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

CNS: Feminist Steinem Touts Abortion, Ridicules Church at St. Norbert College (D. Green Bay)

Posted on 29 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

CNS: Feminist Steinem Touts Abortion, Ridicules Church at St. Norbert College (D. Green Bay) The Cardinal Newman Society (see their live feed on my sidebar) has a story about a horrible event at a catholic college in Wisconsin.

Parents, if you are thinking about paying lots of money for your children to go to college, you might cross St. Norbert’s in De Pere off your list.

Feminist Steinem Touts Abortion, Ridicules Church at St. Norbert College

Abortion advocacy, support for euthanasia and applause for excommunicated and “ordained” women priests—such were the highlights of last week’s “dialogue” with radical feminists Gloria Steinem and Bell Hooks on the Catholic campus of St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis.
The event was held in the College’s campus theater on April 21, despite initial exposure by the Cardinal Newman Society last October, public protest by Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay in January, and assurances from the College that Steinem was invited only to headline a “discussion of the history of the women’s movement, especially as it may be understood in the context of domestic violence.”
Bishop Ricken lamented that Steinem’s “whole career and life is a grand affirmation of the pro-abortion movement.” And the Newman Society called on the College to rescind Steinem’s invitation, stating that its refusal to do so “adds insult to injury by disregarding Bishop Ricken.”
Nevertheless the College went forward, and the activists’ dialogue, titled “Talking Together: A Legacy of Solidarity,” predictably highlighted contempt for “patriarchal religions” and pushed support for abortion rights and euthanasia. A video of their dialogue indicates that Steinem and Hooks barely touched on the subject of domestic violence but focused instead on “reproductive rights” and societal ills caused by the patriarchy.
Thomas Kunkel, president of St. Norbert College, opened the event, welcoming the more than 800 participants who reportedly attended.
“As the face of the women’s movement… Gloria Steinem leaves us in awe,” said Dr. Karlyn Crowley, professor of English, as she introduced Steinem.

[…]

Read the rest of this train wreck over there.

Shame on St. Norbert’s. There should be consequences for them.

Perhaps Bishop Ricken should conduct a investigation of the Theology and Religious Studies department to determine whether or not they are Catholic.

Posted in Blatteroons, Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, You must be joking! | Tagged Bp. Ricken, D. Green Bay, feminists, Gloria Steinem
24 Comments

Fr. Z’s Voice Mail or ¡Hagan lío! & ASK FATHER: Date of Easter in Holy Land

Posted on 29 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I get interesting voice mail. Remember, I don’t call back, but I listen to it.

To the lady in S. Texas: By all means write to Card. Müller! If they determine that it is a matter for the Congregation for Divine Worship, they will forward it. And… we weren’t promised a bed of roses when we were baptized. We must expect to be mistreated within the Church by our shepherds when we stand up for what is right. We all have to get our heads into a place where we can foresee this and be ready.
To the angry homosexual guy in Sacramento: Thanks for the smile! I shared that with a couple friends. For me it was the “jackass” that really made it. Apparently you think it is “political” when I or any faithful priest or bishop writes about morals, but it isn’t “political” when people like you impose your “gay” agenda on the rest of society. I’ll pray for you today.
To the person in Thailand: There was only 4 seconds of audio, so you might want to try again.

Here is a voicemail with a question. He was unable to send it, for some reason, through my ASK FATHER email form.

From a reader in Amman, Jordan…

QUAERITUR:

That’s an interesting question and situation!

The date of Easter and the calendar which is followed has been a major issue at many times in the history of the Church. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council declared that the Catholic Church would not object to the assignment of a particular Sunday of the year as Easter in perpetuity (Appendix to Sacrosanctum Concilium). Moreover, the Council Fathers left to Patriarchs the authority to “come to an agreement by the unanimous consent and combined counsel of those affected to celebrate the feast of Easter on the same Sunday” (Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 20).

Subsequently, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land agreed to have one common date for the celebration of Easter in that territory. They determined that that common date would be using the Julian Calendar. This is within their competence, though it requires the approval of the Holy See. Exceptions seem to have been made for parts of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which are covered by the complex and byzantine agreement known as – I’m not making this up – the Status quo.

