Fr. Z's Blog | Catholic commentary by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Feingold (D-WI): Hillary Might Issue Executive Order on Guns

Posted on 13 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Both the up-ticket and down-ticket races this election are important. For me, an overriding issue is appointments to the SCOTUS and judiciary. Next, and related to it, is to halt the erosion of our civil rights. One of the rights that protects the other rights, along with freedom of speech, religion and assembly, is the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms. This right checks tyranny. The first thing that oppressive regimes do is curtail freedom of speech and assembly and religion. And they confiscate firearms.

I saw this interesting story about a candidate in the state in which I will vote in November.

From Free Beacon (which originally caught my eye because I thought it said “free bacon”:

Feingold: Hillary Might Issue Executive Order on Guns

Russ Feingold, the former Democratic senator from Wisconsin who is running again in an attempt to win back his old Senate seat, was recorded at a fundraiser saying that Hillary Clinton might issue an executive order on guns.

The video was captured by James O’ Keefe’s Project Veritas at an Aug. 17, $2,700 per-head fundraiser held at the Palo-Alto, Calif., home of Democratic donors Amy Rao and Harry Plant. Palo-Alto is located 10 minutes away from Stanford University, where Feingold taught after leaving his position as a special envoy at the U.S. State Department.

Feingold can be heard in the video discussing what Hillary Clinton could do in relation to guns if she were to be elected president.

“If there’s still Republican control in Congress, and if Hillary is elected, is there anything she can do to uhh…,” a person asks Feingold within the video. “Well, there might be an executive order,” Feingold responds.

“Oh, so she can, I know that Bara…” the questioner counters. Feingold then talks of President Obama’s executive orders throughout his two terms.

“He did some executive orders with the aspects of waiting oeriods. But what we all need is the Senate, have her there, and then put pressure on the House. And we might win the House,” Feingold says.

[…]

Posted in Going Ballistic, Pò sì jiù, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged 2nd amendment, confiscation, Feingold, guns, US Constitution
22 Comments

An Archbishop speaks: “What should Catholics do when we vote in November?”

Posted on 13 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

When Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver was a medical student, he had a couple harrowing run ins with abortion. He reflects on these dreadful experiences and applies them to how to choose how to vote in the presidential election. HERE

Read the whole thing, but here is the end part for those with little time or patience. BTW… he is saying nothing particularly complicated. Every Catholic ought to know this and then ACT ON IT. Staying home is NOT an option this time.

Excerpt:

With this background, the Archbishop addresses the 2016 presidential election in the following terms. ‘Both candidates are very poor, have little credibility and have made comments that have ruffled my feathers,’ he begins. ‘The American people are fed up with politicians and the ruling class of both parties. This being so, what should Catholics do when we vote in November?‘

The Democratic party platform demonstrates a ideological commitment to abortion, which must be opposed, the Archbishop points out. Democrats have declared their intention to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funding of domestic abortions, and the Helms Amendment, which restricts federal funding of abortions overseas. He also points out the connection to religious liberty, using as an example the long-standing battle between the U.S. government and the Little Sisters of the Poor to force the religious order’s compliance with the Affordable Care Act’s abortion and contraceptive provisions.

In contrast, the Republican Party platform supports the Hyde Amendment and, just this year, has strengthened its defense of life, calling for the suspension of funding for Planned Parenthood, prohibiting abortion by dismemberment and opposing assisted suicide. ‘The right to life is the most important and fundamental right because life is necessary for any other right or issue. Other issues can be discussed legitimately among Christians – such as what policies are most effective in care for the poor – but every follower of Christ must oppose at all times the inflicted direct killing of an innocent human being,’ the Archbishop states.

UPDATE:

See the comments of Archbp. Chaput about the Dems who work to subvert the Church. HERE

Posted in Emanations from Penumbras | Tagged Archbp. Samuel Aquila, vote
99 Comments

Rome Day 3-4: sculpture and spies

Posted on 12 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ve been struggling with moving photos around and with wifi, so posting is a little tricky at the moment.

Anyway, some shots.

A wide angle view of our lunch spot from yesterday.

I had rabbit for my second, but here’s my first. Chestnut ravioli with sausage, porcini, and truffle.

The wine list for the reds was like a telephone book.

Off to the Borghese Gallery, which I hadn’t visited for while.

My favorite Caravaggio is here.

Clicking could give you a larger version.

I have spent a lot of time in front of this painting on and off over the years and it remains an enigma. The biblical references are obvious.

It seems as if this is moment in which a mother is teaching a son how to do something. Note the angle of her head. Very human, every day. Think about how parents teach children to dance, with their feet upon their own.

However, there is nothing hesitant or inexpert about what the little Christ is doing.

Note how He pushes of with His right leg.

Note the powerful gesture of his hand with the crooked finger that is mirrored in the final curl of the snake’s death-throe.

Note His look of focused disgust.

This is not Mother showing Child how it is done. This is, “When the time comes, Mother, this is how to do it!”, and He presses her foot down on the Enemy.

And then let’s see Bernini make a girl turning into a tree out of marble turning into a tree. It’s astonishing.

