STATEMENT OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY DENIS DILLON TO NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATURE ON MANDATORY REPORTING OF ABUSE OF MINORS


The Legislature wants to pass a bill to make clergy mandatory reporters but the district attorney argues, fine, but let's expand it to include other professionals that have contact with children. Go read this now, Denis Dillon is great. In fact, I will put the whole thing here:

"I come before you today to publicly ask you, Ms. Jacobs, to allow the entire Legislature to debate and vote on the proposed amendment to Local Law 5-2002 requested by me as District Attorney and introduced by Minority Leader Peter Schmitt almost a year ago. To date, you have refused to even refer this proposal to Committee for discussion and a possible vote -- even though, if my information is correct, it has the support of a majority of the members of the legislature. If that is the case, your blocking debate and a vote by the people’s elected representatives is all that prevents this very necessary amendment from being enacted into law. What is it you fear?
The County’s current reporting law exclusively targets clergy: priests, rabbis, ministers, and muslim clergy. Statistical data, however, provide no evidence that abuse of minors is more prevalent among clergy than among other professions that deal with minors. Certainly, the experience of my office or just a glance at the daily headlines confirms that such abuse occurs among virtually all groups that work with young people: teachers and other school personnel, sports coaches, scout leaders, school bus drivers, camp counselors, even police officers.
Despite this, current reporting requirements in New York State law are limited only to suspected abuse by parents or guardians. This points up the glaring need to do more to protect all vulnerable youth against abuse by any adult -- not just a parent or clergyperson. This amendment would help to do so, by providing that all adults who in their professional capacities become aware of possible abuse of a minor by any adult must report it to an appropriate law enforcement agency. Why do you fear this?
In your letter to me of March 18, you characterized this proposal as "primarily" designed "to expand the list of mandated reporters to include ‘abortion providers.’" This is inaccurate. As I just made clear, my bill does not single out any one group. In opposing it, however, you have singled out one group for special protection. "This Democratic Majority unanimously supports a woman’s right to choose," you wrote to me last March; and any legislation, even that bearing on the reporting of sexual abuse of minors, must "comport with our expressed ideology on this issue."
My proposal, on the other hand, simply includes abortion providers among a list of more than 30 groups of professionals who must report information regarding sexual abuse of minors. And with good reason. I’ve seen shocking and deeply disturbing data regarding the sexual exploitation of teen and even pre-teen girls by adult males. According to one study, "among girls 15 and under who become pregnant, between 60 and 80 percent are impregnated by adult males!"
Under New York State law, this constitutes the crime of rape. One group of professionals in a unique position to learn of such crimes are abortion providers. It is therefore essential that they be included as required reporters, along with all the other professionals listed in this amendment.
Why do you fear this? Why protect rapists? Why do you refuse to protect all vulnerable children?
Rather than address these issues, you accused me of crossing "the line between [my] personal beliefs and upholding the law." You did not discuss whether you would assist me in "upholding the law" by seeing that all professionals with information about sexual abuse of minors be required to report it. Instead, in the words of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, you came dangerously close to suggesting that my Catholicism is getting in the way of my professional duties.
In fact, the changes I am proposing in the County law are designed precisely to assist me in fulfilling my professional duties. We need to broaden the reporting requirements to include not just clergy, but all adult professionals who work with minors, so that we may better protect all youngsters against abuse by any adults. And we also need to specify exactly what information must be reported, so that we can better enforce compliance with the statute, and more effectively investigate and prosecute those who prey on minors. This amendment would accomplish that goal as well. Why would you oppose such a bill? What do you fear? Why are you protecting sexual predators?
I implore you, Ms. Jacobs, to stop blocking this bill from coming to the floor for a vote. I urge you not to let your ideology on a single issue blind you to the urgent need to do all we can to protect our children from sexual exploitation and abuse. And I urge the Democratic members of this Legislature to do all you can to persuade your majority leader to allow you to deliberate and vote on this vital legislation.
Why would you oppose it? What do you fear? Why protect rapists? Why refuse to pass a law that would help protect vulnerable children?"

Robert Downey Jr. says The Passion is not anti-semitic

Ha! I may be the first in St. Blog's to post this breaking news!!!

One thing about all the crazy stories of wacko priests that has bugged me for over a year now is that many seem to involve priests who live alone. I am used to priests who live in rectories with other priests, although single-priest rectories are more common now. I guess I am "rigid" about these things, but priests should dress like priests, live as priests, and act like priests.

Our Diocese is currently in the process of preparing to have a Synod. My parish just recently had a "listening session" and I really wanted to go to it but it was the same night as the Paul Elie lecture so I choose the lecture. I did not think the listening session would amount to much, but I really wanted to give my $.02 worth. The listening sessions are designed for anyone to give their opinions, and the diocesan website lists any and all comments, no matter how silly or worthless. Under vocations, there are many comments calling for married priests and women priests. Of course, no one lists a single scriptural or theological reason for this, just, we need priests- lets ordain women and married men. At least those calling for married priests are on some kind of ground, since that is part of our tradition. I would have loved to have gone to the session and calmly (shutup! he explained) and rationally (burn heretic burn!) gave my opinion that the parish and diocese should be looking at those dioceses and orders that are successful with vocations and learn from them.

I just got back from the lecture and panel discussion at Nassau Community College, sponsored by the Center for Catholic Studies. Paul Elie spoke on his bestselling book The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage, which discusses Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Walker Percy, and Flannery O'Connor. An excellent talk and discussion. The Center for Catholic Studies is now 4 years old and does some awesome stuff. I can't wait to read the book.

A group of us from Faith on Tap went to NYC today for Mass at Church of Our Savior. Mass was celebrated by Fr. George Rutler and was sung. The choir was excellent although we did not know which hymns were going to be sung-they did not seem to be posted anywhere. The homily was first rate as expected, touching on the sanctity of marriage between man and woman. The Gloria and Agnus Dei were sung in Latin and incense was used liberally. In fact, the altar boy who was swinging it during the chanting of the Gospel was so gung-ho I thought he was going to smack the woman in the front row! His surplice was half off his shoulder from the effort. It reminded me of a story about my father. He once swung the thurible so hard at Mass, the charcoal flew out and landed on the rug. A couple of nuns had to run up to stamp out a potential fire. Anyway the Mass was great and the Church is beautiful!

Ex-student free to sue seminary

"A disillusioned seminary student who said he was expelled by the Diocese of Rockville Centre, L.I., because he complained that the school promoted "pro-gay and lesbian" literature can sue for breach of contract."

"Downey alleged the seminary promoted "pro-gay and lesbian books," including "Religion Is a Queer Thing," in violation of church teachings.

He also contended the word "pecker" was contained in the co-ed introduction to the Bible course."


This is a tough one for me, I like the pressure this brings on the seminary because it needs to be reformed or shut down, but I don't think the case belongs in court. I don't even want to know about the pecker thing.

Voice of the Faithful Long Island

For all the people who attended the VOTF meeting in Huntington—

1) I am glad to see so many of you love the Church enough to want to act in the midst of incredible evil and corruption.

2) Please understand that the problems in this diocese stem directly from the reign of Bishop McGann, who for 20 years favored those who dissent from Church teachings. For example, he invited Richard McBrien to speak to all the priests in the diocese just as the VOTF leaders invited McBrien to speak to all of you. Consequently, watch very carefully those involved in the VOTF as some of them may be the same people who supported McGann and the Diocese for the past 20 years.

3) Understand also that there were brave souls who spoke out against the problems in the Diocese and were ignored or silenced. For example, Dr. Thomas Drolesky, a former writer for The Wanderer, now a “traditional Catholic”, complained about Msgr. Bud Ribaudo years ago. Also, those who found Fr. Papa in Southold to be surfing porn, with a couple of child porn site cookies on the Rectory computer, did the right thing by going to the police. There is no logical reason for VOTF to be supporting this priest at all.

4) Learn the difference between orthodox Catholicism and the false Catholicism espoused by many priests, nuns, and lay people over the past 30 years. Discover Ignatius Press, EWTN, Tan Books, Steubenville, Crisis Magazine, Latin Mass Magazine, National Catholic Register, Envoy, and other good apostolates.

5) Realize that not all religious communities are created equal—discover orthodox communities such as the Missionaries of Charity, Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal, Marianists of the Meribah Province, Legionaries of Christ, Dominicans of Nashville , Benedictines in Huntington, and FSSP.

