Wuerl's Gambit: Claims that Church's social services threatened by DC gay marriage

There is a showdown taking place in Washington DC between the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and the liberal DC City Council over new efforts to redefine marriage in the District.

I have blogged before about Archbishop Wuerl's decision to actively engage the resources of the local Church on this issue.

The Washington Post has coverage today on the latest salvo fired by representatives of the Archdiocese, claiming that if the gay marriage bill is approved, the Catholic Church may be forced to cease providing its numerous social services in the area.

[As an aside - we should be wary of the objectivity of the WaPo's coverage. This is the same publication, after all, that only a couple weeks ago called Catholic attorney general candidate Ken Cuccinelli a "bigot" and an "embarrassment" for his personal views about homosexual acts. Well, Ken still won the election, and the WaPo has yet to apologize.]

Anyway, I'd rather trust what the Archdiocese of DC has said itself about the issue in its press release, which points out that in this situation, it is the DC council that is acting as the aggressor - the council have made changes to the language of the bill which render it even more harmful to the free practice of religious entities in the District:

"... [as the bill is currently written,] religious organizations and individuals are at risk of legal action for refusing to promote and support same-sex marriages in a host of settings where it would compromise their religious beliefs. This includes employee benefits, adoption services and even the use of a church hall for non-wedding events for same-sex married couples. Religious organizations such as Catholic Charities could be denied licenses or certification by the government, denied the right to offer adoption and foster care services, or no longer be able to partner with the city to provide social services for the needy."

“It is our concern that the committee’s narrowing of the religious exemption language will cause the government to discontinue our long partnership with them and open up the agency to litigation and the use of resources to defend our religious beliefs rather than serve the poor,” said Edward Orzechowski, president/CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. Catholic Charities serves 68,000 people in the city each year. The city’s 40 Catholic parishes operate another 93 social service programs to provide crucial services."

The same press release invites folks to visit www.MarriageMattersDC.org for more information.

This threat isn't small potatoes. Though I do not have the time at present to hunt down all the related links and news stories, regular AmP readers will recall that the Catholic Church's social services have been shut down over issues related to gay marriage and adoption legislation (notably in Boston and San Francisco) before. It's a disturbing trend.

I'm also trying to track down parallel stories of religious organizations being forced to shut down their charitable organizations due to harassment for "discrimination" against homosexuals. This sort of thing has happened before but typically it does not receive much mainstream media attention. If you know of cases please send them to me.

update: Get Religion's analysis of the reporting by WaPo is once again a very useful contribution.

update 2: I also recommend reading Chuck Donovan over at Heritage for more context.

Picture: What does this look like to you?

What does this look like to you? It's an advertisement in the Washington DC metro system:

To me, it looks like a monstrance with a consecrated Host inside it.

Now, I have seen another version of this advertisment where the "Host" is actually a reflective material (thus the "picture yourself" tagline). But still, it's a very oddly-shaped "mirror."

And as a Catholic, well, the image if very arresting ... even kind of disconcerting.

[photo: AmP reader WAC]

Newt Gingrich came into the Church over the weekend

I've managed to be pretty discreet about it. Can't say the same for the rest of the Internet.

The UK Daily Beast has a fun slideshow of famous Catholic converts.

I was most surprised by Gary Cooper.

Interview with Dome Designer of the National Shrine

Some news on the home-front, but significant for the Church in America.

See the dome which is empty? The picture doesn't show it well - but it's by far the largest in the church. It is the last and final internal beautification project of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

Local blogger William Newton interviews one of the CUA students competing to design it:

Ryan and his colleague, John-Paul Mikolajczyk, gained national attention for the liturgical furniture they designed, which was used by Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal Mass here in Nationals Stadium last April. Ryan is currently pursuing graduate studies in architecture at Catholic University of America.

Ryan and JP were recently short-listed as one of four entry finalists in a student competition for the conceptual design of the interior of the Trinity Dome of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here in Washington, D.C. Images of their submission appear at the end of this interview. The Shrine, which was named a minor basilica in 1990, is the largest church in the Western Hemisphere. The enormous central Trinity dome remains unfinished on the interior of the church and is the subject of this competition, which will be decided on March 23rd.

[Read the interview and scroll down to the bottom for pictures of their proposal.]

The Dome Competition has its own page on the Catholic University of America website.

[Photo credit: mbell1975]

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.

