News

Disabled

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Last night Sister Anne posted via Twitter.

Facebook disabled my account! They claimed that SrAnne was a fake name. Please FB members, take my part and help me get reinstated!

Facebook has done other odd things in the past such as remove the Father and Sister from the front of the names of Catholic priests and religious. This is done in the name of making sure only real people are on Facebook which is an impossible task. I know one person who has a Facebook page for their dog. Now there is an understandable concern for fraud in building a fake persona, but it seems to me that if they have an account they are suspicious of they could easily ask the Facebook friends of that person or ask for some proof before disabling an account. Seems rather heavy handed.

Sister Anne who is a Daughter of St. Paul (getting disabled at the start of the year of St. Paul is mildly ironic) updates on her blog.

I used SrAnne as my name because Facebook had earlier deleted the “Sister” from “Sister Anne.” I just wrote(disabled@facebook.com) to protest (mildly), saying that SrAnne was as close as I could get to my real name, given the restrictions on titles in FB. “Sister Anne” appears on my passport; doesn’t that count as a “real” name?

So if you are on Facebook please write them at disabled@facebook.com as I did.

Update: Her page has been restored after she had to send a picture of a page from her Passport.

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Apologetics

Some Christians will find it shocking

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

From the NYT

JERUSALEM — A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.

Michael Barber posts on this:

I’ve known about this for sometime, but it looks like it now is finally hitting the mainstream media.

For the record, it should be pointed out that the idea of a resurrection on the third day flows from Hosea 6:2: “After two days he will revive us;on the third day he will raise us up,that we may live before him.”.

Indeed, Jesus explains to the disciples that his resurrection on the third day would take place in order to fulfill Scripture.
“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead” (Luke 24:46)..

In fact, the New Testament is clear that Jesus came to fulfill the hopes of ancient Israel..

Yet, the New York Times story seems to suggest that this tablet will somehow raise questions about the truth of Christianity. Somehow, for them, the discovery that some ancient Jews expected the messiah to suffer and rise on the third day is problematic for Christianity.
I really don’t see why. Indeed, scholars generally agree that finding parallels in Judaism to Jesus’ teachings tends to strengthen the probability of historicity. If this inscription says what the article claims this would seem to strengthen–not weaken–the historicity of the Gospels’ story about Jesus..

In fact, I actually find this hugely ironic. For some have made the opposite claim–namely, that the lack of evidence that Jews expected the messiah to suffer and rise from the dead calls into question the historical authenticity of Jesus’ prediction of his passion and resurrection..

I guess this just goes to show that no matter what the evidence is some scholars will find a way to conclude that Christianity isn’t true.

The NYT really does try to make this a problem for Christians. That somehow a fulfillment of a prophesy from Hosea would cast into doubt Christianity. This is more than just ironic on the NYT’s part, it is just plain stupid. For example as part of their article they say:

“Some Christians will find it shocking — a challenge to the uniqueness of their theology — while others will be comforted by the idea of it being a traditional part of Judaism,” Mr. Boyarin said.

Might these be the same Christians who often refer to the New Testament and the texts on the coming Messiah as proof that Jesus was the Messiah? I think not. Who exactly are those Christians who will find it shocking?

Given the highly charged atmosphere surrounding all Jesus-era artifacts and writings, both in the general public and in the fractured and fiercely competitive scholarly community, as well as the concern over forgery and charlatanism, ..

Funny they don’t mention those forgeries or cases of bad scholarship especially since the NYT once touted them. Such as the the ossuary of James which was pure fraud and the Gospel of Judas with such an inept translation that even ICEL could not have done worse. This tablet even if authenticated will have nothing to do with the faith of Christians since all it would show is the climate of Jewish thought at the time which would not be inspired, but an indicator of thought reflected upon by scripture.

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News

World Youth Day a waste of money

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

A CATHOLIC priest has spoken out against the large amount of money being spent on World Youth Day, calling it an embarrassment and a scandal for the church.

Father Peter Confeggi has told Fairfax newspapers the money could be better spend on struggling parishes like his in Mount Druitt, which is one of the most disadvantaged in Sydney.

