While I'm waiting for my ride, I am killing time with the 'Net. I just took a test known as the "Wright, Adams, and Bernat Homophobia Scale". The test was written to determin whether someone was homophobic or ow whatever. It has been criticized as being too "Pro Gay" in it's questions or in it's interpretations. No matter, i took it any way.
I Scored 25, which rates me as a "High Grade Non-Homophobe". I answered the test question honestly, and didn't try to get an acceptable score. In fact, I was a little surprised at my score because of this.
I did, in fact, include my moral objections to homosexual activity and marriage.
The test is up at PBS' Frontline website. It's nice to know that even PBS can accept that having moral objections to sodomitic relationships doesn't make you an actual homophobe.
TRIUMPHALIST--YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Miracle Approved!
The healing of a french nun suffering from Parkinson's Disease has been approved as miraculous. The healing occurred after she and her community sought the intercession of John Paul II, and has been approved as genuine.
For people who are not familiar with the process, the Congregation for the Saints doesn't look for miracles, rather, it tries very hard to discredit miracles. To the point that at times they deliberately seek out Doctors, Scientists and experts who do not believe in miracles to investigate them. Only after every possible temporal explanation has been investigated and discarded is a miracle considered to be proven.
This miracle, and it's approval aren't about John Paul IIs pontificate, they are about his sanctity, and the results of his intercession.
This Miracle meets the requirement for John Paul II to be titled "Blessed", and allow the faithful to venerate him, but does not declare him a saint--to do that, another miracle, that is vetted and declared to be valid is needed. However, the declaration that he is a Blessed, means more people will be asking his intercession, and I don't doubt that a miracle will soon occur that will pave the way for his Canonization.
As popular as JPII was with the faithful, I realize that there are those on the Left and the Right of the Church who were dissatisfied with him. Remember this--Beatification isn't about the pontificate, it's about him practicing a life of heroic virtue, and his personal sanctity. John Paul II was a holy man, and witnessed through his life the virtue of Patience to an extreme degree, whether that was living under political oppression or dealing with the effects of chronic, debilitating disease.
On May 1, the date set for his Beatification, I hope everyone will join me in asking his intercession for the Reform of the Renewal.
For people who are not familiar with the process, the Congregation for the Saints doesn't look for miracles, rather, it tries very hard to discredit miracles. To the point that at times they deliberately seek out Doctors, Scientists and experts who do not believe in miracles to investigate them. Only after every possible temporal explanation has been investigated and discarded is a miracle considered to be proven.
This miracle, and it's approval aren't about John Paul IIs pontificate, they are about his sanctity, and the results of his intercession.
This Miracle meets the requirement for John Paul II to be titled "Blessed", and allow the faithful to venerate him, but does not declare him a saint--to do that, another miracle, that is vetted and declared to be valid is needed. However, the declaration that he is a Blessed, means more people will be asking his intercession, and I don't doubt that a miracle will soon occur that will pave the way for his Canonization.
As popular as JPII was with the faithful, I realize that there are those on the Left and the Right of the Church who were dissatisfied with him. Remember this--Beatification isn't about the pontificate, it's about him practicing a life of heroic virtue, and his personal sanctity. John Paul II was a holy man, and witnessed through his life the virtue of Patience to an extreme degree, whether that was living under political oppression or dealing with the effects of chronic, debilitating disease.
On May 1, the date set for his Beatification, I hope everyone will join me in asking his intercession for the Reform of the Renewal.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Some Brief Notes, Because I"m Going out of Town For A Few Days
The Chaplain Problem: 33% of Military Chaplains are Evangelical Protestants, while only about 3% of the personnel are. The largest percentage group in the military is Catholic. This is especially true for the Marine Corps, for some reason. Yet the Denomination is shortest supply as chaplains is Catholic. The shortage of Catholic chaplains does not mirror the shortage of priests in the civilian world, it's worse. The problem is that the priesthood has become the purview, in many diocese of liberal politics which look down on Military Service.
Seminaries also tend to discourage Military Chaplaincies. I knew one chaplain, while i was in the service who was straight up--he was the only priest from his diocese that entered the military as a chaplain, and his brother priests looked down on him for it, and considered it a 'dissolute' form of the priesthood. I also knew a Jesuit Chaplain--he had been encouraged to serve as a chaplain to get him out of the house and out of the province.
Despite the Church saying that Military Service is an honorable thing for Catholics, it's obvious that the liberal control of seminaries and formation over the last four or five decades has rendered this population one that is neglected by the Church in the US for political reasons.
Gay Marriage, Polygamy and the Stephanie Seymour Thing: The Canadian courts are wrestling with polygamy right now. it seems that a charge of polygamy was filed a couple of years back by a "Mormon" Sectarian, and the courts had to stop proceedings, because the legal ruling on gay marriage set precedents that applied as well to polygamy. Of course we were all told that the 'slippery slope' was a product of the fevered imaginations of homophobes and Christian Fundamentalists. Unfortunately, that seems untrue.
It's also proving untrue in regards to incest. When David Epstein was charged with incest because of his relationship with his adult daughter, people were rightfully disgusted. Yet the discussion of this made something clear: the ICK factor remained, yet when subjected to the same legal logic as gay sex and relationships, liberal pundits were unable to defend their disapproval on any other grounds than it was repulsive. They were unable to produce logical structures to defend the legal status of consensual adult incest. And to the credit of many of them, they admitted it, and that it gave them pause.
Now the gossip wires are singing with the publication of pictures of ex-model Stephanie Seymour kissing her teenage son. I will flatly say i do not believe that anything wrong occurred--rather, I think that some slimy paparazzi shot rolls of film hoping to to develop one that would make him some money with which he would finance his untermenschliche lifestyle in whatever foul lair he inhabits. He managed to catch a shot that looks like something other than it is. But what disturbs me is this, when you go around and read the comments people have left on various sites concerning this, about one in five (when I counted them) can be summed up in the following manner: "She's hot/He's cute. it's not our business what they do together. Peoples sex lives are up to them".
