BENEDICITE, omnia opera Domini, Domino; laudate et superexaltate eum in saecula.

BENEDICITE, caeli, Domino, benedicite, angeli Domini, Domino.

BENEDICITE, aquae omnes, quae super caelos sunt, Domino, benedicat omnis virtutis Domino.

BENEDICITE, sol et luna, Domino, benedicite, stellae caeli, Domino.

BENEDICITE, omnis imber et ros, Domino, benedicite, omnes venti, Domino.

BENEDICITE, ignis et aestus, Domino, benedicite, frigus et aestus, Domino.

BENEDICITE, rores et pruina, Domino, benedicite, gelu et frigus, Domino.

BENEDICITE, glacies et nives, Domino, benedicite, noctes et dies, Domino.

BENEDICITE, lux et tenebrae, Domino, benedicite, fulgura et nubes, Domino.

BENEDICAT terra Dominum: laudet et superexaltet eum in saecula.

BENEDICITE, montes et colles, Domino, benedicite, universa germinantia in terra, Domino.

BENEDICITE, maria et flumina, Domino, benedicite, fontes, Domino.

BENEDICITE, cete, et omnia, quae moventur in aquis, Domino, benedicite, omnes volucres caeli, Domino.

BENEDICITE, omnes bestiae et pecora, Domino, benedicite, filii hominum, Domino.

BENEDIC, Israel, Domino, laudate et superexaltate eum in saecula.

BENEDICITE, sacerdotes Domini, Domino, benedicite, servi Domini, Domino.

BENEDICITE, spiritus et animae iustorum, Domino, benedicite, sancti et humiles corde, Domino.

BENEDICITE, Anania, Azaria, Misael, Domino, laudate et superexaltate eum in saecula.

BENEDICAMUS Patrem et Filium cum Sancto Spiritu; laudemus et superexaltemus eum in saecula.

BENEDICTUS es in firmamento caeli et laudabilis et gloriosus in saecula.

Amen.

Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord you heavens:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord you angels of the Lord:

bless the Lord all you his hosts;

bless the Lord you waters above the heavens:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord sun and moon:

bless the Lord you stars of heaven;

bless the Lord all rain and dew:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord all winds that blow:

bless the Lord you fire and heat;

bless the Lord scorching wind and bitter cold:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord dews and falling snows:

bless the Lord you nights and days;

bless the Lord light and darkness:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord frost and cold:

bless the Lord you ice and snow;

bless the Lord lightnings and clouds:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

O let the earth bless the Lord:

bless the Lord you mountains and hills;

bless the Lord all that grows in the ground:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord you springs:

bless the Lord you seas and rivers;

bless the Lord you whales and all the swim in the waters:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord all birds of the air:

bless the Lord you beasts and cattle;

bless the Lord all people on earth:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

O people of God bless the Lord:

bless the Lord you priests of the Lord;

bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:

sing his praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:

bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.

The Diocese of St. Petersberg is having a conference on the “Living Eucharist” this month.  People will fondly remember Bishop Lynch of this diocese , the protector of Terri Schiavo – well in a multiverse this was bound to have happened somewhere.  Also this is the Bishop who restricted perpetual Eucharistic Adoration saying that it was not a “normal pattern” of the Church and would require his permission for a  dispensation.  Though it appears at least now that a couple of parishes did receive that dispensation.

So you know a conference on the Eucharist in this diocese should be something special.  To be fair the Bishop’s previous Pastoral letter “Living Eucharist: Gathered, Nourished, Sent”  is a fairly decent letter on the Eucharist.  Though the title of it annoys me with the tone of the Eucharist being about the congregation more than about Jesus.  But I usually quibble too much.

So for a congregation on the Eucharist who would you pick for keynote speakers?  Well I am sure your short list would include:

• Reverend Timothy Radcliffe, OP Best known for known for writing in favor of gay priests, saying Masses for dissident homosexual groups, and for encouraging people to read gay novels and watch gay-themed movies such as Brokeback Mountain.

Cardinal Mahony was once asked about Fr. Radcliffe and what he was teaching at the L.A. Religious Conference.  The Cardinals first reply was “Well, why are you asking me? Ask him.” and followed up with “Do you know how many speakers we have here” and complained that there was no way to know in advance what a speaker would say.  Of course this is only a real concern when you have dissident speakers.  Plus of course Fr. Radcliffe was invited back again to the conference even after the Cardinal was made aware of this.  Strangely I get the feeling we would get the same type of answer from Archbishop Lynch.

• Fr. J Glenn Murray as director of the diocesan Office for Pastoral Liturgy for Cleveland implemented changes to the Liturgy and Communion Rite that went against both what the U.S. Bishops and the Vatican had rejected.  For example standing after Communion.  Not surprisingly, also a fan of liturgical dance
• Fr. J. Bryan Hehir One of the early dissidents opposing Humanae Vitae saying the Church should be silent on contraception.  When it comes to questions of sexual morality he is also known to hold views outside of the Church. A supporter of the idea of seeing Vatican II as a rupture from the past along with supporting homosexual adoption in connection with Catholic Charities. His influence was certainly felt in Boston where Catholic Charities was indeed adopting Children to homosexuals until ironically the State said they had to do this.

