Father McBrien's Favorites: Notre Dame Classics: Dual Magisterium

Father Z has blogged about Father McBrien's favorite Bishops. Which reminds us. Are we really all Catholics in all this?

It's interesting how German Bishops Marx of Munich (an alleged "Baroque" Conservative who's eager for promotion) and Zollitsch (under investigation for child abuse) have stabbed Bishop Mixa in the back and deliberately leaked a dossier full of vague claims of homosexuality and alchohol abuse, while hanging him out to dry in public, talking about his 'alchohol abuse problems' and 'mental instabillity'.

These are not the ministrations of Catholics, but the tactics of Communists, especially the part about attacking Bishop Mixa's mental stability. (Note how Bishop Gerhard Mueller was passed over for Cardinal Kasper's job.)

Meanwhile, even NCR's golden haired boy John Allen can see there's a dual Magisterium.

Author and Mother of Three Excoriates UK Bishops

We were talking earlier about the meeting of the Austrian and Slovenian Bishops to discuss the sex abuse and take steps to prevent it, well, here's what the English Bishops are doing to "prevent" it, and it's what the American Bishops have done as well.

BRAGA, Portugal, June 21, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Fiorella Nash, Catholic author and mother of three, spoke to the Knights of Our Lady on the weekend of June 4-6, and upbraided the Bishops Conference of England and Wales for failing to sufficiently oppose explicit sex education in schools and even colluding with the "anti-life policies of the Government."

In her speech, "The State of Family Life in Great Britain," Nash called the government's aggressive promotion of sex education the "greatest threat to family life in Britain today."

"Sex education in Britain, as in many other countries, means the aggressive promotion of an ideology about human sexuality which is entirely at odds with Catholic teaching," she said.

Schools in Britain are currently pushing information about contraception and abortion upon children without parental knowledge or consent, and "this is happening with the co-operation of the Catholic authorities," she said.

Link to original...

Alice Cooper and the Fascination of Evil

The stage shows of American rock musician, Alice Cooper seek to shock and provoke. Indeed the reborn Christian will not show the mastery of evil, rather his fans will be shown the finality of Heaven and Hell.

The concert of the US-American rock musician Alice Cooper has shocking and provoking elements like scenes of torture and execution scenes. Indeed, Alice Cooper is Christian and wants his fans to think about the reality of Heaven and Hell. He said this in an interview with the "Cologne City Informer".

He was born in 1948 as Vincent Furnier in a Christian family and his father was a protestant minister. When he was becoming famous in his younger years, he was very far from his faith. He became an alcoholic and drove his marriage to ruin. 1983 he entered into a recovery clinic and became surprisingly quickly free of his alcohol addiction. "The doctors could not figure out how I had recovered so quickly. I knew, though, that God had helped me. Since then I've cared about the immortality of my soul", said the musician to the Koeln Statdtanzeiger Since his recovery, he's read daily from the Bible and goes Sundays to church.

In his music and in his stage shows, he keeps himself apart from evil, because it, even like death, works a powerful fascination. Alice Cooper actually said: "Whoever travels with a car on the street, and looks left at Disney World and then sees two autos crash on the right, will always look to the right. We have this morbid curiosity, because we know, that we will all finally die."

It isn't just a game with evil with him though. "This fascination is dangerous though. For that reason I try to make it clear to my fans, that Hell is final. Whoever wants to go to heaven, should not waste his life on earth." On his Homepage he has cited the words: "Evil will be punished. It will never win." In his various stage shows he puts himself in various bad guy roles, which come to a bad end.

On the question if his father and his current pastor are not horrified by his shows, he told the Koeln paper: "Certainly not. Both have seen most of my concerts and were impressed, how multifacetedly Alice Cooper embodies evil. For the most part many of my critics must admit after a concert visit, that I do not honor the Devil. On the contrary: I ridicule the Devil."

Original at Kath.net...

Vatican Angry Over New Film About Medieval Female Pope

Vatican Angry Over New Film About Medieval Female Pope

Austrian Catholics a thorn in Vatican's side

By VERONIKA OLEKSYN (AP) – 7 hours ago

VIENNA — Long a thorn in the Vatican's side, Austrian Catholics have ramped up their quest for a more liberal church in the wake of the global clerical sex abuse scandal.

