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Pa•pist: n. A Catholic who is a strong advocate of the papacy.
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." - Ephesians 5:11 |
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Oh please, Mr. Kerry, run again. I'd have so much fun if you did that.Bush, like his spokesman earlier, said soldiers deserve an apology from Kerry.
... Kerry, who is considering another run for the White House in 2008, angrily fired back.
His statement called Republicans "assorted right-wing nut jobs." [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 7:59 PM
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LifeSiteNews is reporting that the Canadian priest Raymond Gravel, notorious for his voiciferous disagreement with Church teaching on just about every major social issue, has obtained permission from his bishop to run for national governmental office. This claim, however, seems impossible to reconcile with sound canon law.
Under the 1983 Code, Catholic priests are flatly prohibited from holding governmental office: Canon 285.3 plainly states "Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power." The legislative history of this norm makes obvious the Legislator's intent to eliminiate any exceptions to this rule. [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 6:25 PM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 11:02 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 10:51 AM
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My siblings dress up as Saints on Halloween. It's a great witness when they go trick-or-treating.Buenos Aires, Oct. 30, 2006 (CNA) - In all letter to the faithful of his diocese, Bishop Rinaldo Fidel Bredice of Santa Rosa said the pagan feast of Halloween undermines the eternal truths of the Christian faith, and he exhorted Catholics to celebrate worthily the feasts of All Saints and November 1 and of All Souls on November 2.
"The preaching of the truth is our weapon: let us take advantage of the Feast of All Saints and the Memorial of All Souls to proclaim the four last things: death, judgment, hell, and heaven," Bishop Bredice explained.
"Let us be encouraged to carry out the work of mercy of 'praying for the dead' (through personal prayer, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, holy hours offered in reparation, and most importantly, the Holy Mass), to visit their tombs in order to honor our roots and become aware of the temporariness of our lives on this earth. Thus we will be enlightening our brothers and sisters in the faith and all men and women of good will," the bishop stated.
Lastly, Bishop Bredice included an "attachment about Halloween in order to point out the errors and to be able to explain the truth." The bishop asked Catholics in Buenos Aires to spread his message to others "so that many others can discern and not observe this pagan feast."
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:48 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 10:45 AM
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Just because Dubai is the modern babel:"Slated to become the world's tallest skyscraper and symbol of a city given to grandiose projects, "Burj Dubai," or Dubai Tower, is rising in parallel with the profits of its promoter, Emaar Properties.
... at any point in time, when the whole Downtown Burj Dubai district is under construction, there will be 20,000 men working here," Sang said.
Some 2,500 of these laborers hired by one of many firms working for Emaar downed tools for two days earlier this year and demonstrated in protest at poor working conditions and delays in the payment of salaries. The protests degenerated into riots during which equipment and cars were smashed." [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:33 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 10:22 AM
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Amen.The Holy Father's general prayer intentionfor November is: "That, everywhere in the world, an end be put to all forms of terrorism."
His mission intention is: "That through the effort of believers, together with the living forces of society, the new and old chains which prevent the development of the African continent may be broken."
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:20 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 10:50 PM
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This is a very important topic to me and I'm going to address it at more length either later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, the Fumare blog (run by graduates of the Ave Maria School of Law) is a good place to have bookmarked for this issue. Particularly here, here, here and here.Michigan Catholics are on their own in this year's race for governor.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm, while supportive of many of the social policies the Roman Catholic Church favors, is for abortion rights, and she supports expanded embryonic stem cell research -- two positions the church can't abide.
Republican challenger Dick DeVos passes the litmus test on abortion and stem cells -- he opposes both -- but he doesn't have Granholm's record of protecting the social safety net or fighting for an increase in the minimum wage and an earned income tax credit that aids the working poor. The governor drew high praise from the church for those battles.
At stake in this contentious race is a massive group of longtime swing voters. There are 2.25 million Catholics in Michigan -- one-quarter of the state electorate. When motivated, they can influence the outcome of elections. [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:08 AM
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Update: More from Mark:"A little more than a week away - the word from South Dakota is that the abortion ban is losing in the polls by a few percentage points, Planned Parenthood is pouring money into the state - the main group coordinating support of the ban would appreciate your help, if you can - they have a donor with a matching offer on board.
At the site you can, of course, watch some of their very powerful ads - but they can't run them if they can't buy the time."
"Defeat Murder Inc."
The effort to ban abortion in South Dakota is being dwarfed by the$8,000,000 PLANNED PARENTHOOD is pouring into this state. Polls say that as of right now the November 7 referendum to ban abortion in SouthDakota is losing by 3 percentage points. Fourty percent of all the media time between now and election day has been purchased by the PRO-ABORTS.
In an attempt to counter this media blitz, a wonderful PRO-LIFE individual has offered a matching challenge grant of $250,000. What this means is that anything you give in the next week will be matched dollar for dollar up to a total of $250.000. Media time is cheap in South Dakota. Your gift of $150 when matched will buy two 30 second ads on GOOD MORNING AMERICA. Your gift of $300 when matched will pay for two 30 second ads during the NFL football game the Sunday before election day. For more information on how to donate, visit www.VoteYesforLife.com or call 888-855-4580.
If you wish to write a check, make it payable to
VOTE YES FOR LIFE and send it today to
P.O.Box 461
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57101.
YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID. DONATE TODAY!!!!If we are successful, this could be the first step in REVERSING ROE v WADE. And please pray incessantly between now and election day for the success of this courageous effort. Thank You!
Jack Ames
Director, Defend Life
410-337-3721
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:05 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 11:04 AM
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"In St Peter’s Square, on a sunny day reminiscent of summer, the Latin text of the Angelus prayer was shown on maxi screens for the first time, to enable the faithful present to pray the words together with the Pope."Also:
Among the crowd of 50,000 pilgrims, there was a large yellow and blue arch with the word "Loreto", put up by youth delegates from all the regions of Italy. They are currently meeting in Rome to implement a three-yearly project of the Italian church entitled "Agora of youth". Greeting them after the Marian prayer, Benedict XVI publicly announced his intention of going next year to the city that hosts a famous Marian shrine. "Dear friends," he told them. "I bless your journey and I await you in large numbers for the meeting of young Italians scheduled for 1 and 2 September 2007 in Loreto." He added: "Near that beloved Marian shrine, we will live a moment of grace together, in the joy of faith and perspective of mission, not least in preparation for the World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008."And finally:
"An unusual group present in the square today was composed of hundreds of motorcyclists of the Motorcyclists Association of the police force, who thundered down Via Conciliazione. "Hmm, I feel a PPOTD coming on...
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:54 AM
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From HotAir:You can watch the video here. Much more here.Stephanopoulos: In the ad now running in Missouri, Jim Caviezel speaks in Aramaic. It means, “You betray me with a kiss.” And his position, his point, is that actually even though down in Missouri they say the initiative is against cloning, it’s actually going to allow human cloning.
Fox: Well, I don’t think that’s true. You know, I campaigned for Claire McCaskill. And so I have to qualify it by saying I’m not qualified to speak on the page-to-page content of the initiative. Although, I am quite sure that I’ll agree with it in spirit, I don’t know, I— On full disclosure, I haven’t read it, and that’s why I didn’t put myself up for it distinctly.
posted by Thomas Peters at 8:03 PM
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Hugh Hewitt is broadcasting from this year's GodBlogCon. When interviewing Jimmy Akin, Jimmy was kind enough to mention American Papist as one his favorite young Catholic bloggers.
posted by Thomas Peters at 1:20 PM
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The Archdiocese of Detroit received a new auxiliary bishop today. He will become the youngest bishop in the United States (at 45) when he is ordained November 29th."... the Pope name Msgr Daniel Flores, rector of the cathedral of his native diocese of Corpus Christi and vice-rector of St Mary's Seminary in Houston, as auxiliary bishop to Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit.
