Some roaringly good links (and pics) for St. Jerome

Heh.

Anyway: Amy's got the links. And I found some pics (click for full-size version):




St. Jerome is also the patron saint of Latinists, you might be interested in knowing.

Milingo "lovingly returns" his excommunication to Pope Benedict

Milingo's reaction, found in the NYT:

"We do not accept this excommunication and lovingly return it to his holiness, our beloved Pope Benedict XVI, to reconsider it and withdraw it and join us in recalling married priests to service once again," Archbishop Milingo, the archbishop emeritus of Lusaka, Zambia, said in a statement read at a news conference.

Asked later about the excommunication, he replied: "I'm not excommunicated. Who says? No, I'm not excommunicated. I'm in line with God."

A person excommunicated from the Catholic Church is forbidden to receive the sacraments or to share in acts of public worship, but Archbishop Milingo said he continued to celebrate Mass and conduct the faith healing services for which he is noted.

He said: "Myself, I have never stopped saying Mass. Never. Even this morning I have celebrated Mass."

I can't say I'm really at all suprised.

Suffering from "Benaddiction"?

Then this is the banner for you...

This is the signature of PhoenixRising, a member of the Papa Ratzinger Forum.

AmP Poll: Do you think Abp. Milingo's actions could result in a "major schism"?

Do you think Abp. Milingo's actions could result in a "major schism"? VOTE NOW!

(see this post for more details)

Milingon excommunicated: the Vatican acts

While many questions remain, the Vatican has released a statement today formally excommunicating Abp. Milingo.

Update: Here is the press release in English.

Ed Peters posts some initial thoughts on the statement.

Jimmy Akin suggests that consecrating bishops without a Papal mandate should itself be an act of schism, and hints at a very disturbing possibility: "As tragic as [this] situation is, I fear that an even greater tragedy may be about to unfold. Since the debacle following Vatican II, the Holy See has been terrified of a major schism occurring that would involve modernist dissidents." [More...]

Ugly stuff all around.

Update: Do you think Abp. Milingo's recent actions could result in a "major schism"? VOTE NOW!

The most lopsided vote since the "Do you like ice cream?" poll

So said "Casey" in the comments box, and looking at the results, I'd have to agree...

Milingo excommunicates himself over the weekend

Rocco reports: "After ratcheting it up a bit last week, renegade Zambian prelate [Milingo] "installs" four bishops over the weekend."

Peters proclaims: "the notorious Abp. Milingo has just walked right into an unambiguous excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See (1983 CIC 1382)."

Well, we don't have to wait until October 15th anymore (Milingo's previous ultimatum set by Cardinal Re).

Canon Lawyer Ed Peters will be talking about this turn of events tomorrow with WDEO's Al Kresta, at 4 pm Eastern. He also has a whole book on excommunication coming out soon from Ascension Press and they are already accepting advance orders.

(full disclosure: Ed Peters is my father ... but hey, the book is still great!).

Update: CWNews has released its coverage.

Pope Benedict speaks to ambassadors of Islam - my comments

Here is the text of what Pope Benedict said this morning to the ambassadors of many Islamic countries.

CNA has a summary of the event.

Amy has published her comments.

Here's who attended the meeting:

"According to the Vatican, participants in the meeting included heads of mission from Kuwait, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Senegal, Algeria, Morocco, Albania, the Arab League, Syria, Tunisia, Libya, Iran and Azerbaijan. Also present were 14 members of the Islamic Council of Italy and representatives from the Italian Islamic Cultural Center and the Office of the World Muslim League.

Initial indications are that the meeting was well received by Muslim leaders." [CNA]

An important point from his talk that CNA highlighted in its coverage:

"[Pope Benedict] went on to quote the Second Vatican Council document “Nostra Aetate,” which he called the “Magna Carta” for the Church’s position on Muslim-Christian dialogue, saying “The Church looks upon Muslims with respect. They worship the one God living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to humanity and to whose decrees, even the hidden ones, they seek to submit themselves whole-heartedly, just as Abraham, to whom the Islamic faith readily relates itself, submitted to God (NA, 3).” [CNA]

But I would also add to the above quotation another reference Pope Benedict made to a quotation from Nostra Aetate in his speech today. One with a little more apparent relevance I think:

"... Christians and Muslims must learn to work together, as indeed they already do in many common undertakings, in order to guard against all forms of intolerance and to oppose all manifestations of violence; as for us, religious authorities and political leaders, we must guide and encourage them in this direction. Indeed, "although considerable dissensions and enmities between Christians and Muslims may have arisen in the course of the centuries, the Council urges all parties that, forgetting past things, they train themselves towards sincere mutual understanding and together maintain and promote social justice and moral values as well as peace and freedom for all people" (Declaration, Nostra Aetate, 3)."

Rocco reports that the speech, delivered by the Pope in french (of which I was able to hear a little bit on my way into school today), was immediately prepared by the Vatican for publication in Italian, English and Arabic, continuing the trend started recently by L'Osservatore Romano of publishing important Papal speeches regarding Islam in the native tongue of many Muslims.

Here is how Pope Benedict ended his address:

Dear friends, I am profoundly convinced that in the current world situation it is imperative that Christians and Muslims engage with one another in order to address the numerous challenges that present themselves to humanity, especially those concerning the defence and promotion of the dignity of the human person and of the rights ensuing from that dignity. When threats mount up against people and against peace, by recognizing the central character of the human person and by working with perseverance to see that human life is always respected, Christians and Muslims manifest their obedience to the Creator, who wishes all people to live in the dignity that he has bestowed upon them.

Dear friends, I pray with my whole heart that the merciful God will guide our steps along the paths of an ever more authentic mutual understanding. At this time when for Muslims the spiritual journey of the month of Ramadan is beginning, I address to all of them my cordial good wishes, praying that the Almighty may grant them serene and peaceful lives. May the God of peace fill you with the abundance of his Blessings, together with the communities that you represent!

It is not hard to see in the above passage that Pope Benedict is continually emphasizing to his audience that God is the God of peace. Second, the Pope is always calling upon Muslims to respect the dignity and rights of the human person, regardless of whether the person is Muslim or Christian.

And how does one discover the dignity of the human person? Through reason (implicitly) and (explicitly) through faith in the Creator "who wishes all people to live in the dignity that he has bestowed upon them."

Let us hope his message is taken to heart.

More praise of slain Somalian nun by Pope Benedict

At yesterday's Angelus address:

Pope Benedict XVI praised the Christian witness of an Italian nun for pardoning her killers as she lay dying from an attack in Somalia.

Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, an Italian missionary who worked in a pediatrics hospital in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, was shot by two gunmen on Sept. 17.

Her bodyguard also was killed.Benedict was speaking to pilgrims Sunday during a general audience at Castel Gandolfo about how disciples must live in witness to Christ.

"Some are asked to give the supreme testimony of blood, just as … Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, who fell victim to violence," the pontiff said."This sister, who for many years served the poor and the children in Somalia, died pronouncing the word 'forgive,'" the Pope said.

"This is the most authentic Christian testimony, a peaceful sign of contradiction which shows the victory of love over hatred and evil." [from CNA.]

"New Traditional Dominican Order Bursting at the Seams"

Go read this great post at the Te Deum blog on the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have had the blessing to know and study with many of the sisters personally and I can personally attest to all the amazing things that they are doing up here. Several of my classmates and friends are now postulants with the order (one of whom is in this picture: second from right, front row).

Diane, who runs the Te Deum blog, explains in her own words:

In the midst of all the negative news out there, this is truly a positivie story which could give hope to people for the future of the Church, as well as give young girls the opportunity to hear a call to this order, if they are unaware of it.

Many traditional minded young females often resort to cloisters because they are not interested in the social justice pant-suit type nunneries. But, this order offers teaching and parish work, yet is semi-contemplative. Education is a big focus of this order.

At the bottom of my post, I cover how they have now branched out to Phoenix and Hilton Head, SC at the invitation of Bishops Olmstead and Baker. [More...]

Yep, orthodoxy flourishes. But then again, we already knew that ... right?

Just look at those faces.

Vatican mourns Christians executed in Indonesia

From CWNews:

Sep. 22 (CWNews.com) - Vatican officials are mourning the deaths of three Indonesian Catholics who were executed on September 22 for allegedly masterminding a massacre of Muslims.

"It is very sad and very painful news," said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, speaking to reporters about the news that the three men were executed by a firing squad shortly after midnight on Friday.

The Vatican did not release a formal statement about the execution-- perhaps hoping to avoid further tensions with Islamic groups. News that the execution had occurred sparked rioting by Christians in Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic country.

"We are very sorry that the efforts of various organizations, including the St. Egidio community, were not successful," said Father Lombardi. The St. Egidio community had issued a last-minute plea to the Indonesian government to stop the execution. He noted that Pope Benedict XVI had entered a plea for clemency for the Indonesian men. [More from CWNews...]

More from CNS here. More from CNA here.

Requiscant in pace.

Monday morning head start: Pope to meet Islamic envoys today

The Pope is scheduled to meet with Islamic envoys early Monday morning. Here is advance coverage of that event as well as a roundup of the best recent commentary:

CWNews:

Pope Benedict XVI will meet on September 25 with envoys from Islamic countries, and representatives of Muslim groups in Italy, to discuss protests generated by the Pope's speech earlier this month in Regensburg.

Confirming reports that had circulated earlier this week, the Vatican announced that ambassadors from countries with Islamic majorities would be invited to Castel Gandolfo for a meeting with the Pontiff, to be held at 11:45. Leading Muslims in Italy-- including Abdellah Radouani, the head of the mosque in Rome-- have been included in the invitation.

...

