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Christian Witness, Perspective, ,

You want to be THAT Catholic?

An interesting headline which sums up my thought on the announcement from the Vatican in regard to establishing Personal Ordinariates via an Apostolic Constitution for Anglicans/Episcopalians who wish to go over to Rome en mass.

First, I want to say that I am happy that Rome took this action. It is a welcome and bold move designed to give assurance and protection to folks whose entire Church ethos is Anglican and Catholic. It allows them to keep what they know and to live within a Church that stands by Scripture and TraditionOf course excepting the hot button issue of the role and scope of the Pope and various dogmas that exceed Tradition.. For those seeking stability amongs the rocky shores of the via media and Protestanism it is best for them.

There are tons of questions of course which won’t be sorted out until the Apostolic Constitution is issued and the various Departments in Rome react to the problems and issues that arise. Some of the bigger questions in my mind are: What will they do with former Roman clergy who left for Anglicanism, got married, and now want to return (and to a lesser degree former Roman Catholics who went over and want to re-enter, but as clergy)? What about the issue of serial marriages among clergy (divorced and remarried clergy)? What of “gay” clergy who tend to have an affinity for high churchiness in Anglicanism, will Rome’s newish rules regarding the non-admission of homosexual men apply here?

I also noted that new clergy who are to be trainind to serve in the Personal Ordinariates will have to be trained in seminary in the same programs that form regular Roman seminarians (this as opposed to houses of study for the Eastern Churches which are seperate). How will that “from the ground up” training affect the Anglican ethos in these Ordinariates? It looks like Anglican formation will take a secondary, even tertiary role in the formation program, kind of like an add-on course one soon forgets.

The Young Fogey has tons of links to different takes on this. My title above was derived from his link to Brother Stephen at Sub Tuum who writes in Anglicans in the River: Practical Considerations for Catholics:

A few observations and things to remember in today’s excitement:

Scale: If every Anglo-Catholic in the world were to jump at the new offer, their numbers wouldn’t add up to that of a major Archdiocese. When you diffuse those numbers around the globe, things will look pretty much the same other than to professional church watchers. This is a time for thanksgiving, not sweeping prognostication…

He goes on to recount the issues to be dealt with. I think he has it right. This is a bold move and a grand gesture, but in practicality — not much will happen. It is something to be happy about but don’t expect a tidal wave to activity. There will be a few high profile moves and then the band will die to a low hum.

Reading the reaction of the African Bishops puts it all into perspective. The CS Monitor’s headline caputes that perfectly: Will Vatican lure Africa’s Anglican anti-gay bishops to Catholic church?The article is really badly writen in relation to the whole issue of homosexuality and the Church’s stance – typical MSM blather about something they know nothing about.:

Despite fierce opposition to homosexuality, African bishops say the Vatican’s effort to bring more Anglicans to the Catholic church will falter, largely because of the autonomy that they enjoy…

That said, the African Biships are not Anglo-Catholics. They don’t want to be “THAT Catholic” other than dressing up in regalia from time-to-time. No, to be “THAT Catholic” you have to actually do as Huw says in Help, Help! I’m Being Oppressed!I am deeply impressed with this article and plan to comment more in future posts.:

Responsibility, self-limiting choices, delayed gratification, postponed joy… these are the stuff of maturity.

To flee them is simply immaturity raising its ugly head. To flee them in the name of ego, self and —spirituality not religion— is sheer stupidity for it will mean the dissipation of self, ego and spirit. Eventually, lack of responsibility and self-imposed limits will lead to death.

To be “THAT Catholic,” whether PNCC, RC, Oriental or Orthodox you have to actually say no to some aspects of autonomy, to thinking of yourself as on an island of self-rule. To be “THAT Catholic” means to live a sacrificial lifesyle – one where the Lord and His body, the Church (found on Scripture AND Tradition), lead you. It took Peter a long time to learn that, and he’s still learning too.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” — John 21:18

Christian Witness, Perspective,

My Alma Mater names a new President

From Canisius College: On October 20, 2009, the Canisius College Board of Trustees named John J. Hurley as the 24th president of the Jesuit university.