... Ordained for Corpus Christi in 1988, Flores was immediately placed on the fast track by then-Bishop Rene Gracida, who the new bishop served as his personal secretary, parochial vicar of Corpus Christi Cathedral, vice-chancellor and episcopal master of ceremonies. After five years as the diocese's vocation director, he was sent to Rome, where he earned his license and doctorate in theology from the Angelicum.
Returning home, the bishop-elect was named chancellor of the diocese while serving as a professor of theology at the University of St Thomas in Houston and St Mary's, where he was named vice-rector in 2002. Named earlier this year as rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral, he speaks Spanish, Italian, and Latin in addition to English.
[Rocco adds his commentary here.]
More info from the Archdiocese of Detroit website (since the announcement was made on a weekend, the Vatican Information Service won't mention the appointment until Monday):
posted by Thomas Peters at 1:01 PM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 10:38 PM
posted by Thomas Peters at 8:42 PM
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Gerald gives us the rundown here.
posted by Thomas Peters at 3:48 PM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 2:23 PM
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Thanks to reader Salome for bringing this to my attention:(The following are extracts from Sheik Taj Din al-Hilaly's controversial sermon given last month, as independently translated by an SBS Arabic expert.)The Sheik seriously claims that he was misunderstood in the same way Pope Benedict was? Get out. If he really said these things (and I think it's pretty clear that he did), he has no defense. Just read what he said again.
"Those atheists, people of the book (Christians and Jews), where will they end up? In Surfers Paradise? On the Gold Coast? Where will they end up? In hell and not part-time, for eternity. They are the worst in God’s creation."
"When it comes to adultery, it’s 90 percent the woman’s responsibility. Why? Because a woman owns the weapon of seduction. It’s she who takes off her clothes, shortens them, flirts, puts on make-up and powder and takes to the streets, God protect us, dallying. It’s she who shortens, raises and lowers. Then, it’s a look, a smile, a conversation, a greeting, a talk, a date, a meeting, a crime, then Long Bay jail. Then you get a judge, who has no mercy, and he gives you 65 years."
"But when it comes to this disaster, who started it? In his literature, writer al-Rafee says, if I came across a rape crime, I would discipline the man and order that the woman be jailed for life. Why would you do this, Rafee? He said because if she had not left the meat uncovered, the cat wouldn’t have snatched it."
"If you get a kilo of meat, and you don’t put it in the fridge or in the pot or in the kitchen but you leave it on a plate in the backyard, and then you have a fight with the neighbour because his cats eat the meat, you’re crazy. Isn’t this true?"
"If you take uncovered meat and put it on the street, on the pavement, in a garden, in a park, or in the backyard, without a cover and the cats eat it, then whose fault will it be, the cats, or the uncovered meat’s? The uncovered meat is the disaster. If the meat was covered the cats wouldn’t roam around it. If the meat is inside the fridge, they won’t get it."
"If the woman is in her boudoir, in her house and if she’s wearing the veil and if she shows modesty, disasters don’t happen."
"Satan sees women as half his soldiers. You’re my messenger in necessity, Satan tells women you‘re my weapon to bring down any stubborn man. There are men that I fail with. But you’re the best of my weapons."
"…The woman was behind Satan playing a role when she disobeyed God and went out all dolled up and unveiled and made of herself palatable food that rakes and perverts would race for. She was the reason behind this sin taking place." [source]
posted by Thomas Peters at 1:20 AM
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A follow-up to the story below:Oh, this is rich. The Pope quotes someone claiming that Islam was spread by violence and everyone gets mad at him for saying something that is basically true. Now this Shiek quotes someone claiming that women not in a burka, etc. are "uncovered meat" and everyone gets mad at him for saying something completely untrue.Sheikh invokes Pope's defence
Besieged Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali believes his comments have been misinterpreted in the same way the Pope was misunderstood in a sermon on Islam.
The mufti has triggered a storm over a sermon in which he blamed women for sexual assault.
Sheik Alhilali says he was quoting an ancient Islamic scholar to make a point when he compared immodest women to "uncovered meat" to a Ramadan sermon at Lakemba mosque in Sydney.
Mr El Ayoubi said the mufti feels like he has been misinterpreted like the Pope.
"He keeps harping on the fact that he was quoting some ancient scholar, and he was, and compares it to the situation with the Pope," Mr El Ayoubi told AAP.
"The Pope quoted some Byzantine leader and had a go at our prophet, and the sheik goes `look there's no difference', except that this may offend more people than the Pope's comments offended." [More...]
Gee, I can sure see how people could misunderstand this as being demeaning of women. It's just as easy to misunderstand as what Pope Benedict said ... right?!"If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat," the sheik asked.
"The uncovered meat is the problem."
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot when you are already bleeding from the hand...After emerging from Friday prayers at Lakemba Mosque today, Sheik Hilaly was asked by a media pack whether he would quit over a speech in which he said scantily-dressed women invited rape.
"After we clean the world of the White House first," the sheik said.
Supporters of the sheik cheered and applauded loudly at the comments, which were directed firmly at US President George W Bush.
The sheik has previously described Mr Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prime Minister John Howard as the axis of evil.
Despite calls from within the Islamic community for his resignation, Sheik Hilaly has been assured he has the support of grass-roots Muslims, a supporter said. [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:00 PM
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The UK Daily Mail: Australia's most senior cleric said these things. Outrageous...A Muslim cleric's claim that women who do not wear the veil are like 'uncovered meat' who attract sexual predators sparked outrage around Australia yesterday.
Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, the nation's most senior Muslim cleric, compared immodestly-dressed women who do not wear the Islamic headdress with meat that is left uncovered in the street and is then eaten by cats.
Politicians including Prime Minister John Howard, community leaders and a large number of Muslims condemned the mufti's comments amid calls that he should be deported to Egypt, his country of origin.He has since been forced to apologise for his remarks.
In a Ramadam sermon in a Sydney mosque, Sheik al-Hilali suggested that a group of Muslim men recently jailed for many years for gang rapes were not entirely to blame.
Addressing 500 worshippers on the topic of adultery, Sheik al-Hilali added: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it..whose fault is it - the cats or the uncovered meat?
"The uncovered meat is the problem."He went on: "If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab (veil), no problem would have occurred."
Women, he said, were 'weapons' used by Satan to control men." [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 3:55 PM
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I don't know Aramaic so I'm not sure if this translation (which includes the verb "betray") is more correct than the previous one (which omitted the verb "betray"). Either way the sense is clear, but if the verb "betray" is indeed included it means the aramaic segment of the commercial was not edited for time as some people previously had claimed.Actor Jim Caviezel opens the political ad with a brief statement in Aramaic, the common tongue of biblical-era Palestine and the language of Mel Gibson's blockbuster movie, saying: "Le-bar nash be-neshak."
Bill Fulco, the Loyola Marymount professor who translated Mr. Gibson's script for "Passion" and coached the actors on the ancient language, told The Washington Times yesterday the phrase means: "You betray the Son of Man with a kiss," a reference to Judas' betraying Christ and a phrase used in the Greek of Luke's Gospel.
Cathy Cleaver Ruse, a spokeswoman for Missourians Against Human Cloning, which produced the ad, said the group had Mr. Caviezel say the Aramaic phrase in a contemporary setting but without subtitles "to make the ad a little more intriguing."
When presented with Mr. Fulco's translation, which was confirmed by several other Aramaic scholars, the group agreed to release the exact translation exclusively to The Times.
"It means 'You betray me with a kiss,' which means Amendment Two is a betrayal because it is deceptive," Ms. Ruse said. "It promises one thing and delivers another." [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 1:56 PM
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CWNews coverage here.Extraordinary ministers of Eucharist barred from purifying vessels
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- At the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion will no longer be permitted to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels at Masses in the United States.