Informed Vatican sources had reported that soon after the Regensburg address, when protests began in Islamic countries, representatives of the Holy See begin quietly contacting diplomats from those countries, working to set up a meeting at which the Pope's speech and the public response could be discussed. The September 25 meeting is the result of those diplomatic initiatives.

More from CNS here. BBC News covers this story here.

Good recent commentary:

• "Benedict Takes the Next Step with Islam" by Mark Brumley at IgnatiusInsight
• "The Pope Was Right" by George Weigel
• "Why Benedict XVI Did not Want to Fall Silent or Backpedal" by Sandro Magister

And of course, the always-excellent Pope Benedict Blog roundup by Christopher Blosser:

• "Pope Benedict Roundup!"
• Pope Benedict and "Regensberg Rage" - The Islamic Reaction (Pt. III)

Mr. Blosser also has a contribution to the various "I Support the Pope" banners being circulated:

(please copy the image to your own hosting services before using it on your website)

Update: website fixed + link to clean your computer of any virus

As you may know, the webserver that hosts the AmericanPapist website (and many, many other websites) was recently infected with a virus which effects users of Microsoft Internet Explorer. It appears that my webserver was successful in "vaccinating" the virus.

However, if you have any fears that your computer may be infected with any malware, you can visit Trend Micro's HouseCall URL and have your computer safely scanned and (if need be) cleaned of it.

If you don't want this kind of thing to happen again, you could also try using the Mozilla Firefox internet browser, which is far more immune to these kind of attacks. Thank you!

AmP will now resume its regularly scheduled programming. :-)

Host issues: please do not visit AmP until they are cleared up

As a warning to my readers, the webhost that I run AmericanPapist with (www.hostgator.com) appears to be under attack by a nasty virus that may infect computers when they visit these pages.

Please do not visit until this is completely cleared up. As soon as I have answers I will pass them on.

Thank you for your understanding.

Friday Funny Video: Colbert on the Pope & Muslims

Cardinal O'Malley really is a blogging cardinal!

Yep, he went and did it.

Cardinal O'Malley is officially a blogging cardinal. And, what's more, he seems to have adapted to the medium quite well.

His first post includes everything you'd expect to see in an average blog post, starting with little updates on the various things he did today (i.e., celebrating Mass, attending a meeting with the Presbyteral Council) to one of those obligatory "Thank you for visiting my blog" sentences.

The cardinal also manages to get in some teaching moments about who he is, what his role as a Cardinal is, and why he is going back to Rome. And understandably so. After all, I think it's a fair guess that the blog is an attempt to improve public relations by helping the people of Boston feel more connected to the head of their local Catholic church. Even so, the blog doesn't feel artificial or forced. Indeed, Cardinal Sean's first post is natural and endearing.

"Cardinal Sean" (as his blog seems to like calling him) even includes a couple nice bits about his "taking more books than I can possibly read [on the airplane to Rome]" and worrying that his carry-on bag won't be let past security. Cardinal Sean finally includes a hyperlink to a nice slideshow of images showcasing his installation as a cardinal earlier this year in Rome.

In short - as much as one can expect given the man's position - the Cardinal Sean blog feels like a "real" blog. Good for him!

Gee, I hope he blogrolls AmericanPapist soon.

One more thing: I still say that the Archdiocese of Boston IT department should let me take over the maintenance and design of the blog - currently the page has numerous formatting errors/visible coding tags. Come on guys, just have me handle it. Please?

I get to hear Archbishop Cordes speak tonight

As I mentioned early this week, Archbishop Cordes (the head of the pontifical council Cor Unum) will be in Detroit tonight at Sacred Heart Major Seminary speaking about Deus Caritas Est.

CWNews has more:

Sep. 18 (CWNews.com) - Archbishop Joseph Cordes, the president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, is in the US this week for a series of presentations on the papal encyclical Deus Caritas Est.

As head of Cor Unum, the charitable arm of the papacy, Archbishop Cordes was one of the leading Vatican prelates who introduced Deus Caritas Est to the press when the encylical was first unveiled on January 25. Now he is traveling to America, making the US his first stop in a campaign to encourage concrete applications of the encyclical. The archbishop will speak in Madison, Wisconsin; Detroit, and Washington, DC.

"Catholic Americans were touched by the appeal" of the encyclical, Cor Unum said in announcing the archbishop's trip. Noting the many Catholic charities located in the country, the announcement said that Archbishop Cordes would try to help his American audiences connect the themes of the Pope's encyclical to their practical work in relief efforts.

Luckily enough, I was able to reserve a seat (I'm not sure if they are still accepting reservations, though you might try the phone number listed here).

Here is the official description of the event: "Roman Catholic Archbishop Paul Cordes, the president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, will be giving a public presentation on September 21, 2006, at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. His topic will be the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est) and the New Evangelization, a movement of spiritual and cultural renewal initiated by Pope Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II."

Should be fun. :-)

Update: It was a good talk, no big fireworks and he basically rehighlighted the central themes of Deus Caritas Est. He did take some questions afterwards and answered them beautifully. I'm happy knowing he's in charge of the Church's charitable efforts around the world.

Happy Birthday Gerald!

Today is Gerald Augustinus' birthday. He runs the excellent the Caffeteria is Closed blog (for the three people in the Catholic blogosphere who don't know that already).

Anyway: Many happy returns, Gerald!

May St. Matthew and all the Saints continually intercede for you.

September 21st is also the day that J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit was published, for those who like Tolkien trivia. Tomorrow is Frodo and Bilbo's birthdays.

Thursday afternoon quick news updates

Three quick updates on stories AmP has been following recently:

• Talks continue between Vatican, SSPX - Vatican, Sep. 21 - The Vatican is continuing talks with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), still hoping to achieve reconciliation with the Lefebvrist group, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos has revealed. The prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, who has been the Vatican's chief contact in talks with the SSPX since 2000, told the I Media news agency that talks with the group are proceeding normally, unaffected by the creation of a new institute for traditionalist clerics in France.
• Burial in Kenya for nun killed in Somalia - Sister Leonella Sgorbita, the nun who was shot dead in Somalia on September 17, was laid to rest in Nazareth Hospital Cemetery near Nairobi, Kenya, according to her wish.
• Indonesia: execution delayed; condemned men denied sacraments - Authorities in Indonesia have denied three Catholic men the right to attend Mass on the day before their execution, the AsiaNews service reports. Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva were scheduled to face a firing squad on September 21, but their execution was postponed-- apparently just for a day. Prison officials refused to allow a priest to hear the men's confessions and celebrate Mass for them one last time on Thursday. The officials' decision-- along with an accompanying decision that the bodies of the three men cannot lie in state in the Paul cathedral-- appears to violate Indonesian law, which stipulates that a prisoner's last wishes should be granted before execution. [Even more injustices it seems ... AsiaNews has more... "No Muslim has ever been convicted in connection with the religious warfare in Sulawesi." ]

Your PPOTD! - Thursday, Sep 21

I think we had something different in mind when we heard the Vatican was beefing up Papal security this week.

Picture via Amy and the Papa Ratzinger Forum.

Cardinal O'Malley to begin blogging today!

Here's an exciting story for us avid bloggers, reported today by the Boston Globe:

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, who wears a friar's habit designed nearly 500 years ago and who eschews most material possessions, today is taking a giant leap into the 21st century: He is becoming a blogger.

Following the lead of numerous political, entertainment, and sports figures who are flirting with new communication media in an effort to reach the public, O'Malley is planning to file items at least once a day during a 10-day trip to Rome that begins today and will consider making the blog permanent, depending on how the experiment goes.

...

O'Malley's spokesman said the cardinal, who has a computer on his desk and who uses e-mail for regular communication, would write his own blog items, but that a staff member would post them and upload photographs. The spokesman said the archdiocese has not decided whether to allow readers to comment or interact with the cardinal through his blog.

[And since this is the Boston Globe, it needs to get in a good jab at the church:] "Blogging, depending on the content of the items, is a remarkable development for the leader of an institution more often known for its secrecy."

O'Malley has repeatedly said he thinks the church should be more transparent, but he has had periods of more and less engagement with the news media. He has made it clear that he does not particularly enjoy dealing with journalists, but that he views the news media as one way of communicating with the public. He has also expressed a desire to increase the reach of media controlled by the church.

"The cardinal is excited about the idea, and hopefully it will be well-received," said archdiocesan spokesman Kevin Shea. ``This came out of conversations about his desire to find other modes of communication, especially using technology."

[Full story.]

[www.cardinalseansblog.com]

Gee, I sure hope the Cardinal adds me to his blogroll! Frankly, though, he should have talked to me about his web design: it looks kinda clunky.

Still, I think he is almost certainly the first blogging Cardinal.

Thanks to reader Rob Lepage for the news tip.

Pope Benedict praises Detroit's Cardinal Szoka for his service

From CWNews:

"...The same September 20 issue of L'Osservatore Romano also reproduced a letter from the Pope to Cardinal Edmund Szoka, thanking him for his years of service to the Holy See. Cardinal Szoka stepped down on September 15 from his post as president of the commission governing the Vatican city-state, retiring at the age of 79. He was replaced in that leadership role by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo.

In his letter the Pope praised Cardinal Szoka, the former Archbishop of Detroit, for having "worked with passion and without sparing energy or time" in his years of service at the Vatican. The American prelate had come to Rome in 1990 to preside over the Vatican's economic affairs, moving in 1997 to head the Vatican governate."

The latest issue of the Michigan Catholic has an interview with Cardinal Szoka here. The Cardinal explains what he plans on doing now:

Q What are your plans for retirement? How do you intend to exercise your priestly ministry in retirement?

