Fr. Hardon Day of Remembrance this Saturday in Detroit

I emerge from my Christmas blogging hiatus to post about this upcoming local event:

Dear Friends,

Attached is a flyer with information on the annual Day of Remembrance in honor of Fr. John Hardon, the saintly Jesuit whose influence still reverberates throughout America, particularly in the archdioceses of Detroit and Chicago.

Fr. Hardon was the spiritual director of Mother Teresa, and was the only priest at the altar at her public funeral Mass. He developed a catechetical curriculum for her order, and for 26 years traveled worldwide giving retreats at Missionaries of Charity convents. Fr. Hardon has been declared a “Servant of God” by the Vatican, and efforts are well underway for his eventual canonization.

This day-long event, slated for Saturday, Dec. 29, at Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit, has been held every year since Fr. Hardon died in 2000. The event is always a great time to not only learn more about Fr. Hardon, but to spent time with and meet with many people who knew and worked with him during his 10 years in Detroit.

Three speakers will talk about their personal experiences with Fr. Hardon.

• Marlene Elwell, long-time pro-life political activist/strategist and most recently founder of Catholics in the Public Square. Marlene is one of the giants of the pro-life movement in the United States, and she is responsible for the brilliant strategic success of getting a pro-life plank in the Republican platform in 1980, when the GOP’s convention was in Detroit.
• Carole Breslin, who assisted Fr. Hardon in many ways. Including helping to prepare his manuscripts for publication. Particularly noteworthy was her help in the writing of his last project, his remarkable Catholic Prayer Book.
• Jay McNally, journalist and biographer of Fr. Hardon. Jay has done investigative reporting for the Wanderer, the National Catholic Register, New Oxford Review and Catholic World Report, and was executive director for six years of Call to Holiness, one of the last of many apostolates founded by Fr. Hardon.

A great highlight of the event will be the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass at Assumption Grotto.

The PDF flyer is available here: HardonDayofReflectionDec29.

Blogging will be sporadic for the remaining Twelve Days of Christmas.

Pope Benedict's 2007 Urbi et Orbi Message

The full text: "A Holy Day Has Dawned Upon Us..."

[photo: AFP/OR-HO]

Pictures: Christmas with the Pope

Midnight Christmas Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, in images:

Related: "Pope Welcomes Christmas at Midnight Mass"

[photo credit: REUTERS/Max Rossi, AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito, AFP/Vincenzo Pinto]

Your PPOTD! Monday, December 24th

Many American families experience the difficulty of fitting all their Christmas decorations into one place without looking cluttered. The Vatican is no different.

[photo: AP Photo/PierPaolo Cito]

Forbes (of Positive Golden Compass fame) responds

Out of Christmas benevolence (and a new-found preoccupation with Christmas cookies), I won't immediately respond to Forbes' recent attempt to defend the positive review he authored of the Golden Compass.

But Carl did.

Tony Blair takes the papist plunge as questions remain

The primary question being whether or not he has also recanted his opposing views on abortion, etc:

• CNS: Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair received into Catholic Church
• CWNews: Blair Converts; Catholicism now England's top faith
• CNA: Tony Blair received into Catholic Church, Vatican welcomes him with respect
• CNA: Practicing Catholics now outnumber Anglicans in the UK
  

Your PPOTD! Friday, December 21st

Cardinal Sanctus was relieved to find himself in the "nice" line this year.

[photo: REUTERS/Danilo Schiavella/Pool (VATICAN)]

Vigneron to replace Maida in Detroit by mid-January?

Rocco reported Wednesday that Adam Cardinal Maida's successor in Detroit could be announced as soon as early-January, and on Friday he said rumors are growing that Bp. Allen Vigneron of Oakland will succeed him.

I think he would be a fine choice for Detroit.

Earlier this month I did a survey of the Michigan episcopate's future, which you can read here.

Anyone who doubts MMGW must work for Exxon-Mobile

In response to this news that the "consensus" on MMGW is in-fact shrinking:

"More than 400 scientists challenge claims by former Vice President Al Gore and the United Nations about the threat of man-made global warming, a new Senate minority report says."...

... Several scientists in the report said many colleagues share their skepticism about man-made climate change but don't speak out publicly for fear of retribution, according to the report.

"Many of my colleagues with whom I spoke share these views and report on their inability to publish their skepticism in the scientific or public media," atmospheric scientist Nathan Paldor, professor of Dynamical Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in the report. - Washington Times

How does the Gore camp respond? With an acknowledgement that research must continue?

After a quick review of the report, Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said 25 or 30 of the scientists may have received funding from Exxon Mobil Corp. (underlining mine)

Exxon Mobil spokesman Gantt H. Walton dismissed the accusation, saying the company is concerned about climate-change issues and does not pay scientists to bash global-warming theories.

Far from it. Why argue the science when you can accuse the opposition of corruption?

Read the U.S. Senate Committee Minority report here.

One to watch: 6-year-old "Nennolina" advances towards sainthood

CNA reports:

An Italian girl who died of cancer at the age of six and a half could soon become one of the youngest saints canonized in recent years.

On Monday Pope Benedict XVI signed papers confirming the “heroic virtues” of Antonietta Meo, who was born in Rome in 1930.

According to Vatican Radio, Meo, nicknamed “Nennolinia,” was a cheerful girl who was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of five and as a result had to have a leg amputated. She accepted her fate and, wearing a heavy prosthetic leg, continued to play with the other children at her kindergarten.

She wrote many prayers in the form of letters which, according to Vatican experts, reveal a “truly extraordinary life of mystical union” with God. In one of the letters she wrote: “Dear baby Jesus, you are holy, you are good. Help me, grant me your grace and give me back my leg. If you don't want to, then may your will be done.”

Meo died on July 3, 1937.

Church authorities are generally cautious about proclaiming young children saints. But in 1981 the head of the Vatican Congregation for Saints said “'It is possible to speak of a human being being precocious in their sense of good and evil.”

... If canonized, Antonietta Meo would be the youngest canonized saint who did not die as a martyr.

Call it a hunch, but I think she has a really good chance of rapidly becoming beatified and sainted.

Fr. Z. has a short post on her, and there is a Nennolina website (in English here).

Vultus Christi has the text of what Pope Benedict recently said of her, including: "I hope that her cause of beatification may be brought quickly to a happy conclusion." Read the full text here.

Outspoken NH Bishop says "Catholics must vote"

CNS:

Catholics must not seek to avoid difficult decisions about political candidates by choosing not to vote, Bishop John B. McCormack of Manchester said in a new document on "Conscience and Your Vote."

The bishop's diocese covers the entire state of New Hampshire, where the first primary in the 2008 presidential campaign is to take place Jan. 8. The Iowa caucuses are to take place five days earlier.

... "in order to sustain a healthy democracy, all citizens have a moral obligation to vote," he added. "Deciding not to vote therefore is an unacceptable solution, even to this difficult situation."

... "When candidates support or tolerate policies that include intrinsically evil acts, a Catholic must carefully assess the situation and decide which candidate will produce the least harm to innocent human life, if elected," he added.

The Diocese of Manchester distributed more than 50,000 copies of the bishop's document at Catholic parishes during the Dec. 15-16 weekend.

... "I know that there are some who would prefer to see the church stay out of the debate on the future course of our country," he wrote in the opinion piece. "As Catholics -- laity and clergy -- we see our participation in the public forum as a moral obligation. To sit idly by is to forsake our vocation as Christians to defend the dignity of every human person and to promote the common good."

New Hampshire's primary is January 8th.

Comments on Bp. McCormack's advice to Catholic voters?

Your PPOTD! Thursday, December 20th

The Vatican's idea of an "intimate chat."

[photo: REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN)]

Sarkozy meets with Pope Benedict

From the Vatican bulletino:

The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:

"This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the French Republic.

"The president subsequently went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

"The cordial discussions provided an opportunity to examine a number of questions of mutual interest concerning the current situation of France. Mention was made of the good relations that exist between the Catholic Church and the French Republic, and of the role of religions, especially the Catholic Church, in the world.

"Particular attention was given to the international situation with reference to the future of Europe, the conflicts in the Middle East, the social and political problems of certain African countries, and the drama of hostages.

"At the end of the conversation, best wishes were exchanged for the forthcoming Feasts of Christmas and the New Year."

More on recent Sarkozy news from the Sydney Herald Sun.

Video: The Homeschool family

If you haven't seen this before, you should:

Original source: http://www.doublesharpevideo.com/HomeSchool2/Homeschool2.html

Papal Visit Theme: "Christ Our Hope" + Official Website

A new logo to accompany the official website of the Pope's upcoming visit to the United States.

Zenit reports:

The message "Christ Our Hope" over an image of Benedict XVI before the dome of St. Peter's Basilica is the logo for the Pope's visit to the United States, April 15-20.

.... The theme reflects the Holy Father's new encyclical, "Spe Salvi," an invitation for people to personally encounter Jesus Christ. In the encyclical, the Pontiff said that faith in Christ brings well-founded hope in eternal salvation, the "great hope" that can sustain people through the trials of this world.

The logo [reproduced above, copyright USCCB] features a full color photograph of Benedict XVI waving both hands. Behind him is a yellow-screened image of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. In black type running at the top and over the cupola of the dome are three lines of type reading "Pope Benedict XVI/Christ Our Hope/Apostolic Journey to the United States 2008."

Logo designer Donna Hobson, director of publications at the Catholic University of America, explained her goal with this design.

"I wanted to incorporate the papal colors -- yellow and white," she said, "and my vision was to show a welcoming, arms-open, smiling Pope Benedict."

I wonder if they need contributors to the blog....

This post is just to give you advance warning, I'll be doing a full vetting tomorrow (hopefully).

Previous posts on the Pope's visit here.

[Ph/t: Br. Christopher.]

On the road today.

I'll be spending Christmas and New Year's with my family back in Michigan. I can't post while in the air, but sometime (Thursday or so) regular posting should resume. Blessings upon all those traveling these weeks!

Breaking: Peter Jackson to film Tolkien's "The Hobbit" in two films

You heard that right. Plans that had previously fallen through have now been patched up.

The gist from AFP:

Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson has settled a feud with Hollywood studio New Line and will make two films based on J.R.R Tolkien's "The Hobbit," a statement said Tuesday....

.... As with the "Lord of the Rings," the movies will be shot simultaneously before being released separately. Principal photography was likely to begin in 2009 before the release of the films in 2010 and 2011.

An interesting comment from Lew Harris, editor of Movies.com:

New Line have discovered with 'The Golden Compass' that not anybody can make a movie like this," he added referring to the studio's recent fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman which has struggled at the US box-office.

Correction: "Not anything (that includes anti-Christian fantasy) can make a movie like this."

(But I'll keep my peace.)

I'm not quite sure about splitting the story into two films, but then again it does makes sense if you want to squeeze everything in. And you should. By the by, the combined worldwide box office gross of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy stands just under $3 billion. Great Gimli's beard!

Other sources:

• AP: "Hard 'Hobbit' to Break: Jackson's In"
• MGM CEO talks to Entertainment Weekly
• Coverage from TheOneRing.net

... and there's already an official "The Hobbit Movie Blog."

There ya have it!

Your PPOTD! Tuesday, December 17th

The Pope's message to youth: "Rock. On. [For Christ]"

(A common theme of his pontificate.)

[photo: (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)]

O'Rourke and Hardt fail to make a canonical case against providing nutrition/hydration to PVS patients

From my father Canon Lawyer Ed Peter's blog, In the Light of the Law:

Bio-ethicist Dr. John Hardt and canonist Rev. Kevin O'Rourke are trying to use canon law against a Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Responsum that upholds the basic right of patients in a "persistent vegetative state" to nutrition and hydration. I think their arguments are flawed. Here I summarize the events leading up to the CDF Response and then assess Hardt and O'Rourke's attempt to minimize its impact. [Read the full text.]

Related: "CDF releases clarification (confirmation) re: nutrition & hydration" (Sep. 14th)

Latin Mass makes it to the cover of U.S. News & World Report

Will Cubbedge dropped me a line today, and I paraphrase:

The attached image is from the celebrant featured in the cover photo from this week's US News and World Report. Msgr. Charles Pope performed my marriage, and I'm serving the mass pictured as 1st Acolyte.

