Where’s the ‘c’atholic Left’s usual liberal outrage?

Posted on 4 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is something curious.

The Holy Father meets with his new Gang of 8, the cardinalatial kitchen cabinet, for – what? – 3 days? Did I get that right?

Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, the papal spokesman said that during the meetings of the Gang of 8 the issue of clerical sexual abuse did not come up.

Really?

I find this fascinating.

Think about this.

Had Benedict XVI had a Gang of X, and had the papal spokesman said that the topic of clerical sexual abuse was not discussed by them with Benedict, the MSM would have thrown a grand mal spittle-flecked nutty.

Pope Francis has – so far – successfully refocused the world’s attention elsewhere.

Also, be careful.  Don’t conflate discussion of possible regional tribunals that took place during the recent consistory with the 3-day discussions of the Gang of 8.  Moreover, there will – of course – be local news coverage of clerical sexual abuse when and if new cases arise. For example, I’ve been watching with consternation another break-out in my native place of St. Paul and Minneapolis. But, that’s not the point.

Francis and the Gang did not address this issue and there is no liberal outrage, not even from the usual suspects of the catholic Left.

I guess this is no longer a burning issue.

Posted in Benedict XVI, Biased Media Coverage, Clerical Sexual Abuse, Francis, I'm just askin'... | Tagged , , ,
6 Comments

A study of the Sinsinawa Dominicans (hint: LCWR). Read and weep.

Posted on 4 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

One of the stranger groups of women religious who belong to the LCWR crowd are the Sinsinawa Domincans, whose motherhouse is in southern Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Madison.

You might review my post NUNS GONE WILD for a glimpse of Sr. Donna Quinn, a Sinsinawa Domincan and pro-abortion advocate.

A blogger in the Madison, WI, area, Elizabeth Durack, who is also a commentatrix here, has put together an objective study of the Sinsinawa Domincans in order to find out who they are and what they are doing.

Here is the email I received:

“This email is the first announcement (except to the Sinsinawa Dominicans themselves) of an unprecedented and detailed report on doctrinal and disciplinary problems within one of the largest congregations of LCWR women religious. This is now available in full on a website, fathermazzuchellisociety.org , it is also available as a PDF, and I have made a print-on-demand book edition also, priced to avoid making any profit off it. The aim of this grassroots lay project is the good of souls, the good of the Church, the advancement of the New Evangelization. Under the name The Father Mazzuchelli Society, we are also promoting devotion to their holy Founder, whose own words about his intentions for the sisters are a stark contrast with what many of them have turned into. We want the Catholic mission of Venerable Father Samuel Mazzuchelli to be carried forward in our day, and in order that he may inspire the New Evangelization we are announcing also today that we have published a new and less expensive book edition of his excellent Memoirs.

A Report on the Sinsinawa Dominicans Today is by a 35 year old lay woman, Elizabeth Durack, acting on her own initiative after becoming sad and disturbed at witnessing the apparent state of things. The Report is based primarily on the Sinsinawa Dominicans’ publicly viewable email discussion list archive, and tells of the sisters’ discussions on “what is Eucharist to me,” their adversarial “relationship with the institutional Church,” and the most complete telling yet of the story of radical feminist and abortion-rights activist Sister Donna Quinn, as well as the story of a good and true sister who has been entirely obscure, the late Sister Francis Assisi Loughery. Read about the Dominican sisters’ feminist alternative to the Liturgy of the Hours, their angst filled discussions about removing male language for God from their vow formula, and their attachment to giving homilies at Mass. And throughout the project, learn of their belief in “women priests,” a key motivating concern behind this initiative, because this is something that breaks the Communion of the Church.

I have done my best to approach this project with charity and for the good of souls, and I ask media outlets including blogs to also have that at heart, while doing all that is possible to promote Catholic truth and warn people away from error.”

For the sake of full disclosure, I have a bone to pick with these sisters, but that is not why I am posting this.

Here is a sample from page 31 in the PDF version of the document:

Some Sisters felt affronted by what they felt were “unsubstantiated accusations” in the LCWR doctrinal assessment. In particular, not all the Sisters thought of themselves as “radical feminists.”

However, some very much  did see themselves in the CDF’s assessment. Sister Clare Wagner wrote on the Sinsinawa email discussion list SinsinOP:

The phrase “unsubstantiated accusations” gave me pause and cause me to wince. That is because for myself, many religious and LCWR members the “accusations” are not “unsubstantiated.”

  • We do support Network.
  • We talk about and look toward the choice of ordination for women.
  • We are at odds with some of the teachings on human sexuality.
  • We are radical feminists who oppose patriarchal domination.
  • We do at times challenge positions taken by bishops.
  • We do not agree to “submission of intellect and will.”
  • We differ with the magisterium on ecclesiology.
  • We accept the Systems Thinking Handbook.