In an Oct. 23 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked his fellow bishops to inform all pastors of the change, which was prompted by a letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.
The U.S. bishops had asked the Vatican to extend an indult -- or church permission -- in effect since 2002 allowing extraordinary ministers of holy Communion to help cleanse the Communion cups and plates when there were not enough priests or deacons to do so.
Bishop Skylstad, who heads the Diocese of Spokane, Wash., said Cardinal Arinze asked Pope Benedict about the matter during a June 9 audience, "and received a response in the negative." [More from CNS]
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:59 AM
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DeVos says he'd be 'thrilled' if Roe v. Wade is overturned
"Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos told a Catholic radio program that he'd be "thrilled" if the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a woman's right to an abortion is overturned and abortion is sharply restricted in Michigan."
...
During the interview, DeVos told Kresta, "You're not going to find a more pro-life governor in Michigan's history than me."
Granholm, a Catholic, has been criticized by some Catholics for upholding abortion rights even though she personally opposes abortion.
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:29 AM
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When asked if they approved or disapproved of Governor Jennifer Granholm's overall job performance, 46% of the respondents approved; 48% disapproved; and 6% were undecided.
'When an incumbent's job approval is below 50% they must be considered vulnerable as they seek re-election,- said David E. Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder of Strategic Vision, LLC. 'Both Senator Stabenow and Governor Granholm fall under this criteria and must be considered vulnerable in the final two weeks of this election year.
When asked if they thought Michigan was headed in the right direction or wrong direction, 23% said right direction; 65% said wrong direction; and 12% were undecided.'
Normally, an incumbent would be doomed with numbers such as these, yet so far Senator Stabenow and Governor Garnholm have been able to convince voters that the state's problems are caused by the President and not as a result of their policies,- said Johnson.
When asked if they would like to see the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade, 35% said yes; 53% said no; and 12% were undecided.
In a general election match-up for Governor, between Governor Jennifer Granholm and Republican Dick DeVos, Granholm led 47% to 43% with 10% undecided.'
This race remains volatile and will be influenced heavily by advertising and events,- said Johnson. 'Still, Granholm remains highly vulnerable when one looks at her job approval number and in a normal election cycle would seem destined for defeat.-In a match-up between Senator Stabenow and Republican Senate nominee Mike Bouchard, the results were Stabenow 48%; Bouchard 42%; and 10% undecided.
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:23 AM
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From LifeSiteNews:Kathryn Jean Lopez over at NRO's The Corner:Missouri Embryonic Stem Cell Research Amendment Losing Support
"A new poll shows that support for Amendment 2, the Missouri measure that would have the state support human cloning and embryonic stem cell research, is dropping fast. The level of support has dropped from more than a 2-1 margin to less than 10 percent."
According to a new Survey USA poll released Tuesday, just 45 percent of Missouri voters say they plan to vote for Amendment 2 while 36 percent will vote against it and another 18 percent are undecided.
That's a huge difference from the last survey the polling firm did just two weeks ago.
On October 12, Survey USA had Amendment 2 ahead by a 57-27 percent margin with 16 percent undecided. [More...]
She also adds her take on what Caviezel is saying in the ad:"The betrayed with a kiss thing does actually cut to the heart of matters — cloning politics has long been drowning in euphemisms and contradictions, and so it is in the Missouri initiative. The Aramaic naturally is not going to reach everyone but if you're reading the blogs and things and you weren't paying attention before to the issue, it might make you think about it for an extra few seconds — it's another way to package the smart 2tricky message. Hearing some reaction over the past few days, I'm confident it's served its purpose and was a worthwhile contribution to the debate, such as it is."
Update: The Washington Times includes more details and background on this story."The Corner can end all suspense and officially confirm that in the commericial airing in St. Louis tonight Jim Caveziel says in Aramaic, "You betray me with a kiss." ... As one source working to defeat Amendment 2 in Missouri explains..."
"It refers to the promises made on page one of the amendment that are betrayed on page 5. On page one Amendment 2 promises to ban human cloning and this is betrayed on page 5 where human cloning is enshrined in the Missouri constitution."
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:09 AM
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I asked my readers yesterday for a translation of a phrase that Jim Caviezel says in Aramaic at the beginning of the TV ad which he (and other Catholics) will appear in during tonight's world series game four.Thanks are due to the reader for passing on what is indeed the correct translation. However, the reader seems to have missed the point of what Jim Caviezel is saying, as did this commentor over at NRO's The Corner:"L'bar nash b'nashak."
"The son of man with a kiss."
Jesus doesn't have to use verbs, or even make sense. He just has to show up every once in a while and put sick people in their place.
What Caviezel said was "l'bar nash b'nashak", or "the son of man with a kiss". Which isn't even a complete sentence, but whatever.Clearly there is some confusion here. So let's clear it up: Jim Caviezel is not speaking nonsense, or deliberately dropping verbs. He is quoting the Gospel of Luke (22:48) which reads:
[47] While he [Jesus] was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him; [48] but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?"By quoting this passage, Caviezel is making the point that just as Judas betrayed Jesus through a symbolic kiss of "friendship," the people of Missouri are being misled from the truth about amendment 2 by the false claim that amendment 2 will save lives (instead of actually harming innocent lives).
"Republicans cobbled together a response ad that did not mention Mr. Fox but attacked the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. It included testimonials by the actress Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and James Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ." At least in the advance version shown on YouTube last night, Mr. Caviezel’s introduction seemed either garbled or to be in Aramaic." [source]... and if in Aramaic, irrelevant. I guess.
posted by Thomas Peters at 2:43 PM
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Specifically, Melissa P. McNamara who quoted a recent comment of mine about Hillary Clinton's latest fashion craze on today's CBS News Blogophile column (which "samples the best of the blogs") :Well, it's nice to know I'm being read. :-)"Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has appeared several times in public recently with a cross around her neck, and it's been riling up her enemies in the blogosphere. An image of the senator, from the chin down, wearing a black suit with a cross dangling from her neck, has been making its away around various blogs this past week.
While the senator is, in fact, religious — Ben Smith of The New York Daily News points out that Clinton's faith has been part of her public character since she taught Sunday school as the first lady of Arkansas and was an active member of a Washington church as first lady — many bloggers doubt her religious sincerity.
Many say Clinton's cross is merely a political accessory. "I guess it's only a matter of time before she rediscovers her faith-based roots sometime before election day, 2008," Thomas at American Papist blogs.
Russell Shaw writes at The Huffington Post that he does not "begrudge anyone's right to believe in what they believe in" but wonders "how much of Hillary's cross-wearing is consultant-driven, as opposed to driven more by belief."
posted by Thomas Peters at 2:27 PM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 8:13 PM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 2:39 PM
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Update: Dom says: "This [publication] is especially noteworthy because most people think that it will coincide with the publication of the expected motu proprio dealing with a reform of the indult for the Tridentine Mass."The publication of the papal document concluding the work of last year's Synod on the Eucharist is "imminent," according to the I Media news agency.
Citing informed sources at the Vatican, I Media reports that Pope Benedict XVI will soon release his apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist. The Holy Father reportedly was reviewing a final draft of the document late in August.
posted by Thomas Peters at 1:15 PM
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Remember that Panorama episode on the BBC that maligned Pope Benedict?An example?"The BBC, a government agency, fought hard to keep an internal study of the organization's bias secret. Reporters from other British media outlets filed a complaint with the UK's own Freedom of Information Act, and the report has now been released.
The level of political correctness at the BBC seems almost like a caricature of what a politically correct group would look like, but caricature matches reality."
More:At the summit, executives were given a fictitious scenario in which they were asked to make a judgment.
In the illustration, Jewish comedian Sasha Baron Cohen would participate in a studio program in which guests were allowed to symbolically throw in a garbage bin things they hated.
