Self-Righteous Punks

I have had to suffer for the past several years listening to a blowhard who is also an anti-Catholic bigot. You can imagine what this person thought of the whole scandal thing in the Church. Recently, I read in the NY Daily News about a Navy sailor who videotaped himself raping young girls (1 as young as 8). The name sounded familiar and I asked the blowhard if this was the friend he had mentioned before. He admitted it was and I realized why he hadn't been so vocal about child molesters in the Church as he once was. This was his friend since high school and he had no idea he was a child rapist. I have to admit it was somewhat satisfying to see the wind taken out of the windbag! I think he finally realizes that he is not the genius he thought he was, at least not smart enough to recognize evil when it was right in front of him.

Recently, the same kind of satisfaction is being felt by many Long Islanders who read about the situation at Newsday. This is the paper that the Catholic League calls the most anti-Catholic newspaper in the country. For one thing, the paper is trying to get older employees to leave in what can only be described as massive age discrimination. One Newsday columnist wrote:

"Thank goodness that I, for one, am not losing her to a buyout being offered to all in this workplace aged 53 and older."

At the same time, it seems the self-righteous anti-Catholic windbags at Newsday have been committing fraud for years against their advertisers by inflating their circulation figures. When a lawsuit was filed against the paper by a few small businesspeople, Newsday denied everything and dismissed the plantiff's accusations. Now it appears they have admitted their circulation numbers were inflated but are saying the actions they have taken have nothing to do with this lawsuit. They are trying to have the lawsuit thrown out even while the Nassau County DA opens a criminal investigation. Of course the anti-Catholic bigots like Paul Vitello try to sound like they are above this whole thing, but it is nice to see them a bit deflated! Of course, I once temped at Newsday, actually scanning the returned bar codes of unsold newspapers that came back from vendors, so I can personally attest that Newsday attempts to keep track of these things. However, the article below in the Long Island Press shows that Newsday has not been reporting the whole truth about this scandal:

The Tip of The Iceberg

Read it and get some satisfaction in knowing that the Newsday that hates the Church also has its skeletons to hide:

"Newsday has finally admitted to lying about its circulation, and it's a lie that has cost Long Islanders millions.
After four months of adamantly denying any problems with its circulation figures, the paper announced on June 17 that it would reduce its reported circulation for the 12-month period ending last September by approximately 40,000 for the daily editions and 60,000 for the Sunday editions."


For one thing, Newsday is smarter than the Catholic bishops who tried to cover up the homosexual scandals in the priesthood. The paper tried to make it seem like they were the ones who discovered the fraud, and are attempting to show themselves as fully disclosing the truth. The Long Island Press article begs to differ:

"In making the announcement, Newsday said its findings were based on its own in-house audit. It did not acknowledge the Feb. 10 federal lawsuit brought against Newsday by advertisers, which first brought the practices to light. Nor did the paper credit the ongoing audit being conducted by ABC for discovering the problems."


Newsday is not the champion of the little guy as it would have you believe, but is rather the bully:

"The paper initially reacted to the lawsuit by threatening to cut off advertisers who sued; one of the plaintiffs dropped out of the suit because of that threat."

"Obviously they're going to go with the lowball figure," surmises John T. Anderson, a Lindenhurst deli owner who was cut from Newsday's distribution route when he complained the paper was shortchanging him."

Now the Long Island Press is somewhat competition for Newsday so you might figure they have an agenda. (It is a free publication that is not really in Newsday's league) But Newsday, and any anti-Catholic windbags have an agenda as well, and it is good to see them lose some wind from their sails.

Remember what I just posted about the whole culture of the Middle East? Well, American "culture" is not much better-

Amityville slave horror

"Cruel smugglers masquerading as a suburban Long Island family held dozens of illegal aliens as virtual slaves, seizing their wages and forcing them to live in squalor, officials said yesterday."

Priest's haunting requiem

"The Rev. Marcelo Navarro first heard the screams, he told the 200 anguished mourners at Billy Pearson's funeral yesterday.
Then he walked to the rectory window and saw two teens giving the beloved homeless man the beating of his life - his body laid to waste at the foot of Navarro's church in Brooklyn."


Mystery gunman on bike shoots, kills L.I. teenager

"A 15-year-old Florida girl visiting friends and family on Long Island was killed by a gunman riding a mountain bike through a Freeport neighborhood, police said Tuesday."

Inmate with prosthetic limb at large

I have never understood how jails are designed, built and supervised in a way that allows inmates to escape, use drugs, rape or riot. How difficult a task is it to keep a couple of thousand men under control? Apparently, even guys with fake legs and feet can get out. My high school had a better system for keeping the inmates within the walls!

Muslim Terrorists behead yet another "infidel". The whole of the Middle Eastern culture is one of violence, failure and hatred of "others".

SHARK IN THE WATER EVERYBODY OUT OF THE WATER!

It was just a basking shark, though, nothing to worry about.

I just ordered this Beer Stein from the Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club! I already have the coffee mug, but there is something about a beer stein featuring the great Cardinal on it that is irresistible.

"Imagine working in a print shop where a large image of the Blessed Mother and her Divine Son greets all patrons. There are Catholic periodicals on the table in the lobby, and business cards for the local crisis pregnancy displayed as work samples. A crucifix is visible in every room throughout the production area, and a Padre Pio holy card greets everyone who uses the fax machine. Obscene language and immodest dress are forbidden, thereby removing several more obstacles to daily sanctification. Employees are retained not only for their technical competence, but also for their honesty and willingness to honor the values of their employer. When mistakes occur, they are acknowledged and repaired instead of lied about. Customers know they are not being cheated and that ultimate accountability is just a phone call away."

Jeff Culbreath at El Camino Real owns this family printing business, and if anyone has any printing needs, click here to learn more.

I started collecting books on the faith and culture a few years ago. I hope to someday help start a parish library or something to that effect. I feel like I have some great stuff that is just collecting dust on my shelves. Here is a list of the 243 books:

1984 George Orwell
3 BY FLANNERY O'CONNOR Flannery O'Connor
A CENTURY OF CATHOLIC CONVERTS Lorene Duquin
A GUIDE TO THE PASSION Tom Allen
A HANDBOOK ON GUADALUPE Christopher Rengers
A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES (Vols. 1-4) Winston Churchill
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Robert Bolt
A MAN OF THE BEATITUDES Luciana Frassati
A MOMENT OF GRACE John O'Connor
A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN James Joyce
A SEARCH FOR MEANING IN LOVE, SEX, AND MARRIAGE Hugo Hurst
A SPIRITUALITY FOR POLICE OFFICERS John Moreno
A THIRD TESTAMENT Malcolm Muggeridge
A WOMAN'S LIFE Giuliana Pelucchi
ACTS OF FAITH Faith Abbott
AMAZING GRACE for those who suffer Jeff Cavins
AMAZING GRACE for the Catholic heart Jeff Cavins
AMERICA'S BISHOP Thomas Reeves
AN INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN PHILOSOPHY Russell Coleburt
ANOTHER SORT OF LEARNING James Schall
ANY FRIEND OF GOD'S IS A FRIEND OF MINE Patrick Madrid
APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA John Henry Newman
ARCHITECTURE IN COMMUNION Steven Schloeder
ARISE FROM DARKNESS Benedict Groeschel
AUGUSTINE Benedict Groeschel
BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM Glenn Olsen
BERNADETTE SPEAKS Rene Laurentin
BLESSED MIGUEL PRO Ann Ball
BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS Paul Thigpen
BOYS TO MEN Tim Gray
BRIGHT PROMISE, FAILED COMMUNITY Joseph Varacalli
BRIGHTEST AND BEST George Rutler
BROTHER ASTRONOMER Guy Consolmagno
C.S. LEWIS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Joseph Pearce
C.S. LEWIS FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM Peter Kreeft
CAMILLO DI CAVOUR Frank Coppa
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH John Paul II
CATECHISMS AND CONTROVERSIES Michael Wrenn
CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY Peter Kreeft
CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND FEDERAL FUNDING K.D. Whitehead
CATHOLICISM & ETHICS Edward Hayes
CATHOLICISM & LIFE Edward Hayes
CATHOLICISM & REASON Edward Hayes
CATHOLICISM & SOCIETY Edward Hayes
CATHOLICISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM Karl Keating
CATHOLICS AND THE NEW AGE Mitch Pacwa
CATHOLICS IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE Thomas Melady
CHALLENGES OF LIFE Ignace Lepp
CHARACTERS OF THE REFORMATION Hilaire Belloc
CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY IN THE CATHOLIC TRADITION Jordan Aumann
CHURCH AND STATE IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY Hugo Rahner
CHURCH HISTORY John Laux
CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN Bud Macfarlane
CREDO Hans Urs Von Balthasar
CREDO Louis Evely
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF HOPE John Paul II
DAILY LIFE IN THE RENAISSANCE Charles Mee
DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH IN WORD AND DEED Charles Connor
DEFENDING THE PAPACY Gerard Morrissey
DEGAULLE Francois Mauriac
DISSENT FROM THE CREED Richard Hogan
DISTINCTIVENESS OF CHRISTIANITY James Schall
DOES CATHOLICISM STILL EXIST James Schall
ECUMENICAL JIHAD Peter Kreeft
EDITH STEIN Maria Scaperlanda
ELUCIDATIONS Hans Urs Von Balthasar
ESCAPE FROM FREEDOM Erich Fromm
ESCAPE FROM SCEPTICISM Christopher Derrick
ESSAYS OF A CATHOLIC Hilaire Belloc
FAITH OF THE FATHERLESS Paul Vitz
FATHER JAMES ALBERIONE Luigi Rolfo
FATHER, FORGIVE ME, FOR I AM FRUSTRATED Mitch Pacwa
FLAWED EXPECTATIONS Michael Wrenn
FOR THE LOVE OF MARY Gerard Morrissey
FROM SCANDAL TO HOPE Benedict Groeschel
GOD AT THE RITZ Lorenzo Albacete
GOD'S HUMAN FACE Christoph Schonborn
GOOD NEWS NEW TESTAMENT American Bible Society
GOODBYE! GOOD MEN Michael Rose
GREAT CATHOLICS IN AMERICAN HISTORY Theodore Maynard
GUIDE TO CONTENTMENT Fulton Sheen
HEALING THE CULTURE Robert Spitzer
HEARTS ON FIRE Michael Harter
HOMOSEXUALITY AND AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE Christopher Wolfe
HOUSE OF GOLD Bud Macfarlane
IDYLLS AND RAMBLES James Schall
IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD Benedict Groeschel
INTRODUCTION TO ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Thomas Aquinas
IRRATIONAL MAN William Barrett
JOAN OF ARC Mark Twain
JOHN CARDINAL O'CONNOR Nat Hentoff
KOLBE Francis Kalvelage
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT Michael Davies
LEARNING TO LOVE Thomas Merton
LET'S READ LATIN Ralph McInerny
LETTERS OF FLANNERY O'CONNOR Flannery O'Connor
LETTERS TO A YOUNG CATHOLIC George Weigel
LIFE IS A BLESSING Clara Lejeune
LIFT UP YOUR HEART Fulton Sheen
LITERARY CONVERTS Joseph Pearce
LIVING MACHINES E. Michael Jones
LOOKING AT LITURGY Aidan Nichols
LOVE'S SACRED ORDER Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis
MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING Viktor Frankl
MASS CONFUSION James Akin
MEETING THE LIVING GOD William O'Malley
MILESTONES Joseph Ratzinger
MISSION 2000 Arthur Link
MORE BROTHER JUNIPER Justin McCarthy
MOTHER TERESA Kathryn Spink
MOTHERHOOD THE SECOND OLDEST PROFESSION Erma Bombeck
MY BROTHER PIER GIORGIO Luciana Frassati
MY EARLY YEARS Adrienne Von Speyr
MY WAY OF LIFE Walter Farrell
OLD THUNDER Joseph Pearce
ON THE TWO CITIES Saint Augustine
PEACE OF SOUL Fulton Sheen
PHILOSOPHICAL PSYCHOLOGY J. F. Donceel
PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND SPORTS Robert Feeney
PIERCED BY A SWORD Bud Macfarlane
PRAYING IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD Benedict Groeschel
PRAYING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD Michael Dubruiel
PRODIGAL DAUGHTERS Donna Steichen
QUIET MOMENTS Benedict Groeschel
RECOVERY OF THE SACRED James Hitchcock
RESONARE CHRISTUM John Wright
RETURN OF TRADITION Francis Thornton
ROBERT KENNEDY AND HIS TIMES Arthur Schlesinger
ROME SWEET HOME Scott & Kimberly Hahn
RUN TO THE MOUNTAIN Thomas Merton
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI G.K. Chesterton
SAINT JOHN FISHER Michael Davies
SAINTS OF AFRICA Vincent O'Malley
SALT OF THE EARTH Ratzinger Joseph
SALVATION OUTSIDE THE CHURCH? Peter Stravinskas
SEEKING A CENTER Otto Bird
SHOWS ABOUT NOTHING Thomas Hibbs
SOLANUS CASEY Michael Crosby
SPIRITUAL COMBAT Lorenzo Scupoli
SPIRITUAL PASSAGES Benedict Groeschel
ST. FRANCIS AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD Marie Dennis
ST. THERESE Francis Mary
SURPRISED BY TRUTH Patrick Madrid
SURPRISED BY TRUTH 2 Patrick Madrid
SURPRISED BY TRUTH 3 Patrick Madrid
TERESA OF AVILA Cathleen Medwick
TESTIMONY OF HOPE Francis Van Truan
THE 33 DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH Christopher Rengers
THE ALBA HOUSE GOSPELS Mark Wauck
THE ART OF LOVING Erich Fromm
THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS AND THE HOLINESS OF BEAUTY John Saward
THE BIBLE AND THE MASS Peter Stravinskas
THE CASE FOR CLERICAL CELIBACY Alfons Stickler
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AT THE END OF AN AGE Ralph Martin
THE CATHOLIC LIFETIME READING PLAN John Hardon
THE CATHOLIC SOURCE BOOK Peter Klein
THE CATHOLIC WRITER Wethersfield Institute
THE CHARITABLE ANATHEMA Dietrich Von Hildebrand
THE CHRISTIAN IMAGINATION Thomas Peters
THE CHURCH AND THE CULTURE WAR Joyce Little
THE CHURCH IMPOTENT Leon Podles
THE CLOISTER WALK Kathleen Norris
THE COMFORTER Andrew Apostoli
THE COMPACT HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Alan Schreck
THE CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE Saint Augustine
THE COURAGE TO BE Paul Tillich
THE COURAGE TO BE CATHOLIC George Weigel
THE CRISIS OF DISSENT Gerard Morrissey
THE CROSS AT GROUND ZERO Benedict Groeschel
THE DIVINE COMEDY OF DANTE ALIGHIERI Dante Alighieri
THE EARLY CHURCH IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Enrico Galbiati
THE EVERLASTING MAN G.K. Chesterton
THE EVIDENTIAL POWER OF BEAUTY Thomas Dubay
THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH Mike Aquilina
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING J.R.R. Tolkien
THE FIFTH WEEK William O'Malley
THE FOUR LOVES C. S. Lewis
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PEANUTS Robert Short
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS Mark Pinsky
THE GREAT FAÇADE Thomas Woods
THE GREAT HERESIES Hilaire Belloc
THE GREATEST FAITH EVER KNOWN Fulton Oursler
THE HEART OF VIRTUE Donald DeMarco
THE HISTORY OF SALVATION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Enrico Galbiati
THE HOBBIT J.R.R. Tolkien
THE HOLY BIBLE Ignatius Press
THE JOURNEY TOWARD GOD Benedict Groeschel
THE JUBILEE GUIDE TO ROME Andrea Braghlin
THE LAMB'S SUPPER Scott Hahn
THE LEGACY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II Geoffrey Gneuhs
THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET CASTELLO William Bonniwell
THE LIFE YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN Paul Elie
THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF ST FRANCIS E.M. Blaiklock
THE LITURGY AFTER VATICAN II Denis Crouan
THE LORD Romano Guardini
THE MIND AND HEART OF THE CHURCH Wethersfield Institute
THE NAVARRE BIBLE ST MATTHEW St. Matthew
THE NAZARENE Eugenio Zolli
THE NEW MEN Brian Murphy
THE PARADISO Dante Alighieri
THE PASSION FROM WITHIN Adrienne Von Speyr
THE PERSISTENT PREJUDICE Michael Schwartz
THE PLAGUE Albert Camus
THE POLITICS OF PRAYER Helen Hull Hitchcock
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LOVING Ignace Lepp
THE REFORM OF RENEWAL Benedict Groeschel
THE RETURN OF THE KING J.R.R. Tolkien
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR Gordon Napier
THE SECRET ARCHIVES OF THE VATICAN Maria Ambrosini
THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS Fulton Sheen
THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS Gereon Goldmann
THE SIZE OF CHESTERTON'S CATHOLICISM David Fagerberg
THE SOUL OF A LION Alice Von Hildebrand
THE SPIRIT OF CATHOLICISM Karl Adam
THE TWO TOWERS J.R.R. Tolkien
THE VATICAN AND COMMUNISM DURING WORLD WAR II Robert Graham
THE WAR AGAINST POPULATION Jacqueline Kasun
THE WHIG INTERPRETATION OF HISTORY Herbert Butterfiield
THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS Benedict Groeschel
THERESE OF LISIEUX Jean Chalon
THEY CALLED HER THE BARONESS Lorene Duquin
THOSE TERRIBLE MIDDLE AGES Regine Pernoud
THREE WOMEN & THE LORD Adrienne Von Speyr
THROUGH THE YEAR WITH FRANCIS OF ASSISI Murray Bodo
TIMES TO REMEMBER Rose Kennedy
TO QUELL THE TERROR William Bush
TOLKIEN MAN AND MYTH Joseph Pearce
TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST Dietrich Von Hildebrand
TRIUMPH H.W. Crocker
UGLY AS SIN Michael Rose
UPON THIS ROCK Stephen Ray
WAY TO HAPPINESS Fulton Sheen
WELCOME HOME! Victor Claveau
WHAT IS SECULAR HUMANISM? James Hitchcock
WHAT WERE THE CRUSADES? Jonathan Riley-Smith
WHERE GOD WEEPS Werenfreid Van Straaten
WHY CATHOLICS CAN'T SING Thomas Day
WISDOM AND INNOCENCE Joseph Pearce
WITH GOD IN RUSSIA Walter Ciszek
WITNESS TO HOPE George Weigel

