First Sunday of Advent

Fr. Z and NLM walk us through this evening's papal liturgy. Remember to light your advent wreath!

[photo credit: REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)]

Photo Caption Call - 11/28/08

Today's Top Story: "Rumor: Pope Benedict to visit Holy Land in May 2009"

Winning Caption: "Quieter than a silent E." - Worm

Add your captions below in the comment box! View the winning caption from the last Photo Caption Call here.

[Source: e3000]

Advent wreath tips

My family has always been very good about observing the tradition of lighting an Advent wreath to prepare for Christmas.

The Catholic Spirit (MN) and Florida Catholic have articles this week explaining the tradition and providing prayers for the first week of Advent.

(Ph/t: CNS)

[photo credit: mrscurtis2005]

Rumor: Pope Benedict to visit Holy Land in May 2009

Exciting news if it turns out to be true:

Israeli president Shimon Peres has extended an invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit Israel in 2009 and he is considering the offer, according to the Vatican’s spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi.

Speaking to the press on Thursday in Rome, Fr. Lombardi reacted to an article in the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz that stated that Pope Benedict has indeed accepted an offer to visit the Holy Land in the second week of May, 2009.

While not denying that discussions are under way, Fr. Lombardi did not confirm the specifics. "I can confirm that contacts exist at a diplomatic level between the Holy See and Israel to study the possibility of a trip by the Pope to the Holy Land next year," he said.

The article in Ha’aretz also claimed that the Pope will visit the Palestinian territories by stopping in Bethlehem. (CNA)

If the trip accomplishes one thing, I hope it finally puts to rest this common misconception:

"[The trip] would help to ease recent tensions between Catholics and Jews over the role of wartime Pope Pius XII, who some Jews have accused of turning a blind eye to the Holocaust." (Reuters)

You can expect the Pius XII controversy to be front-and-center during the news coverage of the Holy Father's visit. Good. Maybe the Church can finally, publicly defend herself against the false charges.

But I won't be holding my breath.

Vote for a pro-life blog in the CBA!

The Pro-life blog "ProWomanProLife" has been nominated for "Best New Blog" in the Canadian Blog Awards.

Go Vote!

Advent on your iPhone: Introducing "iHabitus"

Not a gag post!

More details from Fr. Z.

And this would be just as good as any to ask, do you have any Catholic software for mobile devices tips? What about a Facebook Advent application? I've heard of such a thing existing but this one appears to be the only one updated for 2008, and it does not appear to be particularly Christian.

Anyway, I'd love to promote these sorts of things to other AmP readers. Spread the Good News (online)!

CDF to release important bioethics document on Dec. 12

We've been waiting awhile for this one:

A new Vatican instruction on bioethics, prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is scheduled to be published Dec. 12, informed sources said Wednesday.

The document, under discussion for at least two years, is expected to examine ethical issues in biological research and health care that have emerged in recent years, including the cloning and freezing of human embryos, stem cell research and new therapeutic possibilities.

Pope Benedict XVI was head of the doctrinal congregation when both those documents were published. Addressing the congregation in January, the pope said the new problems included the freezing of human embryos, the selective reduction of embryos, pre-implant diagnosis, research on embryonic stem cells and attempts at human cloning. (CNS)

This document will be a follow-up to Donum Vitae (1987) and Evangelium Vitae (1995), both landmark statements from the Church on the literally life-and-death importance of bioethical decision and practice.

Picture: New Cardinals (Awesome)

A treasure taken from the recently made-public LIFE magazine photo archives:

Cardinals prostrating in the Sistine Chapel. From The Far Sight 2.0 via NLM.

How many books does Pope Benedict own?

Answer? 20,000!

Aside from being a prolific author himself, Pope Benedict XVI loves books. After he was elected Pope in 2005, renovations were undertaken to the papal residence to accommodate his personal library of 20,000 books.

So it’s especially fitting that the Vatican opened a new bookstore this week dedicated to the Holy Father. Along with books, the new store offers both a stamp and a medal collection, including a new stamp printed for the occasion of the opening, Zenit reported. (NCRegister.com)

wow.

THANK YOU!

The combined efforts of AmP readers, and friends of AmP readers, resulted in this blog becoming the second Runner-Up in the 2008 Blogging Scholarship contest, with almost 5,000 votes:

As promised, this money will be used to pay off my student loans. I have all you to thank for that, this Thanksgiving and everytime I look at the bill for my student loans (which will be often).

Also, that crisis pregnancy center I asked AmP readers to vote for, well it ended up winning a $25,000 office makeover.

This level of grassroots organization and mutual support between Catholics online is very encouraging to me. Together we can be a powerful, united force for good, in every area of our lives. Keep it up!

Large scale terrorist attack unfolding in India

Breaking news .... the UK Times:

At least 80 people were killed tonight and 20 Westerners taken hostage as suspected Islamic terrorists mounted a series of co-ordinated attacks on India’s financial capital.

The gunman, armed with automatic weapons and grenades, targeted British and American tourists in the city’s luxury hotels and bars. They were reported to be holding Western tourists hostage at the Taj Mahal Palace, Bombay’s top hotel, where a group of British MEPs were staying.

As a swathe of violent incidents swept across the south of the city, hitting at least nine locations, security sources said “a major terror attack” was unfolding. A senior police officer said that “terrorists have used automatic weapons and we have reports that in some places hand grenades have been used”.

“We have reports of 80 people dead and at least 900 injured. Many have serious injuries and the toll will go up,” said P.D Ghadge, a police officer in the main control room in Mumbai. Hemant Karkare, chief of the police anti-terrorist squad in Bombay, was among the victims. Police said two terrorists had been killed.

Shootings were reported in the lobby of the five-star Taj Mahal Palace hotel in the Colaba area of south Bombay and at the nearby Leopolds bar, a popular destination with western backpackers. Witnesses described pools of blood and bullet-scarred walls at both locations.

“I guess they were after foreigners, because they were asking for British or American passports,” said Rakesh Patel, a British witness who lives in Hong Kong and was staying at the Taj Mahal hotel on business. “They had bombs.”

Drudge is following the story.

Let's pray for the victims and be thankful for the relative peace we are blessed with in America.

update: and lest we let our own guard down, there are now reports of a plan to bomb penn station.

update 2: Pope Benedict has responded.

Evil Stocking Stuffer: Gift Certificates for Abortions

I'm not making this up:

Gift certificates have become a popular holiday gift option, but a controversial new one, already has people talking. For the first time, Planned Parenthood in Indiana is offering gift certificates.

.... asked if the gift certificates could be used towards abortions. The answer is yes. But, Planned Parenthood said that's not the purpose of the gift certificates. (Local 8)

Video:



PP of Indiana has made it onto the AmP radar before, back in February, where it offered to prepare students for their spring break with a "free emergency contraception day." PP of Indiana certainly appears to be innovative and pro-active when it comes to promoting their wide range of harmful services.

Related: "Planned Parenthood Issues Christmas Gift Certificates: Give the Gift of Abortion" (LifeNews)

Video: Man transports 20 bricks on his head!

If this is real, it's incredible:

Vatican forgives Lennon. Who's next, I wonder?

Someone at L'OR must have had space to fill:

The Vatican's newspaper [L'OR] has finally forgiven John Lennon for declaring that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, calling the remark a "boast" by a young man grappling with sudden fame. (Reuters)

During the papacy of John Paul II, the Church went through an "apology stage." If this is the beginning of a "forgiveness stage" in the Church, I have some suggestions for who the Vatican should forgive next:

1. Vatican "experts" who claimed Pope Benedict XVI would be a vindictive, blood-thirsty traditionalist tyrant, single-handely ushering in a new dark ages
2. The so-called "new athiests" who have blamed the Catholic church for everything evil that has happened in the world since the Incarnation, except for natural disasters
3. The pop singer Madonna, for the past 25-or-so years (this one will be tough)

There, that should keep L'OR busy.

Amazing Photos of Dubai

I keep tabs on Dubai.

This page contains amazing recent photos of the fastest-growing city in the world.

Including this one, of the new Tower of Babel.

What about Twilight?

If you look at the movie Box Office returns from last weekend, there's a big surprise....

.... it's the movie Twilight. I'm rather disturbed by its huge success, because I've heard nothing good about the book it is based on.

A Catholic mother blogging about the book and movie over at Spes Unica has this to say:

"The Twilight Saga is an international sensation, but unlike other recent blockbusters (for example, the Harry Potter series), this fan base tilts very, very heavily towards females. (One fan site listed a ratio of 31 registered females for every male, and I would venture to say it may be optimistic about the number of males.) The series has been carefully marketed as a courtly romance based on old fashioned morals, but this is simply untrue. It is driven by eroticism and obsession, contains explicit sexual situations and violence, and disturbing spiritual content which concludes in a “happy ending” where the heroine of the story gives up her soul to become a vampire." (Read More)

So be advised - Twilight is dark for a reason.

update: it's evident from the comment thread that other Catholics view this series favorably, for instance the USCCB review, and pro-life chastity blogger Kate Bryan.

Since I have not read the books or seen the movie, nor do I have a particular interest in the genre, I'll refrain from commenting and allow AmP readers to pursue the debate who are closer to it.

I would say, speaking as an outsider, that this genre of film in general contains unsavory elements, and so if it is good, that means it has an uphill battle. But for all that, it would be encouraging to see that there is an entry that features acceptable moral values for a chance. Otherwise it's just another teen vampire movie. Blech.

Online Movie: Volition (pro-life & powerful)

A powerful film available in its entirety online.