A I will stay in the Vatican for at least another year, because I'm still on five different congregations, until I'm 80. After that, it depends; if I can find a place to live here in Detroit, I may spend about half the year here and then half or maybe a little longer than half a year there. If I do, I would be very willing to help out at a parish on weekends, say Mass or hear confessions or things like that, preach sermons. I'd be very happy to do that.

I would also like to have some time to do reading that I've not had time to do before — and, possibly, some writing. I'd like to read some more of the early Church Fathers, and also some other aspects of Church and world history.

The interview ends with a very touching recounting of John Paul the II's last couple days on earth, since Cardinal Szoka was very near the Holy Father during that time. Do go read.

CanonLawBlog: Is the Code of Canon Law "divinely inspired"?

... wait, it isn't?!

"Condemned Indonesian Catholics ask for public execution" - CWNews

From CWNews:

Sep. 20 (AsiaNews) - Three Indonesian Catholics condemned to death for the massacre of Muslims during the 2000 inter-faith conflict in Poso, central Sulawesi, want to be executed in public, the AsiaNews service reports.

The execution by firing squad of the three Christians, on whose behalf even Pope Benedict had intervened, will take place shortly after midnight. The case of “Tibo and friends” drew international attention: the trial that condemned them to capital punishment was marred by illegal procedures like witnesses who were not heard and evidence that was not accepted by the court. Lawyers for the three men have never received a response to a plea for presidential clemency.

Father Jimmy Tumbelaka, a priest of the Manado diocese who paid a final visit on the three condemned men, said: “The firing squad has been chosen and the place and time fixed. Any changes now are in the hands of God."

[For a more detailed story see the AsiaNews web site.]

Again, prayers are asked for these men.

Cardinal Re tells Abp. Milingo that he has until Oct. 15th to leave "wife" ... or else

From Ed Peters, more on the possible penalties that Abp. Milingo could soon be facing:

"According to press reports, Cdl. Battista Re of the Congregation for Bishops has sent Abp. Emmanuel Milingo a letter warning him to leave his civil law wife by Oct 15, or "face canonical suspension." What's a bit odd is that, by 1983 CIC 1394, Milingo should already be suspended automatically (latae sententiae) for that offense."

[So could Cardinal Re be preparing to excommunicate Abp. Milingo or even dismiss him from the clerical state?]

Abp. John Myers of Newark has recently said, "I can only pray that Archbishop Milingo will soon rediscover the core of his own priestly promise of celibacy, and work then to undo the confusion and sorrow he is causing with his current actions." [More...]

Rocco Palmo also fills us in on Milingo's reaction to Cardinal Re's letter:

[Cardinal Re:] "Your behavior, activities and public statements during these past few months are completely contrary to the obligation of every bishop," Re wrote in the letter, a copy of which was shown to The Associated Press. "In the name of Jesus Christ, I beg you to reflect seriously on your behavior and all its consequences."

Milingo, the retired archbishop of Zambia, was in New Jersey with is wife, Maria, for a conference of priests and their wives organized by his new advocacy group, Married Priests Now!. Asked how he would respond to the Vatican, he said, "I will stay with them" - meaning married priests. [More...]

Can anyone dispute that Milingo is utterly obstinant in his error?

The Ides of October fast approach...

"Nun shot in Somalia offered forgiveness with dying breath" - CNA

CNA reports:

Mogadishu, Sep. 19, 2006 (CNA) - The Consolata missionary sister who was shot dead by Islamic extremists in Mogadishu, Somalia, forgave her killers with her final breaths.

Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, 70, was shot five times in the back, in broad daylight, as she was walking back to her residence from the pediatric hospital where she gave medical training. Sr. Sgorbati was returning home at midday for lunch. Two gunmen reportedly jumped out from behind parked cars and opened fire on Sr. Sgorbati and one of the security guards who accompany the sisters when they cross the street, reported MISNA. The guard also died.

..

Sr. Feurra described Sr. Sgorbati’s final moments on the operating table. “Sister Leonella was still alive; she was in a cold sweat. We held hands, looked at each other and, before turning out like a little candle, three times she repeated to me ‘forgive.’ ‘Forgive, forgive, forgive…’ These were her last words,” she said.

...

This morning Pope Benedict XVI sent a telegram, through Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, offering his condolences and prayers to the Consolata community, of which Sr. Sgorbati was a part. The communication called the sister’s death “tragic” and deplored the manner in which she was “barbarically murdered.”

“In firmly reaffirming his condemnation of every type of violence, His Holiness hopes that the blood poured from this faithful disciple of the Gospel will become a seed of hope for the construction of an authentic fraternity between peoples, in the mutual respect for the religious convictions of all,” the telegram said.

Martyred for being a public witness to her Catholic faith? Forgiving her murderers with her last breaths on earth? I don't know anything about the degree of heroic virtue she practiced throughout the rest of her life but her death sure seems saintlike to me. And the Pope is already calling her a "faithful disciple of the Gospel."

Update: More here from the Anchoress. I'm still trying to find the full text of what the Pope said.

Update 2: Fr. Stephanos came through for us in spades, translating the Pope's entire telegram.

Okay, I'm astonished: a man is building his own Cathedral.

Amy has the full story here.

Update: "Technically, it won't be a cathedral, unless the bishop makes it so. It will be a chapel. Perhaps someday it could become a basilica, which is a title of honor given noteworthy churches." [Thanks to reader Fr. Martin Fox.]

"3 Indonesian Christians now face September 21 execution" - CWNews

I've been following this story for about a month now. A sad turn today:

Sep. 19 (AsiaNews) - Indonesian authorities have set a new date for the execution of three Catholic men convicted of organizing racial violence in the Sulawesi province, the AsiaNews service reports.

Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva, and Marinus Riwa were found guilty of organizing the massacre of 200 Muslims in 2000. They were originally scheduled to die on August 12, but the execution was postponed after protests from international leaders, includine Pope Benedict XVI. AsiaNews reports that the execution has now been set for September 21.

Police in Indonesia are bracing for massive protests against the execution. Both Christian leaders and human-rights activists have argued that the convicted men did not receive a fair trial, in a court heavily influenced by Islamic activists. No Muslim has ever been convicted in connection with the racial violence that caused over 2,000 deaths in the Sulawesi province.

[For a more detailed report see the AsiaNews web site.]

"Unfinished Tolkien work to be published' (+ a LOTR stage production)

Everyone's buzzing about it:

NEW YORK - An unfinished tale by J.R.R. Tolkien has been edited by his son into a completed work and will be released next spring, the U.S. and British publishers announced Monday.

Christopher Tolkien has spent the past 30 years working on "The Children of Hurin," an epic tale his father began in 1918 and later abandoned. Excerpts of "The Children of Húrin," which includes the elves and dwarves of Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and other works, have been published before.

"It has seemed to me for a long time that there was a good case for presenting my father's long version of the legend of the `Children of Húrin' as an independent work, between its own covers," Christopher Tolkien said in a statement.

The new book will be published by Houghton Mifflin in the United States and HarperCollins in England.

J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings Trilogy" has sold more than 50 million copies and was also adapted into a blockbuster, Academy Award-winning trio of films. A stage version is scheduled to open next year. [source.]

Call me a purist, but I've never been too interested in the unfinished works of Tolkien that his son Christopher has edited and completed ... probably because I haven't read any of them. I don't know, I guess I don't want my memory and enjoyment of The Hobbit & Trilogy to risk being tainted. Perhaps that's my loss.

Oh and one more thing, this article mentions a stage version of the Lord of the Rings. Gee, what a surprise. When is the mini-series coming out?

NPR did a report on the stage production earlier this year. With a $24 million dollar budget, the Lord of the Rings stage version is the most expensive play ever. [Update from reader Dave:] The 3 & 1/2 hour play opened in Toronto on March 23, 2006 and will open in London (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) on May 9, 2007.

... I wonder how they do the Balrog?

A really bad "really good reason why you should go to Mass"

The October issue of the U.S. Catholic [September issue pictured at left] addresses the topic of young adult Catholics and features the question on its cover page, "Are young people getting the message?"

One of the primary articles on this topic is entitled "10 reasons not to go to Mass (and one really good reason why you should)" by Gregory Pierce. Wanting to get to the meat of the article, I jumped ahead to read the "really good reason" one should go to Mass.

Here it is (underlining and comments in brackets are my own):

"Now for my one compelling reason for young adults to go to Mass. This is the one that I am trying with my three college-age children, and I'll let you know in four or five years how it works.

I am pointing out to my children that what they are searching for is a guiding principle, what I call a "mission worthy of their lives."

I tell them that the church has such a mission to send them on, the very mission on which Jesus of Nazareth sent forth the original disciples. That mission is to make this world a better place, a place more like the way God would have things.

["a better place"? Who can't agree with that?]

I then tell them that they need two things in order to accept and carry out this mission.

[Hmm, Word and Sacrament maybe?]

They need a community of believers to send them forth on the mission, and they need that same communuity to go forth with them to help accomplish it. That community could be the church, specifically the local arm of the church that we Catholics call the parish.

["could be the Church"? How is this an argument for going to Mass, and not just attending a local protestant church?! Ironically, another article in the magazine tries to answer why evangelical churches are having more luck reaching young people - well, maybe it's because Catholics aren't admitting they offer anything unique...]

And that community should be already committed to this mission. We already have a liturgy to celebrate and promote it.

["Celebrate [the mission]"? How about adoring God? Again, the author is giving his children great reasons to become protestants, but ambiguous reasons to remain Catholic.]

That liturgy is called "the Mass," which can be loosely translated as "the sending forth."