John J. Hurley was appointed the 24th president of Canisius College on Monday, October 19, 2009 by the college’s Board of Trustees and will assume the position on July 1, 2010. He is the first lay president in Canisius College’s 140-year history.

A 1978 alumnus of Canisius College, Hurley has served as executive vice president of Canisius College since 2007 and vice president for college relations since 1997. In these roles, Hurley is the designated senior administrative official, responsible for the college’s strategic planning, integrated marketing, legal and compliance issues and athletics marketing. He also oversees the college’s advancement operation, which includes development, public relations, creative and Web services, alumni relations and government relations…

Interesting that they wouldn’t name a Jesuit to the position. I hope that the move is a tribute to the gentleman’s skills as a leader and not a further sign of secularization in [Roman] Catholic colleges and universities. For more on that see The State of [Roman] Catholic Higher Education by Patrick J. Reilly.

Christian Witness, Poetry, Saints and Martyrs,

October 19 – The Magnificat of the BVM as recorded by St. Luke

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

Translation according to the Revised standard Version of the Holy Bible

"Wielbi dusza moja Pana,
i raduje się duch mój w Bogu, moim Zbawcy.
Bo wejrzał na uniżenie Służebnicy swojej.
Oto bowiem błogosławić mnie będą odtąd wszystkie pokolenia,
gdyż wielkie rzeczy uczynił mi Wszechmocny.
Święte jest Jego imię –
a swoje miłosierdzie na pokolenia i pokolenia [zachowuje] dla tych, co się Go boją.
On przejawia moc ramienia swego,
rozprasza [ludzi] pyszniących się zamysłami serc swoich.
Strąca władców z tronu, a wywyższa pokornych.
Głodnych nasyca dobrami, a bogatych z niczym odprawia.
Ujął się za sługą swoim, Izraelem,
pomny na miłosierdzie swoje –
jak przyobiecał naszym ojcom –
na rzecz Abrahama i jego potomstwa na wieki».

Christian Witness, PNCC,

A personal note of thanks

Last Sunday, the Solemnity of the Christian Family, marked one year since I began my active ministry at Holy Name of Jesus parish in Schenectady, NY.

Of course thanks are in order, but in a way I am uncomfortable making this list because everyone should come first. Needless to say I will start with the Lord who leads me in my ministry of service, at Holy Name, in the Mohawk Valley Seniorate, in the Central Diocese, and the PNCC as a whole. I am so thankful to Fr. Stan Bilinski for taking the time (and having the great patience necessary) to teach me the ropes. A huge shout out and special note of thanks to all the parishioners at Holy Name; they have been very charitable, accepting, and have shown great Christian love in welcoming my family and me. And, finally, my family who support me in my ministry and whose patience I tax with running to and fro to minister. I realize their sacrifice and am so thankful for their charity.

Here’s a picture of me assisting at Holy Mass on the occasion of the YMSofR Track and Field meet in Scranton. Holy Mass was celebrated at the Grotto of Christ the Benign. Prime Bishop Nemkovich is celebrating, I am the Deacon of the Mass, and Fr. Jason Soltysiak is standing in as Sub-Deacon.

Holy Mass at the Grotto of Christ the Benign

Please pray for me.

Christian Witness, Perspective, ,

Quincentenary of Calvin

CalvinTo mark the occasion an interesting blog type website called Calvin 500.

Of course we know the issues here, reform was necessary, but it became more than reform. Reform without infallibility in faith, doctrine, and morals becomes just another human invention, subject to change and whim. The pitfalls of fashioning a religion where everyone decides for themselves on matters of faith, doctrine, and morals plagues us to this day, and even the Reformed Church in America is struggling with changing belief patterns enlightened by current fashion.