Unhelpful Washington Times reporting on Maciel

Julia Duin heard about the Maciel scandal, and what was her reaction? To send one of her interns to the Catholic University campus to gather reactions from undergraduates.

What did the intern learn? Absolutely nothing of consequence.

No offense to the CUA kids, but going to them for answers, in my mind, ranks right up there with asking the mailman how he feels about the Postmaster General's winning the lotto.

I mean, sure ... but why?

A legislative threat to the Archdiocese of Washington?

Local blogger William Newton alerts us:

Former Mayor and current City Councilman Marion Barry is known for (and has plead guilty to) many things. Now he appears to be spearheading a movement to go after the Archdiocese of Washington in court. In the interest of supporting our Archdiocese, I supply the following which was forwarded to me[]. Please pray, and do what you can to combat this effort.

I'm looking for some confirmation. Has anyone else heard about this?

update: read the DC Wire to get more of the back story. Note how enemies of the Church cleverly phrase their arguments to mask their intentions. But their aims are obvious: they want to further pilfer Church assets.

update 2: Read this letter to the editor in WaPo from the Arch. of Washington's Chancellor.

Ph/t: Eric Wilson.

Barry Knestout appointed aux. bishop of Washington, DC

News on the local front!

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

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

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

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

One pharmacy says no to birth control ...

... and the world doesn't explode:

A new drug store at a Virginia strip mall is putting its faith in an unconventional business plan: No candy. No sodas. And no birth control. Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy is among at least seven pharmacies across the nation that are refusing as a matter of faith to sell contraceptives of any kind, even if a person has a prescription.

States across the country have been wrestling with the issue of pharmacists who refuse on religious grounds to dispense birth control or morning-after pills, and some have enacted laws requiring drug stores to fill the prescriptions.

In Virginia, though, pharmacists can turn away any prescription for any reason. (AP)

On Tuesday, the little pharmacy that could received a blessing from Arlington bishop Paul Loverde.

Curiouser and Curiouser

Diogenes has a head-scratcher about this Washington Times piece on this book, and its shunning.

Yikes: a "womanpriest" in my own backyard!

Fr. Joe introduces the situation to us:

Given my affection for Dorothy Day, this is a hard post to write. I was always afraid that the radicalism of The Catholic Worker movement might one day target the Church in such a way that it would sever its ties.

It looks like this will happen TONIGHT (September 5, 2008) at 7:30 PM. The so-called Roman Catholic “Womanpriest” Janice Sevre-Duszynska, who recently attempted ordination, will offer her first invalid and illicit Mass at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in Northwest Washington, DC.

... The Archdiocese of Washington contacted members by telephone and in writing, stressing the incompatibility of the event with Catholic teaching and practice. However, they refused to cancel the event although it will probably forfeit their status as an approved Catholic organization.

Here's a picture ...

{update: actually, as a couple people point out, it's actually the red-headed woman:}

More details:

• Janice Sevre-Duszynska was "ordained" on July 31, 2006 in Pittsburgh through "Roman Catholic Womenpriests", the first event of its kind in the United States (source)
• The "RCW" website says she "writes essays, poetry, and plays, rides horses, keeps a lovely English cottage garden..." in addition to being the "co-chair of the Ministry of Irritation of the Women's Ordination Conference, the oldest and largest organization working for ordination of a renewed priestly ministry in the Catholic Church."
• The blog of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House advertises the simulated sacrament
• The MCITL blog decries "the heinous manner in which Dorothy Day's name is being dragged in the mire of disobedience and scandal."

The WDTPRS blog, meanwhile, has a scan of Archbishop Donald Wuerl's notice which lets "priests know that there won’t be a meeting with Christ in an upcoming [womenpriest] 'mass.'"

For myself, I'll be travelling the opposite direction, to a gathering of young Catholic professionals.

Quickly noted: Abp. Wuerl of Washington responds to Pelosi

The shortest and "fuzziest" of the statements released so far.

The closest it gets to confrontation is in the bridge paragraph:

[after saying her statements were" incorrect"] ..."We respect the right of elected officials such as Speaker Pelosi to address matters of public policy that are before them, but the interpretation of Catholic faith has rightfully been entrusted to the Catholic bishops. Given this responsibility to teach, it is important to make this correction for the record."

Besides that, the statement simply quotes the Catechism. Which is really all you need to do, I guess.

I would say from experience that this statement does have a distinct Wuerl flavor to it. You can bet he did the final drafting:

"... the current teaching of the Catholic Church on human life and abortion is the same teaching as it was 2,000 years ago."

