Chicago Archdiocese gets *100* tickets to see Pope In NYC

Reported today by the Chicago Tribune:

Before you plunk down your plane fare to New York and make a reservation at the Ritz so you can celebrate mass with Pope Benedict XVI, make sure you’re one of the 100 lucky winners to score a ticket.

That’s approximately how many Chicago Catholics will be admitted to see the pontiff in Yankee Stadium on April 20. Even fewer are expected to get into the Nationals Park mass in Washington, D.C., on April 17.

Pastors at each of Chicago’s 363 parishes have been asked to submit four nominees to Cardinal Francis George, whose office will conduct a lottery to choose the winners. Entries must include the priest or parishioner’s name, date of birth and address as well as a guarantee that, if chosen, they will go. Guests must also be prepared to show a photo ID at the stadium entrance. The deadline for pastors to submit names is Feb. 8.

I will update my frequently-updated post on how to get tickets to see the Pope with this information.

My complete coverage of Pope Benedict's April visit to the USA is available here.

Flash: Pope Benedict *will* tour in popemobile during Washington DC visit

*FLASH*

Buried deep in the story, but it originates from a knowledgeable source:

Susan Gibbs, communications director for the Washington, D.C., archdiocese, said there will be plenty of other chances to see the pope. She said Vatican officials this week agreed to take the "popemobile" out for a spin several times while the pontiff is in the nation’s capital, making papal sightings more possible for the crowds expected to line the streets. The routes have not yet been released, Gibbs said.

This update reverses earlier reports that there would be no popemobile touring during the visit. Hoorah!

My complete coverage of Pope Benedict's April visit to the USA here.

Information on how to secure tickets to attend the Papal Masses here.

Legionaries of Christ founder Marcial Maciel dies

update 1, feb 1: Amy notes:

I’m struck by the fact that at least up to this point, there is no telegram made public from the Holy Father sending condolences to the group for the death of their founder, an act that is otherwise standard practice.

Agreed. Remember that I said originally in this post that one should watch to see the Vatican reaction to his death. In this case, I would claim that even a lack of activity can be taken to mean something. The official LC response, similarly, is significantly terse (and it looks like I got my translation of their announcement accurate).

update 2, feb 1: The Associated Press has reported that Maciel died in Houston, Texas.

original post: ABC News gets right to the point:

A well-connected Vatican insider who was accused of molesting young priests in training has died. Father Marcial Maciel never faced a trial nor was he punished by the Vatican despite the fact the church had asked him to stop all public ministry appearances.

The Vatican City AP wire is a bit more accurate:

The Rev. Marcial Maciel, a Mexican priest who founded the Legionaries of Christ religious order and was disciplined by Pope Benedict XVI after sex abuse allegations, has died in the United States, his order said Thursday. He was 87.

Maciel died Wednesday of natural causes, the conservative religious order said on its Web site. It did not say exactly where he died.

{update 2, feb 1: The Associated Press has reported that Maciel died in Houston, Texas.}

The Legionaries website announces (In Italian) essentially that their "beloved Founder and Father, MARCIAL MACIEL DEGOLLADO, has passed to his celestial native home, on the 30th of January, etc..."

(Again, my rough translation:) "By the wish of Fr. Maciel, the funeral will take place in an atmosphere of prayer and celebrated in a simple and private manner."

CNA specifies that the funeral will occur in his hometown of Mexico, date unpublished.

Associated Press: "Religious Order Leader Maciel Dies"
Reuters: "Mexican Catholic leader accused of sex abuse dies"

God rest his soul.

Watch for: 1) Vatican reaction at the news of his death. 2) Official Legionaries of Christ reaction.

Related posts:

• File photo of Maciel with John Paul II
• May 22: "ZENIT's objectivity about the Maciel decision doubteful?"
• May 20: "Fr. Maciel removed from ministry: Day Two"
• May 19: "Fr. Maciel removed from ministry: reactions & commentary"
• May 18: "Pope Benedict approves restrictions on Fr. Maciel, Legionaries of Christ founder"

Arch. of Milwaukee facing $3M deficit, forced to cut personnel & programs

Bleak times for the City of Festivals.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is facing a $3 million deficit in its current budget and will need to make substantial cuts in staffing and services for the fiscal year that begins July 1, partly because a deal to sell the Cousins Center fell through, an archdiocesan spokesman said Wednesday.

