Papist Picture of the Day - 12/23/09

• Must Read: Catholic Vote's Top 10 Reasons for Hope
• Politics: Stupaks says White House trying to keep him quiet on abortion problems

Someone isn't going to make it all the way through midnight Mass.

[Photo: Returs]

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/21/09

• Weird: Christian Elephants avenging religious persecutions in India?
  
• Vatican: John Paul II and Pius XII declared Venerable!!!
  
• Breaking: Nelson caves, Senate passes pro-abortion bill tonight
  

Hmm, should I start picking out a date for my feast day now or when it's official?

[Photo: AP Photo]

Photo Caption Call - 12/18/09

Today's Topix:

• Photo: This deserves detention?!
  
• Video: Catholic Vote's firm reminder to Senator Casey
  
• Video: Silent Monks Singing Halleluia
  

{Add your humorous caption in the comment box!}

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP Photo Caption Call to my email.

[Photo source: AmP Reader Will]

Video: Silent Monks Singing Halleluia

Apparently you aren't a Catholic blog if you haven't posted this video:



Solidarity is a Christian virtue. ;)

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/17/09

• Action: Thank Ben Nelson for his pro-life stand!
  
• Politics: Pelosi on pro-abortion language in Senate bill, says "Thank God"
  
• Today: The O Antiphons Begin
  
• Video: John Lennon's opinion about overpopulation
  
• Read between the Lies: Catholics United tries to spin the truth 
  
• Breaking: Pro-life groups say Casey compromise "unacceptable"
  

Texting at papal audience FAIL.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/16/09

• Pro-Life Video: SBA List asks Sen. Casey "Who Shall Live?"
  
• Question: What do you think of this Census poster?
  

Guess who served the early morning Mass?

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/15/09

• Important: Archbishop Listecki sets the record straight on "Young Catholics for Choice" 
• Update: Everything Health Care
  
• Extraordinary video: "Babies" Movie Trailer
  
• Photo: Very Clever Advertising
• Appearance: AmP on EWTN's The World Over

Okay, I see the knight. Now where is the rest of the chess set?

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/11/09

• Commentary: Catholic Politicians Face a Clear Choice in Health Care Debate
  
• Offbeat Video: Christian Rap promotes "side hugs"
  
• Culture: Does Obama's White House feature a Christmas Nativity Scene? 

Even the pope has to sneak in some Christmas spirits.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/10/09

• Action: Archbishop Chaput on why he signed the Manhattan Declaration
• Politics: Profiles in Callousness - Senators Feinstein, Boxer and Mikulski
• New Bishop! Pope appoints Bishop Daniel Flores to Brownsville, TX
• Politics: Senate defeats Sen. Nelson's pro-life amendment 54-45  
• Politics: Pro-life amendment in Senate today

OK, so the Vatican space program still has a ways to go....

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/04/09

• Offbeat: Is Pope Benedict XVI a secret rap lover?
• Interim post: health care still pro-abortion 

"... and in this room, we have real swiss guards mixed in with wax copies. Can you tell the difference?"

[Photo: AP Photo]

Offbeat: Is Pope Benedict XVI a secret rap lover?

The UK Daily Mail tries to make the case:

If his playlist is any indication, the Pope has the most catholic of musical tastes.

A selection posted on the Myspace website in the name of the Vatican features tracks from artists ranging from Shirley Bassey to rapper Tupac Shakur.

The list is one of several offered in a new music service from Myspace in which celebrities are asked to name their favourite songs.

... The Vatican list is far from an ecclesiastical top ten, although it does include songs from the album Music From The Vatican and Mozart's Don Giovanni.

Of course, the list was actually created by a third party, which explains the (ahem) "eclectic" picks:

The 12-strong Vatican list was put together by Father Giulio Neroni, artistic director of St Paul's Multimedia, a church publisher.

He was the man behind the recent Alma Mater album, which combined Gregorian chants and prayers with classical music and the voice of Pope Benedict speaking in five languages.

It is not known if the Pope has ever heard any of the songs.

Well let me clear up that open question - the pope doesn't listen to 2Pac. Seriously.

Now, Fleet Foxes is another matter entirely....

[Ph/t: AmP reader Ashley.]

Papist Picture of the Day - 12/02/09

• Vatican: Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for December
• On the road: A couple photos from my trip to Poland last week
• Open thread: The Health Care Debate
• AmP: Presenting at international conference in Poland  
  

Yes, I like it .... um, no, it's not going on my wall.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/13/09

• New arch/bishops for Milwaukee and Fort Wayne-South Bend!
  
