Typo: Vatican online document contains "she Creator"

I figure a lazy Friday afternoon is the best time to complain about typos on the Vatican website. Here's one I found in a CDF instruction:

5. Teachings of the Magisterium

... Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves "the creative action of God" (18) and it remains forever in a special relationship with she Creator, who is its sole end.

Obviously, it should read "the Creator", not "she Creator."

Okay, what's your favorite typo on the Vatican website?

Photo: Dogs are more spiritual than Cats

From the "I just can't take this seriously" files:

Survey: "Only 3 in 5 Christian Radio Listeners Tune In for Music"

Well duh, most Christian Radio music isn't that good.

:-P

Report: "Church Cancels Semiautomatic Assault Rifle Giveaway"

From the Christian blogosphere:

Sorry kids, the Windsor Hill Baptist church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA (where else?) won’t be giving away the AR-15 assault rifle it bought for that purpose.
You’ll have to wait till next year:

Church Cancels Semiautomatic Assault Rifle Giveaway

An Oklahoma City church called off plans to give away a semiautomatic assault rifle at a weekend gathering of teenagers, the church’s pastor said.

Plans called for Windsor Hills Baptist to give away the weapon as a way of encouraging attendance at the gathering but plans changed when one the event’s organizers was unable to attend, KOCO 5, Oklahoma City, reported Sunday.

... The gun giveaway has been taken down from the Web site, but Ross said the church will give the gun away next year.

I dislike all "let's trick the kids into coming to Mass/services" ploys like this one. I don't think, however, the concept is quite as innately offensive as the picture which the blog chose to accompany the story.

Fake priest infiltrates St. Peter's, faced "inquisition"

The Associated Press reports:

A fake priest was caught trying to hear confessions in St. Peter's Basilica and was tried by a Vatican tribunal, a Vatican judge said in an interview published Saturday.

Judge Gianluigi Marrone, who is a member of the court system of the independent Vatican city-state, said the man was wearing clerical garb and carried documents alleging that he was a priest.

"Some time ago I had to deal with an unusual case -- a fake priest," Marrone told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.

"He was caught by surprise in the basilica while he was trying to take his place in a confessional. He was wearing clerical garb, but the expert eye of our [basilica] personnel didn't need much to sense something strange in his behavior," Marrone said without elaborating.

The man was stopped and his documents checked, and even though he had what appeared to be legitimate documents, including a Vatican pass, personnel were still suspicious, the judge recalled.

.... Last year, Italian news reports said that for the first time the Vatican court system issued a drug conviction, giving a former employee of the Holy See a four-month suspended sentence for possession of cocaine.

An interesting case, to be sure. And it looks like it was handled well. See? The inquisition has its uses. :-P

Not Your Average ... Superhero?!

Will Smith's summer blockbuster movie "Hancock" is evidently proudly billing its main character as "not your average superhero" (source).

Well, to put down rumors being spread to the contrary, even though I am indeed "not your average Catholic," I have decided not to pursue damages from Columbia pictures for logo infringement.

... yet. :P

Pope Benedict *will* appear on Italian TV

But considering they are having him read the first chapter of the book of Gensis aloud, I wouldn't consider it exactly the best use of his talents:

The pope’s appearance will kick off a six-day RAI telethon in which the entire Bible will be read by various personalities. The series is projected to conclude Oct. 11 with the 21st chapter of the Book of Revelation, to be read by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

... Corriere della Sera, Italy’s main daily newspaper, reported this morning that Benedict XVI has proposed that the broadcast be carried live, from his residence in the Apostolic Palace.

The six-day RAI broadcast, titled “The Bible, Day and Night,” will feature a series of other readers, with most located in Rome’s Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. The readings will be conducted in Italian. (John Allen)

I wonder which translation he will use?

Offbeat: "Group Asks for Divine Intervention to Ease Oil Prices"

It rather defies rational comment:

As the price of oil continues to rise, some are turning to God and prayer for an answer to their financial troubles.

The Pray at the Pump Movement, founded by Rocky Twyman, has been holding prayer vigils at gas stations across the country. On Monday, Twyman decided to take his movement from Exxon and Shell stations straight to the steps of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., hoping to encourage the oil-rich country to raise the amount of barrels they release each day from 200,000 to 1.2 million.

Twyman, who is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, spent the afternoon outside of the embassy praying and asking passersby to sign his petition for the release of more oil, which he hopes to deliver to the Saudi oil minister.

"Our people are really suffering through this crisis," Twyman told Cybercast News Service. "We need the Saudis to release at least 1.2 [million] barrels of oil per day for about the next six months until we can get everything settled in America ... (I)f they can just do that for us, than this will help us get through this crisis." (CNSNews)

Twyman has hosted pray-ins before (here's a photo). At least he has specific demands?

Weather: Season's first hurricane forms in Pacific off Mexico

iiiiiiiiiiiiiit's hurricane season!


Named Boris, it is heading towards Russia.

The latest Reality TV phenomenon? A french seminarian.