People had become innoculated by various arguments allowing various sexual perversions, particularly Gay Sex, and so could not construct a moral argument. Rather, they felt that since the two in question were attractive, it was only natural that they would want to do the nasty. And, it was ok for them to do so, becuase society has no right to "dictate what is right or wrong for the individual".
Yeah, there is a slippery slope, and were not on it, we're careening down it.
Prayer Request: Please Pray for Sophia T--she's had a rough time.
Seminaries also tend to discourage Military Chaplaincies. I knew one chaplain, while i was in the service who was straight up--he was the only priest from his diocese that entered the military as a chaplain, and his brother priests looked down on him for it, and considered it a 'dissolute' form of the priesthood. I also knew a Jesuit Chaplain--he had been encouraged to serve as a chaplain to get him out of the house and out of the province.
Despite the Church saying that Military Service is an honorable thing for Catholics, it's obvious that the liberal control of seminaries and formation over the last four or five decades has rendered this population one that is neglected by the Church in the US for political reasons.
Gay Marriage, Polygamy and the Stephanie Seymour Thing: The Canadian courts are wrestling with polygamy right now. it seems that a charge of polygamy was filed a couple of years back by a "Mormon" Sectarian, and the courts had to stop proceedings, because the legal ruling on gay marriage set precedents that applied as well to polygamy. Of course we were all told that the 'slippery slope' was a product of the fevered imaginations of homophobes and Christian Fundamentalists. Unfortunately, that seems untrue.
It's also proving untrue in regards to incest. When David Epstein was charged with incest because of his relationship with his adult daughter, people were rightfully disgusted. Yet the discussion of this made something clear: the ICK factor remained, yet when subjected to the same legal logic as gay sex and relationships, liberal pundits were unable to defend their disapproval on any other grounds than it was repulsive. They were unable to produce logical structures to defend the legal status of consensual adult incest. And to the credit of many of them, they admitted it, and that it gave them pause.
Now the gossip wires are singing with the publication of pictures of ex-model Stephanie Seymour kissing her teenage son. I will flatly say i do not believe that anything wrong occurred--rather, I think that some slimy paparazzi shot rolls of film hoping to to develop one that would make him some money with which he would finance his untermenschliche lifestyle in whatever foul lair he inhabits. He managed to catch a shot that looks like something other than it is. But what disturbs me is this, when you go around and read the comments people have left on various sites concerning this, about one in five (when I counted them) can be summed up in the following manner: "She's hot/He's cute. it's not our business what they do together. Peoples sex lives are up to them".
People had become innoculated by various arguments allowing various sexual perversions, particularly Gay Sex, and so could not construct a moral argument. Rather, they felt that since the two in question were attractive, it was only natural that they would want to do the nasty. And, it was ok for them to do so, becuase society has no right to "dictate what is right or wrong for the individual".
Yeah, there is a slippery slope, and were not on it, we're careening down it.
Prayer Request: Please Pray for Sophia T--she's had a rough time.
Bandinage
So Son-in-Law and I were looking at the flier from Harbor Freight, and thinking about tools. Daughter #2 asked about it and I told her that this was "man stuff" and she shouldn't move in on our territory. She informed metht she took classes in construction at Prosser (a local Vo-Tech high school--one of the best in the country, actually) and i told her it wasn't my fault that the local education department encouraged women not to keep to their place.
I got a nice, sharp punch for that, but it didn't stop me. So we continued to snark at each other until she said "Yeah, but Mom has a book You Don't Need a Man to Fix It!". I placed my hands on her shoulders, looked her in the eye and said "But Katie, men don't need a book You Don't Need a Woman to Fix It." She stared at me for a minute, her face plainly saying "I got Nuthin'", and said "Sometimes I hate you".
Score one for me!
Harbor Freight and Bass Pro Shop--the two good things about living at the Falls of the Ohio!
I got a nice, sharp punch for that, but it didn't stop me. So we continued to snark at each other until she said "Yeah, but Mom has a book You Don't Need a Man to Fix It!". I placed my hands on her shoulders, looked her in the eye and said "But Katie, men don't need a book You Don't Need a Woman to Fix It." She stared at me for a minute, her face plainly saying "I got Nuthin'", and said "Sometimes I hate you".
Score one for me!
Harbor Freight and Bass Pro Shop--the two good things about living at the Falls of the Ohio!
*SUMAY-ACK!* RAHT UPSIDE DE HAIYUD!
I have noticed on numerous occasions that abortion providers and advocates have a loose adherence to the law. In fact, if you keep up with such things the legal proceedings against them for violating various laws are about a monthly occurrence. From violations of sanitary regulations for medical clinics, to using unlicensed practitioners, to ignoring laws requiring that instances of sexual abuse and statutory rape be reported, there is a pervasive ethic of ignoring laws that might not preserve abortion as a sacred right and duty of all women.
But mostly, these are done by small independent or affiliated clinics, not by major institutions like, for instance, Vanderbilt University. Until now.
Vanderbilt University decided to make all participants in it's nursing residency program, and it's nursing school, sign a document saying that they would participate in abortion procedures. Too bad for Vanderbilt University, that's illegal. And even worse that complaints were made and a legal case filed.
The complaint was filed with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. And that's where the smack comes in. Vanderbuilt is one of the top 15 recipients of federal grant money to it's nursing program, at 313.6 million dollars. And the law is quite clear on this: no institution or activity that receives federal funding can require anyone to participate in an abortion. That's not an Executive Order, that's a legal statute. With this much money on the line, an official complaint carries huge weight--because if Vanderbilt doesn't comply, it will lose the cash.
Well, the complaint was filed Tuesday, and today Vanderbilt has announced that it is changing it's policy. The pledge to do abortions doesn't require a signature, and applicants and students are directed to the appropriate place to register the fact they won't participate in abortions if they assigned to do them. That didn't take long. One person who had thecourge to speak out was able to change this injustice.
Something that has come up with this issue though, is worth thinking about. The forms required were not printed to the same standard as all the rest of the forms in Vanderbilt's admissions package, and seem to have been inserted into it by someone in the School of Nursing. Moreover, the form was in clear violation of the University's own policies. I will suggest that this wasn't a policy of the University, but of some activist academic who thought to make an end run around the Administration and the Law by creating her--and I am sure it's a woman, so don't scream I'm sexist; I know that--ow little requirement under the assumption that it would be lost in the administrative sea of paper and not come to light. And if an official complaint with the HHSOCR hadn't been filed, it may well have remained under the Radar. More evidence that abortion advocates do not feel that law and rules apply to them.
