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Month: May 2007

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Perspective, PNCC,

Take me home, EWTN road…

With my apologies to John Denver.

Anyway, I read a post that Ben Johnson put up on his Western Orthodoxy site, regarding an Orthodox deacon who became Roman Catholic. This clergyman appeared on the EWTN show “The Journey Home.”

This show drags out various people who have come over to the Roman Church, primarily from other Christian Churches, but not only. In the past it has featured Jews who have converted as well as people of various non-Christian backgrounds.

It is a tortured show that exposes all the ‘faults’ of the person’s prior church, how the opinion of family and friends is unimportant, how much resistance the person received in making the changeover (yes, they are all martyrs), and how some family and friends now accept the person’s choice. It also highlights their moment of conversion, you know, the one they failed to discuss with their spiritual father. Didn’t St. John warn us:

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

I think that if you added a little bling and spiced up the set a bit you’d have an infomercial for Roman Catholicism.

You don’t want to shop there, their Eucharist is hokey, shop here and you’ll not only receive the reeeeeal Jeeeesus, but eternal life as well. Listen to how Bob found the truth… 100% guaranteed, some restrictions apply. Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus, Inc.

What I find particularly sick is that the show flies in the face of the Roman Church’s teaching on Orthodoxy and other Catholic Churches, which the Roman Church deems to be “true particular churches” like the PNCCsee DOMINUS IESUS.

But ultramontanes, neo-conservative Catholics, and EWTN have never been ones not to foist their beliefs upon the Pope or the Vatican. They obviously know the way far better than those whose office is to teach.

For us, in the PNCC, we follow Bishop Hodur’s message – simply, allow God to enlighten and direct you:

The National Church does not recognize any anathemas. We are a group of free people and if, therefore, someone comes to know that our principles appeal to his soul, his education, and temperament, then we acknowledge him as our brother or our sister. In the same manner, if a person changes his conviction and leaves us, we do not condemn him because this is his free and Christian right. When new religious groups emerge, we do not curse them but acknowledge them as brothers. We, therefore, invite all the people of good will to our Church and if they do not come to our side, we will not degrade or ridicule them.

Something to be said for trusting in God.

Current Events, Perspective, Political, Saints and Martyrs,

Doing the devil’s work

From the AP via the International Herald Tribune: Iraq’s Christian minority flees from violence

BAGHDAD: Despite the chaos and sectarian violence raging across Baghdad, Farouq Mansour felt relatively safe as a Christian living in a multiethnic neighborhood in the capital.

Then, two months ago, al-Qaida gunmen kidnapped him and demanded his family convert to Islam or pay a US$30,000 ransom. Two weeks later, he paid up, was released and immediately fled to Syria, joining a mass exodus of Iraq’s increasingly threatened Christian minority.

“There is no future for us in Iraq,” Mansour said.

Though Islamic extremists have targeted Iraqi Christians before, bombing churches and threatening religious leaders, the latest attacks have taken on a far more personal tone, with many Christians being expelled from their homes and forced to leave their possessions behind, police, human rights groups and residents said.

The Christian community here, about 3 percent of the country’s 26 million people, is particularly vulnerable. It has little political or military clout to defend itself, and some Islamic insurgents view it as a fifth column —” calling Christians “Crusaders” —” whose real loyalty lies with the U.S. troops they are fighting.

Many churches are now nearly empty during religious services, with much of their flock either gone or too scared to attend. Only about 30 people sat scattered among the pews at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the relatively safe Baghdad neighborhood of Karradah during this week’s Sunday Mass. About two dozen worshippers took communion in the barren St. Mary’s Church in the northern city of Kirkuk on Sunday…

After I had read that article, I came across an article on church closings at the Buffalo News. In Under canon law, Catholic parishes rarely ‘close’ I found the following:

Closing a parish is a rare and rather involved legal process that extends all the way to the Vatican.

…

—No parish is really ever closed unless there are no Catholics left there,— said Litwin. —In reality, what seem to be closings are not really closings. You’re closing buildings perhaps, but you’re merging parish boundaries.—

The Vatican clarified the issue last summer in a letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in which Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, a high-ranking prelate, wrote: —Only with great difficulty can one say that a parish becomes extinct.—

—A parish is extinguished by the law itself only if no Catholic community any longer exists in its territory, or if no pastoral activity has taken place for a hundred years,— Hoyos wrote, according to the Catholic News Service…

President Bush has done quite the job in ridding Iraq of Christians. By 2108 the Canons regarding church closings will become operative. No Christians, no pastoral activity, no churches in Iraq.

Mr. Bush is the real problem, not the jihadists pushing dhimmitude, who in reality have been given license to run rampant under the ‘government, we don’t need no stinkin’ government’ situation in Iraq.

I would say, beyond much doubt, that President Bush considers the Christians of the Middle East anything but Christians, maybe dogs, but certainly not Christians.

You see, our President is firmly aligned with the Evangelicals whose rhetoric, practice, and belief, denies the fact that anyone of the ‘catholic’ persuasion is a Christian at all.

