Peter Card. Turkson was eaten alive on the BBC’s program HardTalk. HERE
Admittedly, the interviewer was a prime example of the BBC’s vicious worst.
The program, HardTalk, is pretty brutal. You agree to go on at your peril.
Result this time: train wreck.
Close this? Really?
When parish churches have to be closed, heartbreak ensures.
But do churches have to be closed?
I have seen some instances where viable places were shut down, with the concomitant hurt and anger, for no very good reason that I could discern.
Furthermore, once they are gone, they aren’t going to be recovered.
What sort of faith in an effort of “New Evangelization” do we evince if, while chattering about it, we are closing the churches we need to fill in the very places where the “New Evangelization” needs to be pursued?
And – YES! – I know that the bills have to be paid. I have griped and reminded and urged action about that (and received hate mail for it).
I digress.
This story caught my eye. Do you recall that I wrote about flash “Mass mobs”? HERE Some have coordinated efforts to get people to attend Mass at a struggling parish, to put a little life into the places.
¡Vaya lío!
From the Buffalo News:
Church closings in limbo as Rome overrules bishop
Vatican’s recent ruling could clear the way for work to begin on St. Ann Church, and opens the door for Catholics across the country to challenge shutting of churches
A group of local Catholics battling Bishop Richard J. Malone over the future of an East Side church has found an unexpected ally – the Vatican.
St. Ann Church just six months ago was on track to be demolished.
But the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy, in a recent ruling on an appeal by St. Ann parishioners, has made it clear that repairs of up to $12 million are not a good enough reason for the building to be demolished or converted into something other than a Catholic church.
“Rome is saying it should be a church,” said Ronald Bates, part of the group fighting to keep the church going. “We can’t throw it away. It’s craziness.”
The Vatican decision marked a rare and resounding win for Catholic lay people objecting to a bishop’s decision.
The ruling on St. Ann from the Congregation for Clergy potentially could have implications far beyond the Buffalo diocese, opening the door for Catholics across the country to contest church closings.
“All of the bishops of the United States are looking at this decree and probably needing to make new assessments of what to do,” said Sister Kate Kuenstler, a canon lawyer. “This is a thunderclap from the Vatican, and it affects all the bishops in the United States.”
The decision could clear the way for restoration to begin on the Gothic-style church, which was built in 1886 and needs significant masonry repairs.
[…]
Very interesting article over there.
There is a message here.
If you want something to happen, you have to work for it and pay for it.
Free exercise of religion isn’t free. We have bills to pay. If YOU want something – A, B, C… whatever – and you are unwilling to pitch in and put sweat or money or both into it, you will lose it.
At least someone is saying it.
From ZENIT:
Patriarch Kirill: Violation of God’s Laws is Destroying Human Civilization
Head of Russian Orthodox Church Warns Against Legislating in Favor of Same-Sex ‘Marriage’
Violating God’s laws by legislating in favor of same-sex ‘marriage’ is a threat to human civilization, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has said.
Speaking after a liturgy on Sunday at the Kremlin’s Cathedral of the Assumption in commemoration of the Russian Orthodox Church’s New Martyrs and confessors, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church said it’s possible to argue that such laws are needed “to avoid discrimination against anyone in anything.”
“But the next moment one realizes that it is not civil, political, economic, or cultural discrimination that is meant here, but something that has never been seen as discrimination at all,” he said. “What is meant here is a person’s intimate life.”
“We are offered to justify the sinful ruining of this life by laws,” he added, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. But the patriarch continued: “Never in the history of mankind have state laws been used to justify sin. Even the pagans did not do that, although the pagan understanding of what sin is like was very vague.”
“God gave laws to humankind, whose violation is leading to a destruction of human civilization,” he said.
“If we are to live on as a nation, as a society and as a human civilization, we must not venture to challenge the God-given laws,” the Russian patriarch said.
Gospodi, pomilui!
The Russian Orthodox Patriarch, ladies and gents. Doing his bit – and ours – for the New Evangelization.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON THESE
I had a note that 56 have been sold so far. Can we reach 100?
_____________
The people who have the blog Courageous Priest are trying to raise some money by selling spiffy hoodies. They want to update their site (as I do!) and that costs money.
This is a limited time offer. Let’s see if we can sell 100 hoodies for them!
Remember: Wearing this hoodie could encourage priests and lay people alike.