Well they are only the keynote speakers.  Surely the presenters at the conference will be just fine.  For example Rev. Lawrence Mick whose book on the sacraments was reviewed by blog friend Rich Leornardi. Oddly Rich only gave it one star for teaching a “horizontalized, incomplete picture of the sacraments at odds with what the Church teaches.”

In two days full of conferences in a conference dedicated to the Eucharist you will certainly find a lot of classes on the topic.  That is if you went to a different conference on the Eucharist than this one.  I could not find one class actually on the Eucharist and the theology of the Eucharist.  Pretty much every other subject though especially in the social justice arena including the pro-life movement.

There I am quibbling again and being downright petty thinking a conference on the Eucharist be about Jesus in the Eucharist.  One of the goals of the conference is:

• Develop a greater consciousness of ourselves as the Body of Christ

Because when it comes down to it, worship is all about us.  So lets sing Here I am Lord until God realizes how lucky he us to have us.

<a href=”http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/jesterHat.png”><img title=”jesterHat” src=”http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/jesterHat.png” alt=”” width=”26″ height=”16″ />Thanks to the reader who sent this in.</a>

Here is another crappy headline which tries to write an editorial in the lede. This time from my local newspaper the Flordia Times-Union

“Catholics in Jacksonville unmoved by Vatican scandal” with the subheadline “The pope is being scrutinized for his actions as a former cardinal.”

Yes we are unmoved by those Vatican scandals, how heartless of us. Funny how the word alleged get thrown in front of every murderer brought to court and you never see the word alleged in connection with a Vatican scandal.

The reactions of people interviewed in the article is much more sensible.  They are not falling for it.  They chalk it up mainly to media sensationalism. Though I would take exception to what one parishioner said.

“Even if he did something of that nature – if, if, if – I’m sure he’s probably been forgiven a long time ago, and you kind of just have to press on with life,” he said.

If a Pope had indeed been complicit in covering up or enabling priestly abuse, it seems to me that there could be a valid outcry for him to resign.  A Pope who knew he did such things and accepted the papacy knowing this would at least be unfit.  Though of course no pope ever has to resign and can not be forced to do so.  We have survived popes who truly committed scandal.

The story goes on to say that nobody has written to the Diocese about this subject.  There has been priestly sexual abuse in my diocese.  The difference is that it was promptly taken care of once known by both my previous and current Bishop.  These priest were not just reassigned and there has been good policy in place long before the Bishops addressed it in Dallas in 2002.

While Catholics in my area seem to be aware for the most part that there is no actual scandal involving the Pope, the media has been successful in getting out their message to others.  I was asked at work if the Pope was going to resign.  I replied no and at first my answer was chalked up to the Pope being “infallible”  At least it was an opportunity to explain infallibility is not impeccability  and how the articles on then-Cardinal Ratzinger were factually inaccurate.  No doubt though that the media has made great inroads into making many people believe that there is in fact a scandal concerning the Pope and many secularists and non-Catholics will find it easy to accept.

This generated scandal also distracts from the fact that there really are Catholics who covered up or enabled sexual abuse and the media’s attention should be directed to those cases and in fact all cases of sexual abuse.

In the continuing chapter, Fr. Pfleger on his Facebook page said:

“Sunday, I mentioned in my Sermon that I believe in married Priests and Woman Priests,” the Facebook comment reads.  “I was then told that I had to apologize for saying it durning [sic] a Sermon because that is not allowed, even though that is my opinion.

“I have received much hate from the right-winged who want my removal,” he added.  “Amazing… Nobody Blogged me or youtubed me about helping Save our children or Stopping the Violence…”
[Ref]

I just love the sweet sound of contriteness and when someone repents.  I rejoice along with the Angels – oh wait.

Now as to his complaints for nobody talking about his “good works.”  Whatever good works he does, does not require any special pointing out.  As followers of Christ what we do should be out of love of God and neighbor and being pointed out for any special praise.  Besides it would not simply cancel out his being in dissent with the Church anyway.

I guess the Archdiocese must have borrowed got a gun from the gun shop owner Fr. Pfleger previous threatened to  “snuff” and forced him to issue an apology.  I would have a little more respect for Father here if had refused to apologize because he held women’s ordination to be a truth not to be denied.  Instead he takes the cowards way out and issues what is in effect a lie since he is in no way contrite for his actions as his Facebook page shows.

Well I guess it is a case of being careful about what you would ask for.  I had hoped said on Twitter that Fr. Pfleger should apologize for his apology – and he did exactly that to his Facebook sycophants.

Plus the Archdiocese does not come off scott free in this either.  They asked him to apologize and then put the problematic  non-apology on the Diocesan site.  Does charity demand that we accept an apology that textually shows it is not a real apology at all?

Hat Tip Matt C. Abbott

The Archdiocese of Chicago acted fairly quickly in posting Fr. Pfleger so-called apology.

“On Sunday, April 11, while preaching a sermon on the power of fear, I was referring to the fear that paralyzed the apostles, locking them in a room, leaving only John and the women at the foot of the cross. I stated that is why I believe women ought to be able to be ordained, as well as priests ought to be able to get married.”

