Verona, Apr. 5, 2007 (CWNews.com) – Italy’s Supreme Court has ruled that a Catholic priest must return the Mass stipend he received from two parishioners, because he changed the scheduled time of the Mass he had celebrated for their intention.
The court ruled that Father Giuseppe Benini of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Verona must reimburse Massimo and Margherita Veneri for the €10 stipend that he had accepted to celebrate Mass for their deceased father. The priest had celebrated the Mass, but not at the hour he had originally announced.
Massimo and Margherita Veneri, the children of the deceased, told the court that they had been unable to attend the Mass because of the rescheduling, and suffered moral damages as a result.
That is unbelievably dumb that Italy’s court would rule in such a way and I think much worse that the children of the deceased took their 10 Euro dispute to their Supreme Court. The Mass was said and the spiritual benefit occurred though I guess this is part of the view that if you are not participating directly then nothing happened.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Mexico said Wednesday that legislators who vote in favor of a proposed bill to legalize abortion in Mexico City would automatically be excommunicated when the first procedure was performed under the law.
Bishop Marcelino Hernandez said that, rather than any specific canonical procedure, that lawmakers who back the bill would automatically separate themselves from the church.
"The person excommunicates himself, it’s not that the Church goes around with a rod, looking for people who make mistakes, in order to hit them on the head," Hernandez told reporters when speaking of an expected vote in April by Mexico City lawmakers on a proposal to legalize abortion during the first three months of pregnancy.
Hernandez repeated the Roman Catholic Church’s traditional opposition to abortion, on the same day that representatives of Orthodox and some evangelical Protestant churches issued a joint press statement opposing legalized abortion in Mexico.
While some Catholics have proposed holding a referendum on the proposed Mexico City law, Hernandez said the church’s position is that "life is not subject to a vote."
I wish this was actually the case, but Canon 1398 in no way can be interpreted to support this and has been interpreted to only include those directly involved in the abortion and not generically to those who support or directly vote for abortion.
A person who actually procures an abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.
On last night’s episode of the Comedy Central show “South Park,” Catholic League president Bill Donohue appeared as one of the cartoon characters, along with a figure of Pope Benedict XVI. The Easter script depicted Donohue chastising the pope for being “too soft.” Donohue then takes over as pope. When a Jesus figure appears, he has both the pope and Jesus arrested. After Jesus is killed by Kyle, he resurrects and kills Donohue.
Donohue commented on this today:
“I have no idea why ‘South Park’ creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker caricature me as a heartless thug. In any event, I stand convicted and have no defense. Now I have to get back to business—I hear someone just took some liberties with the Easter Bunny.”
"Who is the wise guy who used the amphora to make coffee?"
"I was wondering where I left that Motu Proprio"
Come up with your own captions.
Here is a parody from two years ago that still applies unless you live in the Diocese of Boston since Cardinal O’Malley was given a “pastoral sensitivity” exception from the CDW which is not a general dispensation given to all Bishops.
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Hot on the heals of the success of the Facial Recognition Paten 2000, Curt Jester Laboratories introduces the new Foot Washing 2000 with patented DNA detection technology. With the problem of parishes washing the feet of women in direct violation of the rubrics for Holy Thursday a sure fire method was required that looked beyond just external appearances. When the foot of the person who is having their foot washed comes into contact with the special transducive water in the bowl, through capillary action their DNA is instantly tested. If a male is detected the LED displays XY VIR and the indicator light shines brightly green. If a female is detected the display shows XX and the indicator light flashes red. If a foot that has been detected as not liturgically compatible is not removed within 30 seconds a mild electrical current is discharged into the bowl.
The Foot Washing 2000 maintains an electronic log that automatically registers its use during Maundy Thursday. The entries are time stamped and the detected sex is registered. Bishops can easily determine through the provided easy to use Wash Perfect software what parishes used or failed to use this approved device. This device has been tested formally by the Vatican and meets with all requirements of the SUL (Sacramentary Underwriting Laboratory) "The men who have been chosen are led by the ministers to chairs prepared in a suitable place. Then the priest … goes to each man. With the help of ministers, he pours water over each one’s feet and dries them" (Sacramentary, p. 136). This device has been condemned by all American liturgists so you know that it truly works. |
The Old Oligarch has an excellent post on the theological meaning of “The Washing of the Feet”
Being that today is Thursday I am currently listening to Nick Alexander’s Holy Thursday sung to "Monday, Monday" by The Mamas & Papas which is quite funny and the song fits perfectly. Though the master song parodist that Nick is I think he really missed out on the title for this song. He should have called it Maundy, Maundy. Though maybe the pun wouldn’t have translated well when sung.
If you are not familiar with Nick Alexander he is known as the Catholic "Wierd Al" Yankovick and his CD’s are well worth listening to.
We have sometimes heard that in our current life we are on a pilgrimage and that this is not our true home. That we are made to live with the Triune God forever in the Beatific Vision if only we cooperate we the graces that he has given us. I think this is always a good reminded in our lives to remember this that the material world was never meant as our true fulfillment. We are truly immigrants that one day hope to go to our true homeland – the one always intended for us.
A nice reminded would be if we had the green card to carry.
We are all currently refugees who hope to immigrate to a place that truly suits us. Upon death though Jesus will give us an immigration interview and upon examination of the Lamb’s book of life for our entry will admit us with a permanent visa to Heaven (or Purgatory as sort of an Ellis Island) or to much warmer climes. If found without contraband such as mortal sins we will enjoy a real vacation which is in fact our real vocation. We already have our citizenship in Heaven, we must be careful though to not revoke it. Though some must think they have dual citizenships since they want to be "conformed to this world"
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
The good thing about are semi-permanent status is that there are not illegal aliens on earth and as the rich man who neglected the poor Lazarus found out there is no need of a border fence in Heaven because "a great chasm has been fixed." Though I do wonder if Protestant proponents of the Rapture see it as sort of a reverse immigration raid.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told CNN Wednesday he supports public funding for some abortions, a position he advocated as mayor and one that will likely put the GOP presidential candidate at odds with social conservatives in his party.
"Ultimately, it’s a constitutional right, and therefore if it’s a constitutional right, ultimately, even if you do it on a state by state basis, you have to make sure people are protected," Giuliani said in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash in Florida’s capital city.
A video clip of the then-mayoral candidate issuing a similar declaration in 1989 in a speech to the "Women’s Coalition" appeared recently on the Internet.
"There must be public funding for abortions for poor women," Giuliani says in the speech that is posted on the video sharing site YouTube. "We cannot deny any woman the right to make her own decisions about abortion."
When asked directly Wednesday if he still supported the use of public funding for abortions, Giuliani said "Yes."
"If it would deprive someone of a constitutional right," he explained, "If that’s the status of the law, yes."
I wonder how anybody can say that Rudy would appoint judges who are strict constructionalists when he can call abortion a constitutional right. Does he believe that a strict contructionalist sees abortion "rights" in the Constitution? It must be all those damn penumbras floating around the Constitution that make people see this.
Though at least he hasn’t had some fake conversion to the pro-life cause and while I can appreciate his honesty it certainly does not change the fact that someone so wrong on so many moral issues isn’t going to make good moral decisions as President.
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 Jester Hat Tip: |
Publius | ||
A man suffered a serious heart attack and had open heart bypass surgery. He wakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic hospital As he was recovering, a nun asked him questions regarding how he would like to pay for his treatment. She asked if he had health insurance.
He replied, in a raspy voice, "No health insurance."
The nun asked if he had money in the bank.
He replied, "No money in the bank."
The nun asked, "Do you have a relative who could help you?"
He said, "I only have a spinster sister, who is a nun."
The nun became agitated and announced loudly, "Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God."
The patient replied, "Send the bill to my brother in law.