[The letter from Archbishop Dolan and] other information also have been posted at the archdiocese's Web site, http://www.archmil.org/, as part of Dolan's effort to share information with the region's 675,000 Catholics.

A clarification included for Milwaukee residents:

"... the archdiocese's ongoing $105 million Faith in Our Future capital campaign would not be used to balance the budget or to pay sexual abuse costs. It is intended to fund new programs and endowments at the archdiocesan and parish levels, and its funds will be held in a charitable trust outside the assets of the archdiocese."

An reminder not included for Milwaukee residents today, but published by Rod Dreherin 2002:

Archbishop Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee, the most liberal bishop in America, has been disgraced by the revelation that he paid $450,000 in hush money to buy the silence of an apparent former male lover.

... Weakland wears his dissent as a badge of honor.

"Members of the Roman Curia often referred to me as a 'maverick,'" the archbishop wrote in his archdiocesan newspaper column last May.

"The best compliment I received, then, came from a religious superior in Rome who said: 'Rome does not know what to do with Weakland. He is a free man.' I feel I have been able to maintain my own dignity and identity through it all."

... In the last few months, Weakland defied an order from the Vatican to halt his $4.5 million dollar extremely modernistic renovation of Milwaukee's historic cathedral, which was left ravaged by the procedure. One puzzled Catholic described the new stripped-down space as akin to "a fancy Baptist church with a very large communion table." (National Review Online, 5/24/02)

As Rod points out:

Neither Weakland nor the money-grubbing Marcoux are victims. The Catholics of Milwaukee are. Their archbishop's arrogance and selfishness in the seedy Marcoux matter has cost them nearly half a million dollars. But in truth, the intangible cost is much higher.

I would argue that the tangible costs of Weakland's dishonesty and parasitism, if today is any example, are also still rising much higher. This from a man who reserved a website for himself (at least in 2006).

Maybe adding a donation button to help out his beleaguered ex-diocese would be in order, for a start.

Levada confirms CDF working on bioethics document

Briefly, from CNA:

"This morning, Pope Benedict XVI asked the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to focus on "the difficult and complex problems of bioethics." More specifically, the Pontiff drew the teaching body of the Church’s attention toward issues associated with reproductive technologies, explaining that some of them violate human dignity."

...

Among the "new problems" that require a re-evaluation are "the freezing of human embryos, embryonal reduction, pre-implantation diagnosis, stem cell research and attempts at human cloning," Benedict XVI said.

CWNews expands:

The Pope defended the Church against critics who treat the faith "as if it were an obstacle to science." In fact, he said, "the Church appreciates and encourages progress in the biomedical sciences." The pastoral task for the Church, he explained, is to "enlighten everyone's consciences so that scientific progress may be truly respectful of all human beings."

John Allen reports that this document will essentially be a follow-up to Donum Vitae (1987).

Allen also notes that the document may resolve a long-standing debate in bioethics:

Levada’s reference to frozen embryos suggests that the congregation may take up the controversial question of so-called “embryo adoption,” which has been much debated in pro-life circles in recent years. Essentially, one side believes that even though these embryos should never have been created, now that they exist, women should be encouraged to bring them to term, allowing them to develop as human beings. Another party, however, regards that as cooperation in a fundamentally immoral act, and worries that promoting adoption may simply encourage artificial creation of embryos.

The full text of the Holy Father's speech is available here on the Vatican website, in Italian.

AmP Tip: How to get tickets to see Pope Benedict XVI in April

This post provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on how to get tickets for Pope Benedict XVI's public Masses when he visits the U.S. this April.

