Photo Caption Call - 02/28/09

Winning Caption: "Some people claim they have a direct line to God. Muahahahah. I have TWO!" - Jimbo

Even if you don't have a caption, you can rate your favorite captions (submitted by others) in the comment box.

View the winning caption from the last Photo Caption Call here.

Photo copyright: Alan_W100.

A little blip on the Maciel scandal story

Karna Swanson writes in (Legion-run) Catholic news service Zenit that Archbishop O'Brien will not close a Legioniary academy and "does not plan to ask the congregation to leave his archdiocese." This in response to an article published this Wednesday where Abp. O'Brien, among other things, said the Legion stifles the free will of its members and lacks transparency.

But what is most interesting to me in this Zenit article is its summation of the Maciel scandal situation:

A month after the Legion of Christ revealed that its founder had a relationship with a woman and fathered a child, the congregation has yet to reveal more about the findings of its internal investigation, or its path forward.

The news broke early this month that Father Maciel had led a double life. Jim Fair, the U.S. spokesman for the congregation, issued a statement to the press confirming that the founder of the Legion and its lay movement Regnum Christi engaged in activities that "weren’t appropriate for a Catholic priest."

Catholic News Agency reported Monday that sources in the Vatican assured a statement is expected soon from the Legionaries of Christ, and that the congregation is actively analyzing its situation in conjunction with "several cardinals" of the Holy See.

While admittedly only quoting and re-publishing CNA's scoop, it would seem the author of this Zenit article finds the report at least worth repeating. It's my best guess that this is where things currently stand - several Cardinals are actively involved in figuring out what to do about this mess. This solution is what many people have been calling for - Vatican oversight and intervention.

Numerous questions present themselves at this point - who is involved? Rode? Bertone? Others? Who will publish the statement? Will it be released by the Legion or the Vatican? What figures of authority will publicly comment on it? Will other US bishops besides Archbishop O'Brien react independently after the statement is released?

As we reflect on possible answers, let's not forget to pray for the parties involved.

Vatican denounces errors behind the economic crisis

A topic I'm sure people aren't all too eager to revisit during the weekend, but bear the Pope out:

Referring to his forthcoming social Encyclical, the Pope then presented a synthetic overview of the crisis, analysing it at two levels. First he considered the macroeconomic aspects, highlighting the shortcomings of a system founded on selfishness and the idolatry of money, which cast a shadow over man's reason and will and lead him into the ways of error. Here the Church is called to make her voice heard - nationally and internationally - in order to help bring about a change of direction and show the path of true reason illuminated by faith, which is the path of self-sacrifice and concern for the needy.

The second aspect of the Holy Father's analysis concerned the sphere of microeconomics. Large-scale projects for reform, he said, cannot come about unless individuals alter their ways. If there are no just people, then there can be no justice. Hence he invited people to intensify their humble, everyday efforts for the conversion of hearts, an undertaking that above all involves parishes whose activity is not just limited to the local community but opens up to all humanity. (VIS)

Notice that this general topic apparently will find a place in the Pope's upcoming social encyclical, which I've blogged about before. I'm blogging on the fly right now so don't have a way of tracking down the latest projections for when this encyclical might be published. What have you heard?

AmP on the road this weekend

I will be travelling over this weekend, so email access and blogging will be sporadic.

This doesn't mean the news has to stop, however: AmP readers are welcome to use the comment box below as a way to update each other on the news, using this format:

• News story title
• News story URL
• (if you want) A short description of the story
• (if you want) A short commentary on the story
• --> Other users may then comment on each story as a REPLY to it

An example:

Vatican: Holocaust denier's apology not enough

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/02/27/holocaust.bishop/index.html

"The Vatican said Friday it is not satisfied by the apology issued by a Catholic bishop who denied the Holocaust, saying the cleric must still clearly "distance himself" from the controversial comments."

Wow, this controversy just won't abet! Does Williamson still not get it?!

Thanks!

QB Tom Brady marries supermodel girlfriend in Catholic "ceremony"

Yes, we're still in the offbeat news state of mind. More Friday oddly-enough:

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen and sidelined New England Patriots QB Tom Brady were wed in a sunset Catholic ceremony at St. Monica's Church in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday February 26.

The ceremony for the couple, who have been dating since 2006, was intimate and attended by less than a dozen people, mostly immediate family, insiders tell RadarOnline.com

"The reception was held at a home in Brentwood, and will be followed by a much larger party in the next few days," said a source.

Brady's 17-month old son Jonathan with actress-model Bridget Moynahan was in attendance. (Radar Online)

William Newton, who tipped me to this story, describes this with an apt Catalan phrase:

"If you pay him, St. Peter will sing..."

update: my mistake - Tom Brady was never married so does not need an annulment. This episode should teach me a lesson about the dangers of trying to last-minute blog as I run out the door to catch a plane. Apologies for the generally ill-advised nature of this post.

More Martino Gutsiness in PA

I'm pressed for time today, but Diane is covering the latest acts of bishop Joseph Martino in Scranton.

Breaking: Obama moving to overturn conscience regulations

LifeNews:

The White House quietly announced on Friday that President Barack Obama is starting the process of overturning protections President Bush put in place to make sure medical staff and centers are not forced to do abortions. The move is the latest that will add to Obama's growing pro-abortion record.

Existing federal laws already make it so doctors and hospitals are not required to perform abortions. Because those laws aren't always followed, the Bush administration added additional protections.

Now, the Obama administration is Starting the process to remove them.

LA Times: 'Conscience' rule on abortions may be overturned

update: NARAL is happy. That's never a good thing for the unborn children of America.

Ph/t: AmP reader Colleen.

Offbeat: Dante's Inferno Turns Epic Poem Into Hellish Action Game

Whaaa??

On Friday's I make a special effort to find wierd, offbeat news. This one fits the bill perfectly:

Electronic Arts' upcoming game Dante's Inferno is a riff on God of War [another game] that stars a beefed-up warrior based on the author of The Divine Comedy. Seriously.

For those of us who spent our formative years sleeping through Classics lectures, Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem The Divine Comedy is largely a mystery — 14,000 lines of allegory chronicling the author's philosophical journey through hell, Purgatory and beyond [er, it's called "Heaven" - AmP]. Electronic Arts hopes to jog our collective memories a bit with Dante's Inferno, an action game adapted from the first section of the Comedy. (Wired.)

This reminds me of Arnold Schwarzenegger's retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Last Action Hero:

Only this is funny.

Ph/t: AmP reader Geoffrey.

Friday Maciel Thread

Because the last post on this subject is approaching 500 comments - let's start fresh here, with a firm amendment to clearly speak the truth with charity, so that our comments inform and encourage others.

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/26/09

The problem with all-male servering teams is they refuse to ask for directions.

[source: (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)]

BlogAd: Read Communio!

New AmP blogads advertisement:

Communio is the theological journal founded by Ratzinger, Balthasar, de Lubac, and others after Vatican II. The conversation continues today.

Visit our online bookstore to subscribe, order back issues, or read archived articles.

See the current issue: Natural Law.

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I'm happy to add my unsolicited endorsement: Communio is a great magazine. They have a special student rate, and if where you are going to school doesn't have a subscription yet - suggest they add it!

As Seen On Craigslist

This is incredible funny, albeit rather inside.

Report: Kerry didn't receive Communion at Ash Wednesday Mass

My friend Eric passes along some reliable heresay, which I paraphrase:

During Ash Wednesday Mass, at St. Joseph's on Capitol Hill, I was sitting two pews behind [Senator John] Kerry. He left before Communion, right after Cardinal McCarick's sermon and getting his ashes.

There are two reasons I could see for Kerry's choice: 1) He knew he shouldn't present himself for Communion so he didn't, or 2) he had another meeting and just wanted to get his ashes.

Option 2) Seems very plausible to me. I know when I was at Mass yesterday, I sat next to a young woman who promptly disappeared after recieving her ashes.

Option 1), on the other hand, sets up an interesting third-way solution to the problem of pro-abortion politicians receiving Communion - just don't try to receive! I mean - sure, by all means, come to Mass - but don't present yourself for Communion.

Plenty of the rest of us have to do this from time to time.

Update: Holocaust-denier Bp. Williams apologizes for comments

Zenit:

Bishop Richard Williamson, formerly excommunicated member of the Society of St. Pius X, apologized today for statements in which he denied the extent of the Holocaust.

In a statement published on his return to London on Wednesday after being expelled by the government of Argentina, the prelate explained that "the Holy Father and my superior, Bishop Bernard Fellay, have requested that I reconsider the remarks I made on Swedish television four months ago, because their consequences have been so heavy."

... Bishop Williamson continued, "Observing these consequences I can truthfully say that I regret having made such remarks, and that if I had known beforehand the full harm and hurt to which they would give rise, especially to the Church, but also to survivors and relatives of victims of injustice under the Third Reich, I would not have made them."

The prelate said that on Swedish television he only gave the "opinion [...] of a non-historian," a perspective "formed 20 years ago on the basis of evidence then available, and rarely expressed in public since."

However, he recognized, "the events of recent weeks and the advice of senior members of the Society of St. Pius X have persuaded me of my responsibility for much distress caused."

He added, "To all souls that took honest scandal from what I said, before God I apologize."

AP video of a reporter trying to confront Bp. Williams as he left Buenos Aires:

Related links:

• Reuters: Holocaust-denying bishop makes apology
• CNS: Bishop Williamson says he regrets remarks denying Holocaust
• CNA: Bishop Williamson expresses ‘regret’ for Holocaust comments’ effects
• NYT: Bishop Apologizes for Statements on the Holocaust

White House Officials Admit Abortion/Tiller Holding Up Kathleen Sebelius Pick

LifeNews:

White House officials have acknowledged that abortion and the controversy surrounding embattled late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller are holding up President Barack Obama's potential selection of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to become the next Health Secretary.

... Now, White House officials tell CBN News that abortion and the Tiller-Sebelius connection are causing pause when considering Sebelius for the Cabinet post.

CBN News White House correspondent David Brody indicates that a senior Obama administration official confirmed that "concerns voiced by pro-life groups about potential HHS Secretary Nominee Kathleen Sebelius have come up in high level White House discussions but it has not disqualified her from the job."

The official also admitted that "Tiller’s name has come up in discussions and acknowledges that if she’s picked there will be people gunning for her, but that ultimately the Kansas Governor is getting a bum rap on the abortion issue."

"The discussion inside the White House centers on whether Sebelius's stellar record as public servant trumps the controversy that could arise over Tiller," Brody indicates.

Hmm, I just realized my tag for Kathleen Sebelius reveals a dyslexia I didn't know I had. I type too fast.

Make me an offer....

See that area on the AmP sidebar that says "AMP SPONSORS" (right underneath the sitemeter counter)?

You can place your advertisement there through this BlogAds link (~80k-100k page views a week).

Or, you can drop me a line by email ["thomas" [at] "americanpapist.com"] and we can try to work something out using the space directly beneath BlogAds (for a reduced rate as well) - that's what the Shrine of Christ the King did, and they seem pretty happy with the results.

I am also happy to promote good Catholic events, that's what I'm doing for the "Lessons from St. Paul for the New Evangelization" event.

Photos: Priest uses *Super Soaker* to bless at Mass

This is one of those "I wish it was a joke but it's legit" posts....