That's classic Wuerl, even though that might not be obvious to an outside reader.

As for the statement overall - it's hard for me to complain when the Archdiocese did issue something.

update: Bob Cusack over at The Hill notices:

"A Pelosi spokesman did not immediately comment for this article."

update 2: This article mentions that Abp. Wuerl appeared on Fox News today. Can anyone provide a link to video?

Noted: Bp. Loverde to bless new Arlington highschool

On the local front, from a friend:

Bishop Loverde is blessing our newest high school, Pope John Paul the Great, on Sunday. The principal and some members of the staff are Nashville Dominicans (they also wrote the bioethics curriculum). You can see photos of the school here.

Blessing and Grand Opening

Sunday, August 17, 2 p.m.
Pope John Paul the Great Catholic High School
17700 Dominican Drive
Dumfries, Virginia 22026

Included in the celebration will be the blessing of the school, remarks by students of the first freshman and sophomore classes, a reception, self-guided tours and a chance to meet the faculty and staff.

Of particular interest, from the press release:

The Bioethics program enhances the core accredited college-prep curriculum, which includes rigorous study in the fields of Religion, English, Math, Science, History, World Language, Fine Arts, Business, Technology and Health/Physical Education.

On his recent visit to the U.S., Pope Benedict XVI blessed the school’s tabernacle at the Papal Mass at Nationals Stadium in Washington, DC. This was the only item to be blessed by name at the Papal Mass.

Totally cool.

A maybe minor point regarding communion, jurisdiction, and bishops

First off, I read this headline:

"Archbishop Wuerl says politicians’ support for abortion is wrong"

... and thought to myself "well sure, but that's not what we're discussing here."

Abp. Wuerl's basic argument is that politicians should be denied communion (or not) based on the decision of that individual's home bishop, not the Archbishop of Washington where he is receiving.

I'm wondering if this jurisdictional argument holds any water. It is my (elementary) understanding that a Bishop is responsible not only for the spiritual welfare of his diocese, but also is responsible for the proper administration of the sacraments (and especially the Eucharist).

Remember, according to Church teaching (as I understand it), it is both damaging to the impenitent person to receive Communion in a state of mortal sin and it is a sacrilege of the Most Blessed Sacrament when an unworthy person receives. And while Abp. Wuerl might not be responsible for preventing the former, he is responsible for preventing the latter.

Ergo, he does have a say in the dilemma of publicly pro-abortion politicians receiving communion in DC.

Where am I wrong on this? I'd like to hear your input.

CNA and (Arch. of DC) Director of Communications Susan Gibbs at loggerheads

Here's a story of note, one that is sadly unrelated to it's original topic (or maybe it is related).

Catholic News Agency has been following the story about pro-choice Democrats receiving communion at papal Masses during the pope's visit, and the subsequent response of Cardinal Egan and Archbishop Wuerl.

But read the last paragraph of the published CNA article:

When contacted for additional comment by CNA, Susan Gibbs, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Washington, said that she would not provide a statement. The reasons she gave for not providing a statement were that she doesn't consider CNA worthy of a statement and that she is "not interested" in providing one.

Now of course, as cited above, that's quite a statement for an archdiocesan communications director to make.

But is that the entire story? I think not.

Tom Lang claims to have sent Susan Gibbs an email, and publishes her response:

CNA unfortunately did not share with you the entire story. We have had a number of experiences where CNA has printed erroneous and non-sourced information in the past, which is not consistent with standard journalistic practices.

As I told them when they called (multiple times in one hour, when I was involved with other meetings), until they could account for why false information about the archdiocese (unrelated to politicians) and other concerns were addressed, we could not help them. They actually later told me they recorded our conversation secretly. While I stand by my concerns, the recording actually was illegal and a serious ethics violation under journalistic standards. It is very difficult in today's electronic world for visitors to a website to know whether a site is legitimate and it can be a challenge to verify or correct information. For example, blogs regularly repeat and change information and a lot that is out there is wrong. That misleads people.

The editor is now trying to address some of the issues I raised, but has not fully yet. We continue to work towards a solution.Thank you.