I am going to post this because I can't help comment on it, although it might come across as tacky or cold. Jimmy Breslin, the anti-Catholic writer for Newsday, had a daughter who tragically died this week at the age of 47. The obit said "she graduated from ... Hamilton College in upstate Clinton, where she received her degree in Asian studies." Ironically, Jimmy Breslin once was suspended for making anti-Asian slurs against a fellow writer. I would imagine that Breslin's bigotry did not rub off on his daughter, may she rest in peace.

PURE EVIL

"Two teenage thrill killers savagely beat a homeless man to death outside a Brooklyn church yesterday - hurling bricks at him as he lay helpless by a statue of the Virgin Mary, cops said."

Newsday under investigation after reporting inflated circulation numbers


"The Nassau County District Attorney's Office is investigating Newsday after the company admittedly reported inflated circulation numbers.
Newsday officials say an internal audit showed its weekday daily circulation was approximately 40,000 less than previously stated, and its weekend circulation was approximately 60,000 less than reported."

Not only is Newsday a bunch of anti-Catholic bigots, they are also criminals.

Madonna at midlife

You knew it had to happen sometime: Madonna's new album is not selling that well and her tour is not sold out.

In the post below on the National Catholic Register movie poll, a couple of comments mention Moonstruck. This is one of my favorite movies. It is true that the movie is more about the Italian family and not Catholicism, but it contains my favorite depiction of confession. The screen opens and you just see the priest's hands, Cher is kneeling behind the screen, but the priest knows who she is.

"Loretta Castorini: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been two months since my last confession.
Father: What sins have you to confess?
Loretta Castorini: Twice I took the name of the Lord in vain, once I slept with the brother of my fiancee, and once I bounced a check at the liquor store, but that was really an accident.
Father: Then it's not a sin. But... what was that second thing you said, Loretta?"

Good News!

Monika Hellwig, President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, is retiring. Anyone who wants to see Catholic higher education actually be Catholic will rejoice at this news.

Hooray for Hollywood!

As you can see from the sarcastic ticker I added to the right, Hollywood has put out a film that mocks Christians. They spent $5 million dollars making Saved! and it has taken in less than a million dollars so far. Mel Gibson spent $30 million making The Passion of The Christ, a film that takes Christians and Christianity seriously and respectfully, and he has made $370 million. (The figures for both movies are only domestic-worldwide TPOTC has made over $603 million). Of course, Saved! has only been out a week, but the ticker on my blog updates each day, and I doubt Saved! will do well. Do you think anyone in Hollywood will do the math??

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.

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."

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.

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.

Beasts and Men
Playboy Celebrates 50 years

This good article by Long Island Catholic Thomas Woods Jr. makes a few great points. In mentioning the star-studded celebration of the magazine's anniversary he notes:

"Half a century ago a celebrity so deranged as to celebrate such a thing – and publicly, no less – would have spent the rest of his life a pariah. Today, by contrast, the only thing that earns the reproach of our cultural censors is making a film about Christ’s Passion."

Dr. Woods' humor is as cutting as usual:

"Exactly what it is we are expected to celebrate about 50 years of Playboy is far from clear. Am I supposed to be impressed that Hugh Hefner correctly predicted that men would purchase pictures of nude women? Are our standards of entrepreneurial genius really so low?"

And finally, more examples of "traditional" Catholics understanding today's world better than most:

"Hef continues to age, but his female entourage does not. And there, notwithstanding the fevered denials of the magazine’s supporters, is what Playboy and its progeny are all about: the idea that women are things to be enjoyed and then discarded, for a new crop of them is always available."

"the teen Masses and other toothless schlock that the bishops offer to the young only confirm the kids’ dumb prejudices about the irrelevance of the Church. The young are spiritually disarmed before an onslaught whose sheer ubiquity leaves a rather more distinct impression on them than the schmaltzy music and hand-holding around the altar that greet them on those Sundays when they bother to show up for Mass."

12 killed, hostages held in Saudi

Saudi Arabia, the homeland of Osama Bin Laden and most of the 9/11 hijackers, continues to have problems with Islamic militants. What is that expression about chickens coming home to roost?

I have not blogged recently because I have taken two trips (Pittsburgh and Boston) and have acquired a nasty cold. Also, I have not been feeling up to writing or following much news lately.

Bittersweet Tribute for WWII Veterans

Today is the dedication for the WWII monument in Washington, D.C. This monument is long overdue and it is a shame we have not had a major monument in D.C. until over 50 years after the end of the war. My father was a merchant marine during WWII and several of my uncles were also vets. One of them kept a secret for decades after the war. He was a part of Operation Tiger, a practice for D-Day that was top secret. 749 US servicemen lost their lives in this operation gone wrong. Basic information can found here. Some more details can be found here.

Forgive me Father, it has been 102 years since my last confession...

"A Belarussian woman who worked on a collective farm until she was 95 celebrated her 116th birthday with two wishes: for a bigger pension and a chance to go to a Catholic church for confession."

I am back from vacation - let's see - what happened while I was gone?

"Two 17-year-old Massapequa teenagers were arrested earlier this week for a drive-by paintball shooting in which a 10-year-old boy attending a first Communion party was injured when he was struck in the eye, Nassau police said."

