I was perusing some of the traditional Catholic websites and came across an interesting article about a Roman Catholic monsignor blessing a Hooters Restaurant in Waco, Texas.

I figured, I’ve got to check this out. And yes —“ it’s true. Check out the article at the Waco Tribune.

There is a great analysis of this outrage at the Catholic Outsider.

What can I say? After I pick my jaw up off the floor I might ask the monsignor if he was acting in Persona Christi while doing this. Was he doing what the Church does? Was he acting as the Church acts?

The monsignor is pastor of St. Martin —“ Tours parish in West, Texas.

The monsignor noted that “blessings are part of Catholic tradition.”

Monsignor, blessings are living and efficacious calls to holiness. They are a means to help us in recognizing God’s action in our lives. Their misuse is a sacrilege. Blessings are not just a tradition. It’s not just water you’re sprinkling. You are supposed to believe in what you do. Blessings go back to the beginning of time and the first was from God Himself.

It should also be noted that the monsignor was opposed by sixty other clergy members, primarily from Protestant denominations. At least they stood on faith.

The monsignor has given rise to the typical reaction from the media. Fox News reports:

Sweet Hooters Most Holy

Please bless these overly revealing orange shorts, and all who wear them while serving me cheese fries.

The head Catholic priest for the Greater Waco, Texas, area, Monsignor Isidore Rozycki, plans to bless a new Hooters restaurant in a private opening ceremony…

Oh good. You’ve not only assisted in the objectification of women but of our Lord, His mother, and His Church.

For reflection:

Heresy is from the Greek word meaning ‘choice’…. But we are not permitted to believe whatever we choose, nor to choose whatever someone else has believed. We have the Apostles of God as authorities, who did not…choose what they would believe but faithfully transmitted the teachings of Christ. So, even if an angel from heaven should preach otherwise, he shall be called anathema. –Saint Isidore

and…

In their sorrow they cried to him with one voice: “Father, why are you deserting us? Who will care for us when you are gone? Savage wolves will attack your flock, and who will save us from their bite when our shepherd is struck down? — From a reflection on the life of St. Martin of Tours by Sulpicius Severus