Okay, there's a lot in this response. Let's break it down:

• She claims CNA has "printed erroneous and non-sourced information in the past". Okay, when? Have they done so intentionally, is she claiming?
• Her sentence beginning "As I told them" is a bit of a jumble (I think it's a fragment). Again, what false information has CNA published?
• She's claiming they recorder her call, and that such an action is illegal. Is this this case?
• As for the "difficulties of living in an electronic world", is she claiming that CNA isn't a legitimate site, or people might think it a legitimate site, when it isn't, and in any case, if she's the director of communications, and herself has had a long experience with CNA, how can she claim the question of the website's legitimacy is unclear to her? CNA is not just a blog. And I don't think it's fare to compare it to blogs (which, actually, can often be accurate too).
• She finally claims that CNA is working to address the background issues. That's good to hear. I'm glad she's decided to not press legal charges for the illegal action CNA supposedly took.

My take:

Like most disagreements, there's probably blame on both sides here, I grant that. Could CNA have been too pushy? That's a possibility. Could Susan Gibbs have overreacted? That's also a possibility.

More importantly: was it needlessly provocative for CNA to publish the supposed contempt shown to them by Susan Gibbs? Yes. Does the reply published above (if it is indeed her, and it seems legitimate), reveal Susan Gibbs is rather unfairly treating CNA? Yes.

I'm not trying to take sides here. But I would say that I've been reading CNA closely for years and have never caught them twisting facts or being wilfully negligent in their reporting. But it doesn't surprise me that an issue as volitile as this one might cause tempers to flare where otherwise they haven't before.

But, you know, don't listed to me - I'm just a blogger.

Richard Sipe "outs" retired DC Cardinal McCarrick

It's interesting (surprising?) that Catholic World News would report on this accusation:

Richard Sipe, a former Benedictine priest and psychologist who has commented extensively on the sex-abuse scandal in the US, has accused Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the retired Archbishop of Washington, of recruiting seminarians as sexual partners.

Here is Sipe's statement.

A couple reactions:

• It is doubteful that Sipe would go this far if he did not think he could survive a counter-lawsuit saying that he is guilty of libel for making these claims. By the same token, however, the failure of McCarrick to bring such a lawsuit should not automatically be taken as an admission of guilt on his part.
• I don't know much about Richard Sipe, but it appears he has taken some of his advocacy on behalf of uncovering abusive priests too far. For instance, he thinks clergy celibacy should be repealed.

In posting this story, I'm not trying to take a position on the veracity of Sipe's claims, or the prudence of addressing the situation in the way he chose (publicly). CWNews has already let the story out of the bag.

Archbishop Wuerl to ride with Pope Benedict in Popemobile

Not the most earth-shattering news item, but I found it cool:

Archbishop Wuerl remembers the thrill he felt as a seminarian in Rome in the early 1960s when he gathered with classmates along a road around dawn, to see Pope Paul VI leaving for his historic visit to the Holy Land.

Now, he will get to ride with Pope Benedict in the popemobile in Washington.

"There are still moments when you greet the pope, and you are overcome, because he is Peter," Archbishop Wuerl said in an interview with the Catholic Standard, Washington's archdiocesan newspaper. (CNS)

Which of course, falls in line with what he said to local DC youth at his recent theology on tap appearance, which I videotaped and uploaded to my AmP YouTube channel right here (and here, here, here).

You can see both the Archbishop and Pope Benedict XVI along these DC roads tomorrow. Check it out!

Graphic: Archdiocese of DC's Metro bus ad welcoming the pope

This graphic is now on the sides of metro buses across the district of columbia:

Okay, local papists, here is your mission: get me a picture of the real-life version!

Report: Abp. Donald Wuerl at DC Theology on Tap

Tonight I heard Archbishop of DC Donald Wuerl speak to a local Theology on Tap. The event was very well attended. In fact, I'm sure the fire marshall would not have been pleased. I'm not sure what attracted the audience more - the prospect of hearing their local shepherd speak, the wide selection of beers on tap, or the six tickets to Pope Benedict's Mass in April that they raffled off at the end of the evening. Maybe all three.

The Local Fox News affiliate was on-site rolling film, and also interviewed the Archbishop before his talk. Two ladies sitting next to me were interviewed by a correspondent for the Washington Post. I was interviewed briefly by someone with the Washington Times. I'll be keeping on eye out for their reports, and will link them when they are published.

The talk itself was brief, but very enjoyable. The Archbishop focused on answering the question "Why should we be excited the Pope is coming?" His one-sentence response: "Because he is Peter." Abp. Wuerl also spent a good deal of time answering questions.

I've uploaded a few photos to the AmP Flickr Page.

