Fr. Z's Blog | Formerly entitled: "What Does The Prayer Really Say?" – Clear, straight commentary on Catholic issues, liturgy and life by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf o{]:¬)

Bp. Jarrett: Didn’t implement Vatican’s child abuse reporting norms because they were in Latin

Posted on 28 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I want everyone to know this.

Bishop didn’t get message because it was written in Latin

BISHOP Geoffrey Jarrett [of Lismore, Australia] told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse he didn’t report an allegation against Lismore’s Father Paul Rex Brown to the Vatican because he wasn’t aware there had been a directive from the Pope to do so.

Bishop Jarrett was recall- ed to the Commission in relation to the case of Jennifer Ingham, who was sexually abused by Father Brown between 1978 and 1982.

A complaint against Father Brown was made in 2002, a year after the Pope ordered bishops around the world to report any allegations of child sexual abuse to the Vatican if there was a “semblance of truth” in the case.

However, Bishop Jarrett told the Royal Commission he had failed to do so because some directives “may not be remembered or acted upon”.

When questioned further by the Chair of the Commission, Justice Peter McClellan, Bishop Jarrett said the Pope’s original directive had been received in Latin and his Latin was “not perfect”. [Picture this. “Hey! Here’s a letter from the Holy See. Hmmm. It’s in Latin. Okay, I guess I don’t have to know what’s in this one.”]

When Justice McClellan asked if he regularly received directives from the Vatican that he did not understand, Bishop Jarrett replied: “Usually they provide an English translation as well. Not all the bishops are fluent in Latin, not these days. Once we were.” [How do you simulate in writing the sound of a face-palm?]

Once it was established that Bishop Jarrett had also received the directive in English, there were numerous questions about why he had not followed it.

[…]

Posted in Clerical Sexual Abuse, Puir Slow-Witted Gowk, You must be joking! | Tagged Bp. Geoffrey Jarrett, D. Lismore
22 Comments

What kind of dumb is this?

Posted on 28 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This is so weird that, at first, I thought it was a joke.

We find this at Protect The Pope.

Dissenting on homosexuality Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP is a keynote speaker at Dublin’s 2014 Divine Mercy Conference

Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, well-known liberal and dissenter, has bizarrely been chosen to be one of the keynote speakers at Dublin’s [Ireland] 2014 International Conference on Divine Mercy. Fr Radcliffe openly dissents on the Church’s teaching on homosexuality and Holy Communion for the divorced and re-married. Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP frequently celebrated Mass for the gay dissent group the Soho Masses Pastoral Council. During the reign of Pope Benedict XVI Fr Timothy Radcliffe was stopped from speaking at the General Assembly of the Catholic development agencies. Fr Radcliffe is well known for his liberal positions on morality, including his public opposition to the Church’s teaching on homosexuality.

The Divine Mercy Conference website states:

Divine Mercy Conference 2014

The first International Conference of Divine Mercy was held in the R.D.S. over 23 years ago. We celebrate our 23rd conference 2014 in the knowledge that Sister Faustina is now Saint Faustina. The theme of the first conference was “Mercy Our Mission”. The theme and the speakers were the product of much prayer and discernment by a committee of men and women gathered together in Eucharistic adoration under the spiritual direction of Fr. Cathal Price.’

Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP will be speaking on both Saturday and Sunday.

A selection of Fr Radcliffe’s writings expressing dissent from the Church’s teaching:

Fr Radcliffe gave the following contribution to the Church of England ‘s review of homosexuality and gay marriage:

Fr Radcliffe OP expands the meaning of fertility to include gay sex

[…]

What were they thinking?

Read the rest there… and marvel.

Posted in One Man & One Woman, Pò sì jiù, You must be joking! | Tagged homosexuals, Timothy Radcliffe
14 Comments

A&E CAVED! Duck Dynasty back with Phil

Posted on 27 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

I guess they want their profits more than they want to pander to the… other thing.

From Hollywood Reporter:

Less than two weeks after his anti-gay remarks prompted an “indefinite hiatus” for the reality patriarch — and a strong fan backlash — the network says he will remain on the series.

Phil Robertson, the patriarch of A&E’s Duck Dynasty clan who was suspended from his hit reality series on Dec. 18 following some incendiary comments about gay people, won’t be put on hiatus after all.