The description doesn't quite to it justice:

"The act of making a choice. Sometimes the choice of inaction has consequences stronger than we could ever imagine. Throughout history, men have been faced with difficult choices in a world that makes it easy for them to conform. This film explores the hope that lies behind every decision made in the face of adversity; the hope that is buried in the heart of those that look beyond themselves and see something bigger worth fighting for."

Okay,that's a bit vague. Watch the movie and it's very clear what is being talked about. And it's very moving.

Cardinal DiNardo leads procession from PP to death row

Not a coincidence:

Saying they want to promote the sanctity of life, several hundred people traveled to Huntsville Monday morning. The group was made up mostly of Catholics, including one very prominent one - Cardinal Daniel DiNardo.

They said their protest was to call attention to the value of life, whether unborn or condemned, which is why the group ended their procession at TDCJ's death row.

The prayers were as constant as the step. The procession moved forward at a steady clip as over 300 people walked quietly through the heart of Huntsville from the Planned Parenthood offices traveling north of the Walls Unit. It was a chance, many say, to protest against abortion and state executions of convicted criminals. (ABC 13)

And on a related note, Corpus Christi is refusing to give money to Planned Parenthood (at least for now). Would that other cities would follow its lead.

Ph/t: Dawn.

Keeping track: a list of Obama's anti-life appointments

As LifeSiteNews records, they include so far his:

1. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel
2. Commerce Secretary Bill Richardson (Catholic)
3. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Daschle (my posts on him)
4. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
5. Communications Director Ellen Moran (my post on her)

... and we can expect:

1. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
2. Secretary of the Interior: Raúl M. Grijalva

Discouraging, not unexpected.

Vatican turns to Korean for economic advice

Tucked away at the very end of Monday's Vatican bulletino:

"VATICAN CITY, 24 NOV 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed .... Thomas Han Hong-soon as international auditor of the Prefecture of the Economic Affairs of the Holy See."

Good stuff from a Zenit exposition and Catholic Asian News.

Photo Caption Call - 11/25/08

Today's Top Story: "AmP T-Shirt Contest"

Winning Caption: "Hey, you in the blue, where's your habit?!" - Caterina

Add your captions below in the comment box! View the winning caption from the last Photo Caption Call here.

[Source: Divxplanet]

Playing Gods: The Board Game of Divine Domination

"The world's first satirical board game of religious warfare."

USA Today has the story.

I'm dissapointed the article doesn't contain the word "smite." Such a missed opportunity.

BotC: St. Bridget's, New Jersey

[Beauties of the Church #5]

St. Bridget's in New Jersey ][ Photo by Flickr user mudpig

"Pope Benedict calls on society to reconnect beauty to truth and goodness"

You know, if society has some free time this week:

Although the world is immersed in images, it can be empty of beauty, Pope Benedict said today in a message he sent to the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Literature as it explores the relationship between aesthetics and ethics.

... Pope Benedict also calls on contemporary reasoning to rediscover the link between beauty, truth and goodness. "And if such a commitment applies to everyone," the Pope asserts, "it applies even more to believers, to the disciples of Christ, who are called by the Lord to 'give reasons' for all the beauty and truth of their faith." (CNA)

Which reminds me....

Kmiec for Vatican Ambassador?

A double dose of stupid this week from Michael Sean Winters.

Last Friday I took apart Winters' attempt to claim that Tom Daschle's appointment as Secretary of HHS was a "step in the right direction."

Now I find that Winters is arguing that Doug Kmiec would be a good choice (indeed, the "perfect candidate") for US ambassador to the Vatican.

Oh boy, here we go again. Luckily, we don't have to go far....

Longtime associates of Professor Kmiec denounced him, often in ways that lacked all charity, suggesting bad logic or bad motives or both. There is no better way to answer those who argued that no Catholic could vote for Obama in good conscience than to see the man who wrote the book (literally!) defending the proposition that Catholics can and should vote for Obama being received in the Sala Clementina by Pope Benedict XVI!

Winters implies that "longtime associates" turned on Kmiec. In fact, Kmiec turned on them. Kmiec turned himself around several times. For instance, after originally supporting the Republican Mitt Romney, Kmiec then supported Obama. After originally claiming "beyond life issues", Obama was a good choice for Catholics, Kmiec went on to claim the Obama was the natural choice, "upon even a moment's reflection." In other words, which side in this debate has been "longtime" in their position? That's right - not Kmiec.

As for the "lacking all charity" jab, Kmiec continually hides behind a smokescreen of holier-than-thouness, without ever engaging his opponents in substance. In fact, Kmiec's normal tactic is to claim that anyone criticizing him, de facto, must be speaking uncharitably. The reality that the criticism might be founded in reason and fact, seems to conveniently escape him. Having watched this debate closely, most interlocutors seemed to be trying their best to reach Kmiec, scratching their heads all the while. They've demonstrated an over-abundance of charity, considering they are dealing with someone who they genuinely believe is undermining the cause of defending unborn life in our country.

And it is so untrue for Winters to claim that the Kmiec-critique contained "bad logic, bad motives or both." In fact, Kmiec seemed to run from a debate with intellectual Catholics whenever he could. He refused to publicly dialogue with bishops, he continually turned down opportunities to debate his position with prominent pro-life Catholics, opting instead for a well-funded, whirlwind tour of Catholic campuses where he rallied for Obama. Controlled Q&A sessions with liberal undergraduates is not where you test the mettle of your position. And shilling for a candidate who raised the ire of an unprecedented number of American bishops is not good credentials for a diplomatic appointment to the Holy See.

Oh, and Winters last claim that Pope Benedict's meeting with Kmiec would somehow be an endorsement of Kmiec's position is simply ludicrous. The Pope takes what he gets, and I'd love to see Winters come out and say that the Pope's meeting with Mary Ann Glendon (the current Republican ambassador) is somehow an endorsement of her entire public career. For someone who claims so much knowledge of what the position of ambassador entails, it's amazing that he would have these sort of blindspots still.

... okay, that's just one short paragraph of Winter's post that I've decided to answer.

Winters similarly displays a certain unexplainable myopia in his presentation of the situation. Again:

Notwithstanding the sparring over abortion, Kmiec’s influence in the campaign grew from there – helping the campaign draft platform language supporting economic assistance that would encourage the decision of a pregnant woman to choose life, writing his book explaining why Obama might be voted for in good conscience (the book ranked #1 for a number of weeks in its category on Amazon), and then personally carrying the message to the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.

I have to wonder where Winters is getting his statistics. Currently Kmiec is ranked #31 in Political Reference and #59 in Government Elections. By contrast, Archbishop Charles Chaput's book, Render Unto Caesar, which I have talked about often and represents the most comprehensive, authoritative refutation of Kmiec's argument, is currently (still!) #1 in Catholic Inspirational, #1 in Roman Catholicism, and #1 in Church & State.

If Winters is really serious in claiming that Amazon rankings are a measure of the influence and level of acceptance an individual's arguments merit ... well, Catholics who are reading, read Chaput, not Kmiec.

A final observation:

Kmiec has shown no interest in an administration appointment.

What sort of interest should Kmiec show? When was the last time, when asked, anyone being considered for a post said "yes, I'd be thrilled to accept it, and eager"? Again, Winters says things he presumes are arguments, but upon reflection, turn out to actually be counter-arguments.

In other words, if Kmiec is uninterested in an appointment, he has a very funny way of showing it - because throwing oneself into the pro-Obama movement is an unlikely way to remain hidden from view in an Obama administration (which would make Winters wrong). And if Kmiec is interested in an appointment ... well, everything he has done makes sense, and, again, Winters is wrong.

Regardless of what happens to Kmiec, it's encouraging to see that Winters is already laying the groundwork for his canonization cause. In the meantime, Kmiec should focus on fixing his credentials.

update: I'm not surprised and pleased to see that a certain official of the Vatican's Secretary of State agrees with me.

[photo credit: ProLifeProObama]

Photos: The Hug/Kiss/Sign of Peace

It seemed topical:

AmP T-Shirt Contest

Papists,

Many of you have emailed me asking why there is no AmP merchandise (t-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs, etc).

There's a very simple reason: I can't draw.

But you can!

I think I see a solution here - I'll let you design the AmP t-shirt! The CafePress store is waiting.

My guidelines are generous, because I'd like to keep this open to your creativity:

1. A distinctive image, probably based on this photo which I've used since the beginning as my banner. I think a stencil version (of the Cardinal on the right side) would be very snazzy. This photo, after all, perfectly captures the "Not Your Average Catholic" AmP tagline....
2. .... which leads into my next suggestion, that the graphic include the phrase: "American Papist ... Not Your Average Catholic!" Because being Catholic is never ordinary - it's extraordinary! And AmP readers ... well, this applies to you the most.
3. use the preferred AmP color scheme (white background, deep crimson primary color, loud orange highlights).
4. finally, of course, "blog.americanpapist.com" or "AmericanPapist.com" should appear somewhere.

.. and that's it! Send me your submissions in an email attachment to "thomas [at] americanpapist [dot] com."

As for remuneration, I can't make guarantees, as obviously it depends on how many folks decide they just can't live without official AmP product, but I can guarantee recognition and credit. And hey, if I sell a few dozen shirts, I certainly won't forget the talented individual(s) who made it possible! I haven't gotten to where I am by forgetting my good friends who have helped me.

If you are a fledgling Catholic designer, etc,. this is a great way to get massive exposure. AmP is, by my current tally, one of the three most popular Catholic blogs in the world (plus plenty of people at the Vatican read this, too, so this is a great way for you seminarians to get noticed!).

Okay, I like keeping things short n' sweet - so give it a shot yourself or tell a friend straight away!

update: to avoid confusion, I've slightly edited this post. I'm looking for a t-shirt design, not a new logo.

