L.A. Catholic notes a major bit of irony in Cardinal Mahony celebrating a "Cesar Chavez Mass" basically for illegal immigrants. Chavez was as anti-illegal immigrant as they come and he would make Tom Tancredo seem liberal on the subject by comparison.
Zenit publishes an article written by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, on "The Importance of Priestly Celibacy" that was published in the Italian edition of L’Osservatore Romano. The article is very good and covers both the Apostolic origins and early history of celibacy in the Church along with its theological dimensions. The article is really a good short treatment on the subject to counter such nonsense as the Church supporting celibacy in the 1200’s because of property inheritance problems.
One thing that never fails to make me laugh is any mention of The Synod of Elvira (300-303?) . Elvira just does not bring to mind celibacy for me.
Steve "Feddie" Dillard of the now defunct Southern Appeal blog had his email published in The American Spectator.
There are two reasons that so many people are clamoring for Fred Thompson to seek the GOP nomination: (1) he has a strong record on socially conservative issues; and (2) he has the "it" factor. Both of these qualities are needed to energize a demoralized GOP base and (thus) win the presidency, and none of the so-called front runners possess them. While John "Just call me Bob Dole because it’s my turn" McCain was once a strong voice for a "Culture of Life" in this country, he has been notably silent on such issues in recent years. He also supports embryonic-stem-cell research, which will cost him many votes among social conservatives (especially conservative Catholics). McCain is also dull as dishwater, and the perception among many conservatives is that he’s not all there. As for Rudy, I don’t care how many polls have him listed as the frontrunner, he’s going to lose in the South, and lose big. All Romney or Brownback have to do to sink Rudy’s quest for the Whitehouse is to run commercials highlighting his statements: (1) supporting public funding of abortion; (2) noting that he would pay to have his grandchild snuffed out if his daughter became pregnant and wanted an abortion; or (3) in support of gay rights (you can also expect the pictures of him in drag to feature prominently in such ads). Don’t get me wrong, many conservatives (including yours truly) greatly respect Rudy for the Churchillian leadership he displayed in the aftermath of 9/11, and for the tremendous job he did in cleaning up New York City; but the bottom line is that his values are simply not the same as the vast majority of those residing in must-win red states. Indeed, if Rudy somehow ends up winning the GOP nomination, you can rest assured that he will ultimately lose. People are kidding themselves if they think Rudy’s liberal social views will generate enough cross over or moderate votes to make up for the loss of social conservatives like me, who are as troubled by Rudy’s candidacy as much as they were with John Kerry’s (once again, this is especially true among conservative Catholics). So, this leaves Romney; and his problem is that he is a flip-flopper and a Mormon. Now, I personally could care less about the latter, but many religious conservatives do and will vote accordingly. And while Romney certainly has charisma, it pales in comparison to the presidential vibe that Thompson exudes when he walks into the room. Like I said, Thompson has that special something that Reagan had, and that is why so many conservatives are excited about the prospect of him running. And if Thompson does run, he will win. Can you imagine that shrill woman on the same stage with Thompson (in a debate)? He’ll make her look like the devil woman she is inside of five minutes. In this respect, my view is that Obama is the dem who benefits the most from a Thompson run. Right now, there is no need for the dems to nominate anyone with a personality to take on McCain/Giuliani/Romney, but Thompson, Thompson changes everything. In my view, Fred Thompson is the only chance conservatives have of maintaining the presidency. The sooner we realize this, the better.
I am not quite ready to jump on the Thompson bandwagon, but I generally agree with many of the points Feddie makes. I have heard a lot of support for a Thompson candidacy by callers on talk radio and I can certainly understand why. As much as I like Sen Sam Brownback without money he is not going anywhere and in this effort he is leagues behind the others in fundraising. Sen Thompson on the other hand would probably be an effective fundraiser and would certainly get a lot of media attention. He also has the bona fides as being a pro-life conservative in his voting record, though there is some question as to how deep his pro-life philosophy actually goes. Though one of the most attractive things about Sen. Thompson is his forthrightness. That he actually answers questions without hemming and hawing around and when he answers a question you actually know what his answer was. The sad thing is that such a quality stands out like a sore thumb when compared to other politicians. I just plain don’t like Gov. Rudy Guiliani and Sen. John McCain and while I sort of like some aspects of Gov. Romney, but I don’t trust him.