The network and the Robertson family announced Friday that Phil will still be part of the series — and since he didn’t miss any filming, his temporary suspension will have no effect on the upcoming fifth season.
An A&E statement to The Hollywood Reporter read: [A slippery weasel wrote this…]

As a global media content company, A+E Networks’ core values are centered around creativity, inclusion and mutual respect. We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be invited into people’s home and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principals.
That is why we reacted so quickly and strongly to a recent interview with Phil Robertson. While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the “coarse language” he used and the mis-interpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would “never incite or encourage hate.” We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we hold.
But Duck Dynasty is not a show about one man’s views. It resonates with a large audience because it is a show about family… a family that America has come to love. As you might have seen in many episodes, they come together to reflect and pray for unity, tolerance and forgiveness. These are three values that we at A+E Networks also feel strongly about.
So after discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family.
We will also use this moment to launch a national public service campaign (PSA) promoting unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people, a message that supports our core values as a company, and the values found in Duck Dynasty. These PSAs will air across our entire portfolio.

In addition, an A&E source says the family and the network are going to work together to promote tolerance moving forward.

[…]

I love the free market.

Posted in Just Too Cool, One Man & One Woman, The Drill | Tagged A&E, Duck Dynasty, Phil Robertson
40 Comments

VA Hospital bans religious Christmas carols

Posted on 27 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I think this is despicable. It also shows what is happening under the godless Obama Administration… who did not go to Church on Christmas, even though last week he (hypocritically?) said we should remember the religious dimension of Christmas. BAH!

I digress.

I think this is despicable.

From CBS Atlanta:

Hospital Bans Christmas Carolers From Singing Religious Songs

AUGUSTA, Ga. (CBS Atlanta) – An Augusta hospital has adopted a new policy banning Christmas carolers from singing religious songs in public patient areas.
The Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center [The Obama Administrations VA.] announced the new policy Monday according to the Athens-Banner Herald.
“Military service veterans, male and female, represent people of all faiths,” hospital spokesman Brian Rothwell said in a statement according to Athens-Banner Herald. “It is out of respect for every faith [B as in B. S as in S.] that The Veterans Administration gives clear guidance on what ‘spiritual care’ is to be given and who is to give it.”

A group of high school students from Augusta’s Alleluia Community School were prevented from singing traditional holiday songs that honor and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ to veterans by the medical center last week.
The school principal, Dan Funsch, told the newspaper that he was disappointed that the Veterans Affairs hospital’s “spiritual care” grants holiday exemption only to secular characters that make up the 12 Days of Christmas.
“This is not a religious proselytizing, evangelistic issue,” Funsch explained, arguing that Christmas songs are broadcast during the holidays on area radio stations and in local retail outlets. “The song Joy to the World is as much a part of the holiday spirit as the Christmas tree.”
The principal noted that the peculiar part of the policy is its recent enforcement.

[…]

If Pres. Obama and his ilk have their way, any expression of religious values and tenets will be banned. Given time, they will pass laws to punish people who express religious views in the public square. Off to the reeducation camps for you. And their liberal catholic will be right there supporting the enlightened and no-doubt-necessary policy.

Posted in Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty | Tagged Pres. Obama, The First Gay President, Veterans, Veterans Administration
18 Comments

Friday Penance, the Octave of Christmas, and You

Posted on 27 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

We are in the Octave of Christmas, that stoppage of liturgical time when we can rest in place and contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation from various angles.

During the Octave of Easter, we are not obliged to do penance on Easter Friday. What about Friday in the Christmas Octave?

Days (other than Sunday) within the Octave of Christmas are not “heavy enough” (as a “solemnity” would be) to “outweigh” the Friday obligation to do some sort of penance as determined by the conferences of bishops.

In the 1962 Missale Romanum they are “II class”, which corresponds to the newer, non-traditional calendar’s “feast”. In the 2001 Missale Romanum they are categorized as second class, as “feasts”. If, however you are today at a parish named “St. John the Evangelist”, it is your parish’s patronal feast. You might argue that today you don’t have to stick to doing the penance we are obliged to do on Fridays.

Bottom line, the Octave of Christmas does not have the “weight” of the Octave of Easter. Therefore, we have to do some sort of penance today.

Let’s also pay attention to can. 1245. You can ask your parish priest to dispense you or commute your act of penance.

Can. 1245 Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops mentioned in can. 87, for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor [parish priest] can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works. A superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, if they are clerical and of pontifical right, can also do this in regard to his own subjects and others living in the house day and night.