A priest blessed and used a super soaker during Mass at a Newman Center Mass on Sunday:

Not suprisingly, this liturgical abuse originates from the diocese of Rochester, a place well-known for its lack of episcopal oversight when it comes to these matters. The online bio of the priest:

A priest of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Richard is a native of Syracuse , New York , and resides in the Jesuit community at McQuaid Jesuit High School. His interests include Western and Eastern spirituality, meditation, prayer, liturgy, pastoral counseling and retreats. His academic degrees in political science and deep pastoral commitment to enhancing student life at RIT are fully expressed in issues of social justice and peace issues. A trained musician and artist, Fr. Richard enjoys preaching, teaching, and writing as well as working out, watching movies, and spending time in cyberspace.

*shakes head.*

Ph/t: Curt Jester.

Scared by Twitter?

It's okay, I was too.

Fr. Roderick, however, knows our pain and has provided a great list of "Cool Catholics on Twitter."

I'm a "Catholic Media Personality" he says.

437 people might tend to agree with him.

Underage Abortion? Sure! Underage Tattoo? Parental Consent!

AmP reader Don writes:

The [Maryland] House of Delegates approved a measure to require consent for minors who want a tatoo.

And yet our legislators continue to support a state law that does NOT require consent for an abortion!

I dunno, it makes sense to me: I mean, a tatoo can be dangerous....

/sarcasm.

40 Ways to Get the Most out of Lent

A great list from Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D., published at Catholic Exchange.

Get ready for a deluge of condoms & other contraceptives

All the pieces are lining up:

"The Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood’s research arm, released a pitch today for more taxpayer funding for ‘family planning services’ – contraception and abortion. Every dollar spent on ‘family planning programs’ saves the American people $4, the study says." - Read a response from the American Life League

LifeNews: "However, the report doesn't appear to square with the facts in places where the number of abortions have been compiled following extensive promotion of family planning."

Ross Douthat: "I admire the persistence with which Will Saletan argues for common ground in the abortion debate, and attempts to sell his fellow liberals on the notion that reducing the abortion rate belongs in the Democratic Party's agenda. But I remain unconvinced that his preferred method for such reductions - a dramatic new push, whether political or cultural, to expand the use of contraception in the United States - would produce anything like the results that he envisions."

"Congress increases "family planning" budget by $95.5 million to whopping $852 million" - Jill Stanek

"Democrats in Congress are not abandoning their overall goal. They plan to push soon for a major funding increase for Title X, the main federal family planning program, as part of broader legislation endorsed by President Barack Obama to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. The Guttmacher report provides ammunition for those who will advocate the funding increase." - AP

"Boston College Students Vote to Demand Free Condoms, Other Birth Control" - Cardinal Newman Society

[From an article promoting condom use]: "And learn to live with the guilt. Hey, I’m Catholic — you can learn to live with guilt. Potentially life-threatening infections and diseases, on the other hand, not so much."

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/25/09

• Breaking: Abp. O'Brien says Legion "stifles the free will of its members and lacks transparency"
• Picture: Biden got his Wednesday Ashes
• Update: Dolan hasn't put a foot wrong yet
• Video: Catholic Colbert
• Expected: A clarifying statement for the Legion today
• Noted: U.S. bishops offering Lent 2009 resources
• Politics: Jindal is preparing for a 2012 run
• Cool: Guess how many countries read AmP?

"Don't eat the burger! It's Ash Wednesday!"

[source: AmP reader Mr. Flapatap]

Abp. O'Brien says Legion "stifles the free will of its members and lacks transparency"

Still no official statement from the Legion today.

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, however, has become the first bishop to comment about the Maciel scandal, in an interview with his Archdiocesan newspaper The Catholic Review. I'll quote the first part of the article in full:

Concerned that the Legion of Christ stifles the free will of its members and lacks transparency, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien told the religious order’s director general that he cannot in good conscience recommend that anyone join the Legion or Regnum Christi, its affiliated lay movement.

In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Legion of Christ is affiliated with Woodmont Academy in Cooksville. Regnum Christi is also active in several parishes.

The archbishop’s action came in the wake of revelations that Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legion of Christ, fathered a daughter while serving as leader of the international religious order.

Pope Benedict XVI had previously removed the Mexican priest from public ministry in 2006, asking him to lead a life of prayer and penance after Father Maciel faced allegations of sexual abuse of seminarians and financial irregularities.

“It seems to me and many others that this was a man with an entrepreneurial genius who, by systematic deception and duplicity, used our faith to manipulate others for his own selfish ends,” Archbishop O’Brien told The Catholic Review in a telephone interview following his Feb. 20 Rome meeting with Father Alvaro Corcuera, director general of the Legion.

“Father Maciel deserves our prayers, as every Christian who dies does, that he’ll be forgiven and we leave the final judgment to God as to what his life and death amounted to,” Archbishop O’Brien said.

Saying that the Legion’s founder “leaves many victims in his wake,” the archbishop called for the “full disclosure of his activities and those who are complicit in them or knew of them and of those who are still refusing to offer disclosure.”

He added that the finances of the order should be opened to “objective scrutiny.”

Archbishop O’Brien said he has grave concerns that the Legion fosters a “cult of personality” focused on Father Maciel.

“While it’s difficult to get a hold of official documents,” Archbishop O’Brien said, “it’s clear that from the first moment a person joins the Legion, efforts seem to be made to program each one and to gain full control of his behavior, of all information he receives, of his thinking and emotions.”

The archbishop said many members who leave the order suffer “deep psychological distress for dependency and need prolonged counseling akin to deprogramming.”

Saying that “I know that there are good priests in the movement” and acknowledging that Legion members are in full accord with the theological teachings of the church, the archbishop also said some of the practices of the movement are unhealthy.

“This is not about orthodoxy,” he said. “It is about respect for human dignity for each of its members.”

The archbishop noted that he has heard reports that the movement claims that the first duty of a Legionary is to love the Legion.

Such policies subject a person’s use of reason not to one’s own judgment, Archbishop O’Brien said, but to a spiritual director.

“It’s been said that the founder is alone called ‘nuestro padre’ (‘our father’) and that no one else can have that title,” Archbishop O’Brien said. “All are bound to identify with him in his spirit, his mind, his mission and in his life. This would suggest that the very basis of the Legion movement should be reviewed from start to finish.”

The second part of the article adds some scattered comments from Jim Fair, the US spokesman for the Legion.

Last June Archbishop O'Brien demanded that the Legion become more transparent or he would expel them from ministry in his archdiocese. At the time, O'Brien's "initial hand was stayed by Vatican intercession" and at last check-up (in August), the Legion appeared to be complying.

update: more on Abp. O'Brien's dealings with the Legion in this June 12th, 2008 interview with John Allen.

Picture: Biden got his Wednesday Ashes

... and sported them during a cabinet meeting today ...

... and provided the rest of us with an opportunity for more penance today.

(I'll try to find a Pelosi-in-ashes photo for Friday.)

Dolan hasn't put a foot wrong yet

As Whispers reports, Abp. Timothy Dolan off to a great start. Let's keep the "American Pope" in our prayers

(... and yes, as a faithful papist, I can call him that without meaning anything more than a joke by it.)

One question remains - who will take over Milwaukee in Dolan's absence? {edit - scratch my first idea.}

And just because I can't help myself, I've created a set on Flickr of Archbishop Dolan fotos.

Send in your favorite entrees! Here are two of mine:

[source: Apostleship of Prayer]

Video: Catholic Colbert

He would pick a Jesuit....

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Turning to Religion - Jim Martin

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Funny Political News

Christian Bale Parody
Joke of the Day

From Catholic Colbert:

"Looks like Jesuit Fr. Jim Martin has been upgraded from "friend of the show" to "chaplain." Fr. Martin’s background in the financial world made him a perfect choice to explain why people seem to be flocking back to church in tough economic times ("and not just because communion counts as a meal"). It was an excellent segment and reminded me why I watch The Report "religiously".

Expected: A clarifying statement for the Legion today

If CNA is right, we should have it today.

update: well, it didn't appear in today's VIS, that's for sure.

update 2: if the statement is coming from Europe, it's already almost end-of-business there.

Noted: U.S. bishops offering Lent 2009 resources

CNA explains them. USCCB provides them.

Jindal is preparing for a 2012 run

Mark my words, Bobby Jindal's increasing national presence is a preparation for a Presidential run in 2012. If others have not said this before, you heard it here first. Oh, and I should also mention he's Catholic.

Get ready.

Guess how many countries read AmP?

The surprising answer is that people from 150 countries have visited AmP since the beginning of this month!

The top 10 countries of origin:

• United States
• Canada
• Italy
• United Kingdom
• Mexico
• Australia
• Germany
• Ireland
• Brazil
• Spain

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/24/09

• Noted: Georgetown U.'s Mary statue defaced, students respond with prayer vigil
• Update: NCRegister editor responds to questions regarding Maciel scandal silence
• Controversy: Irish group answers Bp. Martino's firm demand to not honor pro-aborts
• Controversy: Bishop tells outspoken CA priest to "cool it" on Obama sermons
  

Pictured: Ungravibility.

[source: AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)]

Georgetown U.'s Mary statue defaced, students respond with prayer vigil

This happened in my "neighborhood" last week.

Before:

After:
A report by the Cardinal Newman Society.

Excerpts from an email sent out by Georgetown's Office of Mission & Ministry:

"Late last week, the Office of Campus Ministry became aware that the statue of the Blessed Mother on Copley Lawn had been vandalized: the face of the statue was painted black. We immediately contacted the Department of Public Safety, which is investigating the incident. We also made arrangements for the prompt renovation of the statue, which is currently underway.

...While we do not know the motivation of the person or persons who painted the face, nor whether they are members of the University community or not, all of the chaplaincies of Campus Ministry -- Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim -- recognize that the statue's alteration caused great pain to students, faculty and staff who hold particular devotion to the Blessed Mother.

For many people of faith on campus, the statue is a daily reminder of the University's religious identity. As a Catholic and Jesuit university committed to interreligious understanding, we hope that all religious symbols and sacred spaces on campus are respected.

...When the renovation of the statue is completed, the Roman Catholic Chaplaincy of Campus Ministry will rededicate the statue in a public ritual."

An appropriate response, I think.

Cardinal DiNardo promotes Bible-listening Lenten devotion

Sounds good to me:

"Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, recently urged Catholic leaders to get involved in a city-wide Bible listening campaign called You've Got The Time Houston.

So far more than 50 different parishes have signed up to listen through the entire New Testament, which represents more than 160,000 Catholics."

Faith Comes Through Hearing is offering a free audio download of the (NAB) New Testament:

Faith Comes By Hearing.com

Cardinal DiNardo is trying to get Catholics to listen to the Bible for 30 minutes a day for Lent.

An unclear clarification from the Vatican press office

If this is the Vatican press office's brilliant response strategy to its recent public-relations goofs ...

... they need to go back to the drawing board. Hire me, already. Or at least let me advise. ;-)

NCRegister editor responds to questions regarding Maciel scandal silence

In the midst of the Maciel scandal breaking, a former writer for the (Legion-owned)Register published a lengthy piece in First Things demanding that the Register end its silence on the issue, saying:

"A good Catholic newspaper must not shy away from the truth. But it would frankly make the newspaper look absurd if the whole Catholic world is discussing Fr. Maciel and the Register’s pages largely ignore the whole matter."