One question that came up several times was how folks could try to get tickets to see the Pope. It's no secret people have "Papamania" here in DC. I'll be posting an update with recent news on that front later this week.

In the meantime, check out the happy face of one lucky person who secured her ticket to see the Pope in April.

update: Here are the first five minutes of Abp. Wuerl's Theology on Tap speech:

Video 2: Abp. Wuerl answers a question, "Why was Pope Benedict called 'God's Rottweiler' as a Cardinal?"

Two more videos available on the AmP YouTube Channel.

Theology on Tap with Archbishop Donald Wuerl tonight

Last minute notice. I plan on attending:

Theology on Tap with Archbishop Wuerl

This event offers young adults an opportunity to meet new friends and reflect on how Catholicism relates to their unique experiences. The evening begins with a "happy half-hour" at 7:00 p.m. followed by a short reflection on a particular aspect of Catholic life.

On February 19, Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl will speak on the topic, "Who is Peter?" as we prepare for the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of Peter.

[More info here.]

Exclusive: Advance photos and summary of Dominican diaconate ordination

As I mentioned previously, this past Saturday I was able to attend an ordination of seven Dominican friars to the transitional diaconate. The Mass was held in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here in DC, and was celebrated by Archbishop Emeritus of Louisville, Thomas Kelly, O.P.

Here is a picture of the seven newly-ordained deacons (vested in gold).

Here is a photo of the ordination Mass taken by a professional photographer:

And here is a Flickr set of 20 more pictures of the event which capture it well. (Just to be cruel, I'm barely visible in one of the pictures. Props to the first person to spot me, that is, if Where's Waldo? is your idea of fun.)

Anyway, as you can see from the photos, it was a beautiful and reverent celebration.

The first reading was very appropriate considering the fact that there were seven candidates, viz., Acts Chapter 6:1-7, which tells the story of the first seven deacons to be ordained by the apostles in the early church.

My favorite off-the-cuff moment took place after the solemn presentation and election of the candidates. Once Fr. John Langlois, the Student Master of the Dominican House of Studies had read the names of the seven candidates and declared them fit for ordination, and Abp. Kelly had recited the formula acceptance and acknowledgement, he went on to add, "So John, really - are they ready?". Fr. Langois was quick to respond, "Oh yes, they are."

Abp. Kelly went on to say that, having lived in the community of Dominican friars at the Priory of the Immaculate Conception for many months, he would happily vouch personally for each one of the candidates.

And in related news, their new $18M Academic Center and Theological Library is quickly taking shape:

The roof panels have since arrived and are now being fitted to the visible steel lattice work.

update: The Dominican Friars now have another slideshow of images available for viewing.

[photo credit: Kristian Grabosky, All Rights Reserved.]

[photo credit: Dominican Vocations Blog, All Rights Reserved.]

Fr. Hardon Day of Remembrance this Saturday in Detroit

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

Dear Friends,

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

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

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

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

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

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

The PDF flyer is available here: HardonDayofReflectionDec29.

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

Pope Benedict prays for the Cal. Wildfire Sufferers

I don't remember hearing this reported when it was happening, but seen today on the diocese of San Bernardino website:

In correspondence received from the Vatican Thursday afternoon, Pope Benedict XVI offered words of encouragement and prayer for victims of last week's wildfires and for those who fought the fires.

The message, relayed by his Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, reads as follows:

HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE AND DAMAGE TO HOMES AND OTHER PROPERTIES CAUSED BY EXTENSIVE FIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WISHES TO EXPRESS HIS SYMPATHY AND CLOSENESS IN PRAYER TO THOSE AFFECTED. HE ALSO OFFERS HIS PRAYERFUL ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE FIRE-FIGHTERS, RESCUE WORKERS AND ALL INVOLVED IN BRINGING RELIEF AND SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS DISASTER. COMMENDING THE DECEASED TO THE LOVING MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HIS HOLINESS INVOKES UPON THEIR GRIEVING FAMILIES AND ALL THOSE INJURED, ABUNDANT DIVINE GRACES OF STRENGTH AND COMFORT.

Event Alert: Dominican Friars celebrate Vigil of All Saints - And You're Invited!

(click image at left for full-size version)

This Wednesday the Dominican Friars in Washington are hosting their 9th Annual Vigil of All Saints celebration. I heard about this wonderful event last year, long before knowing that I would be attending school with them at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception this year.

Previous years of the Vigil of All Saints have received widespread Catholic media attention (including coverage in the National Catholic Register and Zenit), as well as praise from Catholic blogs (Amy Welborn, GashwingGomes, for instance).