Here is the article:

"A Return to Tradition" - A new interest in old ways takes root in Catholicism and many other faiths

Noted: Vatican Nativity Scene to be set in Nazareth, not Bethlehem

CWNews:

In a break from tradition, the life-sized crèche in St. Peter's Square will show Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in their home at Nazareth rather than in a stable in Bethlehem, the Vatican has announced.

Instead of the familiar scene of the Baby Jesus laid in a manger, the Vatican's Nativity scene this year will show the infant Jesus in a home that also includes his father's workshop. No reason has been given for the change.

The crèche will include many of the same figures that have been used in the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square for the past 25 years. Several new statues have been added this year, however.

The Christmas crèche, located in the center of St. Peter's Square, was introduced to the Vatican in 1982 at the suggestion of Pope John Paul II. The Nativity scene, which is currently under construction, is unveiled after midnight Mass on Christmas eve.

Time to give St. Joseph a little attention...?

From the papist archives:

St. Joseph by Gerard van Honthorst, c. 1620. Gallery of his paintings here.

Post Script: Mahony's Plea for Sympathy

Diogenes looks at the improbabilities surrounding Cdl. Mahony's claim that he was assaulted.

Related:

• Follow-up: LAPD begins investigation of Cdl. Mahony assault claim
• Report: Mahony tells priests he was assaulted near L.A.'s cathedral

Your PPOTD! Sunday, December 16th

Recently, film director Franco Zefferelli offered to "help the Pope overhaul his image"....

.... Because, ya know, it's such a bad image he has going on right now.

[photo: REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (ITALY)]

Pope Benedict on the Christmas Tree

Today Pope Benedict talked briefly and beautifully about Christmas symbol and tradition:

[The Christmas Tree] is an important symbol of Christ's Nativity because with its evergreen leaves it recalls the life that does not die.

The tree and the nativity scene are elements of that typical Christmas atmosphere which is part of the spiritual heritage of our communities; an atmosphere suffused with religiosity and family intimacy which we must conserve even in our modern societies where the race to consumerism and the search for material goods sometimes seem to prevail.

Christmas is a Christian feast and its symbols, especially the nativity scene and the tree hung with gifts, are important references to the great mystery of the Incarnation and the Birth of Jesus, which are constantly evoked by the liturgy of Advent and Christmas. - CNA

The fir donated to the Vatican is 86 feet tall, 140 years old, and over 3 tons.

And I'm keeping my eyes out for a nice high-resolution picture of it on display in the square....

(... I think it might make a nice Christmas wallpaper.)

Pope to Youth: "Spe Salvi" Is for You

Benedict XVI is encouraging university students to have group reflections on the theme of hope in the modern world, using his encyclical "Spe Salvi."

The Pope spiritually entrusted his second encyclical to the young people today, in a traditional pre-Christmas encounter with Rome's university students.

...

"Is the theme of hope perhaps not particularly suitable for youth?" - Zenit

As I've said before, "Whatta Pope!"

Breaking out the big smile for the university students, too:

[photo: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia]

NH Diocese "urges Catholic voters to support life"

As America's first presidential primary contest approaches, the Diocese of Manchester has asked New Hampshire's Catholic voters to be mindful of Church teachings, particularly those involving the sanctity of human life.

The diocese has announced plans to distribute 50,000 copies of a pamphlet entitled Conscience and Your Vote. While urging voters to consider a wide range of issues, the pamphlet indicates clearly that questions involving the dignity of human life and marriage must be considered paramount. - CWNews.

What a welcome notion. The text of the pamphlet is available online here.

McCain, meanwhile, holds a conference call with "Catholic leaders". CNA has that story.

St. Gabriel Possenti: "Patron Saint of Handgunners"

No, I'm not kidding. Or at least, these folks aren't.

From the St. Gabriel Possenti Society website:

The St. Gabriel Possenti Society promotes the public recognition of St. Gabriel Possenti, including his Vatican designation as Patron Saint of Handgunners.

St. Gabriel Possenti was a Catholic seminarian whose marksmanship and proficiency with handguns single-handedly saved the village of Isola, Italy from a band of 20 terrorists in 1860.

The Possenti Society offers a variety of materials related to St. Gabriel Possenti and a biblical understanding of self-defense.

So why the pistol and lizard in their emblem? Well, the story goes:

In 1860, a band of soldiers from the army of Garibaldi entered the mountain village of Isola, Italy. They began to burn and pillage the town, terrorizing its inhabitants.

Possenti, with his seminary rector's permission, walked into the center of town, unarmed, to face the terrorists. One of the soldiers was dragging off a young woman he intended to rape when he saw Possenti and made a snickering remark about such a young monk being all alone.

Possenti quickly grabbed the soldier's revolver from his belt and ordered the marauder to release the woman. The startled soldier complied, as Possenti grabbed the revolver of another soldier who came by. Hearing the commotion, the rest of the soldiers came running in Possenti's direction, determined to overcome the rebellious monk.

At that moment a small lizard ran across the road between Possenti and the soldiers. When the lizard briefly paused, Possenti took careful aim and struck the lizard with one shot. Turning his two handguns on the approaching soldiers, Possenti commanded them to drop their weapons. Having seen his handiwork with a pistol, the soldiers complied. Possenti ordered them to put out the fires they had set, and upon finishing, marched the whole lot out of town, ordering them never to return. The grateful townspeople escorted Possenti in triumphant procession back to the seminary, thereafter referring to him as "the Savior of Isola".

Aspiring Catholic movie makers, I think you've found your plot. (But read on....)

If you want to understand the society a bit better, a look at their links page reveals a list of resources on Saint Gabriel Possenti ... as well as "Firearm links." You can also buy St. Gabriel Possenti tokens and the founder of the society exhibits materials (including the Saint's biography entitled "Gun Saint") at NRA meetings. The "What you can do" page recommends distributing the tokens at "gun shows and in gun stores" or "deposit[ing] them in church collection baskets."

Most recently, the interdenominational society presented an award to the woman who fired upon a "madman" who killed two worshippers at New Life Chuch in Colorado Springs last week.

Personally, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the petition to designate St. Gabriel Possenti the "Patron Saint of Handgunners" to get approved.

As for the legend of St. Gabriel's gunslinging ways, it appears to be just that.

The Wikipedia author, for instance, is very skeptical (and cites sources):

A campaign is under way in the United States to have Saint Gabriel declared patron of hand-gunners. This is in reference to an apocryphal story which has the saint rescuing the town of Isola from marauding bandits, using the skills from hunting he had learnt as a boy. Whilst this story is mentioned in one biography of the saint,[15] the author admits that some of the accounts in his book were invented to “enliven” the story.[16] No account of the alleged event is present in another independently researched biography of the saint[17][18][19][20], in particular early sources of the saint’s life[21][22][23] making such an incident seem unlikely. Moreover at the time of the alleged incident (1860) Gabriel was in the later stages of tuberculosis making such a strenuous exercise impossible for one in such a condition.[24]

His Catholic Encyclopedia entry makes no mention of the tale.

Fr. Robert F. McNamara reproduces the story but adds:

"Recently, some pistol fans have asked the present pope to name St. Gabriel Possenti the patron saint of pistol-bearers. The Passionists have rightly rejected such a thought. Even if Gabriel knew how to use a gun in self-defense, he would surely have deplored showing any fondness for a weapon that has been used to assassinate Pope John Paul II and many other victims of modern terrorism."

The God, Guns & Glory blog isn't so discerning.

Catholic Enyclopedia notes:

It is the express wish of Leo XIII and Pius X that he should be regarded as the chief patron of the youth of today, and especially as the patron of young religious, both novices and professed, in all that concerns their interior lives.

... for reasons other than his excellent markmenship, I'd wager.

Still, we can certainly pray to St. Gabriel Possenti for gun safety.

(And maybe for success in lizard hunting?)

[photo 1: St. Gabriel Possenti Society.]
[photo 2: The Shot. Copyright by John Michael Snyder.]

CDF releases doctrinal note on evangelization

Running to Mass now, but here are the links:

• VIS short "summary outlining the main points of the new document"
• More complete text of the document's summary points.
• update: full text of doctrinal note inPDF format. {Ph/t: Amy.}
• Press conference remarks (Cdls. Levada & Arinze in English, scroll down)
• Catholic commentary from Rocco & Diogenes.
• update: Catholic coverage from CWNews, CNA & CNS.
• Mainstream coverage by AGI & TIME.

My pre-release coverage: "Curia all-stars to release document on Evangelization and Catechesis"

update: AGI is casting this document in light of the Russian Orthodox - Roman Catholic tension:

"This principal seems to respond to the worries of the Russian orthodox church, which accuse the Catholic Church of using economic means for conversions."

In addition, TIME magazine mentions India:

"Roman Catholics have also faced tensions in several states in India, accused by Hindu nationalists of aggressive attempts to convert Hindus."

Cardinal Arinze, in his "anthropolical considerations" of evangelization, highlights African Traditional Religion:

"Since I come from a country in Africa South of the Sahara, I would like to apply some anthropological implications of evangelization discussed by this Doctrinal Note to areas in Africa South of the great desert. In these regions, African Traditional Religion has been the dominant religious and cultural context for centuries. It is also from that context that most converts to Christianity in these countries in the past two hundred years have come."

Diogenes finds in the document a "timely rebuke to Cardinal Kasper for his deplorably wet remarks on the Anglican situation" and quotes his statement.

With Russia, India, Africa and England represented here, I think it's safe to say this is a global message.

Video: "Endorse me, Mom."

... or else, says Hillary:



"She was never envious of anybody."

Now that's impressive.

Al Gore & the Pope's Holiday Un-Greenery

Apologies in advance for mentioning Al Gore. Don't be upset - my purpose this time is to amuse:

"Al Gore, who was criticized for high electric bills at his Tennessee mansion, has completed a host of improvements to make the home more energy efficient, and a building-industry group has praised the house as one of the nation's most environmentally friendly.

The former vice president has installed solar panels, a rainwater-collection system and geothermal heating. He also replaced all incandescent lights with compact fluorescent or light-emitting diode bulbs — even on his Christmas tree." - AP

... did you catch it? That's right, Al Gore murdered a tree. Unless, of course, he went outside and decorated a living tree. Or had the tree delicately removed from its soil with the roots intact. Somehow, I doubt it.

Of course, over in uber-industrialized Rome, Pope Benedict has wantonly decreed the merciless felling of a mighty, old-growth, 140-year-old, 75-foot-plus, 3-ton Christmas tree. With the decoration lights included, I have no idea how much net carbon dioxide is going to be released into the atmosphere. Probably some.

To add insult to injury, that huge tree is going to be plopped-down right next to a nativity scene.

What are its seventeen life-sized nativity figures made from? You guessed it: previously-living wood.

And the worst of it is, Santa can't give either of these two a lump of coal for Christmas. They might burn it.

New report offers confirmation that Pope dissolved secret Legion vows

Rorate Caeli translates an excerpt from an article published yesterday in Mexican newspaper La Jornada:

"The derogation of the secret vows of the Legionaries"

The Pope has derogated the private vows of the Legionaries of Christ, precisely those which were used by the superiors of this religious congregation to protect themselves from possible complaints. The sources of news agencies indicate that these are "parallel measures" to the disciplinary penalty imposed on Marcial Maciel for sexual abuses in 2006.

Pope Benedict XVI had personally asked for the repeal of the private vows professed by the seminarians and priests of the Legionaries of Christ. These were oaths, related to the internal life of the order, which assured its secrecy and impermeability: the first [oath of "charity"] prevented any kind of criticism of superiors and their decisions by members, while the second [oath of "humility"] forbade the religious men from aspiring to positions within it.

{Read the entire report (in Spanish).}

I covered this story last month: Did the Pope dissolve two private vows in the Legionaries of Christ?

Ph/t: Amy.

Did the Pope condemn "climate change prophets of doom"?

Earlier this week (the day it was issued), I blogged that Pope Benedict had released his Message for the 2008 Day of World Peace. Paragraphs 7 & 8 of that document are entitled "The family, the human community and the environment." Vatican analyst John Allen, in his coverage of the document, said that it represented a "distinctively Catholic shade of green." An excerpt:

On the environmental front, however, Benedict is also well aware that his budding eco-advocacy has drawn fire from critics who warn that it gives aid and comfort to radical secular environmentalists, including thinkers who deny any special moral status to human beings or who reject Biblical notions of human stewardship of the earth as excessively "anthropocentric."