And while much of the push for change comes from the grassroots, the country's powerful cardinal recently caused a stir with strong gestures in support of reform, raising the stakes in the confrontation between the Vatican and dissidents pushing to allow priests to marry and women to be ordained.

What is particularly troubling for Rome is that Austria — historically a major symbol of Catholicism in Europe and a bulwark against the Protestant Reformation — is losing worshippers in record numbers as calls for reform grow stronger.

Link to article...read further.

Pope calls for imitation of St. Thomas Aquinas' devotion to Eucharist :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

(CNA/EWTN News).- Basing his catechesis for a third and final time on the legacy of St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Benedict highlighted Aquinas’ “masterpiece,” the “Summa Theologica.” He referred to the saint's devotion to the Eucharist, making the call for all people to "fall in love" with the Blessed Sacrament.

An estimated 7,000 pilgrims and faithful joined the Pope in the Paul VI Hall for Wednesday's general audience. Among those in attendance was a group from Malawi in tribal dress who performed a traditional dance for the Holy Father from their seats in the packed auditorium.

Referring to the "masterpiece" of the “Summa Theologica,” Benedict XVI noted the saint’s “serene confidence in the harmony of faith and reason, and in the ability of reason, enlightened by faith, to come to an understanding of God and his saving plan.”


Pope calls for imitation of St. Thomas Aquinas' devotion to Eucharist :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Chavez Says, "Let them Eat Cake" Bishops Protest

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's Roman Catholic Church is blaming the government of President Hugo Chavez for the decomposition of more than 22,000 tons (20,000 metric tons) of food inside a port.

Church leaders condemn what they call the irresponsibility of officials at the state-run company that imported the food, calling the scandal "a sin that Heaven is crying over."

Chavez has urged prosecutors to bring all those responsible to justice. Authorities have arrested the ex-president of the company and two other officials.

The Venezuelan Bishops' Conference said Tuesday the decomposed food is an example of government mismanagement. It complained of what it calls "the moral deterioration of public institutions."

Link to original at FOX News...

Quebec Won't Force Jesuits to Water Down Curriculum

Not to be too flippant, but won't the Jesuits do that for them?

Some good and bad news out of Quebec

Cardinal Kasper Will Retire Now Replaced by Koch

It could have been Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller when we talked about it earlier, but instead it will be Bishop Koch. This is very good news indeed.

The Anglo-Catholic has picked up on this, here. Here's what The Anglo-Catholic found on google.

Many people have signed a petition for the unqualified acceptance of the council. Right from the start, the expression "unqualified acceptance" irritates me because I don’t know anyone — myself included — to whom it would apply. A few arbitrarily chosen examples will suffice:

– The council did not abolish Latin in the liturgy. On the contrary, it emphasized that in the Roman Rite, apart from exceptional cases, the use of the Latin language must be maintained. Who among the vocal defenders of the council wishes "unqualified acceptance" of that?

– The council declared that the Church regards Gregorian Chant as the "music proper to the Roman Rite," and that it must therefore "be given primary place." In how many parishes is this implemented "without qualification?"

– The council expressly requested that governmental authorities voluntarily give up those rights to participation in the selection of bishops, that had arisen over the course of time. Which defender of the council advocates "without qualification" for that?

– The council described the fundamental nature of the liturgy as the celebration the paschal mystery and the eucharistic sacrifice as "the completion of the work of our salvation." How can that be reconciled with my experience, made in many different parishes, that the sacrificial understanding of the Mass has been completely eliminated from the liturgical language and the Mass is now understood only as a meal or "the breaking of bread?" In what way can one justify this profound change by reference to the council?

Anglicans Consider New Alternatives

Here's what "the Anglo-Catholic" said about what's going on in the Anglican Communion:

When people see some disaster coming which is going to destroy their home, what do most of them do? Grab the family treasures if they can, gather up the things that mean the most to them, and then get someplace where it’s safe. I think the Latin phrase for that is “Anglicanorum coetibus.”

