Bush Gets His Boogie On

Pope Benedict: "Hey, Thanks!"

After getting all your birthday greetings the Pope had a message for everybody:

The Holy Father was pleased to receive the greetings sent to him for Easter and for his anniversary celebrations.

His Holiness is grateful for the kind thought, which he reciprocates. In this holy season of Easter he invokes upon all people of goodwill abundant divine gifts of peace and joy, and cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing.

Archbishop Leonardo Sandri

Substitute of the Secretariat of State

Archbishop Burke on Cardinal Glennon Benefit w Sheryl Crow

Here is a video Bishop Burke posted on youtube about this whole Sheryl Crow mishap. 

"Into Great Silence" DVD to be Released in US

The international hit movie/documentary "Into Great Silence" about the silent Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps, head monastery of the Carthusian order will be released on DVD this coming October. Amazon.com is already pre-selling copies of the DVD as it currently ranks #612 in their DVD sales.

I have been following the story of this film for some time now and have greatly anticipated its release in the US. Many different publications such as Catholic World Report magazine and the National Catholic Register have done stories about the film describing its beauty and important message.

Here is an excerpt from a recent Register article:

The formal rigor of the finished 164-minute film, mirroring the ascetic strictness of the monks themselves, offers none of the didactic or expositional context associated with typical documentaries. No voiceover narration expounds the history of the monastery buildings or the Carthusian order. No captions introduce us to the events or rituals we see.
The result is more than a documentary of monastic life. It is a transcendent meditation on the human pursuit of meaning, on man as a religious and social creature, on the form and function of symbols and ritual and tradition; on the rhythms of work and prayer, day and night, winter and spring.
For all its asceticism, Into Great Silence is an exquisitely beautiful film. Precise compositions and splendid use of light at times overtly suggest the paintings of Vermeer, while stunning use of the natural beauty around the monastery may evoke Malick or Tarkovsky.

I'm very excited to see this movie and to see what sort of potential impact it may have. Our world hates silence. We are constantly being bombarded by media that our senses have become numb. We can't stand silence, it has become repulsive to us. Never before, I believe, would there have been any concept of "awkward silence." It's not the silence that is awkward, it is us.

This attitude has even seeped into the way we worship at Mass. There are very little moments of silence in the Mass any longer. When there is we get an antsy feeling someone should be "doing something." Pope Benedict has noticed this and wrote about the need for silence in his recent Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis. Here are some of the highlights:

(50) Furthermore, the precious time of thanksgiving after communion should not be neglected: besides the singing of an appropriate hymn, it can also be most helpful to remain recollected in silence.
(55) Active participation in the eucharistic liturgy can hardly be expected if one approaches it superficially, without an examination of his or her life. This inner disposition can be fostered, for example, by recollection and silence for at least a few moments before the beginning of the liturgy

We must learn to cultivate a spirit of silence within ourselves so that we can hear the voice of God in the "sound of a low whisper." (1 Kings 19:12) God rarely comes with trumpets blazing but prefers the silence of our hearts. If silence is awkward to us, will we hear the voice of God?

Orlando Diocese Investigates "Crying" Mary Statue

Orlando, Apr 25, 2007 / 10:31 am (CNA).- Officials of the Diocese of Orlando are expected to visit a local shop and verify a marble statue of the Virgin Mary that has allegedly shed a black tear.

Castle Designs, an Orlando business, received the reproduction of Michelangelo’s Pieta — the famous sculpture of the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Christ — two weeks ago from overseas.

The black tear was just recently noticed at the store and owners said it appears to be coming from inside the statue, reported WKMG Local 6 News.

"We started noticing that there was a small gray line every day that kept getting darker and darker," Castle Designs CEO Les Roberts said.

Store owners say officials from the diocese plan to come to the store and look at the statue. The business has also offered the diocese the option to display the statue.

Groups of people have already come to the store to pray before the statue, which has been roped off. Store owners have decided not to sell it.

Mexico Falls

Mexico City voted late Tuesday night to make abortion legal up until the 12 week. Catholic World News reports:

Mexico City, Apr. 25, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The provincial legislature of Mexico City has approved legal abortion through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The vote-- which came despite heavy opposition from Catholic Church leaders-- would make Mexico one of the few countries in Latin America where abortion is legal. Pro-life activists have moved immediately to challenge the legislative action, asking for a referendum vote on the issue.

The proposal for legal abortion won easy approval, in a 46- 19 vote. The bill now requires only the signature of Mexico City's Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, who has already signaled his approval.