What would you do, the executives were asked, if Cohen decided to throw kosher food, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bible and the Quran in the trash.
Everything would be allowed, the executives said, except for the Quran, for fear of offending the British Muslim community.
A senior BBC executive admitted to the British paper Daily Express, "There was a widespread acknowledgement that we may have gone too far in the direction of political correctness. Unfortunately, much of it is so deeply embedded in the BBC's culture, that it is very hard to change it."
posted by Thomas Peters at 12:21 PM
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Happily, the Cardinal's recovery is going well:On his second day in Rome, as planned, [Cardnial] George attended the canonization of Mother Theodore Guerin of Indiana, the first U.S. saint in six years.
What wasn't planned, he said, was an invitation that day to concelebrate mass with the pope ..."I hadn't expected that, and I was very pleased to do that," he said.
...
George said the pope was worried about the state of the church in the United States.
"He was very concerned about the seminary system and the morale of priests who have been ordained for some years, especially in the current crisis," he said.
Nearly three months after undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, George said he felt fairly well in Rome.
"I took a nap every afternoon," he said. "That helped a lot, but then that's a Roman custom anyway."
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:30 AM
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"A woman walks past a sign reading 'We don't want the pope in Turkey' hanging over a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006. Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to visit Turkey in November, his first official trip to a predominantly Muslim country. (AP Photo/Osman Orsal)"
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:09 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 12:26 AM
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... unless by God' grace some sort of 11th-hour miracle occurs:
posted by Thomas Peters at 4:48 PM
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Is this document trying to solve the problems surrounding inappropriate reception of Communion by leaving the issue to the conscience of the person receiving it instead of the priest distributing it?WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A Catholic who "knowingly and obstinately" rejects "the defined doctrines of the church" or its "definitive teaching on moral issues" should refrain from receiving Communion, according to a document that will come before the U.S. bishops at their Nov. 13-16 fall general meeting in Baltimore.
The document, "'Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper': On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist," requires the approval of two-thirds of the members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for passage.
...
Archbishop Myers' request [for a statement on how Catholics should prepare to receive the Eucharist] came after a presidential campaign in which some bishops had criticized the Democratic candidate, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, and said he and other Catholic politicians who supported abortion should be refused Communion under canon law.
But a footnote to the draft says that it is not intended "to provide specific guidelines" to the provision in canon law that says that Catholics "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin" should not be allowed to receive Communion.
...
If a person who "is publicly known to have committed serious sin or to have rejected definitive church teaching and is not yet reconciled with the church" receives Communion, it could be "a cause of scandal for others," giving "further reason" for the person to refrain, the bishops said. [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:34 AM
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"No one in the curia looked forward to Pope
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:21 AM
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I'm going to Stratford this weekend (no, not England - Canada).
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Rome, Oct. 18 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda, the former prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, died in Rome early on October 18, at the age of 77.
...
Cardinal Pompedda, for years an influential figure in the Roman Curia, retired in May 2004, shortly after reaching his 75th birthday. He had remained highly visible because of his willingness to speak with the press, particularly on issues involving the interpretation of canon law. [More...]
[photo: AP Photo/Plinio Lepri]
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I'm sure we can expect more of the same in the coming weeks. The question is, "How much will the Vatican take?"Oct. 19 (AsiaNews) - The Turkish government will recognize Pope Benedict XVI only as a head of state when he visits that country in November, the AsiaNews service reports.
The Turkish daily Hurriyet said that the papal visit would not be recognized as a religious mission, since the Pontiff was invited by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The government is thus ignoring the previous invitation issued to the Pontiff by the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I.
... In another display of the same reserved attitude, the Turkish government has announced that President Sezer will not meet the Pontiff’s plane when it arrives in Turkey. Instead the president will receive the Pope in a courtesy call later that day.
posted by Thomas Peters at 2:06 PM
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"Hmm, should I go with the white one today, or the white one?"
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posted by Thomas Peters at 1:51 PM
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"I would like to bring to your attention a worthwhile cause that I would love for you to spread the news about. Clear Creek Monastery is an awesome monastery. They currently have many vocations knocking on the door, but are unable to accept them due to lack of room. They plan to build a beautiful, large, monastery and church that will last a thousand years, however to do so they need money. Once they have the money to build this awesome monastery then they will be able to accept those vocations which are knocking on the door.
They are having an online auction in which there is only 4 days left to raise money for the monastery, please help make this auction successful by getting the word out.
I am not in any way affiliated with the monastery, I am just a devoted Catholic that foresees a lot of good for American Catholicism coming from this spiritual powerhouse. If you would like more information on Clear Creek Monastery check out their website.
Also please check out this blogpost by a visitor to Clear Creek."
Now here's the cool part. A local Catholic young woman has created this beautiful charcoal drawing pictured at left for the benefit auction. And she explains the whole creation process of the masterpiece on her blog right here (step-by-step photos, etc.)
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:19 PM
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Personally, when Rod Dreher says, "I want to thank all of you Catholics, especially the priests, who have written me privately or publicly expressed your good wishes for me and my family in the path our journey towards Christ has taken us," I want to join my patron saint in saying, "We must just pray that when his head's finished turning, his face is to the front again."A few days ago, Dreher publicly announced that he had left the Catholic Church and joined the Russian Orthodox Church, this, apparently, being at some level his reaction to the clergy sex abuse crisis and its associated scandals ...
... In any case, here I highlight some of the canonical issues I think might be raised by Dreher's actions. Of course, Dreher and those who agree with him might find little of interest in my remarks, but I offer them as evidence that, if nothing else, canonical laws do correspond to real life situations. [More...]
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"I'm not sure when this started, but [a] crucifix [sic] appears to have become a regular part of Hillary Clinton's wardrobe."
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The Boston Globe, Via Curt Jester:WARSAW, Poland --Poland's central bank on Monday issued 2 million collectors' bank notes bearing the image of the late Pope John Paul II, marking the 28th anniversary of the late pontiff's election. [More...]If anyone wants to send me a sample bank note that would be fine with me.
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:28 AM
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My sources on the ground tell me that Amazon is now shipping orders of Michael Waldstein's new translation of JP2's Theology of the Body talks ($20).
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:16 AM
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... and that's where CWNews non-subscriber access cuts-off. :-(The head of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) might write to the Pope, asking for a removal of the excommunications levied on Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the bishops he ordained in 1998, according to a French newspaper report.
The daily Le Figaro reports that Bishop Bernard Fellay is prepared to write to the Pontiff, seeking reconciliation of the traditionalist group, if Pope Benedict XVI goes through with plans to allow broader use of the Tridentine Mass.
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I'm still wondering what the Pope does at the Hagia Sophia.The Vatican has officially confirmed plans for the trip by Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey. As previously understood he will visit Ankara, Ephesus, and Istanbul, on a trip from November 28 to December 1.
The official Vatican announcement makes a point of noting that the Pope's trip is a "response to an invitation from Ahmet Necdet Sezer, president of Turkey." Actually the Pope received a much earlier invitation from Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and the Turkish government delayed the voyage by failing to issue its own official invitation last year. But the Holy See is clearly intent on preserving proper diplomatic protocol, recognizing the sensitivity of relations between Rome and Ankara.
... before leaving the country, he [Pope Benedict] will stop at the site of the Hagia Sophia, the ancient Christian basilica that has been transformed first into a mosque and now a museum. [source]
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posted by Thomas Peters at 12:34 PM
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%20JP-II%20Promotional%20logo001ps.jpg)
More information today on the animated film about the life of JP2 that many readers have expressed interest in:
posted by Thomas Peters at 12:22 PM
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"Michael is the name of the firewall, or security computer, at the Vatican website. (They also have servers named Gabriel and Raphael. I think I detect a theme here.) According to a report from Catholic World News, it's been busy lately." [More..]