I am not saying is that each person cannot decide for themselves. Indeed, each person must make their own decision for, against or indifferent to Christ’s Gospel. Rather I posit that when a person does decide for Christ, when they are regenerated, their regenerated lives can best be fulfilled in a path with clearly defined guideposts, guideposts only the infallible Catholic Church can adequately provide.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , ,

What 500 dedicated people can do

From the Buffalo News: With spotlight on past and future, exhibit celebrates parish’s faith

Dozens of supporters of Corpus Christi Catholic Church turned out Thursday for a special look at an exhibit that celebrates the East Side church’s past and future.

The exhibit, housed in Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum on Porter Avenue, coincides with the successful completion of the parish’s $1 million preservation fund campaign.

—In a time of crisis, over the past four years, we were able to raise $1 million, which is extraordinary for a church on the East Side where you don’t really have too many people,— said the Rev. Anzelm Chalupka, pastor of Corpus Christi.

—Today’s event is thankfulness from us to the people who donated money towards this campaign.—

At its height, the overwhelmingly Polish-American parish had more than 10,000 members and is now down to about 500 very dedicated parishioners —” about 2 percent from the neighborhood and the rest who travel long distances to attend Mass, Chalupka said…

I applaud the work of the Pauline Fathers at Corpus Christi. You don’t need a big suburban parish of 10,000 well healed people to be successful, you need strong hands and strong hearts. What our forefathers did can still be done. May their work be blessed.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political, , , , ,

Being poor, being hopeless

From the Spokesman-Review: Effects of growing up in poor households can be lifelong

When Lori Pfingst considers the statistics that will tell the tale of this recession, she isn’t thinking about GDP or unemployment.

She’s thinking about teen pregnancy. Low birthweight babies. WASL scores and college enrollments.

As the recession swells the ranks of the impoverished, it takes a particular, long-term toll on children, experts say. In Washington state alone, nearly 40,000 children are expected to slip into poverty by 2010; nationwide, an additional 800,000 kids entered poverty between 2007 and 2008, before the recession really hit.

And however quickly the economy begins its official recovery, the consequences for kids living in poverty are wide-ranging. Children who grow up in poor households tend to do worse in school and end up in trouble with the law. They’re less likely to go to college and more likely to get pregnant at a young age. They’re more likely to commit crimes or become victims of crimes, and more likely to grow up and live in poverty themselves.

—The impact of this really can’t be overstated,— said Pfingst, assistant director of Washington KidsCount, an annual statistical survey of children’s well-being. —When children are born into poverty, it affects every single outcome of their lives.—

A new report from Duke University asserts that the recession will undo decades of progress for children and families. Duke’s Child and Youth Well-Being Index measures a range of categories; it estimates that all progress made in —family economic well-being— since 1975 will be wiped out by this recession.

The Duke index predicts that families will suffer from the expected kinds of effects, such as joblessness, lower incomes or homelessness. But it also suggests that children will pay other prices, in greater obesity and health problems, because families will be more likely to rely on low-cost fast food; on social relationships and stability, as families are forced to move; and on increased behavioral problems and crime, with young people as both victims and perpetrators.

—The impact of the current recession on children will be dramatic,— the Duke report concludes…

Two things. First, simply said, a tragedy that none of the Wall Street moguls will ever consider or reflect on. Second, in spite of negative pressures caused by the recession we have an underlying current of hopelessness far greater than that ever experienced by the poor and nearly poor of generations past. Their grounding in faith, neighborhood, and family stood as a bulwark against just these sorts of pressures.

When I look at our great Fraternal, the PNU, and the history of the PNCC, in fact most of the faith communities inhabited by immigrants, I see people who counted what was important. They knew that with God in front, family and co-workers in union, they could withstand whatever the world could throw at them; not only withstand, but struggle and succeed. I may be a hopeless romantic, or too nostalgic, but I believe that we are capable of the same today. Being poor does not equate with hopelessness and lifelong despair, it is the crucible in which we are tested. We are challenged, not to re-create the past, but to build a new and re-grounded future.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Political, ,

Justice, a helping hand, and human potential

From Newsday: LI immigrants fight to win wages they say they are owed

The immigrants came in one after another. One said he was owed $6,000. Another said he was docked $3,000. Three others said they were owed $1,900, $648 and $270.

