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Current Events

Pray for Lebanon, pray for peace

St. John Maron

The Catholic World News reports on the Maronite Patriarch’s request for prayers for Lebanon.

Patriarch Nassrallah Pierre Sfeir, the head of the Maronite Catholic Church, asked for prayers for the people of Lebanon during a July 13 press conference in Massachusetts.

The Maronite patriarch, Lebanon’s most prominent Church leader, spoke to reporters as he concluded a trip to the US, during which he sought to increase awareness of his country’s problems. Thanking American leaders for their support, he said that “the Lebanese are determined to live far from terrorism, tyranny, corruption, and despair.”

Saying that he is “very concerned and anxious” for Lebanon in the light of this week’s new violence, Cardinal Sfeir condemned “all aggression, wherever it comes from.”

He continued: “”We condemn Israel’s recent retaliations against Lebanon’s people and infrastructure. We also hope that Hezbollah will finally lay down its arms and join the other citizens of Lebanon in reaching political solutions to all of the Lebanese problems.”

By the way, do not try to connect to the Maronite Patriarchate’s website, like all Lebanese websites it is down.

Current Events, Political

Anyone find deeper meaning?

Today’s Old Testament reading from Hosea:

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, —Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion.—
I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
—I am like a verdant cypress tree——”
because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

It’s too bad that the Lebanon cedar will be no more and that the wine of Lebanon is blood…

Christian Witness, Current Events, Political

The War Paradigm

I rarely discuss issues like this. I think the faith is rather clear on war issues. I also think that Jesus Christ’s commands to us are very clear in regard to our duty as Christians. That is why true Christianity is so diametrically opposed to the things that precipitate war and to the conduct of war.

Unless I am mistaken, no Christian in the first centuries of Christianity would stand up to anyone with intent to fight. They stood up of course, but that was to proclaim the truth. Many died for doing so. Most died horribly, but their faith was sure.

By Augustine’s time the Church had developed certain doctrines (Just War Theory) to cover the eventuality of war. Still, on the whole, Christianity, as institutionalized by that time, was reactive to aggression.

To me, war is the product of those who lust for power, control, or who simply have a taste for death and destruction (ala the brutality carried out by some troops, most recently U.S. troops).

This week’s events in Israel, along with the re-invasion of Gaza, are just the next step in the long slide toward self imposed annihilation. The people who built this road, who are the authors of the coming annihilation, are the so-called neo-con drum beaters in the United States and of course the ‘I have my own agenda’ Israelis (and there are others jumping on the bandwagon too).

The new paradigm is war. It is war for any reason, real or perceived. It is proactive, pre-emptive, and out of scale to the reality of the situation. Washington (under the neo-cons) and Tel Aviv (always) have decided that the atmosphere for destruction is right. They have set the tone for the world. Don’t be surprised if the world goes up in flames.

  • Civilian death —“ ok
  • Disproportionate and random shelling, bombing, bulldozing —“ ok
  • Hit civilian targets – ok
  • Drop a bomb on a car filled with five kids and a terrorist – ok
  • Invading other sovereign countries based on a perception —“ ok
  • Blockades —“ ok
  • Playing poker with one devil to get the next – ok
  • Lies to make it all ok —“ ok

I cannot fathom the idea that we or Israel are so unsophisticated and so inept that we have to bulldoze and use low yield nuclear weapons to get the ‘bad guys’.

Now, I am no pacifist. I hope every terrorist gets a nice hole in their head ASAP. I just think we could use brains to do it rather than brawn. That we could think our way through solutions, rather than bulldozing through them. That we could be a shining example of justice, truth, and civilized ideals, rather than a people who trample on their own rights in order to act like their enemy.

Terror is being committed on all sides and the innocent are the ones being hurt. No matter how you count the bodies, the innocent outweigh the guilty. That’s not just, truthful, or even smart in the long run. If you don’t see your children and grandchildren covered in blood when they relay the pictures from Beirut, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Gaza, or Baghdad, then you are not a Christian or a human being.

For additional information check out Antiwar.com and the Anti War Blog.

Current Events, Political

Freedom of speech?