“While this is my personal opinion, I do respect and follow the Catholic Church teachings, and I am sorry I failed to do this.”

No doubt Cardinal George will feel himself off the hook now, though would surely love to be totally wrong on this.

How about an Archdiocesan teaching moment here on Church teaching and the levels of Church teaching?

Fr.  Pfleger seems to have taken the Catholic politician “personally opposed but …” dodge and stood it on its head.  “I’m personally for, but …”  The lasts sentence make zero sense and is itself opposed to Church teaching.

Fr. Pfleger can have whatever opinion he wants on the issue of priest celibacy in regards to Church discipline.  Women ordination is another matter.

How about taking a gander at what Vatican II said in Lunem Gentium.  And let us start with just the fourth level of Church Teaching.

LG 25: “Religious submission of mind and of will must be shown in a special way to the authentic Magisterium of the Roman Pontiff even when he is not defining, in such a way, namely, that the judgments made by him are sincerely adhered to according to his manifested mind and will, which is clear either from the nature of the documents, or from the repeated presentation of the same doctrine, or from the manner of speaking.”

So at first glance “Religious submission of mind and will” must be given to the teaching that women can not be ordained.  There is no room for personal view here,  There is either “Religious submission of mind and will” or there is not.  Fr. Pfleger needs to recant and to repent of his support of women’s ordination.  This is not an “oops” situation where personal beliefs accidentally got inserted into preaching taken care of by a quick apology.

His apology further confuses the issue by making it seem acceptable to have a personal opinion against Church teaching.  He really needs to apologize for his apology.

The problem is actually worse since this teaching goes beyond “Religious submission of mind and of will”, as serious as that is.  When the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was asked about the level of teaching contained in Pope John Paul II’s Ordination Sacerdotalis the Responsum ad Dubium stated.

This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the present circumstances, the Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), has handed on this same teaching by a formal declaration, explicitly stating what is to be held always, everywhere, and by all, as belonging to the deposit of the faith.

This is something that must be believed with “Divine and Catholic Faith.”  The apology seemingly accepted by the diocese makes a mockery of what Catholics are to believe.  I looked all through Lunem Gentium and I just can’t find the “my personal opinion” exception.

“While it is my personal opinion that Fr. Pfleger should be dragged out and shot after severe torture, I do respect and follow the Catholic Church teachings, and I am sorry I failed to do this.”

Yeah that sentence really makes a lot of sense  in light of Church teaching – or as much sense as Fr. Pfleger’s did.

I do pray that Fr. Pfleger recants and repents of this error and that the good Cardinal clarifies the error in the apology.

The infamous Father Pfleger of Chicago has withstood creating scandal before and even got an award last week from Cardinal George for his service. You have to wonder what will happen now that he has upped the anti by supporting woman’s ordination.

I never could understand how this priest could remain so long with only one public rebuke about his political comments which he followed for about a whole week or two.  Part of the dynamic it seems to me is that he is a pastor of a church where the parishioners are mainly Blacks.  He seems to be quite popular there and so there is probably a worry about what would happen if he was yanked as pastor.  Though I think the main concern should be the content of what he teaches and how it actually conforms to Catholic teacher.

I also don’t understand his appeal among his parish.  His Mass is like a minstrel show without the blackface. Like he is mimicking the stereotype of the Black preacher.  I find it rather offensive that just because your congregation is a majority of one race that you have to change the style of how you preach to reach out to them.  Kind of like when Hillary Clinton was campaigning and facing a Black church affected a slow Southern drawl and changed grammar.

Carl Olson puts it rather succinctly.

Fr. Pfleger is, by any reasonable measure, not only a “controversialist,” but a race-baiter, a loud-mouthed hater, a lousy theologian, and a heretic. His recent remarks are not the remarks of a “good priest and pastor.” Here’s hoping that he is disciplined in a swift and appropriate manner.

Should Fr. Pfleger be fired over this. Well I would say yes since he should have been removed some time ago. Heresy at the pulpit certainly needs to be addressed and I hope that Cardinal George will address this problem instead of making statements like he did last week.

…Fr. Pfleger has been a controversialist; and controversy is easier to report on than is love.  Fr. Plfeger has spoken in anger, sometimes unjustly or uncharitably; and anger is easier to capture on the camera than is love.  But Fr. Pfleger is a Catholic priest and a pastor, and in that capacity, like all good priests and pastors, he acts out of love.  Ask his people.  Ask the sick he has visited and the dying he has attended.  Ask the troubled he has consoled.  Ask the young people he has counseled and the school children he has supported.

As any armchair theologian knows, when people act they are seeking a good even when what they are doing might be objectively evil. Fr. Pfleger certainly might be acting out of love – willing the good to another – but that does not excuse his past conduct and especially does not excuse open dissent with the Magisterium of the Church and ultimately the will of Christ. What Cardinal George said can be equally applied to every priest and thus also any bad priests who are visited the sick, etc.

I would suggest that people email Cardinal George about this with a short and charitable message.

archbishop@archchicago.org