Today, in answer to a letter to the editor, the Register responds:

Our publisher, Father Owen Kearns, knew of Father Raymond’s concerns when he wrote in his publisher’s note for the Feb. 22 issue, “I’m also grateful for those who have expressed their indignation and their hurt. I know that it comes from their love for the Church we all love so well, and which the Register is dedicated to serving.”

... The paper covered the Holy See’s 2006 communiqué regarding Father Marcial Maciel with a wire service news story. Father Owen Kearns wisely limited any defense of Father Maciel to two pieces bylined by himself, one in 2001 and another in 2006. We have told Father Raymond repeatedly that the Register fully intends to correct the record on that coverage as soon as we can do so accurately.

The Register is dedicated to follow this story in as responsible a way as possible. This will mean, for the most part, relying on journalism produced independently of the Register to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.

At the Register, our mission is to form and inform Catholics. We are more than a newspaper — we have a mission to bring readers closer to the Church. But we are also a newspaper, and accuracy is our fundamental value.

We will keep readers informed about this situation in a way that is accurate, above all, and in keeping with our mission to form and inform.

Irish group answers Bp. Martino's firm demand to not honor pro-aborts

Oh boy, this one is a doozy.

I missed it in the hubbub of last week, but it deserves attention still:

"In a letter to the heads of three local Irish-American organizations, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Scranton has threatened to close St. Peter’s Cathedral during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations if the groups feature elected officials who support abortion rights at their annual events.

The letter, which was signed by Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty, reports that Bishop Joseph F. Martino is “determined to prevent scandal,” which would be caused if the organizations “in any way” should “honor pro-abortion officials” by giving them parade or dais positions or opportunities to speak and “the Catholic Church is seen to be involved in this honoring.”

In direct terms, the letter reiterates the bishop’s publicly stated position that elected officials who vote to support abortion rights will be denied Holy Communion if they attempt to receive the sacrament in the diocese, including at St. Patrick’s Day Masses. The closing of St. Peter’s Cathedral is offered as an additional measure to prevent the honoring of such officials." (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Here is a PDF file of the letter. LifeSiteNews also has coverage, as does CNA.

What brought this about? Deal Hudson explains: "Being Irish has for far too long been the trump card played on St. Patrick's Day to honor the worst Catholic politicians in the business. Let's hope Bishop Martino's example is followed nationwide and groups like the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will take notice. "

Ironic, considering how uncompromising St. Patrick was in our accounts of his ministry in Ireland.

The St. Patrick's Parade Association appears eager to play ball with Bishop Martino:

"We are fully supporting the bishop’s position,” Harrity said.

Harrity said he could not recall the association ever giving an honorary parade position to a politician who supported abortion rights.

“We support the bishop,” Harrity said. “We feel there would be no problem. Given our past history, that (choosing a pro-choice politician) is not going to come to fruition.” (Citizen's Voice)

I'm happy this didn't blow up into the huge to-do it could have easily become.

What a gutsy move from Bishop Martino.

Papist Quote of the Day

From Archbishop Charles Chaput:

"We can’t talk piously about programs to reduce the abortion body count without also working vigorously to change the laws that make the killing possible. If we’re Catholic, then we believe in the sanctity of developing human life. And if we don’t really believe in the humanity of the unborn child from the moment life begins, then we should stop lying to ourselves and others, and even to God, by claiming we’re something we’re not." (Reported by CNA) [Full text of the Archbishop here.]

Bishop tells outspoken CA priest to "cool it" on Obama sermons

Incendiary:

"San Diego Bishop Robert Brom has asked an outspoken Escondido priest to tone down his fierce criticism of the Obama Administration, prompting supporters of the priest to launch a letter-writing campaign to the bishop on his behalf.

On Feb. 11, California Catholic Daily reprinted an article – “100 Days or End of Days?” -- from the parish bulletin of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Escondido written by Pastor Richard Perozich. In the article, Fr. Perozich warned that “evil has acceded to power” in the Obama Administration. (To see the article behind the controversy, Click Here.)

Sources at St. Mary’s told California Catholic Daily that a family from the parish-administered St. Mary’s School had complained to the chancery about the article. An intermediary, acting on behalf of Bishop Brom, then contacted Fr. Perozich by telephone, sources said, and told him to “cool it.” Aside from that single complaint, sources said, “the overwhelming opinion of parishioners has been favorable.” (California Catholic Daily)

I have some personal experience of Fr. Perozich's energetic ministry style. While I don't agree with everything he said in his letter (I only had time to skim it), I think what is at issue is not so much what he said, but that he said it - people are not used to hearing their priests vocally "naming names" in this manner. Also, an important note: this is what Fr. Perozich said in a homily - he published it in his parish bulletin.

Still, the problem with impassioned rhetorical language about these issues is that such statements tend to come across as irrational, thus doing a disservice to the principled versions of these sentiments.

Pope Benedict & the SSPX - a substantive contribution

Finally something more than the holocaust angle, discussed at the Ratzinger Fan Club blog.

Weighty reading.

Obama called Dolan to congratulate

Round 1:

President Barack Obama called New York's new Roman Catholic archbishop Monday to offer his prayers and congratulations, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan said as he visited a suburban seminary.

The former archbishop of Milwaukee described the call as "extraordinarily gracious" and said he invited Obama to his installation on April 15. He said the president had told him, "I assure you of my prayers."

There was no official word from the White House on the conversation.

The new archbishop and Obama spoke briefly about the country's financial problems, Dolan said. Dolan even managed to inject some humor into their exchange, suggesting the church hold additional collections, he said.

He said that when he received the call, he initially thought it was his brother playing a joke.

It's a tie.

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/23/09

• Megacoverage: Timothy Dolan appointed next Archbishop of NYC!
• Commentary: Kmiec's epic fail in Time magazine
• Update: Legion of Christ to respond to scandal on Tuesday

"C'mon ya pesky fly - land on something already!!"

[source: Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters)]

Papist Quote of the Day

Archbishop Timothy Dolan:

"You're asking, maybe, if there's any difference between Archbishop Weakland and me? And there is a big one, about 50 pounds right off the bat." -- at an introductory press conference in 2002. {source.}

Update: Legion of Christ to respond to scandal on Tuesday

CNA gets the scoop:

Vatican officials confirmed to CNA on Monday that the leadership of the Legion of Christ will release a major statement in response to the controversy surrounding the double life of its founder and the future of the order. The statement will be released on Tuesday “or Wednesday at the latest.”

... According to the Vatican source, the forthcoming document will address “the difficult circumstances created by the recent discovery of the double life led by Fr. Maciel and the need to restore peace, trust and apostolic vitality within the spiritual family he founded.”

The document “will also sketch the concrete future steps the leadership of the Legion of Christ will take to achieve these goals.”

Asked if the document will be “final,” the source told CNA that it will be a foundational document that will be decisive in determining future action. “I would say it is a definitive document... it is too soon to tell if it will be, indeed, final,” the source said.

The Vatican contact also added that, despite the fact that he has read the document, “I prefer not to anticipate any of its content, I think it will speak for itself.”

I'm not sure if an embargoed copy will be made available. NB: I don't break embargoes.

Video: Abp. Dolan addresses the press this morning

Ph/t: Michael Paulson.

Abp. Dolan: The Reaction

{see my complete coverage of Abp. Dolan's appointment here.}

Episcopal appointments never occur in a political or ecclesiastical-political vacuum:

Making his highest-profile U.S. appointment since his 2005 election, Pope Benedict XVI chose a conservative who is likely to stress the church's stand on social issues like abortion. - Dan Gilgoff

Dolan, a St. Louis native, is virtually guaranteed to rise to the rank of Cardinal in the next consistory — a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals — at the Vatican. - TIME

The new head of the New York Archdiocese served for seven years as rector of the Pontifical North American College, the U.S. national seminary in Rome, and was a student there himself in the 1970s. In addition, he was assigned for two years to the staff of the apostolic nunciature, or Vatican embassy, in Washington. - CNS

Archbishop Dolan's move to the New York Archdiocese will more than triple the number of Catholics under his pastoral care -- from about 700,000 in Milwaukee to 2.5 million in New York. - CNS

In Milwaukee, he proved a prodigious fund-raiser, staving off the bankruptcy that seemed to beckon as the priest sexual abuse scandal, and earlier efforts at a cover-up, led to lawsuits. He closed a $3 million budget deficit last year, and started a fund-raising campaign that he says is more than halfway to its goal, with $57.5 million in pledges. He has combined shrinking parishes and reached out to young people over beers, and recruited new seminarians — the Milwaukee archdiocese expects to ordain six men this year, as opposed to a single ordination a few years ago. - NYT

The appointment marks the first time in the 200-year history of the archdiocese that power will be transferred from a living prelate to his successor in a post that Pope John Paul II once called “archbishop of the capital of the world.” - Laurie Goodstein

While Pope Benedict XVI’s appointment of Archbishop Timothy Dolan to New York hardly marks a dramatic break with key picks under recent popes, it may confirm an intriguing pattern-within-a-pattern under Benedict when it comes to the most important jobs in the United States.
In a sound-bite, one might call it a choice for “the center-right with a human face.”
In essence, that means leaders who are basically conservative in both their politics and their theology, but also upbeat, pastoral figures given to dialogue. It’s a pattern with across-the-board consequences for both the substance and the style of American Catholicism, and one that could carry particularly interesting implications for relations between church and state in the Age of Obama. - John Allen

Photo: The many sides of Abp. Dolan

Archbishop Timothy Dolan leads a procession following a mass at the Missionaries of Charity home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With support from Catholic Relief Services, the home serves more than 1,000 children and adults who are orphaned or ill. Photo by Jim Stipe/CRS.

Observers of Abp. Dolan will often focus on his boisterous presence, easy-going character and boundless energy.

But there is another side to this able pastor which comes out in his efforts on behalf of Catholic Relief Services - where he has served as their Chairmen of the Board since November 2007.

The President of CRS said in a statement this morning:

"...Although he leads a busy Archdiocese in Milwaukee, Archbishop Dolan devoted considerable attention to his work with CRS. In just the last year he traveled to the field twice. In May he went to Ethiopia, where he met with people suffering from the twin blows of the global food crisis and devastating drought. And last month, he traveled to India to see CRS programs and to witness our longstanding collaboration with the Missionaries of Charity...

"... I’m confident Archbishop Dolan will bring to New York what he has brought to CRS as our Chairman: dedication to the Church, tremendous energy, a warm sense of humor, and deep compassion for the poor and vulnerable."

Amen.

Photo: the NYT's odd choice of a Dolan photo

I'm not sure why the New York Times chose a photo of a "napping" Abp. Tim Dolan for their homepage:

"What - long plane ride, Timmy?"

(I mean - can you imagine Obama getting a front-page photo like that?!)

update: FOXNews.com does it even worse!

And then, on Facebook...

You can already become a facebook fan of Archbishop Dolan, or join the group Supporters of Archbishop Timothy J. Dolan, Archbishop of New York. I suggest this as a fan photo someone should include:


Note the Archbishop's right hand....