An Outsider's View

SSPX Seminaries are Significantly Outperforming The Jesuit Counterparts

The June Ordinands are on the Way

The Jesuits have just ordained 6 men from the Midwest, which is presumed to be Wisconsin Province, the Louisiana Province has produced 3. In a virtual Goofus and Gallant scenario, the Jesuits seem to be doing very little with the enormous gifts they've been given.

Now, compare that to the SSPX in Zaitzkofen which just ordained three to the priesthood this last Sunday on the 21st. They were ordained by Bishop Fellay and will say their first Mass on the 28th at the Seminary. Threats from the heterodox ordinary, Bishop Mueller, that it would threaten the reconciliation talks now going on in Rome notwithstanding, the ordination has gone ahead. Although the German Province of the SSPX lacks the access of big Universities, facilities and endowments possessed by the Jesuits they are tracking to overtake them in yearly vocations to the priesthood.

There have been no complaints from the local ordinary of Winona, Bishop Lavoir, however, to the new ordinations and the Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary there has ordained 9. Last year, they had ordained 10 and are likely to continue a fruitful harvest of priests to fill up the increasing demand for the Mass of All Ages and alleviate the exttremely heavy work burden of their brother priests in the fields of the Lord.

Just a brief speculation: You'd think that the Jesuits with their heavily endowed and accredited Universities would be capable of producing more vocations with the overabundance of resources. No, the number of vocations seems inversely proportional to the number of concelebrants, in this case 300, at their ordinations.
We think that resources should follow success, and times they are a changin' as "newer rites" fall into disfavor for what was always done in older and finer times, and those who are, as Saint Pius X said, the true friends of the Church, the Traditionalists, will continue to carry out the Great Commission, while lesser men and those who lead them will certainly find creature comforts, the praise of their peers and neighbors, but will they please God?

It seems increasingly clear that Pope Benedict is more likely to favor the scholastically trained militants coming from SSPX Seminaries to the kinds of men trained elsewhere with less rigour and esprit de corp.

Correction: The Jesuits ordained from the "Midwest" were actually ordained in Chicago and include boys from all over the Midwest. The Chicago Province alone has 386 Jesuits and four Universities with numerous other preparatory and high schools, here. Also there weren't 9 as we'd initially reported, but only 6.

Pound for pound, what dog do you want on your side in the battle for souls?

Lifesite News Says Cardinal Mahony is "Gay Friendly"

LOS ANGELES, June 22, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a videotaped deposition released last Tuesday, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony admits he did not think it necessary to contact police after learning of the sex abuse perpetrated by a priest in his diocese against two boys. Instead, Mahony transferred the priest to other locations, where the abuse could potentially continue.

The archdiocese had tried but failed to keep private the deposition, which was taken as part of a lawsuit that resulted in a $2.2 million settlement.

The five-hour videotaped deposition, the first to be released to the public, shows Mahony explaining his conduct after former priest Michael Baker confessed to him in 1986 that he had molested two boys. Baker, who has been accused of abuse by at least 23 individuals, is now serving a 10-year jail sentence on charges of molestation.

Link to original...

Asian Catholic Church is Growing

Seoul (AsiaNews) - For the first time, the number of Catholics in Korea has exceeded 10% of the total population. There are 115,997 more Catholics than in 2008.

It is the Church to bear witness to the considerable increase of the faithful in Korea, today 10.1% of the population. The statistics were compiled based on pastoral documents collected from 16 dioceses, seven universities and a number of Catholic religious institutes in Korea.

Of the 15 dioceses, which have a total of 5 million and 120 thousand faithful, the largest is the Archdiocese of Seoul, where 27.4% of Catholics live. The number of baptized in 2009 rose to 157 thousand, 10.9% more than in 2008. If the number of children baptized grew by 7.5% in one year, the number of those baptized before reaching one year, which decreased significantly, is of concern, indicating that it is still necessary to encourage the baptism of newborn infants.

Read further...