Fr. Rob Johansen from Thrown Back posted a homily for the R.C. Feast of St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr and St. Thomas More, Martyr. It’s a great read and very pertinent as it ties in the recent persecution of a Catholic in Maryland (ironic isn’t it). Here’s an excerpt:

The King’s Good Servant, But God’s First…

Last week, an official of the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Washington, D.C. was fired by the governor of Maryland. The Metro Transit Authority runs the subway and bus mass-transit system in Washington, D.C. and its suburbs. This official wasn’t fired because he was incompetent. He wasn’t fired because he was doing a bad job. He wasn’t fired because of corruption, or any other misconduct. He wasn’t even fired because of budget cuts or other financial problems. No, he was fired because, on a local cable tv talk show, he expressed an opinion. He described homosexual activity as “sexual deviancy”, and stated that he held this opinion as part of his Roman Catholic faith.

The story of Mr. Robert Smith’s firing by the governor of Maryland has been making its way around the blogsphere since this occurred. Here’s an excerpt from the original Baltimore Sun article: Ehrlich appointee fired over remark. Transit official equates gay lifestyle with deviancy

WASHINGTON // Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. fired one of his appointees to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority yesterday after the board member asserted on a local cable talk show that homosexuals lived a life of “sexual deviancy.”

The termination came a few hours after Metro board member Robert J. Smith, an architect and unsuccessful Republican candidate for the General Assembly from Montgomery County, was publicly confronted by a transit board colleague. Board member Jim Graham, a District of Columbia councilman who is openly gay, called on Smith to disavow his remarks or resign during yesterday’s regular meeting of the panel, which oversees Metro business.

Graham said he was gratified that Ehrlich decided to replace Smith. Earlier in the day, Smith said that he stood by his beliefs, which he said stemmed from his Roman Catholic faith, and insisted that he would not resign unless ordered by the governor.

“Governor Ehrlich got it; Mr. Smith was clueless until the end,” Graham said. “This is serious. To defend this point of view is beyond the pale. And so I think Governor Ehrlich got that very clearly, very quickly. So I appreciate his action.”

Ah, Mr. Graham, deviancy has caused your brain to go soft. Mr. Smith is not clueless, just faithful. He is faithful to God. You on the other hand are faithful only to your lifestyle.

We could easily call you on the public carpet for only representing one point of view now couldn’t we? Anyone can say that defending your point of view is beyond the pale. Be careful of the house of cards you build by persecuting people for their beliefs, that house could fall down around you.

For all interested please contact Governor Ehrlich. I’m sure he’d listen to other points of view (uh, yeah…).

Also, see the First Things article on this issue by editor Joseph Bottum who writes in part:

Even among those who preach toleration most loudly, genuine toleration is often scarce once the power to be intolerant has been gained. One of the many wonders of the American experiment is that the American people, throughout most of our history and with some shameful exceptions, have been astonishingly tolerant even of those who disagreed most flagrantly with the majority’s values. There is no guarantee, however, that such generous toleration will continue.

Current Events

Keeping the poor away from the rich

An excerpt from the Buffalo News’ reporting on Warren Buffet’s ‘generosity’: The Buffett beneficence

Until Monday, Buffett’s donations largely were directed through the Buffett Foundation, which he formed more than 40 years ago. The name was changed in 2005 to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation in honor of his wife, who contributed $2.1 billion upon her death.

Many of the foundation’s grants have gone to organizations promoting population control, reproductive health, family planning – including Planned Parenthood – and the elimination of nuclear weapons.

You can see the way the rich think when charity they perform…

Keep the poor away from me (abortion, population control) so that there are more resources for —“ me. Also, make sure that the poor who remain stay healthy and don’t get nuked because: a.) I don’t want them getting me sick and b.) I want them healthy and at work.

I have to give Warren Buffet a hearty thank you on behalf of all the babies being flushed. They will never have a chance to enjoy and praise his beneficence.

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Current Events, Media

TEC General Convention – ooops they did it again

VirtueOnline reports: Episcopalians pass compromise resolution calling for restraint by Hans Zeiger, VirtueOnline Correspondent

COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/21/06)-The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today passed a resolution calling for the church to restrain from consent to bishops “whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.” Following as it does a rejection of the same thing on Tuesday, the passage of the resolution was, in the words of one deputy, approached “the height of hypocrisy.”