Abp. Dolan - First Take

The most notable bits of Dolan coverage I've read so far ... from my feeds to your screen:


His first words to New York:

In a statement, Archbishop Dolan addressed New Yorkers, saying, "My brother bishops, priests, religious women and men, seminarians, committed Catholics of this wonderful Church, I pledge to you my love, my life, my heart, and I can tell you already that I love you, I need so much your prayers and support, I am so honored, humbled, and happy to serve as your pastor."

His reputation:

"Best known for his contagious, energetic enthusiasm, love for priesthood -- and, of course, media-savvy -- Dolan will be installed as head of the nation's second-largest local church on Easter Wednesday, 15 April, in the nation's best-known house of worship."

Revealing story:

“I was at the vespers when he was installed as [arch]bishop. And there’s a part where the bishop knocks on the door. Most do it timidly. Tap, tap. Not him — ‘Bang! Bang!’ It echoed through the cathedral and let everyone know that Timothy Dolan was there.”

Dolan was informed of the appointment "9, 10 days ago", reports Rocco:

"As opposed to his appointments as an auxiliary of St Louis and archbishop of Milwaukee when he was told that the Pope "would like [him] to" take the post, he added that Archbishop Pietro Sambi "was quite factual" in that the nuncio to Washington told him that "the Pope had appointed me" to New York -- in other words, that he had little choice but to accept."

update: Archbishop Dolan is strongly pro-life:

For the pro-life movement, Dolan has been a strong friend and ally and has been called a "hero" by leading pro-life advocates.
"It bothers me if any politician, Catholic or not, is for abortion," Dolan has said. "Because in my mind, we're talking about a civil right, we're not talking about a matter of Catholic Church discipline. We can't allow the noble pro-life cause to be reduced to a denominational issue."
Last year, Dolan took House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice-President Joe Biden to task for misrepresenting Catholic pro-life teachings.

update 2: Fr. James has posted excerpts of an interview he conducted with Abp. Dolan.

Photopost: Abp. Dolan

Abp. Dolan has a larger-than-life personality, as a couple pictures quickly show:

I'm looking for more....

Kmiec's epic fail in Time magazine

When I found out Doug Kmiec had shot out an article for Time magazine in the wake of Pelosi's meeting with Pope Benedict, I geared myself up for yet another point-by-point critique of his flawed arguments.

This time, however, I don't even need to take the trouble, because the entire premise of Kmiec's latest piece is factually in error. To see why, first I will summarize Kmiec's argument.

Kmiec says:

"If you read [the pope's statement to pelosi] carefully, the statement is actually quite radical — perhaps unintentionally so. The brief message — just two short paragraphs — draws no distinction between the moral duties of Catholic policymakers and Catholic judges to work against abortion.

As a lifelong Catholic, Pelosi could not feign surprise at being called upon by the Church to use her gift for persuasion to restrict abortion legislatively, or at least not to be its advocate. But until now, the Church had not formally instructed judges in a similar fashion. As written, the Pope's statement has the potential, at least theoretically, to empty the U.S. Supreme Court of all five of its Catholic jurists and perhaps all other Catholics who sit on the bench in the lower federal and state courts."

Kmiec spends the rest of his time flushing out the implications of Pope Benedict's supposed admonition to "jurists" telling them to, in Kmiec's words "undertake an activist, law-changing role."

Out of this mistaken interpretation, Kmiec tries to create a lose-lose scenario where jurists are stuck between the rock of Peter and the hard place of their judicial oath.

Kmiec next handily provides a solution to his self-created dilemma, saying the Vatican should renege its statement and re-introduce the distinction between jurists and legislators.

.... now comes the reality check: the Vatican statement does include the necessary distinction in terminology.

From an AmP source with extensive experience in Italian legal matters:

"... giuristia is not the word an Italian author would use when referring to a judge. He would use giudice. A giurista is someone who attends to he law as a matter of profession, most frequently a lawyer, or a professor of law. But a giudice is a magistrate who evaluates the merits of an argument in a case or controversy.

In American law, distinctions between words carry great significance; and in Vatican press releases, the spokesmen for the Holy See select their words very carefully. In this instance, the press office elected to use the more vague term giuristi rather than the specific term giudici. However, Kmiec misses this critical distinction."

Kmiec's "missing" of this critical distinction creates his entire argument. Consequently, once it is made clear that the Vatican did use its words right, Kmiec is left out in the cold, actually saying nothing.

Re-reading Kmiec's piece then becomes comical once you realize his premise is false: the statement is not, in fact, "quite radical - perhaps intentionally so" ... it is actually quite logical -intentionally so. The statement is not a "sharp break with the past." The Church's teaching is aware that the responsibility to defend life ought to be "applied in light of the scope of office."

Proceeding in the same vein, someone in the Vatican office did not "in the rush of the event [...] mistakenly included the judicial terminology" ... it was Kmiec who, in the rush of trying to publish in Time, didn't bother to double-check his Italian-language comprehension skills.

(.. and this is the man who hopes to become the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See?!)

So, if Kmiec hasn't actually illumined a "surprising" and "overlooked" aspect of this recent statement, what can we learn from his writing?

I'd offer this observation: Kmiec is predisposed to seeing difficulty and crisis whenever one attempts to bring one's Catholic faith into politics. Because of this pessimism, his initial reaction to the Holy See's communique was not to check his translation or try to understand what the Holy See was saying, but instead to criticize it and call on them to change.

In reality, however, the Church's admonition to public servants is reasonable, is informed, and is livable.

You just have to give it a chance - and yes, even pull out your English-Italian dictionary once in awhile.

Official: Timothy Dolan to become next NYC Archbishop!

iiiiiiiiiiitttttttttssssssss DOLAN!

The official announcement, we are told by the Associated Press, will be made at 6AM EST, when the Vatican publishes its daily news bulletin.

Whispers sources say Dolan will make his first public NYC appearance at 8AM Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, with an 11AM press conference.

I wrote a post last week about these rumors, and refer you back to it for all the interesting Dolan tidbits I've assembled. Good catch-up reading.

I'll make two additions now: I'm currently holding a letter from Archbishop Dolan, and one of my brothers was baptized by him. ;)

update - it's official:

• Official VIS bulletin
• Arch of NY press release
• Reuters
• Associated Press

Guest Post: A Papist song for today's feast

From AmP reader (and classmate) Domenic:

Alas, this year, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter (today) falls on a Sunday and has been trumped by the 7th Sunday of Tempus per Annum. In honour and thanksgiving for gift of St. Peter's commission and his successors, especially Pope Benedict XVI, I recommend singing or reading the composition below. The author, Cardinal Wiseman, oversaw the restoration of the hierarchy in England in the mid-nineteenth century, and had much first hand experience of the opposite sentiment to what his song expresses.

Full in the panting heart of Rome
----------------------------------------

Full in the panting heart of Rome
Beneath the apostle's crowning dome.
From pilgrim's lips that kiss the ground,
Breathes in all tongues one only sound:

GOD BLESS OUR POPE, GOD BLESS OUR POPE,
GOD BLESS OUR POPE, THE GREAT THE GOOD!

The golden roof, the marble walls,
The Vatican's majestic halls,
The note redoubles, till it fills
With echoes sweet the seven hills

GOD BLESS OUR POPE, GOD BLESS OUR POPE,
GOD BLESS OUR POPE, THE GREAT THE GOOD!

Then surging through each hallowed gate,
Where martyrs glory, in peace await
It sweeps beyond the solemn plain,
Peals over Alps, across the main.

GOD BLESS OUR POPE, GOD BLESS OUR POPE,
GOD BLESS OUR POPE, THE GREAT THE GOOD!

From torrid south to frozen north,
The wave harmonious stretches forth,
Yet strikes no chord more true to Rome's,
Than rings within our hearts and homes.

GOD BLESS OUR POPE, GOD BLESS OUR POPE,
GOD BLESS OUR POPE, THE GREAT THE GOOD!

- Nicholas Cardinal Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster (1802 - 1865)

Words of Wisdom from St. Thomas Aquinas before Lent

If you were guilty of imbibing a bit too much vino this weekend (it is, after all, the last weekend before Lent begins), just take to heart the words of St. Thomas Aquinas:

"Si quis scienter in tantum a vino abstineret ut naturam multum gravaret, a culpa immunis non esset." (ST II-II 150.1 ad 1)

"If one knowingly abstained from wine to the point of pressing nature seriously, he would not be free of guilt."

[Sent in by AmP reader Isaac.]

Photo Caption Call - 02/21/09

Winning Caption: "What do you mean 'How do I feel about being a week late for St. Valentine's Day?!'" - Tommy

Even if you don't have a caption, you can rate your favorite captions (submitted by others) in the comment box.

View the winning caption from the last Photo Caption Call here.

[copyright: New Song Media]

Video: St. Michael's Abbey is sliding down a hill!

A beautifully produced video, with a pressing need behind it:



Or watch individual segments:

• The history of St. Michael's Abbey - a page out of a spy thriller
• Need to Relocate - the Abbey is sliding down the hill!
• Everyone has to sing!
• Recording the Albums
• Daily Life at the Abbey

And if you enjoyed that incredible music in the background of these videos, you may purchase it on CD. Profits from this album will help defray the costs of their move: Anthology: Chants and Polyphony from St. Michael's Abbey. It's a great deal: you get beautiful music, and monks praying for you, and they don't have to live in an Abbey that is literally sliding down a hill.

Visit the Norbertine Fathers website here.

The Legion: What is happening behind the scenes?

The short answer, of course, is that we don't know.

Unofficially, from the background chatter I'm hearing, I'd wager a few bets. These hypotheses do not entail any sort of privileged knowledge on my part, just connecting the dots.

First, some sort of "serious clarification" is in the works, but has been delayed, perhaps because they are waiting for the Vatican to "sign off" on it. When will it be released? That's really anyone's guess.

Second, the General Director of the Legion, Fr. Alvaro Corcuera, is talking to the Holy See, and at least some communication is happening with Pope Benedict, although not necessarily directly.

Third, some sort of Vatican visitation of the Legion is going to take place. There remains some question where this will be official or unofficial. It will take a look at Legion operating practice - though it is unclear how broad or deep a mandate this visitation will receive, or who will undertake it.

Fourth, a careful look at the Legion norms will occur, specifically in regards to how they incorporate the writings, "witness" and charism of their founder, Marcial Maciel. It's my speculation that some serious effort will be made to bring them fully into line with canonical norms if they are not.

Fifth, individual members of the Legion and Regnum Christi are re-evaluating their relationship to the movement. Many people have told me they are leaving, some have commented (directly and indirectly) that they never intend to leave, others have not yet decided, and say they are waiting to see how the leadership handles this crisis.

The Sixth, and least knowable, thing happening involves the Legion leadership. Besides the single public statement of Fr. Alvaro, scattered reports of his internal addresses to members, a few odd comments from low-level Legion priests, and a handful of public comments made by Legion spokesman (notable for their problematic nature), we don't have any sort of handle on what the superiors of the Legion are doing.

Illumination on any of these points would be appreciated.

So close!

So close to so many markers!
--> 399 Followers on Twitter
--> 199 Readers on Feedburner
--> 198 Subscribers on Bloglines

{1,231 Google Readers; 1,224 Facebook Fans; 258 AMP NEWSies....}

Compare this to about three weeks ago.