Have I mentioned I live on an island filled with stupid trailer-trash morons? Well I do. The article says one of the teens arrested was a student at Kellenberg Memorial High School, but I am sure he was tossed out of that school before the ink was dry on this news story. The good brothers there have thrown people out for much, much less.

I just went to post and noticed blogger has changed a bit. I don't have time to check out the changes but for some reason my blog is upside down - the new posts are at the bottom and the old ones at the top. Anyone know how to change this? Anyway, I will on vacation so won't be blogging for a few days. Be good!

Accused priest to return

This is not good news at all.

Paul Shanley, the central figure (or one who should be the central figure) in the "Scandals", was defrocked along with Ronald Paquin.

"Once known for his street ministry to gay and troubled youth, Shanley became a focal point of the clergy sex abuse scandal after plaintiffs' attorneys forced the church to release internal church records showing complaints about Shanley.
Among the records were documents indicating that Shanley had attended a forum with other people who later went on to form the North American Man-Boy Love Association. "


Bettnet points out that "Sister" Jeannine Gramick is a friend of Shanley and links to the article that quotes this dissident as saying:

"But Sister Jeanine Gramick, a Shanley friend and Washington-area nun renown for her ministry to gays and lesbians, called the removal process `grossly unfair'.''

It amazes me that Shanley continues to have supporters, some of whom even bailed him out of jail. I hope people will come to realize that those who supported Shanley, Weakland, etc... are part of the problem in the Church.

Oregon Man Arrested in Spain Bombings Probe

"He converted to Islam in 1989, she said, and attends a mosque in nearby Beaverton."

Quote of the day comes from e-skojec.com:

"And Hugh Hefner, he must be about 140 now, and he keeps parading these bunnies around."
-Dr. Regis Martin, On the Absurdities of Hedonism

I love Regis Martin on EWTN's Franciscan University Presents" show. And I can't think of anyone who looks more ridiculous than Hefner.

The Long Island Catholic Men's Conference

"The Long Island Catholic Men’s Conference was established to spread the word of God through fellowship and gathering. The idea has its roots in the men’s conference at The Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. This national conference inspired a group of faithful men from St. Margaret’s R.C. church to organize and plan a day of worship and celebration of our Lord in a local, convenient location."

This looks promising. If it is charismatic then it might go either way but if they keep it orthodox then it will be good. The Diocese of Rockville Centre needs stuff like this so I will keep my finger crossed and if possible, will attend.

Good News!

Amy Welborn at Open Book liked to this story about Iona College gettin' religion. Good to see a positive story at a "Catholic" college for once. Please note the positive reactions of students and administrators.

"We are mindful that Princeton, Harvard and others began as religious institutions and lost their sense of identity," Hughes said. "We don't want to lose it. Crucifixes are not a source of proselytizing, but a part of our identity. We are welcoming to everyone."

THE OTTAVIANI INTERVENTION

Confessions of a Recovering Choir Director once linked to this letter from Cardinals Ottaviani and Bacci. I had heard of the Ottaviani intervention but never actually read any details. In reading over the letter, it is amazing how correct these churchmen were:

“Recent reforms have amply demonstrated that fresh changes in the liturgy could lead to nothing but complete bewilderment on the part of the faithful who are already showing signs of restiveness and of an indubitable lessening of faith.”

And

“The definition of the Mass is thus limited to that of the "supper", and this term is found constantly repeated (nos. 8, 48, 55d, 56). This supper is further characterised as an assembly presided over by the priest and held as a memorial of the Lord, recalling what He did on the first Maundy Thursday. None of this in the very least implies either the Real Presence, or the reality of sacrifice, or the Sacramental function of the consecrating priest, or the intrinsic value of the Eucharistic Sacrifice independently of the people's presence. It does not, in a word, imply any of the essential dogmatic values of the Mass which together provide its true definition. Here, the deliberate omission of these dogmatic values amounts to their having been superseded and therefore, at least in practice, to their denial.”



And

“The priest's position is minimised, changed and falsified. Firstly in relation to the people for whom he is, for the most part, a mere president, or brother, instead of the consecrated minister celebrating in persona Christi.”

“the very strange and dubious eschatologism whereby the communication of supernatural grace, a reality which is permanent and eternal, is brought down to the dimensions of time: we hear of a people on the march, a pilgrim Church - no longer militant - against the Powers of Darkness - looking towards a future which having lost its line with eternity is conceived in purely temporal terms.”


“The unity of the Church is gravely compromised by the wholly intolerable omission from the entire Ordo, including the three new Prayers, of the names of the Apostles Peter and Paul, Founders of the Church of Rome, and the names of the other Apostles, foundation and mark of the one and universal Church, the only remaining mention being in the Communicantes of the Roman Canon.”

“The process of desacralisation is completed thanks to the new procedures for the offering: the reference to ordinary not unleavened bread; altar-servers (and lay people at Communion sub utraque specie) being allowed to handle sacred vessels (no. 244d); the distracting atmosphere created by the ceaseless coming and going of the priest, deacon, subdeacon, psalmist, commentator (the priest becomes commentator himself from his constantly being required to 'explain' what he is about to accomplish) - of readings (men and women), of servers or laymen welcoming people at the door and escorting them to their places whilst others carry and sort offerings.”


“Of Cannon II it has been well said, among other things, that it could be recited with perfect tranquillity of conscience by a priest who no longer believes either in Transubstantiation or in the sacrificial character of the Mass - hence even by a Protestant minister.”

“From the outset therefore the New Rite is launched as pluralistic and experimental, bound to time and place. Unity of worship, thus swept away for good and all, what will become of that unity of faith that went with it, and which, we were always told, was to be defended without compromise?”


“Moreover in abandoning its unmistakable and immemorial Roman character, the Novus Ordo lost what was spiritually precious of its own. Its place has been taken by elements which bring it closer only to certain other reformed liturgies (not even those closest to Catholicism) and which debase it at the same time. The East will be ever more alienated, as it already has been by the preceding liturgical reforms.”


"To try to bring the Church's worship back at all cost to ancient practices by refashioning, artificially and with that "unhealthy archeologism" so roundly condemned by Pius XII, what in earlier times had the grace of original spontaneity means as we see today only too clearly - to dismantle all the theological ramparts erected for the protection of the Rite and to take away all the beauty by which it was enriched over the centuries.”

“Today, division and schism are officially acknowledged to exist not only outside of but within the Church. Her unity is not only threatened but already tragically compromised. Errors against the Faith are not so much insinuated but rather an inevitable consequence of liturgical abuses and aberrations which have been given equal recognition.”

Rome, September 25th, 1969

It is obvious these men were absolutely right. The question I am asking myself more frequently is: Was Archbishop Lefebvre right as well?

It is great to see Karen Hall, formerly of Disordered Affections, back blogging at Some Have Hats.

Catholic Light has posted some excerpts from a leaked copy of the new English translation of the Mass. Some of this looks great, such as the return of "We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you" in the Gloria. Also, I like "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed." I don't care for a few things, such as the Creed where the line "by the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man" was changed to "and by the Holy Spirit became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man". Still, I hope this is the correct translation and that I will be able to pray this way at Mass soon! Some of the prayers are closer to the english translation in my father's 1943 missal that I use when attending the traditional latin Mass. Some of the translations are gender neutral, such as "for us and our salvation" in the creed. If that makes the gender neutral crowd happy, then so much the better. Perhaps with this improved translation, we Catholics will finally be able to "just all get along".

Is Newsday Anti-Catholic?

Why is that even a question? Of course it is, but the Catholic League is asking people to vote on their website so please go here and vote.