Thus in today’s message, Benedict was careful to signal that he’s not ready to sign up for an “Earth First!” membership card.

I think that's a fairly accurate read of the situation, and nothing here should surprise anyone who is aware of the Church's long-standing tradition of respecting the environment but giving humanity priority.

Today, however, the UK Daily Mail tried to make the Pope's message sensational:

"The Pope condemns the climate change prophets of doom"

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.

Of course, you don't find the DM using any quotation marks because the Pope said nothing so specific.

I think two excerpts from the actual document are most pertinent to this question:

#7 ...Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow. It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances....

#8 ...In this regard, it is essential to “sense” that the earth is “our common home” and, in our stewardship and service to all, to choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions...

Here Pope Benedict is making the simple (but almost universally-ignored) observation that the rush to arrive at a "consensus" in the man-made global-warming debate is a disservice to humanity (when it spreads overblown fears and promotes useless "solutions"), and furthermore that artificial, ideologically-driven consensus violates the usual methods of good scientific hypothesis-testing.

Pope Benedict spends a large portion of his message speaking about the role prudence should play:

"Prudence does not mean failing to accept responsibilities and postponing decisions; it means being committed to making joint decisions after pondering responsibly the road to be taken, decisions aimed at strengthening that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying."

He also succintly lays out the two poles of morality that should guide decision-making about the environment:

Human beings, obviously, are of supreme worth vis-à-vis creation as a whole. Respecting the environment does not mean considering material or animal nature more important than man. Rather, it means not selfishly considering nature to be at the complete disposal of our own interests, for future generations also have the right to reap its benefits and to exhibit towards nature the same responsible freedom that we claim for ourselves.

In what remains (I've already quoted practically everything he has to say), Pope Benedict notes:

• The poor must not be excluded their share in the goods of creation.
• By the same token, the costs of preserving the environment must be shared justly.
• Technologically advanced countries should reassess their levels of consumption (a good reminder at Christmas ) and search for alternative sources of energy for greater efficiency.
• Emerging countries should not have their energy reserves exploited by richer nations.

Three comments that the Pope makes I'm still pondering:

• "Further international agencies may need to be established in order to confront together the stewardship of this “home” of ours..."

Frankly, I think the international agencies currently in existence are most guilty of the temptation to be "inhibited by ideological pressure" and for that reason "draw hasty conclusions." So why exactly would more help a situation that is already plagued by the existing ones?

• "...more important [than international agencies], however, is the need for ever greater conviction about the need for responsible cooperation."

Again, those who are not cooperating seem to be the same folks who are resisting the temptation to - wait for it - "draw hasty conclusions" and become "inhibited by ideological pressure." Isn't that so?

And then this single line:

• "The problems looming on the horizon are complex and time is short."

Sadly, sometimes I think these documents embrace ambiguous phrasing to leave some "hedge room." The problem is, this sentence can be taken to mean precisely whatever it is you take to be the problem and then imbues this self-defined problem with a sense of urgency ("time is short"). In a debate charged with a) lack of clarity and b) exaggeration ... this exhibits both, in my opinion.

Meanwhile, I wouldn't get too perturbed by the UK Daily Mail story. If you need any sense of that publication's journalistic integrity, you need only take a look at the poll it is running today: "Are American Women Better Groomed than British Females?"

The answer looming on the horizon is complex ... and time is short!

Alan Keyes squeeks into today's GOP debate

MSNBC's First Read:

There is one additional Republican presidential candidate who will be on the stage here at the GOP Des Moines Register/Iowa Public Television debate this afternoon: Alan Keyes.

This will be the first major debate this cycle featuring the former presidential candidate and ambassador, who most recently faced off against Barack Obama in the 2004 Illinois Senate race (even though he actually hails from Maryland). Keyes did participate in the Tavis Smiley-moderated GOP debate in September, which the top Republican candidates skipped.

In the cross hairs this afternoon - Huckabee: "Today marks the first GOP meeting since Huckabee shot to the top of polls in Iowa and near the top of polls nationally." - Des Moines Register

And among the Democrats, Hillary's poll woes continue (but I'm betting she'll weather it).

You can watch the debate live (2pm EST) right here.

Your PPOTD! Wednesday, December 12th

Pope Benedict demonstrates the inadequacy of sola scriptura by standing on one leg.

[photo: AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito]

Finally, a snazzy website from the Vatican: Clerus.org

Amy and Dom are all atwitter.

Here is the English-language link: BIBLIA CLERUS.

The intro:

This program offers Sacred Scripture, its interpretation in light of Sacred Tradition and the teachings of the Magisterium, with appropriate theological commentary and exegesis.

The downloadable version allows you to connect Sacred Scripture to the complete works of many Doctors of the Church, Councils, Encyclicals, teachings of the Popes, Catechisms, as well as commentaries from secular literature, etc.

It looks to be a good resource, and at first glance, I'm happy that they sprung for a little eye candy on the homepage. As much as we all love Vatican.va, let's face it: parchment background is so 1994.... ;-)

I'm going to resist perusing this site until I'm done with this week's pressing obligations. You, on the other hand, are more than welcome to shirk your urgent responsibilities and check out the site.

Video: 1964 Dominican Vocations Film

What better way to start your day?

Some of these clips were filmed at the Dominican House of Studies, where I attend classes and work now:



Excerpts from "And the world looks at us", a 1964 Dominican Province of Saint Joseph vocation film written by Fr. Dominic Rover, O.P., and narrated by Dana Elcar. The original film was 28 min in length. The scenes included here were filmed at St. Stephen Priory in Dover, MA, the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C., and St. Dominic Church, Washington, D.C. From the archives of the Dominican Theological Library at the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C. - DHS Priory YouTube Channel

Of course, this isn't just history.

LSN cites widespread call for bishops to restaff film review office

LSN reports:

In light of the fact that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Office for Film and Broadcasting withdrew its positive review for "The Golden Compass", Catholic leaders are reissuing a call for the Bishops to fire their film office director. Harry Forbes, the director of the USCCB, was listed as primary author for the much contested Compass review but was also the author of a December 2005 glowing review for the homosexual propaganda film Brokeback Mountain.

Human Life International (HLI) Leader Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer commented to LifeSiteNews.com on the latest developments. "I'm very happy of course that the review has been taken down from the bishops' website, so there's no more damage that can be done by that particular review," he said.

Noting that Forbes also authored the positive review of Brokeback Mountain, Euteneuer said, "However the bishops need to correct the anomaly of having someone on staff who speaks in their name making these kinds of reviews of movies."

The HLI Leader added: "It's a scandal and I renew the call that this man should resign or be fired."

LSN also includes the contact information for those wishing to lodge a complaint.

They've also republished Forbes' previous review of Brokeback Mountain:

While the actions taken by Ennis and Jack cannot be endorsed, the universal themes of love and loss ring true.

Related: "Denver Archbishop Chaput Criticizes USCCB Film Office [Review]":

In the December 12 issue of The Denver Catholic Register, Archbishop Charles Chaput makes a thinly veiled criticism of the positive review of 'The Golden Compass' put out by the Office of Film of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). That USCCB review first posted November 29, a week prior to the film's debut on Dec. 7, was withdrawn yesterday, without explanation.

In his review of the film, Chaput writes that "The aggressively anti-religious, anti-Christian undercurrent in "The Golden Compass" is unmistakable and at times undisguised." He adds, "The idea that any Christian film critics could overlook or downplay these negative elements, as some have seemed to do, is simply baffling.'

That line bears directly on the positive review for the controversial film by USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting Director Harry Forbes and his colleague John Mulderig.

Briefly noted: "The Most Overpaid Celebrities" (underlining mine):

Once you’re in Hollywood's A-list earnings club, it’s hard to get kicked out, no matter how badly your films perform at the box office.

Case in point: Oscar winner Nicole Kidman. She earned an estimated $15 million for her latest film, The Golden Compass, known around the studio lot these days as the biggest turkey of 2007. It grossed a dreary $26 million when it debuted stateside last weekend, though its reported budget flirted with $200 million. (That's Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings territory.) The film garnered a respectable $55 million overseas since its release, but it's unlikely the international box office will salvage this expensive pic.

Ouch.

Benedict outlines "distinctively Catholic shade of green" in '08 Peace Message

Again, just the essentials at present:

• VIS summary: MESSAGE FOR WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2008
• VIS: Cdl. Martino presents the document...
• Full Text: MESSAGE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE

Commentary by John Allen: In World Peace Day message, Benedict paints a Catholic shade of green.

"Phan-atic" Georgetown Prof. corrected by USCCB doctrine committee

Since I'm crunched for time today, just the links:

• CNA: Bishops’ Doctrine Committee corrects theologian for relativistic book
• CNS: Theologian's book could mislead faithful, bishops' committee says
• Zenit: U.S. Bishops' Statement on Book of Father Peter Phan [of Georgetown.]
• John Allen: U.S. bishops fault Phan for 'considerable confusion' on Christ, non-Christian religions

Previously reported back in early September, when he was being investigated by CDF.

Your PPOTD! Tuesday, December 11th

"Liberal Catholics experience significant work-related anxiety at the Vatican."

[photo: AP Photo]

Flash: USCCB *withdraws* its Golden Compass review

Someone pinch me:

Today the U.S. bishops withdrew the review of the film “The Golden Compass,” which opened in theaters in the United States Dec. 7. The review was written by Harry Forbes and John Mulderig, the director and staff reviewer respectively of the Office for Film and Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The review was released and posted on the CNS Web site Nov. 29. The USCCB gave no reason for withdrawing the review.

Since CNS is a distributor of media reviews of the OFB, it must respect the office’s withdrawal of its review. Effective Dec. 10, the review of “The Golden Compass” will not be available on the CNS Web site. It will not be included in subsequent listings of USCCB film reviews and classifications. - CNS News Hub

ph/t: Insight Scoop.

From that comment thread: "One shoe has dropped. The other would be either to replace Forbes or to issue a statement from the USCCB about the problems with THE GOLDEN COMPASS and why the USCCB doesn't appreciate the deceitful use of its review, as lame as the review was."

It's hard to appreciate how significant a change this represents. Back when the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting released a positive review of Brokeback Mountain, there was scattered protest but the story didn't get all that much traction (at least, as I remember it). This time, however, New Line Cinema took the positive review of The Golden Compass that they issued and ran with it. New Line's ill-advised decision to use the endorsement of the "U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops" along with widespread criticism of the review from Catholics conspired to create a perfect storm of embarrassment for the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting.

[As an aside: I do have to note that I remain continually surprised how many positive adjustments have come about as a result of the protests mounted in the Catholic blogosphere and elsewhere throughout this story. First New Line pulled their most-offensive online advertisements (though they still made it to the newspapers). Then they gave up on their efforts to have similar ads run in Catholic Publications. Now the USCCB is removing the offensive review (instead of tinkering with it a la the Brokeback Mountin example). Let's hope we haven't see the end of this little chain of victories.]

Frankly, without sugar-coating the mistakes that led up to the USCCB's Office for F&B releasing the faulty review, it's a rather gutsy move on the part of the USCCB to pull the review, because it essentially pulls the rug out from under an already-struggling movie. By the same token, however, perhaps the near-universal panning the movie has received by the mainstream establishment provided the USCCB with the "in" they needed to yank the review: i.e., Forbes and Mulderig not only ignored the film's anti-Catholic background, but also represented a pathetic lack of artistic sensibility - the prime quality professional movie reviewers are supposed to possess.

I've intentionally refrained from calling for the firing/resignation of Forbes and Mulderig over this controversy. I recognize that this review (especially when combined with Brokeback Mountain) seems to show a grave lack of responsibility on their part, but on the whole I've tended to see the USCCB reviews as mostly harmless. However, when those same reviews are taken almost at face value to mislead the faithful, that is far more serious. And sometimes, stupidity and ineptitude should cause you to lose your job as quickly as malevolence.

I would certainly join the many, many folks who have been saying that Stephen Gredanus of DecentFilms.com would do a far superior job. For one thing, he's already demonstrated good taste and firm orthodoxy.