Legislators easily defeated a proposal to delay the vote until a popular referendum could be conducted. But pro-life activists said that they would continue to press for the referendum. Armando Martinez, a leader in the referendum movement, called the legislature's April 24 vote "a step backward for democracy."

The new law will make abortion legal only in the Mexico City region. However, women from around Mexico can now travel to the capital city to procure abortions. Thus Mexico will join Cuba and Guyana as the only Latin American nations allowing abortion on demand.

Reuters has coverage and so does CNA.

Thomas has been covering it and so has Amy. Still waiting to hear if Fr. Pavone has anything to say. If anybody knows of any statements he's made e-mail me or post something in the combox...

This whole debacle has been ripe for pictures:

On the left, prolife activists carry infant coffins protesting the decision while on the right pro-choice activists, dressed like clergy and nuns, celebrate the decision.

HELP!!!

Help me, please. I have the same amount of votes as a blog run by a witch. The blog description reads:

Leading pagan author, Lexa Roséan (Lady Venus) gives advice on magick, witchcraft, spells, and other occult matters.

Now, I'm grateful for the 6 votes I've received but please don't leave me tied with a pagan on the "Best Religion Blog" category.

You can vote here

North Dakota Passes Conditional Abortion Ban

The North Dakota Legislature voted Monday to ban abortion in the event that a future Supreme Court ruling makes such a move constitutional.

Under the ban, abortion providers would face criminal charges unless the pregnancy they're terminating is a threat to the mother's life or the result of rape or incest. Those found guilty of performing an illegal abortion would face a maximum penalty of five years in jail, a $5,000 fine or both.

Don Larson, a spokesman for Gov. John Hoeven, said the governor supports such a ban and will sign the bill.

The Bismarck Tribune has the rest of the story...

"Communion With the Church is Necessary to Foster Vocations"

Vatican City, Apr 24, 2007 / 11:49 am (CNA).- The Press Office of the Holy See made public today Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the upcoming World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which falls on Sunday, April 29th. The Holy Father referred to the theme of this year’s 44th Day of Prayer – “The vocation to the service of the Church as communion” – emphasizing the key role communion plays in the flourishing of vocations.

“Thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit,” Pope Benedict said, “all the members of the Church form ‘one body and one spirit’ in Christ. This people, organically structured under the guidance of its Pastors, lives the mystery of communion with God and with the brethren, especially when it gathers for the Eucharist.”

“This intense communion,” the Pope added, “favours the growth of generous vocations at the service of the Church: the heart of the believer, filled with divine love, is moved to dedicate itself wholly to the cause of the Kingdom.”

“In order to foster vocations, therefore, it is important that pastoral activity be attentive to the mystery of the Church as communion; because whoever lives in an ecclesial community that is harmonious, co-responsible and conscientious, certainly learns more easily to discern the call of the Lord,” the Holy Father encouraged.

To read the whole message...

Dr. Janet Smith Draws Crowd of About 200

Last evening Dr. Janet Smith, an internationally know speaker on bioethics and moral theology, spoke to a crowd of about 200 on the campus of Central Michigan University.

The topic of evening's presentation was "Pre-marital sex: for dummies." As she opened her talk she made it clear that she meant the "for dummies" to be for members of her generation, responsible for the sexual revolution of the 60's and 70's.

Dr. Smith proceeded to explain why what she calls "natural sex" (sex between a man and a woman in a permanent committed relationship which is open to having children) is more fulfilling, better for society, and psychologically healthier than sex before marriage.

The captivating presentation was, for the most part, enjoyed by those present and there were a few moments when Dr. Smith's humor drew laughter and applause from the assembly.

It was the second time Dr. Smith has spoken on campus, the first time being the spring of 2006 when she gave her famous "Contraception: Why Not" talk and drew a crowd of 600 - 700. Both speaking engagements have been sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and they plan on having Dr. Smith out again next year.

Bishop Nienstedt Named Coadjutor of St. Paul-Minneapolis

Well, if you want to know if there are any bishops moving around in the U.S. the best time to look is on Tuesday. This Tuesday brings us the news the Bishop Nienstedt has been named coadjutor of St. Paul-Minneapolis.

In case you are wondering what a coadjutor is, I found this at Catholic Encyclopedia:

"The titular bishop may also be coadjutor bishop when he is appointed to assist an ordinary bishop in the administration of the diocese. Sometimes he is incorrectly called auxiliary bishop. He possesses some powers of jurisdiction determined by the letters Apostolic appointing him. Often also, notably in missionary countries, the coadjutor bishop is named cum jure successionis, i.e. with the right of succession; on the death of the diocesan bishop he enters on the ordinary administration of the diocese."

