
Papal visit CD: musical atrocities that make the Birdie Song sound like Mozart
[Telegraph Blog] Despite everything I’ve written about the incompetence of its organisers, I firmly believe that Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain needs to be a success. Time is running out. The sad trendies of Eccleston Square have done enough damage without them handing their critics fresh ammunition at this late stage. My heart sank when I saw that the papal visit team had released two tracks from the official “Pilgrim Journey” CD that comes with the (expensive) tickets for papal events. But nothing could have prepared me for the awful reality.
I’ve just played “Urban Pilgrim (Reprise)” by Alessandro Cherin and “Deus Tuus Deus Meus” by Fr Gerard Bradley to my colleagues in the Telegraph newsroom. And they’re keeling over in embarrassment. “Urban Pilgrim” is described by a friend as “the stuff they play on planes when they switch off your in-flight…
You can hear the mediocrity and incompetence, at least some of it, here at a Catholic Radio Station opened just for the purpose. As a foretaste of this, the organizers plans to cover a group of youth who'll sit outside the Pope's temporary residence all night and sing him lullabies, not that there's anything wrong with that. He also promises to sing the praises of Catholic Charities. You can bet that they will be covering some liturgical abuses, as well as Father Freddy Fraggles...
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Old Mass -- And Many Chicaneries: SSPX Numbers in Germany
Three years after 'Summuorum Pontificum' the German traditionalists are still outdistanced by the Society of Saint Pius X which is by far the best.
[kreuz.net] In Germany there are 133 locations, at which the Old Mass is celebrated. The website 'paixliturgique.at' reported on the numbers, which have been published by the organization 'Pro Missa Tridentina'.
58 locations are only celebrated during the week -- without Sundays. That is 43 percent of all the official listed possibilities for participating in the Old Liturgy.
On a further 26 locations celebrate -- therefore 19.5 Percent - have the Old Mass from time to time on one Sunday or not regularly on every Sunday.
A further 19 Mass locations -- 14 Percent -- have merely a Sunday Mas sin the Old Rite. These will be celebrated on times that are not appropriate for families.
Such times are after 9 O'Clock in the mornings or in the afternoons.
The number of the locations, where the Mass is celebrated every Sunday, weekly and on family-friendly times are limited to thirty of the total 133 Mass locations. That is around 22.5%.
The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X has fifty Mass locations.
On 43 Mass locations, there are regular Sunday and workday Masses.
In the past the German Bishops were happy with the expectant excitement of the believers are expected, in order to impede permission to the Old Mass.
Actually, the experience after 'Summorum Pontificum' has shown that this has been a bogeyman.
For this reason 'paixliturgique.at' has tried to encourage Senior Bishops, to finally implement 'Summorum Pontificum'.
The Organization recalled a survey of the Institute 'Harris Interactive' from February 2010, whereupon it indicated a great potential for the Faithful, who are interested in the Old Liturgy:
"44 Percent of regular church-goers of the Ordinary Form were in fact willing to visit the traditional Mass at least once in the Month."
© Bild: birmingham_lms_rep, CC
Metropolitan Filaret: It's Time to Take a Step Toward Unity
By Jesús Colina
VATICAN CITY, MAY 6, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The time is now for the Orthodox and Catholic Churches to take a step toward unity, and for Benedict XVI and the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow to meet, says the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus. Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Sluck said this Tuesday at the international conference held in Rome on "The Poor Are the Precious Treasure of the Church: Orthodox and Catholics Together on the Path of Charity."
During the conference, which was promoted by the Sant'Egidio Community, participants reflected on the reception of the most frail in our societies, the testimony of the Fathers of the Church, and the challenges dictated by new social problems. According to Metropolitan Filaret, the time has come to take decisive steps toward unity, reported the country's Catholic news service.
The Orthodox leader added that both Churches seek to establish full unity, and stressed that he has come to this conclusion based on the fraternal dialogue and the meetings that they have held with representatives of the Catholic Church.
If Benedict XVI and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia were to meet, it would be a first for the two pastors of Rome and Moscow.
http://www.zenit.org/article-29172?l=english
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
VATICAN CITY, MAY 6, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The time is now for the Orthodox and Catholic Churches to take a step toward unity, and for Benedict XVI and the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow to meet, says the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus. Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Sluck said this Tuesday at the international conference held in Rome on "The Poor Are the Precious Treasure of the Church: Orthodox and Catholics Together on the Path of Charity."
During the conference, which was promoted by the Sant'Egidio Community, participants reflected on the reception of the most frail in our societies, the testimony of the Fathers of the Church, and the challenges dictated by new social problems. According to Metropolitan Filaret, the time has come to take decisive steps toward unity, reported the country's Catholic news service.