But mostly, these are done by small independent or affiliated clinics, not by major institutions like, for instance, Vanderbilt University. Until now.
Vanderbilt University decided to make all participants in it's nursing residency program, and it's nursing school, sign a document saying that they would participate in abortion procedures. Too bad for Vanderbilt University, that's illegal. And even worse that complaints were made and a legal case filed.
The complaint was filed with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. And that's where the smack comes in. Vanderbuilt is one of the top 15 recipients of federal grant money to it's nursing program, at 313.6 million dollars. And the law is quite clear on this: no institution or activity that receives federal funding can require anyone to participate in an abortion. That's not an Executive Order, that's a legal statute. With this much money on the line, an official complaint carries huge weight--because if Vanderbilt doesn't comply, it will lose the cash.
Well, the complaint was filed Tuesday, and today Vanderbilt has announced that it is changing it's policy. The pledge to do abortions doesn't require a signature, and applicants and students are directed to the appropriate place to register the fact they won't participate in abortions if they assigned to do them. That didn't take long. One person who had thecourge to speak out was able to change this injustice.
Something that has come up with this issue though, is worth thinking about. The forms required were not printed to the same standard as all the rest of the forms in Vanderbilt's admissions package, and seem to have been inserted into it by someone in the School of Nursing. Moreover, the form was in clear violation of the University's own policies. I will suggest that this wasn't a policy of the University, but of some activist academic who thought to make an end run around the Administration and the Law by creating her--and I am sure it's a woman, so don't scream I'm sexist; I know that--ow little requirement under the assumption that it would be lost in the administrative sea of paper and not come to light. And if an official complaint with the HHSOCR hadn't been filed, it may well have remained under the Radar. More evidence that abortion advocates do not feel that law and rules apply to them.
Yesterday, It Was Grumbles, Today, It's Grins.
It's and interesting time to be a Catholic, but mostly in the Chinese sense of an interesting time. However, not everything is bad news on the Beadsqueezer front. Some things are actually very good, and can give me a warm fuzzy feeling deep down inside, where I used to keep my nihilistic angst.
One of the things that has given me a warm and fuzzy feeling is the Handmaids of Mary. This group has been founded in a Parish in the UK, St. Raphael's, Surrey. now I realize that not everyone feels that "altar girls" are a bad idea, but I do--I also think that altar girls have had a negative impact on priestly vocations, and have confused women about devotion and service within the Church. But this parish in Surrey has come up with something to counteract the altar girl thing, while teaching girls that they have a valued, an indispensable, place in the Church and inculcating a Devotion to our Blessed Mother. The most visible thing they do is at Mass: They kneel at the foot of the Altar, (by the communion rail) in imitation of Our Lady, Mary of Magdala and Mary, wife of Clopas. While they do this they wear a specific garb consisting of a white tunic, that recalls the purity of Baptism, a blue hood that reminds us of the duty of prayer and of being the salt of the Earth, and a blue sash, that recalls one to the wonder of devotion to Mary, Mother of God. This lets the young girls see that Holy Women have played a key role in the Church since the beginning, and continue to do so today, that this role is highly honored, and that they don't need to stop being women and imitate men to have a valuable and honored place in the Body of Christ. You can read about them at www.straphael.org.uk/handmaids_of_mary.htm This is really heartening, and I wish we could bring it to our parish!
Of course, that's not all that's cool in the world right now. Slate, and Voice of America have taken note of a new phenomena in the Church--the rise of Religious Communities that actually attract large numbers of vocations and adhere to the traditional norms of religious life and observance. Both of these organizations, neither of which are church affiliated, have recently published pieces on the fact that traditional communities of women are flourishing and growing. Slate mentioned the Abbey of the Annunciation at Clear Creek, the Dominican Sisters in Nashville, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Sisters of life and other communities, and even went so far as to mention the role of Rogerian Therapy and encounter groups in the decline of the older Communities, especially the IHM sisters, and the commonplace violation of the Vow of Chastity in the communities under the influence of this and other practices. (What wasn't mentioned, and really I can't see why Slate would make the distinction with it's secular view of things, was that most of these violations of chastity among communities under the influence of Rogerian Theory were same sex activity.) Voice of America took note of the Nashville Dominicans and the fact that one third of their sisters are under 30 (This in a community that was founded in the 1800s!) and in a community of 270 professed sisters, this years incoming postulant class was 27--10% of the professed sisters numbers. So we see that even the secular media are noticing that far from being dead, the religious life is being renewed in accordance with tradition, and at least one source has noted the role or unchaste sisters and novel practices have played in the decline and moribund status of dissident orders.
In another development, one that has the potential to be a two edged sword but that I find entertaining at least, is the ruling that Manhattan College--a nominally Catholic school--isn't really a Religious Institution, and that it's labor policies must adhere to those of secular institutions. it has lost the exemptions that religious institutions have in hiring and managing employees. What makes this entertaining to me is the fact that the NLRB used Manhattan Colleges own literature against it, proving that it wasn't engaged in any recognizably Catholic Activities. As the College has said that it is not trying to promote the Catholic Faith, it can't claim a religious identity. Since most bishops are negligent of their duty under Ex Cord Ecclessia, perhaps the threat of the Tax Man and increased government regulation will bring some of the marginal schools back to where they are supposed to be. This goes hand in hand with events in the legal battle that Notre Dame is engaged in, over their arrest of 88 people who were protesting Obama's reception of an honorary degree. It seems that since there were people demonstrating in favor of Obama at the same time, whose position was identical to the protesters except for their message, the courts now have to consider the selective enforcement that Notre Dame engaged in. The dissenting schools are learning that they can't have it both ways, from the hands of the secular authorities they threw their lot in with in the Great Lakes Declaration. One cannot safely lie down with lions, and the secular authorities are the ones who,for completely different motives than the negligent bishops should be having, are policing the dissenting schools that still call themselves Catholic, while being anything but.