Sister Clare Wagner tells the truth when she says: “The accusations ARE substantiated.”

Posted in Magisterium of Nuns, The Drill, Women Religious | Tagged , , , , , ,
19 Comments

Prayer before connecting to the internet – UPDATE! – New language

Posted on 4 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A long time ago now, I wrote a prayer for people to use before they got online and used the internet. Originally in Latin, it has been translated into many languages (sometimes more than once).

My page with all the translations is HERE. You can always find it by going to the list of Pages at the bottom of this blog.

I often forget to pray before using the internet. I often fail in charity when using it. This tool of social communication and research and entertainment has amazing upsides and spiritually deadly perils. We all should be very careful in how we use it – and through – use each other, “use” in the finer sense of “treat”.

A little while ago I got a version in Tamil. Today I found a new one in my email box.

So, here is the newest version in ….

ESPERANTO!

Preĝo Antaŭ Ensaluti la Interreto

Plenpotenca kaj Eterna Dio, kiu nin kreis laŭ Cia bildo, kaj petis nin serĉi ĉion bonan, veran, kaj belan, speciale en la Dipersono, Cia Solenaskita Filo, nia Sinjoro Jesuo Kristo, bondonu, ni petegas al vi, ke, per la propeto de Sanktulo Isidoro, Episkopo kaj Doktoro, dum niaj vojaĝoj je la Interreto, ni direktu niajn manojn kaj okulojn sole al tiu, kiu plaĉas al Ci, kaj traktu, kun karitato kaj pacienco, ĉiujn, kiujn ni renkontas. Pere de Kristo, nia Sinjoro. Amen.

My correspondent says that he wasn’t perfectly happy with every aspect but that it is comprehensible.

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged ,
18 Comments

“Ring them bells St. Peter…”

Posted on 3 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At Sensible Bond a commentator reminded me of a song I haven’t heard for a long time.

“Ring them bells St. Peter
Where the four winds blow
Ring them bells with an iron hand
So the people will know
Oh it’s rush hour now
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down
Upon the sacred cow

Ring them bells Sweet Martha
For the poor man’s son
Ring them bells so the world will know
That God is one
Oh the shepherd is asleep
Where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled
With lost sheep

Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf
Ring them bells for all of us who are left
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through
Ring them bells, for the time that flies
For the child that cries
When innocence dies

Ring them bells St. Catherine
From the top of the room
Ring them from the fortress
For the lilies that bloom
Oh the lines are long
And the fighting is strong
And they’re breaking down the distance
Between right and wrong”

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

Alas, I don’t have the Zuhlio cover for this.  Zuhlio was unavailble for comment.

Posted in Francis, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged
13 Comments

Much needed funny cartoon

Posted on 3 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From HERE:

Posted in Lighter fare | Tagged , ,
20 Comments

Hijinx on Bill O’Reilly with a socialist prof from Notre Shame

Posted on 3 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Last night on Bill O’Reilly’s show we were treated to a nutty display by a … and I can’t believe I am about to type this … full professor at Notre Shame.  Prof. Candida Moss attacked O’Reilly for not mentioning in his new book, Killing Jesus, that … well, here’s Fox News Insider to tell you the tale!

Candida Moss, professor of New Testament at the University of Notre Dame, wrote a critical review of Bill O’Reilly’s best-selling book, Killing Jesus. In a Daily Beast column, Moss slammed O’Reilly for not mentioning the free health care offered by Jesus. [?!?]

Tonight on The Factor, O’Reilly and Moss went head-to-head over the history of Jesus. She called it an “oversight” that O’Reilly failed to mention Jesus’ insistence that the wealthy give away their possessions.  [Is that the point of O’Reilly’s book?  I haven’t read it.]

O’Reilly reminded her that his book is not about the doctrine. He said it’s dramatically clear that Jesus stood up for the poor. Moss fired back, “No, it’s a historical fact that he told people that in order to go to heaven they had to give away their possessions.” [?!?]

O’Reilly told Moss, “You’re taking it literally when these are parables. If you’re going to sit there, professor, as a theology professor at Notre Dame and tell me that everybody on this earth has to sell all their stuff and can’t have anything, or they’re not going to heaven, I’m going to say you’re a loon.” [And we are going to repeat it: she’s a loon.]

Candida disagreed, saying, “A rich man is condemned to hell merely for not giving away his possessions.” [And for not voting for Pres. Obama!]

O’Reilly called her out for misreading the gospel. He clarified that people have an obligation to help the poor, and that if possessions rule over you, then you will not go to heaven. “But he didn’t say you gotta sell everything, because then you’re going to hell, I’m going to hell and everybody watching is going to hell.”

“Jesus is not a free market capitalist,” Moss responded. “I think in your book, […] you misrepresent and cherry pick the facts.”