{Last updated Feb. 2 - Arch. of Baltimore}

There are only three opportunities for the general public to see the Pope, listed here in order of seats available:

• 1) Yankee Stadium in New York City on Sunday, April 20th ~ 65,000 seats
• 2) Nationals' Stadium in Washington DC on April 17th ~ 45,000 seats
• 3) Youth/Seminarians Rally at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers on April 19th ~ unknown

How do you get a spot? Read on....

Tickets to Yankee Stadium - Official Website

• Archdiocese of Boston residents only: 3,000k tickets available - CLICK HERE. Must apply by February 11th @ 5pm, small groups favored. (ph/t: Bettnet)
• [update] Archdiocese of Baltimore: "very limited number" - CLICK HERE - Tix made available starting Feb. 6th @ 9am; must pay $53 bus fare. Learn more here. (ph/t: WatcheroftheMorn)
• Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph: ~100 tickets - CLICK HERE. Must apply by Feb. 13th @ 5pm. (ph/t: Chad Toney)
• Archdiocese of Chicago: 100 tickets total to NYC Mass. Pastors have been asked to submit four nominees, then a lotto will take place. Deadline for submission is Feb. 8th. (ph/t: Chicago Tribune)
• Anyone may apply: ~100 tickets available from the Diocese of Charlotte - CLICK HERE. Must apply by February 6th, 2 ticket maximum. (ph/t: Charlotte Observer, News14)

Tickets to Youth Gathering in Yonkers - Official Website

• From the official website: "[tickets] will be distributed to young people, seminarians and individuals in formation for religious life in the Archdiocese of New York through Catholic schools, parish catechetical programs, parish youth groups, Seminaries, etc. Information on tickets for this event will be available in early February."

General information: Ticket allocations for dioceses outside of the Archdiocese of New York were mailed January 25th. Ticket information for individuals in the Archdiocese of New York will be made available "in early February." In general, tickets will be distributed through your local parish (so if you aren't registered, now would be a good time!). For those outside the Archdiocese, tickets will be distributed through your local Bishop's office. Priority will be given to the archdioceses of Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, who are celebrating their bicentennials. Links: [Yankee Stadium]

Tickets to Nationals Stadium - Official Website

• Archdiocese of Chicago: less than 100 tickets. Pastors have been asked to submit four nominees, then a lotto will take place. Deadline for submission is Feb. 8th. (ph/t: Chicago Tribune)
• Ticket distribution has not been finalized yet, although "in the past, the custom for major events has been to distribute tickets primarily through ... parishes, dioceses and [Catholic] organizations." Updated info will be made available "by mid-February."
• Clergy of the Archdiocese of Washington may already register for the Papal Mass here.

General information: In general it appears that Washington is lagging behind New York in its organization. Mid-Feburary is the presumed date for notices to be sent out. Priority will be given to the archdiocese of Baltimore and the diocese of Arlington. More information, per usual, as I see it. Links: [Washington Nationals Ballpark]

From what I know, the best way to get tickets is to personally contact your local bishop's office. That way, if the lottery is not made public, you have a better chance of being selected. Prayers help too. It's going to be tight.

*Please feel free to email me additions & corrections. Thank you.*

(Also, digging this post will allow other folks interested in this information more easily find it.)

Boston Catholics - Get your tickets to see Pope Benedict in NYC!

Bettnet drops us the tip:

If you’re a Catholic living in the Archdiocese of Boston and you want to attend the papal Mass in Yankee Stadium on April 20, you’re in luck. The Archdiocese has been allocated 3,000 tickets and you can put your name in the lottery by going to the Archdiocese’s Bicentennial web site and signing up.

Demand is expected to outstrip supply so make sure to get your name in. Tickets are free, but non-transferable (you won’t see them on eBay) and there is fee for transportation as well.

NOTE: "All requests for tickets must be received by February 11, 2008 at 5:00pm."

He adds more details:

Obviously Baltimore will get tickets to events in Washington, DC, but Boston, Philadelphia, and Lousville, Kentucky, will get tickets for New York.

Okay, now you know. I'll be posting later this week with more details on how to get tickets to see the Pope, so check back, and in the meantime, peruse the archives.