Not suprisingly, I didn't find the author's "really good reason" to go to Mass compelling at all. Sure, there is some good stuff mentioned, but nothing the author suggests is unique to the Catholic faith - he does not talk about the Sacraments (what truly strengthens us to take up the mission of evangelization) or about the Church being uniquely commissioned by Jesus Christ for the task of spreading the Good News.

In other words, it's not surprising that young Catholics aren't "getting the message" if the "message" they are being given is inadequate in the first place.

Confirmed: Pope is going to Turkey Nov. 28-Dec. 1

From Asia News:

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – The bishops of Turkey today followed Ankara’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Abdullah Gul, in confirming that the visit of Benedict XVI will take place as planned, from 28 November to 1 December, according to the set itinerary.

... this morning, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Turkey, as planned, met in Istanbul to discuss details of the trip’s itinerary. They were joined by Mgr Piero Marini, head of the Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. They share the view that at this point, there is no reason to call off the visit and in fact, after reading together the statement of clarification by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the bishops turned their attention to details of the trip set to take place as scheduled from 28 November to 1 December.

So unless events to the contrary take over, the trip will be held as planned.

In the hope that the dialogue opened on Islam may proceed through placid and reasoned dialogue.

In early October, the bishops plan to meet again for latest developments.

I've updated the AmP countdown as a result of this story...

Prayers for Bishop Vigneron's recovery requested

Bishop Allen Vigneron (a Detroit native and former rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary) apparently took a nasty fall last Friday:

"Taken to a local hospital by ambulance, "it was determined that he [Vigneron] had suffered a compound fracture of his left arm (forearm and elbow) and a fracture of his right wrist," the diocese said. The bishop underwent orthopedic surgery on the affected areas yesterday morning, and for the time being, "privacy and rest are prescribed by his physicians so that he may begin the road to complete recovery." [More...]

Reaching out to the people directly: L'Osservatore Romano's Arabic translation

Via CWNews:

"The official Vatican newspaper has published an Arabic translation of the Sunday statement by Pope Benedict XVI, expressing his dismay at the misinterpretation of his remarks at the University of Regensburg."

'L'Osservatore Romano provided a front-page account of the Pope's remarks at his Angelus audience on September 17. But alongside the usual Italian-language account, the front page carries translations in English, French, and Arabic."

"That highly unusual translation indicates the strong desire of the Holy See to engage in the "frank and sincere dialogue" that the Pope called for during his Sunday remarks."

A simple enough idea, but especially good because it allows for the possibility that more Arab speakers will be able to read the Pope's words directly and not instead have them distorted by a malicious third party. I wonder if L'OR has published text in Arabic before?

AmP Poll: What do you think about the Pope's address in Regensburg?

What do you think about the Pope's address in Regensburg?

This AmericanPapist poll will run for one week. Feel free to link to this poll.

Sandro on "Islam’s Unreasonable War Against Benedict XVI"

Sandro Magister gives a good analysis of the situation:

Islam’s Unreasonable War Against Benedict XVI

In Regensburg, the pope offered as terrain for dialogue between Christians and Muslims “acting according to reason.” But the Islamic world has attacked him, distorting his thought, confirming by this that the rejection of reason brings intolerance and violence along with it. The uncertainties about the trip to Turkey [More...]

A very good point:

"... But it is the pope’s firm conviction that a visit [to Turky] prepared and carried out only under the shield of reticence, silence, purely ceremonial dialogue, and submission would have done more harm than good – both to the Church and to the Muslim world."

One can't let fear hinder the spread of the truth. Violence and threats of violence is the greatest practical obstacle to dialogue with Islam. Pope Benedict is taking the first step to overcome that obstacle: call it out. Let's all support him as he tries to weather the storm.

Here's some good reading to start learning how to support the Pope.

A quick reminder about what Pope Benedict did apologize for...

... given to us by Dom:

Most of the world’s media is reporting that Pope Benedict apologized on Sunday for his remarks on Islam last week during a speech in Regensburg, Germany. But that’s not exactly the whole story. In fact, the Pope said he was sorry for “the reactions” toward his words which “were considered offensive.”

That’s not exactly, “I’m sorry because I was wrong.” It’s more like, “I’m sorry because of your overreaction or misunderstanding.” The Pope is not backing down from his speech because he has nothing to apologize for. He simply quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who was under siege by a Muslim army and was saying that Islam should not be spread by violence. That the Muslim world reacted in a fit of violence only proves the point. [More...]

Exactly. A further irony is that just as these insane Muslims could not make any distinctions in Pope Benedict's original address they (and some of our own media) can't understand what Pope Benedict is really apologizing for this Sunday. Is reason so very far gone from our age?

Few pictures could make me more angry than this did...

[source]

Had to post this excerpt...

Via Jihad Watch, from India's Daily Pioneer an article entitled "the Pope is right on Islam":

"At the height of the war in Lebanon two months ago, an assortment of Arabs, British Muslims, radical socialists and bleeding heart liberals marched through the streets of London with placards proclaiming "we are all Hezbollah." Since Pope Benedict XVI delivered his scholarly but contentious lecture in Regensburg last Wednesday, an equally unlikely assortment of individuals bound by a common distaste for Islamist terrorism have been whispering the counter-proclamation: "We are all Papists now."

"I Support the Pope" banners

Two from Kenneth Kully:

And one from the Curt Jester:

Update: One more from Christopher Blosser, this one designed for sidebar use:

"Pope Benedict expresses deep sorrow over reactions to his words" - CNA

From CNA:

Castelgandolfo, Sep. 17, 2006 (CNA) - Pope Benedict XVI personally addressed the violent reaction to remarks he made last week, which made brief mention of Islamic Jihad. The Pontiff who offered his regrets in Italian, also repeated his remarks in English and French.

Both Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, and Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, have made statements in recent days insisting that the Pontiff did not intend to cause offense with his quoting of a 14th century emperor who called militant Islam “evil and inhuman.”

During his regular Angelus address, Sunday, the Pope attempted himself to assuage the angry reactions on the part of many Muslims, saying that he is, “deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries” to the remarks, “which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims.”

The offending quotations, the Pope continued, were from a medieval text, which do not “in any way” express his personal thought.

Instead, he said, the true meaning of his address, “was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect.”

In the meantime violence and anger have continued to escalate in the Middle East. [More...]

Christopher Blosser at the Benedict Blog has excellent ongoing news coverage and analysis.

Cardinal Bertone steps into the breach, issues statement

Well, I was right that the next person we'd here from would be Cardinal Bertone:

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI is "extremely upset" that Muslims have been offended by some of his words in a recent speech in Germany, the Vatican said Saturday.

The new Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said the pope's position on Islam is unmistakably in line with Vatican teaching that the church "esteems Muslims, who adore the only God."

Thus, the pope is "extremely upset that some portions of his speech were able to sound offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers and have been interpreted in a way that does not at all correspond to his intentions," Bertone said in a statement.

...

Cardinal Bertone, referring to the emperor's assessment, said "the Holy Father absolutely didn't intend nor intends to make it his own (assessment.)"

The cardinal pointed out that the pope was speaking in an academic setting and suggested that a "complete and careful reading" of the entire text would make clear the pope's reflections about the relationship between religion and violence in general.

He said the pope's speech ended with "a clear and radical refusal of religious motivation for violence, from whatever side it comes from." [source]

Actually, I'm fairly impressed with Bertone's choice of words. It's no surprise, after all, that Pope Benedict would be "extremely upset" that "some portions of his speech were able to sound offensive" to Muslims - their response being, of course, completely unreasonable. I'd be upset too.

Sure the church "esteems Muslims, who adore the only God." It's just the ones that firebomb churches (see below) that we have an immediate and pressing problem with...

And finally, "the Holy Father absolutely didn't intend nor intends to make it [the famous quotation] his own (assessment.)" That's right, the Pope might want to take it farther. :-)

Anyway, I'm still trying to find Bertone's original statement (unfortunately, I will be at the conference all day and so probably won't have access to a computer). More updates tonight.

Meanwhile, Muslims have begun firebombing Catholic churches on the West Bank. I think I've read headlines like this so often now that I'm becoming desensitized. Really, I should be more upset by Muslim violence against Christians worldwide. Then again, it's hard to retain one's sensitivity in the face of such prolonged and profound brutality.

Stephen Colbert gets his bridge

At least some parts of the world are getting along:



(okay, so some minor details need to be fixed.)

AmP Roundup of the Islamofascist rage against Pope Benedict's comments

It was only a matter of time ...

"MUSLIM RAGE AGAINST THE POPE" reads the DrudgeReport:

"The furore over comments made by Pope Benedict about the Islamic concept of Holy War continues to grow. Today British Muslims joined in, fiercely criticising his remarks.

The pontiff was accused of falling into "the trap of bigots and racists" with the comments he made on a visit to Germany." [More...]

(The caption to the picture at top reads "Muslim students burn an effigy of Pope Benedict XVI at a protest rally in Allahabad, India ... A growing chorus of Muslim leaders has called on the Pope to apologize for the alleged derogatory comments made by him about Islam." Another picture of the protest here. Update: even more pictures here.)

I'm going to try to keep this post updated with coverage & commentary (despite my busy weekend).

The cause of the controversy:

Read the full text of what Pope Benedict actually said here during his University of Regensburg address on September 12. The main part that has caused furror among Muslims is his quotation from a 14th-century Byzantine emperor (note: not Pope Benedict's own words!):

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

As Dom says, "[Pope Benedict] used that quote to reject religious justifications for the spreading of faith through violence. [Pope Benedict] said, “Violence is is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul.”

Vatican "damage control":

The new Holy See press office director Federico Lombardi released this statement today:

"Concerning the reaction of Muslim leaders to certain passages of the Holy Father's address at the University of Regensburg, it should be noted that what the Holy Father has to heart - and which emerges from an attentive reading of the text - is a clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation for violence."