AmP Topix

Top posts from the last couplefew days:

• Humor: Papist Picture of the Day - 02/20/09
• Offbeat: End of the week chuckle post
• On the road: AmP in Chicago briefly?
• Guest post: A Response from Austin Ruse
• Video: The outrageous case of Pastor Hoye
• Open thread: What approval does the Legion *now* enjoy?
• Humor: Papist Picture of the Day - 02/19/09
• Tip: AmP's Current Reads
• Video: Abp. Chaput discusses Pelosi on Neil Cavuto
• Commentary: Did they? Didn't they?

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/20/09

"You're the worst altar boy ever - how am I supposed to cleanse my hands with this stuff?!"

[source: REUTERS/Osservatore Romano]

{For those keeping count, this is my 4,500th post .... 500 since November 6th, 2008 .... AMDG!}

{Oh, and it strikes me: one-tenth a penny per-post = $4.50 = celebrational coffee you could buy me!}

End of the week chuckle post

Only, in this day and age, the chuckle posts contain quotes from real articles:

Catholic Denomination Says Gay Priests Are OK

An alternative Catholic denomination is ordaining openly gay priests, but will such rogue religious groups ever be recognized by the papacy?

In a recent service that looked nearly identical to a traditional Roman Catholic mass, four priests were ordained at Yale’s Dwight Chapel in New Haven, Conn. But three of the new priests are openly gay men, something the Catholic Church has refused to allow.

My internal "errors-per-sentence" counter is going crazy!

AmP in Chicago briefly?

I might have a chance to visit Chicago from March 2nd to 3rd with a few friends. I've never been to the windy city - so I'm excited.

As always when I visit a new town, I welcome tips of places to visit and things to see - especially Catholic sights and sounds. Holy Name Cathedral is sure to be on that list, recent fire damage notwithstanding.

And of course, it someone has or knows of a spare couch - I've never been one to willfully support the hotel industry.

Guest Post: A Response from Austin Ruse

It seems my defense of the Legion and Regnum Christi has struck quite a chord. I want to thank Thomas Peters for letting me respond to some of the questions and criticism that has been raised by my piece at TheCatholicThing.org - Austin Ruse:

There has been quite a lot of comment about my assumption that members of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi are now in Heaven. Of course, I cannot know this. I am assuming that members of LC/RC who die in a state of Grace receive the same promises made to all Christians who die in a state of Grace; that they will eventually achieve the Beatific Vision. I further assume that at least some of the members of LC/RC have died in a state of Grace. To the question of do they achieve this through their membership in LC/RC, I would agree that they achieve this not through membership in any religious Order or Movement but through the grace of God. However, members of LC/RC have been chosen to follow a particular religious Charism. This Charism becomes an avenue for them to live the Gospel, a way for them to correspond to the grace of God. So, I would further assert that their faithfulness to this Charism or Gospel Way is closely and perhaps inextricably linked to their salvation.

A word about Charism. I am using the term in the following way. This was taken from the website of the Carmelite Order in Ireland but similar definitions can be found elsewhere:

“A charism is a gift from God to the Church for the world. With regard to a Religious Order, the term refers to the gift which God gives to an individual or group to inspire the founding of a new religious family within the Church. This gift is handed down through the centuries and enriched by all who are called to live it. The charism of each religious family is the particular way in which its members are called to follow Christ. Since all Christians follow Christ, the charisms will have many elements in common, but the way in which these elements are emphasised gives each religious group its unique feel. All religious families have been asked by the Church to rediscover their original founding charism and make it come alive in each culture and in every age.”

One of the main questions that arises in the current controversy is whether a Charism can be separated from its founder. It is true that the Founder should most perfectly embody the Charism that presumably he received from God. But, the Charism of a religious Order that may begin with a Founder then lives on in its members, as the Carmelites note above. The Charism becomes something that is carried on member to member down through the ages. Can it be separated from the Founder. That we shall see in the coming days and months and years. I do note that not all religious Orders can even name their Founder, the Carmelites for instance, but I assume there are others.

There have been many comments about my using Father Thomas Berg as an example of a good Legionary priest. It is assumed by some that I have set him up over against the critics like Germain Grisez. While I was well aware of Father Berg’s anguished statement, please know that I did not mention him or any of the other LC/RC members as opponents of the critics. I used them simply as examples of the good fruit of the Charism of LC/RC. I stand by that.

Finally, I do not have a dog in the fight of what should happen to the Legion and Regnum Christi. I believe it is up to the Legion and Regnum Christi and the Holy See. I do not believe it is up to Germain Grisez, good man that he is, or the other lesser more hostile critics like Rod Dreher. I believe the mob mentality that has arisen over this crisis has only exacerbated the problem and in the process has deeply hurt those members of the Legion and Regnum Christi who were hurting already. I urge them to stay fast to the Charism. If it is of God it will last. It not it will die. And Glory Be His Will.

Michael Sean Winters, step away from the Code....

Michael Sean Winters, whom I enjoy disagreeing with, decided he would play canon lawyer for a day:

"The second point upon which we must be clear is that the "No Communion" policy is a radical innovation that should be resisted. First, it requires applying the canons in ways that are novel and dubious. Canon law is a pastoral instrument and recognizes that it should be applied with gentleness not vengeance."

A real canon lawyer (and my father, in fact), points out Winters' double-standard:

Ironically, it does not seem to occur to Winters that he quite willing to substitute his opinion on how canon 915 should be applied for that of actual pastors like Abp. Raymond Burke (a prelate whose credentials in canon law dwarf mine and, I'm guessing, Winters'). Burke offers a powerful, and I suggest compelling, case for the application of Canon 915 in the face of the metastasizing scandal of the prominent pro-abortion Catholic politician. Has Winters read it?

Of course not, but that doesn't mean Winters can't have an opinion.

Video: The outrageous case of Pastor Hoye

This is getting me really worked up.

From LifeNews:

A pro-life African-American pastor has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for sharing a pr-life message outside local abortion centers. Walter Hoye was previously found guilty of violating what pro-life attorneys call an unconstitutional city law designed specifically to target him.

From AmP reader Bryan:

Walter Hoye, a Baptist minister in Berkeley, was sentenced to 30 days in jail today and received an $1130 fine for the following harassing behavior:



If you read a bit on the testimony presented at trial, you'll find the clinic escorts and director fabricated much of the testimony regarding Pastor Hoye's behavior. Apparently, the Oakland DA's office even collaborated with the abortion clinic on how best to entrap Pastor Hoye.

Related links:

• Issues4Life Foundation - The Legal "No Christ Zone" in Oakland, California (contains video)
• California Catholic Daily - “We ought to stand with him”
• Catholics for the Common Good - Walter Hoye and His Wife Lori Need Your Support

R.I.P. Bishop Welsh, Founding Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington

AmP reader Joelle writes:

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the death of Bishop Thomas J. Welsh, Bishop Emeritus of Allentown and the Founding Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington. As Bishop Loverde said in his statement, “Bishop Welsh was indeed our father in faith, sent by Pope Paul VI in 1974 to form the newly-created diocesan Church of Arlington. Attentively, faithfully and devotedly, Bishop Welsh nurtured this nascent church for nine years…”

Please click here to read Bishop Loverde’s full statement.

Please click here to read the Herald coverage.

{You can find a few photos of the late Bishop here on flickr.}

All spiritual bouquets are not created equal

Lest yesterday's post leave doubt in people's minds - I have no problem with offering spiritual bouquets.

This one, for instance, for Pope Benedict XVI, "amid the anti-Catholic sentiment in the media of today" is just fine by me.

Confirmed: no pope photo-op for pelosi

It must have been a switch for her.

Joseph Lawler's reporting for the American Spectator blog confirms that "at the Vatican's request, no photos of Pelosi's Wednesday [meeting] with Pope Benedict XVI will be released."

Instead, she got a very public, internationally-circulated talking-to. That's a double message, if you ask me.

Fact-checking Catholics United's Sebelius claims

Catholics United, a partisan Democrat front organization, is claiming, among other things (underlining mine):

"Had Mr. Donohue been interested in presenting a full accounting of the facts, he would have mentioned Gov. Sebelius's tireless support for children's health care and education, and her efforts to provide public financing for adoption and pregnancy support centers – all components of an effective pro-life agenda that can find broad support among the American people. Had Mr. Donohue been interested in presenting a full accounting of the facts, he would have mentioned that the number of abortions in Kansas declined by 12.6% from 2001 to 2007, due in part to Gov. Sebelius's advocacy for pregnant women and struggling families.”

“Like Kansas City Archbishop Joseph Naumann – who often seems more interested in scoring political points against Gov. Sebelius than crafting effective abortion policy within the reality of politics – Mr. Donohue is doing a disservice to those Americans who will benefit from Gov. Sebelius's leadership as Health and Human Services Secretary. We remind U.S. Catholics and other observers that the Catholic League is part of a right-wing political movement at the margins of the Catholic community, and urge them to view Mr. Donohue and his comments in this context.”

I don't have the time, but if someone else wants to examine these underlined claims - it would be useful, going in, to know what Sebelius' actual record on life issues is. In what context did she fund adoption and pregnancy support centers, and what's the context for the decrease in the number of abortions, etc? Thanks so much.

update: thank you to the readers who have left comments and emailed me. Steven Ertelt of LifeNews:

Catholics United also claims abortions have declined under Sebelius, even though they actually went up 6.5 percent in 2006 thanks in part to Sebelius failing to support any abortion limits.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment report, there were 11,221 abortions in Kansas in 2006, up from 10,543 abortions in 2005.

Pro-life groups say the increase has to do with a lack of enforcement of laws limiting late-term abortions and a court's decision to drop 30 misdemeanor charges against Tiller, who has been accused of doing the abortions without a legitimate medical reason.

Open thread: What approval does the Legion *now* enjoy?

As we wait for the Legion's promised "serious clarification" statement, I'll continue to select what I find to be compelling comments which will provide a starting point for further discussion.

Today's comments originate from someone claiming to be a Legionary priest, who says:

I am an active LC priest, dismayed by the silence and passivity of many of my brothers. Outrage at this entire situation and our hapless leaders' response to it is the ONLY acceptable position.

I find particularly dismaying our superiors' reliance on the argument that runs something like this: "We know all is well in the LC because the Pope has tols us how much he esteems us and Cardinal Whoseewhatzit and Cardinal Whatzhisname have been visiting our centers saying how wonderful we are."

How could that type of reasoning convince anyone? Least of all those of us who lived through the LC's halcyon years under Pope JPII?

Fr. Maciel was praised publically and privately by the Pope and other Vatican officials time and time again during the 80s and 90s when he was actually living the double life we now recognize with horror. The Pope said lots of nice things about us then when the Founder was in the act of duping us all.

How could anyone's praise or approval of us now be a sign that all is well? We've already seen that Popes and Cardinals can be fooled and manipulated. We already know that the LC does its best to show them only what the LC wants them to see.

The only thing that can save the LC is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Full disclosure, full transparency and full renunciation of its policy of deception.

It doesn't matter who approves of us or disapproves of us if we are not truthful with ourselves.

I'll add a point to these thoughts. Fr. Alvaro has claimed that the Legion and/or Rome only recently discovered the fact that Maciel had a daughter twenty-two years ago. This means that all the previous conversations Fr. Alvaro claimed to have had with Cardinals, and Pope Benedict, and all the encouragement he claims to have received from them, were given without their knowing about the full extent of Maciel's deception.

