Why is modern art so ugly ? Does it have to be so ugly ? Cannot artists of today do something nice for a change ? And why, when they do something nice, is it normally second- or third-rate as art, sentimental, somehow not authentic ? Such recurring questions are raised by a painter like Van Gogh, considered last week, who was on his way to modern art. The questions are easy to answer if God and the human soul are for real. They have no reasonable answer if the spiritual God and the spiritual soul are fictions of self-deceiving man.
If God is the invisible but real “Father Almighty, Creator of all things visible and invisible”, then he created the invisible human soul, most intimately united at conception to a visible body to constitute every human being that ever was or will be. His purpose in creating creatures with a spiritual reason and therefore free-will is his own extrinsic (not intrinsic) glory, which increases with every human being who uses that free-will so to love and serve God in this life as to deserve at death to be unimaginably happy, by giving to God glory without end in the next life.
And how does a man love and serve God in this life ? By obeying his commandments (Jn. XV, 10) which constitute a moral framework of good and evil for all human acts, a framework which men can defy but not evade. If they do defy it, they will put themselves in more or less disharmony with God, self and neighbor, because God created that framework not arbitrarily, but in perfect harmony with his own nature and the human nature bound by him to act within it.
Now art might be defined in its broadest sense as any confection of materials (e.g. paints, words, musical notes, etc.) over which man takes special trouble to communicate to other men what he has in his mind and heart. So if mind and heart belong to a soul which at any given moment must be in a state of greater or lesser harmony with that moral framework set by God for all its acts, then any artistic product proceeding from that soul is bound to reflect the objective harmony or disharmony within it. And now we are in a position to answer our original questions.
Modern arts are so ugly because all modern souls belong to a global society falling daily deeper into apostasy, such that a huge and influential number of these souls are at war with God, consciously or unconsciously. The artistic products of souls immersed in such an environment can only reflect their internal disharmony with God, self and neighbor, which is why they are ugly. Only from any genuine harmony still remaining in their souls can anything genuinely beautiful proceed. Wilfully “nice” art proceeds from a disharmonious wish to feign harmony, which is why the effect will always be in some way false or sentimental, not authentic and second- or third-rate as art.
On the other hand if God, and the immortal soul coming from him and due to go to him, are mere fictions, then there is no reason why beauty should not be ugly and ugliness beautiful. That is the mind-set of modern artists, but from the moment that I recognize any ugly artifact of theirs to be ugly, I am implying that there is a framework, not theirs, which they are defying.
Kyrie eleison.
Thanks to Mr. Wansbutter, here
Monday, April 26, 2010
Leaked Memo in UK an Insult to the Pope
There's a hint of truth behind the memo. These individuals in England's government would like nothing better than the Pope to "settle down" and join the modern world.
Spokeman Fr. Peter Lombardi said, "the Pope’s spokesman, said: “I am aware that the Foreign Office has made a statement on this matter and I am aware of the contents of the memo."
“We are not saying anything else as there is no need to ruin the good relations between the British government and the Vatican.”
Link to original...
Spokeman Fr. Peter Lombardi said, "the Pope’s spokesman, said: “I am aware that the Foreign Office has made a statement on this matter and I am aware of the contents of the memo."
“We are not saying anything else as there is no need to ruin the good relations between the British government and the Vatican.”
Senior Papal aides suggested the Foreign Office had not taken strong enough disciplinary action against those responsible for the document, which suggested the Pope should open an abortion clinic, bless a homosexual marriage and launch his own range of condoms while he is here.
No-one has lost their job over the memo, which was sent to Downing Street and at least three Whitehall departments, and the civil servant who authorised it has simply been moved to other duties.
Link to original...
Attorney Jeffrey Anderson Gets Media Attention But Never Won an Abuse Case
According to Bill Donahue, Jeffrey Anderson has a track record of no wins, although he has obtained significant amounts of money representing victims and alleged victims of sexual abuse. Despite never winning a case, he is very effective in driving the media blitz on the Catholic Church, serving interests which one could discover by simply looking at his poltical contributions and membership in the ACLU as mentioned in a previous article, here.
Even CNN sees the significance of this man in the present media storm.
One lawyer behind many allegations of Catholic Church abuse
Link to CNN article...
Even CNN sees the significance of this man in the present media storm.
One lawyer behind many allegations of Catholic Church abuse
(CNN) -- The last month has seen a blizzard of new sex abuse accusations against the Catholic Church from across the United States. Almost all of them -- and the intense media attention they've garnered -- can be traced to one man: a Minnesota lawyer named Jeff Anderson.
Last week, an alleged victim of priest abuse in Wisconsin announced a lawsuit against the Vatican itself. Anderson is representing the alleged victim.
A couple of days earlier, a Mexican man who alleged abuse by a priest years ago filed suit against Mexico's top Catholic cleric in a U.S. court. The plaintiff is another Anderson client.
Link to CNN article...
Sunday, April 25, 2010
SSPX Boarding School Closed by the German State
A Left-run reform school is afforded all the management errors and conceiveable abuses without consequences; but it's something different with the Society of St. Pius X.
[Kreuz, Saarbrücken] The boarding school of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X's Realschule [a kind of non-preparatory highschool and junior high] 'Herz Jesu' in Saarbrücken will be closed. This was reported by the regional paper 'Saarbrückener Zeitung' today.