Your PPOTD! Wednesday, January 30th

"From the eyes of babes..."

[photo: REUTERS/Chris Helgren (VATICAN]

By the end of today, a significantly clarified presidential race

Florida's role as a political weathervane has once again been confirmed.

Last night, John McCain overcame Mitt Romney 36-31 and won all 57 of Florida's delegates.

Guiliani's dismal 3rd place showing confirms the end of his campaign, and the beginning of the ignominy.

The AFP indulged in some classic media "20-20 hindsight-ism" in its remarks on Giuliani's exit:

In retrospect, Giuliani had few options.

As a thrice-married pro-abortion, pro-gay rights baron of liberal New York, he was always an odd fit with the religious conservative Republican base that swept Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush to power.

That's nice to hear, after months of being told his positions didn't matter. I guess they maybe did.

Giuliani is expected to endorse McCain. McCain is now the man to beat on Super Tuesday (in 6 days). This even more so because Thompson has dropped out, and Huckabee is broke. Romney has enough personal income to campaign, but he is now facing a long, uphill fight. He really needed to win Florida.

On the Democrat side, in a surprising decision, John Edwards is also getting out of the race.

Surprising not because anyone thought he had a chance of winning, of course, but instead because many folks were widely expecting him to stick in the race in order to win delegates and stay influential in the convention. His exit, it would seem, will help Obama in Super Tuesday more than Clinton.

Ron Paul has vowed to continue campaigning.

So, to recap: Hillary vs. Obama (with some added Edwards support) and McCain trying to push out Romney (with Paul doing his thing in the wings, and Huckabee looking for a place back at the table).

update: as a little more grist for the comment mill, Rob Vischer at Mirror of Justice notes some complimentary things about McCain. Meanwhile, Rasmussen tracks McCain ahead of both Hillary (8%) and Obama (6%) in a potential general election match up.

Pope Benedict Receives "Holy Grail" of Gifts: Beer.

Of course, it took an Anglican to have enough guts (and circumspection) to go through with the idea. Shame on us papists for not thinking of it first!

It could have been the moment the world was waiting for - the Holy Grail being hand-delivered to the Pope.

But that is exactly what the Archbishop of York did when he made his historic visit to Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican.

Dr John Sentamu took the Pontiff some quintessentially Yorkshire gifts - including a bottle of Holy Grail beer and Black Sheep Ale from the Black Sheep Brewery.

The Archbishop also presented the Pope with an illustrated history of York Minster, and a cut-glass beer tankard from the Minster. He said the gifts were chosen to reflect the Pope's appreciation of Bavarian beer. - UK York Press

The UK Daily Mail adds more:

Following their 15-minute chat in the Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura, believed to be the burial place of St Paul, Sentamu said: "I told the brewery I was meeting the Pope and they made a special brew for him. I heard he'd been given some Black Sheep ale and liked it. So I brought that and the Holy Grail."

The gifts pleased the Pope, who is Bavarian by birth and prefers beer to wine and water.

"I was very impressed by the Pope," Sentamu said. "He cares about human beings. He is such a deep theologian, it drives him to compassion. He is not a starchy person, but people look at his writings, they are very precise, and think he is like that ... but he is very warm."

... no doubt. In case you were wondering, "The Archbishop of York is the second-highest-ranking prelate in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury", says CNA.

I'm guessing this must have been a nice change of pace from the usual dignitary gift exchange.

Pope Benedict, of course, as Cardinal Ratzinger, was no stranger to the suds:

In fact, not only is there an (unofficial) German Papst-Bier ("Pope Beer"), there is an (official) blessing for beer in the Roman Rite of Blessings .... prost!

This episode got me thinking that it would be nice to have a one-stop web source for all the captured images of Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict enjoying the lesser-known fruit of human hands....: Voila!

(Submissions welcome. While you must be over 21 to drink in the U.S., all ages can enjoy the photos.)

And finally, while we're ostensibly on the topics of beer and ecumenical dialogue, I submit for your consideration the following Facebook group: "Evangelicals and Catholics [Drinking] Together"

I'm a member.