• Late-breaking: new bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend soon? 
  
• Unwritten story: New VA & NJ governors are strong Catholics
  
• Anti-Catholic: New mega-movie "2012" is directed by one
  
• Epic fail: LA Times claims fake catholic group's statement was issued by USCCB
  
• Silly: Forbes ranks Pope Benedict 11th most powerful person
  
• Video: Automatic holy water dispenser to avoid swine flu transmission
  
• Honor Roll: Bishops who supported traditional marriage in Maine
• Cool: Benedict XVI surfs the web and uses email!
• Wuerl's Gambit: Claims that Church's social services threatened by DC gay marriage
• Commentary: Is abortion funding a distraction, or not? 
  

No one dared challenge the pope to liturgical-musical chairs.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/11/09

• AmP Speaker of the Month: Janet Smith
  
• Offbeat: Vatican sponsors conference on extraterrestrial life - Alien reunification imminent?
• Commentary: A tale of two nun organizations
  

"Hey! D'ya mind, God? It's kind of hard to co-consecrate in a downpour!"

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/10/09

• Fireworks: Bishop Tobin escalates episcopal correction of Rep. Kennedy 
  
• Outrageous: Rep. Lynn Woolsey says IRS should scrutinize bishops
• Update: Everything you never wanted to know about the health care debate
• Amazing: Newborn babies cry with their mother's accent
• Action: Halt same-sex marriage in New York
• Video: Fr. Benedict Groeschel's 50th Anniversary
• Video: Planned Parenthood describes watching abortion ultrasound    
  

... and then, your holiness, I heard this voice say ZUUL!!!

[Photo: Reuters]

Photo Caption Call - 11/09/09

{It promises to be a very busy Monday morning for me, so until I have a chance to catch up on the news again, please participate in a particularly fun photo caption call!}

• Stupid: Planned Parenthood President calls bishops "ideologues" in NYT 
• Text/Commentary: Anglican Constitution establishing personal ordinariates 
  

{Add your humorous caption in the comment box!}

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo source: AmP Reader Jay]

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/06/09

• Bishop: health care reform "fatally flawed ... needs to be opposed and defeated"
• Action: What to say to *your* representative about healthcare 
• Alert: Gov. Patterson plans to push gay marriage in NY next tuesday
• Update: Bp. Tobin stays strong, and Rep. Kennedy backs off
• Picture: Climate Change jerks vandalize La Sagrada Familia Church in Spain
• Report: Pelosi's office trashed by pro-life demonstrators  
  

"For the last time, I'm not hiding reindeer in the catacombs!"

[Photo: Reuters]

Photo Caption Call - 11/04/09

• Commentary: In aftermath of Maine, gays step up their attacks on the Church 
• Urgent: As health care goes to a vote this Saturday - no change in abortion funding 
  
• Open thread: 2009 Elections
  

{Add your humorous caption in the comment box!}

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo source: LIFE archive, via AmP Reader Tom]

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/03/09

• Question: Will Anglican priests entering the Church be required to embrace celibacy?
• Huh? Bishop who drafted USCCB voting guide records robo-call in support of pro-abortion, politician
• Update: Dominican sister caught volunteering at abortion clinic censured by congregation
• Outrageous: Planned Parenthood President Attacks Catholicss over Health Care
• Election Day! Support pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage causes!

The nuns had seen better inspirational art at the grocery store.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 11/02/09

• National News: TX Planned Parenthood director resigns after witnessing ultrasound, story drawing national attention (+video & inside details) 
  
• On the radar: Elections on Tuesday, Health Care on Thu/Fri
• AmP Poll: Did your parish talk about health care reform?
• Vatican: Pope's prayer intentions for November

"Oh, they've encased Pope Paul VI in carbonite!"

[Photo: AP Photo]

Photo Caption Call - 10/30/09

• Sick: Anti-aging skincare product uses aborted fetal tissue
• Update: More details on Miami expelling Regnum Christi
• Photo: Old Navy's new Graphic Tee might look familiar to you
• Commentary: On Bart Stupak's Collapse
• Claim: Pro-Life Democrats can still defeat pro-abortion "PelosiCare" bill
• Last call: Seeking paid volunteers for Hoffman in upstate New York 
  

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

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo source: A resident in New York state, who actually snapped this photo while driving.]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/29/09

• Exclusive: Legionaries of Christ/Regnum Christi expelled from Archdiocese of Miami
  
• Exclusive: Cardinal George urges every US bishop to take decisive action on Catholic health care concerns - and meet with their politicians 
• Video: Two-Faced Stupak? Democrat admits to constituents he would ultimately vote for health care even with taxpayer-funded abortion mandate
• Imperative: US Bishops urge *every* parish to utilize bullet insert on health care reform

"Hehehe, this will make an excellent Papist Picture of the Day submission!"