And wouldn't that be a wonderful example of good things coming from bad circumstances? Consider: long after New Line's unfortunate foray into anti-Catholic fantasy has been relegated to the DVD sales rack, the USCCB might actually be running a functional, relevant, informed, respected and Catholic movie-reviewing service!

More on this developing story as I see it .... let's see if/when the other shoe drops.

In the meantime, I've been covering this topic (seemingly ad nauseum) here if you need to catch up.

update: This development puts me in mind of something I pointed out last Sunday:

"Awkwardly and ironically, Harry Forbes and John Mulderig of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting appear to have been left holding the bag by the mainstream reviewers."

And what do you do with a bag when you're left holding it? Well, if you're smart, you drop it.

update 2: the Washington Times notices:

The poor box-office performance and indifferent critical buzz — just a 44 percent share of favorable reviews at the popular site Rotten Tomatoes — put the church in the unexpected position of being one of the film's highest-profile champions. The original USCCB review, written by Mr. Forbes, has been cited in the film's ads.

"Secular critics were panning the movie as a poor piece of art, while Catholic critics were concerned with Pullman's underlying agenda," Mr. [Pete] Vere said. "Thus the USCCB review was out of touch with both the secular culture and the Catholic subculture. The bishops need to revisit how that office is run."

update 3: CNA chimes in, and LifeSiteNews demands an explanation for the USCCB.

Meanwhile, Chris Kaltenbach of a Baltimore Sun blog provides a classic example of why this review needed to be withdrawn. Besides calling Bill Donahue "apoplectic", and confusing CNS for the USCCB's Office for F&B, he spends the rest of his time admiring Forbes and Mulderig's take on things. Oops.

update 4: Since several folks have asked: "Comments on the review of 'The Golden Compass' or its withdrawal by the USCCB can be sent to CommDept@usccb.org." - CNS News Hub

update 5: LifeSiteNews, which has a long track record for success in these types of initiatives, recommends contacting Cardinal George, the USCCB president, or his secretary:

USCCB President

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.

Archdiocese of Chicago

155 E. Superior Street

Chicago, IL 60611

312-751- 8200

mfox@archchicago.org

From what I've heard, the best way to be noticed is a physical letter, followed by a phone call.

Debate topic: The future of the Michigan episcopate

This is a busy week for me, so posting will be less frequent. On the upside, however, I'll be trying to focus on topics and questions that provoke debate and welcome contributions, like this one, concerning the future of the Michigan episcopate.

Rocco reports today that, after a month of near-silence, several rumors broke out that Pope Benedict was about to nominate a new Archbishop for Detroit. Those rumors just as quickly went bust. But Rocco concludes, "That's not to say an appointment isn't closer than it had been... just don't expect anything immediately." Yeah, I've been hearing those kinds of things for years.

Rocco lists these bishops as having been mentioned as possible successors to Maida at one point or another:

• Archbishop John Myers of Newark
• Bp. Robert Carlson of Saginaw
• Bp. Terry Steib of Memphis
• Bp. Thomas Wenski of Orlando
• Bp. John Nienstedt of New Ulm
• Msgr. Robert Sable of Detroit

The current favorite in Rocco's opinion? Bp. Allen Vigneron of Oakland, "himself a former Detroit auxiliary and rector of its Sacred Heart Major Seminary." Vigneron is well-regarded by Cardinals Maida and Szoka.

Here's the roundup for Michigan dioceses, and the bishops who are currently serving them:

• Archdiocese of Detroit, under Cdl. Maida, is 2.73 years past the retirement age limit.
• In second place, the Diocese of Lansing, Bp. Mengeling is 2.13 years past retirement.
• In third place, the Diocese of Kalamazoo, where Bp. Murray is 0.43 years past 75 (since July).
• Bp. Cooney, of the Diocese of Gaylord, will reach retirement in 1.75 years.
• Bp. Hurley, of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, will reach retirement in 4.47 years.
• Bp. Carlson of the Diocese of Saginaw, meanwhile, is almost 11.55 years away.
• And finally, Bp. Sample, the second-youngest bishop in the U.S., has 27.81 years to go.

In other words, in the next five years, Michigan could see 5 out of its 7 dioceses change hands.

Back in 1995, my father Ed Peters published an article in Homiletic & Pastoral Review entitled "The Coming Bishop Crunch", available online here. In it, he says:

"The question I want to consider now is simple: during just the three years from 2005 to 2007, where will we find 45 men "outstanding for their solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence and other virtues and talents, possessing advanced degrees or true expertise in scripture, theology, canon law..." (1983 CIC 378) to fill those episcopal slots? If only for mathematical reasons, we can't count on the present pool of bishops to cover the bases." [Read on.]

Looking to the particular situation in Michigan, many folks expect (with some good reason) that one of the four currently-serving Detroit auxiliaries will be tapped to take over a Michigan diocese eventually:

• Earl Alfred Boyea, Jr - 56, native of Pontiac, MI. He would be a good candidate, I think.
• Daniel Ernest Flores - The youngest U.S. Bishop (I believe) at 46. Ordained a priest for Corpus Christi, TX. Gauranteed, in my humble opinion, his own diocese eventually, but I doubt it will be in Michigan.
• John Michael Quinn - Almost 62, born in Detroit. I've heard him proposed for Lansing.
• Francis Ronald Reiss - 67, also born in Detroit. I've never heard much about him.

Of the above, I'd say Bp. Quinn taking over the Diocese of Lansing from Bp. Mengeling has the highest probability of happening. Second to that would be Boyea taking over either Lansing or *maybe* Kalamazoo. Flores is performing a critical service among the spanish-speaking communitees in Detroit, and I don't think there is anywhere (in Michigan) he could be more fruitfully employed. I'd be surprised to see Reiss go anywhere.

Allright, that's my $0.02, the comments are open.... have at it.

update: Publius brings up a line of speculation that slipped my mind:

"Boyea has been rumored to take over Fort Wayne-South Bend when the over-75 Bishop D'Arcy retires...Of course thats just a rumor. It does make some sense though, FW-SB has a history of recieving auxiliary Bishop's from elsewhere and Boyea has an academic background which would help him deal with Notre Dame. Regardless, Fort Wayne-South Bend is a see not to be overlooked namely because of Notre Dame."

To which I would add that Boyea served as the academic dean of Sacred Heart Major Seminary (where most Michigan seminarians receive formation ) and he still maintains a presence there.

update 2: An on-the-ground source adds that Boyea also served as rector of the Josiphinum in Columbus (thanks to J.D. Aquila in the combox as well), and used to write the Q. & A. for the Michigan Catholic.

Catholic News Highlights - Dec. 10th

CWNews:

• Mary's purity: antidote for consumerism
• Avoid materialism, hypocrisy at Christmas, Pope says

CNA:

• Rare Michelangelo sketch of St. Peter's found
• "Voice of the Faithful" organizer now advising Obama
• "Golden Compass" disoriented at box office
• One million copies of new encyclical already sold
• Holy See and Israel close to bilateral agreement, says Israeli ambassador
• Shootings leave churches in mourning, Archbishop of Denver offers prayers
• Anglican Church continues to divide

Zenit:

• Young People Losing Hope, Says Pope

Your PPOTD! Monday, December 10th

Obscure trivia fact #27: "The Eastern Churches apply their

rules of episcopal ordination to ceremonial cake cutting as well."

[photo: AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)]

Exclusive: New Line did *not* withdraw all of its misleading ads

Remember those grossly-misleading online advertisements produced by New Line Cinema claiming the U.S Bishops had said that their new movie, The Golden Compass, is "An exciting adventure story, entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching"?

Remember how they changed the online advertisements to read "An exciting adventure story. Intelligent and well crafted - U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops" after some pressure?

Remember that they scrapped plans to run this advertisement in "the nation's top 50 Catholic diocesan papers", as reported by LifeSiteNews, owing to pressure from many named sources, including Amy Welborn and myself?

Well, this afternoon while I was taking a ride on the metro, I was reading a very popular daily newspaper, and what did I see in the movie section but the following...

(update: thanks to the reader who retouched the original image for clarity.)

Here, once again, is the original advertisement text reading "'The Golden Compass' Is An Exciting Adventure Story, Entirely in Harmony With Catholic Teaching." - U.S. Conference of CATHOLIC BISHOPS."

Go ahead, open up a local newspaper, I wouldn't be surprised if you find the same (misleading) endorsement.

Granted, these ads were probably purchased some time shortly after the review was published (or given to the New Line folks), and it's much more difficult to pull or edit a newspaper ad than an online one. But the fact remains that the initial advertising "push" for this movie in the most-read U.S. news dailies includes this fallacious quote.

Another observation: the other endorsements in this advertisement, besides "the U.S. Bishops", are by "CBS-FM Radio, Maxim, E!, Parade.com and The London Sun." Notably absent, I would submit, are the regular "top" movie reviewers: New York Times, LA Times, Variety, Ebert & Roeper, etc.

Awkwardly and ironically, Harry Forbes and John Mulderig of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting appear to have been left holding the bag by the mainstream reviewers. And in an unfortunate development, one can begin to speculate if their gushing review wasn't in-fact prompted by something other than aesthetic wonder. I mean, since when does a vocally anti-Catholic, "anti-God" author merit some sort of benefit of the doubt when his books are adapted to the silver screen? How did the mainstream reviewers find so many flaws?

To review: 1) movie debuts. 2) U.S. Bishops'-sponsored reviewers laud it for it's artistic merit, 3) mainstream-affiliated reviewers pan it for it's artistic content, 4) movie bombs. 5) AmP scratches his head.

For AmP's previous coverage of The Golden Compass, click here.

Humor: "Why is the Pope Snubbing Boston?"

For entertainment purposes *only*:

[Source: TheOnion]

Photo: "InternationalPapist"

Reader Adam brings up a good point:

"... out of all the Catholics I know over here in Manchester, England, at least half visit AmericanPapist regularly, so you are by no means an American only website! While we might not quite get all the senator/politics stuff, we love the papist stuff!"

Indeed, if "PapistAmerican" didn't sound so akward, that might more adequately grasp what this blog strives to provide: news and content of interest to a papist living in America. Remember, Catholic means "universal."

... which explains some of those other dots.

Golden Compass suffers "disaster" opening weekend, no sequels expected

Not to engage in schadenfreude, but let's follow the trajectory and see where it points:

Stage 1: The Golden Compass actor Sam Elliot starts off optimistic:

"Sam Elliot said he doesn’t expect the controversy surrounding his new film ‘The Golden Compass’ to affect its run in the box office. If anything, Elliot says, it will cause more people to see the film and read the books it is based off of."

Stage 2: Marketwatch wonders if the controversy will hurt the box office:

"It's often said in the film business that any kind of publicity is good, but that may not be the case with New Line Cinema's new release, "The Golden Compass."

Stage 3: Reuters reports that The Golden Compass "dissapoints at box office":

"The Golden Compass," a costly fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, got off to a slow start at the North American box office and will likely fall short of opening-weekend expectations.

New Line Cinema's $180 million film sold an estimated $8.8 million worth of tickets during its first day in theaters on Friday, according to data issued on Saturday by tracking firm Box Office Mojo."

Stage 4: Meanwhile, on meta-review site Rotten Tomatoes, GC scores a measly 44%:

"The best you can say about The Golden Compass is that it's merely the second-dullest Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craig film this year." - New York Post

Stage 5: Now in free-fall, Ropes of Silicon declares The Golden Compass "a Box-Office Disaster!":

"Out this week were two quality films in Juno and Atonement. On top of that you have the big budget fantasy epic from New Line The Golden Compass, which cost the studio $180 million to make and probably close to a bajillion dollars to market. Unfortunately for New Line the headline at Fantasy Moguls doesn't bode well for a sequel or the film itself, "GOLDEN COMPASS is a disaster w/$9M Friday & $27M 3-day."

"Yup, our very own Laremy Legel predicted the film would come in at #1 with upwards of $44 million, but it seems the film is going to fall flat and those hoping for a feature adaptation of "The Subtle Knife" or "The Amber Spyglass" are going to have to cry yourselves to sleep tonight as the fate of those two films relied on the success of this first one and $27 million opening weekend isn't going to cut it." (underlining mine.)