One must then wonder how the Vatican is re-evaluating the status of Maciel and his inner circle in the light of this "recent" discovery.

A revealing question to ask: how many bishops and cardinals have spoken publicly encouraging the Legion to carry on with business as usual after this news was made public?!

Find me one.

And if indeed not one has thrown their hat in with the Legion, what are we to make of all these claims that "the Vatican" completely endorses their current activity? If these Cardinals and Pope Benedict are so eager to support the Legion, why has not a one of them said so in public?

(Also of interest: A Jesuit studying to become a priest compares Ignatian Obedience and the Legionaries.)

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/19/09

"Take an extra nip, your holiness - I see Joe Biden in the audience."

[source: REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (VATICAN)]

AmP's Current Reads

Outside of my readings for graduate studies and AmP stories, I've recently read/am currently reading:

• The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
• The Beauty of Holiness and the Holiness of Beauty by John Saward
• The Divine Romance by Fulton J. Sheen

This triad is definitely helping me stay sane these days.

Video: Abp. Chaput discusses Pelosi on Neil Cavuto

update: let's try this embedded:



Thanks to AmP reader Matthew for the tech tips.

Description: "Denver Archbishop Chaput on the pope telling Speaker Pelosi she shouldn't support abortion as a Catholic."

Show: Your World with Neil Cavuto.

Source: Watch the interview here.

More clear teaching from Archbishop Chaput!

Watch my AMP NEWS interview with Archbishop Chaput last November: [Part 1] [Part 2].

Also, I never tire of promoting Archbishop Chaput's fantastic book Render Unto Caesar.

Did they? Didn't they?

This really irks me.

Yesterday I picked up on reports that Pelosi had managed to fit in her promised meeting with Archbishop Niederauer on Feb. 8th.

Last night I found someone citing a Feb. 13th email from the Archbishop's spokesman saying the meeting had not taken place. Reliable enough it would seem, right?

Wrong - because this report was itself corrected today ... Pelosi and Niederauer did actually have the meeting:

“It went well,” [Pelosi spokesman] Daly said. “They both thought it was productive and agreed they would meet in the future at some point.” Daly said they did not set a date.

Daly said that the meeting did not sway Pelosi's stance on life issues. “She is not changing her position on abortion,” he said. Daly said Pelosi still goes to Mass and Communion every Sunday at San Francisco's St. Vincent de Paul parish or elsewhere when she is traveling. Why are we hearing of this meeting only ten days later? “It was a private meeting. They didn’t feel the need to publicize it and we didn’t feel the need to publicize it," Daly said.

It was so private that the archbishop's own press spokesman, Maurice Healy, seemed unaware of it. He told OSV on Friday that no meeting had taken place, despite the archbishop making himself readily available.

Oooooohhhhhhh boy. Let's go through what's wrong with this picture:

1. Pelosi's office shouldn't be setting the tone. "They didn’t feel the need to publicize it and we didn’t feel the need to publicize it"?! That doesn't fly with me. Pelosi, after all, likes publicizing everything she does. Abp. Niederauer's invitation to meet with Pelosi was a public invitation, because of public comments she made, causing very public scandal. Was he hoping everyone would just forget? Well, I sure didn't. I know plenty of other Catholics are concerned as well.
2. Abp. Niederauer's spokesman shouldn't be thrown for a loop by this. Let's face it: the ongoing scandal caused by Pelosi should be near the top of the Archdiocese's concern lists. Or it should at least be on the list. To have the spokesman so unaware of things as to publish a false-negative answer when queried about their meeting ... is simply unprofessional.
3. Pelosi shouldn't be presenting herself for Communion after meeting with her Archbishop! I hate to be cynical, but if Pelosi is still presenting herself for Communion, if I were her Archbishop, I wouldn't want people to know that I had met with her privately. Here's why: I think it's completely reasonable to say that in their very first meeting the Archbishop was bound to plainly state to Pelosi that her voting record on abortion makes her ineligible to receive Communion, and that in submission to his rightful authority, she ought not to present herself for it, because doing so harms her at this point. That's the teaching of the Church, at least - a teaching the Archbishop is bound to present as her pastor. Pelosi can no longer dodge behind the excuse that she "doesn't know it's wrong".
4. This can easily appear like Pelosi and Niederauer are in cahoots. I'm sorry, but to quietly "get this meeting over with", with no amendment of ways on Pelosi's part, and seemingly no effort to embrace the opportunity on the Archbishop's part, this has all the earmarks of "oh my, the little people are up in arms - here, let's go have dinner and talk about something important so they'll get off our backs." Now, I'm not saying this is what happened ... but it's not hard to read it that way, given Pelosi's long-standing obstinacy on this issue, and Abp. Niederauer's long-standing reticence to challenge her.

It's not a perfect world. In a perfect world, after Pope Benedict was put in the hot seat by having to meet with Pelosi, the Holy Father would have gone back to his desk, and picked up the phone:

*ring-ring*

Abp. Niederauer: "Heeeeeeee-llo!"

Pope Benedict XVI: "George! I thought we talked about this! You said you were going to meet with Pelosi last week! What gives? Nothing's changed! She's just as clueless as ever!"

Abp. Niederauer: "Umm...."

Like I said, it's not a perfect world.

North Dakota House Gives Fertilized Eggs Human Status

There are currently fifteen states pursuing personhood legislation, Judy Brown reports.

One of them, North Dakota, has passed a "Personhood of Children Act" 51-41 in the house. It will go to their senate in the next 2-3 weeks.

More from local press:

"[This news] means a fetus could not be legally aborted without the procedure being considered murder. Minot Republican Dan Ruby has sponsored other bills banning abortion in previous legislative sessions - all of which failed."

Ed Morrissey says "don’t count your chickens until the eggs hatch, pun intended."

I can't say I have too much hope this will survive, but stranger things have happened. I pray that it does.

[Picture: Flickr user Lynn]

Published: RC director encourages members to offer "spiritual bouquets"

Someone has created a website to offer "Spiritual Bouquets" for LC priests and RC consecrated members. I'm told it began as a Facebook group and crossed-over onto a full website. The individual who registered the website lives in Connecticut, near where the Legionaries of Christ are based in the United States.

This email was sent by a national-level director of Regnum Christi to their women members:

Many of you have told me about the beautiful initiatives of individuals and local sections and cities to support your local legionaries, consecrated, and the Church as a whole during this difficult time. Thank you for your love for Christ and the Church!

One city decided to start a website to gather a spiritual bouquet in gratitude for the vocations of the Legionaries of Christ, and Consecrated members. It is http://www.spiritualbouquet.net/. I wanted to share it with you in case you’d like to participate, and in any case, to encourage you to pray for the perseverance of all priests, consecrated and religious, and for Our Church. Below is a message from the organizers:

“Let us join the thousands of other Regnum Christi Members from around the world by offering up a spiritual bouquet for the Holy Catholic Church and especially for the Legionaries of Christ and the Consecrated Men and Women of Regnum Christi in gratitude for their vocations and as a means for their perseverance in faith.

You can include the number of Masses, Rosaries, Holy Hours and sacrifices that you would like to offer up on the website. The website will keep a runny tally of all the prayers and sacrifices offered. (This is a continuous spiritual bouquet so you can later go back and offer more if you would like.)

The spiritual bouquet will then be sent to Pope Benedict XVI, Fr. Alvaro and the Legionaries of Christ priests and Consecrated Men and Women of Regnum Christi so they could see the continuous number of prayers and sacrifices offered for them and the whole Catholic Church.

Not our will, but God’s Will be done. Let us entrust this into the hands of Our Mother.”

God Bless, you are all in my prayers.

Yours in Christ and the Movement,

[name]

Note how "movement-centric" this innitiative is, with no mention of those outside the movement who have suffered, beginning with Maciel's own victims. This is how the petition reads:

"Considering the painful times that we suffer together as the Mystical Body of Christ and a Regnum Christi family, please join in gathering and assembling spiritual flowers. This spiritual bouquet of prayers and sacrifices will be offered especially for the Legionaries of Christ and the Consecrated Men and Women of Regnum Christi in gratitude for their vocations and as a means of perseverance in faith. Not our will but God's Will be done."

The website also contains a quotation from a speech Pope Benedict XVI made during his visit last year to the United States. I will quote a line from this speech (that appears on the website):

Charisms are bestowed by the Holy Spirit, who inspires founders and foundresses, and shapes congregations with a subsequent spiritual heritage."

Maciel certainly left a heritage.

update: from "Dominus Flevit" in the comments:

The spiritual bouquet is quite revealing. The immediate, overriding concern of the LC leadership is clearly the retention of its priests and RC consecrated members ("perseverance").

The leadership realizes what the Deep Denial crowd does not: A significant number of LC priests are likely to head for the exits over the next several years, if not sooner. Some of them (Fr. Berg?) may even make noisy exits. That in turn will shake what remains of the faith RC members have in the Movement.

This catastrophe could be averted with a thorough and credible housecleaning, including identification and removal of all LCs who knew or should have known of Maciel's double life. Sadly, the LC leadership doesn't look capable of taking the steps necessary to salvage credibility.

Picture: Meet your new Catholic pro-abort Health Secretary

Sure seems that way:

"While House officials say President Barack Obama will name pro-abortion Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who has been criticized for refusing to limit late-term abortions, as the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department.

Once official, her selection would add to Obama's growing pro-abortion record as president.

Obama advisors notified the media late Wednesday that the president has settled on Sebelius as his top choice for the position, though her has not made his decision official." (LifeNews)

Kathleen "I'm-so-incredibly-pro-abortion-my-own-archbishop-came-out-and-told-me-to-quit-receiving-Communion" Sebelius.

Kathleen "I-took-almost-$40,000-in-political-funding-from-criminally-charged-late-term-abortion-provider-George-Tiller" Sebelius.

I'm not looking forward to the next nickname.

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/18/09

"Why Madame Speaker, I noticed your foul stench when you arrived at my audience."

(relax, it's a movie quote.)

[source: REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (VATICAN)

AmP Topics - February 18th

Lots happening today on AmP - here's a roadmap:

• Humor: Papist Picture of the Day - 02/18/09
• Offbeat Pictures: Newsflash! Pope's hat flies off!
• Breaking: NW province of Jesuits files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• Politics: Pelosi gets more than a photo-op ... a talking-to
• Open Thread: was Maciel a fraud?
• Info: Pelosi meets the Pope
• Action Item: I seeeee you, Dwight!

Pictures: Newsflash! Pope's hat flies off!

You have to love that this is news:

Pope's hat flies off
Benedict keeps speaking despite mishap

Vatican City, February 18 - The pope's hat flew off in an icy blast during Wednesday's general audience but he kept on speaking as if nothing had happened.

Benedict XVI had opened the audience by telling the faithful, gathered despite the wintry weather: ''It's cold but at least it isn't raining or snowing and we have to be thankful for that''.

The pope tried to keep hat on his head but a particularly vicious gust wrenched it from his grasp, observers said.

He was seen soon afterwards with replacement headgear the Vatican keeps ready for such accidents.

It was the second time Benedict has lost his hat in St Peter's.

In May 2006 the wind blew his hat off as he rode the Popemobile through the crowds. (Ansa.it)

Actually, I can remember it happening several other times.