Of course it was him, I would expect nothing less

"It is not every day you see a bishop leading the faithful in procession through the streets of a major city: Hundreds join pro-life procession through streets of San Diego". - California Catholic Daily

How did I know the individual in question had to be Auxiliary Bishop Salvatore Cordileone? Because his reputation is that good.

More: "On Sunday, Jan. 20, more than 700 faithful gathered at San Diego’s St. Joseph’s Cathedral for prayer and a procession to condemn 35 years of legalized abortion in the United States. The procession was led by Auxiliary Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, and was blessed with the presence of the famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima."

It's been about an even six months since I mentioned Bp. Cordileone (and that's too long).

How Long, O Lord, How Long?!

Exclusive: Pictures of Pope Benedict's DC Mass pulpit, lectern & chair

Today the winning design for the pulpit, lectern and chair that Pope Benedict will use for his public Mass at DC's Nationals stadium during his April visit was unveiled.

I was able to tour the exhibit this afternoon and take a few photographs of the chosen models. Enjoy!

The complete set of photos is available on the AmP Flickr page.

From the CUA press release:

Washington DC - Student Winners of Papal Design Contest Announced at CUA

The winning architectural design by two Catholic University students for a 10-by-4-foot papal altar and a pulpit, lectern and chair that Pope Benedict XVI will use when he celebrates Mass in Washington, D.C., was unveiled today at The Catholic University of America, D.C., in partnership with the Archdiocese of Washington.

The model by John-Paul Mikolajczyk, of Staten Island, N.Y., and Ryan Mullen, of Manchester, N.H., both candidates in the master's program at Catholic University's School of Architecture and Planning, shows an altar with a substantial top, a repeating pattern of decorative parabolic arches beneath it and a smaller base.

...

At the unveiling, Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, said that the design is "a tribute to this school of architecture, Catholic University and the quality of students here.

Twenty-one entries were submitted for the design competition, or charrette, which was held last week at CUA's Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies, where the winners were announced.

The top award for the design competition will receive a $1,500 prize. The second-place winner will receive $1,000 and five honorable-mention winners will each receive $500. The proposed designs will be displayed at the Crough Center for about a week.

More information from the press release:

The front of the pulpit (or ambo), where the Holy Father will read the Gospel, is adorned with images of the Bible and the Holy Trinity. The tall chair back is decorated with Pope Benedict XVI's papal coat of arms.

Mikolajczyk and Mullen will work with architecture faculty and the Archdiocese of Washington to fine-tune the design and actually construct the altar and the other furnishings at the Crough Center. The four pieces will become part of the sanctuary for the Mass that Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate April 17 at the city's new baseball stadium, Nationals Park. Following the Mass, the pontiff will give a major address on Catholic education at CUA.

Students, working individually or in teams of up to four people, prepared their models and drawings over an intense few days of work between Jan. 18 and Jan. 23. The entries were judged on Jan. 24.

Catholic University's School of Architecture and Planning is the largest in the Washington, D.C., area. The school offers a bachelor of science in architecture, master of architecture and master of architectural studies and its graduate program concentrations include cultural studies/sacred space, design technologies, digital media, real estate development and urban design. For more information see
architecture.cua.edu.

[Above photo credit: Tony Fiorini, CUA - "Ryan Mullen and John-Paul Mikolajczjk and their winning papal design." All other photographs: Thomas Peters, AmericanPapist blog.]

So, what do you think of the chosen design?

What really angers the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy

Amid news that, in preparation for Brazil's Carnival celebrations, the government will be handing out millions of free condoms, Reuters indulges in some editorializing:

Recife city also plans to distribute morning-after contraceptive pills -- a move that has angered the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy.

The church opposes Brazil's much lauded anti-AIDS campaign on the grounds that it promotes contraception.

Wait a minute. How exactly does the morning-after pill prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS? That's right, it does not. Therefore, the distrubtion of morning-after pills can in no way be taken as being part of an "anti-AIDS campaign."