Resolution A161, effecting a moratorium on the ordination of homosexual bishops and the blessing of homosexual unions, failed in the House of Deputies on Tuesday, threatening alienation of the Episcopal Church from the worldwide Anglican Communion. In a last ditch effort to save Episcopalian-Anglican relations, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold convened a Special Legislative session on Wednesday morning, calling on Bishops and Deputies to consider an emergency resolution, number B033, that would express what the convention “actually” believed.

“This is the final day of General Convention,” Griswold said. “What I believe we actually yearn for has not been adequately reflected through the workings of our legislative processes…We must now act with generosity and imagination so that our actions are a clearer reflection of the willingness of the majority of us to relinquish something in order to serve a larger purpose.”

After Griswold’s speech, Bishops held a heated session in which Griswold became insistent from the chair’s seat on the need to quickly pass Resolution B033. When Bishops attempted to amend the resolution to loosen language in favor of homosexuals, Griswold reacted sharply: “We are trying to deal with something that does not fit easily into a legislative process. I hope we can find a way in which to maneuver through this that doesn’t make us victims of the legislative process…If we aren’t clear by lunchtime then we might as well forget the whole thing…If we don’t have something substantial, we might have a very difficult time getting the Archbishop to invite the Episcopal Church to the Lambeth Conference.”

It looks like the outgoing Presiding Bishop cares most about invitations.

Additional pressure on the House of Bishops came from Presiding Bishop-elect Katherine Jefferts Schori, who compared the divisions of the Anglican Communion to conjoined twins that cannot be separated until both are able to survive independently. While reaffirming her support for homosexuals, Jefferts Schori indicated that compromise was critical. “My sense is that the original resolution is the best we’re going to do today.”

…

It appears that the incoming Presiding Bishop cares most about coalescing power and resources until TEC is able to move to separate from the Anglican Communion.

Her first focus will probably be on the property. TEC has ultimate control over all Episcopal properties. The lawsuits will fly. They need to remain within Anglicanism until they can sort it all out legally. Once the chance of properties and assets going to other jurisdictions in the Anglican Communion is eliminated it will be TEC that will do the booting. And worldwide Anglicanism will stand around mulling over the fact that they were having such a pleasant discussion over tea.

Other interesting points:

  • The incoming Presiding Bishop refers to Jesus as he/she in her sermon at this morning’s ‘Eucharist’
  • There was a motion to allow anyone to receive the ‘Eucharist’; you need not even be baptized. In the TEC it is just a chunk of bread anyway so it doesn’t much matter. Still, could they be any less disciplined?
  • There is no need of Jesus to procure salvation. Jesus Christ is not the way, truth, or life. The reason given is that Jesus is an impediment and stumbling block to the Jews. Where have I heard that before —“ I think it was some guy preaching the necessity of Jesus.
  • They affirmed the appointment of a thrice divorced Bishop who is currently married to a divorced woman. The conservatives were up in arms, all upset about the message it sends. I just thought that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Wasn’t the whole point of Anglicanism the ability/right of a monarch to divorce his wife and take another? Now their panties are in a bunch over divorce (Prince Charles’ included)?
  • The whole response to Windsor is a non-binding resolution that at least one bishop has already rejected (right after he voted)

I think that the only thing missing from the whole spectacle was the martyrdom of a true Christian. It will come later, death by a thousand cuts.

Current Events,

Possibilities for the Episcopal Church

At the General Convention of the Episcopal Church there was discussion about changing the name of the Church and that it no longer be referred to as the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA). The convention organizers dragged out sixteen flags and stated that the Episcopal Church (TEC) is represented in all those countries. Very multi-national don’t you think?

TEC has elected a woman as its Presiding Bishop and it looks like they will not comply with the Windsor Report, putting them at odds with most of the rest of Anglicanism.

Ecumenically, TEC has decided, at its convention, to undertake Eucharistic sharing with the United Methodist Church. They already have such an arrangement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and based on the Bonn Agreement with all the Churches of the Utrecht Union. At the convention TEC will be signing an updated “Concordat of Full Communion.” with the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan).

In my estimation the stage is set for TEC to break from the Anglican Communion. They have created a sort of union of the left and liberal. They have also set the stage to become the money and the power behind a ‘new’ union (see we’re doing a new thing).