In the North Fork Hispanic Apostolate headquarters in Riverhead, Sister Margaret Smyth and attorney Dan Rodgers counseled the men for upcoming court appearances.

“If they ask you about your immigration status, you have no obligation to answer,” Rodgers said. “The only reason we’re in court is to obtain wages for work you performed.”

Advocates say many more immigrants are filing claims for unpaid wages on the East End than last year – nearly 140 so far, already exceeding the total for all of last year.

Five immigrants came to Smyth’s office Thursday, saying a painting company owes them $5,000 each. “Every month, we have 30 or more cases,” Smyth said. “Some of it’s the economy. Some of it’s just people being bad people.”

Federal and state law says workers – regardless of immigration status – are entitled to be paid for work performed.

“The fact is that the worst thing you can do is steal a man’s labor and that’s what’s going on more and more,” said Rodgers, who does the cases pro bono.

Roberto Rodriguez, 46, said he was owed $648. He was so desperate, he pawned a gold chain for $200, he said. “I just want to be paid my just wage.”

Nationally, some groups say they’ve seen a similar increase, though the Workplace Project in Hempstead said it has not noticed a rise in complaints.

“This is a big problem that existed but is being exacerbated by the bad economy,” said Raj Nayak, a staff attorney with the National Employment Law Project in Manhattan.

Advocates say while most cases filed in local courts are won on paper – usually by default, when the defendant doesn’t show up – the judgments are difficult to enforce.

When defendants do show, Rodgers tries to negotiate a settlement. But in many cases, only one or two payments will be made. “It’s never-ending,” Smyth said. “I have a whole pile of cases where they didn’t pay.”…

Wage theft, especially from those with the fewest avenues available for seeking justice is rampant in the United States as is the intentional misclassification of workers.

More on this in What Workers Face This Labor Day (see also Low-Wage Workers Are Often Cheated, Study Says from the NY Times)

On Monday, President Obama will celebrate America’s 127th Labor Day by giving a speech on “jobs, the economy and maybe a little health care” at the annual AFL-CIO picnic in Cincinnati, OH. Despite positive indications that the U.S. economy is beginning to “climb out of the worst recession in decades,” Obama’s speech will come at a difficult time for America’s workers as job losses continue. In the current recession, 6.7 million jobs have been lost through July, with another 216,000 jobs lost in August. Even those who are still working are facing significant challenges. Earlier this week, a new report financed by the Ford, Joyce, Haynes, and Russell Sage Foundations found that labor protections in America “are failing significant numbers of workers.” According to the survey, which was “the most comprehensive examination of wage-law violations in a decade,” 68 percent of the low wage workers who were interviewed said they were subjected to pay violations in their previous work week alone. This included 26 percent who were paid less than the minimum wage and 76 percent who didn’t receive legally required overtime pay. In all, the researchers discovered that “the typical worker had lost $51 the previous week through wage violations, out of average weekly earnings of $339,” adding up to a 15 percent loss in pay. The report “clearly shows we still have a major task before us,” said Labor Secretary Hilda Solis in a statement, promising that the Department of Labor in the Obama administration “will be marked by an emphasis on the protection” of the rights of America’s workers…

I was at a conference on unemployment and workforce issues last week. During the conference nineteen state workforce agencies joined in a call to extend unemployment insurance benefits.

The news at the conference was sobering. Panelists like William D. Rodgers, III, Ph.D., Professor and Chief Economist and Carl E. Van Horn, Director and Professor of Public Policy both of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and Lawrence Chimerine, Ph.D., Managing Director and Chief Economist at the Economic Strategy Institute all point to a recovery that is underway; with economic indicators pointing to a sustained recovery. Unfortunately it will be a jobless recovery (see U.S. Job Seekers Exceed Openings by Record Ratio from the NY Times for instance). We may not see job gains or low unemployment again until 2018. People will be desperate and there will have to be significant changes in the way we assist and work with these folks. These workers will need training to prepare themselves for this new environment and for the jobs that are available — an investment in their potential.