6) Realize that we young people are not attracted to groups that want to “change the Church”, we like the Church the way it is, especially the way it was before the mess of the 60’s and 70’s.

7) Understand that there are some good apostolates here on Long Island that already do some of the things you want to see- Lay Preachers, Americans United for the Pope, Fatima Holy Hour, Faith and Reason Catholic library and bookstore in Massapequa, Mariamonte in Huntington, Catholic Shopper in Nesconset, Faith on Tap, Center for Catholic Studies at Nassau Community College, etc..

8) Understand that Bishop Murphy, although not perfect, is still a giant improvement over past leadership.

9) Promote authentically Catholic schools such as Franciscan University of Steubenville, Christendom, Thomas Aquinas, Ave Maria, Magdalen, etc.. Forget the schools of your youth (such as Georgetown, Notre Dame, or the local Catholic colleges) as difficult as it might be, they are no longer worthy of being called Catholic.

10) Help return Catholicism to the Church by advocating the return of some Latin to the Mass, statues of saints to the Churches, Liturgical correctness by priests, and traditional devotions. Many of the same priests who molested teens are the same people who fought to remove any sign of traditional Catholicism from the Church. This should tell you something.

11) If leadership is your concern, make sure that those you follow are in agreement with Church teachings and practice. Ignore any priests who try to celebrate Mass as if it were a private show with him as the host, ignore anybody who advocates changes in Church teachings, ignore anyone who talks about Reiki, massage, or the enneagram.

12) Understand that there are groups out there that have been fighting corruption in the Church long before VOTF came along, such as Roman Catholic Faithful, Diocese Report, and Catholics United for the Faith. Support these groups if you really want to rid the Church of corruption.

13) Ask your leaders why they do not respond to questions via email from young people who do not agree with their choice of speakers.

14) If you want to support “priests of integrity” might I suggest you become familiar with Frs. Driscoll, Hewes, Graham, Pereda, Fasano, Arcoleo, Batule, Mason, Eichner, Fink, and Scarmozzino. These are all local priests who are known for their orthodoxy. (I am sure there are others)

15) Read this blog if you want to know what is really going on in the Diocese of Rockville Centre :)

16) God Bless you!

Former president of St. John's University dies

He retired while I was a student there, and I don't think that the school had any particularly Catholic flavor to it then, or now. The article points out that the school grew to become the largest Catholic University under Fr. Cahill and that the school had relatively few problems when he retired. Unfortunately the article could not say that the school grew to become more Catholic or that it taught Catholicism to students. St. John's is another University that would best be described as formerly Catholic.

Man in St. Pat's Sex Romp Dies

The man involved in the infamous radio stunt at St. Patrick's Cathedral died of heart failure at 38. You just never know the hour or day.....

Just got back from a Faith on Tap meeting. Steven and Patty McDonald spoke and were wonderful. Steven was a NYC police officer who was shot and paralyzed for life. He has spent his life preaching forgiveness from a first hand point of view. He is a very inspiring figure with a strong Catholic faith. He is still on active duty for the NYC police department and was promoted to the rank of detective. It is so great to be able to get together with so many serious young Catholics, and to drink Harp Lager at the same time!

Thanks to Confessions of a Recovering Choir Director for linking to: I Was Robbed! by Leila Miller . This is the story of a fellow Gen X cradle Catholic who reverted after discovering orthodox Catholicism. This is the great cry of my generation of Catholics--WE WUZ ROBBED! And we were.

I am listening to Jeff Cavins interview Mark Shea and Amy Welborn about Catholic blogging. I found this through Marian Brother JL. The blurb about blogging on the Relevant Radio site says:
"The Catholic blog ring, known affectionately as St. Blog’s Parish, is one of the most organized and thriving regions of the Internet subdivision known as the Blogosphere."

The local VOTF had their meeting today with main speaker Richard McBrien. One of the leaders of this group was interviewed and said peoples' anger was more with the bishops than the priests who actually abused children. She said the priests could be "seen as sick individuals whose needs were not met, they needed psychological help and did not receive it". This is garbage. Their needs (sexual relations with young boys) were met, that was the whole problem. They did not need counseling, (which they did get), they needed to be arrested and stopped from leading homosexual, predatory lives. This same VOTF leader, and her deacon husband, do not want people to know that they were big supporters of Bishop McGann who led the coverup and supported predatory priests for over 20 years. The 600 mostly elderly people who attended this meeting are being mislead by the same silly people who ran this diocese for 20 years. It is time for orthodoxy to return to Long Island and the VOTF is not part of this.

I added a different commenting system since Haloscan kept going down. Also added a couple of blogs to the blogroll at the right.

Did anyone watch the Joan of Arcadia premiere last night? I read a couple of reviews in the papers that were very positive. This is the series by Barbara Hall, sister of Karen Hall, of the defunct but great blog Disordered Affections.

Any local Long Island Catholics in their 20's and 30's out there? Check out Faith on Tap - this group meets monthly at the Wantagh Inn. I created a weblog for the group that will be used until we get a regular website. The first speakers this season are Steven and Patty McDonald who will be talking on Forgiving & Being Forgiven: Possible or Not? Steven McDonald is a NYC policeman who was shot and paralyzed. He has spent his life exploring his Catholic faith and preaching about forgiveness.

Wantagh Inn (across from the Wantagh LIRR station)
Monday, September 29th 7-9 pm

The New York Mets' broadcaster Bob Murphy retired. Murphy was excellent on radio, one of the guys who "painted a picture". He was with the Mets since the beginning, and it is too bad he ended his career at the end of one of their worst years. Although, since he started in 1962, I guess they ended just the way they began.

Mark Shea and Domenico Bettinelli have linked to this article about Bishop Murphy asking a priest not to publish an article in Newsday calling for bishops "tainted by scandals" to resign. I like Bishop Murphy and think that this priest is probably one of the Bishop McGann supporters. McGann was the previous Bishop who was very supportive of dissenters and did not do anything to remove child molesting priests. Murphy is a useful scapegoat and it is ironic that he is accused of being autocratic. It was McGann who tried to force 4 "conservative" pastors to resign (1 refused). It was McGann who never allowed a few traditional-minded priests to become pastors. There are a couple of priests in this diocese who are dissenters and they will gladly write for the very anti-Catholic Newsday to bash Murphy. These same priests were silent during McGann's time. Since Murphy has been installed, (a few days before Sept. 11th, 2001), he has done some great things that have given hope to orthodox Catholics here. The seminary has done some house cleaning, although much more needs to be done. The traditional latin mass has become weekly, something McGann refused to do even after years of requests. VOTF has been banned from meeting on Church property. At least one very orthodox priest was named pastor of a parish, something refused him for many years under McGann. I think the resistance to Murphy, from the beginning, has had more to do with his orthodoxy than with his time in Boston.

This is going to be great--

Upcoming lecture/panel discussion with audience participation to be held, free of any charge, at Nassau Community College, Tuesday evening, October 7th from 7 to about 9 P.M. in the College Center Building Rooms 252-3 which is sponsored by the Center for Catholic Studies. Paul Elie will speak on his bestselling book The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage, which discusses the apostolates of Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Walker Percy, and Flannery O'Connor. After the presentation, there will be a panel discussion. Barnes and Noble will sell copies of the book for interested parties and Mr. Elie will sign copies if requested. Coffee and cookies at 6:30 P.M.

MISS AMERICA 2003 VISITS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS ON LONG ISLAND


I am not one to exaggerate, but this is the biggest mistake in the history of the universe. My alma mater is no place for a Miss America. 1600 teenage boys in an all male school, filled with angst over trying to survive a "rigorous" curriculum, cannot be put on the same island, much less the same building, as a Miss America. As Bill Murray said in Ghostbusters: "This city is about to face a disaster of biblical proportions. Riots in the streets, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria! "

I’M RICH I’M RICH!!!