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/27/09

• Good: Church of Scientology convicted of fraud in France
• Update: Abp. Dolan backs Bp. Tobin, demands Rep. Kennedy apology
• Opportunity: Bring the Fatima Movie to your city!
• Today: A new bishop for Milwaukee?

(You may be fine, but doctrinal dissenters and liturgical innovators are terrified!)

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/26/09

• Appearance: AmP speech on health care profiled by Denver Catholic Register
• Breaking: Largest group of Catholic doctors calls for "reset" of health care reform 
  
• Stupidity: Rep. Kennedy attacks the Church, and Bishop Tobin takes him to task
  
• Outrageous: Nun volunteers at abortion clinic - and what can be done about it

Before the Christmas rush, Pope Benedict offers a sneak peak of the official "Naughty & Nice" list, for those looking to improve their ranking.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/23/09

• Pictured: Pro-Life Pumpkin - Awesome Activism Idea!
• Politics: House Democrats Have Almost Enough Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care
• Wow: Did St. Theresa have an intercessory role in Anglican reunification?
• Video: Explaining Anglican-Catholic Reunicification
• Scandal: Notre Dame elects Fr. Jenkins to second term as President
• Pictured: World's first portable ultrasound!
• Stupidity: Patrick Kennedy says Catholic Church Fanning ‘Flames of Dissent and Discord’ by Opposing Health Bill Over Abortion Funding
• Outrageous: Baltimore City Council targets pro-life pregnancy centers

Rowan Williams thinks to self: If I become Catholic, will I have to trim my facial hair?

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/22/09

• Action: Oppose the Chai Feldblum nomination
• Stupidity: Pro-aborts launch petition so *seniors* can keep abortion coverage
  
• Background: Abp. Di Noia asked dominicans for Anglican reunification prayers
  
• Video: No Government Funded Abortions! Period.
  

Cardinal Levada, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and world-champion darts player, contemplates his next throw.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/21/09

• Anti-Catholicism: Experts continue to question Catholics on the Supreme Court
  
• Open Thread: Anglican-Catholic Reunification
  
• Outrageous: Obama volunteer website promotes Planned Parenthood opportunities
  

"Aw Shucks! They promised me I could excommunicate someone today."

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/20/09

• Raw video: Abp. Nichols of Westminster explains new Anglo-Catholic structures
• Video: Vatican press conference on Anglican provision
• Pop culture: Sacrament of Confession featured in yesterday's House MD episode
• Commentary: Anglo-Vatican announcement has important American/African dimension
• Get involved! Support a Catholic Speaker Month
• Breaking: Vatican welcomes Anglicans into Catholic Church with Apostolic Constitution
  
• Europe: Record pro-life rally in Spain gathers over a million demonstrators
• US: Diocese of Wilmington, DE files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• Overview: New bishop appointment possibilities

"You want me to march in the parish procession for my penance, Father? Okay...."

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/19/09

"Tonight at the Vatican: Sonata for three pianos and alien monster."

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/18/09

"My apologies, your holiness, the artist was rushed you see...."

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/16/09

• Spooky: This Halloween, Protestants celebrate "Reformation Day"
  
• Offbeat: Poker-playing priest has chance to win $1M
• Outrageous: Candidate for expulsion - Jesuit novice in Oregon province
• Silly: NCR's "simple fact" about marriage is neither simple, nor a fact
• Huh? Homosexualist Play To Be Performed at Four SF Catholic High Schools
• Pop culture: Katie Holmes places daughter Suri in Catholic pre-school
• Event: Support local pro-life in Washington DC
• Commentary: Sarah Silverman's modest proposal for the Pope, and what I propose for Sarah

How am I supposed to autograph this with a rosary?!

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/14/09

• Mature audience: Woman describes performing abortion while pregnant herself 
  
• Action: 4 things for Catholics to support before November 4th
• Huh? Notre Dame funds students to attend DC Gay March, hosts "coming out day"
  

Covert surveillance is not a Swiss Guard strength.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 03/13/09

• Video: Gay activists in Maine lie about Catholic support for homosexual marriage 
  
• Photo: Spot the Page 6 error! 
• Video: Guest co-host of the View serves up a needed Obama reality-check
  
• Report: Catholic University's liturgical abuse prompts vandalism, possible hate-crime charges
  
• Commentary: Bishop Sample prevents Bishop Gumbleton from appearing in his diocese
  
• Life: New York Times prints photos of abortion victims

Her first name may be "Mary", but her last name sure isn't "Poppins."