I don't know what the future holds, but if I had to guess, I'd wager that one could only accurately describe Stage 6 as a post mortum. Sometimes, the dust bin isn't so unfit a destination. And this is one of those times.

For AmP's previous coverage of The Golden Compass, click here.

update/related:

"Harry Forbes and John Mulderig of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting appear to have been left holding the bag by the mainstream reviewers." [Read on.]

Your PPOTD! Sunday, December 9th

Papa Ratzi dealing with paparazzi

[photo: REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli (ITALY)]

Repulsive: Planned Parenthood ads in developing countries

Dawn Eden exposes the deceptive advertisements Planned Parenthood runs around the world.

A sample:

Sorry to upset your Sunday, but this gives us something extra to pray about.

Advent with the Dominican Friars: Part Two

As I menioned before, the Dominican Friars in Washington DC are producing a series of articles and videos entitled "The Mystery of Advent" to help us prepare for Christmas.

If you missed it, the first week reflections are here.

Now, the second written reflection and the accompanying video reflection by Br. Anthony Giambrone, O.P. are available on the Dominican Friars blog here.

Your PPOTD! Friday, December 7th

The low-budget decoy Pope Benedict didn't really fool anyone.

[photo: REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli (VATICAN)]

Rep. McCotter introduces resolution into House to welcome Pope Bendict in April

Rep. Thad McCotter (R. Mich.) has introduces a resolution this week which was referred to the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs "That the United States House of Representatives welcomes His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his first apostolic visit to the United States."

The press release:

On November 12, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican’s representative to the US, announced Pope Benedict XVI would visit the United States in April 2008. This is heartening news for our nation’s 65.7 million Catholics.

Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting our nation for five days from April 15-20, during which time he will celebrate his 81st birthday. The visit will be a whirlwind of activity for the Pope. During his time on US soil, His Holiness will make an official state visit to the White House, lead services for tens of thousands of worshippers, hold an inter-religious dialogue, address the United Nations, and visit Ground Zero.

Please join me as a cosponsor of H. Res. 838, which welcomes Pope Benedict XVI on his first visit to America.

Thaddeus G. McCotter, Member of Congress

I've uploaded the resolution in PDF format: popebenedictresolution.pdf. You can read the text online here. It provides a short list of Pope Benedict's accomplishments. Regarding his pontificate, it reads:

Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has made repeated calls for peaceful resolutions to international conflicts, especially with respect to North Korea's nuclear ambitions;

Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has made reconciliation and peace an important goal of his Papacy on an ecumenical level reaching out to both Orthodox and Protestant Churches and in an inter-religious manner with Judaism and Islam;

Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has affirmed the dignity of the human person with respect to refugees, exiles, evacuees, and other migrant persons;

Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has written 25 books and given thousands of hours of lectures, making him one of the most prolific theologians in modern times;

Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has decried the imminent dangers terrorism and extremism pose to Western Civilization; and

Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has identified the failed revolutions and violent ideologies of the 20th century as being the result of the `Dictatorship of Relativism' stating that `absolutizing what is not absolute but relative is called totalitarianism'.

Not a bad CV, that.

You can track the bill's progress on GovTrack here. I'll provide an update if it gets scheduled for debate.

Notice: Curia all-stars to release document on Evangelization and Catechesis

CNA reports on what probably will be a very important document:

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), headed by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, is about to release an important document on evangelization and catechesis, Vatican sources told CNA this week.

According to the Vatican sources, the document, which could be made public this Advent, “can be regarded as an application of the principles of the document “Dominus Iesus” to the way evangelization is transmitted and catechesis is taught within the Catholic Church.”

In “Dominus Iesus” the CDF, then under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, clearly established the differences between the Catholic Church and other religions including other Christian denominations. “Dominus Iesus” states that only the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the Christian faith.

According to sources consulted by CNA, the new document on evangelization will stress the need to make the person of Jesus Christ, in his role as God incarnated to bring the full revelation of God’s plans through the Catholic Church, the corner stone and center of every program of evangelization and catechesis.

The intention of the document, according to the source, is “to bring back the centrality of Jesus to the programs aimed at transmitting the faith to future generations, since several of these programs are centered on feelings or confused ideas about the teachings of the Church on the nature of Jesus.”

The doctrinal note will be released next Friday (the 14th). A quick look at the presenters reveals an impressive "who's who" list of top-flight Curia heads:

• Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect of the Congregation of the Faith
• Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelizations of Peoples
• Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect ... of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
• Monsignor Angelo Amato, Secretary for the Congregation of the Faith

Wow. Levada, Dias, Arinze and Amato in the same room. That's like a mini-conclave right there.

Amy has the scoop:

You might remember that the one of the more recent documents of a similar nature, one which concerned the nature of the Church was released in July without a press conference - perhaps because no one thought that anyone could really care much about this short document from the CDF .. .they were wrong, because it got quite a bit of press - even in the secular media - and I think the failure to introduce the document in a press conference might have inadvertantly encouraged some of the misrepresentations that ran amuk. Of course, misrepresentation of a Church document is bound to run amuk no matter what, but it is interesting to me that this one gets a high-level intro to the world. Very high level.

Let's add some more context:

Dominus Iesus was quintessential Ratzinger, and the document Amy mentions ("Responses to some questions regarding certain aspects of the docrine of the church") reaffirmed and applied that teaching in Pope Benedict's pontificate, in much the same way as the CDF's "Responses to Certain Questions of the USCCB concerning artificial nutrition and hydration" provided a low-level doctrinal backup to the precedent enunciated by Pope John Paul II in his 2004 speech on the same topic to an international congress.

In other words, if recent history is any lesson, Pope Benedict prefers to use official CDF responses to clarify and promulgate particular doctrinal matters with force. This is, of course, exactly as it should be. Count on the ex-head of CDF to understand and employ that. So stay tuned.

update: more details from John Thravis at the CNS News Hub:

Perhaps most interesting is that they’re having a press conference at all. When the doctrinal congregation issued two documents earlier this year — one on the Catholic Church as the one true church, the other on nutrition and hydration issues — no one was there to answer reporters’ questions. Church officials later complained that media reports on the documents were not always accurate. This time around, the Vatican is being more proactive.

The new document is said to be about 18 pages long, and will be released in six languages, including English. All three cardinals at the press conference are English-speaking, but if the usual Vatican format is followed, they’ll be giving their speeches and answering most questions in Italian. When in Rome…

AmP quoted in Catholic News Service

A little bird told me that an excerpt from my recent article criticizing the favorable review of The Golden Compass published by the U.S. Bishop's office for Film and Broadcasting has been quoted in a Catholic News Service piece by Mark Pattison entitled "Critics debate merits of 'The Golden Compass' movie".

I'll post a link once it is made available online. If it isn't uploaded, I'll excerpt a selection.

Video: Prince Caspian Trailer (High Quality) + Poster

More information: [IMDB] [Wiki] [Narnia Fans]

And a beautiful poster - Coming May 16, 2008!

Spe Salvi: Pope calls for Living Hope "daily" through prayer

I finished reading Pope Benedict's encyclical letter Spe Salvi last night. One of the themes that the pope often underscores is that hope must inspire us in our daily life.

I've provided the instances where the term "daily" is used by Pope Benedict in the encyclical to describe how the Christian person lives hope, namely, in their daily routine, efforts and life:

"Faith draws the future into the present [and] This explanation is further strengthened and related to daily life if we consider verse 34 of the tenth chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews, which is linked by vocabulary and content to this definition of hope-filled faith..." (#7-8)

"To live for [Christ] means allowing oneself to be drawn into his being for others. For Augustine this meant a totally new life. He once described his daily life in the following terms..." (#28-29)

"... our daily efforts in pursuing our own lives and in working for the world's future either tire us or turn into fanaticism, unless we are enlightened by the radiance of the great hope that cannot be destroyed even by small-scale failures or by a breakdown in matters of historic importance." (#35)

[A quotation from Vietnamese martyr Paul Le-Bao-Tinh:] "...I, Paul, in chains for the name of Christ, wish to relate to you the trials besetting me daily, in order that you may be inflamed with love for God and join with me in his praises, for his mercy is for ever." (#37)

"From the earliest times, the prospect of the Judgement has influenced Christians in their daily living as a criterion by which to order their present life, as a summons to their conscience, and at the same time as hope in God's justice." (#41)

"This looking ahead has given Christianity its importance for the present moment. In the arrangement of Christian sacred buildings, which were intended to make visible the historic and cosmic breadth of faith in Christ, it became customary to depict the Lord returning as a king—the symbol of hope—at the east end; while the west wall normally portrayed the Last Judgement as a symbol of our responsibility for our lives—a scene which followed and accompanied the faithful as they went out to resume their daily routine." (#41)

Pope Benedict's reflection on this topic finds its fullest expression and application in Paragraph #40, which completes Section II ("Action and suffering as settings for learning hope").

Keeping in mind what the Pope has already said about the importance of living hope "daily", see how he takes this truth and provides a practical way of expressing it, living it, in prayer:

"I would like to add here another brief comment with some relevance for everyday living.

There used to be a form of devotion—perhaps less practised today but quite widespread not long ago—that included the idea of “offering up” the minor daily hardships that continually strike at us like irritating “jabs”, thereby giving them a meaning.

Of course, there were some exaggerations and perhaps unhealthy applications of this devotion, but we need to ask ourselves whether there may not after all have been something essential and helpful contained within it. What does it mean to offer something up?

Those who did so were convinced that they could insert these little annoyances into Christ's great “com-passion” so that they somehow became part of the treasury of compassion so greatly needed by the human race.

In this way, even the small inconveniences of daily life could acquire meaning and contribute to the economy of good and of human love. Maybe we should consider whether it might be judicious to revive this practice ourselves." (#40)

The most famous example of this popular devotion (that I know about) is the Apostleship of Prayer. You can learn more about it briefly at Wikipedia, the Catholic Encyclopedia, or at their own website.

The text of the traditional prayer:

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

A shorter version, known commonly as the "morning offering":

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the intentions of our Holy Father for this month.

You can learn more about this prayer, and others like it, at this page.

I would propose that this Advent, at the beginning of the Church new year, as people of hope we should heed Pope Benedict's advice and resolve to continue or begin the fruitful practice of praying a morning offering daily.

Romney's speech: text, links, commentary

Busy day for me, so I can't comment at present. Here's the goods:

• Video excerpt
• Full text
• Reuters: Romney vows Mormon church would not run White House
• AssociatedPress: Romney: No Religious Test for President
• WashTimes: Romney notes 'common creed'

He only says the word "mormon" once. I think that tells plenty.

update: Jimmy Akin ain't impressed.

Photos: New Mercedes-Benz Popemobile debuts

An early Christmas present from Mercedes-Benz to our beloved Pontiff:

Stuttgart/Rom -- Dec 05, 2007 -- In future, Pope Benedict XVI will present himself to the 40,000 or so pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square in a shining white, open-top Mercedes-Benz G-Class during his public audiences on Wednesdays. The new "Popemobile" was created over a two-year development period in close consultation with the Vatican, and has now been personally handed over to the Holy Father.

This open official car, which the Head of the Catholic Church requested for use during fine weather, was developed by Mercedes-Benz on the basis of the G 500. It is equipped with a folding windscreen and hand-rails, and like its predecessors it is painted in the Vaticanmystic white finish. The interior is likewise white, and is accessed via steps lined in red at the rear. The Pope holds his audiences in a standing position, so that he is easily visible to all his flock.

The Holy Father is continuing a long tradition with the new Popemobile from Mercedes-Benz. Pope Pius XI was the first to receive a Mercedes-Benz as an official car in 1930 - a Nürburg 460 Pullman limousine. Over the following decades Mercedes-Benz regularly provided the Vaticanwith automobiles which had been specially converted for the use of the Holy Father.