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/23/08

(I decided to carry this one over an extra day.)

Today's Top Post: Thanks, folks!

"Who approves these crazy translations?"

[source: (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, HO)]

"Pew study finds election coverage of religion was shallow"

No kidding.

Of note:

"Sen. Joe Biden, who is the first Catholic elected as vice-president and whose pro-abortion rights views and comments were criticized by leading prelates, received only 0.7 percent of religion-focused campaign coverage, according to Pew."

Remember, under-reporting is a form of media bias as well.

update: Phil Lawler on this.

Dealing with FOCA-supporters in Canon Law

Canonist Ed Peters lays out the legal tools that Bishops may put into use against FOCA-supporters:

The final wording of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) has yet to be set, but there is every indication that it will be the most radical piece of pro-abortion legislation ever proposed at the federal level. The near certainty that FOCA will be re-introduced (compounded by the increased likelihood that it will pass and be signed into law) means that, ready or not, Catholic bishops will have to face squarely the problem of well-known Catholic legislators supporting a specifically and gravely evil bill. As I see it, bishops have four options for dealing with Catholic legislators who support FOCA:

[Read them here.]

Taking Catholics for Choice to the Woodshed

Fr. Z does it for me.

The nerve of their president Jon O'Brien:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Health Association may be behind the new rule, but their support does not reflect the fullness of Catholic teaching and the views of Catholics.

Fr. Z called what Jon O'Brien wrote "evil."

I'd have to agree:

One hopes that the bishops are not suggesting that the only well-formed conscience is one that is in lockstep with their own interpretation of Catholic teaching. That would, in fact, be the antithesis of a well-formed conscience.

Actually, the catechism says:

no. 1794 - A good and pure conscience is enlightened by true faith.

In other words, the phrase "well-formed conscience" is an objective not a subjective description.

TX Bishop apologizes for not overseeing hospital properly

I called attention to this story back in July.

I have a great deal of respect for how the bishops have handled these revelations:

In yet another sign of revival in the Catholic Church in America, a US bishop has taken the rare step of publicly repenting for failing to ensure respect for life at Catholic hospitals under his jurisdiction.

An anonymous report issued last year revealed that tubal ligations were being performed for contraceptive purposes at Texas Catholic hospitals. The report cited hospital inpatient discharge data that was reported to the Texas Health Care Information Collection Center for Health Statistics, as evidence for the claim.

Bishop Alvaro Corrada, SJ, initiated an investigation following the report and has today issued a public admission of guilt after finding that Catholic hospitals were in fact illicitly carrying out sterilizations. (LifeSiteNews)

And not just apologizing. The bishops are pursing a comprehensive response to the reported abuses.

Quo Vadis, Sign of Peace?

I heard about this a little while ago. It's pretty much a done deal [brackets mean I'm editorializing]:

A high-ranking Vatican official says Pope Benedict XVI is considering introducing a change to the Mass liturgy.

Cardinal Francis Arinze, who heads the Vatican office for sacraments, says the pope may move the placement of the sign of peace, where congregation members shake hands or hug [or run around grabbing at any available hands they can find].

Arinze told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano in an interview published Friday that the pope has asked bishops to express their opinions and will then decide [actually, I'm pretty sure it's already decided; he is looking for input, however].

Under the change, the sign of peace, which now takes place moments before the reception of communion, would come earlier. Arinze said the change might help create a more solemn atmosphere as the faithful are preparing to receive communion. (AP)

A good move, I think.

Prayer request

Please stop and say a quick prayer for a good friend of mine and his family. Thank you!

Another surprise for the Vatican's Nativity Scene this year?

Maybe-could-be:

This week the Vatican City government began work on the construction of a new Nativity scene that will be on display in St. Peter’s Square this Christmas.

During this past week, with the Church preparing to celebrate final holy day of the liturgical year, the solemnity of Christ the King, dozens of workers began building a curious thirteen feet tall semi-circular structure that partially surrounding the great obilesk in St. Peter’s Square.

CNA asked the Holy See’s Press Office about the theme chosen for this year’s Nativity scene. “The theme of the Nativity scene is chosen and implemented by the Vatican government, and only when the work is completed will the Holy See be informed of the theme,” Sister Giovanna Gentili, SFP, said.

Last year the Vatican government chose the new theme of the Holy Family in Nazareth instead of in Bethlehem. Due to the [un]usual, semicircular aspect of the preparations, many expect the Holy See to unveil another surprise this Christmas season.

Okay, Roman Papists ... send me photos!

"Biden experiencing troubled conscience over abortion, says Bishop Aquila"

Oh?!

Following the Fall meeting of the U.S. Catholic bishops in Baltimore, where they pledged not to yield ground to the incoming Obama administration on the issue of abortion, Bishop Samuel Aquila has revealed that vice president-elect Joe Biden is struggling with his conscience over his support for abortion.

... “The nice thing about Biden, at least he says his conscience bothers him, which is good,” Aquila said. (CNA)

I don't know what Bp. Aquila is referring to exactly, but I certainly haven't seen anything recently from Biden that would cause me to think he's suddenly experiencing a conversion on the issue. I mean, he's been in politics how long?

Absolutely, it's a good thing to have your conscience bother you when you are involved in doing something gravely wrong, but we've all seen politician after politician say "well, you know, I'm troubled ... but I'm going to do it anyway."

Some consolation, that.

Radical pro-abort picked for Obama communications

Put your friends in high places:

Ellen Moran, executive director of EMILY’s List, was named White House communications director by President-elect Obama on Saturday. Moran, a well-known grassroots organizer, has also managed statewide Democratic campaigns and managed the Wal-Mart corporate accountability campaign for the AFL-CIO. EMILY's List, one of the most important Democratic constituency groups, says it is "dedicated to building a progressive America by electing Democratic pro-choice women to office." (Politico)

Even when phrased in saccharine political-speak, there's no real masking the fact that Emily's List pushes pro-abortion candidates, period:

EMILY's List - which stands for "Early Money Is Like Yeast" (It makes the dough rise) -was formed more than two decades ago to support pro-choice women candidates. Over the years they'd raised millions for them. They helped, among others, political tyros like Diane Feinstein, Jennifer Granholm and Clinton (during her Senate run) reach their desired end.

EMILY's List also states being "committed to a three-pronged strategy to elect pro-choice Democratic women: recruiting and funding viable women candidates; helping them build and run effective campaign organizations; and mobilizing women voters to help elect progressive candidates across the nation."

For a candidate to be considered for funding from EMILY’s List there are three requirements: The candidate must be a woman; she must be a Democrat; and she must support unrestricted access to taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand.

The List’s support for abortion-on-demand is so strong that it has cut funding from politicians who voted against extreme pro-abortion positions. Two examples of this are Senators Mary Landrieu from Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln from Arkansas who lost funding from EMILY’s List when they voted to ban the gruesome practice of partial-birth abortion. (CNA)

Once again - these are Obama's friends.

Obama hasn't been to Church since Nov. 4th

Politico:

President-elect Barack Obama has yet to attend church services since winning the White House earlier this month, a departure from the example of his two immediate predecessors.

On the three Sundays since his election, Obama has instead used his free time to get in workouts at a Chicago gym.

Asked about the president-elect's decision to not attend church, a transition aide noted that the Obamas valued their faith experience in Chicago but were concerned about the impact their large retinue may have on other parishioners.

"Because they have a great deal of respect for places of worship, they do not want to draw unwelcome or inappropriate attention to a church not used to the attention their attendance would draw," said the aide.

Both President-elect George W. Bush and President-elect Bill Clinton managed to attend church in the weeks after they were elected.

Doug Kmiec was quoted over the weekend as saying Obama has "far more in common with our great faith tradition than any political administration in recent memory."

Well sadly, if our legacy is "skipping out on Church whenever possible" then ... yes, yes Obama does.

Fed Pledges Top $7.4 Trillion to Ease Frozen Credit

Happy Monday:

The U.S. government is prepared to lend more than $7.4 trillion on behalf of American taxpayers, or half the value of everything produced in the nation last year, to rescue the financial system since the credit markets seized up 15 months ago.

... The money that’s been pledged is equivalent to $24,000 for every man, woman and child in the country. It’s nine times what the U.S. has spent so far on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Congressional Budget Office figures. It could pay off more than half the country’s mortgages.

No words.

Cardinal Ratzinger had some good ones.

Video: Amazing Meteor in Canada

I thought this was too cool not to post:



Quote from the story:

"She said there was a flash of light, the house shook twice and it sounded like dinosaurs were walking," Evans said.

Now that's an ironic choice of metaphor.

Thanks, folks!

A big AmP Shout Out to everyone who voted for me in this year's Student Blogging Scholarship! And thanks to the judges who first chose me as a finalist.

Evidently "second runner up" is the new way to describe 3rd place! I couldn't be happier with a "show" in this stiff competition. Almost 4,800 votes is nothing to sneeze at!

Okay, back to the blog beat....

Photo Caption Call - 11/21/08

Today's Top Story: "The Daschle Glass if Half Empty"

Winning Caption: "Father, you're a great ventriloquist, but don't you think your puppet is a little... large?" -WhollyRoamin'Catholic

Add your captions below in the comment box! View the winning caption from the last Photo Caption Call here.

[Source: Divxplanet]

Automatic excommunication for FOCA voters?

Matt Hadro of CNSNews.com tried to get Cardinal George to say as much, but he wasn't biting. Jeff Miller adds some helpful comments and Deal Hudson outlines some reasons why it should.