BUDAPEST: Hungary’s Catholic military bishop has resigned because he wants to marry a woman he met in the church’s renewal movement, the media reported on Friday.
Fifty-year-old Brigadier General Tamas Szabo has been preaching to Catholic soldiers, border guards and their families since 2001.
Bishop Tamás Szabó was ordained to the episcopate in 2002 and I guess the renewal movement didn’t go as intended.
Previously dissident theologian Daniel Maquire sent two pamphlets to all of the Catholic Bishops in the United States titled "The Moderate Roman Catholic Position on Contraception" and "Abortion and the other A Catholic Defense of Same-Sex Marriage." In a very positive development a statement has been published by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
These pamphlets do not present Catholic teaching. His views about contraception, abortion, same sex "marriage", as well as the very nature of Church teaching and its authoritative character, cross the legitimate lines of theological reflection and simply enter into the area of false teaching. Such mistaken views should not be confused with the faith and moral teaching of the Catholic Church. Since it is apparent that considerable efforts have been made to give these views the widest possible distribution as if they were a valid alternative to the teaching of the Catholic Church, the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops considers it important to offer a public correction of the erroneous views proposed in these pamphlets. At the same time, the Committee on Doctrine calls attention to the Catechism of the Catholic Church where correct and authentic teaching can be found. This readily available source of the faith and moral teaching of the Catholic Church clearly demonstrates the mistaken character of the positions found in the two pamphlets and their unreliability as a guide for Catholics seeking to know and live their Catholic faith.
They then go on to give a critique of the pamphlets and end with:
The Archbishop of Milwaukee, exercising his pastoral responsibilities as teacher and shepherd, has made public statements affirming that the views expressed by Professor Maguire in his two pamphlets are erroneous and incompatible with the Church’s teaching.[24] We the Committee on Doctrine of the USCCB concur that, despite his claims to authority as a Catholic theologian, the views of Professor Maguire on contraception, abortion, and same-sex "marriage" are not those of the Catholic Church and indeed are contrary to the Church’s faith. We deplore as irresponsible his public advocacy of his views as authentic Catholic teaching. Lastly, we trust that this statement will clarify the Church’s faith and teaching for all of the Catholic faithful throughout the United States.
So bravo to Archbishop Dolan (who is Maquire’s bishop) and members of the committee for saying what needed to be said.
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 Jester Hat Tip: |
A.M.D.G | ||
"Pray for a better hand if you are going to win Vatican Holdem"
Manila – Conservative Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines were not amused when three nuns were photographed playing slot machines and blackjack at a gaming fair in Manila.
The church, which frowns on all forms of gambling, launched an inquiry and says the nuns could face sanctions from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines if found to have sinned.
Archbishop Oscar Cruz told local radio Tuesday that he has ordered an investigation and will take "steps on the sisters’ actions."
Cruz said the church "strictly prohibits men of the cloth… including nuns … from gambling."
Cruz said the church recently defrocked a parish priest who was caught gambling in a provincial casino.
He described as "shameful" photographs and television footage showing nuns playing blackjack and trying out slot machines at the launch of a Gaming Expo in Manila.
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation spokesperson, Edward King, described the incident as "innocent."
"The sisters are innocent of the ways and means of the world. I’m not saying they are saints."
He said the nuns "played without money" and denied the nuns were tricked into playing blackjack and using the slot machines.
* The above picture is not from this story.
In a related article CBCP Spokesman Monsignor Pedro Quitorio said it was inappropriate for Archbishop Antonio Tobias for attending the launching of the Gaming Expo at the World Trade Center in Pasay City which is where the nuns were also photographed.
In a separate DZMM interview, PAGCOR spokesman Edward King said the nuns played without money.
Now as to gambling itself the Catechism states:
2413 Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant.
The case can certainly be made that this bishop and the nuns showed a lack of prudence and the Canon they were referencing is a sort of catch all.