Today the Pope has several Mercedes-Benz cars at his disposal. In addition to the new G 500 Cabriolet, the fleet currently includes M and S-Class models with special protection. - Daimler

I'm wondering if a plexiglass top can be added for his U.S. visit, or if that's a different car entirely? (update from the comments:

"The Plexiglass Popemobile that he uses in international visits are in fact two: a main one and a second reserve unit. The model is an adapted Mercedes-Benz ML 430, WITH backseat for him and two more persons and air-conditioning inside the "cage" as well as a special lighting setting. The standard dictates that they will arrive about a week before His Holiness himself arrives in the US." - Rafael Cresci)

update: and just to prove the extent of the formidable AmericanPapist photo archives:

"Mercedes has long been a standby for the envied position of Popemobile manufacturer ever since Pope Pius XI rode in a Nurburg 460 Pullman limousine (pictured above) in 1930." - MotorTrend

Now I wonder if Mercedes-Benz would be up for donating a car to the AmericanPapist next....

U2's Tower of Babel?

U2 is trying to build the tallest building in Ireland, and the environmentalists aren't happy:

Who would have guessed that U2 would be the target of environmental protesters? In an attempt to spend some of their immense fortune, the rock band gone real estate investment firm is drawing up plans to build the tallest building in Ireland. The 'U2 tower' has quickly become a major bone of contention between the globally-conscious rockers and environmentalists in their hometown. - GreenDaily

More from Wikipedia. The design isn't finalized, but here are some search results.

Hopefully they won't get vertigo in the city of blinding lights (I couldn't resist).

Melanie McDonagh on "How Catholic-bashing became respectable"

Writing for the NewStatesmen:

"...it is worth asking in passing whether Jews could now be depicted with the same idiom as is now being deployed against Catholics. You don't have to think particularly hard to conjure up the Semitic equivalent of the crazed popish assassin, the Jesuit plotter, the Vatican conspiracy against the nation state, do you? But while the stereotype of the Jew is dead, that of the Catholic Church as a force for evil has been given a new, and rather disagreeable, lease on life."

AmP mentioned in LifeSiteNews coverage of agencies withdrawing Golden Compass ads

Good tidings, and an appreciated mention from LifeSiteNews:

Controversial advertisements suggested to the nation's top 50 Catholic diocesan papers advertising the upcoming movie "The Golden Compass" have been pulled.

... Medlinger [who is responsible for the day-to-day activities] explained that when a sales representative first approached him about pitching advertisements for the film, "I said we have to find out what the USCCB movie rating is."

"When our sales rep heard that the rating from the Bishops Conference was A II he sent out that note," continued Medlinger. "Afterwards we had a conversation and we are not placing those ads."

Asked what caused him to change his mind despite the positive USCCB review, Medlinger was hesitant and would only respond: "It was my decision, it was just business we didn't want to do."

Faithful Catholic activists and bloggers can take a pat on the back for the outcome.

...

LifeSiteNews.com readers, activists and Bloggers such as Amy Welborn, Thomas Peters of American Papist, among many others, have pursued both the USCCB review and the proposed ads stirring a healthy controversy.

What can I say? Sometimes the system works.

I certainly rest better knowing that Catholic publications will not help put dollars into the coffers of an author who wrote his books to promote atheism and mock the Catholic Church.

Seriously, good job.

Pullman sales have "Surged 500% with Movie Publicity"

As predicted:

As if in answer to all those who suggested that the upcoming December 7 release of movie 'The Golden Compass' would not lead to enticing children into reading the anti-Christian novels by atheist Philip Pullman, Random House has reported a 500% increase in sales of the books. "More than ten years after its original publication, The Golden Compass has hit USA Today's Top 50 Best Sellers list, having seen a 500% increase in sales over the last three months," says the release.

The omnibus edition of Philip Pullman's complete His Dark Materials trilogy -- of which The Golden Compass is the first novel -- has moved onto USA Today's Top 50 list as well. The Golden Compass has sold over 3.5 million copies in the US to date, and the trilogy has sold over 7 million copies. - LifeSiteNews

Huck-a-Mania: Huckabee TOPS national candidate poll

The latest Rasmussen poll:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows a new national leader in the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination. While enjoying an amazing surge, Mike Huckabee has earned support from 20% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide. Three points back, at 17%, is Rudy Giuliani. That’s the lowest level of support ever recorded for Giuliani in the tracking poll and represents a seven-point decline over the past week. Huckabee has gained eight points during the same time frame (see recent daily numbers). [Full story.]

Whatever else you might do, never doubt the power of a Chuck Norris endorsement.

Romney pulls a Kennedy

Plenty of coverage to follow, but in the meantime, here's the superlink. He will speak Thursday.

• Via Mark Shea, "Drawing the Line for Mormons - A Closer Look at the LDS Church"

Really, there's far too much pre-coverage to report. Best to just sit tight and see what happens.

Knowing Romney, I would estimate "precious little." But if he feels he's playing for keeps, who knows?

Favorable "U.S. Bishops" review of The Golden Compass given much press

As predicted, many columnists are taking the favorable review of The Golden Compass issued by the USCCB's office for Film and Broadcasting as "gospel." A sample:

“The Golden Compass” — and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy of novels on which it is based — has been criticized in some quarters for being anti-religious and specifically anti-Catholic.

But the U.S. Conference of Bishops recently issued its official review of the film — and it’s a rave.

Writing for the Catholic News Service (catholicnews.com), critics Harry Forbes and John Mulderig call the movie “lavish, well-acted and fast-paced.”

“The good news,” they write, “is that the first book’s explicit references to this church have been completely excised, with only the term Magisterium retained. The choice is still a bit unfortunate, however, as the word refers so specifically to the church’s teaching authority. Yet the film’s only clue that the Magisterium is a religious body comes in the form of the icons which decorate one of their local headquarters. - Robert W. Butler of the Kansas City Star

As Jim Lackey of CNS News clarifies, "technically it’s not our review; we simply distribute film office reviews to the Catholic press".

And once again, an important distinction is lost upon those looking to support their a priori.

"Episcopal Church faces possible major defection" (Reuters)

The disintegration continues (by which I mean nothing more sinister than the "lack of integration"):

The U.S. Episcopal Church faces major tumult this week when an entire California diocese with more than 9,000 members decides whether to secede in an unprecedented protest over gay issues.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, based in Fresno and consisting of nearly 50 churches in 14 counties, would be the first diocese to bolt from the U.S. branch of the 77-million-member global Anglican Communion if Saturday's final vote passes.

The U.S. church and Anglicanism generally have been in upheaval since 2003 when the Episcopal Church consecrated Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as the first bishop known to be in an openly gay relationship in more than four centuries of church history.

Dissent over that as well as the blessing of same-sex unions practiced in some congregations has caused a number of defections by traditionalists in the U.S. church.

More from Reuters.

Technical issues resolved

update: finally found a work-a-round. Get ready for 12 hours of saved-up stories!

Photo: Real "Precious Feet" of premature infant

In case you ever doubted those "Precious Feet" pins:

RNPS PICTURES OF THE YEAR: This handout image from October 24, 2006, shows the world's most premature living baby, Amillia Sonja Taylor's, feet held in contrast with adult hands, just after her birth at Baptist Children's Hospital in Miami, Florida. Taylor, only slightly longer than a ballpoint pen at birth was due to be sent home in the coming days from a Florida hospital after four months of neonatal intensive care, the hospital said on February 20, 2007. REUTERS/Baptist Health South Florida/Handout (UNITED STATES)

(Amazing, but remember, they come even smaller.)

Your PPOTD! Thursday, December 5th

Topping this week's offbeat news?

Pope Benedict's surprisingly-skilled rendition of The Robot dance.

[photo: REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli (VATICAN)]

"Cops: Man's wedding ring saved his life" (AP)

Just a friendly reminder to never take off that ring:

Donnie Register has a new reason to be thankful he's married — police say his wedding band deflected a bullet and probably saved his life.

Two men walked into Register's shop at The Antique Market on Saturday and asked to see a coin collection, police Sgt. Jeffery Scott said.

When Register retrieved the collection, one of the men pulled a gun and demanded money. A shot was fired as Register threw up his left hand, and his wedding ring deflected the bullet, police said.

"The bullet managed to go through two of his fingers without severing the bone," said his wife, Darlene Register. "A part of the bullet broke off and is in his middle finger. The other part is in his neck, lodged in the muscle tissue. But it's not life-threatening."

She said she gives God all the credit.

Police were searching for the robbers, who Scott said "stole a substantial amount of cash."

Video here.

Follow-up: LAPD begins investigation of Cdl. Mahony assault claim

Since yesterday's post about Cardinal Mahony's claim that he was violently assaulted this summer is receiving a great deal of traction, I've decided to post an update.

For starters, in today's world you can't simply mention to your priests "Oh, and by the way I was assaulted" and expect it to stay quiet.

Indeed, LAPD detectives began investigating Mahony's report yesterday (the same day the story went public):

LAPD detectives Tuesday began investigating reports that Cardinal Roger Mahony told hundreds of priests he was assaulted by a man angered over the Catholic Church's sexual-abuse scandal, police said.

Police found no reports regarding an assault on Mahony and contacted church officials to ask them about it, said Andrew Smith, assistant commanding officer for the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Bureau.

"If it came to my attention that something happened to Cardinal Mahony, I would have called him and offered my assistance and assured that it was fully investigated ... which is exactly what we're going to do now," Smith said.

... Smith said while Mahony's under no legal obligation to cooperate in an investigation, he hopes that the cardinal does.

"What I'd really like to do is find out who the guy who did it was," Smith said. "Maybe he's going around and assaulting priests all over the diocese. ... Despite whatever your personal feelings are about the Catholic Church or the abuse, you can't walk up to anybody on the street and assault them."

Smith said detectives will do a thorough job and leave no stone unturned as they try to piece together what occurred. - DailyNews

More details on the alleged attack:

“[Mahony] went down there to drop something off at the mailbox when this guy approached him, saying some stuff,” said Father Gutierrez, pastor of St. Anne Catholic Church in Santa Monica. “Then, boom, the guy was on him.”

The attack, according to Father Gutierrez and others, occurred days after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved a $660 million settlement between the archdiocese and more than 500 local victims of abuse by the clergy. The settlement is the largest of its kind in the country. - NewYorkTimes

Associated Press details:

Mahony, 71, told the priests about the attack during a conference in October, said the Rev. Joseph Shea, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Glendale. The cardinal said it occurred in late July or early August as he was dropping off letters at a mailbox near Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles, Shea said.

"The comments people made as they kicked him were connected to the sexual abuse lawsuits," he told The Associated Press.

Shea said Mahony was so badly beaten that the cardinal was hospitalized, and that it took him weeks to recover.

... Shea said Mahony did not report the attack to police "because he felt he could offer it up in reparation for the sins of others."

... The Rev. Sal Pilato, principal at Junipero Serra Catholic High School in Gardena, who was also at the conference, told the Daily News that Mahony's account was "shocking because it was an act of violence and it was someone we know and respect."

Another witness account from the LA Times:

The priest said Mahony offered the story almost in passing, as a way of illustrating the personal toll that the sexual abuse scandal had exacted on everyone in the church, but especially its hundreds of victims.

"He said he was walking to the post office or the store and that a man recognized him and started shouting obscenities about the abuse," the priest said. "Then the man came up and punched him and he fell to the ground. We were all shocked. Nobody had heard anything about it."

... Another priest who attended the conference said Mahony was struck in the face during the assault. The priest, along with a third source familiar with the meeting, confirmed the details of Mahony's statements, but both also asked not to be named.

The response from the Archdiocese (besides declining to comment):

The cardinal could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese, Carolina Guevara, said, “The annual pastoral meeting with the priests of the archdiocese is a private meeting, and whatever conversation that might have taken place was between the priests and their bishop and was not meant to be public.”

Priests at the meeting reported that Cardinal Mahoney said it had taken him a month to heal from the assault. “The cardinal is fine,” Ms. Guevara said when asked about his condition. - New York Times

Finally, local station CBS 2 has a video report on its website.

That's the pesky thing about mentioning something you decided to keep private: you can't.

More as I hear it.

Peggy Noonan on Hillary's non-inevitability, the GOP debate, etc.

In reverse order, Peggy Noonan's column treats the question of Hillary's "non-inevitability" in points 3 & 4.

Point 2 deals with the recent Giuliani scandals, and how she doesn't think those will slow him.