Moreover, you can substitute another form of penance for abstaining from meat. Make it penitential, however. Abstinence from meat has good reasoning behind it. For some, however, there abstinence from other things can be of greater spiritual effect.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged friday, Friday abstinence, Friday penance, Octave of Christmas
16 Comments

Perspective

Posted on 27 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

This came to my email:

So during the 3-1/2 years of World War 2 that started with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and ended with the Surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945, the U.S. produced 22 aircraft carriers, 8 battleships, 48 cruisers, 349 destroyers, 420 destroyer escorts, 203 submarines, 34 million tons of merchant ships, 100,000 fighter aircraft, 98,000 bombers, 24,000 transport aircraft, 58,000 training aircraft, 93,000 tanks, 257,000 artillery pieces, 105,000 mortars, 3,000,000 machine guns, and 2,500,000 military trucks
We put 16.1 million men in uniform in the various armed services, invaded Africa, invaded Sicily and Italy, won the battle for the Atlantic, planned and executed D-Day, marched across the Pacific and Europe, developed the atomic bomb and ultimately conquered Japan and Germany.

It’s worth noting, that during the almost exact amount of time, the entire Obama administration couldn’t build a functioning web site.

The “AFFORDABLE” Care Act.

Posted in Liberals, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, Pres. Obama
15 Comments

If you can’t grasp this…

Posted on 27 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I saw this at my friend The Motley Monk‘s place.

Go read the first comment over there. It is PERFECT.

Posted in Liberals | Tagged liberals, Phil Robertson
10 Comments

Some images from the last few days.

Posted on 26 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is a view of the Christmas tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The display of Neapolitan figures around the tree this year is incoherent at best. However, I did like the pig crossing the bridge and the monkey with the cymbals. More on them later.

The Met – drat them – eliminated the nice metal buttons, which I enjoyed getting during my visits. Now they have these dreadful stickers. People put them on a board on the way out of the building.

Want some pastrami? I’ve got your pastrami right here. On rye. With a smear of spicy mustard. Pickles on the side. I now have another thing to dream about.

Yes, back to the Met. How can you not love a room that has a painting by Duccio?

On Christmas Eve/Day I must have panettone and prosecco. It’s my tradition founded on an experience I had many years ago now. R.I.P.

Fighting my way into Grand Central Terminal during the Christmas shoppers/tourists season.

On the Triborough Bridge… okay… the RFK.

How much is the skinned-goat in the window? The one with the curtailed tail? Bonus: a large metal tray of tripe.

Grilled soul in lemon…er… that would be sole. It’s a Greek thing, not an Infernal thing. If it’s Greek, it’ll probably involve lemon.

Posted in Lighter fare, On the road, What Fr. Z is up to | Tagged NYC
22 Comments

A “c”atholic group to be wary of

Posted on 26 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is something you should be aware of. This is from Accuracy in Media.

Obama Operative Masquerades as Catholic Expert

Christopher Hale, of a group called Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, has emerged on CNN and Fox News as a defender of Pope Francis against Rush Limbaugh’s charges that the pontiff spews Marxism.

The stories on CNN and Fox News cited Hale as a critic of Limbaugh and defender of the pope without noting his group’s connections to George Soros, the billionaire atheist, and that Hale worked on the “National Faith Vote Team” for the “Obama for America” 2012 presidential campaign organization.

Hale was also an intern in the Obama White House and worked for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

[…]

Be on the watch for groups like this. They urge catholics to put aside the issue of abortion under the cover of concern for broader social issues. They and their allies will demand that faithful outspoken Catholics not engage in “culture wars”, even though they are the ultimate “culture warriors”, but for the other side.

Posted in Liberals | Tagged Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, George Soros, liberals, Pres. Obama
27 Comments

Satanic woman attacks Card. Meisner, Cathedral during Christmas Mass

Posted on 26 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Der Spiegel (biretta tip to a reader) we read that an idiot woman who, apart from being deeply stupid, surely is doing Satan’s will disrupted the Christmas Mass of Card. Meisner in Cologne, Germany. It was also his Eminence’s 80th Birthday.

The idiot jumped up onto the altar, mostly unclad, with “I am God” scrawled across her gut.

The Cardinal rededicated the altar afterward.

This is going to happen more and more often.

Pastors, rectors, bishops… you have to start thinking about this sort of demonic activity.