Asian Catholic Church is Growing

Seoul (AsiaNews) - For the first time, the number of Catholics in Korea has exceeded 10% of the total population. There are 115,997 more Catholics than in 2008.

It is the Church to bear witness to the considerable increase of the faithful in Korea, today 10.1% of the population. The statistics were compiled based on pastoral documents collected from 16 dioceses, seven universities and a number of Catholic religious institutes in Korea.

Of the 15 dioceses, which have a total of 5 million and 120 thousand faithful, the largest is the Archdiocese of Seoul, where 27.4% of Catholics live. The number of baptized in 2009 rose to 157 thousand, 10.9% more than in 2008. If the number of children baptized grew by 7.5% in one year, the number of those baptized before reaching one year, which decreased significantly, is of concern, indicating that it is still necessary to encourage the baptism of newborn infants.

Read further...

Archeologists Claim They've Found the Oldest Images of the Apostles

[Rome, Reuters] Archaeologists and art restorers using new laser technology have discovered what they believe are the oldest paintings of the faces of Jesus Christ’s Apostles. The images in a branch of the catacombs of St Tecla near St Paul’s Basilica, just outside the walls of ancient Rome, were painted at the end of the 4th century or the start of the 5th century.

Archaeologists believe these images may have been among those that most influenced later artists’ depictions of the faces of Christ’s most important early followers. “These are the first images that we know of the faces of these four Apostles,” said Professor Fabrizio Bisconti, the head of archaeology for Rome’s numerous catacombs, which are owned and maintained by the Vatican.

The full-face icons include visages of St Peter, St Andrew, and St John, who were among Jesus’ original 12 Apostles, and St Paul, who became an Apostle after Christ’s death.

Read further...

Will Father Feeney's SBC in New Hampshire be Regularized?

Just received this note from Brother Andre-Marie of the Saint Benedict Center in New Hampshire. Because some reports were leaked out on-line regarding talks with the local ordinary, Brother wants this to be made known. The Saint Benedict Center will with the knowledge of the local ordinary continue to follow the spiritual legacy of Father Leonard Feeney and has received, for the time being, a chaplain from the Archdiocese. Approval from the local ordinary of the work of the Center is possibly forthcoming, but the good Bishop is recovering from back surgery. Here's what Brother Andre-Marie sent us.

Stay tuned.

Dear Larry,

Thank you for doing the manly and Catholic thing in writing to obtain information from me directly on the latest scuttlebutt over SBC and our dealings with the Diocese of Manchester. As we earlier discussed, the cause of this recent round of rumors is the notice that appeared in the Cathedral parish bulletin. The pastor, who knew very little of what was going on, penned a poorly written paragraph that was also highly inaccurate. This got circulated around the Internet because the bulletin goes on the Cathedral web site, too. When I informed the Bishop's liaison about this, and sent him the text, he called me to tell me, "I feel sick right now." When I said that the paragraph was "misleading and vague," this priest corrected me, and said that it was "wrong," as in factually incorrect. The Cathedral pastor removed the bulletin from the site and apologized for misleading the faithful.

What would help clear this up is the press release we have written announcing that our chapel is formally approved by the Diocese, but our Bishop is recovering from a recent back surgery, and is under doctor's orders to do no work. Some important paperwork for our chapel's approval is therefore held up. Because of all this business, I’m not sure when the approval will be granted and the news made public.

Catholic prudence demands that, in light of present circumstances, I offer some explanations concerning these goings on. I certainly do not want my silence on the issue to give strength to the rumors and suspicions being circulated. Please feel free to pass this information along to those you said were concerned about the rumors they’d heard.

Here, in summary, it what has transpired.

It is not a secret to our local congregation that we have had a series of discussions with officials of the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire. These discussions have been ongoing since just before the Holy Father promulgated his Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum. Our local faithful have been kept generally informed concerning the progress of these conversations. I have put off addressing the matter in writing to our larger network of tertiaries, friends, and benefactors, because I did not want the noise of public discussion, especially online, to prejudice the outcome of our conversations with the Diocese. Such spectacles in the blogosphere and in the “cage-match” environment of online forums are not fruitful, but, rather, dissipating and enervating. Lots of heat and smoke, but no light. My intention all along has been to explain in writing to our supporters at a distance what our locals know. My desire was to do so when there were actual results to report, not just a series of possibilities.