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Too many more good ones to post. (Update: links fixed.)
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From the UK Daily Mail:The Vatican will make history this week when it releases a cartoon film about the life of Pope John Paul II.
Lasting just over an hour, it charts the life of the man born Karol Wojtyla, from his humble beginnings in Poland to his death last year aged 84. John Paul II - The Friend Of All Humanity is the first cartoon account of a Pope's life.
It was made by Cavin Cooper, a firm based in Barcelona, and is directed by esteemed producer Jose Luis Lopez-Guardia.
"It is a fascinating story that works well as a cartoon,' he said. The Vatican has given its 'full backing' to the film, which has been dubbed into seven languages. Last night a source said it had been felt a cartoon 'would appeal to all'.
posted by Thomas Peters at 6:22 PM
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Vatican, Oct. 13 (CWNews.com) - Islamic computer hackers tried to disrupt the Vatican web site earlier this week, but failed, according to a report in the ANSA news service.
In an online forum for militant Muslims, a group announced plans for an assault on the Vatican computer network, which was said to be a form of retribution for Pope Benedict's criticism of Islam in his Regensburg speech. Police later confirmed that there had been a concerted effort by hackers to penetrate the Vatican site, but computer-security experts were able to detect and repel the attack.
The nature of the attempted attack was not clear. Some observers in Rome believed that the Islamic group was planning a "denial of service" attack, in which a web site is bombarded with many thousands of simultaneous visits, overloading the available bandwidth and making it impossible for others to reach the site.
In fact the Vatican site has functioned normally, with minimal noticeable slowdowns, through the week. Vatican security personnel are remaining vigilant in case of another effort by the hackers.
posted by Thomas Peters at 5:49 PM
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"Hmm, I wonder who I can pass this off to?"
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Pope Benedict XVI is moving quickly toward completion of a new book about Jesus, according to editors who are working with him on the project.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), the publishing house for the Holy See, confirmed to the I Media news agency that the Pontiff is working on corrections to his manuscript. It is still too early to predict a publication date, however, they caution. Claudio Rossini, the director of LEV, said that by January 2007 it should be possible to set a date for the book's appearance.
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:56 AM
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A busy week for the diocese of Davenport, Iowa:Bishop Lennon says his farewells to his auxiliary Amos (warning: PDF file!).
Unfortunately, as of this posting, the Diocese of Davenport website has no news of the appointment. Hopefully Chapter 11 bankruptcy doesn't involve freezing their website ...
Any readers from the Davenport area have something to add?
Update: CNA publishes its coverage.
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:29 AM
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Seen at Mark Shea.
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Pope Benedict XVI is preparing to release a motu proprio extending permission for priests to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass, Vatican sources have confirmed.
The new papal document-- for which a publication date has not yet been set-- would give all priests permission to celebrate the Mass of St. Pius V. This permission, a "universal indult," would replace the existing indult that dates back to 1988, when Ecclesia Dei authorized use of the Tridentine rite under more restricted conditions, requiring the permission of the local bishop.
CNS adds more:
Canadian Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, Manitoba, told Catholic News Service Oct. 10 that Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, head of the Congregation for Clergy, had spoken briefly to Canadian bishops about the expected step.St. Blogs' reactions:
"It sounded to me like it was a sort of concession somebody has made," the archbishop said.
Archbishop Weisgerber said the new indult was apparently motivated by a desire to bring comfort to older people who may miss the old rite. But in his archdiocese, he said, the few people asking for it are "young people who never experienced it."
This is especially interesting: Fr. Zuhlsdorf of WDTPRS comments on an alleged internal battle in the Roman Curia over the drafting of the motu proprio as covered in the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
"When some time ago Benedict XVI sent the draft of the "Motu Proprio" to the Congregation for Divine Worship, the "anti-liberalzing" party, with the tacit endorsement of the Prefect, Cardinal Arinze, rushed to work on attaching restrictive modifications (for example, the need to raise the number of those making the request from 30 to 100), and sought in the doing to bypass the Secretary [of the Congregation, Archbishop Malcolm] Ranjith; who, however, managed to attach to the document, which was supposed to go back to the Pope, a long series of notes and marginal comments in order to bring the text back to its original meaning. ..."
I don't have too much to add yet. It's still all rumors. When/if it comes up then I'll speak up.
posted by Thomas Peters at 7:18 PM
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Pope Benedict XVI will meet with the Dalai Lama in a private audience on October 13.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader will be in Rome to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Rome. At this meeting with the Holy Father he will be accompanied by several aides. Cardinal Paul Poupard, the president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, will also participate in the meeting.
The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile since 1959, has been outspoken in his support for human rights and religious freedom, particularly in territory controlled by China-- causes that are also strongly supported by the Holy See.. He met with Pope John Paul II on several occasions, most recently in November 2003.
posted by Thomas Peters at 2:39 PM
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A picture from the private Mass the Pope had with the ITC earlier this week:
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From the AP:VATICAN CITY - Visitors to the Vatican soon will be able to descend into an ancient world of the dead, a newly unveiled necropolis that was a burial place for the rich and not-so-affluent during Roman imperial rule.
The necropolis, which was unearthed three years ago during construction of a parking lot, will open to the public this week. One archaeologist said on Monday that sculptures, engravings and other objects found entombed with the dead made the find a "little Pompeii" of cemeteries. [More...]
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:07 AM
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Jimmy Akin has an excellent extended analysis of the subject. This is the most recent development:CWNews adds a bit more:Last week the International Theological Commission (now headed by Cardinal Levada) had a big meeting (a "plenary session") in Rome in which they talked about the limbo matter, and this set off a lot of speculation in the media that an announcement might be imminent. It was widely thought that the document might be released or that B16 might address the matter in his homily at the Mass he celebrated on Friday for the ITC, but neither happened.
The accounts I've come across are mixed regarding whether the document is yet-to-be-drafted or has already been drafted but is now being tweaked. Presumably, they've drafted something--at least points for discussion--but the final document is still a ways off.
The next step:The International Theological Commission will recommend against using the concept of Limbo in explaining the eternal fate of unbaptized babies. But the group does not intend any "break from the great tradition of the faith."
... Archbishop Forte reported that the Commission is close to completion of a statement on the fate of unbaptized children. But he warned that the document, which has been heavily anticipated, is not likely to be publicized soon.
While he said that the Commission's statement on unbaptized children is now in "mature" form, the archbishop added that some refinements would be needed before it is complete. Then it would be submitted to Cardinal William Levada, who as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is also the chairman of the International Theological Commission. Cardinal Levada, in turn, would submit the statement to Pope Benedict XVI.More context:
Archbishop Forte, a longtime theological colleague of the current Pope, explained to I Media that the document now being prepared by the International Theological Commission does not simply discard the notion of Limbo. Instead, he reported, the statement sets forth the doctrinal questions involved in the discussion, including the reality of Original Sin.Summation:
Again he noted that the concept of Limbo had "never been defined by the Church, although it was a very common teaching." In this case, the archbishop said, the International Theological Commission is reaching the conclusion that the concept of Limbo is "neither essential nor necessary."Pope Benedict has not given any hints either way (to the surprise of many), as CNA reports:
Pope Benedict celebrated Mass Oct. 6 with the commission members; in his homily, he spoke about the role of theologians as listening to the word of God in order to help other's hear the good news. But he did not mention the so-called limbo document at all.Interesting quote from Levada:
CNA's summary:Presenting the commission's work to Pope Benedict last year, Cardinal William J. Levada, prefect of the doctrinal congregation and president of the commission, said the statement was important because "the number of babies not baptized has increased considerably," and the church knows that salvation "is only reachable in Christ through the Holy Spirit."
He also told the pope last year that he hoped the statement would be published soon.