Even more impressive, last year's Vigil of All Saints was featured in PBS's Religion and Ethics television program.

You can still read the text and watch the video of that report at the PBS website.

The eminently media-savvy Dominican Brothers have plenty of excellent material available online from last year's Vigil and beyond:

• This video contains scenes from their most recent vigil.
• This video containes preaching by Br. Anthony Mary Giambrone, O.P. at the '06 Vigil
• Here is the full '05 Vigil homily, preached by Br. Hugh Vincent Dyer, O.P.
• The Dominican Friars have made available their template for the Vigil so that others might emulate it. Benedictine Monks in St. Louis are doing so for local youth [more info here].

Needless to say, expectations are running high for this year's event. They're expecting over 400 folks to attend.

More from their press release [updated]:

Held in the Gothic chapel of the Dominican House of Studies, this evocative service commemorates the eve before the Christian feast of All Saints (attested to by Church Fathers as early as the Fourth century). It is a celebration of all Christian saints, known and unknown, and is the original source for what has become Hallow'een.

The evening will begin with readings from the lives of the saints and a homily by Br. Ignatius Schweitzer, O.P. Following this, the Dominican friars will lead the singing of the ancient liturgy of Compline, the night prayer of the Church. The service will conclude at approximately 8:30 p.m. with a candle-lit procession to the friars' reliquary while a litany is sung in honor of the saints. Following the vigil, the friars will host a reception in their monastic "refectory" or dining room.

The current Vigil was brought to Washington by a group of young Dominicans in 1998. It immediately began to draw large numbers of college-aged and young adult Catholics, and has become the most popular event of the year at the Dominican House.

I am looking forward to being there, and would urge those in the DC area to attend if they are able!

Pope Benedict to visit Eastern U.S. cities in April '08?

A notable upswing in cardinal-and-archbishop sightings during the last couple weeks here in DC set off rumors that something big was brewing. New to the scene myself, I shrugged my shoulders and figured that this state of affairs was average for the Nation's capital.

Disconnected as it may have been, Rocco reports that plans for a Papal visit to the Eastern seaboard were disseminated and discussed by the heirarchy during that time frame. (Quelle surprise, yes?) The highlights of Rocco's report:

The tentative dates of the visit would be April 15th-20th (Tuesday-to-Sunday).

Appearances in New York: a speech before the United Nations, Mass at Central Park, address and prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a moment of reflection at Ground Zero.

Appearances in Boston: Sunday Mass on Boston Common and a meeting with the bishops of New England.

Appearances in Washington DC: Pope Benedict is reportedly eager to see the campus of CUA, he would also meet with President Bush, and probably celebrate Mass at the National Mall.

A visit to Baltimore might be added.

And, parting with tradition, the Pontiff will be visiting in an election year, right near the time when the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates should have just emerged. (Cue the fireworks.)

... well now, it seems I have to go block out a certain week in April on my calendar...

More as I find it.

Update: On Friday, CNS speculated: "Vatican officials say the pope also expects to visit the United Nations and New York in 2008, and April now looks like a likely time frame. He could easily add one or two other eastern U.S. cities, such as Philadelphia or Boston, to that itinerary."

Update 2: In fairness to my readers, I should note that this report is unsubstantiated at this point and has not been confirmed by any official source. Expect, at the very least, many of the venues and planned activities mentioned in this post to change. From what I'm hearing, the projected dates and major cities look fairly certain, but anything beyond that hasn't passed into anything resembling a consensus.

Update 3: CNA reports on the rumors here (and it appears to simply relate Rocco's details).

Obviously, in a situation like this the various involved dioceses and planning committees don't want to jump the gun and release details that have not yet been confirmed. Cities and other destinations at one time on the list would feel slighted if taken off during a later stage of planning, etc. Plus, there's a massive amount of logistics collaboration that has to go on with state and local officials (security, etc). Having the details of a visit available to the public won't help those proceedings move smoothly along in the least. So, everyone, stay patient and tuned.

There's plenty of time to book tickets.

Trouble on the homefront: CUA & Georgetown

Two stories, sadly, taking place in my backyard.

First, John Kerry has been invited to speak at the Catholic University of America:

LifeSiteNews:

Pro-Abortion John Kerry to Speak at Catholic University of America: Invitation violates principle unanimously agreed upon by US Bishops in 2004

WASHINGTON, September 10, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Catholic University of America (CUA) has invited former presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry to speak on environmentalism and the Iraq war this semester, despite initial opposition by the office of University Center, Student Programs and Events (UCSPE).