Here is the freeze-frame play-by-play of today's run-away zucchetto:



Oh - the challenges of being pope!

[photos: REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (VATICAN)]

Breaking: NW province of Jesuits files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

More precisely, the Oregon province of the Society of Jesus:

Associated Press:

Confronted by scores of lawsuits alleging sex abuse by priests, the Jesuits of the Oregon Province have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The petition was filed Tuesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland. The province of the Roman Catholic order listed assets of less than $5 million and liabilities of almost $62 million.

More from the Oregonian.

Pelosi gets more than a photo-op ... a talking-to

breaking: the Vatican has released a statement following the meeting which just took place:

Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.

His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.

Well, now! {update - this was also included in today's Vatican bulletin.}

update: Pelosi's follow-up statement, notable for its absences:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following a meeting at the Vatican with his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI:
"It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI today.
"In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church's leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father's dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel.
"I was proud to show his Holiness a photograph of my family's Papal visit in the 1950s, as well as a recent picture of our children and grandchildren."

But what did you think of what the Pope said to you, madame speaker? Or was this a unilateral meeting?

For reactions:

• Damian Thompson: Benedict XVI: the recovery begins as Pope slaps down the ghastly Nancy Pelosi
• John Allen: Pope’s meeting with Pelosi a classic Vatican ‘both/and’
• George Weigel: Were They At The Same Meeting?

update 2: more details emerge, or rather, the lack of them:

"No journalists were at the 15-minute encounter and news is sparse since the Vatican and the speaker's offices have not released any photos. However, according to their statements it appears the pope and the politician attended two different get-togethers."

I don't think that's necessarily the case. Typically, the visitor gets a chance to make a statement/gesture, then the pope gets to do his thing. The Vatican communique and Pelosi's follow-up could both be describing the same brief meeting, in other words.

Some reports are saying there were not even any photographers present - which would surprise me.

update 3: on a related note, it appears Pelosi and Archbishop Niederauer had their meeting:

Michael Voris of Real CathlicTV reports today in his daily Vortex column that this meeting between Pelosi and Archbishop Niederauer took place quietly and clandestinely on Sunday, February 8th in a private residence in San Francisco. Realcatholictv.com confirmed this fact with both the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Pelosi’s office in DC. (PewSitter)

I haven't seen any behavioral change in Pelosi since then.

Open thread: was Maciel a fraud?

There is no new verified Maciel news to report today. And the "serious clarification" from the Legion that we were promised has yet to appear. However, emerging from the hundreds of comments posted on this and related topics yesterday, one sentence in particular struck me as thought-provoking, from an anonymous author, which I paraphrase:

"What the Regnum Christi members are refusing to acknowledge, and what I really would like one to address, is that there is a difference between a founder being a sinner and a founder being a fraud."

I often hear Regnum Christi members refer to Maciel as an "imperfect instrument". Well, we are all imperfect instruments. But Maciel is a different case, it would seem to me, because he actually used others as instruments of his deception, as Diogenes pointed out yesterday.

This is one of the ultimate treacheries, and tragedies, facing members of the movement now. Speaking of Maciel as merely an instrument, therefore, ignores the probable malice of his own fraudulent actions. Again - what is the difference? A sinner can be an instrument, but a fraud goes a further step and uses others (and in this case, even the holy things of God) as instruments for himself.

I'd be interested to see what members of the movement in particular have to say in response to this anonymous poster's claim that Maciel acted fraudulently.

(Also, because it has begun to cause confusion and questions, I will try to make more of an effort to distinguish posts where I am simply providing information from ones where I am contributing my own commentary. This is a commentary post. Once I have access to new information, I will provide that separately. Some will no doubt charge that even my information posts are tinged with bias, but there's no eliminating that - I will, however, try to avoid it. Bear in mind, information itself is a scarcity in this story, and I've tried to be judicious in what I pass on.)

Today: Pelosi meets the Pope

Associated Press photo, taken during Pope Benedict's visit to Washington DC last year:

I'm not prone to hyperbole, but when I see this photo, the first thing I think of is "Kiss of Judas."
Nancy Pelosi, in her record of public service, has continually worked against the common good of humanity as proclaimed and defended by the Catholic Church. She is a vigorous supporter of abortion on demand, and has even claimed that her activity in this regard is a defensible action in light of Church teaching. She touts her Catholic credentials (especially around election time), yet shows no desire to ever act on her Catholic convictions (presuming she has a clue what those are). If you need to read more, I've written scores of posts about her.

What does she want out of her meeting with Pope Benedict? Street credit. She wants the photo-op to wave in front of her conscientious Catholic questioners, to say "see, the pope doesn't have a problem with me - why do you?"And you know what? She'll probably get what she wants. Evil often does.

Deal Hudson makes two suggestions to salvage this:

• Benedict XVI should use the opportunity of the visit to make a strong public statement about the attack on unborn life being waged by the new Congress and the new administration.
• Pelosi's ordinary, Archbishop Niederhauer of San Francisco, should issue a public statement strongly critical of Pelosi as a Catholic politician. He should include a statement that if she presents herself for communion he will deny it to her.

The Anchoress says: "Truthfully, there is no down side to this meeting." But I have to disagree: clearly, while grace can make good things come of it, you can't get around the reality that for many Catholics who are unsure about these issues, they will take Pope Benedict's obligation to meet with a U.S. representative as a tacit support for her radical dissenting views on the protection due human life, etc. Again, if the pope doesn't think it's important (so they will falsely conclude), why should I? Even political writers are aware of what is at stake with this meeting.

Pewsitter.com has an online petition (~2,000 signatures, currently) asking for communion to be withheld from Pelosi which they explain here. Their goal is 1 million signatures. It's a bit of an 11th hour solution.

Let's pray for Pope Benedict today, and for Nancy Pelosi, and for the children in the balance.

update: full update on what happened today ... here.

I seeeee you, Dwight!

Aha! Foiled!

Father Dwight Longenecker, you see, is trying to sneak up on me "real quiet like" to win a coveted 2008 Blogger's Choice Award in the Religion Blog category.

Well, we simply can't stand for that....

"Papists - come to my aid! VOTE FOR AMP!"

-> Registering to vote only takes a few seconds.

-> The feeling of accomplishment should last hours.

Papist Picture of the Day - 02/17/09

"Please let me borrow your zuchetto for the performance."

[source: REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)]

A critique of more weak Kmiec speak

Don't let the cutesy blog title fool you, keeping tabs on Kmiec is always serious business. Kmiec, of course, is the most prominent "pro-life" Catholic supporter of Barack Obama. What has Kmiec been up to lately?

Back in late January, Kmiec explained his abortion views at a Pepperdine faith forum. He confirmed once again that "he thinks his name may possibly be considered for the position of Vatican Emissary in Obama's administration."

Kmiec seemed to suggest that he believes in delayed hominization (underlining mine):

"Abortion is an intrinsic evil that can be justified under no circumstances. The Church takes the position it does … not because of the Bible - although it believes in the inerrancy of the Bible - but also … as a matter of objective scientific fact that this human zygote is human, and if you don't interfere with it, it will become a person, and by virtue of that, it's entitled to legal protection."

The Church does not teach when the zygote becomes a human person, but it does teach that the zygote ought to be treated "as a human person" from the first moment of its conception. It does not say that the zygote becomes a human person at some later stage of development, as Kmiec does here.

One freshmen seemed to get what continues to escape Kmiec:

"What really stood out to me was hearing … that Obama wanted to limit abortions, [when] that very day, the Mexico City Policy was reversed," said [Seaver freshman Mimi] Rothfus.

Yes, reality can have a harsh ring to it sometimes.

On the 10th, Kmiec published an article in Sojourners, talking about Obama's new Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He says "President Obama is off to a fine start." I have so much to say here, but will limit myself to one quotation:

"Many Catholics, including myself, were disappointed by the president’s reversal of the Mexico City executive order, which blocked foreign aid to groups that include abortion referrals among their health services. The president’s rationale was motivated by Third World conditions, and we need to ask ourselves how we in opposition would formulate an answer for the millions of non-Catholics who were at risk of fatal illness in developing countries for lack of non-abortifacient, contraceptive services that were swept within the previous policy."

Wrapped up in this dense block of verbiage is a very simple message: third world countries need contraceptives, Kmiec thinks. He evidently needs to review his Church teaching: artificial contraception is universally wrong, based on the natural law. It's not just wrong for Catholics, ergo, Catholics ought not promote artificial contraception to anyone.

Also on the 10th, Kmiec published an article in the National Catholic Reporter. The substance:

Today the church has strategically (might it be said, prudentially in light of the perspectives of other faiths?) chosen to take incremental steps to conform human law to God’s, and perhaps that means that all of us -- the church included -- need to more charitably assess efforts to promote the choice for life premised upon social and economic support. Such support, at a minimum, should physically and materially strengthen the community, and perhaps an economically recovered America will also be spiritually revived such that the Supreme Court will once again describe us, as it did pre-Roe, as a “religious people whose institutions presuppose the existence of a Supreme Being.”

Once again I find myself mystified by a Kmiec argument. The fact of the matter is that under the Obama administration we can look forward to a farther widinening gap between God's law and human law on the issue of abortion. The legal limitations set on abortion will be gradually rolled back. Obama has promised this. Furthermore, I see no guarantee that economic prosperity will cause spiritual rebirth. Typically, it would seem to me, the opposite is the case. Finally, Kmiec's wait-and-see approach is a very handy way to dismiss opposition to Obama's here-and-now problematic solutions (e.g., reducing problem pregnancies by expanding contraceptive access).

I predict that as Obama's presidency continues, and as he is allowed to implement more of his program, Kmiec's tenuous arguments will continue to appear more and more threadbare. Kmiec will, as a result, be forced to more desperately stretch his rhetorical justifications over the contradictions between what Obama is actually doing, and what Kmiec would have us believe he is about.

Finally, last week, on the 12th, Kmiec had a public debate with Hadley Arkes at Villanova University. I'm trying to track down a report of how it went down.

And that's the "weak Kmiec speak" news.

update: Adam Raha at Sober Inebriation:

Upon contacting Villanova University, I was told by Anne Hischar that the debate will be aired in its entirety online at www.matthewryancenter.org in about two weeks.

The Maciel dilemma from two vantage points

Marjorie Campbell:

"No one knows what stirs in the dark, lonely heart of a human being, especially driven people like Fr. Maciel – many of whom share their worst worries and battles in confession and spiritual direction. While I am disappointed, deeply disappointed, in Fr. Maciel’s disordered decision making, and an apparently disordered management that allowed Fr. Maciel to disregard rules of discipline, I am no more surprised by Fr. Maciel’s paternity than I was surprised by the dark and empty spirituality of Mother Teresa."

... Which is not to say that the Legion does not have a lot of explaining – and apologizing – to do with several categories of people: the victims of abuse by Fr. Maciel; the RC members and former members of the Legion forced out for expressing concerns about Fr. Maciel; Fr. Maciel’s daughter and her mother; the Legion’s supporters who contributed dollars to form priests, not support the Founder’s secret family; the Legion's enthusiasts at the Vatican who, at times, went to great lengths in defense of Fr. Maciel. This is a short list. It is my sincere hope and prayer that the Legion will make the longer list, systematically acquiring and sharing information and expressing a sincere sorrow for any failures of the organization itself that contributed to Father’s harms. The Legion can, and should, survive this challenge by shining light upon their information and process, and offering regret and transparency for the darknesses which veiled the sins of their founder."