My post about the parish on Long Island holding a seder was mentioned on Blogs4god. The poster could not understand why learning about the seder was troubling to me, as does the commenter on my post. I should explain more because nothing bothers me about learning about a seder or any other tradition. What bothers me is that a Catholic parish would be learning about another religion's traditions rather than its own. I just don't see the point. How about the parish gathering together to participate in some Catholic tradition? The reason this is a touchy thing with me is not because there is anything wrong with having a seder, but that the one time I read about 200 Catholics "learning tradition" in a parish, it is not a Catholic tradition. If I had been taught any kind of Catholic tradition in my parish, then I would not find it so weird, and if this parish already does emphasize Catholic traditions, then fine. But it is disheartening to want to learn and experience Catholicism and not being fed. Meanwhile, at many local retreat houses, there is Reiki, Zen meditation, and praying to the four winds, all of which might be fine and dandy, but not truly part of our tradition. In fact, the seder makes more sense for a Catholic parish to have than any of these things. I also obviously have a problem with Fr. Papa being a pastor when he was caught with porno sites on his computer. He admitted to viewing them, but denied viewing the child porn sites that were found, he claimed they just popped up. This parish supports him because he is very liberal and supports Voice of the Faithful, etc.. I don't think Fr. Papa should be leading a parish at all, but if he is, how about leading them in some Catholic traditions, in addition to the Jewish ones? Is that so much to ask?

Jim Post, president of the Voice of the Faithful dissident group spoke on Long Island recently:

"Consider the tone and tenor of the challenges we face today as Catholic citizens.

The Passion of the Christ. Has this movie become the new teaching of Christ's life and message?
The institutional attack on gay marriage, court rulings, legislative proposals, and, in some instances, all homosexual people.
The issuance of instructions that ban altar girls.
The decision of some Bishops not to wash the feet of women on Holy Thursday (for fear it would encourage the faithful to believe that women have a priestly calling).
Overt challenges to the right of some Catholic citizens (politicians) to receive communion. This is politicization of the sacraments.
Requiring new rituals to separate the laity from the ordained.
These actions are mean-spirited and range from attacks on innocent people whose sexual orientation is not a matter of choice, to pettiness (rather like the "petty apartheid" that prevailed in South Africa 25 years ago) designed to ignore, shun, and humiliate people our Church leaders do not like."

Based on this quote, not only is Post a dissident, but a complete moron as well.

Mel Gibson can’t be the only Catholic who can take Catholic stories, imagery, etc.. and turn them into excellent movies. I hope there will be others who take up that particular apostolate. I can supply one idea towards this:

Action/Suspense- A movie set far into the future which revolves around a man, perhaps played by James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman, or Harrison Ford, who appears to be a leader of some type. He comes across as dignified, weary, but strong. The movie will hint cleverly at the identity of this man but not spell it out. Many will think it is the President of the USA or some sort of rebel leader. The movie plot would be a group of this man’s supporters trying to get this man to a destination. It would be clear that many want this man dead, that he is some sort of leader, that he leads people who have been severely oppressed and that things are turning their way. His leadership will be a turning point for the people, if he can get to where he has to go. He would travel clandestinely and secretly with help from many underground supporters. Only at the end of the film (a la The Sixth Sense) would filmgoers find out his identity. The various clues throughout the film would have to be difficult to pick out at first viewing. There would also be things that might throw the viewer off. This man would be the newly elected Pope, in sometime in the distant future, and his destination would be Rome.

HAD RELATIONSHIP WITH TEEN
Jail time for ex-teacher

I don't subscribe to the horribly anti-Catholic newspaper Newsday but occasionally I can read it at work. This headline jumped out at me - "HAD RELATIONSHIP WITH TEEN". Interesting way to headline an article about a teacher who sexually abused a 16 year old boy. Priests have raped, molested, and preyed, but apparently this guy just "had a relationship with teen".

"It was indeed illegal for his client, Joseph Acosta, 38, to have a sexual relationship with a 16- year-old boy, the Central Islip attorney said. And as a once-respected Spanish teacher at Bellport Middle School with two master's degrees, Acosta should have known better."

"Despite letters of support from parents and co-workers, Acosta cannot be employed as a teacher because of his registered sex offender status, and he has been working as a busboy, Naiburg said. " (emphasis mine)

Wow, you mean to tell me there are parents and teachers who actually believe a child molester should continue teaching?????? Have people learned NOTHING from the Catholic Church's problems??

What is wrong with the Church today is summed up nicely in a letter to the Long Island Catholic today. The letter writer describes almost 200 people gathering in a parish Church basement, and the letter is titled "Learning Tradition". Sounds good, but the tradition these Catholics were learning was the Jewish tradition of Passover. It was planned by the pastor, Fr. Charles Papa, who was recently caught with pornography site cookies on his computer and admitted to viewing them. So we have a troubled pastor leading Catholics in learning traditions of another faith rather than our own traditions. And people wonder why young Catholics flock to the latin Mass?

The Long Island Catholic has an article on police work and Catholicism that features John Moreno. He wrote Spirituality for Police Officers and runs retreats and nights of recollections that are quite good.

"Police officers “experience all that is bad in society and we do so over and over; we can wind up seeing only the bad in people, expecting the worst from them,” said Mr. Moreno, 74, who worked at Bishop Molloy Retreat House in Jamaica for 13 years and is now the director of adult programs at the Emmanuel Retreat House at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale."

Basia Me, Catholica Sum

This is a new blog by an 18 year old Christendom student.

TWO MONTHS AFTER “THE PASSION”:
BODY COUNT—ZERO

"Two months have elapsed since the film was released and no Jew has been killed. Not only have there been no pogroms, there have been no reported beatings, and no reported acts of vandalism associated with the film. This is true not only in the U.S.; it is true all over the world. By now the movie has played in literally scores of countries, all without violence. "

"Those who predicted that the movie would generate violence need to explain themselves."

I will personally blog every single written apology from any of The Passion's public critics right here. I hope I have enough space for all them.

HOLY TURF WARS

Good article by Ralph Peters.

"As a student of history alert to ugly surprises, my fear is that Islamic extremists may arouse passions dormant in the West. Muslim terrorists might do well to recall that there are far more Christian holy places in the Arab world than there are Muslim vestiges in Europe.

Suppose the Christians of tomorrow were provoked to demand the return of the apostolic churches of Asia minor? Or the vast lands of Orthodox Byzantium? Of historical Armenia? Or of Alexandria, the city that dominated early Christian thought? Before Mohammed's triumph, even Mecca had a Christian minority - and Jews had a vital presence in Medina. "

BISHOP SICK OF LOCAL CHURCH SCENE

"Don't get me wrong—I still care about everyone's eternal soul," Boland added. "I care deeply, but I must admit that the congregations have sorta become one big blur of blue-haired old ladies. Lately, when I get the question about whether so-and-so's cats are waiting for her in heaven, I just fall back on a stock answer."

"Cardinal Roger Mahony said he was not surprised by Boland's attitude.
"Bishop Boland is going through a temporary period of dissatisfaction, similar to those experienced by many of his colleagues," Mahony said. "As a cardinal, I'm forced to listen to that same complaint again and again. It's getting really old. If he's so unhappy, he's more than welcome to quit the Church and go work at a Taco Bell."

Why is it that one of the most refreshing comments I have read by a Cardinal had to be a made up one from The Onion??

Society for a Moratorium on the Music of Marty Haugen and David Haas

Many members of St. Blog's are signed up already for this, I just sent in an email to join. Woudn't it be great if this movement spread? Picture thousands of protesters across the country outside parishes, chanting "2-4-6-8, Gregorian Chant is really great!". It could really happen man!

I recently heard two talks given by Catholics. One was at a local Faith on Tap event by Dr. Joseph Varacalli. The talk he gave is available at the Catholic Social Scientists website: The Cultural And Political Impotence of Catholics In Contemporary American Life. A quote:

"...herein lies one important incongruity between an orthodox understanding of the faith and the vision of secularists and most present day Catholic “liberationist” and “progressivist” thinkers for whom an all-consuming this-worldly political involvement represents a be-all and end-all of human existence. To the contrary, the reconstruction of society along authentic Christian principles and lines at least compatible with Catholic social thought, while a good in and by itself, nonetheless is not the raison d’etre of the Catholic faith. Rather it is a lesser good; it is both secondary to and derivative of the primary mission of assisting individuals in the quest for eternal salvation. "

The other lecture was on Friday night, and was by Dr. William Donohue of the Catholic League. The speaker who introduced him said "I hope he comes out of his shell and tells us how he really feels" which got a good laugh from the crowd. He spoke on the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ. He did an excellent job in pointing out the anti-Catholic nature of most of the criticism. He recounted some of the worst examples and then reviewed some of the stories of people, who as a result of viewing the film, turned themselves in for crimes they committed . He did raise the issue of Mel's traditional Catholicism and how that affected some of the controversy. This was something I had hoped would be raised. He also stated he never asked what Mel's exact situation with the Church was. People were able to write questions down after the talk and Dr. Varacalli, who moderated the discussion, then chose the most critical questions for Donohue to answer. I thought the questions were fair and Dr. Donohue did a decent job responding to the questions, although there were time constraints that made it impossible for full, complete answers. Some of the questions and concerns raised by people showed the vast gulf between those Christians and Jews who watched the film, and seemed to see totally different things.