"It was certainly not the intention of the Holy Father to undertake a comprehensive study of the jihad and of Muslim ideas on the subject, still less to offend the sensibilities of Muslim faithful." [Full text] [More from CWNews]

Lombardi has already attempted to clarify the Pope's comments on Islam before.

Diogenes of Off The Record claims there is no explaining-away the fact that Pope Benedict is using the quotation to criticize an aspect of the Islamic faith.

MSM coverage:

• Benedict blunder shows he has failed to master media machine - AFP
• Pope 'meant no offence' to Islam - BBC News
• Turkish Lawmaker Compares Pope to Hitler - AP [Turky is especially cause for concern because Pope Benedict is scheduled to visit there in November]
• Muslim fury grows at Pope's speech - UK Daily Mail
• Pope's speech sparks Muslim anger - UK Telegraph
• Update: Pakistan's parliament condemns Pope - AP
• Muslim fury at pope jihad comments - CNN
• FoxNews is currently running this as its main story, with articles and video.

Catholic press coverage:

• "Pope Benedict trashes jihad, reformation, and liberal Theology" - CNA [not the most helpful of headlines ("trashes"), but a good overview of the Pope's comments]

More St. Blogs commentary:

• Dom Bettinelli: "Although the Pope’s speech was more wide-ranging, that was the money quote that got all the attention. For one thing, the lecture was the only secular event in a week of Masses and prayer services, which meant that reporters really only focused on this one talk. For another thing, any mention of Islam by the leader of the Catholic Church gets major headlines, especially if the mention is a criticism. This has got the Islamic world up in arms, especially considering his trip to Turkey in November..." [More...]
• Update: Dom adds more to his commentary in a second post.
• Amy Welborn: "The "Muslim" response to the Pope ironically and unwittingly answers his question, don't you think?" [More...]

The spotlight is probably going to be on Cardinal Bertone soon. Gee, what a nice first day for work for the new Sectretary of State. These new guys sure have to hit the ground running.

This story will doubtless get worse before it gets better, and I'll try to stay on top of the important developments. Clearly, the violent Muslim protests really only serve to confirm Pope Benedict's quotation about their founder. And hey, they haven't had any flags to burn since Denmark...

But the Papal Flag? Effigies of our Holy Pontiff? That is something very different in my mind.

Update: Via Amy, AsiaNews has an extensive article on the situation in Turkey along with a copy of the Pope's itinerary for his November visit (which could of course still change).

Update 2: Cardinal Bertone steps into the breach, issues statement (9/16)

I'll be at this conference over the weekend

As earlier posted, I'll be attending a conference this Friday and Saturday ...

Ave Maria [Law School] to host John Paul II Symposium

(May 31, 2006) – Our Sunday Visitor Institute recently awarded Ave Maria School of Law a $12,500 grant to help fund an upcoming symposium titled, “John Paul II and the Law,” set to take place September 15-16, 2006.

The Symposium will explore the potential impact of Pope John Paul II’s writings on the law. World-renowned legal and religious scholars will present papers, and discuss such topics as sanctity of life, religious freedom and the social teachings of the Church. The articles presented will be published in Volume 5 of the Ave Maria Law Review, available in the spring or summer of 2007. [More...]

I'm really looking forward to it, especially since my father is one of the presenters.

Meeting Kevin Flannery should also be a highlight.

Canon Law and Chapel Veils

Ed Peters takes a look at what Canon Law does (or doesn't) say about chapel veils for women:

I recently saw an advertisement for chapel veils. The ad features a lovely young lady wearing a handmade veil, and presents the following text: "Did you know that nothing in Vatican II changes the practice of headcoverings for women and that Canon 1262 is still in force?" Assertions about canon law always get my attention, so I wondered, is Canon 1262 still in force?

[Find out here.]

I'll take veils over puppies anyday.

Your PPOTD! Thursday, September 14th

"So long and thanks for all the bratwurst!"

[photo: AFP/John MacDougall]

Priest brings his dogs to Mass, faithful howl in frustration

... or something like that.

Ed Peters has the story and the commentary:

"Per the New Jersey Herald News and the Te Deum Blogspot, Fr. Louis Scurti, a campus minister at William Paterson University in New Jersey, "brings his two dogs everywhere [oh?] and that includes Sunday Mass." His pair of pooches set themselves up in the sanctuary during Mass, "making people feel included" [huh?] and providing a "symbol of domesticity" [double huh?]. Although the apparently untethered canines "have been known to growl" at late-comers, Fr. Scurti assures us that his dogs "don't remove the sacredness of the liturgy at all."

[So how does one go about addressing an abuse like this?]

Yeah, keep those puppies away from the pulpit!

Pope Benedict's parents met through a singles ad!

Here's a fun story (and no joke!):

London, Sep. 11, 2006 (CNA) - Pope Benedict XVI and his brother, Fr. Georg Ratzinger, 82, were surprised to learn this week that their parents, Joseph and Maria, met through a singles ad their father had placed in local Catholic weekly, Liebfraubote.

The disclosure came at the outset of the Pope’s return to his native Bavaria, where he intends to visit his parents’ grave and the village of Marktl am Inn, where he was born, reported the London Times.

The July 1920 ad was found in the Bavarian state archives by a researcher for the tabloid Bild. According to the report, the ad read: “Middle-ranking civil servant, single, Catholic, 43, immaculate past, from the country, is looking for a good Catholic, pure girl who can cook well, tackle all household chores, with a talent for sewing and homemaking with a view to marriage as soon as possible. Fortune desirable but not a precondition.”

Maria Peintner, 36, an illegitimate baker’s daughter and a trained cook, replied. She did not have a fortune, but they married four months later.

The Pope said he remembers his father as “strict but fair” and his mother as warm and open-hearted,” reported the Times.

CatholicMatch should be very happy. It's never too late to conceive a Pope!

I wonder if we'll see a bunch of guys copy-out Herr Ratzinger's advertisement and substitute their own details. After all, he seems to hit all the important points. And clearly it worked...

"Habemus Panamam!"

Blog title shamelessly lifted from Maureen over on Amy's comments page.

And special thanks to Marketa for the advance notice and image links!

A couple comments on today's TIME article on Pope Benedict

Gerald at Closed Cafeteria (who has had good coverage of Pope Benedict's visit to Bavaria), pointed out this TIME article on Pope Benedict.

A couple sentences caught my eye:

"The 79-year-old pontiff also made an explicit reference to his age, when asked why he was remaining in the southern region of Bavaria (where he will visit his birthplace in Marktl am Inn), foregoing visits to Berlin and other German cities. "I'm an old man," he said, "and I don't know how many more years the Lord will give me."

"Seventeen months—and four foreign voyages—into his reign, the pontiff is methodically mapping out what will almost certainly be a shorter papacy than the 26-year reign of Pope John Paul II."

"Almost certainly"?! While Leo XIII did indeed reign until he was 93, it seems that 105 would be quite a feat for Pope Benedict. I don't know, I guess the media is more careful about the claims it makes since our beloved John Paul II outlived their longest predictions time and time again.

"He [Pope Benedict] confirmed to reporters on the plane that he plans to take momentous trips to Turkey and Brazil."

Wow, Brazil in May 2007 is going to be big. I'll get to work researching what has been rumored about that trip. I seem to remember something about Il Papa traveling north into Mexico and possibly even to the United Nations in New York - though perhaps that was a seperate rumor.

"Back in Rome, one way Benedict has found to play to the crowds is by sporting rarely seen papal headwear. In the winter, he has twice donned a fun Santa-like red fur cap, while last week he dusted off a sombrero style red cowboy hat that John Paul had once worn in Mexico. No doubt, Germans are hoping that over the next few days, someone will convince Benedict to put on a traditional Bavarian feathered green Alpine hat. Then, faithful and non-faithful alike, Catholics and Lutherans, will no doubt go wild for the Bavarian Pope."

... if he does, you know where you'll see it first. ;-)

Abp. Cordes of Pontifical Council Cor Unum to speak in Detroit

Here's that other exciting event I alluded to last night:

Vatican's Archbishop Cordes to Speak at Seminary - September 21

Archbishop Paul Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, will speak at Sacred Heart Major Seminary at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 21. His topic will be the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est), and the New Evangelization, a movement of spiritual and cultural renewal initiated by Pope John Paul II. The public is invited. This is a unique opportunity to hear a prominent speaker on a topic that impacts every parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit. There is no charge, but those planning on attending are asked to call (313) 883-8556 to reserve a seat for the address. A reception with refreshments will follow. [More...]

Cor Unum is essentially the Vatican's charity arm. Its mission is "the care of the Catholic Church for the needy, thereby encouraging human fellowship and making manifest the charity of Christ."

I'm looking forward to re-reading Deus Caritas Est and then attending Abp. Cordes' speech.

A picture for the "awkward situations" archive

"The Holy Father with visiting bishops from Canada at the Consistory Hall of the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo" [More.]

(via the Papa Ratzinger forum)

Your PPOTD! Monday, September 11th

"The Pope is where? Behind me?!"

[photo: REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski (GERMANY)]

A busy week of school kicks-off ... and ends with something exciting

This is my first full week at school, so things are starting to get busier.

On the plus side, I have this event to look forward to this weekend:

Ave Maria [Law School] to host John Paul II Symposium

(May 31, 2006) – Our Sunday Visitor Institute recently awarded Ave Maria School of Law a $12,500 grant to help fund an upcoming symposium titled, “John Paul II and the Law,” set to take place September 15-16, 2006.