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/10/09

Oh great, another book - not like I have enough of those already....

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/07/09

• Video: Traditional Marriage and Preserving Childhood Innocence
• New Bishop: Msgr. Hubda gets hoisted into Gaylord, MI!

Guess who didn't get the liturgical color memo?

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/06/09

Even bishops have been known to use too much starch.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/05/09

These altar boys are so well trained, there actually isn't a bench underneath them.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/02/09

Vatican efforts to reduce incense emissions have proven largely unsuccessful.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/01/09

• Hope: Respected poll shows more Americans rejecting "right" to abortion in 2009
• Bad: Democrats keep abortion in Baucus bill with party-line vote
• Good: Senate Finance Committee Restores $50m in Abstinence Education Funding
• Health Care: 183 House Members urge Speaker Pelosi to cut abortion funding 
  

Noah's Anchor.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/26/09

• Amazing Video: Does God Exist?
• Amazing Photo: 842 priests ordained *simultaneously* in Barcelona
• Huh? BC residents hand out copies of "Da Vinci Code" to oppose Opus Dei retreat center!
• Hilarious: Dan Brown's 20 worst sentences
• Friday off-beat Video: Cosmic Conflict
• Action: What Catholics can do to help health care reform
• Update: More proof we need to de-fund the CCHD
• Photo: Ask a papist question....
• Video: Cardinal Mahoney tries to dodge abortion in health care question

"Bring the chairs where?"

"To the church!"

"What church?! ... oh."

[Photo: AP Photo]

Hilarious: Dan Brown's 20 worst sentences

I've never read a Dan Brown book, but my friends claim that his novels are not very well written, and after reading this list of howlers, I can see what they mean! A sample:

10. The Da Vinci Code, chapter 4: Five months ago, the kaleidoscope of power had been shaken, and Aringarosa was still reeling from the blow.

(Did they hit him with the kaleidoscope?)

And that's a fairly merciful example.

Now - please - let's not have any top 20 lists of AmP gaffes appearing!

Friday off-beat Video: Cosmic Conflict

I can't believe this is real:



Well - it's real.

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/24/09

• Outrageous: Italian PM calls Pope Benedict a liar in newspaper
• Alert: How you can help Dominican Nuns overflowing with vocations!
  
• Important: Catholic Medical Association comes out strongly against ObamaCare

"Insiders note it is becoming increasingly difficult to hide the pope's hobbies."

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/21/09

• Photos: Archbishop Dolan's first communion, and first Mass 
  
• Video: Dog participates in liturgy at Sunday Mass
  

"Oh, so now you want to see shadow puppets, is that it?!"

[Photo: AP Photo]

Photo Caption Call - 09/18/09

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

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo: Mike Crupi Photography]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/17/09

• Event: I'm at the Values Voter Summit now
• Politics: Dear Mr. President, go to Church. 
• Updated - A Note from Fr. John Jenkins, President of Notre Dame 

Pope Benedict searches for his ego.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/16/09

A pilgrim visually expresses his support for Pope Saint Pius V.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/15/09

• Stupid: People who don't support Obama are racists, liberal Catholic claims
• Politics: What is the USCCB doing on Health Care?
• Action: Catholic Church steps up defense of traditional marriage in Maine
• Recap: What I'm reading today in Catholic issues and Politics
• Report: AmP pictured, called, and written-up

Sometimes you have to tape over your son's little league game.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/13/09

And you thought the music at your Mass was annoying.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/09/09

AmP topics:

• Important: Pro-Environmentalist and Pro-Contraception forces finally join hands
• Announcement: AmP coming to Colorado in October!
• Papist Quote of the Day: National Catholic Reporter
  
• Irony: Notre Dame ralies alumni to "Fight for the lives of Children"
  
• Open thread: "On Satisfying the Requirements for a Catholic Funeral"

Season ticket holders get the best seats for Papal Masses.

[Photo: Reuters]

Photo Caption Call - 09/08/09

(I've bumped this post farther up so more folks can enter a caption!)

{Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Barcelona, Spain}

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

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo: Unicorns Are Magical]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/02/09

• Text: Letter from US Legion Territorial Directors to members 
  
• Event: I'll be in Orlando for the Catholic Leadership Conference from Sep. 10th-11th
• List: 13 Bishops against Obamacare
• Parish life: From Archbishop Dolan, 4 tips for fostering vocations

"Knock-knock."

"Who's there?"

"Orange."

"Orange who?"

"Orange you glad you get to see the pope?!"

(Sorry folks, I've got nothing. It's time for the pope to come back to Rome!)

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 09/01/09

• Important: In DC, Archbishop Wuerl gets off the same-sex marriage fence 
• Open topic: Bishop Joseph Martino resigns 
  
• Prayer: Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for September 
• Politics: Obama using faith-based office to politicize religion
  
• Video: The most awesome Ordination video you'll ever see 
  

This is the closest you'll ever see the pope to liturgical dancing.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist PIcture of the Day - 08/26/09

"Whoa! If I wasn't the pope I'd say I couldn't believe my eyes!"

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 8/25/09

New technology allows you to see reality the way a papist does. ;-)

[Photo: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/24/09

In the early-morning rush to see the pope, guess who grabbed the wrong handbag.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Map: Where The Sinners Are

These maps are tongue-in-cheek, and I found them amusing:

Geographers from Kansas State University map the spatial distribution of the seven deadly sins in the United States. These types of maps are always kind of iffy as they draw from data from various sources gathered with different methods and usually use some kind of researcher-defined metric. Still interesting though... right?

Red equals more sinful and blue equals less sinful. Democrat progaganda, I wonder? ;-)

The Catholic News Service, that venerable organization, actually wrote an article on this.

The areas of higher-sin-per-capita make perfect sense to me. Hollywood is in Los Angelas, Materialism is in New York, Liberals are in Seattle, gay parades are in San Francisco, Protestants are in the South, and hockey is in Michigan! :-P

Where is your favorite sin?

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/20/09

• Video: Tell Harry Reid to Vote Pro-Life
  
• Huh? Regnum Christi releases CD promoting RC vocations
  
• Politics: Lies, and the Obama who tells them, and the Faux Catholics who let him
• Shock: Kourtney Kardashian decides to Keep her Kid
• Must-see Video: Stop the Abortion Mandate
  

Choiring to the preacher.

[Photo: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/19/09

Least involved papal meeting in history.

[Photo: Reuters]

Photo Caption Call - 08/18/09

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

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo: St. Joe Kid]

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/17/09

Today/yesterday's topics:

• Study: Young Nuns and Priests are more traditional
  
• Request: Pray for Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville

When in Rome....

[Photo: Reuters]

Photo Caption Call - 8/14/09

Today/yesterday's topics:

• Duh: PP President Cecile Richards in cozy with Obama 
  
• Offbeat: Mall-Church hears confessions of shopaholics?
  
• Video: Missouri Nuns Chase Down Armed Robber on Foot
  
• Notice: Advertise on AmP!
• Important: Abp. Chaput's advice on nationalized health care
• AP: Catholic basketball coach paid for mistress's abortion
• Video: Papist Dave continues his AmP tour of the USA!

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

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo: St. Louis Youth]

Duh: PP President Cecile Richards in cozy with Obama

Barack and Cecile sitting in a tree, P-L-O-T-T-I-N-G. Seriously!

Barack and Cecile, you see, are buddies - they are, like, total BFFs (that means Best Friends Forever, if you're over 30).

Barack Obama is the President of the United States, and Cecile Richards is the president of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States. So they have a lot in common. They're both really important. Barack likes Cecile so much he puts his arm around her, which he doesn't do for many people. Cecile likes Barack and gets to wear his cute baby-doll rhinestone "Obama" t-shirts.

Barack invites Cecile over to the White House a lot. Like, more than once. They pretty much get to hang out and stuff all the time. It's kind of sick how much fun they get to have.

Cecile even gets to twitter little things like this afterwards:

"Just left the White House meeting on women's health care - they appreciate all the might(y) pp [planned parenthood] supporters speaking up for reform in the states!"

Cecile and Barack are cool like that. He really appreciates her. She said so. They both really want health care reform. They're really smart. I'm pretty sure Cecile is on Barack's Fave Five.

Cecile gets to heart Obama on Facebook, telling all her friends important stuff like this:

"Women need affordable health care that covers OUR needs ... Geez, we represent more than half the population here!"

Yeah Cecile, like duh.

Some folks totally make stuff up about them, like, that Cecile and Barack are such good friends because they do business together. Like how Planned Parenthood and all their supporters gave lots of cash to Obama and campaigned for him and stuff, and how he's all, like, giving them lots of money to Planned Parenthood whenever he can now that he won and gets to be a President, too.