I enjoyed reading the correction in today's Newsday regarding Jimmy Breslin. I could not find it online but Extreme Catholic links to it on the NY Newsday site.

"Breslin said he erred in not referring to the 1995 column before writing his April 7, 2004, column. Instead, he drew the quotes from memory. The result is that the quotes attributed to Sheldon in the April 7 column were incorrect and not Sheldon's precise words. Breslin maintains, however, that they were an accurate reflection of the essence of the reverend's views on homosexuality in the 1992 interview." (emphasis mine)

"the column did not adhere to Newsday's standard of publishing only direct quotations that are accurate and precise."

Good to know that they have this policy but hopefully they will expand it to include not just direct quotes, but all printed facts. When it comes to the Catholic Church Newsday has printed some incredibly incorrect things, which indicates an extreme bigotry. Their commentary is bigoted also, but that is always opinion, news reporting should be unbiased and correct.

In reference to a post below from April 7th, on the Palm Sunday Gospel and my parish's weird way of reading the Gospel, a reader writes:

"I came late to the discussion on the reading of the Passion (your Apr. 7 post). Perhaps I can shed a little more light on the changes.

I am a musician at my parish. Beginning about 10 years ago I began hearing and reading about a minor movement to take away the people's parts in the reading of the Passion where they are the voice of the crowd, including the chant, "Crucify Him!" The thinking, obviously by liberals or progressives or whatever one wants to call them, was that it was somehow not appropriate for us to be the ones calling for the death of Christ. It looks like some of the "worship aid" publishers bought into this. Our missalettes* always used to have the crowd parts in bold type, indicated as "All." About four years ago the company removed the bold type and began indicating the crowd parts as "Chorus," not in bold type, hinting that the people should not be saying these parts. I read comments by various liturgy "experts" encouraging the use of short acclamations throughout the Passion in order to give the people a part in it. We actually did this at our parish for a couple of years, using the sung Lenten gospel acclamations "Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ" or "Praise and honor to you...." Of course the people had to be instructed in the new procedure, and I never liked it since it seemed too forced. This year we went back to having the people do the crowd parts. After the many accusations of anti-Semitism in "TPOTC" by the media, it was made abundantly clear that WE are truly the ones who caused the death of Jesus, so why should we not act the part in the reading of the Passion? (Sometimes I reflect that if I had lived in Jesus' time, I might have been one of those failing to see Him as Messiah and calling for Him to be crucified!)

(*Be aware that "missalette" is a trademark of the J. S. Paluch Company, and they get testy when people use the word to describe "worship aids" published by other companies. I use it here because Paluch is our music supplier.)"

Thanks for the email! The strange thing is that the missalette (or whatever) at our parish still prints the Gospel with the parts, and we all say the crowd parts out loud anyway. Also, I wonder if part of this thing is an attempt to stop the priest from reading the part of Christ exclusively.

Here is where I will be on Friday night--

The Controversy over Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ"

Panel discussion led by sociologist William Donohue, Ph.D., President, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Friday, April 16th, 2004, Nassau Community College, Building K, Ballroom, 7-9 PM, to be followed by questions from the audience

Here is a story on Long Islanders coming into the Catholic Church tonight at Easter Vigil. I will be at the Easter Vigil tonight, something I have done for several years now. It is a beautiful finish to the Easter Triduum and I hope that all those entering the Church are enthusiastically welcomed by Catholics.

"One made a promise to become a Catholic if his back surgery was successful. Another was baptized a Lutheran but says she was not raised in a very religious household. A third, an emigrant from Japan, says he realized Catholicism reflects his own values.

Saturday, on the eve of Easter, they will be among 548 people who join the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Rockville Centre and 150,000 in parishes nationwide."

Jeff Sharlet of The Revealer posts a discussion at BloggerCon on religion and blogger.

"So what do religion blogs mean to traditional media, religious and secular?"

For me, correction. Media (especially Newsday) is so anti-religion and especially anti-Christian that I will turn to St. Blog's to get the correct information on current news. The errors I see daily add up to an incredibly ignorant understanding of the Church and Christianity in general. St. Blog's will often have people who are behind the scenes or who can give 1st hand info on what is going on in the Church.

"Are they bringing belief more visibly into the public sphere?"

For St. Blog's, no, I think it is an "in-house" thing that does not necessarily appeal to a wider audience, although the best few blogs might.

"Do they threaten traditional religious hierachies?"

Ha!, no, but they treaten the lunkheads who have infested the hierachies for the past 30 years, since they expose their doings to the light. I don't think Fr. Paul Shanley could have gotten away with what he did if blogs were around in the 80's.

"Do they tend toward the politicization of religious beleif?"(sic)

I hope not, but this might be a chicken or the egg thing. Do they politicize religious belief, or are they manifestations of politics within religion?

"How do belief blogs relate to the real world -- as lay ministry, as rebellion, as outsider critique?"

Again, as far as St. Blog's goes, I think the blogs are mostly outsider critique, in the sense that most orthodox Catholics are outside of the parish/diocese power structure. We blog about the way we would like to see dioceses and parishes run because we are not the ones running them. Very few blogs would be lay ministry, although there are some apologetic blogs. Overall, most of us could do a better job of making blogging more of a ministry.

"Are they a force for change within religious institutions? Journalistic institutions?"

I could hope!

Alicia of Fructis Ventris will be at BloggerCon and it looks like it should be interesting.

I just did the optical image thing at A Catholic Blog for Lovers and it works. We Gen-Xers are famous for being cynical but this is cool!

I went to the Chrism Mass this morning and it was good. I have never been to this before. Five bishops, hundreds of priests and deacons, hundreds of lay people, and a good choir made the Mass quite inspirational. A liturgical highlight was at the Our Father- the organist played only a few notes at the beginning and then the rest was sung, chanted really, a capella by everyone present.

Jimmy Breslin Accused of Faking Interview

JIMMY BRESLIN IS A LYING BIGOT admits Les Payne.

"Newsday's New York editor, Les Payne, said Breslin should have made it clear in Wednesday's column that the quotes he attributed to Sheldon came from a 1992 interview. "Our readers should have been let in on the time frame," Payne said. "

I heard a priest say that Breslin became angry at the Catholic Church because at the funeral of his first wife, the priest read the prayer that includes the line "forgive her her sins". Breslin was insulted because you see, he believes his wife was perfect. Which is why he has a problem with the Church, because the Church knows all people are sinners. That is why Mother Theresa went to confession often. Since Breslin is a child in many ways, he never could get over the death of his first wife, and a lot of anger and bigotry is hurled at the Church. But a bigot is a bigot, and Catholics are not the only ones who are his targets--

"It was a Friday afternoon in May 1990. Ji-Yeon Yuh, then a journalist at Newsday’s Queens bureau in New York City, came home to discover more than a dozen messages waiting on her answering machine. She soon learned why.

Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist Jimmy Breslin had called her a “yellow cur” and “slant-eyed” during an angry outburst in Newsday’s Manhattan office after he read Yuh’s e-mail message in response to one of his columns, which she had criticized as being sexist. "

This is from the Northwestern University magazine. But this article left out one of the things he called the woman, so I link to this article by Nat Hentoff that reminds people Breslin also called her something the "The New York Times demurely called "an obscene anatomical reference. . . .". He adds:

"In that soliloquy, which will dog him the rest of his days, Breslin also railed at her for having the nerve to send him a computer message that called a column of his "sexist." She had no right, he more than implied, to criticize him, because she was inferior, in more ways than one. She did not deserve free speech."