One can debate about whether this is a good thing or not. If it brings about greater unity with the separated Eastern Churches, it could be a blessing for the whole Church. If it merely confuses the matter, then it would not be a good thing.

Christ clearly wanted and wants unity for His Church.

That said, retreating to the Julian Calendar doesn’t seem to me to be the best answer, but – hey! – they didn’t ask me.

Since I pay (through your donations) a fee for the voice mail phone numbers, I am glad when they get some use.

You can get me through Skype or through telephone in these USA or in the UK.

WDTPRS

020 8133 4535

651-447-6265

TIPS for leaving voice mail.

Don’t shout. If you shout, your voice will be distorted and I won’t be able to understand you.
Don’t whisper. C’mon. If you have to whisper, maybe you should be calling the police, instead.
Come to your point right away. That helps.

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Reader Feedback, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged date of Easter, Julian Calendar, Status quo, voice mail
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Swiss Guard Armor Project – UPDATE

Posted on 28 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You know about our project to build armor for an officer of the Swiss Guard. Here is an update.

What is this about? HERE

This is from the Swiss Guard’s wife:

We have just received photos of the final engravings on the breastplate and I wanted to share them with you, the wonderful people behind this piece of art, before Fr. Z. posts them on his blog! I know how speedy he is with that, so please Fr. Z, give us 24 hours! [Yah.. right….!]

I’m also including below some pics of the construction phase and of Dominic and the armory manager when they were working out the placement of the saints. Delivery of the breastplate will be next week, just before the swearing-in ceremony on 6 May. The Austrian brothers who handmade the breastplate will bring it to the Vatican. Dominic is so excited to wear it for the first time on this important occasion. This is happening years before we thought it would be possible and we thank you heartily and humbly with our prayers.

We hope you like the way that both St Joseph and St Joan of Arc are engraved on the front and Dominic’s family crest is at the base of his back. We hope so much that there will be another little Bergamin to wear this one day! For now, these two saints will surely watch over Dominic as he protects the Holy Father.

I can’t tell you how proud I am of you readers.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged armor, Swiss Guard
1 Comment

ASK FATHER: “Getting rid” of Hosts

Posted on 28 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I am an instituted acolyte in a parish that does not properly understand the office. This past Holy Thursday, I served at Mass. My girlfriend and I arrived early to help the “liturgical director” in the sacristy. She asked if we would help her to consume the Blessed Sacrament so that the tabernacle would be empty for the Triduum. There were two ciboria in there! I knew this sounded very fishy, and I was able to deflect the issue and properly reserve the Blessed Sacrament elsewhere, as the rubrics demand.

I attempted to forget the issue, but it keeps nagging me, to the point where I wake up thinking about it. My girlfriend thinks it is the Holy Spirit. Should I relay this episode to the pastor?

On 16 January 1988, the ever-helpful Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued a circular letter concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts. In this letter, regarding the observation of the the Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we find this directive:

48. The tabernacle should be completely empty before the celebration. Hosts for the communion of the faithful should be consecrated during that celebration. A sufficient amount of bread should be consecrated to provide also for communion the following day.

Following subsequent norms, the Blessed Sacrament, after the Mass on Holy Thursday, is to be reserved not in the normal tabernacle, but in another secure location, whence it is brought to the altar during the Good Friday liturgy.

One wonders (doesn’t one?) why anyone would wish to eliminate the Blessed Sacrament during the Triduum?

There may be situations in which “too many” hosts have been consecrated and there is a need to consume them reverently. These should be rare and should be marked by the utmost of reverence. I have in mind the scene in The Cardinal when the Nazis were invading the Cardinal’s residence and they consumed, reverently, the Blessed Sacrament before the household was killed.

The pastor should be made aware of this situation.

One a pastor’s obligations is to see to reverence and respect due to the Blessed Sacrament.

If the pastor has an employee who does not show the Blessed Sacrament due reverence, he should know that.