“From:Mr Norman Williams Dear Sir, I am an accountant and a member of the Contract Tender Board (CTB) of the Petroleum, Oil & Gas Corporation of South Africa (PTY) Ltd also known as PetroSA. I am presently on a special diplomatic duty in the South Africa foreign office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I got your contact through discreet inquiries in my search for a reliable individual or company who can handle a strictly confidential transaction that involves the transfer of a reasonable sum of money to a foreign account. I have no doubt in your ability to handle a financial business of considerable amount, which will form the bedrock of an extensive business partnership in due course. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on your status that you will handle this transaction with all maturity and confidentiality it deserves. The money we want to transfer to you amount to a total of US$15.500,000.00 (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) only. It was extracted from various over-invoiced contracts, masterminded by myself and some of my colleagues for our mutual benefit when the contracts was awarded by the Contracts Tender Board (CTB) of the Petroleum, Oil & Gas Corporation of South Africa (PTY) Ltd. The above over-invoiced sum has been drafted and short-listed for final payment to a foreign bank account and it has been reflected as an amount to be paid to a foreign contractor for contract that has been executed for the Petroleum, Oil & Gas Corporation of South Africa (PTY) Ltd. The money is currently floating in the suspense account of the South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB) awaiting claim by a foreign partner, which status we absolutely want you to assume. The code of conduct bureau in South Africa has made it an offence for civil servants like us to(A) operate a foreign account (B) own a foreign company and (C) take up contract while still in active service. This is why we need your assistance. Now is the optimum period to realize this fund following the recent directive given to all-federal parastatals and corporations to pay off all foreign debts. I therefore seek your assistance to allow the remittance of this fund to be made to your personal or company’s bank account. We have agreed that 30% of the total sum will be given to you and 70% will be for me and my colleagues after the successful transference of the fund to your bank account. I want to assure you that all modalities for the successful transfer of this money to your account has been perfectly worked out and as such, there is no fear of failure. However, I would want to believe that you are honest enough and will not raise any misgiving attitude In any aspect of the transaction. Most importantly, you will keep this transaction very confidential so as not to tarnish the confidence reposed on these officials by the nation's financial house. If this proposal interest you, kindly indicate your willingness to me through email Address: (williamsnorman_n@lycos.com). To enable this fund to be successfully transferred to your account, you will also have to provide the following information: 1.Your company name and address that you wish to use as the beneficiary to claim the fund. 2.Your private telephone,fax Numbers. 3.Your Bank name, address and account number where you would want the money remitted. More information about the remittance of the fund to your account will be sent to you when I receive your response. Meanwhile, your swift response will help us to meet the ultimatum given to all foreign contractors in this payment quarter to ensure that funds are claimed. We also wish to discuss investment strategy with you. We have the plan of investing part of our fund in real estate with your assistance in your country. Please, treat this information as confidential. Yours faithfully, Mr.Norman Williams”

You hear that? I get 15% of 15.5 million and all I have to do is give a complete stranger my name and address, phone and fax number, and bank account info. I’m in the money..I’m in the money…

Highly recommended by Gen X Revert’s mother:

A Miracle for St. Cecilia’s by Katherine Valentine

I read the reviews at Amazon and the book does sound good. The author is a folk artist who had a near death experience that influenced her writing.

Last night there was a talk on the Shroud of Turin at my parish. It was very interesting and there is a Holy Face of Jesus prayer group forming at my parish. I learned alot about the physical nature of the Crucifixation, for instance, the crossbeam would have been tied to Jesus' arms, across his back, with one loop of rope tied to his ankle, and one to the people in front of him. More info at Holy Face of Jesus.

There is a great sounding lecture series at St. Patrick Cathedral entitled:

THE POPES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
6:30 pm

Oct 6th Pius X
Rev. Marvin O'Connell, University of Notre Dame
Nov 10th Benedict XV and Pius XI
Professor Frank J. Coppa, St. John's University
Dec 1st Pius XII
Professor Peter Kent, University of New Brunswick
Feb 2nd John XXIII and Paul VI
Dr. Richard Wolff, CEO of Global Crossing
March 1st John Paul II
George Weigel, Senior Fellow Ethics and Public Policy Center

I had Professor Coppa for a few classes at St. John's and would like to catch his lecture. He was a great teacher and very prolific writer. Of course, I will try to get to George Weigel's talk at all costs. The ad for this series was in National Review but I could not find any info on the net as far as who is sponsoring it.

DA Seeks Mepham Witnesses
Issues subpoenas, urges cooperation in Mepham case

Hiding From Awful Truths


We have a major case of sexual abuse of young teenage boys here on Long Island, with coverups, failure to call police, non-cooperation with authorities, and plenty of witnesses who are not talking. Haven't these people learned anything from the Church's mess?

Woohoo! Barbara Nicolosi from Church of the Masses has quit her job at Liguorian magazine because they would not publish her positive review of Mel Gibson's Passion movie. I don't subscribe to this magazine and have only seen a couple of issues, but I am glad Ms. Nicolosi stuck to her principles. I am extremely pleased that she will be writing for the National Catholic Register, a paper I subscribe to and cannot praise enough.

This reminds me, I saw a blurb somewhere that Mel would have to change the name of his movie because there was already a movie coming out named The Passion. Anyone hear this?

They don't call them DUMB JOCKS for nothing

The violent criminal thugs from Mepham High School who sodomized and tortured 3 younger jocks have all been stopped from playing football for the season. Big deal. There should be at least 3 of these monsters in jail by now, and dozens more should be held as accessories. Some background: This school is in Bellmore, where most of the parents don't seem intellectually capable of understanding just how evil their little darlings are. Fortunately, Bellmore is home to an ever growing number of conservative jews who actually use schools for study, not rape.

Pair pleads guilty to aiding Taliban

Anger over adultery stoning case

"Pressure is mounting on the Nigerian government to spare the life of a Muslim woman condemned to death by stoning for adultery. "

I don't want the war on terror to stop with Al Queda, I want it to destroy the entire fundamentalist culture of the middle east.

Victor David Hanson on the War on Terror and our former allies


"More people, remember, fried in France this August while its social utopians snoozed at the beach than all those lost in Kabul and Baghdad together. I think an American pilot who flew over the peaks of Afghanistan or a Marine colonel now patrolling in Iraq was far more likely to ensure that his aged mother back home lives under humane conditions than was a Frenchman this summer on his month-long vacation on the Mediterranean coast. So remember, this August Americans lost 100 brave soldiers fighting selflessly for the liberty of others while thousands of Frenchmen perished through their children's neglect and self-absorption."

SAVING MIDEAST STUDIES

This is the latest brilliant article by Daniel Pipes

Fr. Charles Mangano and his sister Laurie, a model, perform concerts and have released 5 albums. Here is their website.

Ever Ancient, Ever New

Zzzzzzz??? I figured this blog would start up again with the new school year but so far no.

My parish has quite the turnover right now, the "leader of song" has left and the organist decided to follow her and retire. So we are looking for those positions to be filled. At the same time we were looking for a youth minister, which has now been filled by a young woman who I know is very orthodox and works all the time with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

Dr. Philip Blosser is the philosophy professor who put my Catholic Howl poem on his website. I have now added his homepage to my links on the right because he has so much good stuff there. Don't believe me? Check this out-- The Monty Python Philosopher's Song!

Someone out there paid to have the ad removed my blog a long time ago and I want to thank whoever it was.

Fr. Apostoli mentioned in his talk on Tuesday night that Pope John Paul II had intended to elevate Mother Teresa to Sainthood in October. He said he has now agreed to beatify her only. Apparently many expressed concerns about a too quick process and the Pope was convinced to go the traditional route. I am glad, as I do think that the traditional, slow, steady step to Sainthood is the best way for the Church to proceed. The beatification will take place on October 19th and Fr. Apostoli also mentioned that on that same day, 60 Minutes will run a segment on the Sainthood process. I don't remember exactly but he may have said he would be in the segment due to the cause of Bishop Sheen. Anyway mark your calendars.

I love to look at the Sitemeter to see where visitors to this blog came from-

1) "Catholics are very classy people" aol search

why thank you...or were you being sarcastic??

2) "Tai Chi vs. Catholicism" yahoo search

According to practitioners, practice of tai chi releases blockages of chi in the body--in Catholicism we recommend bran for that

Mel Gibson and Me

What a week so far! First, Jeff Miller advises me that my blog inspired the name for the great Genesis X parody blog. Now it turns out I am 2.5 degrees of separation from Mel Gibson! Tonight I attended a night of recollection run by Lay Preachers at Kellenberg Memorial High School's retreat house. The evening consisted of an hour of Adoration, then a catered dinner, then a talk by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, then a Mass. (Fr. Apostoli just offered the funeral Mass for his mother yesterday-she died peacefully in her sleep). The dinner and talk was in a new room in the retreat house that is stunning-it is a huge room filled with stained glass windows, intricate woodwork and overlooks an incredible garden. It was designed by and built under the supervision of Fr. Philip Eichner, the president of Kellenberg and former president of my alma mater, Chaminade. When I got home, I read the new Catalyst, the newsletter of the Catholic League. Fr. Eichner also happens to be the chairman of the league's board of directors and as such was able to view a copy of Mel’s Passion movie with him. Mel also joined the Catholic League while he visited their Manhattan offices. So I was just in a room designed by the priest who recently viewed Mel’s movie with him. Ok, that IS a pretty stupid degree of separation! I still can't wait to see this movie though.