CLICK TO SEE MORE!
BTW…. if you go to their website, there is an odd little popup. Ignore it.
I find this disgusting. This makes me want to have nothing to do with the broadcasts of Olympic competitions. Will I make an exception for all-important curling coverage? I am torn.
From Truth Revolt:
Ex-Olympic skater [what a surprise] and current NBC Commentator for the Sochi games Johnny Weir is not shy about protesting Russia’s homosexual laws live on air, if his wardrobe has anything to say about it.
Weir has appeared with full makeup — blush, lipstick, etc. — as well as silk blouses and gaudy jewelry. Hairstyles have ranged form piled on top to a braided tiara (seen below). This was his plan from the beginning, as NJ.com reports
[…]
More of this vile stunt over there.
This has to be the third rail of all questions. I have brought it up a few times here … few use the search box I provide it seems… but it keeps coming around.
From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
We have a wonderful 100 year old chapel with a marble interior here in Camarillo with a weekly EF Missa Cantata. I mention the marble since it magnifies sound greatly. We are blessed with several large families with beautifully behaved children. Unfortunately, we are also blessed with a few with fussy & crying wee bairns as well as unrestrained 3 & 4 year olds who tromp on the pews & in the aisles. Usually one of the parents will take the child outside until it calms down.
Today we had no such luck, the cacophony was such that our soft spoken priest was difficult to hear.
We do have a side room for these families & a sign pointing to it.
A little consideration for those of us who have raised our children already would be appreciated.
Any successful diplomatic suggestions?
Now that I have posted this, I am going to slink away and watch from afar.
Do you remember that some time ago I asked you to pitch in and buy some resources for a “baby priest” who wanted to learn the Extraordinary Form? HERE
You really stepped up. You put into his hands what he needed, and generously so.
I received an update from him today:
Dear Fr. Z:
After going through a pile of books, DVDs and CDs, I have finally been able to say the EF Mass. It truly is a wonderful experience to pray the same way my forefathers did. Learning the EF has certainly affected my celebration of the OF. It has improved my postures, my tone of voice, the interpretation of some of the more vague rubrics (to see them in light of what they meant previous to 1969) and my ability to pray more fervently during mass. I look forward to seeing what the EF will continue to teach me about the Church!
Thank you again for your help obtaining these materials!
I pass along his message with my own thanks.
Ya’ done good.
Was there a GOOD point in the sermon you heard for your Sunday Mass of obligation?
Let us know the good stuff, please.
Also, be sure to check out Your Urgent Prayer Requests.
The theme of pretty much the whole day yesterday was: courage. We have to be courageous now and stand up for what we believe, for the Enemy is not going to relent.
Last night Archbp. Chaput was the celebrant for Mass. He contrasted the figures of King David and King Herod.
This is what the members of Legatus recite after Mass.
I had a good chat with Sen. Santorum, who was the speaker last night.
After supper I was pleased to meet up with one of the favorites of the Fishwrap, Michael Novak.
Many of the people who were on the Legatus pilgrimage last October are here.
Michael Coren is here this morning.
He’s amusing and the Canada jokes are coming in a steady stream.
He has taken well-deserved shots at Bob Newhart.
I also enjoyed the line, “Some people call me the Bill O’Reilly of Canada, but that’s not true. I’m Catholic.”
UPDATE
There are some good exhibits, as you might expect. Wyoming Catholic College still has my favorite item.
UPDATE
I have been chewing the rag with quite a few people this morning.
For example I got to catch up with Fr Frank Pavone and hear what Priests For Life is up to.
UPDATE
John Smeaton of SPUC is on fire.
He said the more bishops should imitate the bishops if Nigeria in their strong opposition to the homosexualist agenda.
Now he is on Ireland passing anti-life legislation.
“Barbarians”
Someone went ahead and carved a life-size Pope Francis out of chocolate.
No, really.
Yes, people in their zeal to honor the Holy Father sometimes do odd things.
“But Father! But Father!”, some of you are saying, “That chocolate should have been melted down and given to the poor!”
Who wants to bet on where this chocolate will eventually wind up.
Distributed to children on the periphery of Roma? To street people? Auctioned off? Given to heads of state when they visit? Perhaps some could be sent to the LCWR nuns, to sweeten them up a bit.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
A Daily Prayer for Priests
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