Seeing that Archbishop Flynn will be turning 75 a year from now, it may be safe to say who the next archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis will be.

This appointment has a few local connections since Bishop Carlson is originally from the Archdiocese and was ordained a priest there. Also, Bishop Nienstedt was born and ordained in the Archdiocese of Detroit here in Michigan.

Pro-Life Group Blasts Philadelphia Inquirer's Anti-Catholic Abortion Cartoon

Thanks to Thomas over at American Papist for the scoop...

LifeNews.com reports:

Philadelphia, PA (LifeNews.com) -- The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper is coming under fire for a cartoon it ran following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the federal partial-birth abortion ban. The cartoon entitled “Church and State” features the five Catholic members of the high court wearing bishop miters.

Joseph Cella, the head of Fidelis, a leading Catholic pro-life group, says the newspaper, "has breached the line of reasonable editorial commentary. This cartoon is venomous, terribly misleading and, blatantly anti-Catholic."

"We call on the Inquirer to repudiate the cartoon’s anti-Catholic sentiment," Cella told LifeNews.com in a statement.
Cella says the cartoon suggests that the Supreme Court decision to uphold the ban on partial birth abortion was a result of the Catholic Church influencing the votes of the five Catholic Justices on the Supreme Court, who are portrayed as Catholic Bishops.

"The Supreme Court did not ‘follow marching orders’ from the Vatican or the Bishops in the United States. Instead, the Court deferred to deliberative judgment of the people's elected representatives protected by the Constitution,” Cella said.

“By exposing this outrageously intolerant cartoon, we hope to contain future attacks on judges of faith, particularly during any future confirmation hearings which will likely prove to be the most contentious in history," he added.

Cella said the Inquirer's cartoon resembles the attack on Judge Bill Pryor, who was mocked for having “deeply-held” religious beliefs as a Catholic. Pryor faced sharply abusive rhetoric before he was finally confirmed to the federal bench in 2003.

"The Inquirer’s insinuation that a Catholic judge cannot act dispassionately and apply the law is an affront to all judges of faith, and smacks of anti-Catholic bigotry and elitism of the worst kind," he concluded.

Around the Blogosphere...

Here are links to a few good posts around the "blogosphere..."

Cafeteria is Closed has some nice photo posts from Rome

Jimmy Akin has a nice post on limbo

Curt Jestor has a great post on the term "Abortion Doctor"

Thomas over at American Papist has comprehensive coverage on the Pope's trip to Pavia as well as posts begging for Blogger's Choice Award votes. I haven't even been nominated...Somebody nominate me!!!!!

Cosmos~Liturgy~Sex has a disturbing post on the sheep that is 85% sheep, 15% human...

and Propaganda Machine has random facts about this up comming May 6th

...check 'em out!

Decision on Limbo Causes Quite a Stir

Well, well, well, this whole limbo thing has caused quite a stir.

For those of you who are confused about what has been going on, a papal commission charged with the task of reviewing the small "t" tradition of limbo has returned with the opinion, approved by Pope Benedict, that "there are good reasons to hope that babies who die without being baptized go to heaven." Thus, in effect, canceling the idea of a "limbo of the children", not to be confused with the "limbo of the fathers": a place where the Old Testament Patriarchs and holy men and women waited for Christ to admit them into Heaven.

This decision is not necessarily coming out of no where. The idea of limbo has been in question in recent years as the church tried to comprehend God's universal salvific will (1 Tim 2:4) and the problem of abortion and children who die in non-Christian cultures who never get the chance to choose baptism. The Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, home of bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, has a question and answer page from 1999 asking about the catholic belief in limbo. It states:

The Catholic Church never "believed" in limbo. The existence of limbo for unbaptized infants is not part of divine revelation, but rather was and is an educated theological "guess." The term was coined by St. Augustine of Hippo and literally means "fringe." This came about because God has not chosen to reveal what happens to deceased unbaptized infants.

In addition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was promulgated in 1992, states this about children who die before baptism:

1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them," allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism.

Not wanting to reduce the importance of baptism, the CCC follows this up by stating: All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.