I find it very interesting that Bishop Joris Vercammen, the Old Catholic Archbishop of Utrecht, presided at the convention’s June 19 Eucharist, ostensibly in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Bonn Agreement. Utrecht has already substantially adopted the ‘ordination’ of women and is well on the way to blessings of same sex unions.

In October 2005 when Utrecht met with the Abp. of Canterbury (caution PDF Document) there was much discussion on the issue of overlapping jurisdictions. There are Anglican Bishops in locales under the jurisdiction of a Utrecht Bishop. Since Utrecht and the Anglican Church are in full communion there should only be one Bishop per jurisdiction.

Utrecht used a made up, far less serious excuse to eject the PNCC from the Union (not that the PNCC wanted to remain in union with Utrecht based on Utrecht’s liberal positions).

Could TEC become the new ‘Rome for the liberals’? Could Utrecht align with the TEC? Could Utrecht disavow their relationship with Anglicanism in general and join with TEC, the IFI (who have been in on and off discussions with Utrecht for years), the ELCA and the UMC in a sort of liberal, anything goes movement?

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Each of the parties to that kind of Union would be a dying entity. Each is defective in its beliefs and practices. It would be no more than a set of bodies where the ‘I’ll believe what I want’ crowd can hang out (all the while providing a good income and nice living conditions for its clergy).

Current Events

To our Anglican friends

The revisionist, non-biblical path taken by the Episcopal ‘Church’ in the United States is evident. I could list dozens of points as to where the ECUSA has missed the boat. The real truth is that Anglicanism missed the boat from the days of Henry VIII forward.

It is interesting that the ECUSA took its latest step in going over the cliff within the Octave of Corpus Christi, a day and time honoring the most precious body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Interesting because no matter the level of smells and bells, no matter the beauty of vestments and church buildings, no matter how firm you are in calling yourself Anglo-Catholic, you are in a defective church.

The Anglican Communion simply does not believe in the Holy Eucharist as anything more than a symbol. There is no reality behind it. You can wish it to be true, your can delude yourself into thinking it is true, but if you subscribe to the 39 Articles it is not true. If you perform the Anglican ‘communion service’ nothing happens. The Anglican ‘communion service’ is not the Holy Mass and no sacrifice is offered. The whole sacrificial nature of the perpetual memorial has been washed out.

If the Body of Christ is indeed truly and fully present under the appearance of bread and wine then they are to be worshipped. Is that what you believe? The elements are either changed or they are not. Do you believe they are? Setting aside the question of how they are changed (transubstantiation), which we cannot judge, the fact is true Catholics believe that the change occurs, is real, and is true. The bread and wine are no more, it is Christ Jesus. So we bow down and worship. Yes?

For those who are truly catholic at heart and who are willing to bear a share in the Lord’s cross in order to follow His teachings, who are willing to give up their comfort zone and their ‘Anglican’ way, I urge you to take the step and come to Catholicism. Whether in the PNCC, Orthodoxy, or the Roman Catholic Church, come to the living water. Come receive the bread that lasts forever, as well as all of the sacraments instituted by Christ.

Jesus has given us His body and blood to eat and drink, join with those who believe. He said that you must:

I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Current Events

Is it something about the Transfiguration?

From the Philadelphia Daily News: Urban Warrior | Church Meets a Sad Fate by Chris Brennan

A MASSIVE stone church, stately rectory and sturdy elementary school once held the power to transfigure long lines of West Philadelphia rowhouses into something bigger, greater, more glorious – a community.

But the Catholic Church turned its back on the 5500 block of Cedar Avenue six years ago, closing the Transfiguration of Our Lord parish that sits on the high ground of a full city block surrounded by small houses.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia sold the property last year for $1 million to real-estate speculators who went into business to scoop up land cast aside by the Catholic Church.

I took a long, slow walk through six years of neglect last week. There was nothing exalting about it. Boards have been pried loose from the church’s massive stained glass front. The rectory’s first-floor windows are smashed. The school is a burned-out wreck.

And then there’s that name, that terrible, mocking irony.

…

If you check out my most recent entry on Diocesan restructuring and the Fix Buffalo blog (search for Transfiguration), you’ll notice that the same thing happened to Transfiguration R.C. Church in Buffalo, NY —“ exactly the same thing. By the way, it was the church my father was baptized in.

Biretta tip to the Young Fogey.

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