I think this is an interesting question to raise, but will become urgent should FOCA be introduced.

A little Friday Onion

Read The Onion, and get reduced to tears of laughter:

"I'm Not One Of Those 'Love Thy Neighbor' Christians"

The Daschle Glass if Half Empty

Michael Sean Winters, writing for the America blog, has tried to claim that the appointment of Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services is a "step in the right direction." As he puts it: "Call me an optimist ... The Daschle glass is half-full, not half-empty."

Well, call me a realist, but I think the Daschle Glass is half-empty, and I'll explain why.

From the outset, Winters misses the point:

The Church in America today is burdened by a group of conservative prelates and laity all of whom seem to be taking their marching orders from the Republican National Committee

I've said it dozens of times: when Catholic bishops speak out on behalf of the unborn they are doing so because abortion is a human rights issue, not a partisan talking-point. Catholic bishops would rejoice to see the pro-life cause energetically embraced by democrats and republicans alike. Winters continues:

The Catholic press and blogosphere are the only outlets that view the Daschle selection through the prism of where he stands on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA).

Well no kidding, that's because the Catholic press and blogosphere actually believe abortion is wrong, and actually believe that Obama might very well try to fulfil one of the promises he made. Catholic press and blogs would be abandoning their commitment to a Catholic perspective on modern social issues if they mirrored the liberal orthodoxy of the age which says abortion is here to stay.

I don't have time to chase down all of Winters' claims about Daschle's supposed teppidness when it comes to abortion. I'll grant that Daschle is not the most extreme supporter of abortion rights ... but he still supports them. Daschle fundraises for NARAL, for pete's sake! Especially around election time. A 50% rating from NARAL doesn't mean he's 50% pro-life, it means Daschle is only half as radically, unequivocally, energetically pro-abortion as they demand.

Winters also takes a cheap shot, quoting Joe Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League on crisis pregnancies, and then saying this in response:

Those are the words of a man who has never spoken with a poor woman facing a crisis pregnancy and who has evidently never read a papal encyclical on social justice. These voices can be counted upon to denounce the Daschle appointment.

Um... excuse me? How does Winters know that? Does a lack of personal experience mean Scheidler can't make prudential decisons? How dare Winters (or Daschle, for that matter) attempt to legislate for things they have not personally experienced?! Oh that's right, all politicians legislate about things they haven't personally experienced. Winter's comment isn't even an argument. And I'd like to see Winters point out to me that "papal encyclical on social justice" where it says abortion is the answer to any social problem. I'll be waiting.

Winters winds down his post with claiming to have originated, or at least pre-dated, the current democrat line which says "Roe v. Wade is here to stay, so the only way to reduce abortions is to make women not want them." Ironically, Winters resumes "Call me an optimist..."

I'm sorry, but what Winters just said sounds incredibly pessimistic. And it's a very sad day indeed when Catholics feel encouraged by the appointment of pro-abortion Catholic politicians to the highest healthcare office in the country, and somehow claim that the rest of us are impeding progress when we voice concern.

Last day to vote for me....

And this also means it's the last day I'll be bugging you to do so! Vote for "Thomas Peters" here, please.

update: and to spread the love (and support), Jill has details on how you can easily vote for a pregnancy center that is in the running to receive a $25,000 office makeover. I voted!

update 2: this seemed as good a place as any to mention that AmP now has over 900 Google Reader subscribers and over 800 Facebook Fans. Cool beans.

Rumors: New Prefect of CDW arrived in Rome

The New Liturgical Movement and Fr. Z are keeping tabs. I'll sure miss Cardinal Arinze!

Papist Quote of the Day

It's a depressing one:

"Hate crimes occur when homosexuals are attacked. Christians don't count." - Diogenes

Did the pope predict this market crash back in 1985?

So say some:

Pope Benedict XVI was the first to predict the crisis in the global financial system, a ``prophecy'' dating to a paper he wrote when he was a cardinal, Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti said.

``The prediction that an undisciplined economy would collapse by its own rules can be found'' in an article written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became pope in April 2005, Tremonti said yesterday at Milan's Cattolica University.

German-born Ratzinger in 1985 presented a paper entitled ``Market Economy and Ethics'' at a Rome event dedicated to the Church and the economy. The future pope said a decline in ethics ``can actually cause the laws of the market to collapse.''

Pope Benedict in an Oct. 7 speech reflected on crashing markets and concluded that ``money vanishes, it is nothing'' and warned that ``the only solid reality is the word of God.'' (Bloomberg)

Here is the text of the article of Cardinal Ratzinger's that the report refers to.

Ph/t: AmP reader German.

Newt Gingrich to become Catholic on Easter?

That at least is the rumor from some. I tend to believe it. His wife is an active Catholic.

Newt has a checkered marriage past, to say the least, and that could cause some difficulties.

update: oh, and is anyone else hearing these rumors about President George Bush converting to Catholicism after he steps down in January?!

[photo credit: Leadmine]

Balloons, balloons?

Welcome Spirit Daily readers, what you are looking for is here.

Breaking: Obama picks Tom Daschle for HHS secretary

Bad news:

"Former Senator Majority leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) will be secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration, with the delicate mission of shepherding a health-care bill through Congress at a time of punishing budget constraints, a senior Democratic official said.

... “Of all the proposals that Obama wants to enact, health care requires the most input and tough negotiations,” the official said. “No one knows the House and Senate like Tom Daschle." (Politico) (NYT) (more)

Tom Daschle grew up Catholic, but is pro-embryonic stem cell research and NARAL claims him as one of their top supporters. In 2003, his bishop at the time (Most Rev. Robert Carlson of Saginaw, MI) told Daschle that he may no longer call himself Catholic (not the same as excommunication, mind you).

As for the "delicate mission of shepherding a health-care bill through Congress", that mission will be made more difficult if Daschle listens to his NARAL friends who are demanding the Freedom of Choice Act be included (we oppose it).

[photo credit: Center for American Progress]

Ron Howard having a tough time filming in Rome

Boo-hoo:

"Da Vinci Code director Ron Howard had to shoot the movie's forthcoming prequel using imitations of the Catholic churches in the storyline - after the Vatican banned him from all of its holy buildings.

The first movie's portrayal of the Catholic church angered the religion's heads, who were in no mood to cooperate when Howard headed to Rome, Italy this year to shoot an adaptation of author Dan Brown's 2000 book Angels & Demons, which is set in the Vatican City.

As a result, Howard has been forced to used camera trickery and substitute locations.

He reveals, "We've had problems filming in Catholic Churches. We just weren't allowed anywhere near them." (Wenn)

[photo credit: divxplanet, which also has a photo album of pictures taken on the movie set ... yeah, you're looking great, Tommy.]

Papist Quote of the Day

Well, more like the "Papist Paraphrase of the Day":

Several Beaufort County residents and officials expressed surprise and anger Tuesday after County Councilwoman Laura Von Harten criticized the Roman Catholic Church’s stance on women and reproductive rights during a rezoning discussion Monday.

Von Harten brought up church positions that don’t allow women to become priests and on “uterus rights” while the Land Management Committee debated whether to grant a zoning request to allow the expansion of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton.

Though the committee approved the rezoning, Von Harten promised to fight the expansion, calling official Catholic church policies “an affront to my dignity and all womankind.”

“I just have to vote in favor of love not hate,” she said. (The State)

Wow, I'm surprised a Unitarian Universalist (no kidding) would show such .... intolerance!

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/19/08

Today's Top Post: Video: Austrian Cardinal participates in grave liturgical abuse

The chefs travelled thousands of miles to surprise the pope only to be foiled by their tall hats and Jerry ... who had to sneak in that one last peek.

[source: REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (VATICAN)]

Video: Austrian Cardinal participates in grave liturgical abuse

Your Eminence, Cardinal Schonborn, I love and admire your previous good work for the Church.

... but what are you doing?!



This video depicts grave liturgical abuses. Someone who wrote the Catechism of the Catholic Church should know better. I know things are bad for the Church in Austria - but this is not the solution to the problem of young people straying. The Cardinal looks hardly happy about the whole situation, but he remains complicit in it.

As a personal contribution, I studied in Austria for several months. I've participated in Masses across Austria. They're not all this bad! There are people in Austria who love the Mass reverently celebrated. The Church can be a magnificent sign of contradiction to the pervading secularism of Austria - but only if it remains a contradiction.

This saddens me.

update: I'm seeing precious little reaction in the Catholic blogosphere to this video, AmP and Fr. Z's excepted. The video was recorded last Sunday in Wolfsthal (lower Austria). More details in the combox below.

Ph/t: Fr. Z.

update 2: Fr. Z received a statement from the spokesperson for Cardinal Schonborn which he posted.

Several people have contacted me asking me to clarify what I mean in my post title by "grave liturgical abuse."

The statement which Fr. Z has posted answers my primary concern, e.g., that the matter used in the consecration was invalid. It does not rule out, of course, the fact that the large "chunks" of Eucharistic matter provide an all-too-easy opportunity for crumbs to fall, be trample upon, etc.

The statement, however, also fails to answer the other ways in which I would consider this Mass to contain some grave liturgical abuses, such as....

• tie-dye vestments (which liturgically proper color is that?!)
• rock instruments, including heavy metal for the consecration response
• the injection of non-liturgical elements, such as the balloon-release
• violation of the sanctuary space by persons not ministering (you can barely tell where the sanctuary ends and the "church" begins)
• an extensive, and intrusive light show, complete with strobe lights and lasers (what is this, pink floyd?)

And those are just the ones that first come to mind, I could go on.