Can. 285 §1. Clerics are to refrain completely from all those things which are unbecoming to their state, according to the prescripts of particular law.
§2. Clerics are to avoid those things which, although not unbecoming, are nevertheless foreign to the clerical state.
And Canon 672 on the section of consecrated life says that Can 285 is also applicable to them.
What I find so interesting is how the Bishops conference in the Philippines moves to act very quickly in matters where public scandal of priests and religious are involved or that a bishop was singled out by the spokesman for the Bishops conference for criticism. Their threshold for what constitutes public scandal seems to be quite low there, where I am not exactly sure if there is any such threshold in the U.S.
Now let us look at a story here in the U.S.
"I need to be on the other side of the table. I need to listen and I need to be a voice for the people," said Sister Matthias Wemm, one of four Democrats seeking three open council seats in the May primary.
Wemm, 66, a Sister of Mercy, said she sought permission from her order and from the Almighty to run for the office.
"He says, ‘This is your decision. I’m with you and holding you in the palm of my hand,"’ Wemm said.
"Politics, from the best I can see, is a pretty rough game, and I said, ‘Are you sure you want to do that, Sister?"’ said the Rev. John Skirtich, pastor of the St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church in Forest Hills, about 10 miles east of Pittsburgh.
Wemm has taught at St. Maurice School for 21 years.
If she wins, Wemm wouldn’t be the first nun to serve in an Allegheny County municipality. Sister Mary Gregory Schessler of the Sisters of St. Francis is a Millvale council member.
A nun running for public office and seemingly given permission from her order despite the provision of Canon 285 "forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power." Canon 672 says that Canon 285 applies also to those in religious institutes.
Now as for her getting permission from God, I want to see the paperwork. Will she run a campaign ad "I AM approved this message?" It helps to have friends in high places when running for office, but this is ridiculous. Though somehow I think God does not want somebody consecrated to him violating Canon law and just calling it your decision.
If you are in the San Francisco area check out the annual procession of The Way of the Cross that will be held on Good Friday, April 6th, where they start the walk from Telegraph Hill and end up at The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Benny Hinn Ministries is letting go about 60 workers at its Grapevine headquarters. The organization plans to outsource the handling of calls from people with book and tape orders and prayer requests. Spokesman Ronn Torossian said the move, announced to employees this week, was not about economics. "It’s really due to our growth," he said. "The biggest issue is simply our ability to handle the incredible call volume at the hours and times it comes in from throughout the world." The ministry is led by Mr. Hinn, who regularly appears on Christian network TV and also travels the world leading evangelistic crusades. He has been the subject of media investigations and much criticism within Christianity for his emphasis on faith healing and fundraising. Mr. Torossian said the laid-off workers will get severance packages and help with finding new jobs.
I guess they were "slayed off" by the Holy Spirit.
The provost at Ave Maria University, once a student of the current pope, has been asked to resign his position immediately.
Provost Joseph Fessio sent an e-mail shortly after 2 p.m. today to members of the Ave Maria community, saying he’s been asked to resign and leave the campus immediately.
His brief e-mail reads:
"To the Ave Maria University community: I have been asked to resign my position as provost and leave the campus immediately.
I will miss Ave Maria and the many of you whom I hold dear.
Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J."
In a statement, university officials said Fessio was asked to step down as a result of "irreconcilable difference over administrative policies and practices."
"There has never been any difference in our commitment to our mission or to the Magisterium of the Church. Nor is there any diminishment in our commitment to maintaining the highest quality of scholarship," according to the statement.
University officials would like Fessio to serve the university in an advisory capacity in the future, according to the statement.
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Jester Hat Tip: |
Amy Welborn | ||
One of these days Ave Maria University or pretty much any effort by Tom Monaghan will be turned into a soap opera. Like dominos things keep falling.
On a side note Fr. Fessio was on the Hugh Hewitt show last night for a couple of segments. Hugh was asking him questions about Cardinal Mahony and allegations regarding a video tape, Sacramentum Caritatis, and other subjects. Fr. Fessio was pretty much a class act in regards to accusations made about Cardinal Mahony, especially when you can be sure he has a whole lot of differences regarding the Cardinal.