Doh!

This blog comes up first if you search for "stereotypical long islander" in google.

Another Gen X blogger!

This had me laughing out loud, which is rare--The Curt Jester is just an awesome site!!!

Mark Shea at Catholic and Enjoying It posted this from Peggy Noonan:
What I Told the Bishops
Thoughts on the crisis in the American Catholic Church.

My favorite line:

"We ask them to discuss the pressing issues of the moment, such as cloning--we're entering a world in which industrial fetal farms may grow replacement people for replacement parts--and instead they issue new directives on how it would be better if people sang songs during the mass after communion, and hugged each other instead of shaking hands during the moment of peace."

Ms. Noonan's book called John Paul the Great will be out on November 10th. Her book, What I Saw At the Revolution: A Political Life in the Reagan Era was excellent!

Fun With Headlines


John Paul II Urges Christians to Abandon Mediocrity

I love that headline! Of course, soon we will hear condemnations of the Pope by defenders of mediocrity. Richard McBrien will condemn the Vatican for trying to force people to give up mediocrity. Hans Kung will write a treatise on why mediocrity is compatible with Christianity. Andrew Sullivan will claim mediocrity is code for homosexuality. And Andrew Greeley will write that mediocrity is part of our Catholic heritage and therefore Catholics will never give it up.

Aid Must Not Wound Africa's Dignity, Says Cardinal Arinze

Georgetown professors protest, call Cardinal offensive.


Bishops Reminded of Their Role as Custodians of the Faith

Bishops' spokesperson say Bishops will respond when they get back from the golf course.

BISHOP MURPHY'S HOMILY FROM THE MASS FOR VICTIMS OF SEPTEMBER 11th
September 10, 2003


"In the Torah, Moses enjoins on the followers of the Law this solemn injunction: “Today I offer you the choice of life and good, or death and evil…Choose life and then you and your descendants will live…”
(Dt 30: 11,20) Two years ago a small group of evil minded men chose death and chose to inflict death and evil on the innocent, young and old from every strata of our society here in New York and Washington as they hijacked four planes to wreak their havoc and destruction. Each of us here tonight, across this island and country, indeed around the world, has been affected by this brutal act of terrorism. Neither tonight nor in the years to come will we ever be able adequately to plumb the depths of the suffering or give speech to the feelings that dwell in broken hearts too well acquainted with the pain of loss.. But gathering as we do tonight, our being together is a true and meaningful counteract to terrorism and to evil. For what we say tonight and everyday of our lives is that we reject death and evil. We choose life and good. And while we carry this sorrow in our hearts, this pain deep into the very bowels of our being, we will never follow the men of evil. We will always choose life. We will always seek what is good."

Police investigate allegations of sex abuse in team hazing

Once again, Long Islanders show the nation just how classy we are.

Ailing Pope John Paul II Struggles Again in Slovakia

Wouldn't it be great if the Pope announced he could no longer travel but invited people to visit him in Rome. And after so many years of giving so much to people, we could then visit the Pope by the millions. Imagine millions of people streaming into Vatican City, setting all kinds of records, to pay tribute to John Paul the Great.

The Gen-X Church
What can you expect from a bunch of slackers? A lot.

"Gen X never experienced major economic turmoil or the fear of global uncertainty— but on Sept. 11, 2001, they grew up."

Pretty true, although global uncertainty could describe the period before communism was assigned to the ash-heap of history.

"Gen X has shown a strong interest in connecting with the history of the Church. For instance, there is a renewed interest in many of the worship traditions of the Catholic Church but practiced with intense meaning and focus rather than rote memory."

True 'nuff.

"By contrast, Gen X—always having lived in the shadows of the most famous generation—will have more thoroughly reflected the true light of Jesus Christ through their authenticity, perseverance and conviction than any generation before them."

Well, one could hope.

Abortion clinics fear fallout after Paul Hill's execution


Remember the press reporting fears of violence against abortion clinics after the execution of Paul Hill? I didn't think there would be any and found these fears rather bigoted. Now think of all those claiming that Mel Gibson's Passion movie will inspire violence. I suspect the same motivation of anti-Christian prejudice, and predict the same results: no violence.

Someone also searched for Dolores Fanelli who was a Marsh & McLennon employee who died at the World Trade Center. Also Maxima Jean-Pierre, a worker in the kitchen at Cantor Fitzgerald. I will pray for these victims and their families as well.

Someone ended up on this blog after searching for “don robson manhasset long island”. Mr. Robson was a Cantor Fitzgerald employee who perished in the World Trade Center according to this profile. He was one of many victims of 9/11 from St. Mary’s in Manhasset. On EWTN tonight, The World Over Live rebroadcast some of the September 11th special from last year in which Raymond Arroyo interviewed some people from St. Mary’s. Whoever searched for don robson, I am sorry for your loss and will pray for him and his family tonight. God Bless.

Some bloggers are talking about the whining and complaining going around St. Blog’s. Gerard at Catholic Blog for Lovers is particularly affected by this stuff. I don’t really have a problem with bloggers speaking bluntly, with anger, especially when discussing the corruption in the Church. I have learned the most about the so called scandals in the Church from The Diocese Report and Roman Catholic Faithful, two websites that have been criticized for too much negativity and harshness. I think these websites are extremely valuable and the truth, while harsh, must be stated loudly. The thing to keep in mind is how long people have gotten away with corruption and how long many good people have been ignored. The RCF site, for example, exposed the infamous St. Sebastian’s website years ago, even sending information on Archbishop Cawcutt to the Vatican. Cawcutt simply received a slap on the hand until recently when he was forced to resign. Why did it take 3 years for this man to be forced out?? Only within the past few weeks have two priests associated with this site been forced out or exposed. The corruption in the Church is severe and the Bishops have done next to nothing about it, so yelling is really the only way to wake them up.

The other point is that blogging by its nature is really conducive to whining. I mean it is very tempting to complain and vent. When I started this blog, I really intended it to be a positive place where my wonderful experiences in Catholic school and coming back to the Church would hopefully entertain and enlighten others. I fell into complaining and excoriating the dopes in the Church right away however. St. Blog’s is a wonderful place for varied opinions with each unique blog contributing in its own way. While I appreciate the positive nature of blogs such as Catholic Blog for Lovers, From the Anchor Hold, and Flos Cameli, I also appreciate equally the sometimes harsh and blunt posts on blogs such as Extreme Catholic, Catholic and Enjoying It, and Bettnet. After all, according to a couple of articles written about St. Blogs, wasn’t it the “Situation” that caused so many Catholics to start blogging in the first place. So you have to expect some spleen venting. If the fighting and harshness and concentration on negative things gets too much for you, simply avoid those blogs that are the hardest to take, or avoid the comment boxes when necessary.

Every September 11th should be a national day of remembrance. One aspect of this day would be for the President to hand out special Sept. 11th pardons, as an act of mercy. Murderers, child molesters, non-citizens and repeat offenders would not be eligible and all pardons should be screened by the Department of Justice, in order to avoid Clinton-like corruption of the process. There are plenty of non-violent drug offenders that could be released. For the 5th anniversary of the massacre, the number of pardons should equal the number of Americans murdered on 9/11. This extraordinary act would speak volumes to people around the world as well as free up space in the jails for violent criminals.