Back in February, Pope Benedict asked if outdoor Masses are "what the Lord wanted", and simultaneously took steps to reform them. I can say with a confidence gained from studying liturgy at some length, that the sort of Mass depicted above is not "what the Lord wanted." These sort of liturgical innovations have cropped up often in the past 40 years, but they take on a gravitas they do not deserve when Cardinals themselves participate and condone them.

At any rate, when you put together all the inappropriate elements represented here, the end result is a thoroughgoing violation of the sanctity of the liturgy, and that, to my mind, is a grave liturgical abuse. Maybe not technically, but if this celebration shows us anything, it's that one can complete violate the spirit of the Mass while arguably remaining inside the loosest interpretation of the liturgical rubrics.

"Don’t drink and drive, Pope Benedict XVI urges"

An interesting application of the Apostle Paul's advice to be "sober and alert":

Pope Benedict XVI urged drivers to stay “sober and alert” Sunday and prayed for those who have died in traffic accidents.

“On this third Sunday of November, we remember in a special way all those who have died as a result of traffic accidents,” Benedict said as he delivered the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

“Dear brothers and sisters, I implore everyone — drivers, passengers and pedestrians — to heed carefully the words of Saint Paul in the liturgy of the word today: Stay sober and alert,” he added. (AFP)

Of course, if you have nowhere to drive....


.... well, that's another story!

Video: How Obama Got Elected

This video is quickly making the rounds today:


It's a small part of a comprehensive poll, Hot Air has the numbers.

http://www.howobamagotelected.com/

I found it especially interesting at the end of the video when the people mention where they get their news.

Clearly more people need to read American Papist.

Barry Knestout appointed aux. bishop of Washington, DC

News on the local front!

Msgr. Barry Knestout, formerly the pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Silver Spring, MD (where I have many friends) has been appointed our newest auxiliary bishop today by Pope Benedict:

"The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Barry C. Knestout of the clergy of the archdiocese of Washington, U.S.A., moderator of the Curia and vicar for administration, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 5,447, population 2,647,492, Catholics 582,488, priests 1,000, permanent deacons 182, religious 1,505). The bishop-elect was born in Cheverly, U.S.A. in 1962 and ordained a priest in 1989."

At 46, a young bishop, one who holds a degree in architecture, was part of the planning for the sanctuary of the papal Mass earlier this year, and has also served as moderator of the curia.

Knestout is the first auxiliary to be appointed to Archbishop Donald Wuerl since he took office, Rocco notes .... and adds that Knestout's ordination Mass has been scheduled for December 29th (rats, I'll be away!).

BotC: Sainte Chapelle

[Beauties of the Church #4]

Interior of Sante Chapelle in France ][ Photo by Flickr user R. Duran

Cecile Richards attemps to snooker Catholic voters

(Before we get any further, let's get the definition of "snooker" clear.)

Cecile Richards is the president of Planned Parenthood. Now that Obama is president-elect, her organization is set to profit handsomely from windfall pro-abortion initiatives. "We have been communicating with [Obama's] transition staff almost daily", Richards boasts. "We expect to see a real change."

Such words give me cause for alarm. Richards is already working, for instance, to get UNFPA re-funded by American dollars. This is an organization complicit in China's horrific, compulsory one-child policy, which remains a problem.

Today in the Huffington Post, Richards decides to add "rewriting history" to her resume:

"With all the post-election polling analysis, there are many interesting outcomes that merit some soul-searching -- and not just within the political parties.

Exit polls reveal that 54 percent of Catholic voters supported President-elect Barack Obama, despite entreaties from Catholic leadership to vote against Senator Obama because of his support for abortion rights."

Soul-searching? Please. As if Richards has ever reconsidered her passionate pursuit of abortion-on-demand, ever.

She certainly has shown no willingness to debate her positions in free public forums.

Next, I'm aware of no one who can seriously claim that Catholics voted for Obama slightly more than McCain because they preferred Obama's position on abortion to McCain's. How stupid must Richards think Catholics are to believe that? Poll after poll shows that Americans voted based on the economy, and a whole host of issues, with abortion far down on the list. And that's sad, because if they had given abortion more consideration, they would have reconsidered voting for Obama. As Steven Erthelt says, "the only plausible conclusion is that some Catholic voters backed Obama despite their disagreement with him on abortion."

Richard goes into full-boar snookering at this point:

"While this may come as a surprise to Catholic bishops who are meeting this week to discuss the election, it is consistent with what we know about the attitudes of Catholic voters.

In a poll commissioned by Planned Parenthood last year, Catholic voters were asked to name their largest concerns around the issues of abortion and family planning."

What do you know, Richards? The results of a self-commissioned poll asking people what they don't like about abortion? That's like Coca-Cola commissioning a poll to ask people "what three things do you most dislike about Pepsi?" Would anyone be surprised that they can think of something?

I'll wrap this up with one more observation. Richards says:

"At Planned Parenthood, we work to prevent unintended and teen pregnancy. We provide more than 2.4 million women each year with family planning services -- but nearly another 15 million go unserved due to lack of affordable access."

Come again? That's just rich. Richards is trying to somehow imply that Planned Parenthood is prevented from carrying out its mission of mercy because - wouldn't ya know it? - they just don't have enough money....

In fact, see: "Planned Parenthood's Obscene Profits":

"In April, the annual report for Planned Parenthood Federation of America revealed that the abortion giant had a total income of $1.02 billion -- with reported profits of nearly $115 million. Taxpayers kick in more than $336 million worth of government grants and contracts at both the state and federal levels. That's a third of Planned Parenthood's budget."

Forgive me if I hold back the tears. Evidently in this underdeveloped economic corner of the healthcare market, despite desiring so sincerely to serve more marginalized individuals, Planned Parenthood has still managed to make huge profits, with taxpayers eventually footing a third of the bill.

The hubris and deceptiveness required to pen an editorial like this really takes my breath away. But as you can see, demolishing Richards' arguments takes only about as much effort as blowing down a house of cards.

P.S. That goes for you, too, Vanessa.

[photo credit: Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood]

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/17/08

Today's Top Post: Cecile Richards attemps to snooker Catholic voters

Some people want a picture of the pope. Some people want to count his eye lashes.

[source: REUTERS/Max Rossi (VATICAN)]

"Change you can conceive in"?

Newsweek asks the question "Could euphoric Obama fans be sparking a baby boom?"

Clearly, Newsweek and I differ as to what sort of things can be counted as part of a "baby boom":

In Chicago, where 28-year-old Chip Bouchard—a former Hillary supporter—attended Obama's acceptance speech, he says he looked over at his boyfriend, Chris, and thought: "This [is] the president under whom I [want to] get married and adopt a baby."

So many things to say to that, but not now.

Back to the "baby boom" ... sorry, agreeing with Jill, I think we can more expect an "abortion boom".

Cardinal: Obama is "Aggressive, Disruptive and Apocalyptic"

Cardinal Stafford made some noise on the CUA campus last week:

His Eminence James Francis Cardinal Stafford criticized President-elect Barack Obama as “aggressive, disruptive and apocalyptic,“ and said he campaigned on an “extremist anti-life platform,” Thursday night in Keane Auditorium during his lecture “Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II: Being True in Body and Soul.“

“For the next few years, Gethsemane will not be marginal. We will know that garden,” Stafford said, comparing America’s future with Obama as president to Jesus’ agony in the garden. “On November 4, 2008, America suffered a cultural earthquake.” (The Tower)

And in completely unrelated news: earthquake swarms today in the Western US.

update: Andrew Sullivan goes on a tear after he hears about the Cardinal's comments:

"The Vatican hierarchy has become radicalized under Benedict and John Paul II - so much so that they see the West since the 1960s as entirely a creature of resistance to Humanae Vitae, the papal declaration that all non-procreative sex is a moral evil."

First of all, the phenomenon of dissent from the teaching of Humanae Vitae is actually (and I would add, accurately) understood by many in the hierarchy as an important symptom of deeper historical issues. Of course it's not all about Humanae Vitae, but at the same time, it's amazing how well the document managed to frame the major conflicts of that time. And frankly, not just that time, but our own age as well!

Also, Sullivan barely seems to understand what Humanae Vitae actually teaches .... "All non-procreative sex is a moral evil"? Sorry - that summary would get a failing grade if it was submitted by a kid in high school religion class. Which brings me back to my old phrase: Before you criticize the Church, try to understand her.

And to think, Sullivan plaintively asks if someone could "talk some sense" into us....?

Video: SNL on Joe Biden

SNL decided to spoof vice president elect Joe Biden:



I wonder what Joe Biden's comments on Meet the Press would receive on the "blunder scale"?

Mark Wahlberg wants to be left alone at Mass

Mark Whalberg is Catholic, and goes to Mass every Sunday.

Problem is, people know it:

Entourage has become a curse for Mark Wahlberg on Sundays - because people approach him in church with story lines and requests to be on the hit show. Wahlberg, who is the producer of the series - which is based on his early days in Hollywood, admits a family trip to church has become a business meeting and he'd like others to leave him alone when he's worshiping.

He says, "I go to church and people ask me if they can be on Entourage, what's gonna happen. I go to church to worship, I don't go to church to talk about it. The stuff that I did with my entourage back in the day is stuff that I'm not proud of and I'm asking forgiveness for; I don't want things brought up in church, but, if you go to church in Beverly Hills, those kind of things happen."

And his fellow worshipers don't just bug him about Entourage.

He adds, "I get scripts, resumes, books - people tried to come up to me with a children's book before and I wouldn't take it. They got upset with me. This is church." (StarPulse)

Whalberg's wiki page says he "credits his faith and a priest from his childhood for helping him turn his life around and recognize the seriousness of his faith." He has three children with model Rhea Durham, whom he has never married, but plans to marry her next August, in a Catholic wedding:

"Catholic church, small, family only, no media!" [Whalberg] told Us. Laughing, he added, "And there will be no wedding pictures sold to any magazines!"