Here are the facts:

1. I, Brother Andre Marie, representing Saint Benedict Center, Richmond (SBC), have been meeting with Manchester Chancery officials for the better part of three years.

2. I was encouraged to initiate this because of the change in atmosphere in the Church begun shortly after Pope Benedict XVI was coronated Supreme Pontiff, especially his initiatives in favor of liturgical tradition and orthodoxy.

3. During those meetings, I made clear to the chancery officials that the MICM and SBC will remain loyal disciples of Father Leonard Feeney, retaining our enthusiastic adherence to, and missionary promotion of, what is often termed the “strict interpretation” of the binding Catholic dogma, extra ecclesiam nulla salus. Further, we will continue to worship according to the traditional Roman Rite of the Mass, as the Holy Father has affirmed is the right of Latin Catholics. The diocese acknowledged our right to both of these things. In short, we will remain what we always were, and that does not present a problem to the diocese. This is an amazing development that would not have been possible until very recently. (What's more, our bishop submits his retirement on August 12. I am given to believe, through sources, that his successor will be a friend of tradition, as many of Pope Benedict's appointments are turning out to be.)

4. The Diocese carried out their meetings with us in consultation with the Holy See. The positive results of our cooperation with the diocese (see #6, below) have already been approved by the Roman officials.

5. The Holy See directed our Brothers and Sisters to make a profession of Catholic Faith before Bishop McCormack. We happily did so according to the formula prescribed by the Church — the Nicene Creed with three additional paragraphs naming and professing the appropriate adherence to the three levels of magisterial teaching. All those who assume office in the Church are required to make this profession. All priests must make it before their ordination. Additionally, we each submitted to the Bishop signed copies of the Athanasian Creed, an ancient Creed of the Church that thrice declares the doctrine we are dedicated to defend.

6. The results of this definitive meeting with Bishop McCormack are the approval of a chaplaincy for SBC, and the canonical approbation of our chapel as a Catholic oratory. (This is presently pending, as the “paperwork” is held up due to the Bishop’s convalescence.)

7. We assured the Diocese that we will treat the Holy Father and the Bishops in communion with him with all the respect due to them as the Vicar of Christ and successors of the Apostles. (As you know, the kind of rancorous criticism of the hierarchy so common in many traditionalist circles has really never been our MO. Brother Francis was certainly not that way.)

8. The diocesan officials and we discussed the confusion surrounding SBC’s positions on different matters. The local media, certain bloggers, and the publishing arms of ideological progressivists had manufactured a veritable mythology about our little community, characterizing us in a false light as a “hate group.” (You know all about this.) For obvious reasons, the chancery wanted to get at the truth of these issues. We obliged them, and they were satisfied.

9. These arrangements we made with the diocese entail a canonical (legal) normalization of our status in the Church. In no way do they indicate a “conversion” to the Catholic Church, to which our members already belonged as baptized Catholics. I mention this because critics from mutually opposing camps (progressivists, sedes, etc.) may choose to put some heavy "spin" on the fact that we made a profession of Faith.

If I had thought that these arrangements with the ecclesiastical officials would detract from our twofold Crusade to promote the dogma and work for the conversion of America to the true Faith, I would not have moved forward with them. I did so with the trust and confidence of Brother Francis, whom I kept abreast of things. I am of the conviction that we live in a new era in the Church, and many good things are happening that constitute, in broad outline, a reorientation toward tradition. (I am not naive: There is very much to do!) Given this authentic progress toward a more sane era in the Church Militant, I believe it possible and prudent to advance our apostolate within the canonical structures of the Church, thus helping the Church in Her sacred mission of saving souls and giving glory to the Blessed Trinity.