He says some of the money could also be directed to helping the 120,000 homeless people in Australia.

Father Confeggi says there’s also large dissatisfaction with the kind of spirituality that will be taught during the event, with fears that it will be a right wing brand of Catholicism.

It’s estimated that about $130 million is going to the five-day event in Sydney, which begins on July 15.

The New South Wales Government is putting in $86 million and the Federal Government $20 million, with the rest coming from church coffers.

Article

In other news Judas Iscariot said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” I am not trying to infer that Father Confeggi here is a thief, but this is such an old argument. I think the World Youth Days in general have been a smashing success and have brought people closer to the faith and has helped people to see their vocations. Quite a few priests and religious point at attending one of the WYD as a important part in their discernment of a vocations.

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Liturgy

Christ taken hostage?

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

You don’t often see a headline like ‘Body Of Christ’ Snatched From Church, Held Hostage By UCF Student

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A University of Central Florida student, upset religious groups hold church services on public campuses, is holding hostage the Eucharist, an object so sacred to Catholics they call it the Body of Christ.
Church officials say UCF Student Senator Webster Cook was disruptive and disrespectful when he attended Mass held on campus Sunday June 29. It was during that Mass where Cook admits he obtained the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is a small bread wafer blessed by a priest. According to Catholics, the wafer becomes the Body of Christ once blessed and is to be consumed immediately after a minister passes it out to churchgoers.
Cook claims he planned to consume it, but first wanted to show it to a fellow student senator he brought to Mass who was curious about the Catholic faith.

“When I received the Eucharist, my intention was to bring it back to my seat to show him,” Cook said. “I took about three steps from the woman distributing the Eucharist and someone grabbed the inside of my elbow and blocked the path in front of me. At that point I put it in my mouth so they’d leave me alone and I went back to my seat and I removed it from my mouth.”

A church leader was watching, confronted Cook and tried to recover the sacred bread. Cook said she crossed the line and that’s why he brought it home with him.

“She came up behind me, grabbed my wrist with her right hand, with her left hand grabbed my fingers and was trying to pry them open to get the Eucharist out of my hand,” Cook said, adding she wouldn’t immediately take her hands off him despite several requests.
Diocese of Orlando spokeswoman Carol Brinati said she was not aware of anyone touching Cook. She released a statement Thursday: “… a Catholic Campus Ministry student representative filed a complaint with the Student Union regarding the behavior of the two young men. A Student Government Representative called Catholic Campus Ministry to apologize for this disruption.”

Cook filed an official abuse complaint with UCF’s student conduct court regarding the alleged physical force. Following that complaint, Brinati said church members filed their own official complaints of disruptive conduct. Punishment for either offense could result in suspension or expulsion.

“The church feels that I’m the problem here,” Cook said. “The problem is actually that this is a publicly-funded religious institution. Through student government here, we fund them through an activity and service, so they’re receiving student money.”

Cook is upset more than $40,000 in student fees have been allocated to support religious organizations on campus for the 2008-2009 school year, according to student government records. He denied he is holding the Eucharist hostage to protest that support.
Regardless of the reason, the Diocese says its main concern is to get the Eucharist back so it can be taken care of properly and with respect. Cook has been keeping the Eucharist stored in a plastic bag since last Sunday.

It is of course difficult to know what actually happened here, but if somewhat accurate kudos to the EMHC there for being so attentive. The hostage taken part is hyperbole, but let us pray for a reverse case of Stockholm syndrome.

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Uncategorized

Here and There

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Rick Leornardi has created a new blog to cover the Year of St. Paul with Man of Three Cultures.

I have often joked in that past about how crappy the web sites of most Catholic churches are. Not even web 1.0, more like web I.0 where the bulletin in PDF format is months old and the rest of it is never updated. A reader sent me a link to his parish web site that is nicely done, but not in an overblown way with intrusive Flash intros. The church itself is also quite beautiful and my reader recommends the video talks by John Meehan, founder of Magdalen College.