Mark and Rhea named their youngest son Brendan. "It's for St. Brendan" he told Us. No kidding!

Perfect? Nope. Trying? Seems like it.

BotC: Paoay Church in the Philippines

[Beauties of the Church #3]

Paoay Church in the Philippines ][ Photo by Flickr user Storm Crypt

History:

Paoay is probably one of the best known churches in the Philippines. The walls are more than 1 meter thick -- made of coral stones. The design of the church is a mixture of Gothic, Oriental and Baroque influence. History has it that the parish of Paoay church was founded by Augustinian Missionaries in 1593 -- which is why this church is in Paoay, and where its cornerstone was laid only in 1704 -- is called St. Augustine Catholic Church.

The church was damaged by an earthquake in 1706 and 1927. Its construction primarily was intended to withstand earthquakes. The huge belltower was used as an observation post for Katipuneros during the revolution in the late 1800s, and was later used by local resistance forces during the second world war when the Philippines was occupied by Japan.

In the mailbox: Praying the Rosary

Description:

The book explains the history and significance of the Rosary as well as instructions on how to get the most of the meditative and spiritual exercise of repeating prayers. The Rosary walks readers through each of twenty Mysteries combining biblical excerpts and by using reproductions of famous biblical artwork by Tissot, Raphael Gaugin and many others to illustrate the power of this beloved act of devotion.

I especially appreciate the "multidisciplinary" approach of placing the devotion of praying the rosary next to scripture and religious art. It will help me make praying the rosary a more regular habit.

Keep at it!

http://tinyurl.com/VoteForThomas

Update: SC priest "repudiated" for his pastoral letter?

Joseph Abrahams at Fox News claims so, and cites a new statement from the Apostolic Administrator of the Charleston Diocese Msgr. Martin Laughlin (who's standing in until a new bishop is appointed), who said:

"Father Newman's statements do not adequately reflect the Catholic Church's teachings. Any comments or statements to the contrary are repudiated""

You can read his full statement here (PDF). Also:

A video from Laughlin has likewise been posted by the diocese. According to one well-placed source on the ground, the understanding also included Newman pulling his statements from the parish site (a development which had reportedly taken place later Friday evening; the St Mary's site was inaccessible, ostensibly due to a heavy number of hits). {Whispers}

LifeSiteNews has the reactions of some prominent bishops.

I said in my first post on this story that I was surprised that the diocesan spokesman took a position in support of Fr. Newman. Frankly, I think it's above his pay grade, and obviously Msgr. Laughlin had his own ideas. (update: of course, one would hope the spokesman was not acting in good faith, and then subsequently contradicted by Msgr. Laughlin.)

My AmP Poll asking the question "Do you agree with Fr. Newman's Letter" is currently registering 69.5% yes, 21.1% no, and 9.5% undecided with 749 votes registered. I think it's very clear where the majority of AmP readers stand on this question.

But perhaps I should clarify my position: while one might agree or disagree with the substance of his letter, I would still say the prudence of the letter remains doubtful. Msgr. Laughlin also said that Fr. Newman's actions "diverted the focus from the Church’s clear position against abortion." That's really what's at issue here: how to pastorally yet powerfully and effectively preach this message.

That said, I'd rather see a few mistakes committed out of zealousness then witness continuing silence caused by cowardice. If we're trying to balance on the edge of a knife, there's a better side to err on.

Update: Fr. Bourgeois to appeal excommunication, but it doesn't matter

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, two pictures and a few words will suffice.

When you do this:

You'll end up like this:

Get the picture? I hope he does.

{more backstory here.}

AirHeadOpEd

That's the most charitable way I can describe Ann Weaver Hart's article "Catholic Bishops Sow Divison"

The one line of hers I most agree with?

"The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is meeting in Baltimore this week."

She's absolutely right, they sure did!

Everything else she writes? Misinformation along these lines:

The Catholic church has adopted the attitude for centuries, that women who became pregnant in bad circumstances were suffering for their sins, and deserved whatever came their way, including, but not limited to being separated from their infants at birth, living in poverty, and enduring social stigma for either having children outside of marriage or being without them. The neoconservative movement, which tends to believe that poverty is a well-deserved punishment for sin, has agreed, and the two groups have supported “social conservative” candidates whose real agenda has been laissez-faire corporate rape of the country and its citizens.

Reading this, I can't help wonder why orthodox Catholics labor under the stigma of being "ignorant".

It just goes to prove that the only thing you can hate is a caricature of the Church, not the true Church.

Video: Colbert gives the Pope a wag of his finger!

For what you ask? Going green....



And for the record, just to be a spoil sport, Pope Benedict did not say polluting is a cardinal sin.

And I'm sure Cardinal Sin doesn't like having his name tossed around randomly.

Oh sure, take the day off why don't ya?

Judging by today's super-sparse bulletino, I guess Pope Benedict decide to start the weekend early!

Photo Caption Call - 11/14/08

Today's Top Story: "AmP Poll: Was SC priest right to suggest confession for Obama voters?"

Winning Caption: "Pastor's log......supplemental." - Adam S.

Add your captions below in the comment box! View the winning caption from the last Photo Caption Call here.

[Source: Alanhitchcock49]

Visit your Jesuit U. Spirit Shop ... at Victoria's Secret

*cringe*

Boston College in flap over lingerie ... Critics: Biz deal with Victoria’s Secret ‘disgraceful’:

BC spokesman Jack Dunn said the school was “very selective” when it agreed to let Victoria’s Secret sell BC sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts and flip-flops as part of the racy chain’s youth-oriented Pink line.

“We thought it was a tasteful line of clothing that college students wear,” he said.

“We never authorized undergarments,” he said.

Yeah! Victoria's Secret wanting to sell undergarments? I'm sure that threw everyone for a loop.

Ph/t: Diogenes.

Video: NARAL tries for Hippie, arrives at Confusing

You've got to be kidding. This has to be the wierdest video I've seen in a long while. What's more, it was put together by the radical pro-abortion group NARAL. Considering it your Friday Zen Bad Trip:



This Suzy B blogger is as equally freaked out as I am.

The Acorn/CHD post

I've had lots of people asking me about ACORN and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CHD). Both are certainly in the news alot these days:

The CCHD has donated more than $7.3 million to ACORN-related projects over the past decade, including $40,000 to an ACORN chapter in Las Vegas, Nevada, that was raided before the election in an investigation into fraudulent voter registration forms. Among other questionable documents, the ACORN chapter submitted registration forms for members of the Dallas Cowboys football team.

Earlier this week I blogged about the US bishops' decision to stop funding ACORN.

Now many folks are saying that the CHD should be axed as well. Diane at Te Deum has a good post on this subject. Joseph Lawler was reporting on this back in October for the American Spectator:

The CCHD, which is run by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has funded far-left organizations with missions diametrically opposed to that of the Catholic Church for years, including, in the '90s, the pro-abortion group National Organization for Women and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Richard John Neuhaus has also tackled the topic. Tom McFeely at the National Catholic Register picks up his trail - and the last paragraph is particularly important:

Father Neuhaus notes in this article that since its creation “in the ideological climate of the 1960s,” CHD has never directly supported Catholic charitable activities that aid the poor. It has concentrated instead on funding politically active groups such as ACORN that often support agendas like abortion rights that are in conflict with basic Church teachings.

Said Father Neuhaus, “What most Catholics don’t know, and what would likely astonish them, is that CHD very explicitly does not fund Catholic institutions and apostolates that work with the poor.”

And all of this attention couldn’t come at a worse time for CHD, with its annual collection in Catholic parishes scheduled for later this month. Under these circumstances, lay Catholics can scarcely be faulted for asking themselves whether they should place any money on this year’s CHD collection plate.

That's right, November 23rd CHD will be asking for your money, as you can see on the USCCB website.

There are so many good organizations strapped for cash these days - why take a risk on CHD?

Man's nap causes $15k in church organ damages

Friday random:

This isn't music to anyone's ears: The restoration of a church's 130-year-old organ has been delayed because four delicate pipes were damaged when a visitor napped on them.

The 18-foot pipes were among about 50 stored in the basement at First Churches in Northampton during the sanctuary's renovation.

The Rev. Peter Ives estimates the damage at close to $15,000. But he says the organ can be played without the pipes. Ives says the church will not press charges. (AP)

Oh sure, play it without some of the pipes. Who needs middle C, after all?!

Let's not forget about Orissa

Anyone know of an international aid organization specializing in assisting Indian Catholics?

They need help:

Denouncing what they called a “master plan” to wipe out Christianity, the bishops of India’s troubled Orissa region have written a letter to state’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik concerning the persecution of Christians at the hands of Hindu extremists.

Christians play fair, and now 10-15,000 have been forced to flee their homes. That's just a start.

Picture: "Why Believe in a God?" bus advertisement

Yeah, it's "great" living in Washington DC. I take public transportation and get to see stuff like this:

Talk about "essence of lame":

Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday. (AP)

More from CNA.

Actually, if people have never asked themselves why they believe in God, maybe the ad campaign could be useful. The problem here is - and I state it with nauseating repetition - that these "humanists" only think a God who is able to be discovered through scientific observation could be "real". They refuse to admit the possibility of a reality beyond the empirical sciences or scientific method.

Well, I hope they have fun examining and dissecting that lump of coal they're going to get for Christmas.

AmP Poll: Was SC priest right to suggest confession for Obama voters?