Point 1 talks about the GOP debate:

I will never forget that breathtaking moment when, in the CNN/YouTube debate earlier this fall, the woman from Ohio held up a picture and said, "Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, Mr. Edwards, this is a human fetus. Given a few more months, it will be a baby you could hold in your arms. You all say you're 'for the children.' I would ask you to look America in the eye and tell us how you can support laws to end this life. Thank you."

They were momentarily nonplussed, then awkwardly struggled to answer, to regain lost high ground. One of them, John Edwards I think, finally criticizing the woman for being "manipulative," using "hot images" and indulging in "the politics of personal destruction." The woman then stood in the audience for her follow up. "I beg your pardon, but the literal politics of personal destruction--of destroying a person--is what you stand for."

Oh, I wish I weren't about to say, "Wait, that didn't happen." For of course it did not. Who of our media masters would allow a question so piercing on such a painful and politically incorrect subject?

I thought of this the other night when citizens who turned out to be partisans for Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards asked the Republicans, in debate, would Jesus support the death penalty, do you believe every word of the Bible, and what does the Confederate flag mean to you?

It was a good debate, feisty and revealing. It's not bad that the questions had a certain spin, and played on stereotypes of the GOP. It's just bad that it doesn't quite happen at Democratic debates. Somehow, there, an obscure restraint sets in on the part of news producers. Too bad. Running for most powerful person in the world is, among other things, an act of startling presumption. They all should be grilled, everyone, both sides. Winter voting approaches; may many chestnuts be roasted on an open fire.

Okay, so now that you've read point 1, you should really go read points 2-4.

One month later....

I think it's safe to conclude that Fr. Francis Mary Stone won't be returning to host EWTN's Life on the Rock.
Has anyone who regularly watches the program or EWTN television seen any update recently?

Video: Pope Benedict visits Roman hospital

Pope Benedict XVI visited the Roman Hospital of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta "San Giovanni Battista". Raw video here. (Not very nice of them to disable video embedding. Humph!)

CUA launches website dedicated to Pope's April visit

Zenit introduces it:

The Catholic University of America has launched a Web site dedicated to Benedict XVI's visit to the university in April.

The Pope will be visiting the university April 17, as part of his apostolic visit to the United States.

"Even though we're five months away from welcoming the Holy Father to Catholic University, excitement about his upcoming visit is running very high," said university president Father David O'Connell.

"In recognition of this excitement and to satisfy the desire for as much information and transparency as possible, we have created this special Catholic University of America Web site," said the Vincentian priest. "This is our 'first draft.' We will have much more to add as time goes on."

The address? http://papalvisit.cua.edu/

The university's Web site provides information about Benedict XVI's scheduled meeting at the university with the presidents of Catholic colleges and universities and diocesan educational leaders, as well as general information to keep the university community and the general public informed about the historic visit.

From the FAQ:

5. Will I be able to see the Pope on campus?

Though details remain to be worked out, we hope that current CUA students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to see the Holy Father as he arrives on and departs from campus.

And that's the latest.

For the past "latest", click here.

Report: Mahony tells priests he was assaulted near L.A.'s cathedral

Follow-up: LAPD begins investigation of Cardinal Mahony assault claim.

It happened last July, it took him a month to heal, and he didn't tell his priests until October:

Cardinal Roger Mahony was physically assaulted by a man enraged by the Catholic Church's sexual-abuse scandal within days of a record settlement with hundreds of victims, the Daily News has learned.

Mahony, 71, revealed the attack during an annual conference in October before hundreds of stunned priests, saying a man assaulted him because of the scandal, according to four priests who attended the conference.

News of the assault comes as the bulk of the church's $660million settlement with victims began being paid out Monday, with more than $500million in checks going out in the mail. The settlement with 508 alleged victims was approved by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge July 16.

The attack on Mahony occurred in July near Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles, and it took the cardinal about a month to heal, said the Rev. Sal Pilato, principal at Junipero Serra Catholic High School in Gardena. The cardinal was dropping off letters at a mailbox when he was assaulted, priests said.

... Mahony told the priests that after his attacker recognized him, the man began shouting expletives and knocked him to the ground, said another priest who asked not be identified.

Details of Mahony's narration:

Mahony was telling the priests they all had a price to pay for the sexual abuses perpetrated by their brethren when he relayed the story of the assault as an example of the personal toll he's endured, several priests said.

Bruised after the attack, he said it gave him a deeper understanding of the suffering the victims of the sex scandal have endured, the priests said.

"The main message was that his wounds healed within a month, bruises and all, but the victims of child abuse are still suffering after many years, that their wounds are far deeper than what he experienced," Pilato said.

...

Mahony also revealed at the conference that he thought he might be attacked earlier when tensions over the allegations of sexual abuses by priests were at their peak, said the priest who did not want to be identified.

The priest said he thinks Mahony and others mismanaged the scandal by not removing priests who were sexually abusing children sooner and failing to settle cases earlier. That lack of action has damaged the church's reputation and cost it millions of dollars, he said.

Still, the fact that Mahony was attacked over the scandal and chose not to make it public impressed the priest. - Daily News

Reuters follows-up here.

Yes, it is unfortunate that Mahony was attacked. The story prompts a couple questions for me, however: if Mahony indeed wanted this event to remain private, why did he tell his convoked priests about it? He couldn't think that it wouldn't get around. Second, if it took him a month to heal from his injuries, why did no one notice?

update: I should be more specific: I'm not trying to call into question Mahony's claim that he was attacked. I'm just scratching my head about his deciding to keep it private and then, months later, revealing it among his presbyterate. It strikes me as an imprudent move, if for no other reason than it would seem to promote this sort of (criminal) behavior by announcing that he didn't decide to press charges.

update 2: apologies to those who tried to visit this post earlier and couldn't find it. blogger appears to be playing games with it. I'm trying to resolve that issue now.

update 3: follow-up: LAPD begins investigation of Cardinal Mahony assault claim.

AFP: "Catholic coloring book warns US kids of pedophile priests"

AFP:

New York's Roman Catholic Church is trying a novel approach to alert children to the danger of being sexually assaulted by a priest, with an abuse-themed coloring book, officials said Tuesday.

"Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic," was distributed earlier this year to several hundred schools in the New York area as part of the church's Safe Environment Program, a spokeswoman from the city's Archdiocese said.

One image in the book features a guardian angel hovering over an altar boy with a priest lurking in the background.

"For safety's sake, a child and an adult shouldn't be alone in a closed room together," the angel counsels. In another, the angel warns of a sexual predator attempting to chat with a child over the Internet.

Yes, the idea is a bit hokey. And if the subject matter weren't so grave, it might well be filed in the "oddly-enough" category. But frankly, this story is mostly a pretense to bring up the same old facts and figures. Look where it goes from here:

David Clohessy, head of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, cautiously welcomed the initiative, but said it did not go far enough.

"We applaud the intent but worry a bit about the approach... it does still feel like almost every step taken by the hierarchy is one that's been prompted by external pressure," he told AFP.

The scale of child abuse by priests remained hidden in the United States for years until the Archbishop of Boston confessed in 2002 to protecting a priest he knew had sexually abused young members of his church.

According to the group "Bishop Accountability," some 3,000 priests out of the 42,000 across the country have since been denounced, some of whom have been investigated and convicted.

Since the scandal broke, US Catholic authorities have paid out close to 2.8 billion dollars in damages, forcing many dioceses to sell off their assets.

To review:

• The AFP seems to think that SNAP is the *only* advocacy group for children's protection in the U.S. Never mind the fact that their ambitions for change in the Church go far beyond child safety. You can't satisfy SNAP. Every time the Church tries to do something, it is criticized.
• The second source the article goes to is "Bishop Accountability", another organization that does far more than try to keep bishops accountable for genuine mistakes.
• Then come the statistics, also gleaned from Bishop Accountability. And the money. Can't forget that.

But finally, and most incongruously: what picture does the AFP choose to accompany this article?

Pope Benedict meeting with the Cardinals in Rome. ("Pope Benedict XVI (C) leads a prayer session at the Vatican November 2007.")

Nevermind what was being discussed at the time. The Archdiocese of New York publishes a coloring book to prevent abuse? It must have been personally ordered by Pope Benedict at the Vatican!

It's like writing an article about employees of Michigan Electric failing to recycle properly and attaching to that coverage a photograph of President Bush meeting with the EPA.

Only someone woefully ignorant, or blithely able to collapse widely-disparate elements of an organization together when it serves his purposes, could match this photograph with a story about a coloring book.\

update: Zadok the Roman from the comments:

"One image in the book features a guardian angel hovering over an altar boy with a priest lurking in the background."

A priest lurking in the background?

Fortunately the picture itself is much more innocuous: [see the full article here.]

Agreed - "lurking"?!

Online Advent Calendars

Deacon Greg Kandra has found a few and reviewed them.

Jeff Miller, in the comments, recommends one by Clayton Emmer.

Holy See sends delegation to Climate Change Conference

Considering "the Holy See is usually represented at such meetings" I'm not sure why it deserved a mention in today's Vatican bulletino:

The 13th session of the conference of States parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is being held on the Indonesian island of Bali from December 3 to 14.

A communique made public yesterday afternoon affirms that the Holy See will be present at the Bali meeting with a delegation led by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, apostolic nuncio to Indonesia, and composed of Msgr. Andrew Thanya-anan Vissanu, nunciature counsellor in Jakarta, and of three local experts from the Philippines and Indonesia: Fr. Benito B. Tuazon, Fr. Alexius Andang Listya Binawan S.J., and Vera Wenny Setijawati.

"Given that the sessions of the Convention on Climate Change are held once a year in various countries," the communique reads, "the Holy See is usually represented at such meetings with a delegation led by the apostolic nuncio and made up of experts from the area, so as to take advantage of local resources and to achieve a broader and more differentiated vision of the questions being examined."

Meanwhile, "a group of Israeli environmentalists is encouraging Jews around the world to light at least one less candle this Hanukka to help the environment."

While stateside, "A U.S. Senate committee is scheduled for an historic vote on a global warming bill this week, perhaps as early as Wednesday. Environmental groups are planning a flurry of press conferences [today] to try to influence the vote."

Reuters: Saints on cellphones spark controversy in Italy

Reuters reports:

If you are a Catholic looking for a saint in heaven to protect you, you no longer have to carry a small "holy card." You can get the image sent to your cellphone.

A company in Italy started offering the service on Tuesday but ran into opposition from some Catholic Church leaders who think the idea is crass and commercial.

... Many taxis, private cars and trucks in Italy have a small picture of a saint -- known as a "santino" or little saint -- taped to the dashboard. Millions of Italians also keep wrinkled and worn "santini" in their wallets or handbags.

... The company started the service with 15 saints on offer and Labate said the hallowed catalogue will grow. The downloading service, done by sending a text message to a phone number, costs three euros ($4.42).

Nearly every shop near the Vatican sells paper "santini" but not everyone in the Church thinks cellphones and saints are a marriage made in heaven.

"This is in really bad taste," Bishop Lucio Soravito De Franceschi, a member of the Italian bishops conference committee for doctrinal matters, told the Turin newspaper La Stampa.

"It is a distortion of sacred things ... selling 'santini' for cell phones is horrifying," he said.

I'm trying to figure out what exactly is so "horrifying" about folks having sacred images on their cell phone. Of course, as far as I know, cell phones can't carry a blessing like holy cards. But as for this company making a profit from the service - well, I doubt all holy card producers are non-profit.

Indeed, I rather like this sort of thing. See: "Give your cell phone a Catholic makeover!" I did.

Quick update on the Golden Compass controversy

Details emerge, and the comedy of errors continues:

Donna Freitas, a visiting assistant professor of religion at Boston University, calls the Pullman books a "theological masterpiece" in an Associated Press interview. The article, as a whole, however, isn't so bad and hits most the important and widely-known points.

Regarding New Line Cinema's attempts to advertise The Golden Compass in Catholic publications, that deal is being brokered by Advertising Media Plus, which arranges group advertisement buys for Catholic publishing institutions. It is a division of the Cathedral Foundation.

Finally, Ryan of Catholic Audio submits his satirical version of New Line's already-famous advert: Finally, some truth in advertising.

Still no public word from the USCCB in response to New Line Cinema's flagrant misuse of an already-problematic review of The Golden Compass. For all my previous posts on this story, click here.