These were just some of the articles I had on file about the bigotry of Jimmy Breslin because a long time ago someone came to this blog after doing a google search for "jimmy breslin slant-eyed". I had mentioned this bigot on my very first week of blogging.

Brother Juniper

I don't know where it came from, but since I was a child there was a cartoon book in our house called More Brother Juniper. It featured a round faced franciscan who was child-like and it quite humorous. Today I found some information on this cartoon, which I was shocked to find out ran until 1989!

The Brother Juniper story

The creator Fred McCarthy is still alive but no longer a priest

Sample cartoons

I took off from work for Holy Week, something I have done for the past 4 years. For a Liturgy nerd there is nothing better than the Easter Triduum. Even the horrible liturgists can't seem to mess that up entirely. However, one thing that I would love explained to me is why on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week, the Passion Gospel is not read in parts anymore. The priest used to read the parts marked Christ, a lector would read the narrator parts, and everyone in the pews would read the crowd part. Now, the lectors and the priest simply take turns reading sections of the Gospel, with no regard to different parts, including the words of Christ. The reading is also stopped a few times for the singer to sing "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom", which I don't mind since it is a beautiful refrain.

Change of Heart: Sister Butler Explains Why She No Longer Backs Women Priests

"Sister Sara Butler, a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity, is a theologian who in the 1960s and 1970s was one of the leading proponents for women’s ordination. But she now embraces and defends the teachings of the magisterium on the priesthood with conviction and expertise. "

It is always comforting to see women defend the tradition of an all male priesthood. Although this is solid Catholic tradition and I have never understood how people can see this in terms of equality and power, I have always felt it is difficult for me, as a guy, to defend it without sounding sexist. The best is when former clergy convert, such as Linda Poindexter, a former "episcopal priest". Jennifer Ferrara and Patricia Ireland, former Lutheran ministers who are now Catholic, wrote a book entitled The Catholic Mystique, which tells the story of women converts.

I added a Passion of The Christ gross tracker to the right. It is supposed to automatically update itself. I enjoy seeing the success of the movie because of all the bigotry surrounding it. I wonder if Roger Friedman from the Foxnews website has ever printed a retraction of the lies he wrote about the movie not being distributed widely, or in Jewish or wealthy neighborhoods. In case anyone forgot here is the original article, here is a second, and a sampling of what he wrote:

"When the film — which some critics are calling anti-Semitic and inflammatory — opens on Feb. 25, it will be in very select theatres only. "
(emphasis mine)

"Theater-goers will also be hard-pressed to find "The Passion of the Christ" in Nassau County, Long Island on either the south or north shore, or in affluent Westchester County, New York."

Funny, I only know of a few people who have not seen the movie, all by choice, none because they had trouble finding it.

"The theaters they have chosen in Jewish areas are minimal — none, for example, on Long Island near Valley Stream and the Five Towns or Great Neck and Roslyn — but screens in more friendly places like Merrick, Lynbrook and Seaford. "

Towns where the movies is showing compared to the towns he cites:

Lynbrook is 12 minutes (4.77 miles) from the Five Towns area
Lynbrook is 5 minutes (2.20 miles) from Valley Stream
Port Washington is 17 minutes (5.28 miles) from Great Neck
Port Washington is 13 minutes (4.38 miles) from Roslyn

And: The movie is showing in Seaford, which is in between Massapequa and Bellmore, both of which have large Jewish populations. Also, Merrick is both heavily Jewish and upscale.


As David Poland wrote here and here, Roger Friedman should be fired for this bigotry. For such a hard to find movie, it is amazing The Passion of The Christ is one of the 10 most successful movies of all time!

I thought I had seen all the stupidity possible in critiques of The Passion of The Christ, but Tom Beaudoin takes the cake. Writing in the non-Catholic National Catholic Reporter, he claims the movie is anti-Christian. It is writing like this that makes me so glad to see the box office numbers climb higher and higher.

Olympus to leave LI, take 840 jobs

I worked for this company once, when serial killer Joel Rifkin was there as a temp. Although I am sorry for the many good people who will lose their jobs, there were some people who, if they are still there, might consider this an important lesson in life. But they probably won't.

Total as of April 5th, 2004: $332,148,696

The Passion of The Christ is now the 10th most successful movie in US history. Some are saying it will get an extra bump during Holy Week, and I know I am planning on seeing it again during that time.

To the mattresses

This new blog by a convert looks promising - it combines two of my favorite things: Catholicism and Godfatherism. I found it via Come On, Get Lively.

letters to a young Catholic (The Art of Mentoring) by George Weigel

I am almost done reading this book and I should have taken notes because there are many great thoughts in it that could be blogged. Weigel takes the reader on a tour of the Catholic world and he is a fascinating tour guide.

Faith on Tap

Last night was another Faith on Tap event, with the speaker, Dr. Joseph Varacalli speaking on "Catholic Political Impotence". His energetic talk focused on what we in the Church need to do to have the influence we should in this country. Dr. Varacalli is the author of a great book -Bright Promise, Failed Community: Catholics and the American Public Order. He is the co-founder of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists based at Franciscan University, and is a Board of Directors member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. He is an orthodox Catholic who has successfully accomplished good things and is not afraid to speak his mind. The love he has for the Church came through very clearly in the talk.

The Weight of the Mass: A Tale of Faith by Josephine Nobisso


The author of this book (and several other children's books) will be in Massapequa on Saturday. Any locals might want to go to Faith and Reason Catholic Shop at 742 N. Broadway for the booksigning. She will be there from 11 am to 12 pm.

Brothers share message of forgiveness

"One brother was abused by a priest when he was a child; the other is a priest who asked himself how he could continue to wear his Roman collar when he learned of his brother’s traumatic experience."

The presentation Mr. Nohs does on the Shroud of Turin is excellent, although when I saw it he did not discuss his abuse by a priest. I believe the article describes the first time he has ever spoken of this. More info on the Shroud presentation can be found at The Holy Face of Jesus.

Total as of March 28th, 2004: $315,020,000

ONE MONTH AFTER “THE PASSION”: BODY COUNT—ZERO

"Last summer, Boston University professor Paula Fredriksen predicted, with no uncertainty, that ‘when violence breaks out’ (following the opening of ‘The Passion of the Christ’) Mel Gibson will have some explaining to do."

The movie now has the chance to enter the top 10 domestic grossing movies of all time!

Do you think Mary Boys, Bill Cork, Paula Fredickson or Abraham Foxman, etc.. will admit that The Passion of The Christ has not killed any Jews but has caused people to confess to crimes???? Don't hold your breath, these are the type of people that never allow facts to get in the way of their stupid opinions.

Robber turns himself in after watching film

Christ movie moves Texan to murder confession

Updated: Johnny Olsen, a notorious convicted killer and neo-Nazi, has confessed to two bombings in Oslo in the 90s. Olsen, 41, decided to purge his guilty conscience after viewing Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ, newspaper Dagbladet reports.

You know, after seeing stories like these, and hearing a few stories of people being positively influenced by the movie, I wonder why so many were so against this movie. You really have to wonder what drove these people to so vehemently blast both the movie and Mel Gibson. I also am wondering whether Mel Gibson's traditionalism is a wake up call to the Church.

The talk around St. Blog's has been on Liturgical abuses, sparked by this post on Church of The Masses. Amy Welborn has shut down the comments at her blog to cool people off because she does not like the tone of the comments. People are wondering why people are so angry and bitter and the best explanation has been at Off the Record. When people speak of Liturgical abuse, it really does mean abuse. And, just as the anger and bitterness of some people was brought out by the sexual abuse stories in the Church, the Liturgical abuse stories raise bitterness and anger as well. For Catholics, it is simply too difficult today to find a parish where the Mass is offered in a way that is conducive to good prayer, and where the atmosphere of the parish is truly Catholic. This explains why so many are turning to traditional latin Masses, whether indult or in unapproved chapels. This is a very serious and important issue and the anger and bitterness should not be met with attitudes of "get a life" or "why so angry?" or "is it really so bad after all?". I honestly don't think there is a more serious issue in the Church today than the lack of properly celebrated, reverent, traditional , and inspirational Masses.

The Passion of The Christ (again)


On Tuesday night I attended a night of recollection that included a lecture on the biblical themes in the movie. It was given by Fr. Edward Seagriff, a great speaker and real hero in this diocese. The crowd of 80 was maximum capacity and the talk was excellent. Fr. Seagriff was funny and inspiring enough to remind me of Fr. Benedict Groeschel. The people there were regular Church goers who usually attend lectures such as these and I think they were impressed by this priest.

Tonight, I went to my parish where there must have been 200 people in the Church meeting room to hear a talk by another priest on the spirituality of The Passion of The Christ. The sliding wall partition had to be opened and another rack of chairs had to be brought out so everyone could be seated. The movie has generated great interest and it is sad to see how some of that interest is wasted. Tonight's talk was done by a priest, dressed in civies, who teaches at a nominally Catholic college. He could barely disguise his disgust at the movie and Mel Gibson's failure to "study the Bible not just read it". Many of the people at the talk were parents who I think are required to attend a couple of talks a year in order for their children to be confirmed, or to attend the school or something. Basically there might have been many semi-Churched people who just might have been reached had the talk been evangelical. The priest's point seemed to be that each Gospel writer had a different point to make and the movie could not show all of them. He made it clear that the Gospels are not to be read to provide historical facts and that it would be a mistake to try to investigate what historians of the time said about the Gospel events. Also, he said that there are many pious legends surrounding Christianity and that Jesus did not get as severe a beating as the movie depicted. I just think that this attitude of cynicism and academic pooh-poohing of "pious legends" is not exactly going to influence people who may or may not go to Church to deepen their faith. This is where the Church loses people.

A man who bashed Mother Angelica, EWTN and the traditional latin Mass now has a website for writing on various things. Do what I did, email him to tell him just how welcome he is on the web.

Old Oligarch's post on The Passion of The Christ - excellent read.

March 22nd was a great day for justice:

Joey Buttafuoco Gets Year in Jail for Insurance Fraud

Hamas Founder Killed in Israeli Strike

Pelosi to face charges in Ammon murder

Reputed mobster admits role in killings

Travel agents indicted for arranging `sex tours'

Four More Suspects Charged in Madrid Blasts

Nichols State Trial Gets Under Way

W.W.J.K: Who Would Jesus Kill?

This is the second time I've linked to Ann Coulter and both times were articles mentioning The Passion of The Christ. Again, too many great quotes, a must read!

"Like Timothy McVeigh, the Columbine killers and the editorial board of The New York Times, Hitler detested Christians."

Interesting point- I have seen McVeigh mentioned as a "Christian" even though he was on public record as an atheist.

"Hitler denounced Christianity as an "invention of the Jew" and vowed that the "organized lie (of Christianity) must be smashed" so that the state would "remain the absolute master." Interestingly, this was the approach of all the great mass murderers of the last century -- all of whom were atheists: Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot."

The column also mentioned that the movie The Sum of All Fears changed the bad guys from muslim terrorists (as they were in the book) to neo-nazis. I liked this movie and remember how everybody I saw it with agreed that the neo-nazi thing made no sense. It was unrealistic.

Total as of March 21st, 2004: $295,507,244

Soon, The Passion of The Christ will become the most successful R rated movie in US history and it will also enter the top 20 for domestic grosses. Yeaahh!

UPDATE: 24 hours after I wrote the above line, The Passion of the Christ is now the most successful R rated movie of all time, and the 18th most successful domestic grossing film of all time. And still no attacks on Jewish people. At what point do you think the arrogant bigots who said the film will cause violence will admit they were wrong??

FAITH, TERROR AND MARTYRDOM IN ALGERIA: THE MONKS OF TIBHIRINE

"But in the 1980s and 1990s, Algeria, like many other countries with large Muslim populations, began to feel the pressure of fundamentalist Islamic groups that were springing up around the world. "


Yet another story about the killing of Christians by muslims. My local representative and fellow parishioner Peter King has been getting slack from muslims over statements he made. He has written a novel, Vale of Tears, in which muslim terrorists attack in Nassau County. When he spoke on Sean Hannity he said that 85% of the mosques in the USA have extremist leadership. Of course, muslim leaders did not like hearing this. Oddly, you never hear statements from these muslims about the slaughter their people, their "religion", their culture causes. The local leader of the muslim mosque in Westbury was quoted by Paul Vitello in Newsday as saying that Israel might have been behind the September 11th attacks. Can you imagine the constant reporting Newsday would have done if this statement was said by a Catholic leader instead of a follower of the heresy of mohammed? In order for the slaughter to stop we need strong people like Peter King.

What Will Follow Gibson's Passion?


"Abraham Foxman, executive director of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation League, predicts that if Gibson dramatizes either Jewish rebellion, "we'll lose."

"He'll write his own history," Foxman says. "I would prefer to leave the fate of Jewish history and Hollywood to Steven Spielberg. The Maccabees and Bar Kochba are our sacred history.

"The way he treats history - with a cherry picker of that which fits his ideology or view - is not the way I would like the world to learn about the heroism of the Maccabees or Bar Kochba. So, thanks but no thanks."


---So now Foxman is saying Mel Gibson can't even make a movie on this topic. His ADL just lost a $12 million ruling because they FALSELY accused a couple of anti-semitism. He is a bigot. And notice he says it is "our history", whose history is the Passion???

Abe Foxman and the ADL will have to pay $12 million to people they falsely accused of anti-semitism.

Via Protocols

Jon Voight criticized The Passion of The Christ because there were some scenes in the movie that were not in the Gospels. He was on The O'Reilly Factor complaining about the movie. I would boycott Voight's movies but I don't know any of them.

"a word to the wise to the young artists - without spiritual guidance too much freedom can lead to spiritual decline"

Above quote is not from Pope John Paul II, but from Prince.

Good questions by Jo in the comments re The Passion of The Christ---

Is the movie just preaching to the choir? Is it deepening or changing the faith of Christians who see it? Is it converting those nonChristians who see it?

What do we make of the fact that it is well attended by young men? Has Gibson, as many say, finally given us a manly image of Jesus, to counter the goofy, hippy, peace and love Jesus their parents' generation grew up with? If so, what affect is it having on this group of viewers.

One article I read this morning implied that 11% of the population has seen it out of 34% who plan to see it. Does this mean it could gross over $750M?


I think some of these questions were discussed on Amy Welborn's Open Book and other blogs, especially the ability of the film to convert. I don't think the film is having any effect on non-Christians who see it - I think it is mostly meant for the choir. The film presents perhaps the only manly Jesus many young men have ever seen and this may make the faith more acceptable to them in the future. The best effect so far has been the amount of discussion about Jesus Christ this film has caused. I am not so convinced of the power of the film to change people but I could be wrong. As far as grossing $750 million, I can hope! I can't wait to see how it does in Latin America.

Thanks to The Curt Jester for pointing out a new blog that should make Commonweal happy! Thoroughly Modern Mary is "An enlightened weblog from from the paradigm of religious community. Sister Mary Biko PhD guides you along the way of traditional deconstruction".

Forgetting Mel Gibson for a minute...Brian Lamb is the man! There is an article in today's paper about him and C-Span. I was not aware he founded C-Span but Booknotes is one of my favorite interview shows, he really knows how to do impartial and fair. The article stangely says he "was born into a Catholic home in Lafayette, Ind., two months before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor". I was surprised to see this since he comes across as the ultimate W.A.S.P. Like Charlie Rose he is a great interviewer and if you enjoy books his show is the best.

Pope John Paul II is now the 3rd longest serving Pope in history, with only St. Peter and Pius IX having served longer!