The Orthodox leader added that both Churches seek to establish full unity, and stressed that he has come to this conclusion based on the fraternal dialogue and the meetings that they have held with representatives of the Catholic Church.
If Benedict XVI and Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia were to meet, it would be a first for the two pastors of Rome and Moscow.
http://www.zenit.org/article-29172?l=english
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Cardinal of Mexico: Homosexual Perversion is Evil
The Homosexual-perversion has a much to do with marriage as the human bowel movment has to do with making Wurst.
[kreuz.net] Since March the city of Mexico has treated the unnatural homosexual paring as a normal, healthy marriage.
Against this unjust state privileging of a beloved perverse act has caused the civil government of President Felipe Calderon to complain.
Indeed the highest court in the land of Mexico denied the complaint.
The homosexual-judge refused, that the unjust-privilege of a socially useless perverse minority has contradicted the Mexican Constitution.
The fertilization is supposedly "not a fundamental aspect of marriage" -- maintains the Judge.
The Politicians Want to Destroy their Land
Norberto Cardinal Rivera (69) of Mexico City criticized the judgement on Sunday.
"The Church can not stop pointing to this as evil" -- declared the Cardinal.
For: homo-parings are only fake marriages.
The homo-pervsion is an "immoral confusion" -- asserted the Cardinal.
The politicians are dealing with marriage and family "as if they were depended upon, to destroy them and with them, the Nation."
The homosexual-perversion is against the plan of God and nature of marriage, "which Jesus has raised to a Sacrament" -- insists the Cardinal.
Simultaneously he emphasized, that the Catholic must respect the law and the homo-perverse may not be discriminated against.
That does not warrant, "the support for false laws".
Original, here...
[kreuz.net] Since March the city of Mexico has treated the unnatural homosexual paring as a normal, healthy marriage.
Against this unjust state privileging of a beloved perverse act has caused the civil government of President Felipe Calderon to complain.
Indeed the highest court in the land of Mexico denied the complaint.
The homosexual-judge refused, that the unjust-privilege of a socially useless perverse minority has contradicted the Mexican Constitution.
The fertilization is supposedly "not a fundamental aspect of marriage" -- maintains the Judge.
The Politicians Want to Destroy their Land
Norberto Cardinal Rivera (69) of Mexico City criticized the judgement on Sunday.
"The Church can not stop pointing to this as evil" -- declared the Cardinal.
For: homo-parings are only fake marriages.
The homo-pervsion is an "immoral confusion" -- asserted the Cardinal.
The politicians are dealing with marriage and family "as if they were depended upon, to destroy them and with them, the Nation."
The homosexual-perversion is against the plan of God and nature of marriage, "which Jesus has raised to a Sacrament" -- insists the Cardinal.
Simultaneously he emphasized, that the Catholic must respect the law and the homo-perverse may not be discriminated against.
That does not warrant, "the support for false laws".
Original, here...
France: Only the Catholic Monasteries Grow
The old liberals command of the Church is increasingly without reservation. But the boring mush they produce doesn't attract anyone any more.
[kreuz.net] "The Cloister, which young people today are drawn to, is something which the most traditional societies offer."
Trappist, Father Guillaume Jedrzejczak explained on July 2nd, for an article appearing in the Catholic daily 'La Croix'.
Father Jedrzejczak is the former Abbot of the French Trappist Abbey Mont-des-Cats.
In figures of numbers of entrants the traditionalist Abbey of Fontgambault in Central France is at the head of French Bedictine Cloisters.
The leading Trappist Abbey is the Cloister Sept-Fons in the Central French Auvergne.
Benedictine Nun Cloisters are like Pradines in Central France and the Cloister of Saint Marie de Maumont in Western Frane.
Also some French Carmelite Cloisters have regular growth.
Pre-Conciliar Carmelites
In the year 2009 French Cloisters received 50 Novice Males and 95 Novice Females.
The departures are in comparison to the decadent Council years, significantly lower. There are in any event also fewer entrants.
It is becoming increasingly prevalent, that Cloisters must be closed, because there are no more new growth.
Actually, simultaneously there is a growing interest in stays in the guest houses of the Cloister.
In certain regions of France it is so large, that the Cloisters are not in a position, to find places for all of the guests.
"Mostly young women come in search of peace of mind" -- explained Sister Marie-Chantal, who cares for the guests at the Cloister of the Servants of the Visitation of Voiron in the Diocese of Grenoble:
"They exclaim, not to have the faith and don't want to pray. They are not so much looking for someone as something."
The Cloister can accommodate a maximum of five female guests during the year.
Original, kreuznet, here...
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