Recently the Social Ministry withdrew an operating permit issued in September 2007 to the administration of the School, the School Association of Don Bosco.
Moreover, the Society had two unnamed residence facilities associated with the boarding school closed within two weeks.
The Realschule has no official comment on the closing.
Actually, the faithful students come from great distances and need to find lodging near the school.
One Bed too Many
The National Youth Office, which belongs to the Social Ministry, views the health of 26 students between 10 to 17 years in the boarding school, supposedly endangered.
The agency of the School Society have "deliberately" for over 10 years back given false reports to the authorities -- maintains the 'Saarbrücken Zeitung'.
Upon a routine check in March the authorities found 26 students although only eight were approved.
The children would have been partially sleeping in four bed rooms, although a maximum of three beds were approved.
Four students in the ninth and tenth classes, who before the aforementioned closing, should thank an exception in the rules that they can remain till the end of the year.
Trustworthy Residence Facilities instead of Host Families
The eleven pupils in two residence facilities explained that they would live with host families.
Each residence facility was cared for by an educator with only the most appropriate training.
The Children Felt as Fit as a Fiddle
A spokesman for the Social Ministry, Thorstein Klein, assumes: "They tried to lead us behind the light".
Child welfare is supposedly the Ministry's first priority. That's why their mandate will be put into effect.
The school association can submit a complaint against the mandate to close the school, before the administrative court.
Society of Pius X Purposefully Slandered
Finally and utterly, the 'Saarbrücker Zeitung' brought forth something out of thin air from the past media campaign of homosexual abuse:
"The Youth Office holds the agent manifestly irresponsible, that it fears, those responsible were possible violators, who might sexually abuse or use force against children, and fail to recognize it or report it."
Link to original...
Kulturkampf wiki... here.
Kulturkampf Newadvent...here.
Febronianism and Josephismus...here.
[Kreuz, Saarbrücken] The boarding school of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X's Realschule [a kind of non-preparatory highschool and junior high] 'Herz Jesu' in Saarbrücken will be closed. This was reported by the regional paper 'Saarbrückener Zeitung' today.
Recently the Social Ministry withdrew an operating permit issued in September 2007 to the administration of the School, the School Association of Don Bosco.
Moreover, the Society had two unnamed residence facilities associated with the boarding school closed within two weeks.
The Realschule has no official comment on the closing.
Actually, the faithful students come from great distances and need to find lodging near the school.
One Bed too Many
The National Youth Office, which belongs to the Social Ministry, views the health of 26 students between 10 to 17 years in the boarding school, supposedly endangered.
The agency of the School Society have "deliberately" for over 10 years back given false reports to the authorities -- maintains the 'Saarbrücken Zeitung'.
Upon a routine check in March the authorities found 26 students although only eight were approved.
The children would have been partially sleeping in four bed rooms, although a maximum of three beds were approved.
Four students in the ninth and tenth classes, who before the aforementioned closing, should thank an exception in the rules that they can remain till the end of the year.
Trustworthy Residence Facilities instead of Host Families
The eleven pupils in two residence facilities explained that they would live with host families.
Each residence facility was cared for by an educator with only the most appropriate training.
The Children Felt as Fit as a Fiddle
A spokesman for the Social Ministry, Thorstein Klein, assumes: "They tried to lead us behind the light".
Child welfare is supposedly the Ministry's first priority. That's why their mandate will be put into effect.
The school association can submit a complaint against the mandate to close the school, before the administrative court.
Society of Pius X Purposefully Slandered
Finally and utterly, the 'Saarbrücker Zeitung' brought forth something out of thin air from the past media campaign of homosexual abuse:
"The Youth Office holds the agent manifestly irresponsible, that it fears, those responsible were possible violators, who might sexually abuse or use force against children, and fail to recognize it or report it."
Link to original...
Kulturkampf wiki... here.
Kulturkampf Newadvent...here.
Febronianism and Josephismus...here.
Bishops of England and Wales Ask for Four Days of Reparation and Penance
Statement by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales
Child abuse in the Catholic Church has been such a focus of public attention recently, that we, the Bishops of England and Wales, wish to address this issue directly and unambiguously.
Catholics are members of a single universal body. These terrible crimes, and the inadequate response by some church leaders, grieve us all.
Our first thoughts are for all who have suffered from the horror of these crimes, which inflict such severe and lasting wounds. They are uppermost in our prayer. The distress we feel at what has happened is nothing in comparison with the suffering of those who have been abused.
The criminal offences committed by some priests and religious are a profound scandal. They bring deep shame to the whole church. But shame is not enough. The abuse of children is a grievous sin against God. Therefore we focus not on shame but on our sorrow for these sins. They are the personal sins of only a very few. But we are bound together in the Body of Christ and, therefore, their sins touch us all.
We express our heartfelt apology and deep sorrow to those who have suffered abuse, those who have felt ignored, disbelieved or betrayed. We ask their pardon, and the pardon of God for these terrible deeds done in our midst. There can be no excuses.
Furthermore, we recognise the failings of some Bishops and Religious leaders in handling these matters. These, too, are aspects of this tragedy which we deeply regret and for which we apologise. The procedures now in place in our countries highlight what should have been done straightaway in the past. Full co-operation with statutory bodies is essential.
