Saturday, June 05, 2004

Ronald Reagan 1911-2004 RIP



"These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war."

--Reagan at Normandy, June 6th, 1984

"A Supreme Court decision literally wiped off the books of fifty states statutes protecting the rights of unborn children. Abortion on demand now takes the lives of up to one and a half million unborn children a year. Human life legislation ending this tragedy will someday pass the Congress, and you and I must never rest until it does."

-Reagan to the annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, March 8, 1983

TYPICAL

From Seattle Catholic, I found this CruxNews story on the return of the Tridentine Mass to Detroit. This story has been played out again and again in the US, including here in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The traditional Latin Mass is refused to the faithful in strong, violent ways. Those who ask for it are treated like garbage. When it is offered, it is offered infrequently, in far away places, and in run down chapels. Here on Long Island, for years the Mass was only offered once a month for Nassau County, in a facility that housed child molester priests. For Suffolk County, it was also once a month, in an old unused chapel that quite literally creaked when you walked inside. This location was about an hour from where I live, so attending both Masses was not a possible thing for most people to do. Bishop McGann, the bishop who protected child molesters in the priesthood, was vicious to traditional Catholics but thank God McGann's people are dying away and Bishop Murphy allowed the traditional Mass to be offered weekly. Anyway, the story about Detroit is so typical:

"The decision has been met with guarded optimism by those who have worked for the Tridentine Rite in the archdiocese, mainly because the rite – until now -- has been bitterly opposed by Maida and his chancery since Maida arrived as archbishop in Detroit in 1990."

Why are the bishops bitterly opposed to tradition but not to homosexual priests raping teen boys???

"Many suspect the Tridentine Mass may be sparingly offered at small parishes in inconvenient locations, perhaps even in parishes hostile to traditional aspirations."

That is because this is the way it is usually done, so the "many" have good reason to expect this.

"It is noteworthy that the primary opponent of the Tridentine Mass at that time was Fr. Gerald Shirilla, professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and director of the Worship Department. Fr.Shirilla told a reporter for the Michigan Catholic that, regarding those who want the Tridentine Mass, "We have to fight them tooth and nail."
"Fr. Shirilla was relieved of his post in 1993 when he was identified as a serial child molester, who favored young altar boys, going back more than 20 years.

Ding Ding Ding! Those who are the most opposed to traditional Catholic worship are usually those most opposed to traditional Catholic teaching.
The Passion of The Christ is now the 21st most successful movie in world history. Surprisingly, the film did not do as well overseas as most of the other top 30 films. In fact almost 62% of the worldwide gross came from the USA. That is the largest percentage for any of the top 35 films. I would have thought TPOTC would have done better overseas. The Passion of The Christ comes out on DVD and VHS on August 31st but you can pre-order it here.

Wednesday, June 02, 2004

A CATHOLIC POLITICIAN

The latest issue of The National Catholic Register has an interview with Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon. He is a devout Catholic and great DA but unfortunately the interview is not online. In the interview, he mentions working on civil-rights cases in the 1960's under Robert F. Kennedy and then later leaving the Democratic Party because of its stance on abortion in 1988. Dillon also mentions the two priests he prosecuted and jailed for abusing children. He also mentions the Rising Star program which is described on the Nassau DA's website this way:

"All of Rising Star’s many programs, which include academic intervention, recreational and sports activities and mentoring, are designed to guide young people in a positive direction and to fortify them with the natural virtues -- justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude -- that will help them resist the negative influences of crime, drugs and gang activity."

I hope the interview will be available online someday, but I don't think the NC Register puts these interviews online. Here is a quote that demonstrates how a Catholic politician should be:

"If something is morally evil such as abortion, one can't support it. We are never free to knowingly do immoral acts. I can't go before the judgment seat of God and say I was a public official and I did what my constituents wanted. I'll be held responsible for what I do.
There are times when I might have to recuse myself. There are other times when my moral beliefs have as much right to be involved in the clash of ideas in the public square as anyone else's.
If I get my moral beliefs from the Catholic faith and the dictates of the natural moral law, so be it. I have every right to draw on these sources in a democracy as the secularists have drawn from their own sources in forming their own opinions."



Update: I just found this National Catholic Reporter (gag) article comparing Mario Cuomo and Denis Dillon that really shows how Dillon puts his faith into action in his work.

"When Operation Rescue antiabortion activists took their illegal protests to Nassau County, Dillon refused to prosecute them. "I even considered resigning," Dillon told NCR, because he believed the protesters were "morally justified." Instead, he arranged with prosecutors in a neighboring jurisdiction to handle the cases."

"Despite a post-Cuomo law putting capital punishment back on the books, Dillon has steadfastly opposed efforts to execute convicted murderers in his jurisdiction. Instead, he has established a panel to advise him on the death penalty. In keeping with modern Catholic teaching, the panel can only recommend a death sentence in cases where it is essential to protect the broader community. Dillon has, in effect, abolished the death penalty in one of New York's largest jurisdictions--and has done so along explicitly Catholic lines.

"I apply a standard in discerning whether to use that statute, which is not really in the law--the standard that has been set forth in [the March 1995 papal encyclical] Evangelium Vitae and also in the's pope's comments. So there's a tension there."



"Dillon is, however, content with his position. "My feeling is that everybody knows I'm a Catholic and when I run [for office] I make no secret of the fact that in some of these areas I am not going to commit what for me would be an immoral act. And if the electorate does not want me in office, they can vote me out."

Monday, May 31, 2004




I received the email from Tim Drake that is going around St. Blog's asking to promote the National Catholic Register/ Faith and Family Movie Poll. However, I saw the code for the banner on The Curt Jester so figured I would put that here. The email states:

"We're looking for nominations for the top movies that celebrate Catholic life. We don't seek to repeat the excellent lists of films that treat of Catholic themes. Rather, we want to recognize popular movies that show how attractive Catholic life can be. What movies
make you proudest to be Catholic?"


This is a tough one for me. Bill Cork mentions The Mission, which is a great movie, but does it really "show how attractive the Catholic life can be"? Kathy Shaidle mentions Moonstruck, which is one of my favorite all time films but again, is is specifically Catholic? Ditto for It's A Wonderful Life. I find it difficult to think of a film that shows Catholic life in a wonderful way.

Sunday, May 30, 2004

RELIGION OF PEACE

Slaughter in Saudi Arabia

"They went door to door, witnesses said, demanding that residents show identity cards to prove their nationalities or religions.
A Lebanese woman, Orora Naoufal, hid in her apartment with her 4-year-old son for five hours after gunmen approached her.
They asked where the "infidels" and foreigners were, and whether she was Muslim or Christian, Naoufal said.
"I replied: 'I am Lebanese and there are no foreigners here.' " She said the gunmen told her, "Go convert to Islam, and cover up and go back to your country."



Still more:

Christian beaten to death in hospital by Muslim cop

"Faryad Ali, who has been jailed and charged with murder, reportedly told investigators it was his religious duty as a Muslim to kill the Christian man. According to Voice of the Martyrs, he is reported to have said, "I have offered my religious duty for killing the man. I'm spiritually satisfied and ready to face the consequences."
Pro-Taliban Cleric Killed in Karachi

"Gunmen killed a senior pro-Taliban (search) cleric on Sunday, sparking riots across this southern Pakistani city by his Sunni Muslim supporters who ransacked shops, banks and a police station."

I believe in President Bush's speech to the joint session of Congress right after the 9/11 attacks, he said we were going to "turn the terrorists against each other". If the CIA was not involved in this killing, then they should have been. This is what we need to see more of: the terrorists fighting and killing each other rather than us.