So, who is this person?

The Cardinal Newman Society – see their feed on my side bar! – has been watching her antics for a while.

Back in February CNS wrote:

Yale-educated University of Notre Dame professor of New Testament and early Christianity, Candida Moss has released a video promoting her new book, “The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom.”

In the video, Moss discounts the accounts of early Christian martyrdom:

[Let’s pause and watch Candida plug her own crazy theory.]

YouTube thumbnailYouTube icon

[Wow… just wow… ROFL!  If you made it through that, kudos.  Let’s move on.]

Contrary to traditional Church teaching, and popular belief, Christians were not systematically tortured and killed by the Romans merely because they refused to deny Christ. [Right, they were periodically tortured and killed.]

Rather, these stories were exaggerated, revised, and forged, often centuries later, and the history of the Church was reshaped in order to combat heresy, to inspire and educate the faithful, and to fund Churches.

She describes the goals of her book as “getting the history right,” and to “expose the dangerous legacy that these misunderstandings about Christian martyrdom have had for us today.”

The rhetoric of martyrdom and persecution persists especially in the language of the religious and political right, [?!?] and just as early Christians employed the martyrdom myth, this myth is still used to silence dissent and galvanize a new generation of cultural warriors. [THAT’s why we venerate martyrs!]

The idea that Christians are, by their very nature, persecuted, is grounded in an inaccurate history of the early Church. Christians were not relentlessly persecuted in the first few centuries, and they’re not systematically and continually persecuted today.

Moss is delivering a lecture on the topic on March 21 at the Washington National Cathedral. The description of that talk says that “there is the troubling use of this heritage to silence the voice of those who act outside the perceived orthodoxies of the day.”

Let’s now see the O’Reilly video.  O’Reilly makes some mistakes along the way: Jesus actually said certain things or he didn’t and how we interpret them is a theological exercise.  But let that pass for now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD1IzvCv9AQ&feature=player_embedded

Okay, having watched the videos two questions come to mind.

QUAERUNTUR: What’s the real reason O’Reilly had her on? And do you think she figured it out?

Posted in Blatteroons, Liberals, Modern Martyrs, Pò sì jiù, Saints: Stories & Symbols, Throwing a Nutty, What are they REALLY saying?, You must be joking! | Tagged , , ,
91 Comments

What Did The Pope Really Say? 2 – Proselytism

Posted on 3 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

For a while I have intended to write something on Pope Francis’ harsh comments in his informal chat related by the atheist newsie Eugenio Scalfari about proselytism.

The Pope smiles and says: “Some of my colleagues who know you told me that you will try to convert me.”

It’s a joke I tell him. My friends think it is you want to convert me.

He smiles again and replies: “Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us. Sometimes after a meeting I want to arrange another one because new ideas are born and I discover new needs. This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.”

Some people are worried about this, as if Francis is saying that the Church should not try to convert people to Christianity, to formal membership in the Catholic Church.

That would mean that Francis directly contradicted John Paul II in Redemptoris missio 47:

The Church calls all people to this conversion, following the example of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Christ by “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk 1:4), as well as the example of Christ himself, who “after John was arrested,…came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of God and saying: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel'” (Mk 1:14-15).

Nowadays the call to conversion which missionaries address to non-Christians is put into question or passed over in silence. It is seen as an act of “proselytizing”; it is claimed that it is enough to help people to become more human or more faithful to their own religion, that it is enough to build communities capable of working for justice, freedom, peace and solidarity. What is overlooked is that every person has the right to hear the “Good News” of the God who reveals and gives himself in Christ, so that each one can live out in its fullness his or her proper calling. This lofty reality is expressed in the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God,” and in the unconscious but ardent desire of the woman: “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst” (Jn 4:10, 15).

Some of you are going to run around in circles with your hair on fire now saying that “FRANCIS IS AGAINST JOHN PAUL II!”

I remind the honorable readership that none of the statements that Francis made in either interview are complete statements.

Furthermore, there is no indication that Francis thought that what he was engaged in was more more than a conversation.  There is not the slightest shred of evidence that Francis thought he was teaching officially in his role as Successor of Peter.

The “proselytism” that Pope Francis scorns is not to be equated with “evangelization”.

Surely what Francis scorns is the crude proselytizing à la Pentecostals and Mormons in Latin America. That is the sort of proselytism with which Francis would be familiar.  That is the sort of proselytism that we will probably be accused of when we engage in any kind of evangelization.

Is Francis breaking with his predecessors or is he simply stressing some different aspect of the same issues as his predecessors?

Let’s read Francis through Benedict.

Benedict XVI spoke about proselytism when he was in Aparecida in 2007, a gathering of CELAM which had a great impact on then-Card. Bergoglio.