Not sure how I feel about this:

The French love of reality programmes encompasses the music talent show Star Academy, match-making for lonely rural farmers and a polite version of Wife Swap - On a echangé nos mamans. But now the French Catholic church has jumped on the bandwagon with a show about priests that has become an internet phenomenon.

The diocese of Besançon in eastern France has launched Prêtre Academy - Priest Academy - to mark its first ordination of a new local priest for three years.

In episodes available online, viewers can watch the new recruit, Franck Ruffiot, 30, demonstrate how he prays, pay a visit to trendy contemporary artist friend and explain his feelings in a diary room. Two slightly older priests, Michel and Christophe, are followed in their daily lives.

The online show began as a marketing drive to reach young people as the church struggles with declining numbers - each year 500 priests retire or die in France while only 100 recruits join the clergy. But the short episodes showing the priests' somewhat mundane local lives have become a kind of light-hearted cult viewing online, with the first two instalments netting more than150,000 hits and the final episode due this week. (UK Guardian)

Purient interest or authentic fascination?

Picture: Schroeder gets Canonized

The Presbyterian response to Catholic's St. Cecilia (patron saint of musicians):

This is an actual stained glass window.

Ph/t: Curt Jester via Stained Glass Buffalo.

I want you .... for priestly service

Okay, I'm waiting for the vocations poster (a la Uncle Sam):

Four weeks into his new job, Fr. John McLaughlin says that that his position as the first national vocations director for the Archdiocese of the Military has so far been “a pleasurable experience.”

“The military personnel have been very welcoming,” he told CNA, adding that he has “met great service people” who are interest in the priesthood.

Early this month, Father McLaughlin, 50, left St. Monica Parish in Methuen, Massachusetts to become the first national vocations director for the Archdiocese of the Military, located in Washington, D.C. The Associated Press reports that in the new position, the priest will travel to bases around the U.S. “speaking to troops about following a commitment to their country with commitment to their religion.” (CNA)

Seriously - make it, and I'll post it.

The pope ... doesn't wear Prada

I'm heartbroken:

The devil may wear Prada -- but the pope does not.

According to the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the bright red loafers that Pope Benedict XVI wears are not designed by the Milanese fashion house, as has long been rumored.

"Obviously the attribution was false," the Vatican newspaper said in its Thursday's editions.

"Such rumors are inconsistent with the simple and somber man who, on the day of his election to the papacy, showed to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and to the whole world the sleeves of a modest black sweater," it said.

....L'Osservatore Romano said the pope's interest in clothes has nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with liturgy -- what symbolism traditional garments can bring to the Christian liturgy. "The pope, therefore, does not wear Prada, but Christ," L'Osservatore said.

Okay, I'll live.

The Double-Take Headline of the Day Award

Goes to....

"Opponents say bullet train threatens famous Spanish basilica"

Some headlines just aren't inteded to be read quickly.

Papist trivia: how old is the world's oldest living bishop?

Answer: 102.

80 of those years have been spent as a priest.

Praise God.

Papist Quote of the Day (iPods)

Newly-installed Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing:

“Their life is centered on iPods, and it's a problem all over the world,” he said.

Looks like he can sling zingers.

Local Bishop claims no responsibility for "balloon priest"

When I reported on the story of a balloon-flying priest earlier in the week, I asked "Which bishop, exactly, approved this leave of absence?!"

Looks like the bishop in question ... is distancing himself from his earlier approval:

Bishop Joao Alves Dos Santos of Paranagua said this week the Church warned Father Adelir de Carli, who disappeared last Sunday, against the dangers of taking a balloon flight.

The 41 year-old priest was hoping to break a balloon flight record in order to raise money for a spiritual rest stop for truck drivers. Although he said he was prepared for the journey, he went missing a few hours after he began his flight and he has still not been found. Rescue efforts by the Brazilian Air Force were suspended on Thursday, but the priest's family is persisting in the search with the help of a rented twin engine plane.

Bishop Dos Santos had joined in the now suspended search effort and said he is praying for the wellbeing of the priest.

According to the bishop, the Church did not encourage Father De Carli to take the flight. “We respected his decision but we advised against the trip because it was dangerous,” he said. (CNA)

Sure, suspending yourself hundreds of feet above the ocean with party balloons. What's not to respect?

Seriously, I hope they find him. But is this sort of thing really the best way to raise money in Brazil?!

Modern Day Babel: Saudi prince plans mile-high skyscraper!

I've said many times before in my coverage of the insane building projects in the middle east that they represent the modern day spirit of babel. This most recent project is therefore no surprise to me:

"Mile-high tower: Saudi prince promises £5bn desert spire TWICE as tall as nearest rival being built"

On a clear day, the view from the top will take in the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Ocean - providing you've a head for heights.

Plans for a mile-high tower in the Saudi Arabian desert have been unveiled by the billionaire owner of London's Savoy Hotel.