You can vote in the AmP Poll at the bottom of this post. But first, the details....

Michael Paulson at Articles of Faith:

The pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Greenville, SC, is urging parishioners who voted for Barack Obama not to present themselves for Communion unless they go to confession first because they have cooperated with "intrinsic evil'' by voting for a candidate who supports abortion rights over a candidate who does not. The Rev. Jay Scott Newman told the Greenville News that he doesn't intend to deny anyone Communion, but made it clear that his view is that Obama voters should not present themselves without seeking penance first "lest they eat and drink their own condemnation.''

The relevant passage from Pastor Newman's letter:

Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ’s Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation.

Before I get into the reactions, my four observations:

1. not quite: The common teaching on this matter has been that it gravely wrong to vote for a pro-choice candidate because you support their pro-abortion stance. This is the common conclusion drawn from, for instance, Cardinal Ratzinger's famous letter. Fr. Newman seems to be arguing that an Obama vote in this case is wrong not because it representes formal cooperation, but because it is a case of material cooperation (because their vote helped elect him)
2. actually: People who vote for a pro-choice candidate despite there being a pro-life candidate in the running, circumstances being equal, I would say have a poorly-formed conscience ... however, that does not mean they are culpable of any sin if they honestly attempted to inform their conscience, or were misled by third parties, etc.
3. moreover: individual parish priests should take the lead from their bishops when it comes to the pastoral implications of forming the consciences of their parishioners. There's a reason why no other priest in America has apparently done something like this - a priest ought not to exercise this level of admonition about issues still genuinely up for discussion.
4. finally: it seems to be that a nation of Catholics that elects Obama by a majority needs education, guidance and leadership about its faith. There are good and bad ways to go about it, and telling people they have just committed a mortal sin isn't the best way. Try teaching them for four years, and if this keeps happening .... well, that's another story.

Now here's an interesting thing, the parishioners don't seem too upset, at least according to Fr. Newman. Remember who we are hearing this from, of course. I wonder if the parish leans heavily right?

More amazingly, one could conclude the local diocese of Charleston has Fr. Newman's back:

"Stephen Gajdosik, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, told The News that calling parishioners who voted for a candidate who supports legalized abortions to penance is a question of how best to deepen a flock's relationship to God and a move left up to local priests. He said such a move is appropriate and in line with church teaching."

"Newman said, "An uninformed vote is an irresponsible vote," and that no informed voter this year could have mistaken the candidates' abortion positions." [source.]

Charleston currently does not have a bishop, instead they have an interim apostolic administrator.

Anyway, let's talk about it. Is Fr. Newman, strictly-speaking, right or wrong? And if he is right, was he right to go about it in this way? After all, how you preach the truth is important as well. Oh and vote:

Poll stats here.

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/13/08

Today's Top Post: Update: Biden receives Communion, Pelosi stands-up Niederauer

"It looked more impressive in the catalog."

[source: REUTERS/Christophe Simon/Pool (VATICAN)]

UK bishop "thrilled" by Obama's election ... or is he?

LifeSiteNews reports:

A British Catholic bishop has issued a statement enthusiastically welcoming the man who has been labelled the “most pro-abortion US president in history” – president-elect Barack Obama. Bishop Crispian Hollis of the Portsmouth diocese in southern England has said he is “thrilled” at the election of Obama.

The bishop’s message, posted on the website of the Portsmouth diocese, says, “With millions of others, I have been thrilled by Barack Obama’s victory and I thank God for it. For me, it represents a rare moment of hope and optimism which shows American democracy at its best and it is of seismic significance and potential for the whole global community. And so, more than ever now, he deserves and needs us to keep him in our prayers.”

This ardent welcome from Hollis, known in Britain to be on the extreme left of the Catholic Church, is in sharp contrast to a letter issued yesterday by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, in which they warned Obama that “aggressive pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.”

But an update from Damian Thompson:

Bishop Hollis has now "clarified" his message as follows:

I genuinely welcome [Mr Obama's] election because he represents such a different political profile from that of President Bush. America – and the world – needs that political change and will benefit from it.However, I am aware of what he has said about abortion and about the so-called freedom of choice and I deplore his words.

There is no way in which I endorse his position on these crucial “life” matters, nor, as a Catholic bishop, could I ever do so.Perhaps it’s naïve to say this but I hope and pray that the realities of the political process will mean that he has to temper his personal policies on these all important life issues and pay serious attention to the outrage with which many view his “life” agenda.

That's much better, though I don't think the Bishop should present his own party political views on a diocesan website. I'm glad he's deplored Obama's extreme pro-abortion opinions; I would have thought that he would have mentioned them in his original message, but maybe they slipped his mind.

Too bad, I was waiting for the pro-Obama Catholics to register their outrage at Bishop Hollis' brutal display of partisanship. Yawn.

Update: Have a couple seconds? Help me win a $10k scholarship!

If you've already voted for "Thomas Peters" in the

2008 Blogging Scholarship Award --- thank you.

... now's your chance to tell a friend ..... or five! =)

Updated list of AmP-Supporting Catholic Bloggers:

{Fr. Z at WDTPRS} {Marcel at Aggie Catholics} {Volpius at The Notebook of Leontus} {Maureen Wittman} {Laura the Crazy Mama} {Cascade Catholic} {Mark Shea} {MikeG at Night is Passing!} {Kim at Arizone Catholic} {Maureen at Teens Helping Teens} {Stef at And These Thy Gifts} {Margaret Perry at Ten Thousand Places} {SDG at JimmyAkin.org}{Kelly at Catholic Mama} {Kate at Heart Speaks to Heart} {Diane at Te Deum Laudamus!} {Catholic Audio} {Mary's Thoughts} {Gabaon at Iglesia.net} {Jeff at St. Peter Canisius Apostolat} {Insight Scoop}{Mary at Stopping 2 Ask 4 Directions} {The Deacon's Bench} {Valpot at dnoty 2007} {Timothy at Old World Swine} {Jill Stanek}{Your Name Here}

[photo credit: Flickr user Fotogail]

BotC: Last Judgement Florence Mosaic

[Beauties of the Church #2]

Last Judgement Florence Mosaic ][ Photo by Flickr user Oar Square

I was able to see this in person when I visited Florence in 2003. My picture did not turn out as well.

On the end of Catholic Hospitals

Ed Morissey at Hot Air tells us how serious the bishops are about not allowing Catholic Hospitals to be forced into performing abortions under FOCA:

[The bishops will] shut them down and take the losses in order to prevent their use as abortion clinics. To do otherwise, the bishops stated, would be to cooperate in the evil of abortions.

What kind of impact would that have? The Catholic Church is one of the nation’s biggest health-care providers. In 2007, they ran 557 hospitals that serviced over 83 million patients. The church also had 417 clinics that saw over seven million patients. If they shut down almost a thousand hospitals and clinics nationwide, the US would not just lose a significant portion of available health care, but the poor and working-class families that received the health care would have fewer options.

Also, the Catholic Church runs this on a non-profit basis, spending vast sums of its money to ensure access for those unable to pay. That’s the kind of model that many on the Left believe should exclusively provide health care — and FOCA would spell the end of the major provider already in that model.

Notice that point about Catholic hospitals being non-profits? And to think that a common criticism of the Catholic pro-life movement during this election was that, somehow, we aren't serious about providing concrete medical care and assistance to the poor. Simply unbelievable.

So how serious are democrats and Obama about FOCA? Serious enough to push the Catholic Church in the US out of the health care industry?

Let's hope drawing these clear lines in the sand will give them pause. We're not blinking first.

Fr. Bourgeois' women priest activism to result in Vatican action

His case is one ripe for exommunication: he supports women's ordination, is obstinant in the face of Vatican reprimand, and seems ready to receive the sentence of excommunication.

Well actually, he might be facing more than that, as Canon Lawyer Ed Peters explains:

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has given activist Maryknoll priest, Rev. Roy Bourgeois, about a month to recant his support for women's ordination or suffer excommunication.

Without seeing CDF's warning letter to Bourgeois, it is impossible for me to comment on the precise grounds upon which his excommunication looms, but a related thought occurs to me: given the attitude that Bourgeois showed in his reply to CDF, I suspect that a penal decree here will not only impose an excommunication, it will also lay the groundwork for a fairly expeditious dismissal from the clerical state.

Signed, sealed, delivered.

And ya know, while we've got the official seals out of their boxes....

Thursday reminder

... we're still trucking!

Update: Biden receives Communion, Pelosi stands-up Niederauer

Catholic Vice-President Elect Joe Biden and Catholic Speaker Nancy Pelosi have the shared dishonor of being pro-abortion politicians who have earned the rebuke of dozens of American bishops for their misrepresentation of their faith in a textbook case of scandalizing the faithful.

So what are they up to now?

Joe Biden is still receiving Communion, most recently (that we know of) in Tallahassee FL the Sunday before election day. Local bishop John Ricard took swift action and warned Biden to examine his conscience carefully before approaching the altar again. But hey, when do we next expect Joe Biden to be in Florida? It's served his purpose

Biden's home bishop Francis Malooly, meanwhile, the person most responsible for the formation and discipline of his parishioners, won't tell him to stop, saying "I won't politicize the Eucharist ... I don't want to alienate people. I want to change their hearts and minds."

Now while that's surely a noble aim, I don't see any results. The penalties of the Church, however, can also serve to change hearts and minds. Let's not forget that. If laws are never enforced, people will feel free to ignore them.

Speaker Pelosi, meanwhile - also still presumably presenting herself for Communion - promised her local Archbishop George Niederauer to sit down with him about her situation after he invited her. That public promise was made 68 days, 21 hours and 27 minutes ago. How do I know that? I've had a timer running since the day she made her promise. It's still ticking.