Diogenes:

"The fact of the matter is that Maciel was publicly accused of specific sexual crimes, and that out of personal moral cowardice he enlisted honorable men and women to mortgage their own reputations in defense of his lie. The lie was the lie of Maciel's personal sanctity, which Maciel knew to be a myth, and which the fact of his bastard child (putting aside the more squalid accusations) proves that he knew. To the villainy of sacrificing the reputations of others, Maciel added the grotesque and blasphemous claim that the Holy See's sanctions were an answer to his own prayer to share more deeply in the passion of Christ, as an innocent victim made to bear the burden of false judgment in reparation for the sins of mankind. The Legion cannot share Catholic reverence for the Passion and fail to repudiate Maciel's cynicism in portraying himself as the Suffering Servant."

... When I speak of the Legion's duty of revilement, I do not mean they should issue so many pages of rhetorical denunciation of Maciel's sexual iniquities. What is required is an unambiguous admission that Maciel deceitfully made use of holy things and holy words in order to dupe honest and pious persons into taking false positions -- sometimes slandering others in the process -- in order to reinforce the legend of his own sanctity. Since Maciel's treachery was sacrilegious in its means and in its effect, he should posthumously be repudiated as a model of priesthood and of Christian life."

Pope Benedict XVI to conduct May Mideast tour

The AP:

A Jordanian Catholic church leader says Pope Benedict XVI will visit an Amman mosque during his Mideast tour in the second week of May.

The pope will arrive in Jordan on May 8 as part of an eight-day tour which will include Israel and the West Bank.

Father Rifat Bader, the spokesman and coordinator of the Jordanian portion of the tour, said Tuesday the pontiff will visit the Hussein Bin Talal Mosque, named after Jordan's late king who died in 1999.

It will be the Pope's second visit to a place of Muslim worship since he prayed at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul in 2006.

Bader added that the pontiff would meet with Muslim leaders to underline "coexistence between religions."

The pope also will visit biblical sites in Jordan.

A good friend of mine spent many months in Jordan. It has a small but strong Catholic community.

T-minus 4 hours to NY announcement?

If the new Archbishop of New York is announced today, we should find out at 5AM EST - when the Vatican bulletin is sent around the world and also uploaded to the http://www.vatican.va/ website.

I'll be waking up at a somewhat more human hour, but feel free to populate the comment box with the happy news in the meantime! If not, it's back to the waiting game. Oh, the waiting game.

update: Bulletin released ... and no announcement. Looks like it's a bust for today! But stay tuned.

update 2: "The Church's revenge on journalists?" - David Gibson. I'd hope not.

Photo Caption Call - 02/16/09

Winning Caption: "I love the smell of francinsence in the morning!" - Sand Pounder

Even if you don't have a caption, you can rate your favorite captions (submitted by others) in the comment box.

View the winning caption from the last Photo Caption Call here.

[copyright: Jan Sochor]

Top 3 Catholic News Stories Today

According to GoogleNews, anyway:

German Catholic leader wants Williamson response now:

A leader of Germany's Roman Catholic Church said on Sunday it was "almost ridiculous" that Bishop Richard Williamson has said he needs time to review evidence about whether the Holocaust took place. {This controversy can't end soon enough, if you ask me.}

Pope's choice for bishop declines:

A Roman Catholic priest has asked Pope Benedict to revoke his appointment as a bishop in Austria, after his promotion led to protests within the Church.

Gerhard Maria Wagner said the "fierce criticism" had persuaded him to ask not to be named auxiliary bishop of Linz.

Father Wagner has described Hurricane Katrina as God's punishment for the sins of New Orleans, and the Harry Potter novels as satanic.

... The resignation of Father Wagner came on the eve of an emergency meeting of all diocesan bishops in Austria, at which they had pledged to "give our best to overcome the crisis" according to Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn. {I think I'm mostly dissapointed that his nomination won't go through.}

South Korea's first Roman Catholic cardinal dies:

Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, South Korea's first cardinal and a tireless advocate for democracy who stood up to a string of military dictators, died Monday. He was 86.

Kim was ordained as cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1969. He passed away at Seoul's St. Mary's Hospital, said Lee Hee-yeon, an official with the Archdiocese of Seoul. {R.I.P.}

A reaction to Austin Ruse's defense of the Legion

Many AmP readers have asked me to link to Austin Ruse's defense of the Legion which he published last Friday in The Catholic Thing. I have linked to it and, in the interest of forthright discussion, I will bring up several points that strike me after reading it.

I have great respect for Mr. Ruse and his work for C-FAM (which I have promoted often on this blog), and intend with these comments only respond to the arguments he makes for the Legion.

Ruse: "There are souls in Heaven because of the charism of the Legion of Christ and of Regnum Christi."

AmP: This is an imprecise (and even misleading) statement. Obviously, souls are in heaven ultimately by the grace of God. The question at hand is what role did or did not this "charism" play in their salvation? What role can Maciel's spiritual insights and writings play in their lives? It also begs the question to assert that Maciel's charism was "revealed to him by God" - how do we know that it was? The mere fact that Ruse must say "there will be more saints because, and now perhaps in spite, of [Maciel]" should raise concern: charisms, after all, do not assist people towards heaven despite themselves!

Ruse: "The inevitable braying in the media and in the blogosphere is deafening."

AmP: I am happy, of course, to see my name excluded from this list. Dismissing, however, the "braying" does nothing to respond to the sensible criticisms that have also surfaced. If Ruse is attempting to highlight the most visible responses to this crisis, he has excluded several of the important ones (Ed Peters and George Weigel, for instance).

Ruse: "Under the guise of a letter to a friend, which in friendly fashion he released to the blogs, Germaine Grisez calls for an investigation, but assumes the Legion must be dissolved."

AmP: Dr. Grisez's choice to release an open letter was an entirely friendly thing to do if he had serious doubts about the Legion's own internal communication structure, which - after sustained observation - appears highly insular and inefficient. The best way for Legion members to see his suggestions, frankly, was to post them on the internet. Second, Grisez does not "assume" the Legion must be dissolved, he argues for that conclusion saying it is the best way to serve the continuing common good of its members.

Ruse: "Old clubs are being pulled out to beat the Legion."

AmP: 1) Admittedly, there are always people who want to club the Church. But in this case, it's not pulling out clubs to point out LC/RC problems that have been pointed out before. The last two "clubs" are true, 20/20 vision would seem to tell us. And therefore, individuals should be thanked for their courage in pointing these problems out rather than dismissed as having ulterior purposes. 2) On the contrary, Maciel did attract the attention of several popes, including the current pope, who banished him to a life of private prayer and penance. 3) Of course there should be no "glee" in watching the Legion suffer, but there should be relief that issues plaguing it might ultimately be addressed through this painful process. Purification is rarely easy, after all.

Ruse: "[Maciel's] failings do not nullify all the good that [The Legionaries] have done and will do for the Church and for the Kingdom of God."

AmP: True, but the question remains - will they continue to do these good things (or did they perform these good works) for the Church as/because they were Legionaries? Was Maciel's direction essential to their good works? Or rather, is Maciel's ongoing influence, in fact, known to be detrimental to the Legionaries own common good and the good of the universal Church? Might the definitive revelation of Maciel's misdeeds bring about the necessary emancipation of its members from the structure of sin he created to protect himself and further his misdeeds?

Ruse: "When I think of the Legion and Regnum Christi I think of Father Thomas Berg, a faithful Legionary priest who runs a bioethics think tank that is on the cutting edge of public discourse."

AmP: This is an exceedingly odd first choice for Ruse's list of LC/RC shining lights, considering Fr. Berg has actually been very active in working outside the LC/RC structure to assist other members in the movement. And just look at Fr. Berg's own advice to RC members: "If you still find the letters of the founder helpful in prayer, feel free to use them. But it is certainly OK to leave them aside. Remember that in many ways, the spirit and charism we have lived is Pauline. Continue to nourish your spirit on the letters of St. Paul." (So much for exclusively embracing the founder's charism.)

Fr. Berg also goes on to demand from the Legion superiors "nothing less than full transparency regarding the case of Fr. Maciel. Demand that Fr. Alvaro seek an independent third party investigation (perhaps in the form of a temporary review board or Visitation team from the holy see) into uncovering any Legionaries who may have been accomplices to Maciel. Demand that a similar body guide Legionary leadership in introducing any needed reforms into the internal culture, methods and religious discipline of the Legion."

In other words, if Fr. Berg is someone whom Mr. Ruse first thinks of when he thinks of the Legion, it might be good to take seriously what Fr. Berg's own advice has been to the movement in light of the Maciel news (and incredibly inadequate official Legionary reaction). Fr. Berg's reaction, after all, is very different from Mr. Ruse's, and more pragmatic.

Ruse: "[To members:] Remember the good and holy priests and all the members of the movement who are the charism. Ignore the idle chatter. Hew close to the charism. Either it is false and will die, or it is true and will be your guide to Heaven."

AmP: 1) I didn't realize a charism is its membership. If this is true then Mr. Ruse should not object to the Legion dissolving or at least seriously revisiting its foundation. 2) I agree - ignore the idle chatter ... but don't ignore the pure-intentioned advice of the prudent and concerned. 3) If we are using an organic metaphor ("hew close"), I'd say it is better for the movement to lop itself off from the decaying branch of Maciel and re-graft itself firmly into the One Church of Christ (by appealing to Rome publicly), perhaps through a new and living branch. 4) This last line puzzles me. I would say: if this charism is "false", God has issued an invitation and an opportunity for it to be renewed, so that it might be a better guide to Heaven. I would submit that this attitude of "abandonment to providence" (as an alternative excluding personal action, discernment and sacrifice) which Ruse seems to espouse is somewhat culpable for this sorry state of affairs in which many Legionaries now find themselves. If there is one thing which characterizes this crisis, it is the inaction of individuals of authority and responsibility who could have prevented it had they the courage. Please God, let us learn from their mistakes.

Magister: "The Legion Is in Disarray. Betrayed by its Founder"

Noted Vatican analyst Sandro Magister picks up on the Maciel scandal:

"New revelations about the second life of Fr. Marcial Maciel. He was not only guilty of sexual abuse, but also had a lover and a daughter. The Legionaries of Christ are in danger of collapse. Some are calling for an apostolic visitor. Or for direct intervention by the pope"

Read Magister's column here.

Most of what Magister says I've already published at some point. A few of his observations:

[Fr. Corcuera's] authority has been deeply shaken. Fr. Corcuera was always extremely close to the founder. The latter's misconduct inevitably reflects back on him, and on other leaders in the congregation. In part for reasons of personal conduct, therefore, the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ no longer seems to be capable of managing its own recovery. Some of the priests who are highly respected in the congregation – Thomas Berg, Richard Gill, and Thomas Williams – see no solution other than an authoritative intervention by the Holy See.

... In order to overcome the latest resistance, in 2006, it took a direct order from Benedict XVI to require Fr. Maciel to retire to a penitential life. The secretary of state at the time, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, defended the founder of the Legionaries to the end.

Magister's covering of this story is significant because he is widely read inside the Vatican.