But, I mean, can't friends help each other out?

Oh, and most the people who say that kind of stuff are just crazy pro-lifers who are jealous they aren't Barack's friends. Well - *news flash*, people - Barack can pick his own friends, and he decided to pick Cecile. So deal. Maybe if you tried changing and were cooler you could be his friend, too. So hey, try working on that. Okay bye.

(Oh those photos at the top? Yeeaah ... I didn't take them. Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood did. My bad!)

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/12/09

The pope's version of channel surfing.

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/10/09

"Little help? Someone toss me a water up here!"

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/07/09

• Weird: Controversial Doll Lets Little Girls Pretend to Breast-Feed
  
• Cool: Swiss seek Pope's blessing to stop glacier melting
  
• Politics: Why are Catholic organizations supporting Obamacare? Follow the money. 
  

For strong stains, use Oxiclean. For strong sins, use Popebeclean.

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 08/05/09

• News: What *not* to learn from the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh
• Politics: AP claims government insurance "would allow coverage for abortion"
• Papist Pic: Hulk Hogan wears rosary at divorce hearings
• Video: Cardinal Fail

-Papist Game Show-

"And for your penance I see you've chosen option #3: What's in this box!"

[source: Reuters]

Video: Cardinal Fail

Cardinals aren't infallible. ;-)

Papist Picture of the Day 8/4/09

Popes don't pull off disguises very well.

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day 8/3/09

Go to confession in August and receive a limited-edition huggable plush toy!

[source: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day 8/1/09

"Live long and prosper."

[source: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day 7/31/09

"Your Holiness, do you know a good prayer for escaping quicksand?"

[source: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day 7/30/09

After the pope's fall, the Vatican decided to add some precautionary steps to his bedtime routine.

[source: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day 7/28/09

Clearly the photographer was more interested in the right side of the shot.

[source: AP Photo]

Pope: "My own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders"

Pope Benedict reflected today on the lessons he could learn from his recent tumble - and about the agency of his guardian angel. 

It's not hard to imagine the grin on his face that must have accompanied these words:

Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that his "guardian angel" let him down when he fell and broke his wrist earlier this month, but that the angel was clearly acting "on superior orders."

The pope thanked law enforcement officials for being "like angels," as he prepared to depart Les Combes, the Alpine resort where he tripped and injured his wrist 10 days ago while on vacation.

"Unfortunately, my own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders," Benedict said.

"Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation," the pope added.

Benedict leaves Les Combes, near the French border, later Wednesday to spend the rest of the summer in Castel Gandolfo, a papal retreat near Rome. (AP)

We should keep the pope in our close prayers. It's no fun to have a sprained wrist at 82.

Photo Caption Call - 7/28/09

• Commentary: Lessons to be learned from a woman who sailed the "abortion boat"
  
• Brilliant Video - Overpopulation: The Making of a Myth 
  
• Hope: In Boston, billboards announce the return of perpetual adoration
• Controversy: Priest at center of Medjugorje laicized by Holy See
• New bishop: Msgr, Luis Zarama named first Aux. Bishop of Atlanta in fifty years
• In the crosshairs: Let's defeat the DeLauro-Ryan scam bill!
  

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

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo: St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church]

Papist Picture of the Day 7/27/09

• In the crosshairs: Let's defeat the DeLauro-Ryan scam bill!
• Action: Support 'Aid the Church in Need'
  
• Commentary: Prof. Kaveny needs a re-write on Pope and President
• Outrageous: NY hospital tried to force nurse to help with late-term abortion

Benedict meets Innocent.

[source: AP Photo]

Video: Colbert on WristStrong for the Pope

Video via Comedy Central, commentary via US Catholic:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Pope Wrist Watch
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Mark Sanford

Oh, Stephen.

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/24/09

• Catholic Common Ground: Reject the DeLauro-Ryan bill
• Friday offbeat video: Liturgical Dance Wedding 
  
• Friday offbeat: Church of England offers 2-for-1 sacraments
  
• Urgent: A chance to defund Planned Parenthood
  
• Open thread: Friday Job Exchange 
  

"Hopefully we can avoid the Google Earth fly-over here!"

[source: AP Photo]

Friday offbeat video: Liturgical Dance Wedding

I guess traditions are different in Minnesota.