Even though the idea of limbo has been suspect in recent years, some theologians seem shocked at the commission's opinion and Pope Benedict's approval. Rev. Richard McBrien, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame stated after hearing the decision:

"If there's no limbo and we're not going to revert to St. Augustine's teaching that unbaptized infants go to hell, we're left with only one option, namely, that everyone is born in the state of grace,''

He goes on:

"Baptism does not exist to wipe away the "stain'' of original sin, but to initiate one into the Church,''

Fr. McBrien takes this a little too far obviously and his conclusion is, to say the least, extreme. All the commission has decided is that it is conceivable that God can provide an extraordinary means of sanctification. All it is saying is that we are bound by the sacraments but God is not and that, through God's Mercy and Justice, it is appropriate to hope that innocent children are allowed a place in the kingdom. Why is this so wrong and why is this so out of touch with our belief about original sin and the sacraments?

Now, granted, limbo is a long tradition, held since the time of Augustine, so it is understandable why some wish to hold tightly to the idea of a limbo. Yet, why it is so inconceivable that God could allow an extraordinary means of sanctification to those, who through no fault of their own, are not washed free of sin by baptism? This is not taking away the necessity of baptism but only taking into account the mercy of God. God is perfectly just and perfectly merciful and I don't think removing the idea of limbo is stressing mercy more than justice. Why isn't it a just thing to offer an extraordinary means of salvation to those who have the chance of baptism stolen from them?

I doubt the debate of limbo in theological circles will end based on the decision of this commission; it will remain what it always has been: a theological guess, what changes is what the Church's official "guess" is.

Bishop Carlson Applauds Supreme Court's Decision

Bishop Robert J. Carlson released the following statement regarding today's U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Partial Birth Abortion Act of 2003:

"Today's ruling by the Supreme Court to uphold the national ban on partial-birth abortion offers hope that our country’s leaders do understand their duty to protect the natural rights of all people – even the unborn. The majority was correct to recognize that the law 'expresses respect for the dignity of life' because all human life deserves to be protected, especially the lives of the most vulnerable.

"This decision rightly recognizes the fetus, partially delivered, is a viable form of life 'by common understanding and scientific terminology' and points to that fact that killing that baby 'just inches before the completion of the birth process' is unacceptable and inhuman.

"It is still a great tragedy, however, that more than 1 million abortions are reported to be performed in the United States each year, most of those taking place in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Those lives, sadly, still remain unprotected under today's ruling.

"The church has taught since its very beginnings that the killing of the unborn is intrinsically evil, murder, and can never be justified. In 1973, when the Supreme Court first interpreted abortion on demand as a constitutional right, the Justices failed to protect the lives of the most innocent and defenseless members of the human race. I pray that today’s ruling is one of many steps from our leaders in Washington to do more to protect the right to life of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens."

Medieval helpdesk with English subtitles

For all of you who have had trouble with technology...

Clergy Most Satisfied

Firefighters, the clergy and others with professional jobs that involve helping or serving people are more satisfied with their work and overall are happier than those in other professions, according to results from a national survey.

“The most satisfying jobs are mostly professions, especially those involving caring for, teaching and protecting others and creative pursuits,” said Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey (GSS) at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

The 2006 General Social Survey is based on interviews with randomly selected people who collectively represent a cross section of Americans. In the current study, interviewers asked more than 27,000 people questions about job satisfaction and general happiness. Individuals' level of contentment affects their overall sense of happiness, Smith said.

“Work occupies a large part of each worker’s day, is one’s main source of social standing, helps to define who a person is and affects one’s health both physically and mentally,” Smith states in a published report on the study. “Because of work’s central role in many people’s lives, satisfaction with one’s job is an important component in overall well-being.”

Here are the Top 10 most gratifying jobs and the percentage of subjects who said they were very satisfied with the job:

Clergy—87 percent percent
Firefighters—80 percent percent
Physical therapists—78 percent percent
Authors—74 percent
Special education teachers—70 percent
Teachers—69 percent
Education administrators—68 percent
Painters and sculptors—67 percent
Psychologists—67 percent
Security and financial services salespersons—65 percent
Operating engineers—64 percent
Office supervisors—61 percent

LiveScience via American Papist

Quality Post on the Virginia Tech Tragedy

Jimmy Akin's Blog has a great post on what our reaction should be following this past week's shooting.

Watch the Dennis Miller video as well...

Secret Plans Come to Fruition

Curt Jestor lets us in on the secret...

Reactions Pour In

Drudge Report is gathering reactions:

HILLARY: 'Erosion of our constitutional rights'...

GIULIANI: 'I agree with it'...

OBAMA: 'I strongly disagree'...

ROMNEY: 'A step forward'...

MCCAIN: I'm very happy...

EDWARDS: 'I could not disagree more strongly'...

Interesting to see how the chips are falling...