The assessment that struck home for me was a review of our investment in human potential. The value of our investment in the people of this nation has declined for decades (see here for instance). What we pour into education, health, wellness, culture, family, and leisure points to a wholly wrong set of priorities and an ethic where human life is considered cheap — life as just another cog in the machine. Funny how people of faith, calling government, industry, and society on the carpet over this, have spoken the truth here. Too bad — the message has fallen on deaf ears and over relatively the same period of time.

Oh, and speaking of people who do not invest in or respect human potential, Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming is near the top of the list. He believes that people shouldn’t be empowered to take care of themselves because they just might form unions. As with many Washington insiders he thinks that people should seek the approval of business and/or government before they do anything. I can’t believe he’s from the west.

Christian Witness, PNCC, , , ,

Eucharistic sharing etc.

From the Q&A’s at BustedHalo: Can I receive communion as a Catholic in a —high Anglican— church if they hold the same beliefs about the Eucharist that Catholic do?

Question: I went to a —high Anglican— service and was told that they believe the same thing about the Eucharist as we do. Is it OK therefore for me to receive communion here as a Catholic and if not, why does the church say that I shouldn’t receive here?

The Anglican and Catholic International Dialogue Commission, in a 1981 document entitled The Final Report, claimed in the sections relating to the Eucharist —to have attained a substantial agreement on eucharistic faith.— This, however, does not resolve the question of intercommunion. The reason is that, while both churches may have a common understanding of what is happening at the Eucharist, the significance they attribute to sharing in the Eucharist together is different.

For the national churches that make up the world-wide Anglican Communion, sharing holy communion with members of other denominations is a way of growing together in unity. For the Catholic Church, sharing in eucharistic communion = ecclesial communion. —Ecclesial— means —church.— So communion in this sense takes on an expression of church unity. In what does ecclesial communion consist? Vatican II’s document Constitution on the Church sees four bonds: professed faith, sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and fellowship.

As Anglicans and Catholics are still working out issues relating to authority (ecclesiastical government), the mutual recognition of ministry (sacraments), and our fellowship is sporadic at best, from the Catholic Church’s point of view, it’s not yet —honest— for us to invoke together the consummate sign of unity in faith and life.

That said, the Catholic Church’s Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms Concerning Ecumenism, —recognizes that in certain circumstances, by way of exception and under certain conditions, access to these sacraments (eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick) may be permitted or even commended for Christians of other churches and ecclesial communities— (129)… —The conditions under which a Catholic minister may administer these sacraments . . . are that the person be unable to have recourse for the sacrament desired to a minister of his or her own church…, ask for the sacrament of his or her own initiative, manifest Catholic faith in this sacrament, and be properly disposed— (131).

You will not fail to notice here, I’m sure, that the situation envisioned is one in which a member of another church is present at the Catholic eucharist and wishes to receive communion, and not vice versa. In situations of pastoral need, Catholics have the approval of their own Church to receive the eucharist only in the Polish National Catholic Church, the Syrian Church, and in Orthodox Church, though the latter has not given a corresponding approval so the door is really not open there…

I am including this simply for the reference to the PNCC. The answer leaves off much on the issues that now separate Anglicans/Episcopalians of whatever stripe from the wider Catholic Church. Interestingly, the questioner certainly perceived the lex orandi of the parish he attended as equal to the lex credendi. This common worshiper viewpoint goes right to the heart of recapturing proper liturgy in the Roman Church. He or she likely saw the outward prayer of that particular Parish as more Catholic than thou.

Christian Witness, PNCC, ,

Faith and H1N1

The Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security held a conference call on Thursday, September 24 entitled “Community and Faith-based Organizations and Response to 2009 H1N1 Flu.”

A jointly prepared resource document “H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations” [pdf] is now available. They note that local organizations are crucial leaders and resources in their communities and essential partners in comprehensive state and local flu response.

HHS has posted a call summary on their listserv. If you are not part of the HHS listerv, you can join here. Click ‘Join the Mailing List’ under the ‘Newsletter’ box on the right-hand side of your screen.

Copies of the new guide and other resources are available for download.

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