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News

Body of "balloon priest" found

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Rio de Janeiro – The body of “flying priest” balloon adventurer Adelir de Carli has been recovered some 100 kilometres off the Brazilian coast, local media reports said Saturday.

Father de Carli went missing in April while attempting to fly with 1,000 helium-filled party balloons tied to a chair. The body was recovered by a tugboat crew off Rio de Janeiro state, reports said.

Police said clothing, a rucksack and shoes left little doubt that the body was that of the priest. DNA tests would be conducted to provide final proof.

Father de Carli, 42, had set out on April 20 on what was planned to be a 20-hour flight from the town of Paranagua, in the state of Parana, to Dourados, in neighbouring Mato Grosso do Sul, to break a 19-hour world record and “to promote religion,” as he put it.

He had also been seeking to raise money to build a chapel and to contribute to the cause of long-distance lorry drivers demanding longer breaks..

Article

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Uncategorized

St. Therese parents to be beatified.

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Blog by the Sea reports:

La-Croix (through AFP) has reported that Pope Benedict XVI today signed the decree of the “miracle of the child” allowing the beatification of the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The announcement was made in a statement released today by the Diocese of Séez. The diocesan announcement says that the announcement appeared at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon in L’Osservatore Romano.
St. Thérèse’s parents’ bodies were exhumed in Lisieux on May 28 in preparation for placing them in the basilica in September. They were previously declared to be venerable in 1994.
According to the diocese, which apparently is drawing from the Vatican’s article in L’Osservatore Romano, the time and place of the beatification will be announced on July 13. That is the 150th anniversary of the marriage of St. Thérèse’s parents, Louis and Zélie Martin.

This is great news. Some years ago another member of the Carmelite group I was attending lent me a book on Louis Martin and so I came to have a devotion to him. One of my favorite stories in the book is that he had a devotion to the Desert Fathers and would constantly read up on him. His daughters would sometimes hide his book on the Desert Fathers our of concern that he would run off to emulate them. This of course was never any threat of this since he was a true father devoted to his children. The irony is that it was all of his daughters that ended up becoming nuns and leaving him. He was not one to begrudge God anything and the gift of his daughters to God was a full offering.

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Pro-life

Dis-Order of Canada

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

TORONTO, July 1, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Archbishop of Toronto has today called on all Catholics in Canada’s largest city to demand that the award of the Order of Canada to arch-abortionist Henry Morgentaler be revoked.

The full statement of Archbishop Collins follows:

Canada’s highest honour has been debased. Henry Morgentaler has been awarded the Order of Canada. We are all diminished.

A community’s worth is measured by the way it treats the most vulnerable, and no one is more vulnerable than in the first nine months of life’s journey. No person may presume to judge the soul of Henry Morgentaler, but it cannot be denied that the effect of his life’s work has been a deadly assault upon the most helpless amongst us.

Canada glories in the names of Banting and Best, and the other medical heroes who selflessly brought healing where there was disease and suffering. Now it honours with the Order of Canada a medical man who has brought not healing, but the destruction of the defenseless and immeasurable grief. This award must not stand.

…

The Sheepcat

TORONTO – Controversial abortion activist Dr. Henry Morgentaler, who was named a member of the Order of Canada this week, said Wednesday he deserves the recognition for helping Canadian women be safe.
“The work I’ve done over the years and the sacrifices and the sentence of imprisonment that I have suffered, I think that finally now the government has recognized my contribution to Canadian women and I am very proud of it,” Morgentaler, 85, told a news conference in Toronto.

The prestigious appointment Tuesday refuelled the abortion debate and was slammed by one of Canada’s top Catholics as debasing the order.

Morgentaler said he wasn’t shocked that the Catholic Church was so opposed to him receiving the distinction. “I’m surprised it is not more violent than it is,” he said. “They are adamantly opposed to the right to safe abortion.”

Article

So a person who dismembers babies for a living is surprised that the reaction is not more violent? Since he says “more violent” he must think Catholics protesting him getting this honor is an act of violence. I guess his understanding of the word violence differs from my own. Though his understanding of the word safe is probably at odds with the person he cuts up also.