Photo Caption Call - 7/23/09

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

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo: Fiji World News.]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/22/09

• Outrageous: Obama on federal funding for abortion: "Let's not get distracted"
  
• Picture: Sotomayor photoshopped into Guadalupe Image
  
• Offbeat: Canon Law and Lunar Landings
• Life: GE says "Who needs Lab rats? We have human stem cells!"
• Cool: Year for Priest T-Shirts!

"Be berry, berry, quiet - I'm taking pictures of the pope! ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/21/09

• Urgent: Abortion in Obama's Government Health Care Plan
• New on APP: Bioethics, Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage & Sotomayor
  
• Commentary: Abortion "common ground" = Dissent from Church teaching
• Breaking: Ave Maria University dismisses Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ ... again (letter included) 

Papist Realty: Offering Firm Foundations since 33 A.D.

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/20/09

The Papist Mount Rushmore is a bit more humble.

[source: Reuters]

Offbeat: Why Catholics need to eat fish on Friday - because they are trying to eat us.

For generations, fish knew their rightful place in God's creation because faithful Catholics observed the tradition of eating them en masse every Friday.

Sure, the idea was to offer up the pleasures of eating meat as a penance one day out of the week, but frankly, those faithful Catholics still ate mammals six days out of the week. 

So really, there could be no doubt in those tasty farmyard minds about who was the boss. I mean, have you ever witnessed a cow or pig try to attack someone? Of course not! Except maybe that one time (on a Friday - surprise, surprise).

Anyway, fast-forward to 40 or so years after Vatican II, and it's clear that fish have forgotten our deal. The new generation of fishes, in fact, are now systematically, actively "testing the waters" to see if the time is ripe to have their turn at the top of the food chain.

Luckily, so far their attempts have been unsuccessful. 

This week a 24-foot basking shark washed ashore on Long Island beach. Now of course naysayers will point out that the basking shark is harmless, has no teeth, and feeds primarily on plankton. Well, it also has a mouth big enough to swallow your little sister in one gulp. I'm just saying, I wouldn't let a basking shark into my little sister's swimming pool.

Unfortunate navigation error, or calculated reconnaissance mission?

Earlier this week, on the opposite coast, dozens of Jumbo Humbolt Squid washed up minutes after a 4.0 earthquake hit off the coast of La Jolla, California. 

... sure people, earthquakes, like God never uses those to get a message across!

Before Vatican II, this squid would never have been allowed to grow bigger than sushi-roll size.

The local reporter in the case above was only too eager to leave the story high and dry:

"For now there are more questions than answers; did the earthquake cause the squid to wash up or was it simply a coincidence?"

Sure, give in to the dictatorship of relativism. Don't quit your Friday Lamb Kabob habit. Keep smugly visiting Sea World to watch dozens of eligible dinners wiggle around behind the Plexiglas unharmed and carefree.

Not surprisingly, the most disturbing case of underwater-based aggression to date has occurred in Europe, which is especially guilty of ignoring the admonition of the Church to eat fish on Fridays:

"Police divers have ended the reign of terror of a huge fish that was attacking swimmers in a Swiss lake.

The zander, which was 70 centimetres (two feet three inches) long and weighed eight kilos (17.5 pounds), was harpooned on Sunday after it bit six swimmers over the weekend, fish warden Fabio Croci told local media."

In other words, after biting six swimmers (presumably one each day), the fish rested from its nibbling on the seventh day, and was finally killed on that Sunday. Apparently even Zander fish have standards. So just what does that say about us? If the Zander fish had been eaten on Friday ... some Swiss kid would have kept on to his pinky finger on Saturday.

My recommendation: bring an oven along with you on the boat. It just saves time.

In fairness, I was relieved to find out, upon reading the story of the Zander fish's reign-of-terror more closely, that its delectable remains were "served up to tourists at the lake." As the saying goes, an eaten fish is a happy fish.

After hearing about these examples of modern icthyan aggression, I think it should be very clear to all informed readers why we, as a community and a Church, need to make the serious effort of continuing the venerable tradition of consuming our scaly arch-enemies with reckless abandon every Friday. 

After all, it's supposed to sound like "Fry-Day" for a reason.

If this fish were still alive, it would be asking you to eat it.

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/16/09

"And around the final turn it's Bishop Smith in the lead with Monsignor Ganswein a length behind but oh wait Pope Benedict is pulling ahead on the inside rail!!!"

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/15/09

• Study: Unborn babies can form memories by 30 weeks 
  
• Video: Catholic Vote's 3rd pro-life video
• Open topic: Is Obama's (Catholic) pick for Surgeon General pro-abortion?
  