  • Christians in Lebanon – nope.
  • Christians in Iraq – nope
  • The Orthodox, Romans, Orientals – who dat.
  • Christians in Israel – just those awaiting the rapture

Mr. Bush, pay attention to scripture. A house divided and all…

You are working against these ancient communities of faith, and the responsibility for their fall lies at your feet. You’ve just about accomplished what the Roman Emperors, the Hun, the Horde, the Sultans, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Kim Jong-il, all combined couldn’t accomplish. You’ve just about rid a huge chunk of the earth of Christianity.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, ,

Michal Urbaniak in New York at the Polish Film Fesitval

Michal Urbaniak plays New York City again and performs as a part of the Polish Film Festival in New York at the Europa Night Club, 98-104 Meserole Ave., (corner of Manhattan Ave.) Brooklyn, NY this coming Sunday, May 6th at 7pm.

After his extensive European tour, he is back home. Michal Urbaniak will appear with his legendary all stars outfit including Donald Blackman on keys and vocals, Barry Johnson on bass, and Lenni Christian on drums, the team that created the hit —Funking for Jamaica— and is a part of Michal’s famous Urbanator Band.

Mika Urbaniak who is just recording her first solo album, will lend her smoky vocals in her New York debut.

Among the films featured during the festival will be Who Never Lived/Kto nigdy nie żył.

Kto nigdy nie zyl

Synopsis: A young priest works with drug addicted youth. His supervisors do not like his attitude towards his work and the fact, that he is very well liked by his pupils. When he gets an order to start studies in Rome, he is convinced the authorities are attempting to isolate him from his believers.

Homilies,

The Fifth Sunday of Easter and the Baptism of Ruby S.

Chrystus Zmartwychwstał
Prawdziwie zmartwychwstał!

Christ is risen
Truly He is risen! Alleluia

The One who sat on the throne said,
—Behold, I make all things new.—

Taken from the 21st Chapter of the Book of Revelation, Verse 5

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

There are many views on baptism.

Some refer to it as a baby naming ceremony.

Some refer to it as making grandma and grandpa happy.

The first two reasons are silly to be sure. No one needs a baby naming ceremony. I think that everyone knows Ruby as Ruby by now.

Grandma and Grandpa are certainly happy and proud, but that will be expressed in tens of thousands of ways over the years to come. No one need waste a Sunday morning on that.

Some refer to Baptism as a cleansing from —original sin.—

Those with a solid Roman Catholic education will see this event as a cleansing ceremony. Ruby will be washed clean from the black mark of original sin that is said to be on her soul. As you may recall, that black mark is said to be an impediment to Ruby’s entry into eternal life. It separates her from God.

The reality is that such an understanding, such thinking, is the furthest thing from the truth.

The solid orthodox catholic teaching we hold to in the Polish National Catholic Church rejects such thinking.

Ruby was not born sinful, nor was she created in sin. Ruby is a beautiful child, created in the image of God, with a soul provided by God, God who makes nothing defective. Ruby was created in love, joy, happiness, and celebration. There was a moment of connection that transcended mortality and created life.

Ruby is here because of God’s love and her parents love. Ruby is here so that she may enter the Holy Church in preparation for battle against sin.

Brothers and sisters,

Jesus said:

I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

Many of you have come from a good distance. Metro New York, Boston, points between and beyond.

You have come to see something wonderful and miraculous happen.

There will be no washing from a sin that doesn’t exist. Rather, Ruby will be taking the first step on the road to regeneration. By water and the power of the Holy Spirit, Ruby will be regenerated. She will also be made a member of Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

Regeneration is a decision and a step. Regeneration is a process of becoming and of growing, growing in the love of God.

With the assistance of her parents and godparents and all the family members and friends that are here today, as well as the Holy Church, Ruby will be on the road to the place John describes:

I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
—Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night, Jesus told him that a man must be regenerated, he must be reborn. He must make a conscious, positive, and affirming decision for Christ.

Bishop Hodur taught that this decision forever changes the person making the decision. Their focus changes.

In baptism Ruby’s focus forever changes. In her regeneration and inclusion her sights are set on God, on God’s dwelling, and on the life of God realized on earth in His Church.

My friends,

Ruby’s life has begun. She’s on the road to the fullness of life Jesus promised us. Along the way there will be great joys and temporary sorrows.

What I ask of each of you is that you take a lot of pictures today. And don’t let them sit on your computer or on a roll of leftover film in your camera. Don’t put them in an envelope on a shelf. Take those pictures, and make an album for Ruby.

When she’s sad or down, frustrated or struggling, pull out the album and sit for five or ten minutes. Show her the pictures, from the hospital, from the day she came home, and from the day of her baptism. Tell her a simple story about today, how people came from afar, how proud grandma and grandpa were, about the priest and deacon that were there and how she was regenerated and made a member of the Holy Church. Tell her that Jesus loves her. Tell her that you love her, and give her a kiss.

That’s what baptism is. The first step on the road paved with family, friends, the Church, love, the process of becoming and growing, and best of all, eternal life.

Knowing that will make Ruby happy, because it tells her that she has all of you forever.

Amen.

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