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Pro-life

America Magazine mailing list wanted by pro-abortion group

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

Dawn Eden reports:

Father James Martin S.J., associate editor of America, has confirmed in an e-mail to me that, as I reported yesterday, the Jesuit magazine sold its mailing list to an abortion-advocacy group, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

Here is his statement:

“As a result of an error by our business office staff, the magazine did inadvertently sell its list to that organization, and apologize to subscribers who received their mailing. Our publisher will request that they no longer use our list for their mailings, and we have already put in a tighter system to ensure that we don’t mistakenly sell to any group remotely like this one in the future.”

What is really sad here is that this pro-abortion group sees America Magazine readership as an audience for them and that they are probably right. I do not doubt that Father James Martin S.J. is pro-life himself. Though the America blog seems to see the most pro-abortion presidential candidate not only as a possible choice but is slanted towards him.

Though I guess a story about a mailing list is nowhere near as bad as the legalistic response from Bishop DiLorenzo when he was told Catholic Charity workers would be talking a girl under their charge to get an abortion.

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Punditry

You're not listening!

by Jeffrey Miller
written by Jeffrey Miller

The penalties callously doled out to Sister Louise Lears – a woman who has dedicated her entire life to serve the Church – is a prime example of the way women are often wrongly treated by the Catholic hierarchy, where dangerous secrecy runs rampant and preserving power in the hands a few ordained men reigns supreme.

A.M.D.G comments

There is so much wrong with this one statement, it’s amazing that anyone could be so far off base.
1. What makes Aisha think that the penalties were “callously” doled out? Lears had every opportunity to recant and repent of her public scandal but refused. She apparently invited the penalties.

2. How is it possible to “serve the Church” while at the same time refusing to believe or assent to what the Church proposes for our belief or discipline?

3. How can Aisha claim that the imposition of these just penalties is a “prime example of the way women are often wrongly treated by the Catholic hierarchy,” when similar interdicts have been applied to “men”? Intellectual honesty demands that one’s assertions be substantiated by truth, however, the claims made by Aisha Taylor are, at best, dishonest and deceptive.

4. She also asserts that the Catholic hierarchy engages in a “dangerous secrecy.” One logically must then ask – If it’s a secret, how does she know about it. If there is some “secrecy” running rampant among a few men in the Vatican, then it’s not much of a “secret” anymore, is it? And if this “secrecy” runs rampant and very few know about, how can she claim that it’s dangerous?

Taylor seems to say that the Catholic hierarchy conspires and schemes so that they can find news ways to keep women in their place, so to speak – they’re trying to keep the woman down! Such an implication speaks volumes – it’s delusional and it seems to demonstrate a unhealthy paranoia or some phobia or hatred of men.

A rational mind can only conclude that Taylor and her cohorts have a talent for combining insulting and accusatory words into calumniating ramblings. And we have only looked at the first sentence! Let’s continue:.

In a weekend article in Newsweek which is totally in the bag for women’s ordination they interviewed a nun who recently left her order and had once written a book supporting women’s ordination.

With dissenters it is always others who are deficient in listening. Not surprisingly it is never they that need to listen to the teaching authority of the Church. The reason the CDF fails to grasp how wonderful their theological positions is because 1) they are not listening and 2) Did you know it was once called the “Holy Inquistion?” Anybody even slightly familiar with the CDF knows that there investigations take years and much time is spent in dialogue to determine if what someone says could be understood in an orthodox manner and for them to fully explain themselves.

In a work published shortly before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope he wrote.

The task of the teaching office is not to oppose thinking, but to ensure that the authority of the answer that was bestowed on us has its say and, thus, to make room for the truth itself to enter. To be given such a task is exciting and dangerous. It requires the humility of submission of listening and obeying. It is a matter not of putting your own ideas in effect, but of keeping a place for what the Other has to say, that Other without whose ever-resnet Word all else drops into the void. The teaching office, properly understood, must be a humble service undertaken to ensure that true theology remains possible and that the answers may thus be heard without which we cannot live aright.

To which dissenters would reply “You’re not listening.”

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