My fellow Long Islanders killed on 9/11

Abad, Maria Rose 49 Syosset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Abate, Andrew Anthony 37 Melville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Aceto, Richard Anthony 42 Wantagh , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Addamo, Christy A. 28 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ahearn, Brian G. 43 Huntington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Amato, James M. 43 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Angelini Jr., Joseph 38 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Angelini Sr., Joseph 63 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ashley, Janice Marie 25 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Aviles, Ezra 41 Commack, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Baierwalter, Robert John 44 Albertson, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Barbella, James William 53 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Barnes, Sheila Patricia 55 Bay Shore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bart, Scott D. 28 Malverne, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Beck, Lawrence Ira 38 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bergsohn, Alvin 48 Baldwin Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Blaney, Janice Lee 55 Williston Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Blass, Craig Michael 27 Greenlawn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Boehm, Bruce Douglas 49 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bonomo, Frank 42 Port Jefferson, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Bowers, Kimberly S. 31 Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Box, Gary R. 37 North Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Boyle, Michael 37 Westbury, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Brennan, Francis Henry 50 Oak Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Brennan, Peter 30 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Brethel, Daniel J. 43 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Broghammer, Herman Charles 58 North Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Browne-Radburn, Bettina 49 Atlantic Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bruehert, Richard George 38 Westbury, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bueche, Nancy Clare 43 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Burns, Donald James 61 Nissequogue, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Butler, Thomas M. 37 Kings Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Cahill, Michael John 37 East Williston, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Camaj, Roko 60 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cappello, Jonathan Neff 23 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cappers, James Christopher 33 Wading River, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Caproni, Richard Michael 34 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Carey, Dennis M. 51 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Carson Jr., James Joseph 32 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cascio, Paul Reegan 23 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Caufield, Robert John 49 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cavalier, Judson 26 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cawley, Michael Joseph 32 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Cefalu, Jason Michael 30 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cesta, Joni 37 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Chalcoff, William 41 Roslyn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Chiarchiaro, Dorothy J. 61 Glenwood, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Chiofalo Jr., Nicholas Paul 39 Selden, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Clyne, Susan Marie 42 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Coakley, Steven 36 Deer Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Colaio, Stephen J. 32 Montauk, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Colbert, Kevin Nathaniel 25 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Colin, Robert Dana 49 West Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Comer, Ronald Edward 56 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Connors, Jonathan McManus "J.C." 55 Old Brookville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Corbett, Joseph Albert 28 Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cosgrove, Kevin M. 46 West Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cove, James E. 48 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Coyle-Eulau, Michele 38 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Crisci, John A. 48 Holbrook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Cross, Dennis A. 60 Islip Terrace, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Crotty, Thomas G. 42 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cudmore, Neil James 38 Port Washington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Curia, Laurence Damian 41 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Curtin, Michael Sean 45 Medford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
D'Amadeo, Vincent Gerard 36 East Patchouge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Da Mota, Manuel John 44 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Danz, Vincent G. 38 Farmingdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Dean, William Thomas 35 Floral Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
DeAngelis, Thomas Patrick 51 Westbury, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
DeAngelis Jr., Robert J. 47 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Debek, Tara E. 35 Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
DeBin, Anna Marjia 30 East Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
DeMeo, Martin N. 47 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Desperito, Andrew J. 44 East Patchogue, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Diagostino, Michael Louis 41 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Diaz-Sierra, Judith Berquis 32 Bay Shore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dickey Jr., Joseph Dermott 50 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dimmling, William John 47 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dominguez, Charles "Carlos" 34 East Meadow, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dominguez, Jerome Mark Patrick 37 Holtsville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Donnelly, Kevin W. 43 Seaford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Donovan, Jacqueline 34 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Downey, Raymond Matthew 63 Deer Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Duffy, Gerard 53 Manorville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Duffy, Michael Joseph 29 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dunne, Christopher Joseph 28 Mineola, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dwyer, Patrick Thomas 37 Nissequogue, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Eaton, Robert Douglas 37 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Edwards, Dennis Michael 35 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Eisenberg, Eric Adam 32 Commack, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ellis, Mark Joseph 26 Huntington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Erker, Erwin L. 41 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Esposito, William 52 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Evans, Robert Edward "Bobby" 36 Franklin Square, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fairben, Keith George 24 Floral Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fallon Jr., William L. 38 Coram, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fanelli, Dolores Brigitte 38 Farmingville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fanning, John Joseph "Jack" 54 West Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Farrell, Terrence Patrick 45 Huntington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Farrelly, Thomas Patrick 54 East Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fazio Jr., Robert 41 Freeport, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fehling, Lee S. 28 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ferris, Robert John 63 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fitzgerald, Ryan Daniel 26 Floral Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fitzsimons, Richard P. 57 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fletcher, Andre G. 37 North Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Florio, John Joseph 33 Oceanside, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fosteris, Ana 58 Coram, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Foti, Robert Joseph 42 Albertson, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Freiman, Brett Owen 29 Roslyn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fried, Arlene Eva 49 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Friedman, Andrew Keith 44 Woodbury, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Gambino Jr., Thomas 48 Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ganci, Peter 54 North Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Garcia, David 40 Freeport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Gardner, William Arthur "Bill" 45 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Gardner, Thomas A. 39 Oceanside, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Gary, Bruce H. 51 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Geier, Paul Hamilton 36 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Genco Jr., Peter Victor 36 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Geraghty, Edward F. 45 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Geyer, James "Jimmy" Gerald 41 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Giammona, Vincent Francis 40 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Gies, Ronnie E. 43 Merrick, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Giorgetti, Steven A. 43 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Giugliano, Cynthia 46 Nesconset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Goldflam, Jeffrey Grant 48 Melville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Granados, Gilbert Franco 51 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Grant, Winston Arthur 59 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Green, Wade Brian 42 Westbury, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Grimner, David Joseph 51 Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Grzymalski, Matthew James 34 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Guja, Geoffrey E. 47 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hannan, Michael Lawrence 34 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Haran, James A. 41 Malverne, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Haskell, Timothy 34 Seaford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Haskell Jr., Thomas Theodore 37 Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Haub, Michael Helmut 34 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Haviland, Timothy Aaron 41 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hayes, Philip Thomas 67 East Northport , NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Healey, Michael K. 42 East Patchogue, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Herold, Gary 44 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hetzel, Thomas 33 Elmont, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hickey, Brian Christopher 47 Bethpage, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Higgins, Timothy B. 43 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hobbs, Thomas Anderson 41 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hoerner, Ronald George 58 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hoffman, Stephen G. 36 Long Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hopper, James Patrick 52 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Horn, Michael 27 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Howard, George Gerald 45 Hicksville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Howley-Dorsey, Jennifer L. 34 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hughes, Kris Robert 30 Nesconset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hunter, Joseph G. 32 South Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hussa, Robert R. 51 Roslyn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ielpi, Jonathan Lee 29 Great Neck, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Inghilterra Jr., Louis Steven 45 New Castle, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Iskenderian Jr., Aram 41 Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jagoda, Jake Denis 24 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jean-Pierre, Maxima 40 Bellport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Johnston, William R. 31 North Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jones, Christopher D. 53 Huntington , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jordan, Andrew 36 Remsenburg, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jordan, Robert Thomas 34 East Williston, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Josiah, Jane Eileen 47 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jovic, Anthony 39 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jurgens, Thomas Edward 26 Lawrence , NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jurgens, Paul William 47 Levittown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Katsimatides, John 31 East Marion, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelley Jr., Frederick H. 57 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelly, Joseph Anthony 40 Oyster Bay, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelly, Thomas Richard 38 Riverhead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kelly, James Joseph "Kells" 39 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelly, Timothy Colin 37 Port Washington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kennedy, Thomas J. 36 Islip Terrace, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kerwin, Ronald T. 42 Levittown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kiefer, Michael 26 Hempstead, NY Missing (Emergency/Rescue)
Kloepfer, Ronald Phillip 39 Franklin Square, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kuo Jr., Frederick 53 Great Neck, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lachhman, Amarnauth 42 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Langone, Thomas Michael 39 Williston Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Langone, Peter J. 41 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Lee, Gary H. 62 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lee, Richard Yun Choon 34 Great Neck, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lehman, Edward Joseph 41 Glen Cove, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Leistman, David Ralph 43 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lenoir, John Robinson 38 Locust Valley, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