Be careful about terminology!

As an instituted acolyte, a ministry has been conferred upon you, to serve, in a stable manner, as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. This is not an ecclesiastical office. It does not give a man who is thusly instituted any right to an ecclesiastical office.

Hosts are not “things” to be disposed of.

Bless your reverence.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged Good Friday, holy thursday
12 Comments

ASK FATHER: Maniple and zucchetto in the Novus Ordo

Posted on 28 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Can Priests in the USA use the maniple in a N.O. Mass? Same question regarding the use of a black Zucchetto?

The maniple?

Yes, priests can use the maniple during Holy Mass according to the Novus Ordo, the Ordinary Form. There isn’t much question of that, and those who question that are just… odd. The maniple is not obligatory for the Novus Ordo, as it is in the Extraordinary Form.

The black zucchetto?

As far as a priest is concerned, a zucchetto is not a liturgical vestment, as it is for a bishop or an abbot. Father can use it to keep his bald spot warm, or to look spiffy, but he must leave it in the sacristy before Mass begins. No black zucchetto for priests during Mass. Father should use his biretta.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged maniple, zucchetto
10 Comments

ASK FATHER: Valid marriage in hospital room?

Posted on 28 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

My wife and I were married in my father-in-law’s hospital room. He was dying of stomach cancer and we wanted him to witness our marriage. We had planned on holding the ceremony in the chapel of the Catholic hospital he was in, but he was too weak to leave the room. Our priest decided to marry us in his hospital room. There was a crucifix on the wall. Can you confirm this was a valid Catholic marriage due to the circumstances and due to the fact it was in a Catholic hospital? Side note: after the ceremony my our priest administered last rights to my father-in-law. He died the next morning. My wife and I have been married for 12 years. Thank for any comments.

The wedding would be valid. If the priest had the faculty to witness the wedding in the chapel, he would have the faculty to witness is throughout the hospital. He probably should have gotten permission (and maybe he did) from the local ordinary to change the site from the chapel to a hospital room, but even without that permission, the marriage is presumed to be valid.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, One Man & One Woman | Tagged marriage, matrimony, validity
12 Comments

San Francisco MASS Mob Results

Posted on 27 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A while back I mentioned that there was going to be a “Mass Mob” at Star of the Sea parish in San Francisco to support the beleaguered priests.

It seems to have been a success. I received a few photos. Here is a good one!

Posted in Events | Tagged Archd. San Francisco, flash mob, Mass Mob
12 Comments

IDAHO: City ordinance says pastors must “marry” homosexuals or go to jail

Posted on 27 April 2015 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In the Washington Times I read this.

Idaho city’s ordinance tells pastors to marry gays or go to jail

Coeur d‘Alene, Idaho, city officials have laid down the law to Christian pastors within their community, telling them bluntly via an ordinance that if they refuse to marry homosexuals, they will face jail time and fines.

The dictate comes on the heels of a legal battle with Donald and Evelyn Knapp, ordained ministers who own the Hitching Post wedding chapel in the city, but who oppose gay marriage, The Daily Caller reported.

A federal judge recently ruled that the state’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, while the city of Coeur d‘Alene has an ordinance that prevents discrimination based on sexual preference.

The Supreme Court’s recent refusal to take on gay rights’ appeals from five states has opened the doors for same-sex marriages to go forth.

The Knapps were just asked by a gay couple to perform their wedding ceremony, The Daily Caller reported.

“On Friday, a same-sex couple asked to be married by the Knapps, and the Knapps politely declined,” The Daily Signal reported. “The Knapps now face a 180-day jail term and a $1,000 fine for each day they decline to celebrate the same-sex wedding.”

[…]

Read the rest over there.

Mind you, it won’t go anywhere, but it doesn’t have to succeed… right now. Liberals use the technique of creeping incrementalism. They know they will fail… this time. But each time they bump the needle one more degree in their direction and pick up a few more supporters for their cause.

So… see what’s happening?

Fathers! Get ready!

Si vis pacem para bellum!