Furthermore, the church does not oppose anti-AIDS campaigns "on the grounds that it promotes contraception." This is a woefully inadequate account of the Church's position. The quotation from Bp. Duarte sheds some light on the situation:

"... while the church was not against people having fun in Carnival, the morning-after pill and condom campaign "will only serve to diminish inhibitions and encourage orgiastic behavior."

... and that's just a start. After all, the President of Brazil (whom the article notes, is known as a"gregarious character" who "enjoys a drink") has been on the radio asking people to not go overboard, and "His dour warning appeared to be partly prompted by a rise in deaths and accidents from drunken driving during the Christmas holidays."

So, to review: when the President tells people to behave more responsibly while simultaneously distributes condoms, it's a wonderful government innitiative. When a Catholic Bishop speaks out and notes how giving people the means towards a bad end does not help the situation, he's out to lunch.

It's going to be a long Lent.

"This is a very good custom" Pope says of Jesuit vow renewal

Zenit:

During the audience Father Nicolás handed an envelope to the Holy Father in which he renewed in writing his obedience to the Pope, fulfilling a Jesuit tradition for newly elected superiors-general of the Society.

In addition to this tradition for those leading the order, obedience to the Pope in missionary matters is the fourth vow that all Jesuits make alongside the traditional three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

"The Pope opened the envelope right away and read the vows," reported the Jesuits. Then he said, "This is a very good custom."

Hint, hint.

Open Thread: Romney vs. McCain

Tomorrow Florida will host its Republican primary.

Mitt Romney and John McCain are tied, both in the state, and in national polls.

So, from a papist perspective, what are your thoughts, good/bad/indifferent?

Call for Submissions: World's First Pro-Life Film Festival, Cinema Vita

This news should be of special interest to some readers. Marjorie gives us the goods:

"The Cinema Vita Film Festival has been established to encourage young, emerging filmmakers and to showcase movies about contemporary issues concerning the meaning and value of life. Coordinated by the San Francisco Archdiocesan Office of Public Policy, the Oakland Diocesan Respect Life Ministry, Marriage for Life, and Ignatius Press, the festival is based on the recognition that art, especially the medium of film, shapes the popular imagination and has a tremendous influence on culture."

They are looking for submissions spanning 3-5 minutes in 3 categories: high school, college and open. For each there is a cash prize of $250 and a Canon HG10 High Definition Camcorder (value $1100).

Read the submission criteria here. Entries must be postmarked by February 14, early entries encouraged.

Here, again, is the official website.

More details:

The winning films will be shown at the festival on March 7, 2008 at the Delancy Street Theater in downtown San Francisco, along with the award-winning feature film After the Truth, a provocative look at a fictional trial of Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious Angel of Death at Auschwitz.

Ignatius Insight has an extensive article explaining the motivation and goal of the festival.

Any questions? Marjorie, blogging at Deal W Hudson is point-lady for blog outreach and news.

This is exactly the sort of innitiative I love prompoting at AmP. Get to it, you young media-savvy papists!

Sticky: AmP's March for Life Coverage (Essential Links)

Welcome to any new visitors. I'm a Catholic young adult, studying and working in Washington DC, who is providing exclusive on-the-ground coverage of the 35th Annual March for Life. Here's what I offer:

• All March-for-Life related posts are collected here (includes event schedules & info)
• My photographs will be uploaded to this Flickr page (currently almost 100)
• My videos will be uploaded to this YouTube page (about 10 from the march)
• New: My special report on the March has been published at InsideCatholic.com

Collections of my other news stories are available on this page.

To contact me with with tips, information or media requests:

"thomas [at] americanpapist [dot] com"

March for Life exclusive content:

• March for Life (5): March for Life Videos
• March for Life (4): March for Life Pictures (1 of 2)
• March for Life (3): March for Life Pictures (2 of 2)
• March for Life (2): Blogs4Life Videos
• March for Life (1): Blogs4Life Photos

Also, InsideCatholic (Crisis Magazine) has published my thoughts on the March for Life here.

And please, join me in praying for an end to abortion, and for its millions of victims and survivors.

Related coverage: