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Current Events, Perspective

Ralph —˜Bucky’ Phillip’s family writes to me

I received a comment in a posting I did from Viola who alleges herself to be the aunt of Ralph Phillips. Rather than burying this in a combox I thought I would respond right here.

Let’s parse this out:

Some people are not blessed as most.

I agree Viola, yours truly included.

I can not understand how a man of God can judge my nephew Ralph Bucky Phillips, that is up to God.

God entrusts His workers, the clergy united to His Church, to stand forth and uphold His laws. That’s why we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Of course you deem this to be judgment, which it is not. We call it truth. Let’s take a little refresher course:

Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not covet.

Those, and a few others, are a pretty simple set of standards by which human relations are to be governed. Of course Jesus will judge Bucky. That’s why He offers us the lesson of the cross. His death opens the door to heaven to everyone. The hard requirement is the necessary change of heart. Repentance and making amends are necessary – and Bucky needs to do so because he did evil.

Bucky never had a good life from the time he was little.

Are you really that simplistic? Do you believe that his life excuses, even in the smallest measure, his actions.

There are many people faced with many difficulties in life, poverty, homelessness, abusive family members, illness —“ and I could go on. They go to school, set goals, find role models (try the saints —“ many overcame great difficulties and lived heroic lives), and overcome their difficulties. Even if they can’t get beyond their state in life, they dedicate that state to God and to following His ways.

Now poor Bucky’s bad life has wounded two men, killed a third, and left a widow and a son who will only know his father from his pictures —“ how about their lives? I don’t hear you sounding all aggrieved about that, or sorry for it, or willing to help make amends for your nephew’s path of destruction.

People talk about him like he is an animal.

No one is an animal. We all have human dignity, given to us by God. That includes Bucky.

No one knew what his life was and now everything has the right to judge him.

See the points above —“ no judgment —“ only truth.

Shame on all of you.

No Viola, shame on you and your family. How many of you stepped in to set Bucky on the right path. How many of you gave him guidance and assistance —“ not in running from the law, but in upholding it.

Go to church at all? Teach respect for life and property? I guess you would say it was none of your business. How sad. It’s the world’s fault, but not mine. Look in the mirror —“ Bucky’s children will be on the same path unless you, as family members, take some measure of responsibility.

Truth and responsibility are hard to take. You should take an example from David Kaczynski.

Current Events, Perspective

Why democracy and accountability work

At PolishFest a lot of visitors made inquiries into how the PNCC differs from the R.C. Church. Outwardly, at least to the casual observer, things would seem to be pretty much the same.

At first, people tend to be surprised by two things, married priests and the role of the laity in managing and overseeing the temporal matters of the Church.

In the PNCC, clergy have nothing to do with collections, running the business of the parish, appealing for money, or many of the other business issues many Roman Catholic and other pastors face.

While no system is perfect, and while there are bad apples every now-and-again, the PNCC system of financial and managerial decision making works. It works at a level that is far more secure than one based on singular decision making and control. The PNCC system makes everyone accountable, and based on that shared responsibility, assures that people are rowing in the same direction.

PNCC members not only “feel” that they have an ownership interest, they do. The entire membership has a voice and a vote in the process —“ and each member is given the time and respect necessary to voice opinions and ideas.

Beyond having a system that works, it rarely if ever devolves into a power and control thing. It actually works to guarantee that what the people invest in —“ their parish church, their property —“ belongs to them.

PNCC clergy are blessed, and I feel particularly blessed, in that we keep our focus on the spiritual.

Artcle VI of the PNCC Constitution (PDF document) states:

ARTICLE VI – CHURCH AUTHORITY

SECTION 1. The authority of this Church is vested in three branches, namely: legislative, executive and judicial.

SECTION 2. In matters of Faith, morals and discipline the authority of this Church lies in the hands of the Prime Bishop, Diocesan Bishops and Clergy united with them. This authority is derived directly from God through Jesus Christ, agreeably with the words of our Savior: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Mat. 28:18, 19, 20). “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mat. 18:18)

SECTION 3. In administrative, managerial and social matters, this Church derives its authority from the people who build, constitute, believe in, support and care for it. It is a fundamental principle of this Church that all Parish property, whether the same be real, personal, or mixed, is the property of those united with the Parish who build and support this Church and conform to the Rite, Constitution, Principles, Laws, Rules, Regulations, Customs and Usages of this Church.

SECTION 4. The administration, management and control over all the property of the Parish is vested in the Parish Committee elected by the Parish and confirmed by the Diocesan Bishop, and strictly dependent upon and answerable to the lawful authorities of this Church.

Democracy and accountability work because they support each other, they are complimentary. They are a shared process that yields the best result.