The Tower, the campus paper of Catholic University, said the UCSPE had initially objected to Kerry's appearance, saying there is an "unwritten" campus rule banning political candidates during an election year.

Kerry, who still receives Communion regularly, has a 100 per cent pro-abortion voting record according to NARAL Pro-Choice America. During the 2004 presidential debates, Kerry claimed that he was "personally against abortion", but would not "take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith."

[Related: U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference Says Pro-Abortion Politicians Should be Shunned - LSN]

Carl Olson has commentary at InsightScoop.

TheTower (CUA's newspaper) reports:

Former presidential candidate John Kerry will speak on campus this semester despite initial opposition by the office of University Center, Student Programs and Events (UCSPE).

The College Democrats will host the Massachusetts senator, who has been approved to speak specifically on environmental concerns and the Iraq war.

UCSPE initially rejected the College Democrats' request in early August, according to junior Mark Arnone, chairman of the College Democrats. Bill Jonas, the director of UCSPE, sent an e-mail to Arnone as well as Michael Nardi, chairman of the College Republicans, highlighting an unwritten University policy banning candidates from campus during an election year.

... Patrick Reilly, the founder of the Cardinal Newman Society which is dedicated to the renewal of Catholic identity in Catholic higher education in the United States, learned about Kerry's scheduled appearance in a phone call with a reporter yesterday.

"This is wrong on so many levels," said Reilly. "For a Catholic university that accepts Catholic moral teachings as truth to invite or to host an active political candidate who intends to uphold and possibly expand the incidents of abortion in the United States is entirely contrary to its Catholic morals."

... When contacted yesterday, Kerry's senate office said that his speech had not been finalized and an exact date for his appearance had not been set, and deferred comment to a later date.

TheTower article, laudably, is very critical of Kerry and disapproves of his invitation. You have to think that Kerry is accepting the invitation out of spite. The College Democrats at CUA, I believe, are a small segment of the campus. Is he rubbing his status in our face? It seems so.

Second, across town, news that the Vatican & U.S Bishops are investigating a Georgetown professor:

John Allen:

Both the Vatican and the U.S. bishops are investigating a book by a prominent American Catholic theologian, Vietnam-born Fr. Peter Phan of Georgetown University.

The book raises issues about the uniqueness of Christ and the church, issues that were also behind recent censures of other high-profile theologians, as well as a recent Vatican declaration that the fullness of the Christian church resides in Catholicism alone.

The case confirms that no subject is of greater doctrinal concern for church authorities, including Pope Benedict XVI, than what they see as “religious relativism,” meaning the impression that Christ is analogous to other religious figures such as the Buddha, or that Christianity is one valid spiritual path among others.

Critics of writers such as Phan, who offer a positive theological evaluation of non-Christian religions, assert that their work courts confusion on these points, while others believe church authorities are drawing the borders of theological discussion too narrowly.

Phan, a priest of the Dallas diocese, is a former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America. The book in question is Phan’s 2004 Being Religious Interreligiously, published by Orbis.

This should all sound oddly-familiar to CUA. (*cough* Charlie Curran *cough.*)

Sherry W at Intentional Disciples reacts:

My initial concern with Phan's work was staggeringly bad history and worse statistics. Phan's ahistorical reading of contemporary Christian missions systemically ignored massively documented realities like the explosive growth of Christianity in the third world which a casual reader could uncover with a 60 second Google search.

I knew that it was almost certainly theology that was driving this strange obtuseness on Phan's part because "missionary failure" would enable him to portray his theological positions as "realism" - the stoic acceptance of the fact that Asians had voted with their feet and rejected Christianity en masse - rather than an ideology that he was asserting in the teeth of overwhelming evidence that Asia (especially China) is on the verge of becoming one of the evangelizing dynamos of the Christian world.

So I'm relieved that serious questions are being raised at the highest level about the theological issues behind the lousy missiology.

The mainstream media is hot on the story. Associated Press:

The U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine has traded correspondence with Phan since July 2005 seeking clarification on his writings, said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"There was not complete satisfaction with his response, which is why the dialogue continues," Walsh said. She did not go into further detail.
Phan declined comment Wednesday.