Later we had a rousing supper involving even wine and some laughing.

Today, began with sewing (buttons on a cassock and repair of a “loop”).

Later, lunch with friends and catching up on some insider stuff going on around the place. Tonight, more friends, more supper, more wine. There may be cigars involved.

UPDATE:

As I said…

Posted in The Feeder Feed, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged Caravaggio
14 Comments

The Anti-Catholicism of the Clinton Campaign

Posted on 12 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I can’t stand these people.

From the UK’s best Catholic weekly:

Clinton campaign chief helped start Catholic organisations to create ‘revolution’ in the Church

John Podesta said: ‘We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good’ to help change the Church

Hillary Clinton’s campaign chief helped to create campaign groups to press for a “revolution” in the Catholic Church, according to leaked emails.

John Podesta, head of Clinton’s campaign, says he helped to found two Catholic organisations to press for change in the Church.

In emails from 2011 released by Wikileaks, Podesta responds to an email from Barack Obama’s friend and former boss, Sandy Newman, about an “opening for a Catholic Spring”. [Like an Arab Spring?]

Newman suggests that “Catholics themselves demand the end of a middle ages dictatorship and the beginning of a little democracy and respect for gender equality in the Catholic Church.” Newman refers to this as planting the “seeds of a revolution”. [Sounds like Mao Thought.]

Podesta replies: “We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this. But I think it lacks the leadership to do so now. Likewise Catholics United. Like most Spring movements, I think this one will have to be bottom up.”

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (CACG) was founded by Tom Periello in 2005. Its chairman is Fred Rotondaro. Both Rotondaro and Periello are senior fellows at the Centre for American Progress, founded by Podesta.

Rotondaro has called for the ordination of women, saying: “I have never seen any rational reason why a woman could not be a priest.” In the same article he says that “Gay sex comes from God”, and asks whether “any practicing Catholic under age 80” agrees with the Church’s teaching on contraception.

Critics have described CACG as a “Trojan Horse” for those who would undermine Church teaching. But its connections to senior figures in the Democrat party, and its intent to change the Church, have not previously been so clear.

Catholics United was also founded in 2005, by Democrat activists Chris Korzen and James Salt.

Catholics United has condemned bishops who deny Communion to politicians who support legal abortion. It describes this as “a shameful attempt to use the Catholic sacrament of Communion as a political weapon”.

Catholic writer Thomas Peters tweeted that the revelations showed CACG and other organisations were engaged in “deception” and that its howed Podesta himself had “a very active role”.

Read the rest there… and get really mad. Then tell all your friends.

_____

If someone could figure out how to put the corpse of Millard Fillmore on the ticket, I would vote for it if that meant keeping Hillary Clinton out of the White House. Keep in mind that Fillmore was also a No Nothing.

Also, for me, an overriding issue is Supreme Court Justices.

From Creative Minority Report:

Clinton Campaign’s Anti-Catholic Emails

So yeah, the Clinton campaign picked Tim Kaine as the vice presidential nominee but a recently leaked email displays the animus and disdain which the campaign views conservative Catholics.

WikiLeaks released an email chain that included Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, Clinton campaign communications director Jen Palmieri, and Center for American Progress fellow John Halpin.

Halpin wrote:

Ken Auletta’s latest piece on Murdoch in the New Yorker starts off with the aside that both Murdoch and Robert Thompson, managing editor of the WSJ, are raising their kids Catholic. Friggin’ Murdoch baptized his kids in Jordan where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

Many of the most powerful elements of the conservative movement are all Catholic (many converts) from the SC and think tanks to the media and social groups.

Halpin also says of conservatism among Catholics:

It’s an amazing bastardization of the faith. They must be attracted to the systematic thought and severely backwards gender relations and must be totally unaware of Christian democracy.

Palmieri reportedly said that Catholicism is “the most socially acceptable politically conservative religion” and adds “Their rich friends wouldn’t understand if they became evangelicals.”

Podesta then chimes in saying,

Excellent point. They can throw around “Thomistic” thought and “subsidiarity” and sound sophisticated because no one knows what the hell they’re talking about.

Yup. This is disgusting but it is how the Clinton campaign views Catholicism. And if you’re hoping the media will cover this in the way it deserves, think again. I’d bet it’ll hardly get a mention on MSM.

UPDATE:

See the comments of Archbp. Chaput about the Dems who work to subvert the Church. HERE

Posted in The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged anti-catholic, Hilary Clinton, SCOTUS
126 Comments

Reginald Foster’s 1st Latin book FINALLY out!

Posted on 12 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Nota bene, all you former Reggie students.

At long last… after many delays… Fr. Reginald Foster’s Latin book is printed, released and shipping on 18 October! I’ve added it to my list.

Ossa Latinitatis Sola ad Mentem Reginaldi Rationemque: The Mere Bones of Latin According to the Thought and System of Reginald by Reginaldus Thomas Foster – UK – Not yet.

Finally, there will eventually be volumes of Foster’s famous (infamous?) homework sheets or Ludi Domestici. I still have lots of them squirreled away somewhere. Having them bound in volumes will be invaluable.

For my original post about this go HERE.