LeVeen, Jeffrey Earle 55 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Levine, Robert "Bobby" West Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Licciardi, Ralph M. 30 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lillo, Carlos R. 37 Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Linnane, Robert Thomas 33 West Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Logler, Elizabeth Claire "Beth" 31 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lopes, Salvatore 40 Franklin Square, NY Missing (WTC Occupant)
Lucania, Charles Peter 34 East Atlantic Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lynch, Michael Francis 33 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Lynch, Farrell Peter 39 Centerport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lynch, Louise A. 58 Amityville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lyons, Patrick 34 South Setauket, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Maerz, Noell C. 29 Long Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Magee, Charles Wilson 51 Wantagh , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Magee, Brian 52 Floral Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mahon, Thomas Anthony 37 East Norwich, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mahoney, William J. 38 Bohemia, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Maio, Joseph Daniel 32 Roslyn Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Maloney, Joseph E. 46 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mannetta, Debra M. 31 Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Manning, Terence John 36 Point Lookout, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Marchese, Laura A. Giglio 35 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mardovich, Edward Joseph 42 Lloyd Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Marino, Lester Vincent 57 Massapequa, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Martin, Peter C. 43 Miller Place, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Martinez Jr., Jose Angel 49 Hauppauge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Masi, Stephen Frank 55 Selden, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mastrocinque, Rudolph 43 Kings Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mazza-Delosh, Kathy Nancy 46 Farmingdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McAleese, Brian G. 36 Baldwin, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McCabe, Brendan F. 40 Sayville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McCarthy, Justin 30 Port Washington , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McCarthy, Michael Desmond 33 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McDonnell, Brian Grady 38 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McGovern, William J. 49 Smithtown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McGovern, Ann 68 East Meadow, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McHale, Thomas Michael 33 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McShane, Terence A. 37 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McWilliams, Martin Edward 35 Kings Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Medaglia, Rocco A. 49 Melville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mehta, Alok 23 Hempstead, NY Missing (WTC Occupant)
Meisenheimer, Raymond 46 West Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Meltzer, Stuart Todd 32 Syosset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mendez, Charles 38 Floral Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mercurio, Ralph Joseph 47 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Merkouris, George 35 Levittown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Metzler, Jill Ann 32 Franklin Square, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Miller, Joel 55 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Miller Jr., Henry Alfred 52 Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mills, Charles Morris 61 Brentwood, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mingione, Thomas 34 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mistrulli, Joseph 47 Wantagh, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Moccia Sr., Frank V. 57 Hauppauge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mojica, Manuel 37 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Moody, Thomas 45 Stony Brook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Morgan, Dorothy 47 Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Muldowney Jr., Richard 40 Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Murphy, Kevin James 40 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Murphy IV, James Francis 30 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Napolitano, John 33 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Narula, Manika K. 22 Kings Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Neblett, Rayman Marcus 31 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nedell, Laurence 52 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nelson, Michele Ann 27 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nelson, Peter Allen 42 Huntington Station, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Niestadt Jr., Frank John 55 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Niven, John Ballantine 44 Oyster Bay, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nussbaum, Jeffrey Roger 37 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
O'Berg, Dennis Patrick Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Brien, Timothy Michael 40 Brookville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
O'Callaghan, Daniel 42 Smithtown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Keefe, Patrick J. 44 Oakdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Neill Jr., Peter J. 21 Amityville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
O'Rourke, Kevin M. 44 Hewlett, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Shea, Patrick J. 45 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Oelschlager, Douglas E. 36 St. James, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Olcott, Gerald Michael 55 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Olson, Maureen Lyons "Rene" 50 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Opperman, Michael C. 45 Selden, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ortale, Peter K. 37 Sag Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ostrowski, James Robert 37 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Otten, Michael 42 East Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Owens, Jr., Peter J. 42 Williston Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Palmer, Orio Joseph 45 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Panatier, Christopher Matthew 36 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Paolillo, John M. 51 Glen Head, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Papa, Edward Joseph 47 Oyster Bay, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Parro, Robert 35 Levittown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Pascuma, Michael J. 50 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Patel, Dipti 38 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Patterson, Bernard E. "Bernie" 46 Upper Brookville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Pearsall, Durrell V. 38 Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Pedicini, Thomas E. 30 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Perez, Anthony 33 Locust Valley, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Perroncino, Joseph John 33 Smithtown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Perrotta, Edward Joseph 43 Mount Sinai, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Pettit, Glen Kerrin 30 Oakdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Pollicino, Steve 48 Plainview, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Poulos, Richard N. 55 Levittown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Prior, Kevin M. 28 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Prunty, Richard 57 Sayville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Puckett, John Foster 47 Glen Cove, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Quackenbush, Christopher 44 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Quappe, Lincoln 38 Sayville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Raines, Harry A. 37 Bethpage, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ramzey, Lorenzo E. 48 East Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rand, Adam David 30 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Reda, Gregory 33 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Regan, Robert M. 48 Floral Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Rice III, Kenneth Frederick 34 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Robson, Donald Arthur 52 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rodrigues, Antonio Jose Carrusca 35 Port Washington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Rogan, Matthew 37 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Romagnolo, Joseph M. 37 Coram, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rosen, Mark Harlan 45 West Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rosenbaum, Brooke David 31 Franklin Square, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rosenblum, Andrew Ira 45 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Roy Sr., Timothy Alan 36 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ruggiero, Susan Ann 30 Plainview, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ruhalter, Adam Keith 41 Plainview, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ruiz-Diaz, Obdulio 44 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Russo Sr., Michael Thomas 44 Nesconset, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ryan, Jonathan Stephan 32 Bayville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ryan, Matthew Lancelot 54 Seaford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Sadocha, Francis John 41 Huntington Station, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Saloman, Wayne John 43 Seaford, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Salvaterra, Frank G. 41 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sanchez, Alva Cynthia Jeffries 41 Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sarle, Paul F. 38 Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Scauso, Dennis 46 Dix Hills, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Scharf, John G. 29 Manorville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schmidt, Karen Helene 42 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schott Jr., Frank G. 39 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schrang, Gerard Patrick 45 Holbrook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Schunk, Edward William 54 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schwartz, Mark 50 West Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Seaman, Michael Herman 41 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Selwyn, Howard 47 Hewlett, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Shaw, Jeffery James 42 Levittown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sherry, John Anthony 34 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sliwak, Robert F. 42 Wantagh, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Smagala Jr., Stanley S. 36 Holbrook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Smith, James Gregory 43 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Smith, Daniel Laurence 47 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Smith, Kevin Joseph 47 Mastic, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Smithwick, Bonnie Jeanne 54 Quogue, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Spampinato Jr., Donald F. 39 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Spataro, John Anthony 32 Mineola, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Spitz, William E. 49 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stack, Lawrence T. 58 Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Stajk, Gregory 46 Long Beach, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Steckman, William V. 56 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stern, Andrew 45 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stone, Lonny Jay 43 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stuart, Walwyn W. 28 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Sullivan, Christopher P. 38 Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Suozzo, James Joseph 47 Hauppauge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sutcliffe Jr., Robert 39 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sweeney, Brian Edward 29 Merrick , NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Szocik, Kevin Thomas 27 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Taddonio, Michael 39 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Takahashi, Keiichiro 53 Port Washington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Talty, Paul 40 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Terrenzi, Brian John 29 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Thompson, Brian Thomas 42 Dix Hills, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Tighe, Stephen Edward 41 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Tipping II, John James 33 Port Jefferson, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Titolo, Michelle Lee 34 Copiague, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Tompsett, Stephen Kevin 39 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Trant, Daniel Patrick 40 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Urban, Diane Maria 50 Malverne, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Vianna, Matthew Gilbert 23 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Vigiano, Joseph Vincent 34 Medford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Vigiano II, John T. 36 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Vignola Jr., Frank J. 44 Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Vitale, Joshua S. 28 Great Neck, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Voskerijian, Garo H. 43 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wallace, Mitchel Scott 34 Mineola, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Wallice Jr., John 43 Huntington , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Washington, Derrick Christopher 33 Calverton, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Waters, Charles 44 Bethpage, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Watson, Kenneth Thomas 39 Smithtown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Weaver, Walter Edward 30 Centereach, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Webster, Dinah 50 Port Washington, NY Missing (WTC Occupant)
Wengerchuk, Oleh D. 56 Centerport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wieman, Mary Catherine Lenz 43 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wilkinson, Glenn E. 46 Bayport, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Williams Jr., Crossley Richard 28 Uniondale , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wilson, Donna Ann 48 Williston Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wiswall, David 54 North Massapequa, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wright, John Wayne 33 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
York, Raymond R. 45 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Zaccoli, Joseph C. 39 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Zaslow, Ira 55 North Woodmere, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Zois, Prokopios "Paul" 46 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant

September 11th, 2001


I was in a sexual harassment seminar at work that day, and the lawyer running it had a sister who worked in the WTC. An executive interrupted the seminar to tell her that her sister had called, she was okay. After the Pentagon was attacked the meeting was broken up prematurely and we went back to our desks numb. A co-worker said a plane had been hijacked and crashed in Pittsburgh (where my brother lives). I called my mother and left a message on her machine to turn on the news. I used the internet on my work pc to check out the news sites. The whole company closed down early, at 2 p.m. and I drove home using a “backway” through local roads since we had heard the parkways were closed or clogged. The Long Island Expressway was closed on the westbound side all the way to Suffolk County (60 miles or more). This was to allow emergency vehicles to get to the city. While going home the local route, which I often took, I turned onto Oak Street which runs by Hofstra University. I remember being shocked to see dozens of cars parked on the concrete island right in between the two sides of the street. They were all parked haphazardly and there were 2 people, in full military dress, running across the street towards the ROTC/Reserves center. That is when it hit me - we are under attack. When I got home, all the channels were out, since the antennas were on the WTC. I had just bought a satellite dish a couple of weeks before so I was able to watch Foxnews. I remember Bill O’Reilly broadcasting his show from the Channel 12 studios on Long Island because he could not get into the city. I remember Rudy Guiliani, (who had recently become such a jerk most of us were glad he was leaving office), walking down the street saying “Put your mask on, put your mask on”. His press conferences showed him to rise to his better nature, calm, determined, reassuring, compassionate. I remember MSNBC showing the attacks and the collapse and the people running and screaming over and over again. To this day I hate MSNBC for that, they showed it constantly, relentlessly. I remember hearing that there may have been hundreds of firefighters in the collapsed buildings. I also remember the press announcing that 5000 people may have been killed. The funerals were everywhere, the first one I saw was at the local place where we had had my father’s wake just 10 months before. I remember seeing people lining up for a block to get in to pay their respects. For months, everyday, there were obituaries and for months there were funerals everywhere. I went food shopping one Saturday and had to turn back because the whole street was blocked off for a firefighter’s funeral. One day while going to the bookstore for a relaxing time, I had to wait behind a motorcycle cop, at the entrance to the Southern State Parkway for a funeral procession to pass. I remember seeing an article in the local paper about my high school, and learning for the first time the name of a classmate who was killed. All over the island, there were flags, and banners hung. Sheets with messages “ God Bless the NYFD and NYPD” and “We will never forget 9-11” and “God Bless America” hung on every overpass on every parkway. This is more amazing when you realize NY is the cynicism capital of the world. Every car around had a message or flag on it, something I have never seen before, even during the Gulf War. That week, I had a ticket to fly to my niece’s second birthday party, which could not be used. Instead, I drove with my mother across Staten Island, American flag taped to the side window, pass the recently closed Fresh Kills Landfill, where the sight of crushed firetrucks on top of the hills was just surreal. I watched the O’Reilly Factor in Pittsburgh and heard the guest William Bennett mention Chaminade High and all the people connected to the school that were lost. (O’Reilly is a graduate). I will never forget the feeling in New York after the attack. I wish America had capitalized on the incredible unity of the time. Two years has not been enough time to forget, to forgive or to calm down.

Hunt for Osama bin Laden Narrowed to Hostile, Rugged Region of Pakistan

Last 9/11 Firefighter Buried

Welcome back Jeanetta from De Fidei Oboedientia!! This is a great blog and it looks great in blue.

If I can take time out from my September 11th posts--has anyone noticed all the violence against abortion clinics after that nut in Florida was executed?? Yeah me neither.

37 Port Authority police officers were murdered on September 11th

I don't understand why this is happening: Many September 11th victims' families have not signed up for the compensation fund.

Fire Families Carrying On, Alone

NEVER FORGET

"there are about 3,051 children who lost a parent, according to a Newsday analysis last year, 2,172 of whom were 17 or younger that day."

I flew to Pittsburgh for the weekend for my niece's birthday. Security at the airport was terrible, this is the first time since September 11th that I was not "wanded" at either airport, and this time my id was not even checked at Laguardia, which is very surprising. How soon people forget!! I can understand that some of this security stuff is somewhat useless anyway but what else is being overlooked at the airport? The national borders? The Immigration Department?? At least some areas have been improved though:

Two Years After 9/11, Security Still Has a Long Way To Go

A Reminder:

The World Over Live will present the first English interview with Cardinal Ratzinger tommorrow night on EWTN. I will get out my Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club mug (Putting the Smackdown on Heresy since 1981!) and enjoy a drink while watching--I should have bought the stein!. Mugs available at The Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club, a truly great website.

For a complete list of all people murdered on September 11th go here.

Fear of New Attacks Eases, But WTC Terror Scars Remain

"For most Long Island residents, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks remain a personal tragedy that is unlikely to disappear even as the fear of another act of terror recedes, according to a poll for Newsday and NY1 News.

More than three out of every five Long Islanders knew someone who was killed – or knew their family, the survey found."

MASS OF REMEMBRANCE PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER 10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2003


On Wednesday, September 10, 2003, Bishop Murphy will celebrate a Mass at 7:30pm in St. Agnes Cathedral in remembrance of all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and for their families and friends, also remembering the heroic efforts of countless police officers, fire fighters, and emergency personnel.



I went to the Mass the Bishop celebrated last year on September 11th-my parish and several others held ecumenical services which I had no interest in attending. I will probably go to the Cathedral again this year.

An essay from a writer who informs his readers that he has decided to leave the Anglican Church and become Catholic.


I found the essay at Traditional Catholic Reflections and Reports

Another reason I love my satellite dish-Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg. Last night and tonight was a repeat of a two part show on Irving Berlin.

Jesus Christ Beyond Thunderdome

Pretty standard article from Reason magazine on that Gibson guy who actually thinks he has a right to be a film producer and a devout Catholic. There is only 1 thing that disturbs me about this article and it is this paragraph:

"Few people worry about an outburst of violent anti-Semitism in the United States. But in its own way, the attitude of some champions of "The Passion" is troubling. A few seem positively gleeful about the distress caused by the movie -- and quite in-your-face about it. 'I want to see any movie that drives the anti-Christian entertainment elite crazy,' conservative commentator Laura Ingraham has been quoted as saying."

Just what about this is troubling??????? The fact that people who have been very aware of anti-Christian bias are gleeful about seeing some of it exposed?? The fact that some people adopt an in-your-face attitude much the same way that supporters of anti-Catholic films and art do?? Perhaps this really explains the trouble with Mel Gibson, who by most accounts was not always the devout Catholic guy he has become. He is now taking his politically incorrect and unapproved faith (traditional Catholicism) and using it to make a film about Jesus, without the express written consent of the elite. I have adopted such an in-your-face attitude with this film that I intend to see it more than once, even though I will be looking down into the popcorn bucket during most of the violent scenes. The Faith on Tap group I belong to will probably get together and see it as a group, and I will be sure we adopt an in-your-face attitude. And yes, this makes me positively gleeful!

Yet another funeral for a victim of the World Trade Center attack


"A funeral for Brooklyn Firefighter Michael Ragusa will be held Sept. 8 — making him the last of the 343 firefighters killed in the World Trade Center attack to have a service in his memory."

As the anniversary of the Muslims' attack on September 11th is coming up, I would encourage everyone to go to Daniel Pipes' website. I read Mr. Pipes' column in the NY Post and he is very factual and relentless in pointing out the evil, vile, racist, and violent behavior of radical Islamists.

From the people who brought you September 11th:

Sirens Over Africa
Where there are stonings, there is jihad.

"If her appeal of this conviction is denied, she will be buried up to her chest, and the surrounding throng will throw stones at her until she is dead. The stones used must not be so small that they will inflict no damage, nor so large that they will kill her too quickly. She must die slowly and painfully in front of the crowd. "

I never saw this before but I came across it on a Marianist website

The Bible in 50 Words


God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Jacob fooled
Joseph ruled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promises landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained!
Amen.

A new feature of this blog will be the answer column. I have seen the question and answer format at many a website so I figured it might work here.

Who is Hans Kung?

I don’t know, but he has 2 funny dots in his last name that I don’t know how to post. Perhaps he is a Swedish artist or something.

May a Catholic refer to Ignatius Press as “Iggie Press”?

No they may not.

Why do so many Catholics teach dissent?

Because they are stupid.


If a Catholic school and a Lutheran school play each other in football, whose side is God on?

Whoever wins the game is obviously God’s favorite.

How many people have been declared saints by the Church?

A whole lot.

Are the Jesuits evil?

Yes, yes they are.


If I married a non-Catholic in a secular chapel, divorced and then remarried in a protestant church, and am now seeking to convert, do I have to get married again in the Catholic Church? Or can I get my marriage blessed and do I have to do this before I am received into the Church or after?

My head hurts.