Now, we believe, is a time for deep prayer of reparation and atonement. We invite Catholics in England and Wales to make the four Fridays in May 2010 special days of prayer. Even when we are lost for words, we can place ourselves in silent prayer. We invite Catholics on these days to come before the Blessed Sacrament in our parishes to pray to God for healing, forgiveness and a renewed dedication. We pray for all who have suffered abuse; for those who mishandled these matters and added to the suffering of those affected. From this prayer we do not exclude those who have committed these sins of abuse. They have a journey of repentance and atonement to make.
We pray also for Pope Benedict, whose wise and courageous leadership is so important for the Church at this time.
In our dioceses we will continue to make every effort, working with our safeguarding commissions, to identify any further steps we can take, especially concerning the care of those who have suffered abuse, including anyone yet to come forward with their account of their painful and wounded past. We are committed to continuing the work of safeguarding, and are determined to maintain openness and transparency, in close co-operation with the statutory authorities in our countries. We thank the thousands who give generously of their time and effort to the Church’s safeguarding work in our parishes and dioceses.
We commit ourselves afresh to the service of children, young people and the vulnerable in our communities. We have faith and hope in the future. The Catholic Church abounds in people, both laity, religious and clergy, of great dedication, energy and generosity who serve in parishes, schools, youth ventures and the care of elderly people. We also thank them. The Holy Spirit guides us to sorrow and repentance, to a firm determination to better ways, and to a renewal of love and generosity towards all in need.
22 APRIL 2010
Link to original...
Child abuse in the Catholic Church has been such a focus of public attention recently, that we, the Bishops of England and Wales, wish to address this issue directly and unambiguously.
Catholics are members of a single universal body. These terrible crimes, and the inadequate response by some church leaders, grieve us all.
Our first thoughts are for all who have suffered from the horror of these crimes, which inflict such severe and lasting wounds. They are uppermost in our prayer. The distress we feel at what has happened is nothing in comparison with the suffering of those who have been abused.
The criminal offences committed by some priests and religious are a profound scandal. They bring deep shame to the whole church. But shame is not enough. The abuse of children is a grievous sin against God. Therefore we focus not on shame but on our sorrow for these sins. They are the personal sins of only a very few. But we are bound together in the Body of Christ and, therefore, their sins touch us all.
We express our heartfelt apology and deep sorrow to those who have suffered abuse, those who have felt ignored, disbelieved or betrayed. We ask their pardon, and the pardon of God for these terrible deeds done in our midst. There can be no excuses.
Furthermore, we recognise the failings of some Bishops and Religious leaders in handling these matters. These, too, are aspects of this tragedy which we deeply regret and for which we apologise. The procedures now in place in our countries highlight what should have been done straightaway in the past. Full co-operation with statutory bodies is essential.
Now, we believe, is a time for deep prayer of reparation and atonement. We invite Catholics in England and Wales to make the four Fridays in May 2010 special days of prayer. Even when we are lost for words, we can place ourselves in silent prayer. We invite Catholics on these days to come before the Blessed Sacrament in our parishes to pray to God for healing, forgiveness and a renewed dedication. We pray for all who have suffered abuse; for those who mishandled these matters and added to the suffering of those affected. From this prayer we do not exclude those who have committed these sins of abuse. They have a journey of repentance and atonement to make.
We pray also for Pope Benedict, whose wise and courageous leadership is so important for the Church at this time.
In our dioceses we will continue to make every effort, working with our safeguarding commissions, to identify any further steps we can take, especially concerning the care of those who have suffered abuse, including anyone yet to come forward with their account of their painful and wounded past. We are committed to continuing the work of safeguarding, and are determined to maintain openness and transparency, in close co-operation with the statutory authorities in our countries. We thank the thousands who give generously of their time and effort to the Church’s safeguarding work in our parishes and dioceses.
We commit ourselves afresh to the service of children, young people and the vulnerable in our communities. We have faith and hope in the future. The Catholic Church abounds in people, both laity, religious and clergy, of great dedication, energy and generosity who serve in parishes, schools, youth ventures and the care of elderly people. We also thank them. The Holy Spirit guides us to sorrow and repentance, to a firm determination to better ways, and to a renewal of love and generosity towards all in need.
22 APRIL 2010
Link to original...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Adulterer Wins Large Settlement
After having a contract which agreed that he'd resign if his annulment were turned down, this former Columbus coach successfully sued the school after they held him to that point in the contract and asked for his resignation.
It's going to be difficult to enforce increased vigilance on annulments when lay employees can turn around and sue.
Mr. Girsch says he lost his faith in the Church, but it's very clear that litigating on his dismissal when it was part of his contract in the first place shows bad faith on his part and that of the courts as well.
Read further...
It's going to be difficult to enforce increased vigilance on annulments when lay employees can turn around and sue.
Mr. Girsch says he lost his faith in the Church, but it's very clear that litigating on his dismissal when it was part of his contract in the first place shows bad faith on his part and that of the courts as well.
WATERLOO - Former Columbus Catholic High School teacher Tom Girsch has won his lawsuit but lost his faith in the Catholic Church, his attorney said Thursday.
Jurors awarded Girsch, who had taught social studies and coached football at Columbus, a total of $606,380 after about a day of deliberation in his breach of contract suit against Cedar Valley Catholic Schools and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque, following a week and a half of testimony.
The award was higher than the $500,000 Girsch's attorney, Mark Zaiger of Cedar Rapids, had sought.
Read further...