The Symposium will explore the potential impact of Pope John Paul II’s writings on the law. World-renowned legal and religious scholars will present papers, and discuss such topics as sanctity of life, religious freedom and the social teachings of the Church. The articles presented will be published in Volume 5 of the Ave Maria Law Review, available in the spring or summer of 2007. [More...]

A good group of speakers, to be sure (PDF).

There's another great local event on the horizon. I'll be posting details on that shortly...

Just a reminder...

The AmericanPapist Poll will be running a few more days.

Vote now if you haven't already!

Saturday Amazing Video: Bird That Uses Cars as a Nut Cracker

I still can't convince myself this is real (though it is):



... and apparently, they also use tools (sorry, monkeys):

Friday Funny Video: Me Church

It's Friday afternoon, which means it's time for a funny faith-related video:

That's the Pope's altar for an outdoor Mass in Germany?

This is the altar at the Islinger field near Regensburg where Pope Benedict will celebrate Mass on Tuesday, September 12th. A central stone obelisk with two odd-looking chrome "flanges":

The view from the reverse angle doesn't make me feel any better:

Yuck. I know there's a rule somewhere that the altars for outdoor Papal Masses have to be ugly, but what purpose do those chrome monstrosities really serve, aesthetic or otherwise?

[photos: REUTERS/Michael Dalder (GERMANY)]

What the Pope said to the Bishops of Ontario

Some highlights from what he said to them:

Today, the impediments to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom are experienced most dramatically in the split between the Gospel and culture, with the exclusion of God from the public sphere. Canada has a well-earned reputation for a generous and practical commitment to justice and peace, and there is an enticing sense of vibrancy and opportunity in your multicultural cities. At the same time, however, certain values detached from their moral roots and full significance found in Christ have evolved in the most disturbing of ways. In the name of ‘tolerance’ your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of spouse, and in the name of ‘freedom of choice’ it is confronted with the daily destruction of unborn children. When the Creator’s divine plan is ignored the truth of human nature is lost.

False dichotomies are not unknown within the Christian community itself. They are particularly damaging when Christian civic leaders sacrifice the unity of faith and sanction the disintegration of reason and the principles of natural ethics, by yielding to ephemeral social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls. Democracy succeeds only to the extent that it is based on truth and a correct understanding of the human person. Catholic involvement in political life cannot compromise on this principle; otherwise Christian witness to the splendour of truth in the public sphere would be silenced and an autonomy from morality proclaimed (cf. Doctrinal Note The Participation of Catholics in Political Life, 2-3; 6). In your discussions with politicians and civic leaders I encourage you to demonstrate that our Christian faith, far from being an impediment to dialogue, is a bridge, precisely because it brings together reason and culture.

...

A particularly insidious obstacle to education today, which your own reports attest, is the marked presence in society of that relativism which, recognizing nothing as definitive, leaves as the ultimate criterion only the self with its desires. Within such a relativistic horizon an eclipse of the sublime goals of life occurs with a lowering of the standards of excellence, a timidity before the category of the good, and a relentless but senseless pursuit of novelty parading as the realization of freedom. Such detrimental trends point to the particular urgency of the apostolate of ‘intellectual charity’ which upholds the essential unity of knowledge, guides the young towards the sublime satisfaction of exercising their freedom in relation to truth, and articulates the relationship between faith and all aspects of family and civic life. Introduced to a love of truth, I am confident that young Canadians will relish exploring the house of the Lord who "enlightens every person who comes into the world (Jn 1:9) and satisfies every desire of humanity.

I told you he was getting prepared for the ongoing battle against the forces of relativism.

Update: Rocco reports that the address was recorded and is available on Vatican radio here.

The Good Fruits of a Medicinal Church Penalty: "Prominent Nun/Professor Formally Repents of Abortion Support"

From LifeSiteNews:

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 7, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - While in North America or Europe Catholic nuns and priests may not be censured for nuanced abortion support, the same is not true in Africa. In 2003 a prominent nun and professor of religion at Kenyatta University in Nairobi Kenya was sanctioned by her bishop for touting pro-abortion sentiments in an interview with the BBC.

The censure has produced positive results. Sister Anne Nasimiyu-Wasike, PhD. has now formally and publicly repented of her erroneous stand.

Given her celebrated feminist past, that renouncement must have been all the more difficult. In addition to her former abortion support, Sister Anne was also a major proponent of very questionable feminist theology and was a speaker for the dissident group Call to Action in the United States. Despite the fact that she was superior general of the Little Sisters of St. Francis from 1992-1998, she was reprimanded by her successor as superior general in 2003 for her pro-abortion statements.

Earlier this year, in a letter to the Vatican, Sister Anne wrote: "On February 5, 2003 in a BBC interview, I suggested that the State should legalise abortion to save lives of poor women. I now realise that this is wrong because it justifies evil means to achieve a good end. I therefore want to inform everybody that I believe induced abortion is wrong and cannot be justified to obtain a good end." The statement was approved by the Archbishop.

In light of her April 10, 2006 letter renouncing her former anti-life beliefs, the head of the Vatican office on religious orders, has written Nairobi Archbishop Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki to request her reinstatement, Nairobi's The Standard newspaper reports. The paper indicates that Sister Anne's sanctions included being barred from reception of the sacraments. The letter from the Vatican's Cardinal Franc Rodé, C.M., Prefect of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life hoped that the three year ban could be ended.

May all dissenters take note of the lessons given by this story.

May Sister Anne be readmitted to the sacraments speedily!

"Saudis consider banning women from Mecca" - AP

The Associated Press:

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia - Officials are considering an unprecedented proposal to ban women from performing the five Muslim prayers in the immediate vicinity of Islam's most sacred shrine in Mecca. Some say women are already being kept away.

The issue has raised a storm of protest across the kingdom, with some women saying they fear the move is meant to restrict women's roles in Saudi society even further. But the religious authorities behind the proposal insist its real purpose is to lessen the chronic problem of overcrowding, which has led to deadly riots during pilgrimages at Mecca in the past.

It was unclear why the step was being considered now, but officials say they have growing concerns about overcrowding, particularly at Mecca's Grand Mosque. The mosque contains the Kaaba, a large stone structure that Muslims around the world face during their daily prayers.

The chief of the King Fahd Institute for Hajj Research, which came up with the plan, told The Associated Press Thursday that the new restrictions are already in place. There have been word-of-mouth reports of women being asked to pray at new locations away from the white-marbled area surrounding the Kaaba in recent weeks.

...

Women in Saudi Arabia lead strict lives. They are banned from driving and need permission from a male guardian to go to school, get a job, travel or stay at a hotel.

"Women are not all young beauties that rush to the mosque with an aim of seducing men," wrote one woman, Aziza al-Manie, in the country's Okaz daily. [More...]

I shudder to wonder what would happen to a Saudi woman trying to follow in the footsteps of Rosa Parks.

Book claims Karl Rove exorcised Hillary clinton's old White House office

Granted, I saw this on Spirit Daily:

[Newsday reports:] WASHINGTON -- Karl Rove says he's not The Exorcist.

Rove, the Bush political shaman Democrats love to demonize, enlisted a trio of clergymen to exorcize Hillary Rodham Clinton's left-wing spirit when he moved into her West Wing office in 2001, according to an unflattering new biography.

"I talked to Karl; he said it's not true and, beyond that, he will have no comment," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

[Hillary] Clinton smiled and shook her head in disbelief yesterday when asked about the tale, which appears in "The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan for Absolute Power," by James Moore and Wayne Slater."

I'm speechless," she finally said, heading toward a Senate elevator.

Later, Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines quipped, "If the story is true ... they sure did exorcize any lingering competence right out of the building."

Deal Hudson, a former Fordham University professor Rove enlisted to woo Catholic voters, told the authors that he witnessed the exorcism, which he described as "an actual liturgical ceremony."

He did not return a message seeking comment. [source]

Well, better safe than sorry ... right?

Update: Hudson now says he didn't claim it was an exorcism.

"Catholic Center vandalized in midst of statewide abortion debate" - CNA

In follow-up to Bishop Cupich's comments:

Brookings, SD, Sep. 07, 2006 (CNA) - Vandals spray painted a symbol on a pro-life sign in front of the Pius XII Newman Center at South Dakota State University in Brookings and painted “NO IRAQ WAR” on the front of the church, reported the Dakota Voice.

The vandalized sign is part of a display which travels to different locations around South Dakota each week. It notes that 828 abortions were performed in South Dakota in 2002 and indicates that 44 million abortions were executed in the U.S. since Roe vs. Wade in 1973. The display has been at the Newman Center since last Saturday, and is to remain until this Saturday. [More...]

A little more on Pope Benedict's Saturno hat...

Rather obvious, but just so we don't think that the Pope is just a fashion bug:

"The saturno was a practical choice for the Pope's public appearance on a very warm and sunny day in Rome. His Wednesday audience on September 5 was the first to be held outdoors at the Vatican since early July. During the hot weeks of August, the Pope's weekly audiences were held indoors in the Paul VI auditorium, or in the courtyard of his summer residence in the comparative cool of lakeside Castel Gandolfo." [source.]

Okay, I admit: I just wanted an excuse to post another pic of him in it. ;)

A tale of the old popemobile: sells for $70,000 at Scottish auction

Those pope cars are hot items:

LONDON (CNS) -- An armor-plated popemobile used by Pope John Paul II during his 1982 visit to Great Britain has been sold at an auction for 37,000 pounds (US$70,000).

The converted bulletproof British Leyland vehicle, which had just more than 11,000 miles on the clock, was sold Sept. 2 in Dumfries, Scotland.

The popemobile was one of more than 2,000 items from the town's Albion truck museum, founded by local resident Mick Hayton, who died earlier this year. Hayton bought the vehicle in 1998 for his museum, which has now closed.