Posted in The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged Fr. Reginald Foster, Latin
15 Comments

Day 2-3: books and beauty

Posted on 11 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A quick shot from yesterday evening as I headed to the Vatican Museum to meet the group for the private visit.

One of the most important statues in the history of Western art.

And another one.

And then there’s this thing.

Afterward, off to something really important. PIZZA.

Not too far from Vatican City there is a shop that makes unbelievably good stuff, entirely organic, etc.

Isn’t this a beautiful site?

Peppers and pine nuts.

Zucchini flowers and anchovy.

Margherita.

Cheese and potato.

Shifting gears… up early to go to St. Peters for Mass and time in the Basilica. We were able to go in a back way through friends in the Swiss Guard. Saved huge time!

This morning, a shot of the gloomy Scala Regia. When we are elected to the See of Peter, once again His Holiness of Our Lord will descend carried on the sedia gestatoria, with flabella and the Noble Guard.

We had Mass in San Pietro this morning at one of the altars in the Basilica. The altars of the crypt were all reserved. There are hoards of Germans here right now, as we draw close to the end of the Year of Mercy. I ran into German bishops yesterday (alas, not hard enough). This morning I spotted Card. Woelke with a group of pilgrims marching up the Via della Conciliazione. They seems quite focused.

Since I am with an international pro-life group on this pilgrimage, today we were happy to have the Feast of the Maternity of Mary. I commented that Mary conceived the Lord in her heart before carrying Him below her heart, and that their hearts synchronized and never stopped beating together except for a little while. We have to synchronize with theirs.

Meanwhile, I’ve been able to pick up a couple books I’ve been wanting to get my hands on. I can hardly wait to start in on Card. Sarah’s new book!

For lunch today we will head out into the Castello Romani, to a lovely place on the lip of the volcanic Lago Albano. A great view and an amazing place with a vast wine cave.

More later.

UPDATE:

What a day.

We went a restaurant in the Castelli which I first learned of through The Great Roman Fabrizio™, to whom so much is owed. Situated on the edge of the volcanic crater of Lago Albano, this is an astonishingly good place.

Then we went to the Villa Borghese. Then we had supper. Yes, we ate again.

Some images, they my not be in the right order, because when I use my phone anything can happen with the order of images.

When I say, “Having a wonderful time, wish you were here!”… I mean it.

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to |
25 Comments

Rome Days 1-2: Of clams and griffons

Posted on 10 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’ve been on the move since I got here with a large group of people.

A shot from last nights supper. About all I was able to manage was a place of veg.

Today I stopped at the shop where my chalice was made. It is in the building where Pius XII’s family live!

Just for nice.

Pasquino has been chatty.

From lunch yesterday… vitello tonnato.

Just before I left home, I was asked by a guy at the parish if a particular corporal has been starched too hard. I explained that in Rome they were so stiff and shiny that they were like cardboard. So, in the sacristy where I said Mass yesterday, the corporal. Notice that it doesn’t yet want to lie flat.

Note the shine of the starch.

Folded.

I stopped in Gammarelli and just missed Cardinals Burke and Harvey. I saw this, however.

I like it!

UPDATE:

I met up with the group and we had a private Vatican Museum visit. It isn’ often you get to be alone in the Sistine Chapel.

After talking with a guard for a bit, I had a rapid visit to a famous room off the chapel.

Then off to have some pizza by the slice. All natural, organic ingredients. It was the best pizza I’ve ever had in Rome. And that counts a lot of pizza.

More later.

Posted in On the road, What Fr. Z is up to |
10 Comments

Consistory

Posted on 10 October 2016 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

By now you have heard that there will be a consistory in November to create new Cardinals. The latest batch is a mixed bag.

I have been going a zillion miles an hour since I hit Rome so I haven’t been able to sift this yet.

I have two impressions about the possible line up. Note that Francis did not stick to cardinalatial tradition and give the red hat as a matter of course to the Archbishop’s Philadelphia and Los Angeles. That must mean something. But what?

First, for these USA, the Pope has chosen me that are not what one would be tempted to called “culture warriors”. I’m sure that libs are happy with the choices because this is how they will read the picks for the cardinalate. They’ll be cheering about how Francis passed over Archbp Chaput and Archbp. Gomez in favor of the three he chose. Chaput, strongly, and Gomez, more and more, defend Catholic teaching in the public square and are strong Catholic identity bishops. Gomez hasn’t been very vocal so far, but he has been shifting. The last thing that libs want in the public square is a strong Catholic identity that understands and enunciates clearly the primacy of the right to be born and the sanctity of matrimony between one man and one woman. catholics don’t like or want cultural warriors. They want culture appeasers.

Another possibility is that the Pope is focusing on the peripheries, that is, places that need a special boost, a little extra oomph, the kind of shot in the arm that can come from having a local cardinal. This seems to be a special concern for him. According to that line of thought, however, then Indianapolis and Chicago are now “peripheries” that need extra help! Following that logic, Chicago and Indianapolis are in trouble, whereas Philadelphia and Los Angeles do not, right now at least, need extra help.

The moderation queue is ON.

Posted in Francis, The Drill | Tagged consistory
36 Comments