New Line ad claim: Golden Compass "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching." (includes picture)

Sometimes, words fail me. Sometimes, I hate being really right:

Behold how New Line Cinema is promoting it's new movie The Golden Compass, which it is well-known at this point is based on a series of Anti-Catholic books. [This image was sent to me by a trustworthy source. However, I have not been able to confirm a specific URL where it is currently being used (dynamic ads are difficult to pin-down). If someone finds one, please send me the URL or screenshot. update: Some possible confirmation found - scroll down.]

Okay, presuming that the advertisement is genuine....

First, the ad conflates the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the official leadership body of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting. They aren't the same.

But this first point is a minor complaint compared to this advertisement's claim, in quotation marks, that this movie is "An exciting adventure story entirely in harmony with church teaching".

This line never appears in the USCCB's Office for Film and Broadcasting review.

The actual quotation reads as follows (underlining mine):

To the extent, moreover, that Lyra and her allies are taking a stand on behalf of free will in opposition to the coercive force of the Magisterium, they are of course acting entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching.

(the previous part of the artificial quotation about the "exciting adventure story" appears elsewhere.)

A spokesperson for the Catholic League observed in response to this problematic line:

In what the League calls "mind-boggling", the USCCB review actually congratulates the screenwriter for portraying the characters as demonstrating "free will" for their opposition to the Magisterium and then suggests that this is a reflection "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching"."

... The League countered: "Nazis are portrayed as having free will in movies, too. Should the screenwriters of this film be commended for reflecting Catholic values? Free will is indeed a Catholic value, but it is the object of free will that carries moral weight."

Never when I began covering this story back in August did I think I would see New Line Cinema actually claiming its movie The Golden Compass to be "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching."

And even when I reported that New Line Cinema is approaching Catholic publications to advertise their new film did I suspect they would jump way beyond claiming the movie to be neutral and instead promote the idea that it is in fact "entirely in harmony with Church teaching."

I mean, I didn't think they they would be that stupid. To make the obvious semantic point:

The advertisement makes the universal claim that the entire movie is "in harmony with Church teaching." Even the problematic review warns that the film contains "anti-clerical subtext, standard genre occult elements, a character born out of wedlock...."

So are all those things now "entirely in harmony with Church teaching"?!

As the advertisement stands, it is a bald falsehood, and the U.S. Bishops should speak out against New Line Cinema for attempting to mislead Catholics about the character its movie.

In a way, this is a "good" development, because it takes what (up to this point) has been somewhat arguable problems and makes this a very clear case of grave misrepresentation.

For all my previous posts on this story, click here.

update: I found a nibble:

On BeliefNet's CrunchyCon blog (of all things?) I found this advertisement. I've taken a screenshot of it for verification. Judging by the font and accompanying art, I believe this lends credence to my original post's claim that New Line actually produced the original false advertisement as well.

And of course, they could still be running that previous ad elsewhere on the internet. It's also entirely possible that the New Line advertising staff read blogs like this one or CurtJester, and that they've quickly withdrawn the first (more offensive) advertisement.

This new advertisement still falsely claims the blanket endorsement of the USCCB, which I've already noted does not express opinions on movies except through its Office for Film and Broadcasting, which contracts various people to write the actual reviews.

I think this second advertismenet is a good sampling of what we can expect "quite a few" Catholic publications to publish in the next week, as I previously reported here.

So, are Catholic newspapers and publications going to cast their lot in with New Line on this one? Are the U.S. Bishops going to sit back and let New Line claim their wholehearted endorsement of a movie which contains "elements of the occult" and "anti-clerical subtext"?

I don't need to dabble in the occult or have any sentiments of anti-clericalism to have a strong feeling that some scrambling is going on behind the scenes at 3211 4th Street.

More proof that New Line Cinema is trying to advertise the Golden Compass in Catholic publications

Catholic institutions promoting a movie based on a book that attempts to bring down Catholic institutions.

This is the reality we will face if rumors come true that New Line Cinema is using the USCCB's favorable review of the Golden Compass to spearhead an advertising campaign among Catholic publications.

Today, I received another confirmation that such a project is in the works:

Last week, I couldn't help overhearing our ad salesman ask our business manager if we would want to accept a full-page ad promoting "The Golden Compass," to which the answer was (thankfully) no.

But the exchange piqued my interest, and so I asked the sales rep about it. Turns out, some agency was trying to arrange a group buy of Catholic papers around the country, and we were contacted to see whether we wanted to be in or it. I asked whether any Catholic papers were taking the ad, and he said, "Oh yes, quite a few."

Of course, from New Line Cinema's point of view, it's an excellent move: what better way to downplay criticism that the material is anti-Catholic than being able to produce a whole list of Catholic publications and institutions that have consented to advertising it?

Of course, as I reported about a year ago, some Catholic newspapers have no problem advertising for pro-abortion Governors. An anti-Catholic author, you say? No biggie.

I guess all of this leads up to the conclusion that I won't be surprised to find a new BlogAds submission from New Line Cinema asking me to advertise the Golden Compass on my sidebar (not going to happen).

So, what can you do about it? Well, as a start, if you find a Catholic publication that is running advertisements for the Golden Compass, let me know by emailing me or posting in the comment box so I can compile a list.

I'd be especially interested to find out if the New Line Cinema advertisement quotes the favorable USCCB review.

update: Curt Jester has heard from a reader that New Line Cinema is claiming that the Golden Compass is "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching" - an incredible inflation and misapplication of the (already-flawed) particular endorsement given by the USCCB reviewer.

update 2: Catholic News Agency picks up on this story and confirms it:

The promoters of the controversial movie, The Golden Compass, are making an effort to diminish the boycott being threatened by Catholics and other Christian groups. The advertising agency for the movie has sent an email to the top 50 weekly Catholic newspapers asking that they consider running an ad promoting the movie.

Advertising Media Plus, the agency promoting The Golden Compass, is trying to use a review by Steve Forbes, the director of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference Office for Film & Broadcasting, as leverage against the boycott being called for by Catholics and Evangelicals.

National Account Manager for Advertising Media Plus, Bob Bugle sent an email to the top 50 Catholic newspapers saying that New Line Cinema is interested “in possibly advertising The Golden Compass in the Catholic press.”

His email goes on to mention that the movie has caused some controversy and then attempts to ease any concerns by citing a positive review from Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB’s Office of Film and Broadcasting.

Now to wait and see who takes New Line up on their golden offer....

Meanwhile, LSN reports that some are calling for the resignation of the USCCB reviewers.

Zenit: Benedict XVI Sums Up "Spe Salvi"

Before the heavy-hitting analysis comes out:

The world needs God, otherwise it remains without hope, said Benedict XVI when he summarized the central message of his encyclical "Spe Salvi."

The Pope said this today before reciting the midday Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter's Square. He also spoke on the meaning of Advent, which begins today.

Advent, the Holy Father said, "is the propitious time to reawaken in our hearts the expectation of him 'who is, who was and who is coming.'"

The Pontiff regarded the First Sunday of Advent as "a most appropriate day to offer to the whole Church and all men of good will my second encyclical, which I wanted to dedicate to the theme of Christian hope." - Zenit

"Scientists Get Rare Look at Dinosaur Soft Tissue"

Off my usual news beat, but just too cool to not share:

A high school student hunting fossils in the badlands of his native North Dakota discovered an extremely rare mummified dinosaur that includes not just bones but also seldom seen fossilized soft tissue such as skin and muscles, scientists will announce today.

The 25-foot-long hadrosaur found by Tyler Lyson in an ancient river flood plain in the dinosaur-rich Hell Creek Formation is apparently the most complete and best preserved of the half-dozen mummified dinosaurs unearthed since early in the last century, they said.

...

"He looks like a blow-up dinosaur in some parts," said Phillip Manning, a paleontologist at the University of Manchester in England who is leading the inquiry. "When you actually look at the detail of the skin, the scales themselves are three dimensional. . . . The arm is breathtaking. It's a three-dimensional arm, you can shake the dinosaur by the hand. It just defies logic that such a remarkable specimen could preserve." [More.]

The plight of the teddy bear schoolteacher and feminist silence

A revealing editorial by Tammy Bruce:

There has been appropriate international outrage over the treatment of Gibbons, from virtually everyone except American “feminists.” Multiple Muslim groups in the U.K. have condemned the sentence. Even the popular little boy in Mrs. Gibbons’ class who suggested the name for the bear came to her defense, explaining that he named the bear after himself.

Yet, when asked by FOX News for a comment about the situation, a National Organization for Women spokeswoman said they were "not putting out a statement or taking a position."

This is how depraved the American left has become. A little Muslim boy in Sudan shows more courage and conviction for a woman under fire than a bunch of women sitting in Washington, D.C., who preen themselves on being the premiere “advocates” for women.

...

This wholesale abandonment of women by the American so-called feminist leadership on an issue that transcends party politics perfectly illustrates how vapid, and even malevolent, they have become. Where is Eleanor Smeal? Gloria Steinem? Kim Gandy of NOW has proven where she is — with the rest of her cohorts hiding behind the NOW couch, save she would be required to take a position that might "offend" Islamists.

Pope Benedict's December Prayer Intentions

Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for December is: "That human society may be solicitous in the care of all those stricken with AIDS, especially children and women, and that the Church may make them feel the Lord's love."

His mission intention is: "That the incarnation of the Son of God, which the Church celebrates solemnly at Christmas, may help the peoples of the Asiatic Continent to recognize God's Envoy, the only Savior of the world, in Jesus."

Coca-Cola promotes Golden Compass to address "perilous state of the polar bear"

A nice snapshot of contemporary values:

I saw that Coca-Cola is promoting the movie [The Golden Compass], and I wrote to them to express my feelings about it -- including mentioning that the villains are called "The Magisterium" in the movie. Here is the response I got:

"We appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns." The Golden Compass movie is a story about friendship, love, loyalty, tolerance, courage and responsibility. This movie also provides an opportunity for Coca-Cola to help raise awareness about climate change and the perilous state of the polar bear."

"We do not believe that this fantasy movie is an attack on any religion. We would never support a film that intentionally antagonized or condemned any faith."

If they receive more letters about this, it's possible it may accomplish something. ~ Rick Kephart

Frankly, until someone makes a compelling case that this movie diminishes the survival chances of the polar bear, or somehow inhibits climage change, I doubt we'll see anything accomplished.

Looking Ahead: Review + Interview for the Human Experience

This is a very busy week for me, but I will be sitting down at some point to sketch out a brief review of the Human Experience by Grassroots Films, which I had the privilege of seeing at an advance screening this weekend.

I'll also be posting excerpts from an interview I was able to conduct afterwards with Joseph Campo (Producer/Cinematography) and Michael Campo (Associate Producer/Writer/Actor).

I was very impressed by these gentleman and by the rough cut of the movie that I saw. Grassroots Films is best known for producing the award-winning vocations video Fishers of Men for the USCCB.

I've posted previously on this film and production company here:

• Human Experience advance screening this weekend
• The Next Big Thing: "The Human Experience" (Megapost)

In the meantime, the Dominican Friars who generously hosted the screenings have a post covering the events.

Report: "Romney Plans Speech on His Mormon Faith"

The Trail blog, run by the Washington Post:

"Romney Plans Speech on His Mormon Faith"

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (R) has decided to give a speech directly addressing his Mormon faith, much as then-candidate John F. Kennedy did about his Catholic faith before the 1960 election.

The Romney campaign announced Sunday that he will speak about his religious beliefs Thursday at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Tex. Romney's speech is titled "Faith in America," spokesman Kevin Madden said in a statement.

Romney has said for months that he sees no need to make a big deal out of his religion, despite surveys which suggest that for some voters, especially in the South, his Mormon faith makes them less likely to vote for him. A Washington Post poll found earlier this year that his religion was regarded by voters as a bigger stumbling block than Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's race or New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's gender.

Some possible reasons for giving this speech now:

The statement from the campaign did not specify the nature of the speech, or how specific Romney might be in addressing questions about his own beliefs and practices. During Wednesday's GOP debate in St. Petersburg, Fla., Romney was widely panned for his answer to a question about whether he believes every word of the Bible [watch the video here]. He paused and hesitated for several seconds, leading some to suggest that he was calculating the political risks of different answers. The speech could be an attempt to quiet such