The French to Honor Joan of Arc
DICI
The association Civitas sumons all the French to pay homage to the secondary patron saint of France on Sunday, May 9, 2010, inviting them to gather round a flag bearing the arms of St. Joan of Arc, at 3 p.m., Place Saint-Augustin (Paris, 8th).
In his press release, Alain Escada, secretary general of the Institut Civitas recalled “that by giving Joan to France as her patron saint, the Church sets her before us as a particular model to imitate,” and “how Joan of Arc’s campaign had inspired the contemplative St. Theresa of Lisieux,” who called her her “dear sister.”
Link to original...
The association Civitas sumons all the French to pay homage to the secondary patron saint of France on Sunday, May 9, 2010, inviting them to gather round a flag bearing the arms of St. Joan of Arc, at 3 p.m., Place Saint-Augustin (Paris, 8th).
In his press release, Alain Escada, secretary general of the Institut Civitas recalled “that by giving Joan to France as her patron saint, the Church sets her before us as a particular model to imitate,” and “how Joan of Arc’s campaign had inspired the contemplative St. Theresa of Lisieux,” who called her her “dear sister.”
Link to original...
Friday, April 23, 2010
Lawyer asks Court to Punish Boy Scouts
PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) - "Punishment is good, because it will make the BSA repent, which they have never done," the attorney for a sexually abused Boy Scout told the jury in the punitive damages phase of the trial in which the Boy Scouts of America have been found negligent.
"We teach our children to apologize when they break a friend's toy. Criminals show contrition and ask for forgiveness before the law, but this defendant refuses to apologize, and the lack of contrition shown in the press release posted by the Boy Scouts within an hour of your verdict in the first part of this trial shows clear and convincing evidence that the Boy Scouts of America are unbowed by your original verdict and that your message must be loud enough to make them change, to make them pay attention."
Courthouse News Service
Posted using ShareThis
"We teach our children to apologize when they break a friend's toy. Criminals show contrition and ask for forgiveness before the law, but this defendant refuses to apologize, and the lack of contrition shown in the press release posted by the Boy Scouts within an hour of your verdict in the first part of this trial shows clear and convincing evidence that the Boy Scouts of America are unbowed by your original verdict and that your message must be loud enough to make them change, to make them pay attention."
Courthouse News Service
Posted using ShareThis
The deferred Revenge of Flight-Bishop Mixa
The flight of the hireling Mixa promises a great media storm against the old liberal and neoconservative Bishops. The real shepherd dispatches the wolf. For the others, shame isn't enough. Now the Bishop of Feldkirch is on the line.
(kreuz.net Feldirch) After the cowardly flight of Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsburg now the Bishop of Feldkirch, Mons. Elmar Rischer (73) is being hunted by media hell.
Feldkirch is the most westerly Austrian Diocese.
The church-hostile Austrian media concern which accomplished the day's flight of Mons. Mixa, seeks also the resignation of Bishop Fischer.
The anti-Church Neo-Nazis underhanded 'Österreichische Rundfunk’ here describes an "internal Church pressure" against Mons. Fischer. The broadcaster takes it from that that the easily manipulated by the media Bishops will accept this interpretation as a standing order.
The Chances remain good that Satan's media succeeded in putting a Bishop to flight. For Mons. Fischer is known for his backbone.
In February 2009 he explained as a qualified Psychologist, the commonly known fact, that Homosexual temptation -like all other temptations - can be overcome and are curable.
Then a day later, he sank intentionally and without a word to his knee as homosexual protesters sang.
The media are ready to invent - without naming names - clerics of the Feldkirch priestly council, who insist that the Bishop is supposedly close to resigning.
The Diocesan leadership will not comment on the ORF intrigue.
An old liberal representative who is fixated on underwear topics, the group 'We are Church", Christine Lenz, used the expected canard of the moment.
Mons, Fischer should take the example of the spineless Bishop Mixa -- insists Frau Lenz, who till then had never presented Mons. Mixa as an example in her rugged presentations before the camera.
Without grounds, she explained, that the charges against both Bishops would not be "comparable".
Actually, she would take the place of Bishop Fischer and "tackle the opportunity and say, I also resign," said the underwear-philosopher at her best.
A speaker of the Diocese of Feldkirch said to 'Austria Presseagentur', making it clear that the Psychiatrist was accusing the Bishop of caning -- something which was then completely legal and part of a sound and good education.
The concluding report could be done in two weeks.
The Anti-Church journalist Dietmar Neuwirth reportted in the newspaper 'Presse', that Mons. Fischer in contrast to Bishop Mixa immediately recognized caning. The Journalist concluded: "Elmar Fischer residing in Feldkirch is capable of much."
Neuwirth's text was placed under the title "Bishops: forward, we step back" and concluded with the question: "Where will it end?"
(kreuz.net Feldirch) After the cowardly flight of Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsburg now the Bishop of Feldkirch, Mons. Elmar Rischer (73) is being hunted by media hell.
Feldkirch is the most westerly Austrian Diocese.
The church-hostile Austrian media concern which accomplished the day's flight of Mons. Mixa, seeks also the resignation of Bishop Fischer.
The anti-Church Neo-Nazis underhanded 'Österreichische Rundfunk’ here describes an "internal Church pressure" against Mons. Fischer. The broadcaster takes it from that that the easily manipulated by the media Bishops will accept this interpretation as a standing order.
The Chances remain good that Satan's media succeeded in putting a Bishop to flight. For Mons. Fischer is known for his backbone.
In February 2009 he explained as a qualified Psychologist, the commonly known fact, that Homosexual temptation -like all other temptations - can be overcome and are curable.
Then a day later, he sank intentionally and without a word to his knee as homosexual protesters sang.
The media are ready to invent - without naming names - clerics of the Feldkirch priestly council, who insist that the Bishop is supposedly close to resigning.
The Diocesan leadership will not comment on the ORF intrigue.
An old liberal representative who is fixated on underwear topics, the group 'We are Church", Christine Lenz, used the expected canard of the moment.
Mons, Fischer should take the example of the spineless Bishop Mixa -- insists Frau Lenz, who till then had never presented Mons. Mixa as an example in her rugged presentations before the camera.
Without grounds, she explained, that the charges against both Bishops would not be "comparable".
Actually, she would take the place of Bishop Fischer and "tackle the opportunity and say, I also resign," said the underwear-philosopher at her best.
A speaker of the Diocese of Feldkirch said to 'Austria Presseagentur', making it clear that the Psychiatrist was accusing the Bishop of caning -- something which was then completely legal and part of a sound and good education.
The concluding report could be done in two weeks.
The Anti-Church journalist Dietmar Neuwirth reportted in the newspaper 'Presse', that Mons. Fischer in contrast to Bishop Mixa immediately recognized caning. The Journalist concluded: "Elmar Fischer residing in Feldkirch is capable of much."
Neuwirth's text was placed under the title "Bishops: forward, we step back" and concluded with the question: "Where will it end?"
Outgoing LA Cardinal Under Fire for Dishonesty in Sex Abuse Cases
There's not a word about Cardinal Mahony's perjury, and even a liberal Judge gives his endorsement of the outgoing Cardinal:
Read Further...
The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles is still reeling from a major sex abuse scandal that broke eight years ago. A federal grand jury is investigating the church for how it handled sex abuse allegations, and the church is still fielding lawsuits even though it has already paid out $660 million to more than 500 victims.
An NPR investigation reveals that Cardinal Roger Mahony, his top officials or even his review board failed to act when presented with pedophile priests -- and in particular, the case of one of the most notorious abusers, the Rev. Michael Baker.
In 1986, Cardinal Mahony, the archbishop of Los Angeles, found out that Baker had been abusing boys from an impeccable source: the priest himself. Baker told Mahony that he had molested two boys, beginning in 1978. According to Tod Tamberg, a spokesman for the archdiocese, Mahony responded the way everyone did back then.
Read Further...
The Dalai Lama May not visit Russia
[Bild.de]Russia refuses the Dalai Lama entry. The buddhist Community reported that the foreign minister in Moscow refused the visa with consideration of China's objections.
AZ Immigration: Tod Tamberg Can't Get Anything Right
Mahony's Communications Director, Tod Tamberg, fired back first with a complaint that the Senator's remarks aren't addressing the point, and then went on to make the assertion that Hispanics are the target of this new law. Actually, it's targeted at illegal aliens, some of whom happen to be Hispanics. Can't Todd Tamberg tell the truth or make a statement about someone else's position without twisting it out of all recognizeable form?
It's the mark of a feral soul to do such things. For his part, Cardinal Mahony has no credibility and will soon be gone. Hopefully he doesn't do too much damage on his way out.
,
Read further...
It's the mark of a feral soul to do such things. For his part, Cardinal Mahony has no credibility and will soon be gone. Hopefully he doesn't do too much damage on his way out.
,
Arizona state senator fires back at Cardinal Mahony over immigration bill
Russell Pearce, who wrote the controversial immigrant crackdown bill, lashes out at the L.A. cardinal, calling him a protector of child molesters. Mahony condemned the bill on his blog this week.
April 22, 2010|By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times
Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, who crafted a bill that would require immigrants to carry proof of legal status, lashed out at Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony on Wednesday for his criticism of the proposed legislation, calling the Roman Catholic leader a "guy who's been protecting child molesters and predators all of his life."
"He's the last guy that ought to be speaking out," Pearce said on the Michael Smerconish Program, a nationally syndicated radio talk show that airs locally on KFWB-AM 980. "This guy has a history of protecting and moving predators around in order to avoid detection by the law. He has no room to talk."
Read further...
Bishop of Bruges Steps Down
The bishop of the Belgian city of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, has resigned after admitting sexual abuse of a boy earlier in his career.
Bishop Vangheluwe, 73, said the abuse had happened when he was a simple priest and continued when he started as a bishop, a Vatican statement said.
The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation.
The Catholic Church has come under severe pressure over child sexual abuse allegations emerging across the world.
Link to original...
Bishop Vangheluwe, 73, said the abuse had happened when he was a simple priest and continued when he started as a bishop, a Vatican statement said.
The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation.
The Catholic Church has come under severe pressure over child sexual abuse allegations emerging across the world.
Link to original...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Bishops have an 'enormous respect for World Opinion'
'Spiegel' - Colmnist Jan Fleischhauer, imputed then to the German Bishop's world an "enormous respect for world opinion" and supposed that the Bishops had above all their own pressing situation in view, as they pressure their fellows in the requirements of their offices. "As observers of such a cycle of agitation, one can only tell the gentlemen: The hope of a calming of the situation won't be fulfilled, things have proceeded too far."
Augsburg (kath.net) The Spiegel columnist Jan Fleischauer had warned on Thursday that the offer of resignation by Augsburg Bishop Walter Mixa had been out from under the magnifying glass and warned the Catholic Church of the fallacy, that with this forced resignation the crisis would be encouraged. "After twelve weeks of debates about the abuse, only one German Bishop has lost his office - in any event not because of abuse with a minor, rather because of a pair of canings and all too lax handling of church funds.", wrote the columnist as he wondered about the statements and revelations by Alois Gluck. "This introduced the question: revelations whereof?" That finally they have someone by the throat, who because of his loose tongue and archconservative inclinations had already proven himself to be a burden? Or the revelation of a peace offering to the infuriated public, which since the outbreak of the abuse crisis longed for personal consequences?"
Fleischhauer imputed then to the German Bishop's world an "enormous respect for world opinion" and supposed that the Bishops had above all their own pressing situation in view, as they pressure their fellows in the requirements of their offices. "As observers of such a cycle of agitation, one can only tell the gentlemen: The hope of a calming of the situation won't be fulfilled, things have proceeded too far."
For the columnist, the abuse debate has reached a situation in which scale and proportion is appraised as trivialization and falls upon the questioner. For a long while Fleschhauer and his scout have lost their overview, as to how many persons were actually victims of the Church. "Are there thousands or already ten thousands? And where does the boarder run between unpleasant, or simply a lack of control on one side and scandalous acts on the other side? According to the course of the discussion one can only ascertain, that they become further blurred," said the Spiegel-Author.
Fleischauer made it clear in the end that in the seventies that a canning during instruction was a gaffe, today it can be an occasion for a long sensitivity training. For this columnist the the malice in this kind of debate is "the imprecision of many cases". "Whoever adroitly conducts himself as a suspect, therefore masters the code of the moment, has a much greater chance to come up like the door that is closed too soon. Not a few are of the opinion that Mixa today would still be in office, had he condescended - combined with a word of apology - to admit this or that "wobbling". For this acceptence would speak to some. It doesn't make the situation better."
Link to original...
Augsburg (kath.net) The Spiegel columnist Jan Fleischauer had warned on Thursday that the offer of resignation by Augsburg Bishop Walter Mixa had been out from under the magnifying glass and warned the Catholic Church of the fallacy, that with this forced resignation the crisis would be encouraged. "After twelve weeks of debates about the abuse, only one German Bishop has lost his office - in any event not because of abuse with a minor, rather because of a pair of canings and all too lax handling of church funds.", wrote the columnist as he wondered about the statements and revelations by Alois Gluck. "This introduced the question: revelations whereof?" That finally they have someone by the throat, who because of his loose tongue and archconservative inclinations had already proven himself to be a burden? Or the revelation of a peace offering to the infuriated public, which since the outbreak of the abuse crisis longed for personal consequences?"
Fleischhauer imputed then to the German Bishop's world an "enormous respect for world opinion" and supposed that the Bishops had above all their own pressing situation in view, as they pressure their fellows in the requirements of their offices. "As observers of such a cycle of agitation, one can only tell the gentlemen: The hope of a calming of the situation won't be fulfilled, things have proceeded too far."
For the columnist, the abuse debate has reached a situation in which scale and proportion is appraised as trivialization and falls upon the questioner. For a long while Fleschhauer and his scout have lost their overview, as to how many persons were actually victims of the Church. "Are there thousands or already ten thousands? And where does the boarder run between unpleasant, or simply a lack of control on one side and scandalous acts on the other side? According to the course of the discussion one can only ascertain, that they become further blurred," said the Spiegel-Author.
Fleischauer made it clear in the end that in the seventies that a canning during instruction was a gaffe, today it can be an occasion for a long sensitivity training. For this columnist the the malice in this kind of debate is "the imprecision of many cases". "Whoever adroitly conducts himself as a suspect, therefore masters the code of the moment, has a much greater chance to come up like the door that is closed too soon. Not a few are of the opinion that Mixa today would still be in office, had he condescended - combined with a word of apology - to admit this or that "wobbling". For this acceptence would speak to some. It doesn't make the situation better."
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Linked cardinal replaced for high Mass - Washington Times
By Julia Duin
The Catholic bishop of Tulsa was tapped Thursday morning as a last-minute replacement to lead a massive Latin Mass slated for Saturday at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception after the original celebrant, a Colombian cardinal, stepped aside after being linked to the church's clergy sex-abuse scandal.
Bishop Edward J. Slattery will preside at the ornate solemn high pontifical Mass - to be said in Latin - after Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, 80, was named in the French press accounts last week for lauding a French bishop who refused to cooperate with authorities to remove a pedophile priest from his duties back in 2001.
Linked cardinal replaced for high Mass - Washington Times
The Catholic bishop of Tulsa was tapped Thursday morning as a last-minute replacement to lead a massive Latin Mass slated for Saturday at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception after the original celebrant, a Colombian cardinal, stepped aside after being linked to the church's clergy sex-abuse scandal.
Bishop Edward J. Slattery will preside at the ornate solemn high pontifical Mass - to be said in Latin - after Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, 80, was named in the French press accounts last week for lauding a French bishop who refused to cooperate with authorities to remove a pedophile priest from his duties back in 2001.
Linked cardinal replaced for high Mass - Washington Times
Karl von Habsburg keeps ancestors' profile alive in Lviv
Natalia A. Feduschak LVIV, Ukraine – Karl von Habsburg laughed heartily when asked what it feels like to walk the streets of Lviv, a city that was once ruled by his ancestors.
“I look at it from an academic point of view,” he said with a smile. “It had nothing to with me.”
Despite his easy manner, however, von Habsburg evidently has no intention of letting the past, particularly his ancestors’ role, remain lifeless in history books. Nearly a century after the Habsburg monarchy’s rule ended in Europe, he is dedicating himself to ensure its legacy lives on in western Ukraine.
The 49-year-old von Habsburg was in Lviv in March to announce the creation of a foundation that carries his family’s name. Based in Ivano-Frankivsk, the Habsburg Foundation will promote and preserve the cultural legacy that for centuries shaped and gave Central and Eastern Europe its identity.
Along with translating books about the Habsburgs, the foundation is also planning to create the Halychyna Award, a prize that will honor individuals who promote the region’s culture through art, books or media.
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“I look at it from an academic point of view,” he said with a smile. “It had nothing to with me.”
Despite his easy manner, however, von Habsburg evidently has no intention of letting the past, particularly his ancestors’ role, remain lifeless in history books. Nearly a century after the Habsburg monarchy’s rule ended in Europe, he is dedicating himself to ensure its legacy lives on in western Ukraine.
The 49-year-old von Habsburg was in Lviv in March to announce the creation of a foundation that carries his family’s name. Based in Ivano-Frankivsk, the Habsburg Foundation will promote and preserve the cultural legacy that for centuries shaped and gave Central and Eastern Europe its identity.
Along with translating books about the Habsburgs, the foundation is also planning to create the Halychyna Award, a prize that will honor individuals who promote the region’s culture through art, books or media.
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New venture rooted in faith
From the Catholic Spirit
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It was 10:30 a.m. on a cool, late-March morning, and Shane Dowell, 27, was hard at work, pushing a walking plow behind a pair of English Shire draft horses.
With each go-around, a little more of the two-acre field was turned from hard dirt to soft soil as the plow’s metal wheel sliced the ground and its plowshare overturned the sod.
Bothilde Dowell watches a plow go by, which is manned by her father, Shane. Shane and his wife, Chiara, own Little Flower Farm, a community-supported agriculture farm near Marine on St. Croix. The Dowells became farmers to work together as a family, they said. Photo by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit
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By June, the field will be green with leafy spring vegetables, which Shane and his wife, Chiara, 28, plan to sell to the public through community-supported agriculture shares.
The Dowells, who attend St. Agnes in St. Paul and St. Michael in Stillwater, have many reasons for farming — and the sustainable way they’re going about it — including their love of creation and desire to know where their food is coming from. But, more important, the farm is about their faith and family.
“I want my daughters to know what their dad does,” Shane explained as he stood in the field wearing torn jeans and a knitted hat missing one tie. He was holding his oldest daughter, Bothilde, who is 3-and-a-half and named for a character in a Norwegian novel. Shane and Chiara also have a 1-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Una.
“I believe this is my calling,” he said.
From left, Shane Dowell pushes a walking plow behind a pair of English Shire horses with help from a neighbor, Ken Letourneau. Plowing with draft horses aerates the field and is good for the soil of their two-acre plot, Chiara said. Photo by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit The Dowells’ farm — Little Flower Farm — is in its first year as a community-supported agriculture venture, or CSA. People who are interested in supporting farms like the Dowells’ purchase shares, thus becoming members or shareholders. In turn, they receive a weekly portion of the farm’s harvest.
Several other CSA farms are located around the Twin Cities. A list can be found at landstewardshipproject.org/csa.html. Little Flower Farm is offering 60 shares this year at $500 each for the growing season. The membership also includes a discount on free-range eggs and first choice of pastured poultry, pork and lamb.
One wall of the Dowells’ kitchen is covered with a hand-drawn calendar with their farm’s planting and harvest schedule from March to October. They expect to harvest more than 30 types of vegetables, including heirloom tomatoes, Maxibel green beans and English peas.
Little Flower Farm CSA members will be able to pick up boxes containing their weekly produce at locations in Stillwater, St. Paul, Minneapolis and White Bear Lake.
The farm is located four miles west of Marine on St. Croix, adjacent to land used by the Minnesota Food Association. The Dowells rent their house, and they have access to five acres for fields and pasture.
In their old farmhouse, illustrations of vegetables line the cupboards over the counter, where Chiara’s afternoon project of shaping soil blocks for starting seeds was waiting. Through the door, in the porch-turned-greenhouse, lights hung low, urging seedlings to grow.
With each week’s box of produce, Chiara plans to include a newsletter with farm-inspired illustrations and recipe ideas — especially for vegetables a CSA member may not be familiar with, such as chard, a member of the beet family that is appreciated more for its leafy greens than its reddish roots.
“Each week, I want each box to be a present that you open,” Chiara said. She was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, her daughters napping upstairs.
Although the Dowells expect their farm eventually to produce enough food for 100 shares, they never want it to be huge. They do want it to be self-sufficient, however, Chiara said.
“The whole purpose of this life isn’t to make money,” she added. “We’re not even doing this for the purpose of creating an agrarian revolution. Those things are happening, but they are still a side shoot of the real purpose, which is to create a way of life for our family.”