Right now, even the ongoing persecution of Christians, which globally sees 4 out of every 5 people who are experiencing oppression for religious reasons being Christian, has a bright spot, from an unexpected corner.
Hungary, Italy, France and Poland, all members of the EU are formally asking the EU to take steps to help combat the persecution and murder of Christians. Secular Europe is thinking things through, and realizing that their calls for tolerance and diversity must apply to Christians, as well as everybody else, or they are simply hypocrisy masquerading and enlightenment. So even on this front, things are not as bleak as we sometimes feel.
And just the icing on the cake, the most blatantly Anti-Catholic Anglophone nation on Earth, England, is seeing several of it's Bishops of the Church Established By Law (Instead of by Christ) convert to the faith this month, and be ordained as Priests in the Catholic Faith. Edwin Barnes, (until his resignation from the C of E, the Rt. Rev. Edwin Barnes, retired Bishop of Richborough) will be received into the Catholic Church at 9:30 am on the 21st of January. He is slated to be ordained to the Diaconate on the 11th of February and to the Priesthood on the 5th of March. he isn't alone, by any means. Today, the 13th of January, former Anglican Bishops John Broadhusrt, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton will be ordained to the priesthood, after being received into the Church on 1 January. It's expected that over the next few months 50 Anglican clergymen and their congregations will be received into the Church, with the Clergy being ordained to the Priesthood. This is surely cause for rejoicing, and it seems probable that after the first flood there will be a steady stream--a small stream to be sure--of Anglicans will convert to the Faith as dissatisfaction with the C of E and its Eratsianism and Relativism continues to alienate those few who still attend.
Looking at these things I see reason for hope, and for joy. It's clear that even in these dark times, the Holy Spirit is providing for the Church, and correcting God's flock through an inexorable process that is so subtle, we see why the Holy Spirit is likened to breath.
One of the things that has given me a warm and fuzzy feeling is the Handmaids of Mary. This group has been founded in a Parish in the UK, St. Raphael's, Surrey. now I realize that not everyone feels that "altar girls" are a bad idea, but I do--I also think that altar girls have had a negative impact on priestly vocations, and have confused women about devotion and service within the Church. But this parish in Surrey has come up with something to counteract the altar girl thing, while teaching girls that they have a valued, an indispensable, place in the Church and inculcating a Devotion to our Blessed Mother. The most visible thing they do is at Mass: They kneel at the foot of the Altar, (by the communion rail) in imitation of Our Lady, Mary of Magdala and Mary, wife of Clopas. While they do this they wear a specific garb consisting of a white tunic, that recalls the purity of Baptism, a blue hood that reminds us of the duty of prayer and of being the salt of the Earth, and a blue sash, that recalls one to the wonder of devotion to Mary, Mother of God. This lets the young girls see that Holy Women have played a key role in the Church since the beginning, and continue to do so today, that this role is highly honored, and that they don't need to stop being women and imitate men to have a valuable and honored place in the Body of Christ. You can read about them at www.straphael.org.uk/handmaids_of_mary.htm This is really heartening, and I wish we could bring it to our parish!
Of course, that's not all that's cool in the world right now. Slate, and Voice of America have taken note of a new phenomena in the Church--the rise of Religious Communities that actually attract large numbers of vocations and adhere to the traditional norms of religious life and observance. Both of these organizations, neither of which are church affiliated, have recently published pieces on the fact that traditional communities of women are flourishing and growing. Slate mentioned the Abbey of the Annunciation at Clear Creek, the Dominican Sisters in Nashville, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Sisters of life and other communities, and even went so far as to mention the role of Rogerian Therapy and encounter groups in the decline of the older Communities, especially the IHM sisters, and the commonplace violation of the Vow of Chastity in the communities under the influence of this and other practices. (What wasn't mentioned, and really I can't see why Slate would make the distinction with it's secular view of things, was that most of these violations of chastity among communities under the influence of Rogerian Theory were same sex activity.) Voice of America took note of the Nashville Dominicans and the fact that one third of their sisters are under 30 (This in a community that was founded in the 1800s!) and in a community of 270 professed sisters, this years incoming postulant class was 27--10% of the professed sisters numbers. So we see that even the secular media are noticing that far from being dead, the religious life is being renewed in accordance with tradition, and at least one source has noted the role or unchaste sisters and novel practices have played in the decline and moribund status of dissident orders.
In another development, one that has the potential to be a two edged sword but that I find entertaining at least, is the ruling that Manhattan College--a nominally Catholic school--isn't really a Religious Institution, and that it's labor policies must adhere to those of secular institutions. it has lost the exemptions that religious institutions have in hiring and managing employees. What makes this entertaining to me is the fact that the NLRB used Manhattan Colleges own literature against it, proving that it wasn't engaged in any recognizably Catholic Activities. As the College has said that it is not trying to promote the Catholic Faith, it can't claim a religious identity. Since most bishops are negligent of their duty under Ex Cord Ecclessia, perhaps the threat of the Tax Man and increased government regulation will bring some of the marginal schools back to where they are supposed to be. This goes hand in hand with events in the legal battle that Notre Dame is engaged in, over their arrest of 88 people who were protesting Obama's reception of an honorary degree. It seems that since there were people demonstrating in favor of Obama at the same time, whose position was identical to the protesters except for their message, the courts now have to consider the selective enforcement that Notre Dame engaged in. The dissenting schools are learning that they can't have it both ways, from the hands of the secular authorities they threw their lot in with in the Great Lakes Declaration. One cannot safely lie down with lions, and the secular authorities are the ones who,for completely different motives than the negligent bishops should be having, are policing the dissenting schools that still call themselves Catholic, while being anything but.
Right now, even the ongoing persecution of Christians, which globally sees 4 out of every 5 people who are experiencing oppression for religious reasons being Christian, has a bright spot, from an unexpected corner.
Hungary, Italy, France and Poland, all members of the EU are formally asking the EU to take steps to help combat the persecution and murder of Christians. Secular Europe is thinking things through, and realizing that their calls for tolerance and diversity must apply to Christians, as well as everybody else, or they are simply hypocrisy masquerading and enlightenment. So even on this front, things are not as bleak as we sometimes feel.
And just the icing on the cake, the most blatantly Anti-Catholic Anglophone nation on Earth, England, is seeing several of it's Bishops of the Church Established By Law (Instead of by Christ) convert to the faith this month, and be ordained as Priests in the Catholic Faith. Edwin Barnes, (until his resignation from the C of E, the Rt. Rev. Edwin Barnes, retired Bishop of Richborough) will be received into the Catholic Church at 9:30 am on the 21st of January. He is slated to be ordained to the Diaconate on the 11th of February and to the Priesthood on the 5th of March. he isn't alone, by any means. Today, the 13th of January, former Anglican Bishops John Broadhusrt, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton will be ordained to the priesthood, after being received into the Church on 1 January. It's expected that over the next few months 50 Anglican clergymen and their congregations will be received into the Church, with the Clergy being ordained to the Priesthood. This is surely cause for rejoicing, and it seems probable that after the first flood there will be a steady stream--a small stream to be sure--of Anglicans will convert to the Faith as dissatisfaction with the C of E and its Eratsianism and Relativism continues to alienate those few who still attend.
Looking at these things I see reason for hope, and for joy. It's clear that even in these dark times, the Holy Spirit is providing for the Church, and correcting God's flock through an inexorable process that is so subtle, we see why the Holy Spirit is likened to breath.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
MY OLDEST GRANDDAUGHTER ROCKS!!!!
Daughter #2 made a new recipe for dinner, that she got from Rachel Ray. The adults liked it, but the kids didn't. My oldest granddaughter absolutely despised it. She didn't want to eat it, at all.
The Queen of the House decided that after dinner, she would have as a desert the fancy chocolate orange candy she got for Christmass*. The little ones all wanted a piece as well, of course. Mommo--as she is known informally--told them they had to eat more of their dinner. My oldest granddaughter simply said how much she didn't like the dinner she received. Mommo insisted, however, that she eat it. When the Master Wombat stated again that she really disliked dinner, Mommo suggested to her that she take a big bite, and offer it up for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.
The Master Wombat asked how, and I told her to just tell Jesus that she didn't like it, and that she was going to eat a big bite of it so that more people could go to heaven. She looked a little more than dubious, but took a big bit, held her hands together in the traditional posture of prayer, chewed an swallowed. you could see her praying silently as she chewed. Like Mommo said--you could see a soul get our of purgatory on that one! It looked like a scene from some as yet unproduced sentimental Catholic movie!
Interestingly enough, the offer of a fancy chocolate couldn't get her to chew and swallow what was on offer for dinner, but getting someone into heaven could from purgatory could.
My Granddaughter Rocks!
*I'm still putting the Mass back into Christmass!
The Queen of the House decided that after dinner, she would have as a desert the fancy chocolate orange candy she got for Christmass*. The little ones all wanted a piece as well, of course. Mommo--as she is known informally--told them they had to eat more of their dinner. My oldest granddaughter simply said how much she didn't like the dinner she received. Mommo insisted, however, that she eat it. When the Master Wombat stated again that she really disliked dinner, Mommo suggested to her that she take a big bite, and offer it up for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.
The Master Wombat asked how, and I told her to just tell Jesus that she didn't like it, and that she was going to eat a big bite of it so that more people could go to heaven. She looked a little more than dubious, but took a big bit, held her hands together in the traditional posture of prayer, chewed an swallowed. you could see her praying silently as she chewed. Like Mommo said--you could see a soul get our of purgatory on that one! It looked like a scene from some as yet unproduced sentimental Catholic movie!
Interestingly enough, the offer of a fancy chocolate couldn't get her to chew and swallow what was on offer for dinner, but getting someone into heaven could from purgatory could.
My Granddaughter Rocks!
*I'm still putting the Mass back into Christmass!
Grumbles of a GOG*
Well, today in the news was dismal. Speaking of dismal, did you know that the word "dismal" originally meant swamp? Like the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia was originally just "The Great Dismal". And the news today is swamp like. As in icky, slimy, vaguely evil and foreboding.
For instance, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are foolishly wasting time, energy, brain power and grant money to find that *gasp* there are regional differences in slang an dialect even on twitter! I wonder if any of the twits (well, what do you call people on twitter?) who sent the 380,000 messages sent during one week of March 2010 new that their messages were being read by professors with nothing better to do, or that some how it was OK to read their messages for research? Glad I'm not on twitter.
Of course, it's a hard week in winter this week, with 49 of the 50 (Note to politicians--there are only 50) states reporting snow. Only good old Florida reports not receiving any Canadian Duck Dandruff. Disturbingly, comments on a Hawaii TV stations web post about the weather are sort of trying to blame it on Obama. Even though I am Not a Friend of the Chicago Messiah, I can't get my mind around the degree of politicization and partisan passion that decides that a weather report is grounds for criticizing the president and his policies effect on civil rights--especially when some of the policies criticized aren't even policies. The left is obviously not alone in producing Moon Bats.
Speaking of blessedly snow free Florida, the police in Ocala are looking for the women who had a nice brawl outside of a convenience store and gas station. Nobody called the cops, so police learned of the brawl when a video was posted to the 'net. Yep, in Ocala it's more important to post a cool video than to call the cops. The women involved were vigorous enough that one who was wearing Snookie-type clothing has the tight sheathing ride up in such a way as to prove that she favored abbreviated thongs, and other had their clothing ripped or pulled and ended up fighting in the mode of the ancient Gauls and Greeks. I have kin in Ocala--I might not admit that so often in the future, and I'm glad I don't live there.
Of course, I'm also glad that I don't live in Illinois. By a vote of 60-57, the lawmakers of that state have decided to raise personal income taxes by 66%, and business taxes by 50%. So not only will people with jobs take home less money every payday, businesses now have greater expenses, and so will hire fewer people. I wonder why these legislators haven't realized that experience shows that too large an increase actually lowers revenue? (I'm thinking here of the excise tax on boats from a couple of decades ago--it was so egregious that it put many manufactures or of business, threw people out of work, cost more to collect than it generated and depresses ales tax revenue. Legislators unfortunately not subjected to any legal test for historical knowledge or commonsense!) Of course, I knew I didn't want to live in Illinois when they instituted the FOID card, so it's not anything new to me.
Now down in Palm Springs, the police cracked down on public sex, what our British cousins call dogging--hoking up with anonymous strangers in public. Oddly enough, it's angered the Gay community there. Palm Springs has a reputation as a Gay friendly area, but at the same time it has a problem with public sex. Since most of the arrests made were of men trying to get it on with men, this is being interpreted as anti-gay. The problem is, that having sex and exposing yourself in public is illegal, even in California. And most of the people doing this in Palm Springs were Gay men. So when the police put their undercover cops out to catch the perps, they caught...Gay Men. I"m sorry, if the majority of violators of the law are of a certain group that doesn't make the operation anti-anybody--it's anti crime. Can you imagine someone saying a crackdown on robbery by setting up a false fence to buy stolen goods is "Anti Thief" and erecting thieves as a victim population based on the illegality of one of their behaviors--stealing? Stopping people from having sexwith strangers is both for the protection of the people themselves, keeping them from contacting psycho killers, etc, and for the good order of the community. Except these guys were gay and so the police chief had to resign over his "homophobia". The problem with "Gay Rights" is the attempt to set up, not just tolerance, but special protected status for whatever gets them off sexually.
Finally, I'm about fed up with the MSM and the Democratic party members, both in office and out, who are trying to use the Arizona Tragedy to drive their narrative. It's not just tacky, it blatantly dishonest. Fortunately, the American people are proving wiser, with 57% saying that the shootings were not driven by politics or rhetoric. However, that hasn't stopped people from trying to blame, Palin, the TEA Party movement or talk radio for the horrific event. Even when the facts indicate otherwise. Palin is being blamed for putting Rep. Giffords on a political target list with cross-hairs, but the shooters obsession with Rep Giffords dates to the 2008 election--when the Daily Kos placed her on what it called a 'target list' of Blue Dog Democrats to be defeated in the primary elections. The political right is being blamed in the press when acquaintances describe the shooters politics--in so far as some one that crazy can be said to have politics and not delusions--as liberal. More over, when a Representative from California can say that if it wasn't rhetoric this time, it will be next time, we have a consensus--among an influential few--that the problem is free speech. They should look at the political rhetoric of the 19th century. And as for it being lax gun laws, they should again look at the rhetoric of the 19th century, and see that it was coupled with an er of no gun laws. This doesn't even touch the hypocrisy of Paul Kanjorski, the Ex-Representative from PA, who is calling for civil discourse and rhetoric, when on 23 Oct, in reference to Rick Scott who was running for Governor of Florida,
he said: "..they ought to have him and shoot him.Put him against the wall and shoot him". No, I don't put much stock in Democratic calls to "tone down the rhetoric". Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has pretty much proved the point that the Left is trying to capitalize on this mass murder, by issuing a fund raising letter for his 2012 campaign that starts with the phrase "Given the recent tragedy in Arizona..."
Of course, when it comes to distortion and lies in politics, no one exceeds the Devotees of Moloch, who were immediately, even before the body count was finalized, saying that this was an example of anti-choice violence. We are reaping the result of that bit of 'toning down the rhetoric' even now, as yesterday morning it was fond that St. Boniface Church in Anaheim California had been defaced with a spray painted call to "Kill the Cathlics (sic)". Yeah, I can pretty well see the Left as champions of Civil Discourse.
On the bright side, Larry Page, the founder of Google, bought himself a nice boat. Actually, under law, things start being ships at 65 feet, and since this one is 193 feet, it's a ship. And a nice one. I don't begrudge him his new vessel: he invented an innovated product, that most people use, and marketed it successfully. he earned his money. Not only that, he bought wisely. he purchased "Senses" from New Zealander Sir Douglass Meyer for 45 million, which is a bargain for a mega yacht. not only that, he selected a vessel with a reasonable design as well as luxury--one need only compare it to the vessels of his peers to see that it has much less top hamper, and will so prove more seaworthy and comfortable. It's also about half the size of the boats owned by his peers as well--conspicuous consumption to be sure, but tasteful conspicuous consumption. However, I reserve the right to retract all the positive feelings and statements if he doesn't use it, a lot. It's much too fine a vessel to keep on a mooring for pride of ownership.
*GOG = Grouchy Old Guy
For instance, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are foolishly wasting time, energy, brain power and grant money to find that *gasp* there are regional differences in slang an dialect even on twitter! I wonder if any of the twits (well, what do you call people on twitter?) who sent the 380,000 messages sent during one week of March 2010 new that their messages were being read by professors with nothing better to do, or that some how it was OK to read their messages for research? Glad I'm not on twitter.
Of course, it's a hard week in winter this week, with 49 of the 50 (Note to politicians--there are only 50) states reporting snow. Only good old Florida reports not receiving any Canadian Duck Dandruff. Disturbingly, comments on a Hawaii TV stations web post about the weather are sort of trying to blame it on Obama. Even though I am Not a Friend of the Chicago Messiah, I can't get my mind around the degree of politicization and partisan passion that decides that a weather report is grounds for criticizing the president and his policies effect on civil rights--especially when some of the policies criticized aren't even policies. The left is obviously not alone in producing Moon Bats.
Speaking of blessedly snow free Florida, the police in Ocala are looking for the women who had a nice brawl outside of a convenience store and gas station. Nobody called the cops, so police learned of the brawl when a video was posted to the 'net. Yep, in Ocala it's more important to post a cool video than to call the cops. The women involved were vigorous enough that one who was wearing Snookie-type clothing has the tight sheathing ride up in such a way as to prove that she favored abbreviated thongs, and other had their clothing ripped or pulled and ended up fighting in the mode of the ancient Gauls and Greeks. I have kin in Ocala--I might not admit that so often in the future, and I'm glad I don't live there.
Of course, I'm also glad that I don't live in Illinois. By a vote of 60-57, the lawmakers of that state have decided to raise personal income taxes by 66%, and business taxes by 50%. So not only will people with jobs take home less money every payday, businesses now have greater expenses, and so will hire fewer people. I wonder why these legislators haven't realized that experience shows that too large an increase actually lowers revenue? (I'm thinking here of the excise tax on boats from a couple of decades ago--it was so egregious that it put many manufactures or of business, threw people out of work, cost more to collect than it generated and depresses ales tax revenue. Legislators unfortunately not subjected to any legal test for historical knowledge or commonsense!) Of course, I knew I didn't want to live in Illinois when they instituted the FOID card, so it's not anything new to me.
Now down in Palm Springs, the police cracked down on public sex, what our British cousins call dogging--hoking up with anonymous strangers in public. Oddly enough, it's angered the Gay community there. Palm Springs has a reputation as a Gay friendly area, but at the same time it has a problem with public sex. Since most of the arrests made were of men trying to get it on with men, this is being interpreted as anti-gay. The problem is, that having sex and exposing yourself in public is illegal, even in California. And most of the people doing this in Palm Springs were Gay men. So when the police put their undercover cops out to catch the perps, they caught...Gay Men. I"m sorry, if the majority of violators of the law are of a certain group that doesn't make the operation anti-anybody--it's anti crime. Can you imagine someone saying a crackdown on robbery by setting up a false fence to buy stolen goods is "Anti Thief" and erecting thieves as a victim population based on the illegality of one of their behaviors--stealing? Stopping people from having sexwith strangers is both for the protection of the people themselves, keeping them from contacting psycho killers, etc, and for the good order of the community. Except these guys were gay and so the police chief had to resign over his "homophobia". The problem with "Gay Rights" is the attempt to set up, not just tolerance, but special protected status for whatever gets them off sexually.
Finally, I'm about fed up with the MSM and the Democratic party members, both in office and out, who are trying to use the Arizona Tragedy to drive their narrative. It's not just tacky, it blatantly dishonest. Fortunately, the American people are proving wiser, with 57% saying that the shootings were not driven by politics or rhetoric. However, that hasn't stopped people from trying to blame, Palin, the TEA Party movement or talk radio for the horrific event. Even when the facts indicate otherwise. Palin is being blamed for putting Rep. Giffords on a political target list with cross-hairs, but the shooters obsession with Rep Giffords dates to the 2008 election--when the Daily Kos placed her on what it called a 'target list' of Blue Dog Democrats to be defeated in the primary elections. The political right is being blamed in the press when acquaintances describe the shooters politics--in so far as some one that crazy can be said to have politics and not delusions--as liberal. More over, when a Representative from California can say that if it wasn't rhetoric this time, it will be next time, we have a consensus--among an influential few--that the problem is free speech. They should look at the political rhetoric of the 19th century. And as for it being lax gun laws, they should again look at the rhetoric of the 19th century, and see that it was coupled with an er of no gun laws. This doesn't even touch the hypocrisy of Paul Kanjorski, the Ex-Representative from PA, who is calling for civil discourse and rhetoric, when on 23 Oct, in reference to Rick Scott who was running for Governor of Florida,
he said: "..they ought to have him and shoot him.Put him against the wall and shoot him". No, I don't put much stock in Democratic calls to "tone down the rhetoric". Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has pretty much proved the point that the Left is trying to capitalize on this mass murder, by issuing a fund raising letter for his 2012 campaign that starts with the phrase "Given the recent tragedy in Arizona..."
Of course, when it comes to distortion and lies in politics, no one exceeds the Devotees of Moloch, who were immediately, even before the body count was finalized, saying that this was an example of anti-choice violence. We are reaping the result of that bit of 'toning down the rhetoric' even now, as yesterday morning it was fond that St. Boniface Church in Anaheim California had been defaced with a spray painted call to "Kill the Cathlics (sic)". Yeah, I can pretty well see the Left as champions of Civil Discourse.
On the bright side, Larry Page, the founder of Google, bought himself a nice boat. Actually, under law, things start being ships at 65 feet, and since this one is 193 feet, it's a ship. And a nice one. I don't begrudge him his new vessel: he invented an innovated product, that most people use, and marketed it successfully. he earned his money. Not only that, he bought wisely. he purchased "Senses" from New Zealander Sir Douglass Meyer for 45 million, which is a bargain for a mega yacht. not only that, he selected a vessel with a reasonable design as well as luxury--one need only compare it to the vessels of his peers to see that it has much less top hamper, and will so prove more seaworthy and comfortable. It's also about half the size of the boats owned by his peers as well--conspicuous consumption to be sure, but tasteful conspicuous consumption. However, I reserve the right to retract all the positive feelings and statements if he doesn't use it, a lot. It's much too fine a vessel to keep on a mooring for pride of ownership.
*GOG = Grouchy Old Guy
Monday, January 10, 2011
Twenty-Eight years ago today, in Fayetteville, NC, two little girls were born. They were very tiny, being premature by almost three months. They were flown to UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital, for Neo-Natal Intensive Care.
They are my daughters, who have grown to be beautiful, strong women any father would be proud of.
I am very Blessed by God in these two women.
And if youever wonder why I am so anti-abortion, I consider the worry and care we had over them, and our joy in them, then compare that to the fact that you can choose to abort children at that point of development.
Not to mention that they cooked dinner tonight, and it rocked. And they give me back as good as they get when we snark at each other for fun!
They are my daughters, who have grown to be beautiful, strong women any father would be proud of.
I am very Blessed by God in these two women.
And if youever wonder why I am so anti-abortion, I consider the worry and care we had over them, and our joy in them, then compare that to the fact that you can choose to abort children at that point of development.
Not to mention that they cooked dinner tonight, and it rocked. And they give me back as good as they get when we snark at each other for fun!
Mercedarians Rock!
Go look them up! And by all accounts,they are very solid and orthodox, as a Community!
I Don't Want to Blog Today.
I don't want to blog today, at least, not in the sense of reusing news stories and current events and then writing about them. And I'm not up for a deeply thoughtful post about some aspect of the faith. I'm uninterested in writing about some rambling crazy who shot a congresswoman who was depicted in gun sights by a republican talking head and placed on a target list by a democratic talking head. I don't want to hold forth on the the Australian Cardinal who spoke his mind and is now under attack from everyone. I don't even want to write about murderous medical practices.
Sometimes, I just don't want to play.
Life can be difficult. It's supposedly better to avoid the word "difficult" (or the "problem") and use the word "challenge". I don't think so. A challenge implies the ability to decline it. But difficulty in life arises, and you don't get a choice. You have to face it. Some people have financial difficulties, some people have family difficulties. Some peoples health gives them difficulties. There are all sorts of difficulties.
Sometimes this give us the impression that life is a test. Or a travail that we must endure. Not so. Our lives are gifts. They are opportunities. We have, in the end, a great deal of control over the nature of our lives, because we have the freedom to make choices. I can choose A over B. I may not be able to avoid difficulties, but I can choose how I handle them.
Likewise, the political life of a nation isn't without difficulties, but we, in America, have the most opportunity to choose our national response. The things that come our way may be difficult, but our freedom makes each difficulty we experience as Americans, in the political realm, an opportunity. It just depends on what we decide to do, collectively.
I do not choose to see my life as a challenge--something I can ultimately decline--but as a gift, a story and an opportunity. I cannot say how I will, at life's end, have responded. I'm not a fortune teller. But despite difficulties, despite problems, my life is and has been a precious gift, even if at times--OK, most times--I have chosen poorly. I look forward to my remaining 20 or so years. And hope that I will live them well as a Child of God. Likewise, I hope to live as a Godly Citizen of our Great Republic.
Life isn't a test, we won't be graded. We will be judged, certainly, but that's not the same as being graded, now is it? Life isn't something to be suffered through in this vale of tears until we die and go to something better. Life is a gift from God, one that we should be thankful for, and that we should savor and enjoy. Jesus said he came that we might have life, and that more abundantly. He also reconciled all things to himself. Life is good, even when it's difficult.
When we go to Mass, we pray "protect us from all anxiety". Bp. Trautman wanted to translate that as 'distress'. He was wrong. We will most assuredly experience, difficulties and problems-distress. But we can be protected from anxiety, simply by the Grace of God which allows us not to be ruled by it. And not being ruled, we have the opportunity to put our hands to the plow and get on with what's ahead of us.
My life is not a storybook thing. It's more like some post modern novel by someone with an offbeat sense of humor. Sometimes it reminds me of Terry Pratchett, sometimes John Irving, sometimes Tom Robbins. The story of my life unfolds in fits and starts, with detours and strange loops that surprise everyone. And I am very thankful for it, for the opportunity to live among such amazing creatures as people, and the chance to serve god.
That's what I wanted to say today. I didn't want to spend my time and effort on current events, and social trends. I didn't want to dwell on today's difficulties. I wanted to say that, despite all the difficulties and fears of modern American life, I am grateful to have the life I have been given.
Sometimes, I just don't want to play.
Life can be difficult. It's supposedly better to avoid the word "difficult" (or the "problem") and use the word "challenge". I don't think so. A challenge implies the ability to decline it. But difficulty in life arises, and you don't get a choice. You have to face it. Some people have financial difficulties, some people have family difficulties. Some peoples health gives them difficulties. There are all sorts of difficulties.
Sometimes this give us the impression that life is a test. Or a travail that we must endure. Not so. Our lives are gifts. They are opportunities. We have, in the end, a great deal of control over the nature of our lives, because we have the freedom to make choices. I can choose A over B. I may not be able to avoid difficulties, but I can choose how I handle them.
Likewise, the political life of a nation isn't without difficulties, but we, in America, have the most opportunity to choose our national response. The things that come our way may be difficult, but our freedom makes each difficulty we experience as Americans, in the political realm, an opportunity. It just depends on what we decide to do, collectively.
I do not choose to see my life as a challenge--something I can ultimately decline--but as a gift, a story and an opportunity. I cannot say how I will, at life's end, have responded. I'm not a fortune teller. But despite difficulties, despite problems, my life is and has been a precious gift, even if at times--OK, most times--I have chosen poorly. I look forward to my remaining 20 or so years. And hope that I will live them well as a Child of God. Likewise, I hope to live as a Godly Citizen of our Great Republic.
Life isn't a test, we won't be graded. We will be judged, certainly, but that's not the same as being graded, now is it? Life isn't something to be suffered through in this vale of tears until we die and go to something better. Life is a gift from God, one that we should be thankful for, and that we should savor and enjoy. Jesus said he came that we might have life, and that more abundantly. He also reconciled all things to himself. Life is good, even when it's difficult.
When we go to Mass, we pray "protect us from all anxiety". Bp. Trautman wanted to translate that as 'distress'. He was wrong. We will most assuredly experience, difficulties and problems-distress. But we can be protected from anxiety, simply by the Grace of God which allows us not to be ruled by it. And not being ruled, we have the opportunity to put our hands to the plow and get on with what's ahead of us.
My life is not a storybook thing. It's more like some post modern novel by someone with an offbeat sense of humor. Sometimes it reminds me of Terry Pratchett, sometimes John Irving, sometimes Tom Robbins. The story of my life unfolds in fits and starts, with detours and strange loops that surprise everyone. And I am very thankful for it, for the opportunity to live among such amazing creatures as people, and the chance to serve god.
That's what I wanted to say today. I didn't want to spend my time and effort on current events, and social trends. I didn't want to dwell on today's difficulties. I wanted to say that, despite all the difficulties and fears of modern American life, I am grateful to have the life I have been given.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Baptism of the Lord
Deacon Zoldak preached today at the 9:30 Mass, an excellent sermon that touched on the revalation of the Trinity, the sanctification of water enabling our own baptism, and our Baptism being our adoption by God the Father, and our share in the Divine Nature by Grace (divinization. theosis).
This afternoon Daughter #2 made fried chicken, with mashed potatoes, gravy, limas and beets--the chicken fried in Goose Drippings. Yummy! A fitting end to the Christmas Season all the way around.
God Bless You, Where Ever You Are!
This afternoon Daughter #2 made fried chicken, with mashed potatoes, gravy, limas and beets--the chicken fried in Goose Drippings. Yummy! A fitting end to the Christmas Season all the way around.
God Bless You, Where Ever You Are!
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