More Links:In the 1985 book-length interview, "The Ratzinger Report," and in the 2000 book, "God and the World," the future Pope Benedict said focusing on hope made more sense theologically then upholding the idea of limbo, where unbaptized babies would enjoy "natural happiness" for eternity, but would not be in heaven in the presence of God.
Limbo, he pointed out, was never a defined article of Catholic faith, but rather was a hypothesis formed on the basis of the church's belief in the need for baptism.
... and I'll save my criticisms of the BBC's coverage until later.
posted by Thomas Peters at 4:53 PM
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Prayers should be offered up...Cardinal William H. Keeler was injured in a car accident Saturday that killed another priest while vacationing about 60 miles outside of Rome, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Baltimore said.
A car struck the passenger side of their vehicle as they drove through the city of Terni, archdiocese spokesman Sean Caine said. [More...]
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CWNews:Let me fast-forward to the important annotation:Oct. 09 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI has produced an annotated version of the speech that he delivered in Regensburg on September 12, in an effort to clarify his intent.
In comments that he includes as footnotes to the annotated text, now available on the Vatican web site, the Pontiff affirms his respect for Muslims, and emphasizes that a quote from Emperor Manuel II Paelologus was not intended as an affront to Islam.
"In the Muslim world, this quotation has unfortunately been taken as an expression of my personal position, thus arousing understandable indignation. I hope that the reader of my text can see immediately that this sentence does not express my personal view of the Qur’an, for which I have the respect due to the holy book of a great religion. In quoting the text of the Emperor Manuel II, I intended solely to draw out the essential relationship between faith and reason. On this point I am in agreement with Manuel II, but without endorsing his polemic."There are other annotations, but I think it's obvious that this clarification is the only reason the entire project was undertaken. Sadly, it appears to be nothing but more retreating to Muslim pressure. But if the Pope's comment aroused "understandable indignation" it certainly didn't arouse the extreme overreaction it received. And actually, I don't believe that the Pope's comment even warrented "understandable indignation." You have no right to be indignant if it was your inability to understand a quotation that caused your reaction.
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:35 AM
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CNA:Looks like he's here to stay. In his latest post the Cardinal responded to several questions and comments people had left on his previous posts. I really can't say I'm too happy about his defense of an ugly-as-sin cross visible above the altar in the "contemporary" Padre Pio shrine...Boston, Oct. 09, 2006 (CNA) - What started as an experiment for Cardinal Sean O’Malley has become a new and regular means of evangelical outreach. The cardinal-archbishop of Boston has decided to continue his blog, which he began on a recent trip to Rome.
Before his departure, the cardinal had committed to posting daily entries on his blog as a two-week experiment. He said he would consider whether he to continue it upon his return to Boston.
But the prelate has now announced that he would continue posting weekly entries on his blog, the first one hitting the web last Friday. [More...]
I'm sorry, but even if the "cross" matches the other sacred articles, it's still ugly."Quovadis" comments:
“Most Revererend Eminence, Having came upon your blog, I am delighted with the wonderful pictures that you have posted up with regards to your trip to the Shrine of Padre Pio and to Rome, however, a point of note, I find that the Cross above the Altar at the Padre Pio Shrine, a tad too modernistic for my taste, dnt you agree? Artistically, it does not add much to the pleasure of the eyes and I am confused by the significance of the structures which rather destroys the beauty of the shrine.”
Cardinal Sean responds:
"Well, the large church that holds 10,000 pilgrims is a very modern, contemporary structure. The furnishings are also very contemporary. On the other side of the piazza, however, is the original Church, which is a typical traditional Italian Church with a Baroque-style altar. I think that they chose not to mix the styles. I’m not an authority on the architecture or furnishings of the new Church, but I understand that the same artist who did the Cross also did the chalices, the ciboria and the cover for The Book. They are all very beautiful. So one can see both the modern, contemporary elements as well as the traditional when visiting the Padre Pio Shrine."
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:14 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 1:20 AM
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Vatican City, Oct. 06, 2006 (CNA) - Pope Benedict XVI has called the 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, dedicated to the theme, “The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church,” to be held at the Vatican, October 5th – 26th, 2008. [More...]Rocco adds a little more.
posted by Thomas Peters at 8:15 AM
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One last tidbit (not to be confused with a timtam):First is a different attitude from the curia people; while most of the dicastery presentations in the last pontificate (Cardinal Ratzinger's CDF being the notable exception) veered toward the cathedratic style of "We talk, you listen," the bishops are now finding the Roman approach as "How can we best be of service to you?"
The other sea-change is that, when the bishops go upstairs for their individual audiences with the Pope, "There's no map-pointing anymore" -- shorthand that Benedict knows where the diocese is and has done his prepwork, including a thorough reading of the bulky Quinquennial Reports. While they've also been touched by the pontiff's relaxed graciousness as a host, the Teutonic regimentation is never far off; however enjoyable the conversation, the Pope knows when the 15 minutes are up.
While Quebec may be Canada's primatial see, the archdiocese of Toronto is its most prominent. The quinquennial meetings behind, plans are quickening toward the appointment of a successor to 76 year-old Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, likely by year's end.... You could say the Pope's been "auditioning" the terna over the course of the visits.Rocco also recently blogged on the soon-to-be-published memoirs of Cardinal Dziwisz, and reproduces the Cardinal's poignant first-hand account of the assasination attempt on John Paul II.
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"There goes my chance for frequent flyer miles with Turkish airlines."
[photo: (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)]
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A follow-up to yesterday's headline story AmP was covering:"BRINDISI, Italy - Italian officials said Wednesday that they intend to prosecute a Turkish man for hijacking an airliner despite his appeal for political asylum on the grounds that he is being persecuted as a Christian in Muslim Turkey." [full story]I think most reports about this situation should be taken with a grain of salt - especially any statements coming from Turkish officials:
A couple initial thoughts:"The case was marked by confusion from the start. Officials in Turkey initially said the plane had been hijacked by a group protesting the pope's upcoming visit to Turkey, but later retracted that version when it became clear that Ekinci had acted alone."
"On Wednesday, Turkey's justice minister said Ekinci was not the sole hijacker but had an accomplice. However, officials in Italy and Turkey later retracted the claim of a second hijacker."
But what has this event shown us?
Headlines along the lines of "Plane hijacked to protest Pope's trip to Turky" were given top billing at all the major news outlets. As soon as new information came out suggesting that the hijackers were actually Christians seeking asylum from an oppressive Muslim government - news coverage quickly dried-up. So, let's review: bad things happening in the world that can be ostensibly traced back to the Pope? Headlines news. Christians trying to escape persecution from Muslims because of their beliefs? Practically ignored.
Finally, who started the (false) rumor that the hijacker was protesting Pope Benedict's trip to Turkey? It seems to have originated from Turkish telivision stations, who were interviewing the head of Turkish airlines as well as several high-ranked Turkish officials (including the Istanbul vice governor Vedat Muftuoglu who told CNN-Turk "They [the hijackers] said their action was to protest the pope’s visit.").
So where did these public officials get the idea that the hijacker was protesting the Pope's visit? Was it harmless miscommunication, irresponsible speculation, or malicious fabrication?
I wish I wasn't so pessimistic.
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:32 AM
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Fresh from the Vatican Information Service:I was able to visit the shrine of Mariazell when I was in Austria."Benedict XVI received Mr. Heinz Fischer, the President of the Federal Republic of Austria, in an audience today. After, the President met with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary of State of His Holiness".
"In an atmosphere of great cordiality, the activities of the Catholic Church in Austrian society was discussed during the meetings, and joy was expressed on the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Austria, as well as on the mutual harmony on the theme of the cultural and spiritual identity of Europe. Certain topics of great importance to today's world context were then taken into consideration: the promotion of dialogue between cultures and religions, in particular between Christianity and Islam, and refuting any sort of terrorism".