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The Rigorist Menace to the Faith
The threats to the Church don't always arise where you expect them. As C. S. Lewis's Screwtape advised young tempters, the Enemy's best strategy is to catch us off guard and keep us there, focused on dangers in the rear-view mirror and ignoring that silly "Do Not Enter" sign up ahead. The devil, Lewis wrote, wants us "rushing about with fire extinguishers when there is a flood, and crowding to that side of the boat which is already nearly gunwale under."
In sexual ethics, this infernal principle's application should be obvious today. Read the works of theologians who reject the Church's teachings, and you'll find in them turgid page after page on the dangers of "Puritanism" and "Jansenism" (and such terms used loosely or falsely), even the flesh-hating Albigensianism. Such warnings were written even as "free love" was being proclaimed at Woodstock, suburban couples were swapping wives in the 1970s, whole new strains of venereal disease were cooking up in American bedrooms and bathhouses, and abortion was being legalized around the world. Clearly, the real threat to sanity and virtue that needed confronting was . . . Rigorism. Right?
On issues of eros, Christians are inundated with messages urging them to let their consciences go slack and presumptuously assume that God will be "understanding." How many of us have had to argue with a confessor, "Yes, Father, it bloody well is a sin -- now would you please absolve it?" How wearisome it has gotten, this fantasy football game orthodox Catholics have had to play for 40 years, doing research to correct our priests and teachers, greeting each new appointment of a bishop or a pastor with the almost idle musing: "I wonder if he's a Catholic?" Inevitably, since Humanae Vitae, the litmus test has to do with sex.
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Bishop Mixa's offer of Resignation is not an Admission of Guilt
Archbishop Zollitsch and Archbishop Marx take Bishop Mixa's part: "We have much to thank our brother for."
Munich (kath.net) The Freiburg Archbishop Robert Zollitsch gave a clarification on this Thursday at a press conference about Bishop Walter Mixa and made it clear, that the offer of resignation by Bishop Mixa is no admission of guilt.
Zollitsch literally said: "Bishop Dr. Walter Mixa has offered the Holy Father his resignation of his office as Bishop of Augsburg and the Military Archbishop of the Bundesrepublik Germany. This hard step has earned respect. Through it the Bishop of the Church of Augsburg will be able to make a new beginning. The German Bishops Conference acknowledged the decision of the Bishop of Augsburg. We have our brother much to be thankful for: During his time as Bishop of Eichstätt (1996 – 2005) and from 2005 as Bishop of Augsburg.
As member of the pastoral commission, as acting director of the representative of the Liturgy Commission and as member of the commission for marriage and family, Bishop Walter Mixa gave a manifold impulse to our work. He has earned special commendation for his very engaging dedication as the Catholic Military Bishop of the German Bundeswehr.
I had personally given consideration to Bishop Dr. Mixa, together with the current Metropolitan, Archbishop Dr. Reinhard Marx, as to whether he could not collect new strength in a time of spiritual contemplation in a difficult situation in an atmosphere of great dispassion. The current decision of Bishop Mixa means a loss for our Bishop's conference.
Even the presider of the Freisinger Bishop's Conference and Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Reinhard Marx, had stated this position on Thursday upon the offer of resignation by the Bishop of Augsburg, Walter Mixa: "The Bishop of Augsburg has offered the resignation of his office with respect to the Holy Father." The Bavarian Bishops thank their brother Walter Mixa for the years of his collaboration in the Freisinger Bishop's Conference. Now it comes to us to find a good common way for the future of the Diocese of Augsburg.
Link to Kathnet...
Munich (kath.net) The Freiburg Archbishop Robert Zollitsch gave a clarification on this Thursday at a press conference about Bishop Walter Mixa and made it clear, that the offer of resignation by Bishop Mixa is no admission of guilt.
Zollitsch literally said: "Bishop Dr. Walter Mixa has offered the Holy Father his resignation of his office as Bishop of Augsburg and the Military Archbishop of the Bundesrepublik Germany. This hard step has earned respect. Through it the Bishop of the Church of Augsburg will be able to make a new beginning. The German Bishops Conference acknowledged the decision of the Bishop of Augsburg. We have our brother much to be thankful for: During his time as Bishop of Eichstätt (1996 – 2005) and from 2005 as Bishop of Augsburg.
As member of the pastoral commission, as acting director of the representative of the Liturgy Commission and as member of the commission for marriage and family, Bishop Walter Mixa gave a manifold impulse to our work. He has earned special commendation for his very engaging dedication as the Catholic Military Bishop of the German Bundeswehr.
I had personally given consideration to Bishop Dr. Mixa, together with the current Metropolitan, Archbishop Dr. Reinhard Marx, as to whether he could not collect new strength in a time of spiritual contemplation in a difficult situation in an atmosphere of great dispassion. The current decision of Bishop Mixa means a loss for our Bishop's conference.
Even the presider of the Freisinger Bishop's Conference and Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Reinhard Marx, had stated this position on Thursday upon the offer of resignation by the Bishop of Augsburg, Walter Mixa: "The Bishop of Augsburg has offered the resignation of his office with respect to the Holy Father." The Bavarian Bishops thank their brother Walter Mixa for the years of his collaboration in the Freisinger Bishop's Conference. Now it comes to us to find a good common way for the future of the Diocese of Augsburg.
Link to Kathnet...
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