Fact, Fiction And Opus Dei

"The bestselling novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’ puts the Catholic sect in the spotlight’s harsh glare. Some who have left call the group manipulative and cult-like, but adherents cast it in a soft light."

This newspaper is so bigoted you can't expect a decent article on the Catholic Church ever, for any reason. This article is not the worst I have seen however.

The sad case of Terri Schiavo brings to mind the difficult and complex area of end of life decisions. Catholic theology comes into play in many of these cases and is mentioned in one of the most famous cases –that of Karen Ann Quinlan. This is a quote from an amicus curiae filed by bioethicists (who unfortunately support abortion):

“The parties in the right to refuse treatment cases also understood the difference between refusing treatment and suicide. For example, Karen Ann Quinlan was a young woman in a persistent vegetative state, but not terminally ill. Her parents demanded that their daughter's ventilator be discontinued because they believed that is what she would have wanted. The doctors refused. The New Jersey Supreme Court, the country's first to decide a case involving withdrawal of life-sustaining medical technology (sometimes mistakenly called a "right to die" case) agreed that her wishes should be respected, and the ventilator was removed. Neither Ms. Quinlan nor her parents on her behalf, all devout Catholics, ever thought they were involved in suicide. The New Jersey Supreme Court carefully reviewed Catholic doctrine, which adamantly opposes suicide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia, but supports the right to refuse treatment. Pope Pius XII, in his Nov. 24, 1957 allocution, said that withdrawal or nonuse of mechanical ventilation . . . is not to be considered euthanasia in any way; that would never be licit. The interruption of attempts at resuscitation, even when it causes the arrest of circulation, is not more than an indirect cause of the cessation of life; and we must apply in this case the principle of double effect." 70 N.J. at 31, 355 A.2d at 658. See also Amicus Curiae brief of the Medical Society of New Jersey.”

“Similarly, in a New York case, Brother Joseph Fox, an elderly Catholic brother of the Society of Mary, said to his friend and confessor Father Philip Eichner, before surgery, words to the effect, "If I wind up like Karen Quinlan, pull the plug." In re Storar, 52 N.Y.2d 363, 420 N.E.2d 64, 438 N.Y.S. 2d 266 (1981). Since suicide is a mortal sin in the Catholic Church, it is likely that Brother Fox would have been horrified at the notion that his refusal of a ventilator when in a persistent vegetative state (the condition he actually was in after unsuccessful surgery) constituted suicide. Ethics and theology, like the law, recognize the difference between refusing treatment and suicide. “


Brother Fox and Fr. Eichner were both at Chaminade High School which I am always blabbing about. More info can be found from the NYS appeals case:

“For over 66 years Brother Joseph Fox was a member of the Society of Mary, a Catholic religious order which, among other things, operates Chaminade High School in [*371] Mineola. In 1970 Brother Fox retired to Chaminade where he resided with the religious members of the school's staff and continued to perform limited duties. In late summer of 1979 he sustained a hernia while moving some flower tubs on a roof garden at the school. He was then 83 years old and, except for the hernia, was found to be in excellent health. His doctor recommended an operation to correct the condition and Brother Fox agreed.

While the operation was being performed on October 1, 1979 he suffered cardiac arrest, with resulting loss of oxygen to the brain and substantial brain damage. He lost the ability to breathe spontaneously and was placed on a respirator which maintained him in a vegetative state. The attending physicians informed Father Philip Eichner, who was [***18] the president of Chaminade and the director of the society at the school, that there was no reasonable chance of recovery and that Brother Fox would die in that state.

After retaining two neurosurgeons who confirmed the diagnosis, Father Eichner requested the hospital to remove the respirator. The hospital, however, refused to do so without court authorization. Father Eichner then applied, pursuant to article 78 of the Mental Hygiene Law, to be appointed committee of the person and property of Brother Fox, with authority to direct removal of the respirator. The application was supported by the patient's 10 nieces and nephews, his only surviving relatives. The court appointed a guardian ad litem and directed that notice be served on various parties, including the District Attorney.

At the hearing the District Attorney opposed the application and called medical experts to show that there might be some improvement in the patient's condition. All [**68] the experts agreed, however, that there was no reasonable likelihood that Brother Fox would ever emerge from the vegetative coma or recover his cognitive powers.

There was also evidence, submitted by the petitioner, [***19] that before the operation rendered him incompetent the patient had made it known that under these circumstances he would want a respirator removed. Brother Fox had first expressed this view in 1976 when the Chaminade community discussed the moral implications of the celebrated Karen Ann Quinlan [*372] case, in which the parents of a 19-year-old New Jersey girl who was in a vegetative coma requested the hospital to remove the respirator (see Matter of Quinlan, 137 NJ Super 227, revd 70 NJ 10, cert den sub nom. Garger v New Jersey, 429 U.S. 922). These were formal discussions prompted by Chaminade's mission to teach and promulgate Catholic moral principles. At that time it was noted that the Pope had stated that Catholic principles permitted the termination of extraordinary life support systems when there is no reasonable hope for the patient's recovery and that church officials in New Jersey had concluded that use of the respirator in the Quinlan case constituted an extraordinary measure under the circumstances. Brother Fox expressed agreement with those views and stated that he would not want any of this "extraordinary business" done for him under those circumstances. [***20] Several years later, and only a couple of months before his final hospitalization, Brother Fox again stated that he would not want his life prolonged by such measures if his condition were hopeless.

In a thoughtful and comprehensive opinion, Mr. Justice Robert C. Meade at the Supreme Court held that under the circumstances Brother Fox would have a common-law right to decline treatment and that his wishes, expressed prior to becoming incompetent, should be honored. The court noted that the evidence of his stated opposition to use of a respirator to maintain him in a vegetative state was "unchallenged at every turn and unimpeachable in its sincerity."


Some notes: The District Attorney in this case is Dennis Dillon, a very publicly pro-life and devout Catholic.

The brothers and priests named their 6th-8th grade middle school at Kellenberg High School after Brother Fox.

The Brother Fox case involved a mechanical ventilator which may make it different from other cases (especially the Schiavo case).

End of Life situations are complex and I am glad that the Catholic theology involved is as well. This is one of those times when I hate to see Catholics pontificate about a situation in stark, black and white terms. As a Catholic I have no patience at all for dissent, but in these medical cases I have nothing but patience for those who must deal with the details.


More on Terri Schiavo can be found here at the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation site. The more I read on this case, the more black and white this particular case seems to be!

Around St. Blog's

There is a discussion about Catholic bookstores at Open Book. (I don't know how to link to individual posts-scroll down). In the past I have posted my idea of starting a parish library or opening a Catholic bookstore. We have many bookstores here on Long Island and they are generally orthodox-I have only seen 1 or 2 books that I did not feel should be carried. I think the discussion at Amy Welborn's blog brings up an interesting point: how to run a business as a ministry or a ministry as a business. Ono, whose blog I enjoy, owns a Catholic bookstore and opines it must be run as a business. I agree, if I were to leave my good job I would need to be able to support myself. This does not mean I would carry books that encourage dissent but I might carry a book by Andrew Greeley if people wanted it. The idea that only books by Tan or Ignatius Press will be carried is a nice one but may not be enough to pay the rent. I have seen books by large publishers that did not contain anything harmful such as Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Scientist. I don't see anything wrong with selling books that are of general interest. A seminarian recommended a bookstore in Huntington, Mariamonte to me. This store sells beautiful artwork as well as some books-almost all by Ignatius Press and Tan books. The store works! It is in a great village and fits in nicely-the art and books and design of the store are all first class. Most of the other bookstores carry much wider selections of books and make most of their money by selling Communion gifts, statues, etc... These stores can often be the contact places for many cultural Catholics who only go to Church for relatives' Communions, funerals, weddings, etc.. The store owners and workers should be evangelizers as well as salespeople. I would hope that there can be Catholic bookstores that are good businesses as well as excellent ministries.


There is a great post at Against the Grain that touches on Catholicism and capitalism, another area of interest to me. I have come to appreciate the benefits and morality of capitalism while still being very aware of problems in capitalist societies, and in the world economy. I have always found that some Catholics have an unhealthy negative view of making money and creating jobs through business. To be able to sit back and criticize while others create jobs and build businesses is a luxury. Then again, Catholics should not be cheerleaders for a system that has so many unhealthy aspects. I just don’t think that blaming businesses and capitalism for the plight of the developing world is helpful or totally accurate. This is where the Catholic influence should be strong as it was in the years when unions were becoming stronger in this country.