"The Holy Father gladly accepted the renewed invitation to visit the Marian Sanctuary of Mariazell next year, extended by the Austrian Federal President".
I wonder if the fact that the Basilica was originally constructed in celebration of the Austrians' victory over Muslim Turks will make it into any of Pope Benedict's remarks during his visit. Austria, from what I've heard, is one of the main opponents to the proposed inclusion of Turkey into the European Union. I doubt Pope Benedict's close ties with Austria are winning him any support from the Turks.[Mariazell] is the most important pilgrimage site in Austria and also has great meaning for Catholics in the neighboring countries to its east. The object of veneration is a miracle-working image of the Virgin, carved in lime-tree wood. This was presented to the place in 1157, and is now enshrined in a chapel lavishly adorned with objects of silver and other costly materials. The large church of which the chapel forms part was erected in 1644 as an expansion of a smaller church built by Louis I, King of Hungary, after a victory over the Turks in 1363. In the vicinity of Mariazell is the pretty Alpine lake of Erlaufsee.
... Most notable about the Mariazell Basilica, built in the 14th and 15th centuries but with a superb baroque interior, are the three towers on its western front. The church houses the Magna Mater Austriae (Great Mother of Austria) in its so-called Gnadenkapelle. The holy image is a small wooden Marian statue from the 13th century, which is clothed in a splendid garment and plays a great role in the popular devotions of many Austrian Catholics.
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:16 AM
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I have been saying for some time that excommunication, although neglected in the decades after Vatican II, will be used more frequently in the future. Evidence in support of this prediction is, I suggest, accumulating. This page will monitor instances of excommunication under the 1983 Code of Canon Law.Some fascinating cases to be found...
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:13 AM
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It starts so proud:New York (AP) - At a pivotal time in the abortion debate, Ms. magazine is releasing its fall issue next week with a cover story titled “We Had Abortions,” accompanied by the names of thousands of women nationwide who signed a petition making that declaration.But quickly gets so sad:
And yet she says she supports the Ms. petition:Another signatory, Debbie Findling of San Francisco, described her difficult decision last year to have an abortion after tests showed that she would bear a son with Down syndrome.
“I felt it was my right to make the decision, but having that right doesn’t make the decision any easier,” she said. “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”
Findling, 42, is married, with a 5-year-old daughter, and has been trying to get pregnant again while pursuing her career as a philanthropic foundation executive.
She says too many of her allies in the abortion-rights movement tend to minimize, at least publicly, the psychological impact of abortion.
“It’s emotionally devastating,” she said in a phone interview. “I don’t regret my decision — but I regret having been put in the position to have to make that choice. It’s something I’ll live with for the rest of my life.”
Findling strongly supports the Ms. petition, and believes women who have had abortions need to be more open about their decisions. She has written an essay about her own experience, and plans to include it in an anthology she hopes to publish next year.The closing remark:
“The women thanked us for doing this,” Smeal said. “They wanted to tell their stories.”[The full story.]
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More:"Earlier reports on Tuesday that the hijackers were protesting Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to Turkey were apparently incorrect; authorities now say that the hijackers have requested political asylum.
Turkish officials said one of the hijackers, identified as Hasan Ekinci, wrote a letter to the pope in August asking for help in avoiding service in the Turkish army.
"I am a Christian and don't want to serve a Muslim army," he wrote, adding that he had been attending church since 1998." [More...]
Quite an interesting development. I wonder if the Pope or Vatican will comment?NTV reported, without citing a source, that Ekinci was a convert to Christianity and a conscientious objector who had written in late August to Benedict XVI, seeking his help to avoid military service in Turkey.
“Dear pope, I am a Christian and I do not want to serve in a Muslim army,” NTV quoted Ekinci’s letter as saying.
Kasia has a good comment to add:Istanbul vice governor Vedat Muftuoglu said the hijackers, described as unaggressive, took control of the plane some 15 to 20 minutes after it took off from the Albanian capital Tirana.
“They said their action was to protest the pope’s visit,” Muftuoglu told CNN-Turk television.
However Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim told NTV that the hijackers were seeking political asylum and there are no indications that they were protesting against the pope’s planned visit to Turkey.
“The information concerning the pope was not confirmed. ... According to the information we just received these persons are seeking political asylum and have said so to the (Italian) police,” Yildirim said.
Officials identified one of the hijackers as Hakan Ekinci and the other only by his first name, Mahmut.
hate to say this, but...I agree that the relative non-violence of the hijacking struck me as odd when reading the initial reports. Perhaps that should have been a clue that this wasn't your "ordinary" radical violent Muslim hijacking.
...this having been done by Christians seeking asylum, while still wrong, presents an interesting contrast to Muslim hijackings. After all, no one was harmed and the plane was not flown into a building...
posted by Thomas Peters at 3:37 PM
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*click here for the newest twist: the two hijackers are probably Christian seeking asylum*Update:Hijacked Turkish Plane Lands in Italy
A Turkish Airlines plane carrying more than 100 passengers from Tirana, Albania, to Istanbul, was hijacked Tuesday and landed at Italy's Brindisi airport, company spokesman Ali Genc said.
The plane was hijacked in Greek airspace, Genc said.
Turkish television channel NTV, quoting unnamed security officials, reported that the plane was hijacked by two Turks to protest Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to Turkey next month.
A spokesman for the Greek military's general staff told The Associated Press that four Greek fighter jets had been scrambled to shadow the plane after it issued a distress signal over Greek airspace. [more...]
All of the Turkish Airlines plane's 107 passengers are said to be unhurt.
Talks are under way with the two hijackers who appear to be protesting about a planned papal visit to Turkey.... Both hijackers are said by Turkish media to be Turks.
... Salvatore Sciacchitano, deputy director of the Italian civil aviation authority, also said the hijackers appeared to be "not aggressive" and ready to free the passengers, AFP reports.
... A speech by Pope Benedict suggesting a link between Islam and violence sparked angry protests in Turkey and other mainly Muslim countries last month. [More...]
Turkish Press:... ENAC sources said they insisted on giving a message to the pope but gave no details
... Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Vatican had been alerted and was waiting for details .
Benedict is already seen in Turkey as the anti-Turkish pope for opposing Ankara's drive to join the European Union as "a grave error... against the tide of history" when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.And we still have 55 days left before the Pope's trip ... Geez, what's next?
Update 3: click here for further updates.BRINDISI, Italy (CNN) -- Passengers from a hijacked Turkish plane carrying 113 people are leaving the aircraft after the two unarmed Turks who hijacked the plane, protesting the pope's upcoming visit to Turkey, agreed to release them.
Italy's transport minister announced the release on NTV, and the network reported that the passengers were disembarking from the plane.
Authorities have also said the two hijackers have indicated they were ready to surrender to authorities, but one of their demands was that a message be delivered to Pope Benedict XVI. [source.]
posted by Thomas Peters at 1:40 PM
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From the malevolently-intentioned files:Explain to me again how associating "foetal movements with adult movements" is "incredibly dangerous"? Dangerous to whom, or what? The cause of the pro-choice movement, perhaps?"Ultrasound images which show 12-week-old foetuses sucking their thumbs and walking in the womb are dangerously misleading, a group of scientists warned today.
The 3D images of unborn babies apparently behaving in a similar way to newborns raised questions over whether the upper limit for abortions should be reduced form 24 weeks.However, a group of scientists has now warned the scans could be dangerously misleading as they do not reflect the true nature of an unborn baby's brain.
Dr Donald Peebles, a consultant in foetal medicine at University College London, said the temptation to associate foetal movements with adult movements was "incredibly dangerous" and said they contributed nothing to the debate over whether the legal time limit for abortion should be lowered.
Dr Huseyin Mehmet, a reader in developmental neurobiology at Imperial College London, said that a foetal brain at 23 and 24 weeks was "extremely immature" and described it as being like an orange that has been sliced in half.