At 5,250ft, the ~$10billion project, masterminded by two British engineering consultancies, will be twice as high as its nearest rivals, skyscrapers under construction in Dubai and Kuwait, and almost seven times as high as the Canary Wharf tower in London's Docklands....

.... Experts say the technical challenges are enormous. Much of the lifting will be carried out by helicopters, which will also be used as commuter transport for builders.

The tower will have to be capable of withstanding a wide range of temperatures, with its top baking in the desert sun by day but dropping to well below freezing at night.

To resist the strong winds prevalent in the area and stop it swaying, giving its occupants a form of high-rise seasickness, it will be fitted with a giant computer-operated damper.

(Estimated completion date: 2012. )

Everything new, is old. Nimrod lives.

Preparing for a papal visit isn't all cushioned seats and free samples

Barb Fraze describes the nightmares (literally) that CNS folks are having as they prepare for the papal visit.

I haven't quite reached that stage yet. Then again, there's always tonight.

Don't let the cool exterior of AmP fool you: behind the scenes there are (sometimes) frantic and (always) exciting preparations taking place. An update on those will hopefully get posted over the weekend.

Report: Pope Benedict 'partial to buffalo mozzarella cheese'

Because you had to know:

Pope Benedict XVI is a big fan of buffalo mozzarella cheese, and eats it often reported Italian daily Il Messaggero on Friday.

Pope Benedict XVI reportedly likes simple dishes and often receives buffalo mozzarella cheese as a gift from bishops from the Campania region in southern Italy where the best buffalo mozzarella is produced.

The cheese is given to Benedict's policemen, who later 'discreetly' take the cheese to his apartment, Il Messaggero reported. (AKI)

A picture of the cheese in question:


The article continues:

Recently there have been fears the highly popular mozzarella cheese may have been contaminated by dioxins and other chemicals from illegally dumped toxic waste.

Japan and South Korea have in recent days halted imports of buffalo mozzarella, and there are fears other countries could suspend imports.

That part, sadly, is true.

The AKI story gets silly at this point:

In the supermarket located inside Vatican City, the dairy section is full of mozzarella cheese products from the southern region of Campania.

Reportedly, the cheese is prized among priests and nuns who visit the supermarket everyday to restock convents, institutes and monasteries.

Oh come on, it's cheese. There's nothing to "report" about priests and nuns "prizing" cheese. Normal folks like cheese, too. And it's no surprise that Italians ... like Italian cheese. For that matter, I doubt there is some huge cartel of Italian mafioso cheese merchants paying off "Benedict's policemen" to supply him with black market premium buffalo mozzarella shipments. Goodness.

I guess Il Messaggero - the original source for this "story" - was chagrined that they missed out on the much-touted "Pope Benedict likes Jewish Pizza" report that circulated recently. Their response? "Pope Benedict likes Italian cheese." Tomorrow's report? "Pope Benedict drinks orange juice!"

You watch, it'll happen.

Beliefnet poll: Should women be priest(esses) or deaconesses in the Church?

Beliefnet has a survey running as part of their coverage of the pope's visit.

I decided to take the survey to see what kind of questions they were asking.

I didn't get past this point:

5. What role should women play in the Church? (Select all that apply)

• Priests
• Deaconesses

When I tried to select neither option, I was greeted with this message: "*This question requires an answer."

That ended the survey for me.

Wallpaper: Moses' Modern Red Sea Crossing

(click image for full-size version)

Given the high costs of airfare to Australia, I'm wondering if he could help me out. I could purchase a bicycle.

Ph/t: PhatMass user "KnightofChrist"

Animation: The Ten Plagues of Egypt - for Kids!

The Tzivos Hash and Chabad.org foks have created an animation of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, for kids!

Just to jump ahead to the best part, here's a sample of the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn:

Sorry billy, maybe you should have covered your doorposts with the blood of a lamb after all.

(... and that's one scary double-circle, yellow-lightbeam-shooting Angel of Death, if I do say so.)

Ph/t: PhatMass user "T-Bone_"

Picture: Vector Pope Benedict

Easily the strangest artistic rendering of Pope Benedict I've come across.


And considering the random nature of the internet, that's impressive.

P.S. I don't much care for it, but can you imagine seeing this on a highschooler's shirt?

Ph/t: Phatmass user "Ash Wednesday."

50 people lose eyesight after staring at sun for virgin mary apparition

India Daily News & Analysis:

At least 50 people in Kottayam district have reportedly lost their vision after gazing at the sun looking for an image of Virgin Mary.

Though alarmed health authorities have installed a signboard to counter the rumour that a solar image of Virgin Mary appeared to the believers, curious onlookers, including foreign travellers, have been thronging the venue of the ‘miracle’.

... Even the churches in the vicinity disowned the miracle during Sunday mass after health officers and doctors approached the clergy. The house in question has been the centre of local rumours for a few months. The hotelier, who has since moved to another house, had claimed that statues of Mother Mary in his house have been crying honey and bleeding oil and perfumes.

Even I know that you aren't supposed to look at the sun unless it's *already* dancing.

... kidding!