A spokeswoman for the auction house Thomson Roddick & Medcalf told reporters Sept. 2 that no details of the buyer were available but added that interest had been "overwhelming," with inquiries coming from around the world.

The sale price was about twice as high as expected, she said; the popemobile had been expected to sell for somewhere between 15,000-20,000 pounds (US$28,000-US$38,000).

One of two popemobiles built especially for Pope John Paul's only visit to Great Britain, the pope used the vehicle to travel to Scotland's Bellahouston Park, Glasgow and Murrayfield.

The other popemobile was used during the English leg of the tour, when Pope John Paul visited Canterbury, England. [source.]

"Bishop urges civil debate in South Dakota abortion referendum" - CNS

CNS:

RAPID CITY, S.D. (CNS) -- Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City has called for civil, reasoned public debate as South Dakota voters face a Nov. 7 referendum on legislation that would outlaw most abortions.

"The coming referendum presents an opportunity for South Dakota to model for the nation the manner in which substantial public debate regarding this volatile moral issue can be carried on with respect, honesty and conviction," Bishop Cupich wrote in the Sept. 11 issue of America, a national Catholic magazine published by the Jesuits in New York.

...

Bishop Cupich urged attention to three principles in the debate:

• "It must be recognized that both the issue of abortion and legal restrictions on abortion are inevitably moral questions informed by moral values."
• "There should be agreement that any discussion of abortion and the law must recognize both the suffering of the unborn children in abortion and the suffering of pregnant women in dire circumstances."
• "There must be a commitment to dialogue that is civil, interactive and substantial."

On framing abortion as a moral issue, Bishop Cupich said that science can help inform the debate, "but science does not resolve questions of moral value and moral choice."

[full article.]

I'm trying to keep my eyes peeled for what bishop-elect Swain has to say on the issue for his part.

Why Catholics should not vote for Jennifer Granholm

Catholics in the Public Square have put together this 2-page document (PDF format) that summarizes the positions Jennifer Granholm has taken that are opposed to Church teaching. Granholm is currently the governor of Michigan.

As CPS explains it:

The Governor claims to be Catholic, but publicly opposes the teachings of the Church on the most fundamental moral issues; abortion, including partial birth abortion, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, and homosexual marriages. You can't be Catholic and support these intrinsically evil actions and yet, that's the position of Jennifer Granholm and we can't let her get away with it without challenging her. The Governor is an embarrassment to the faith!

Now is the time to expose the real, Jennifer Granholm! CPS has prepared a comparison document on the teachings of the Church and the contrary positions of Jennifer Granholm on the non-negotiable issues listed above. Here's what you can do:

1) Forward this message to your entire email list, asking everyone on your list to do the same.

2) Do you belong to or know of any Catholic organizations? If so, click here, then send this comparison document or copy and take it to the head of the organization and ask if they would forward it to their membership, asking them to forward it to their email list.

3) Download and print the comparison document, distributing it to all of your family, friends and neighbors, asking them to do the same. Don't forget your fellow parish members. Do you belong to the Dad's or Mom's club, etc.? Are you a K of C member?

4) What we're asking you to do is called "networking"! Networking can be a powerful tool when everyone participates. Be creative! Ask yourself, "who do I know" and make sure you introduce them to the "real" Jennifer Granholm!!!!!

As I've said before, I like the pro-life republican candidate for Michigan governor, Dick DeVos.

If you thought the camauro was crazy, you'll love what the Pope is wearing today!

It's not everyday the Pope makes the Reuters Oddly-Enough section:

Holy Saturno! It's old hat for the pope again!

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Wednesday showed once more that he has a thing for old hats.

The Pope surprised tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square for his weekly general audience by wearing an unusual, wide-brimmed red hat when he rode in on his popemobile.

It was the first time the 79-year-old German pontiff wore the hat, known in Italian as a "saturno" because it is vaguely reminiscent of the ringed planet Saturn.

Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963, used a saturno and John Paul II, who died last year, donned one occasionally during trips to hot countries.

It was not the first time Pope Benedict has worn a strange-looking hat at an outdoor audience to shield himself against the weather.

Last December, to keep warm against the bitter cold, he wore a red velvet cap, trimmed with white fur.

That hat, known as a "camauro," was commonly worn by popes in the mediaeval period to keep their heads warm on cold days and it featured on many paintings at the time. [source.]

Well, I guess the Pope realized he was going on a trip soon so it was time to try out some new clothes!

More on the cappello romano from wikipedia:

A cappello romano (literally Roman hat) is a hat with a wide, circular brim and a rounded rim worn by Catholic clergy. It is made of either beaver fur or felt, and lined in white silk. Unlike many other articles of ecclesiastical attire, it serves no ceremonial purpose, being primarily a practical item. (The galero is a ceremonial wide brim hat no longer worn.) The wearing of a cappello romano is optional, but it is never worn during services. It is generally uncommon outside of Rome today, though it was quite popular in other countries with a Catholic majority population from the 17th century until ca. 1970.

There are some, mostly minor, differences in the designs of cappelli, depending on the rank of the wearer. The pope wears a red cappello with gold cords. All other clerics wear black cappelli. A cardinal may have a cappello with red and gold cords with scarlet lining. A bishop's may have green and gold cords with violet lining. A priest may substitute black lining for his. Cappelli worn by deacons and seminarians have no distinguishing items.

.Sue. of the Papa Ratzinger forum found us more pictures of other Popes in Saturnos:

• Pius XII
• John XXIII
• John Paul II

Other people have noted that Pope Benedict is the first to bend the brim of the hat. They are calling it the "cowboy" style of saturno. :-)

Thanks to reader Patrick A. for the tip!

This week's AmP poll: What U.S. diocese most urgently needs to be filled?

The AmericanPapist polls have resumed!

This week's poll - "What U.S. diocese most urgently needs to be filled?" - has been inspired by the recent naming of Monsignor Swain to the previously-longest-vacant diocese in the United States, Sioux Falls SD (after I fortuitiously mentioned a pertinent rumor concerning the status of that appointment).

I would especially like to hear from residents of the various dioceses in question. How hopeful are you of a timely appointment and, of course, how are you faring in the meantime? Please let us know.

For the rest of us as well, go ahead and vote yourself and then (if you like it) give your reasons in the combox below. As always, you are more than welcome to link to this post or the poll itself in order to get a good sampling of St. Blog's members.

The poll will run until at least this Sunday night (and probably until next Wednsday).

Data for this poll was compiled using this page.

Program of the Pope's Apostolic Trip to Germany (Sep. 9-14)

From the Vatican Information Service:

VATICAN CITY, SEP 5, 2006 (VIS) - From September 9 to 14, Benedict XVI will make his second apostolic trip to Germany, the first having been in August 2005 when he travelled to Cologne for World Youth Day. The forthcoming visit will be divided into three stages: Munich, Altotting and Regensburg.

The Holy Father will depart from Ciampino airport outside Rome at 1.45 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, and is due to land at 3.30 p.m. in Munich's Franz Joseph Strauss airport, where a welcome ceremony will take palce [sic].

At 5.30 p.m., he will participate in a moment of prayer before the Column of the Virgin in Munich's Marienplatz before travelling by popemobile to the Residenz palace where he will pay a courtesy visit to the president of the Federal Republic of Germany. He will also meet the federal chancellor and the minister-president of Bavaria. At 8.30 p.m. he will travel to the palace of the archbishop of Munich, where he will spend the night.

On Sunday, September 10, the Holy Father is to celebrate Mass on the square in front of the Neue Messe in Munich. After lunch in the archbishop's palace, he will go to the cathedral of Munich where, at 5.30 p.m., he will preside at the celebration of Vespers.

On Monday, September 11, the Pope will travel by helicopter to the Marianshrine of Altotting where, at 10.30 a.m., he will celebrate the Eucharist, after which a procession with the Blessed Sacrament and a statue of the Virgin is scheduled to take place from the shrine to the new Chapel of Adoration, which will thus be inaugurated. Following lunch at the convent of St. Mary Magdalene in Altotting, at 5 p.m. he will participate in Marian Vespers with religious and seminarians of Bavaria in the basilica of St. Annin Altotting.

The Pope will later travel by car to his home village of Marktl am Inn, where he will visit the parish church of St. Oswald.

At 7.20 p.m. he will fly by helicopter to the city of Regensburg where, on arrival, he will travel to the major seminary of St. Wolfgang to spend the night.

On Tuesday, September 12, he will celebrate Mass on Regensburg's Islinger Field. Then, following lunch at the seminary, he will meet with representatives from the world of science in the Great Hall of theUniversity of Regensburg. Later, he will preside at an ecumenical celebration of Vespers in the city's cathedral.

On Wednesday, September 13, Benedict XVI will celebrate a private Mass at the seminary before going on to bless the new organ of Regensburg's AlteKapelle where his brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, used to be director. He will then visit his brother's house and lunch with him. Later, he will travel to the Ziegetzdorf cemetery where his parents and sister are buried.

On Thursday, September 14, the Holy Father will travel by helicopter to Freising where, at 10.45 a.m. he will meet with priests and permanent deacons of Bavaria in the cathedral of Sts. Mary and Corbinian.

After this final meeting, the Pope will travel by car to Franz Joseph Strauss airport where the departure ceremony will be held. The papal plane will take off at 12.45 p.m. and is due to arrive in Rome at 2.30 p.m. Fromthe airport of Ciampino, the Pope will travel back to his summer residence at Castelgandolfo.

Busy Pope. AmericanPapist will try to keep track of the best event coverage.

"Muslims demand death of convicted Indonesian Christians" - CWNews

Remember that pardon begged by Pope Benedict?