But Julia Millington, of the Pro-Life Alliance, said it was irrelevant whether someone looking at the images fully understood the science behind it or not.
She said people responded to the humanity of the images rather than the science behind them. "It is accepted generally that although a foetus appears to be smiling, it is not doing so in the way we smile," she said.
"When the ultrasound images were first made public we were told it could just be a reflex response. But that doesn't change the reality that we can see how well developed an unborn baby is."
Ms Millington said she did not believe that the comments made by the scientists would significantly alter the debate over when abortions should take place.
She said: "I do not think they will diminish the impact of the images because the thing that people respond to is what they see as the humanity of the unborn child.
"Most people will recognise that a very early foetus is incapable of surviving outside the womb without being told by a scientist." [source.]
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:53 AM
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We've covered the Madness of Milingo. We've seen the bias of the BBC.
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:01 AM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 10:55 AM
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The first Catholic college in Wyoming is looking really promising, especially since it is receiving strong support from the local bishop of Cheyenne, David Ricken.
Kevin Knight of New Advent blogged about WC earlier this year and mentioned three things about it in particular: "1) It's going to be really Catholic. With Benedictine spiritual formation, Confession and moral formation, Eucharistic adoration, Marian devotion and "a culture of daily Mass attendance." 2) The curriculum is Great Books. 3) Most intriguingly, outdoor education will be a mandatory part of the experience. Freshman orientation consists of a three-week backpacking trip in the nearby mountains." [More from Kevin.]What about cell phones?
"Because cell phones are enormously distracting and provide Internet access, which is even more distracting, we are asking our students to take a break from technology and learn some wisdom."Will there be computers? Is there a large outdoor component?
"There will be word-processing computers (students) will use to write papers. At the core of it is a pretty challenging academic program in the liberal arts. The outdoor aspect is to help them see that there is a world outside of technology, a world that can teach them many valuable lessons that they can only learn there. The outdoor aspect is there to help them do their academics better."
Sounds intriguing. I think many people would find this method appealing.
Wyoming Catholic is now recruiting for its first class in August 2007.
It also appears that they are still on the lookout for faculty: "Degreed professors to teach Latin and writing will also join the faculty of WCC, Cook said, with those appointments to be announced later." [source.]
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:45 AM
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Although it came pretty close:Well, perhaps Kramnik imbibed a few too many energy drinks in an effort to stay focused on the game.MOSCOW (Reuters) - It went down to the wire but in the end the Russian turned up to play.
A 12-round chess match between Russia's Vladimir Kramnik and Bulgarian Veselin Topalov to decide the world's top player resumed on Monday after a row over toilet breaks forced a two-day suspension.
...
Kramnik, the reigning Classical World Chess champion, leads Topalov, the World Chess Federation champion, 3-2. The match has been billed as a reunification between the two rival chess organizations after a 13-year split.
...
The toilet is the only place the players are not under video surveillance during their match and Kramnik, who suffers from an arthritic condition which makes it painful to sit still for too long, visited it around 50 times in one game. [full article.]
posted by Thomas Peters at 10:10 AM
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Cardinal Sean desperately tries to think of something to blog about next.
posted by Thomas Peters at 7:07 PM
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posted by Thomas Peters at 7:00 PM
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The ITC was headed by Cardinal Ratzinger for many years.Oct. 02 (CWNews.com) - The International Theological Commission gathered in Rome on October 2, for a week-long meeting that will center on the fate of children who die without being baptized.
The themes for discussion by the International Theological Commission were set in 2004, to cover a 5-year span. The status of unbaptized children was one major topic, to be discussed in the context of God's universal plan for salvation and the unique sacramental role of the Church.
The International Theological Commission, a body of 30 Catholic theologians from around the world that advises the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, can function as a kind of "early warning system" for gathering theological storms. In 1976, the commission produced a document on liberation theology, "Human Development and Christian Salvation," ahead of Rome's crackdown on liberation theology in the 1980s. In 1997, the commission issued "Christianity and the Religions," and the next few years witnessed a series of disciplinary actions against theologians working in the area of religious pluralism. That campaign culminated with Dominus Iesus in September 2001.
Hence it's worth paying attention when the commission tackles a subject, because one can be sure it's on the Vatican's radar screen.
This week [October 8th, 2004], a new group of members assembled to start their five-year terms (see below), and they settled on three topics for reflection.
o Infant baptism and Christian hope: The theologians who just completed their terms left behind the topic of "limbo," the traditional term for a resting place for souls excluded from the fullness of the beatific vision but otherwise not condemned to punishment, e.g., unbaptized babies. As one new ITC member put it to me this week, however, "This kind of group didn't come together just to talk about limbo." The commission therefore decided to put the subject of infant baptism into the broader context of eschatology and Christian hope -- "the universal salvific design of God, the unicity of the mediation of Christ and the sacramentality of the church in the order of salvation," to quote the official Vatican news release.
o Natural Law: Building on the pope's encyclicals Veritatis splendor (1993) and Fides et ratio (1998), the commission will take up the subject of "natural law," what Catholic philosophy regards as a law implanted in creation by the Creator that can be discovered by human reason. One motive for the study is to attack what the CDF has long seen as a "positivistic" tendency in reactions to its pronouncements on moral issues, such as gay marriage or stem cell research. Often it's assumed that the Catholic church expects people to follow its teachings because it says so ("positivism,") when in the Vatican's view, the church proposes a teaching because it's true. The hope is that by recovering a natural law framework, the church can shift the terms of debate from its own authority to the inherent persuasiveness of its teaching.
o Theology and the Academy: Catholic theology has long struggled to balance responsibilities to its various constituencies -- the hierarchy, the broader Catholic public, and other academic disciplines. Some see this as an invigorating challenge, while others worry that by adopting the standards of the secular academy, Catholic theology risks losing its identity. (To take a famous example of this view, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger once said he wondered if Christian theology had made a mistake by relocating from the monastery to the university). The ITC will ponder the question, "To whom is theology accountable?"
[Finally, a list of the ITC's 30 members whose terms run until 2009.]
posted by Thomas Peters at 4:47 PM
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From Diane:
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:58 AM
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Numerous Catholic blogs have reviewed "Saints Behaving Badly" ($11) over the recent weeks, and I'd like to quickly include my praise along with all their good words.
posted by Thomas Peters at 11:14 AM
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As Ed Peters introduces his latest post:The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales is complaining to the BBC over a programme accusing Pope Benedict XVI of covering up child abuse by priests.
Bishops condemned last night's BBC1 Panorama special as an "unwarranted, prejudiced attack on a revered world religious leader".
Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, president of the Bishops' Conference, is writing to protest to Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC.
...
Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, issued a statement last night on behalf of the Church in England and Wales revealing the bishops' anger.
He said: "The BBC should be ashamed of the journalism used to create this unwarranted attack on Pope Benedict XVI."
He singled out "sensational tactics and misleading editing, old footage and undated interviews". [source]
posted by Thomas Peters at 8:56 PM
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who Runs the AmP blog?
is a young lay Catholic with graduate degrees in theology, who lives and works in Washington DC.
He has been seen or heard on: CNN, BBC World News, MSNBC, The Catholic Channel, Relevant Radio, EWTN Global Radio and interviewed or quoted by: Our Sunday Visitor, The Boston Globe, The National Catholic Reporter, Catholic News Agency, The Denver Catholic Register, News Busters, Inside Catholic, Busted Halo, LifeSiteNews, Holy Smoke, Huffington Post, Catholic Online, Catholic Culture, Opposing Views, LifeNews, Catholic Exchange, DC Catholic Living Examiner, National Catholic Register, etc.
Since 2005 he has been blogging about life as a Catholic American. Occasionally, he wins awards for it.
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