That's right, for over two months, this "ardent, faithful" Catholic - who regularly uses her faith as credentials in the exercise of her public office - couldn't even find time to fit in a sit-down with her bishop on a matter which has received national attention, both within and outside the Catholic Church.

Again, I'm looking for signs that progress is being made, that the pre-chosen methods are working.

But I'm not seeing it.

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/12/08

Today's Top Post: New Bishop chairs announced + analysis

Q: Why doesn't the pope appear fuzzy in this picture? A: Because he's rock solid.

[source: REUTERS/Max Rossi (VATICAN)]

Have you...

... voted for Thomas Peters? Yes? Awesome. Asked some friends to? Hmm. Thought so! =)

BotC: San Giovanni Battista

Two regular features on AmP, the Papist Picture of the Day and the Photo Caption Call, have proven to be very popular. I'd like to now add a third: "Beauties of the Church", where I will showcase stunning/uplifting/beautiful photos depicting Catholic culture throughout the ages.

You can never have too much beauty, or too many reminders of the Beauty of God, I think.

"San Giovanni Battista" (1619-1675). Photo by Flickr user Ben.

Text/Commentary: Cardinal George's letter to President-elect Obama

You can read the text here.

My pull quotes:

[On Roe v. Wade:] Legal protection for those members of the human family waiting to be born in this country was removed when the Supreme Court decided Roe vs. Wade in 1973. This was bad law. The danger the Bishops see at this moment is that a bad court decision will be enshrined in bad legislation that is more radical than the 1973 Supreme Court decision itself.

[On FOCA:] "It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil."

[On the election, etc.:] "The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve.

Abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected.

Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion."

What's especially significant about this? Cardinal George is speaking not just personally, nor as the Archbishop of Chicago, but as the President of the gathered American bishops:

"On this issue, the legal protection of the unborn, the bishops are of one mind with Catholics and others of good will ... The bishops are single-minded because they are, first of all, single-hearted."

"This statement is written at the request and direction of all the Bishops...."

Okay, moment of truth time: when dozens of individual bishops were making these same points during the election, they were dismissed as a "minority" or "mavericks" by their liberal critics. Now will those same critics who disagreed with these brave bishops admit that their alternative position is NOW a minority one?

In other words, here is the contradiction. When bishops said something they didn't like they would dismiss them as "fringe" or "extreme", now that the combined bishops are, as a body, saying the same things as were said before by a few, will they continue to refer to the position taken by all the bishops in similar terms?

Tick, tock, tock.

Breaking: Bishops to present concerns on abortion, other issues to politicians

CNS - which has lots of coverage, follows the knotted thread:

With a new administration and a Democratic-dominated Congress about to take office, the U.S. bishops will spell out their concerns about policies and laws that might make abortion more readily available.

After a total of nearly three hours of discussion in public and private sessions Nov. 11 during their annual fall meeting, the bishops gave their president, Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George, a set of concerns about abortion and other matters to raise in a public statement he will issue on their behalf. The statement was to be completed for final approval Nov. 12.

Martino tries to get some movement:

Bishop Joseph F. Martino of Scranton, Pa., said though he realized the statement would not address that topic, "we are going to have to speak as firmly as possible to Catholic politicians who are not merely reluctant to vote pro-life, but are stridently anti-life." He noted that in ages past, U.S. bishops took canonical measures against Catholic politicians who supported institutional racism.

"We have to have something like that," he said. "I cannot have the vice president-elect (Joseph Biden) coming to Scranton (his childhood home) saying he learned his values there, when his values are utterly against the teachings of the Catholic Church."

The Church already does have "something like that." The laws are on the books, they're just not being used.

Tobin (!):

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, R.I., said toward the end of the discussion that if the statement were to include everything heard in that session, "you might as well just reprint 'Faithful Citizenship,'" the bishops' 2007 document on political responsibility.

He said instead the final version should be concise, taking a lesson from Obama's own successful campaign strategy, which focused narrowly on change and hope.

"That carried him to the presidency," Bishop Tobin said. The bishops need to find a similar succinct approach, he said, "less political, less politically correct and more prophetic. We need somehow to reclaim the prophetic voice on this issue."

Though I agree with Tobin about "less political, less politically correct, and more prophetic" .... did I just catch a hint that he is admitting Obama reaches people better these days than the bishops themselves? What does it say that Obama can come across as more "prophetic" than bishops who are consecrated into the prophetic priesthood of Christ Himself?

Talk about a wake-up call.

Beast: Man arrested for attempting to steal Communion

It's not often my blog coverage crosses paths with The Smoking Gun, and considering the subject matter, I'm not dissapointed about this in the least [comments in brackets]:

Meet Jonathan Ricci. The Florida man was arrested Saturday morning after he allegedly tried to steal "a handful of communion wafers" from a priest at a Catholic church in Jensen Beach. Ricci, 33, sought to swipe 15 wafers valued at $1 [um, try again, Catholics value the Eucharistic presence a bit more than that] , according to a Martin County Sheriff's Office report....

During mass at around 9 AM, Ricci accepted a wafer on the Communion line, but "walked away without taking the communion into his mouth." After refusing a priest's requests to "accept" the wafer [good for the priest in not letting him get away!], Ricci "turned to the priest and grabbed a handful of the wafers from the plate and attempted to leave" St. Martin de Porres Church, according to the report.

"Due to the religious significance of the holy communion, the parishioners were very upset at his callous treatment of their holy ritual" and sought to detain him [good for those brave parishioners!]. An "enraged" Ricci then began to act "crazy" and scuffled with parishioners, two of whom (men aged 82 and 66) sustained minor injuries. [old men defending the Eucharist - good for them!] Ricci .... was charged with theft, battery, and disrupting a religious assembly.

I'm praying the man was psychologically disturbed and so not responsible for his actions.

ACORN gets axed by American bishops

About time:

he Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has not yet been able to determine if grants made to ACORN were used for fraudulent voter registration, but has cut off all funding to the community organizing group, Bishop Robert Morin announced on Tuesday.

Shortly after addressing the full assembly of U.S. Catholic bishops, Bishop Morin spoke to reporters about what the bishops had learned concerning the use of grants from the CCHD to the group Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), which is currently under investigation in 13 states for voter fraud.

CCHD originally announced in July 2008 that it was suspending funding to ACORN because of the embezzlement of 1 million dollars by the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke. Today, however, the Bishop Morin went one step further and announced the cancelation of all funding to the group. (CNA)

Okay, fine, it's a good start - but now let's go deeper and root the rest of this sort of stuff out. It's an embarassment to the Church and demotivates hard-working Catholics from supporting other worthy charities when others betray our trust.

Does anyone know of a trustworthy 3rd-party watchdog group that keeps a list of both?

That would be useful.

Breaking: President-elect Obama phoned pope yesterday

CNS:

"U.S. President-elect Barack Obama telephoned Pope Benedict XVI to thank the pope for his message of congratulations on his election victory.

The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, confirmed to Catholic News Service Nov. 12 that the president-elect telephoned the pope Nov. 11 "to thank the pope for his telegram, his congratulations" on winning the U.S. presidential election.

Further details about the call were not known, Father Lombardi said."

[photo credit: U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on the phone Nov. 6, returning calls to world leaders. (CNS photo/Obama Campaign/handout via Reuters)]

Results: New Bishop chairs announced + analysis

The results as reported by Whispers:

Conference Secretary:
Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton: 69
Bishop George Murry SJ of Youngstown: 150

National Collections:
Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston: 84
Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas: 139

Cultural Diversity:
Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento: 134
Bishop Terry Steib SVD of Memphis: 92

Communications:
Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St Joseph: 97
Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala of Los Angeles: 129

Pro-Life Activities:
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston: 165
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City-St Joseph: 59

Doctrine:
Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington: 140
Bishop Jerome Listecki of LaCrosse: 85

I don't know how to evaluate the claim made by some that these elections to bishops chairs are "politically influenced" - i.e., popular bishops get elected and unpopular ones don't. While that certainly seems like a very human temptation, I tend to disbelieve it actually obtains here in any serious way.

At any rate, some gut reactions:

• No comment on the first two
• Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas was a very outspoken bishop and won comfortably
• Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento has dished out some needed truths himself
• Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala of Los Angeles over Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St Joseph is perhaps the most interesting. Finn is a firebrand on behalf of life, while Zavala - not so much.
• Similarly, Naumann joined his words with Finn .... but DiNardo is no lightweight himself
• Wuerl for Doctrine seems straightforward enough, he's articulate and knows his stuff

And just to shut down one line of disagreement at the outset: I'm not trying to evaluate the "goodness" of these bishops based only on how vocally they preach the Church's teaching about unborn life.

However, the other side will be going over these chair elections with a fine-tooth comb trying to do the opposite - saying that whenever an outspoken bishop isn't chosen, somehow the American bishops are shunning them. I don't think that is the case. And either way, it's best to know a little bit about their records.

Bishops approve official blessing of infants in the womb

As mentioned.

CNA has the straight scoop:

Children in the womb will now be able to receive a special blessing from their parish priests following an overwhelming vote by the U.S. bishops in favor of the new blessing.

"The Blessing of a Child in the Womb" has been in the works for two years, but Bishop Michael Saltarelli noted at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that, “happily it’s come to fruition at this time when I think it’s important to reaffirm and focus our attention on the life of the unborn.” The bishop’s remarks were apparently in reference to the recent election results and Cardinal George’s remarks on not giving any ground to those who insist that Catholics set their beliefs aside in public dialogue.

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