Some traditionalists, who virtually consider any and all dealings with the hierarchy to be formal cooperation with Satan himself, will not understand this. They will take scandal. They will accuse, criticize, deride, label me a traitor and a turncoat, a Judas, a Brother Elias. What can I say? I have to make decisions with a good and correct conscience, based upon the goals of our Crusade, the exigencies of or apostolate, and real life circumstances in the Church and the world — not on some "false clear idea" that folks craft to make the complexities of life easier to explain. Should some friends, benefactors, and tertiaries choose to part company with us over this, I would be saddened, but I will not fume and rant. We've seen friends come and go — and enemies pile up — since we began this work. 'Twas always thus, as Brother Francis would have assured us.

The Church thinks in terms of decades, centuries, millennia, not in the soundbites of the moment. I ask those who care to judge our actions to look at us after a few years at least. Then a clearer picture will emerge of what has happened. When it turns out that, by the grace of God and the intercession of the Immaculate Heart, we remain loyal to our Crusade, then the suspicions of the moment will prove groundless. I do not expect apologies.

God bless, and Mary keep, you and Sue.

Slovenian and Austrian Bishop's Conference Meet to Discuss Sex Abuse

[Vienna] The theme of abuse will be at the center of the discussions of the Austrian Bishops' Conference which will meet at Mariazell Abbey for their summer meeting. On the table there's a comprehensive introductory document which will be discussed, which is the work of around 300 experts [Yikes] which project group is overseen by the Viennese Generalvikar Mosgr Franz Schuster, according to the media representative of the Episcopal Conference, Paul Wuthe. In its highlights the paper establishes clear guildlines for all ecclesiastical workers including orders for the prevention of sexual abuse and violence. "The goal is an Austria-wide standardization of procedures and with that, clarity", said Wuthe.

The proposals will include the establishment of a Church Ombundman and a reinforced collaboration of all ecclesiastical and state organizations with sexual abuse and violence.

A chief role in connection with the last months of well known cases of violence and abuse is played by the Independent Victim's Attorney Waltrud Klasnic and the Independent Victim's Defense Commission. From this basis Waltrud Klasnic will report on the developments in this area, according to Wuthe.

It is also the first time that the Bishops' Conference of Slovenia will meet with that of Austria. Cardinal Schoenborn and Archbishop Anton Stres (Laibach) are meeting on the 23rd of June at 1:00pm in the Abbot's Council at the Abbey of Mariazell, in order to hold a press conference. Shortly before there will be a photo oprrotunity for all participating Bishops in front of the Basilica.

Archbishop Anton Stres of Laibach, Slovenia, will preside over the Mass and preach the sermon.

Link to original...

Vatican says Polish reports of archbishop's resignation unfounded :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Vatican says Polish reports of archbishop's resignation unfounded :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Orthodox Church in Bulgaria Opposes Homosexual Parade: British Ambassador Praises It

[Sofia]British ambassador to Bulgaria Steve Williams has sent a message of goodwill to participants ahead of the forthcoming Sofia gay pride festival on Saturday June 26, the third of its kind in Bulgaria.

"I wish to send a message of support to all those who will be celebrating diversity on that day. Respect for human rights is one of the core democratic values on which the European Union is based. Those human rights apply equally to all people, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, belief, or sexual orientation. Many excuses - such as respect for religious doctrine or traditional values - are given to justify homophobia. Let us be clear: in today's European Union there can be no excuse and no justification for homophobia, on any grounds," said ambassador Williams.

The full text of his goodwill message is available on the British embassy's website here.

Ambassador Williams was also one of the first ambassadors to endorse last year's parade. On that occasion he was criticised by Boyan Rasate, leader of the far-right Bulgarian National Union, who told reporters that "he (Williams) has no right to tell Bulgarians how to live in Bulgaria."

Last year, the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Maxim, also called on Sofia authorities to stop the parade and denounced homosexuality as the "fruits of darkness".


Read original at sofiaecho...
Bulgaria's 2008 parade, the first of its kind in Sofia, was marred by violence after more than 60 people, mostly identified as far-right protesters, tried to attack and harass marchers. A demonstrator also threw a Molotov cocktail at the crowd.

Obama Celebrates “Gay Pride” as HIV Cases Rise

Obama Celebrates “Gay Pride” as HIV Cases Rise