Well the Muslims aren't happy:

Sep. 05 (CWNews.com) - A mass demonstration virtually shut down the Indonesian city of Poso on September 4, with several thousand Muslims demanding the speedy execution of three Catholics convicted of inciting violence during the religious conflicts that bloodied the local Sulawesi province in 2000.

Fabianus Tibo, Domingus da Silva and Marinus Riwu were scheduled to face a firing squad on August 12, but their execution was postponed after pleas from Church leaders (including Pope Benedict XVI ) and human-rights groups. [More...]

Asia News also has a more detailed report.

Give your cell phone a Catholic makeover!

Zenit recently had an article on Catholic Mobile, a service (offered jointly by San Diego's Missionaries of Faith Foundation & Denver's JP2 Media) that offers a variety of great services geared towards helping Catholics stay connected to their faith during even the busiest of days. I think it's a wonderful idea.

For only $5 a month, you can get the Mass Gospel text, Saint of the Day bio, Updated Catholic News or a Daily Prayer sent to your phone (or you can pay $.49 each time you want it).

Equally cool are the many, many downloadable Catholic ringtones (one-time fee of $1.99), including such classics as the Ave Maria and All Glory, Laud and Honor, etc. (yes, you can still listen to your favorite Black Eyed Peas intro if you want, but realize what you're missing out on). Be sure to browse all the selections. They have true tones and poly ringtones available.

My favorite feature, however, is the downloadable Catholic "wallpapers" for your phone's mini-screen (also $1.99 each). Flipping your phone open to an Icon of Christ the Pantokrator [visible to the left] isn't just the bea's kness, it's also a good way to remind yourself (and others) about the center of your life is everytime you go to make a call during the day. Hey, it might even cut down on the amount of gossip you indulge in over the phone, who knows?

[They have plenty: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5]

The Catholic Mobile services seem straightforward and easy-to-use, even for people who tolerate cell phones in the first place and don't particularly like (or feel confident) customizing them.

If anyone has uses this service or knows someone who does, I'd love to hear what you think about it in the combox. Gee, this puts me one small step towards considering buying a cell phone myself. ;)

"Publication planned after Pope's seminar on evolution" - CWNews

CWNews:

Rome, Sep. 04 (CWNews.com) - The proceedings of a closed-door seminar on Creation and evolution, organized by Pope Benedict XVI and held at Castel Gandolfo on September 1-3, will be published later this year, informed sources report.

Pope Benedict, who gathered his former theology students at the papal summer residence for seminar, asked that the main presentations be published, sources say. This is a new development for the Pontiff, who has held such seminars for his former students each year; in the past, the discussions were kept confidential.

Your PPOTD! Monday, September 4th

"Pope Benedict practices holding an imaginary rod in the air to prepare for his upcoming battles with the forces of relativism." [biblical source.]

[photo: REUTERS/Tony Gentile (ITALY)]

"New Vatican Secretary of State took job after seeing John Paul II in dream" - CNA

CNA:

Milan, Sep. 01, 2006 (CNA) - It took a dream of Pope John Paul II to convince Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to accept Pope Benedict’s invitation to succeed Cardinal Angelo Sodano as the Vatican’s Secretary of State.

Cardinal Bertone recounted the dream to journalists at his departure ceremonies from Genoa Tuesday at the Sanctuary of Madonna della Guardia. The cardinal, who has been serving as Archbishop of Genoa, will begin as Secretary of State Sept. 15.

The cardinal explained that he was fearful when Pope Benedict told him about his intentions to name him Secretary of State. The cardinal explained that he was fearful when Pope Benedict told him about his intentions to name him Secretary of State.

“When he asked me to accept, I got the shivers and replied, “I need to think hard.”

“During the night, between Aug. 15 and 16, I saw John Paul II in a dream: he was serene and smiling,” he continued. “We spoke about young people and I told him that World Youth Day was his most beautiful invention. Then I spoke with him about my new appointment and I asked for his blessing. He told me, ‘of course.’ I kneeled and he blessed me.”

Cardinal Bertone said when he recounted this dream to Pope Benedict XVI, the current Pope said: “Well, then, you don’t have to be afraid.”

“The Pope then confirmed his appointment and I accepted,” the cardinal concluded.

It's hard to argue with the new boss AND the old boss...

"German banker, friend of pope, surprised at invitation to visit" - CNS

CNS:

MUNICH, Germany (CNS) -- A German banker who used to chauffeur Pope Benedict XVI said he has been invited to spend the night in the Regensburg seminary with the pontiff during his Sept. 9-14 trip to Germany.

"I was very surprised and honored when I received a letter stating that I am to stay overnight at Regensburg," Thaddaeus Kuehnel, director of the Hauck and Aufhauser private bank in Munich, told Catholic News Service. "The request came from the Regensburg seminary, by letter."

Kuehnel said he did not know why he received an invitation when so many of the pope's other friends remain uncertain if they will have a chance to meet with him. [More...]

Lucky guy.

"Avoid 'syncretist' approach, Pope urges Assis meeting" - CWNews

CWNews:

Sep. 04 (CWNews.com) - In a message to the 20th Inter-religious Meeting of Prayer for Peace, being held in Assisi this week, Pope Benedict XVI cautioned against "syncretistic interpretations" and "relativistic concepts" in inter-faith activities.

At the time of the original inter-religious meeting held at Assisi on October 27, 1986, as an initiative promoted by Pope John Paul II. then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had expressed grave reservations about the event. Now, in a message to Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi, he sought to put the event in context.

[Read more - subscriber access required.]

"Critics silenced by deaf priest's new mission" - CathNews

From Cathnews.com:

"We are not the problem, we are the solution," says Fr Thomas Coughlin, a deaf Honolulu priest who has founded the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate with five other deaf men.

Deaf since birth, it was Fr Coughlin's lifelong dream to start a religious community where sign language is the primary means of expression at both the eucharistic table and the dinner table, according to the Catholic News Service.

Fr Coughlin was one of five men who made their first profession of vows as Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate last week at St Albert's Priory in Oakland, California.

"Necessity is the mother of invention," he told the Hawaii Catholic Herald, newspaper of the Honolulu Diocese."I saw how badly we need a religious community of deaf priests and brothers dedicated to a deeper spiritual life and the deaf apostolate in the language of signs and the deaf culture milieu."

The five men pronounced their vows before Oakland's Bishop Allen H Vigneron, who formally recognised the new community in 2004. Fr Coughlin will remain a diocesan priest until he make his final vows in a few years. The other four men are in various stages of preparation for the priesthood, and the religious community also has two novices.

Former San Francisco Archbishop (now Cardinal) William Levada, who has since become prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, originally welcomed three deaf seminarians in 2003 and appointed Fr Coughlin as parish priest of St Benedict's parish.

"It felt like a miracle," said Fr Coughlin at the time.

As the first born-deaf man to be ordained a Catholic priest in North America, Fr Coughlin defied many doubters and silenced a long list of critics.

Fr Coughlin had been searching for a US seminary to receive deaf students since the New York Archdiocese ended its program for deaf seminarians in 2000.

"People labelled us as a problem. We are not the problem, we are the solution," he said.

During his 25 years as a priest, Fr Coughlin said he has seen thousands of deaf Catholics join other churches because the "Catholic Church did not have a significant number of priests to minister to the deaf community."

The National Catholic Office of the Deaf agrees that there is a desperate need for deaf priests with between 100,000 and 170,000 people in California who are deaf and only three per cent who are churchgoers.

Other deaf seminarians are from Uganda, Congo Brazzaville and South Korea.

[The website of the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate]

h/t: Amy Welborn.

Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter) killed in freak accident at sea

A very sad story (and not a bad-taste joke):

"CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and environmentalist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming an underwater documentary on the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

Irwin was killed by a stingray barb to the heart on Batt Reef, off the remote resort town of Port Douglas in northeastern Queensland state, his wildlife park Australia Zoo said in a statement.

Crew members aboard Irwin's boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead a short time later, the statement said.

Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter," which was first broadcast in Australia in 1992 and has aired around the world on the Discovery channel." [Full story.]

I must say that I did enjoy Steve Irwin's work sometimes. Perhaps mainly for the fact that he seemed like such a cheerful fellow. I also remember wondering to myself how he managed to stay out of harm's way while working with such dangerous animals. Well, sadly, it looks like luck ran out for Steve.

We'll miss ya, mate.

Video: something to make us all a little more humble

"Shotaro Makisumi achieving the former 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube blindfolded speedcubing world record during the Caltech Dallas Summer 2005."

Czestochowa in all her robed glory

Via Matthew of HolyWhapping:

"Alert reader Nancy sent me a most intriguing link to the "robes," or metal icon-covers, given to clothe the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa (feast day August 26, so naturally this is a bit belated) over the years."

Matthew has more from Nancy...

The "robes" I copied at left are my favorite of the ones displayed. I find it interesting that each covering leaves Mary's hand visible. I think that the hand at her heart symbolizes her reflection upon and spiritual communion with the actions of Jesus during his life and ministry.

I was able to visit Our Lady of Czestochowa when I was in Poland, and was even able to attend a Mass celebrated in the Chapel. I also bought an Icon of OLC and brought it back to my family as a present.

Eggs (Pope) Benedict

Via Michelle Arnold:

"While wandering the Web sniffing out something to blog about, my nose latched onto an aroma of eggs. Curious, I checked it out. Apparently, in the wake of Pope Benedict XVI's election, some people were having a bit of good-natured fun with the new pope's chosen name.

Behold the breakfast of popes: Eggs Benedict XVI."

... sounds like great after-Mass brunch fair, yes?