• Open topic: New Science Czar Once Backed Forced Abortions? 
• Cool: Blessed G. K. Chesterton?
  
• Report: "More Murder by Swiss Euthanasia Group"

You mean you don't take a helicopter when you go on vacation?!

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/14/09

• Noted: Taxdollar-paid abortions are too much for Winters, as they should be 
• Better Idea: Downloadable "Ask a Catholic a Question" Free Handbook 
• Hope: Voice of the Faithful is going broke, with your (lack of) support 
• Important: Is the White House mocking pro-lifers? 
  

Ironically, eHarmony says these four people have a common interest in "the pope".

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/13/09

• Outrageous: Senate Health Care Plan *does* fund abortions with taxpayer dollars  
• Unfortunate: Papist Quote of the Day
• Of Note: Recent topics on APP
• Update: Fr. Berg breaks his silence about the Legion

Honestly, Your Holiness, I don't know what I just gave you, either....

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/11/09

Vatican employees drop their kids off at Swiss Guard summer camp.

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/10/09

• Recap: Obama's meeting with the Pope 
• Video: Friday Offbeat
  
• Canada: Homosexual altar-server sues bishop for dismissal
  
• Update: More on the Canadian Prime Minister/Eucharist controversy
• Commentary: Prepare for the Obama-Benedict meeting spin
• Update: More on this week's motu proprio Ecclesiae Unitatem
• Picture: Obama's gift to Pope Benedict - St. John Neumann's stole
  

None of the proposed nun habits passed papal muster.

[source: Reuters]

Video: Friday Offbeat

For some reason I was worried I'd get through today without finding anything wierd enough to post for Friday Offbeat news day:



Well, I'm relieved.

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/09/09

(wow, I didn't realize I had been so busy over the past day or so....)

• Noted: Barack Obama to meet Pope Benedict at 10AM EST tomorrow 
  
• Available: Kindle formatted version of Caritas in Veritate 
  
• Photo: Criminal stupidity at an abortion clinic 
  
• Noted: White House says Obama, Pope will have "frank" talk on abortion 
  
• Outrageous: Absolutely vile’ advice column tells men how to pressure pregnant women to abort 
  
• Huh? Justice Ginsburg thought Roe was to allow government eugenics 
  
• Open thread: On the Motu Proprio "Ecclesiae Unitatem" 
• Video/commentary: Really, the world needs more contraception?! 
  
• Open thread: Did Pope Benedict really call for a "One-World Government and New World Order"?! 
• Commentary: Kathleen Reeves doesn't want to understand the Church 
• Video: Canadian Prime Minister pockets consecrated host! 
• Commentary: "Rhetorical Strategy and Reality Reduction" 

High-tech surveillance equipment for liturgical abuse!

[source: Japan Probe ... with video]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/8/09

Worst opportunity for an outfit swap ever.

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/7/09

• Cool Graphic: Word Cloud of Caritas in Veritate
  
• Text: Caritas in Veritate on what true humanism looks like
• Text: Caritas in Veritate on the teaching of Humanae Vitae
  
• Text: Caritas in Veritate on 'urgent need of a true world political authority'
  
• Text: Caritas in Veritate on 'Population and Marriage'
  
• Text: Caritas in Veritate on 'Respect for Life'
  
• Full Text: Caritas in Veritate
  

Police monitor the encyclical release party to ensure things don't get out of hand.

[source: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/6/09

"Please, please, no applause - all I did was stand up!"

[source: AP Photo]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/3/09

"No, Harry, I said I wanted pictures of people reflecting, not reflections of people!"

[source: Reuters]

Offbeat Video: The (Hundred!) Saint Song

The same clever chaps behind the Catholic iPhone Apps video had their first "big hit" with "The Saint Song", which names over a hundred saints and is sung to the popular Gilbert and Sullivan tune:

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/2/09

• Breaking: Doug Kmiec appointed ambassador to Malta 
• Update: Obama meets with Catholic reporters 
• On APP: How abortion might be snuck into government health care 
• Outrageous: Offered as "common ground": How a Late-Term Abortion Saved My Life 
• Noteworthy: Obama meets with Catholic press today
• Huh? After six months in DC, the Obama's are still looking for a Church 
• Important: Abp. Chaput, other Legion visitors appointed by Vatican (full details added)

Some kids just never learn how to pay attention in Mass.

[source: Reuters]

Papist Picture of the Day - 7/1/09

Tim the Seminarian took the job of sacristan very seriously.

[source: AP Photo]