Benedict said:

The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by “attraction“- just as Christ “draws all to himself” by the power of his love, culminating in the sacrifice of the Cross, so the Church fulfills her mission to the extent that, in union with Christ, she accomplishes every one of her works in spiritual and practical imitation of the love of her Lord.

We don’t proselytize.  The Church “attracts”.  She attracts especially through spiritual and corporal works of mercy performed through true charity.

I don’t see a lot of daylight between Francis and Benedict on this point.

Finally, putting on my Cato the Elder cap for a moment, as I wrote after having read the Scalfari chat:

  • abortion is still murder,
  • gay marriage is still no marriage,
  • we’re going to jaw-jaw with nonbelievers,
  • we’re still going to be a minority,
  • Former-Fr. – Mister Reynolds is still excommunicated!
Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict | Tagged , ,
65 Comments

SPAIN: Terrorist Bomb in Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza

Posted on 3 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I wonder if the MSM will have any coverage of this.

From freerepublic.com

Left-wing anarchists blamed for Zaragoza Basilica bombing [Spain]

A small bomb consisting of a camping gas cylinder combined with gunpowder exploded in Zaragoza Basilica in Spain on Wednesday afternoon. No one was injured and left-wing anarchists against the Bourbon monarchy are being blamed.

The bomb exploded in the central area of the Zaragoza Basilica of our Lady of the Pillar (Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza) at around 13:50 local time. There were no injuries and no damage to the Baroque church was reported.

Spanish news agency Efe is reporting that police suspect left-wing anarchists in the placing of the home-made device. Reportedly the bomb bore the hallmarks of similar devices used by left-wing groups….

A large cloud of smoke and dust emanated from the explosion, frightening parishioners who were waiting to attend Mass at 14:00. Fortunately the area where the bomb exploded was empty of people at the time….

Police believe that the work is being organized by radical anarchist leaders from Greece and Italy. Information Commissioner General, Enrique Barón says “it is terrorism, pure and simple.”

One of your readers sent this:

I don’t know whether or not you’ve already heard about this, but yesterday someone planted a small explosive device in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora del Pilar) in Zaragoza.

The explosive device was a homemade one, created using a small butane gas tank and hidden underneath a pew in the main chapel of the Basilica. Thank God there was no Mass being offered at the time and that no one was sitting on that pew. No one was seriously injured, although one woman who was praying near where the explosive device was placed was reported to have suffered some damage in one ear. The basilica did not suffer any significant damage beyond the destruction of several pews. The altar and its magnificent marble altarpiece were unaffected, as was the Pillar and the image of Our Lady.
12 October is the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar. Not only is she the patron Zaragoza, but of all of Spain, and is a national holiday throughout the country. It’s also the Día de la Hispanidad in most of the Spanish-speaking world, celebrating the cultural bonds and linguistic ties between Spain and her former territories. There’s little chance that the timing of this was accidental then, as the city prepares for the festival. Initial reports suggest that individuals from Spain linked to an Italian anarchist group may be behind the attack.
Perhaps you also remember that a bomb of similar construction was placed in the cathedral of Madrid back in February. In that case, the device was discovered by a parishioner and deactivated by police before it exploded.
Below is a link to one of the regional newspapers in Aragon with info about yesterday’s explosion in the Basilica. If I have a bit of time on my break, I’ll try to find one in English to forward to you, or I’ll translate the most relevant sections of that article.
Explota un artefacto en la Basilica del Pilar
God bless, Father. Be assured of my prayers for you, and please say a quick one for me today if you can.

UPDATE:

WaPo has it.

 

Posted in The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , ,
10 Comments

Your Good News

Posted on 3 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Do you have some good news to share with the readership?

Let’s us know.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA |
22 Comments

Pres. Obama praises Pope Francis for shaking off “obsession”

Posted on 2 October 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Reuters:

Obama welcomes Pope Francis’ remarks on gays, abortion
Wed, Oct 02 17:03 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Wednesday welcomed Pope Francis’ recent remarks that the Catholic Church must shake off [blech]an obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuals, saying the pontiff was showing incredible humility.

“I tell you, I have been hugely impressed with the pope’s pronouncements,” Obama said in a CNBC interview.

Obama has worked to expand gay rights as president and last year backed same-sex marriage. He also supports the use of contraception and a woman’s right to an abortion.

Pope Francis told the Italian Jesuit Journal last month that the Church had “locked itself up in small things” by its obsession with abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

Obama said the pope seemed to be someone who “lives out the teachings of Christ” and shows “incredible humility” toward the poor.

“That’s a quality I admire,” said Obama, who has yet to meet the new pope.

Listening to Pres. Obama speak about the teachings of Christ makes me want to seek a hazmat shower.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Posted in Francis, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged ,
51 Comments