The Herald-Sun in Priest’s [sic] on run over an $8mil theft points to how a command and control system, run by one individual, can be manipulated by a bad apple.

It is sad, in that the reality of such defalcation, malfeasance, and abuse, along with the realities of church closings and other command decisions affecting the lives of the faithful, works to destroy trust and even faith.

FLORIDA — Two priests have been accused of stealing more than $8.6 million from collection plates to bankroll lavish double lives.

Those lives involved girlfriends, property investments and gambling junkets to Las Vegas and the Bahamas, police say.

Retired Msgr John A. Skehan, 79, pastor at St Vincent Ferrer for more than 40 years, was picked up at Palm Beach airport after returning from Ireland and was in custody.

His successor, the Rev Francis B. Guinan, 63, was also being sought for grand theft; police suspected he may have fled.

With some 3000 parishioners, St Vincent’s is one of Delray Beach’s largest and oldest parishes, and is home to a who’s who of powerful politicians and business leaders.

The Irish-born friends of 30 years are accused of skimming cash from collections for “slush funds” from which they gave generous payments to women, invested in real estate and traveled to their native Ireland and to US resorts.

Skehan allegedly used collection-plate funds to pay for a Palm Beach condominium, a $275,000 coin collection, a cottage on Ireland’s scenic Cliffs of Moher and a pub in his home town of Kilkenny.

He made regular cash payments to a woman, described in the affidavit as a “girlfriend”.

One former church employee told police he “would hide cash from offertories in the ceiling”.

Guinan, who succeeded Skehan in September 2003 and quit two years later, was described as a gambler who visited Las Vegas and Bahamas casinos.

He used church funds to pay for $15,000 worth of dental work, and also made cash payments to his “girlfriend”, according to a police affidavit.

He had a reputation for partying and in 2004 was arrested for drink-driving [sic]…

Current Events, Perspective

The blame laying begins

A man standing on a street
fingers in his ears
eyes tightly closed
his mouth shut.

His clothes are covered
with the blood of comrades
the enemy
and innocent civilians.

He opens his mouth:

No civil war —
we are safer.
Get a hose
and wash me down.

The NY Times reports: Military Officials Add to U.S. Criticism of Iraq’s Government

The first step in the withdrawal has begun —“ the laying of blame.

Sure, we invaded, set up a puppet government no one respects, stoked the fire a little with our own incompetence and sin and now its all their fault.

The saddest line of all from a senior American military official:

—I can tell you in every single ministry how they are using that ministry to fill the coffers of the political parties,— the official said. —They are doing that because that is exactly what Saddam Hussein did.—

We got rid of Saddam and got a thousand Saddams. Faustian!

Current Events, Media, Perspective, Political

Creeping toward real democracy

Turkey has always claimed to be a secular democracy. However, any real review of Turkish practice would indicate that it is a democracy where some (Muslims) are far more equal than others (Christians and Armenian and Kurdish minorities).

Calling yourself a democracy —“ and secular —“ may work as a disguise for a little while, but the proof is in the way you live out your democracy.

One of the traits of a democracy is the ability of its citizens —“ and anyone else —“ to comment on, criticize, and yes, even ‘insult’ the politics and practices of that democracy. Being ultra-sensitive and ultranationalist go hand-in-hand. They both act to stifle debate. Getting upset about criticism makes you anything but a democracy (by making laws against criticism) or just makes you childish.

Turkish judges seem to be getting that point. Zaman Online reports: Novelist Shafak Acquitted of Insulting Turkishness. Excerpts follow:

Well-known Turkish novelist Elif Shafak has been acquitted in the case against her for allegedly “insulting Turkishness” due to her remarks in her latest novel named “The Bastard of Istanbul”.

The controversial trial of the famous author Shafak commenced this morning at Beyoglu court amid protests from ultranationalists against the European Union (EU).

Beyoglu 2nd Court of First Instance decided on Thursday to acquit Shafak in the case in which she was charged with “insulting Turkishness” due to lack of legal grounds for the crime in question and insufficient evidence.

…

Turkey’s 35-year old novelist was sued under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, the same law that ensnared Orhan Pamuk, one of Turkey’s best-known contemporary authors, last year.

Late in July, an Istanbul court decided to open a case against author Elif Safak on charges of denigrating Turkishness for remarks made by Armenian characters in her book named “Father and Bastard” in Turkish version, aka “The Bastard of Istanbul.” Shafak faces up to three years imprisonment if found guilty.

Shafak’s book recounts the story of relations between an Armenian family and two Turkish families. An Armenian character in the book says that “Turkish butchers” killed her family and that the deaths were “genocide.”

The ultra-nationalist Turkish Lawyers Association Chairman Kemal Kerincsiz, who is infamous for filing complaints against journalists and authors, was also responsible for opening the case against author Elif Shafak, an assistant professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Arizona, in the U.S.

…

The European Union has repeatedly criticized Turkey for its lack of progress on the freedom of expression of writers and journalists. Several writers have been convicted under the notorious Article 301; however, none have been jailed; instead, the courts have tended to hand down fines, the maximum amount being $4,000.

Earlier this year, an Istanbul court dropped a case brought against Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, also charged with ‘insulting Turkishness’, following remarks he had made concerning the killing of Armenians during the last years of the Ottoman Empire.

In July, Perihan Magden another famous Turkish author and journalist was acquitted in the case against her for discouraging people from performing their military service due to remarks in her column in a Turkish daily.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective

Reacting to extremism

Today’s Albany Times Union has an article on the security preparations taking place prior to the observance of the upcoming Jewish holy days.

In Faith, vigilance mark holy days: Seattle shooting incident makes security a concern for local Jewish congregations the writer notes the coincidental tie-in between Albany and the shootings that took place at a Jewish Center in Seattle. Based on that coincidence, and the propensity of attacks on Jews by hateful or deranged people, local Jewish leaders are stepping up precautions.

A few excerpts:

As in the past, that preparation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation inviting regional Jewish leaders to a security briefing. About 60 of them attended the 90-minute session last month. The FBI’s Albany field office chief, John Francis Pikus, participated.

…

Agudat Achim’s second vice president, Jeffrey Handelman, attended the FBI meeting in Albany. After officials assured the Jewish leaders they knew of no local threat, he said, someone followed up with another question: Did you know of a specific threat in Seattle?

“And they said ‘no,’ ” Handelman said. “So you know, it’s the kind of thing — it’s just a random crazy person. There’s no way to really secure yourself against all of that.”

Tight security for the High Holidays is nothing new. Armed police at the door, armies of trained ushers, entry by ticket only — all of these are familiar precautions that synagogues have used in the past and will use again this year.

…

At Temple Israel, it was both the Seattle shooting and recent bloodshed in the Middle East that led the synagogue to plan on more police officers and ushers for the High Holidays this year. Roaming security volunteers will monitor the inside and outside of the building.

…

ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman said the shooting, “while the work of an individual who acted alone, was a reminder that the Jewish community must make security a priority each and every day, and especially during the High Holidays.”

In the Capital Region, plenty of temples are heeding that message.

“Many of them mentioned it at the security briefing,” said Shapiro, of the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York. “They’ll have more people outside. They’ll be more vigilant.”

All of this brings up some very interesting questions.

The FBI uses staff resources to hold a 90 minute meeting for Jewish groups to advise the attendees that nothing is going on? I think a simple letter would have handled that outlay of information. Here are a few lines they could have used: Regarding the upcoming holy days, the FBI is aware of no explicit threats to the local Jewish community. We advise you to keep vigilant and to take appropriate security precautions.

As a matter of fact, the FBI could send that letter to every religious group in the country. You know, Christians are targets for extremists too (ref. the latest calls to “break up the cross, spill the liquor and impose head tax, then the only thing acceptable is a conversion to Islam or [sic] killed by the sword.”).

It is all very well and good that the law enforcement community is reminding faith communities to be careful. However, shouldn’t we be asking a question closer to the core, what is the appropriate faith response?

Deacon Dan Wright has an excellent analysis of the issues surrounding the Pope’s speech and the backlash from both Muslim and Christian extremists. He writes on what the Christian response should be. In My Very First (Official) Rant he says in part:

Christian people, what is going on? Are you so easily manipulated by the real evil at work? Can you not see the spirit of divisiveness?

Exactly! We’ve bought into divisiveness, building barricades, manning our doors with police officers, and holding FBI meetings out of fear. We are buying into, or creating a spirit of fear. That fear is inconsistent with St. Paul’s challenge to us. It is inconsistent with the voice of the martyrs who stood on very firm ground in the face of fear. It is inconsistant with a life lived in Christ.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Hardships take many forms: outright persecution, subtle persecution, bigotry, and forgiveness. The onus is on us – how do we respond? St. Paul’s words are as good today as they were during the persecutions of Nero. Stand on the strength of your faith, live the gospel.

Current Events, Perspective

Good point

From Whoops, a pontiff by Stephen Bates:

On the other hand, if you cannot, as part of a lengthy and profound academic lecture, cite a 600 year-old text for fear of stirring the aggravation of noisy politicians half way around the world, what CAN you do? We might as well all retreat into obscurantism. And keep our mouths shut, for otherwise, who knows who we might offend. And if, as a result of the outrage, some Catholics get killed or their churches burned down by offended scholars and textual exegesists it might be thought that Manuel’s original point had rather been made.

Current Events, Perspective

Muslim reliance on reason

From the AP via the Buffalo News: Turkish Lawmaker Compares Pope to Hitler:

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s ruling Islamic-rooted party joined a wave of criticism of Pope Benedict XVI on Friday, accusing him of trying to revive the spirit of the Crusades with remarks he made about the Muslim faith. A Turkish lawmaker said the pontiff would go down in history “in the same category as leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini” for his words.

Don’t forget to add Atatí¼rk to that list.

Salih Kapusuz, a deputy leader of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party, said Benedict’s remarks were either “the result of pitiful ignorance” about Islam and its prophet, or a deliberate distortion.

I prefer to think the Pope had complete understanding. Mohammed added nothing. He simply took a lot of Orthodox Christianity, some Judaism, and twisted it into a new ‘faith.’ He was the Joseph Smith of his day, and Islam was the Mormonism of its time.

“Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence,” [Pakistani] Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

I like that – we’re not intolerant – and we’ll riot and kill if you say we are. Oxymoron!

“What he has done is that he has quoted very offensive remarks by some emperor hundreds of years ago,” she added. “It is not helpful (because) we have been trying to bridge the gap, calling for dialogue and understanding between religions.”

Aslam said Muslims had a long history of tolerance, adding that when the Catholic kingdom of Spain expelled its Jewish population in 1492 they were welcomed by Muslim nations such as the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

Yes, yes, Islam is tolerant, like Saudi Arabia where practicing Christianity is outlawed (you will be sentenced to death for doing so, or for even owning a Bible), like Pakistan where churches are regularly bombed and Christians are shot dead in their churches, like Turkey and Turkish controlled Cyprus where the Ecumenical Patriarchy is held captive, priests are killed, Christian women are harassed by Muslim gangs, Christian schools are closed, and Churches are seized and converted into mosques?

Media, Perspective

Could I have exhibited insight?

Father Jake Stops the World has an interesting post on the future of the Episcopal Church (TEC). In Will a “Two Church Solution” be Traded for Invitations to Lambeth? he quotes an article by Ruth Gledhill in the Times: Clergy seek ‘two-church solution’.

Ms. Gledhill makes an observation concerning the end of TEC as a member of the Anglican Communion and a possible union between TEC and Utrecht, observations that coinside with my own. In her blog, Ruth Gledhill —“ Articles of Faith, she makes very similar observations to ones I made. Specifically in Love in the Ruins (updated) she says:

…it is not beyond the realm of possibility that TEC could itself decide it has had enough and seek communion with another body, such as the Old Catholic Church of Utrecht. This church is in communion with Canterbury, and is liberal on women and gays. I can imagine a scenario where, should the whole thing become a much looser federation, enabling the Methodists among others to come on board, the Old Catholics could end up part of the wider Communion in any case.

Maybe it would just then become The Communion, TC, with separate bodies such as the Episcopalians, the Anglicans, the Methodists, the Old Catholics, the Lutherans and numerous others all included.

In Possibilities for the Episcopal Church (June 20, 2006) I said:

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 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?

Wow, did I scoop the Times? Did I exhibit foresight? Hey, you never know…

Thanks again to the Young Fogey for the pointer to this.

Perspective

No excuse!

Bush steps on us

The photo highlighted by Daithí­ Mac Lochlainn, a 9/11 survivor, in Worth a Thousand Words…

I’ve been to Auschwitz, Pearl Harbor, Arlington, Gettysburg, and the WTC site. In each of these you walk carefully, faced with the enormity of what the place represents. You stand there overwhelmed by the sense of man’s sinfulness. This man is disrespectful at best. From a President of the United States there is no excuse. We are no more than a doormat for his whims.

Current Events, Perspective

September 11 reflection

I’ve always loved this reading from Wisdom – Wisdom 3:1-9. I frequently use it at Requiem Holy Mass. For me, it and verses 10-12 are a great reflection for this sad day.

It is also fitting to remember that justice is the justice of God, not the justice we determine. We fail to see as God sees and for that reason we should all pay close attention to the last three verses.

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.

But the wicked shall receive a punishment to match their thoughts, since they neglected justice and forsook the LORD.
For he who despises wisdom and instruction is doomed. Vain is their hope, fruitless are their labors, and worthless are their works.
Their wives are foolish and their children wicked; accursed is their brood.

I pray that the Lord grant us wisdom and peace, that He look on us in mercy, and that He bring about the repentance and conversion of evildoers.

For all who died, Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord.
For all who suffered injury and loss, Hail Mary…
For all those who selflessly sacrificed for their brothers and sisters, Hail Mary…
For police officers, firefighters, public servants, and the members of our armed forces, Hail Mary…

Have mercy on us O Lord.

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