Mind-bogglingly stupid quotation:

The issues underpinning Phan’s case are causing great debate among Catholic theologians grappling with how Catholicism relates to other faiths outside a European context, said Terrence Tilley, chairman of the theology department at Fordham University and president-elect of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

"To come to judgment as the Vatican seems to be doing so quickly, before theologians have had time to work out and critique the positions ... it’s just premature," Tilley said. "It’s in a sense cutting off debate before the debate’s started."

You have to be kidding me. The debate concerning the nature of the Church has been going strong for, oh, about 1,900 years. Easy. How can Terrence Tilley expect to get away with such a claim?

Hmm, let's think about this. Terrency Tilley, "president-elect of the Catholic Theological Society of America" ... Peter Phan former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

There, now it's beginning to make sense.

More news from the front as it emerges....

Bishop Mengeling surprises many by performing Lansing ordination

I just returned from the Ordination Mass of Rev. John Linden. Most notable among the day's events was the attendance of our Bishop of Lansing, Carl Mengeling, who had previously cancelled performing the ordination because of his recent bout with cancer [I've been covering that story here].

Mengeling's decision to attend the ordination was last-minute enough that the programs still thanked Bishop Murray of Kalamazoo (who had been asked to preside in Mengeling's absence) for consenting. Incidentally, Bishop Murry is also past his retirement age. Bishop Mengeling had already missed the ordination of a permanent deacon for the diocese of Lansing in May, and it was with great joy that the Lansing presbyterate and faithful welcomed their Bishop back to his chair.

Father Linden, during his post-ordination comments, was clearly moved by the heroic effort of his Bishop, saying that if he needed an example of priestly ministry poured out "to the last drop" for his flock, he needed to look no farther than the presider's chair.

Bishop Mengeling mentioned his illness and recovery during the homily, saying that the Lord had "granted him more time for conversion." The diocese of Lansing website states that his recuperation "... is considered exceptional and almost miraculous by medical standards, given the type of cancer he had." All this, and he just celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood [read an interview here.] He spoke of his willingness to continue ministering as Bishop of Lansing for the "weeks or months" before Rome relieves him.

The moderator of the Lansing Curia, Rev. Msgr. Michael Murphy, took the microphone after the celebration to voice the thoughts of the congregation: "It's good to have our shepherd back."

As for the man being ordained, I knew Father Linden briefly while he was at Sacred Heart and have great confidence in his ability to be an excellent priest for Christ and his Church.

More good things are on the horizon for the diocese of Lansing. Bishop Mengeling also mentioned during his comments that - while Pope Benedict reminds us that God does not speak through statistics - the diocese of Lansing can still boast 14 new men entering seminary this fall.

Now that's an encouraging statistic, and maybe even an instance of God speaking to his Church.

A solo ordination, but a proud one for Detroit this year

Rocco takes a look (scroll down) at the single priestly ordination of the year that the Archdiocese of Detroit recently celebrated.

I personally know this young man, Anthony Camilleri, and I have high hopes for his ministry.

Some praise echoed in the Detroit Free Press:

Despite the situation, everyone at the cathedral seemed to have enthusiastic praise for Camilleri, who has been assigned to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion.

"He's got such energy and compassion for people," said Julie Owens, who taught Camilleri in the early 1990s when he was a student at St. Mary's high school in Orchard Lake.

Owens was so eager to express her praise to her former student that she scurried out of the mass fast enough to be first in a line of hundreds who greeted Camilleri in a sometimes rainy outdoor reception.

Camilleri, 30, grew up in Farmington and says he felt called to ministry while working on a bachelor of science degree in health and fitness at Central Michigan University. He switched career goals and spent nearly eight years in programs at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

Camilleri added a personal touch with a salute to his father, Anthony Camilleri. As the mass ended, the new priest had an opportunity to address the crowd -- and quickly focused on his father in the front row.

Describing how his father always carried a rosary and made no secret of reciting a daily cycle of prayers, Camilleri told his father, "You taught me that praying is something that a man can do and should do."

[the article ends with the obligatory mention of a small group of pro-women's ordination protestors and some quotations from them.]

An introduction to Assumption Grotto parish

A very good friend of mine, Jay McNally, has recently written an introduction to a very famous local parish here in southeast Michigan - Assumption Grotto.

Diane at the Te Deum blog has excerpts and links to the content, as well as some original photography.

Also, through this roundup post (links at the end), you can find Diane's excellent coverage of the 2007 Call to Holiness Conference, which I was able to attend for a short while.