Ben at this is an adventure posts a nice account of Father Richard Neuhaus' wake and funeral, complete with a great picture of him enjoying his brandy and cigar. My favorite part was this:
"The church was packed to the brim and every New York Catholic of note was there, it seemed like, interspersed with people who just knew him as “Father Richard, who baptized my son or my daughter,” and had no knowledge of his other work. They seemed amazed to learn what he had achieved."
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Another police department has learned from the Marty Tankleff case:
Nassau to videotape interrogations in some cases
Nassau to videotape interrogations in some cases
Friday, January 16, 2009
Anniversary is coming:
January 18th in history:
336 - Saint Mark elected Catholic Pope
474 - Leo II briefly becomes Byzantine emperor.
1562 - Pope Pius IV reopens the Council of Trent for its third and final session.
1896 - The X-ray machine is exhibited for the first time.
1996 Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce from Michael Jackson in NY
2003 - Gen X Revert blog is started
January 18th in history:
336 - Saint Mark elected Catholic Pope
474 - Leo II briefly becomes Byzantine emperor.
1562 - Pope Pius IV reopens the Council of Trent for its third and final session.
1896 - The X-ray machine is exhibited for the first time.
1996 Lisa Marie Presley filed for divorce from Michael Jackson in NY
2003 - Gen X Revert blog is started
Thursday, January 15, 2009
From Fr. Z comes word that the long awaited report is out on the 2005-2006 visitation of all US seminaries. The visitation was one result of the public outrage over priestly molestation of young people (85% were boys). The word is that the situation in the seminaries has improved, something all of us know, but that there are still problems such as:
"an atmosphere that discourages traditional acts of Catholic piety – which begs the question as to whether the faculty’s ideas of spirituality are consonant with Church teaching and tradition.”
And:
"Other points of Church teaching, such as ordination being restricted to men alone, are also questioned. Such a lack of sentire cum Ecclesia is often not overt, but the students receive the message clearly nevertheless. In a few seminaries, and particularly in some some schools of theology run by religious, dissent is widespread.”
Both of these statements should not surprise Catholics who have followed Church stuff over the past couple of decades. The good thing is that as the situation improves, the increase in vocations can be seen, which then has the effect of encouraging more vocations. Fidelity to Church teachings means growth and success, heterodoxy means decline and death. This simple lesson was lost on many over the past 25 years, and even today there are those who dispute it.
"an atmosphere that discourages traditional acts of Catholic piety – which begs the question as to whether the faculty’s ideas of spirituality are consonant with Church teaching and tradition.”
And:
"Other points of Church teaching, such as ordination being restricted to men alone, are also questioned. Such a lack of sentire cum Ecclesia is often not overt, but the students receive the message clearly nevertheless. In a few seminaries, and particularly in some some schools of theology run by religious, dissent is widespread.”
Both of these statements should not surprise Catholics who have followed Church stuff over the past couple of decades. The good thing is that as the situation improves, the increase in vocations can be seen, which then has the effect of encouraging more vocations. Fidelity to Church teachings means growth and success, heterodoxy means decline and death. This simple lesson was lost on many over the past 25 years, and even today there are those who dispute it.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Bernard Madoff still free, outraging alleged victims
"A federal judge is refusing to revoke Bernard Madoff’s bail and send the accused Wall Street swindler to jail - angering many of the man’s alleged victims.
“People are outraged because they see Bernie Madoff as the economic equivalent of Adolf Hitler,” said Boston lawyer David Apfel, who represents some of those who lost money in Madoff’s alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
New York attorney Stephen Weiss, who also represents Madoff investors, said he sees “a thirst for blood. . . . There is a feeling (that) folks like Bernard Madoff get a different brand of justice than the guy in the street.”
"A federal judge is refusing to revoke Bernard Madoff’s bail and send the accused Wall Street swindler to jail - angering many of the man’s alleged victims.
“People are outraged because they see Bernie Madoff as the economic equivalent of Adolf Hitler,” said Boston lawyer David Apfel, who represents some of those who lost money in Madoff’s alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
New York attorney Stephen Weiss, who also represents Madoff investors, said he sees “a thirst for blood. . . . There is a feeling (that) folks like Bernard Madoff get a different brand of justice than the guy in the street.”
Feds probe Suffolk hate crimes
"The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday that three federal agencies have formally opened a joint investigation into what critics contend were hate crimes against Suffolk County Latinos that never were investigated or were mishandled by police.
The Justice Department's civil rights division, the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District have started the inquiry, said Scot Montrey, a spokesman for the Justice Department's civil rights division."
Better late than never I guess. Now if the feds would get involved with the Marty Tankleff case, maybe Suffolk County would start to become something more than a joke.
"The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday that three federal agencies have formally opened a joint investigation into what critics contend were hate crimes against Suffolk County Latinos that never were investigated or were mishandled by police.
The Justice Department's civil rights division, the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District have started the inquiry, said Scot Montrey, a spokesman for the Justice Department's civil rights division."
Better late than never I guess. Now if the feds would get involved with the Marty Tankleff case, maybe Suffolk County would start to become something more than a joke.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Fr. Z asks: How Large is the 'fallen away Catholic' denomination?
The comments section has some interesting thoughts on why people fall away from the Catholic Church, an area of interest of mine. I will list some of the things mentioned there:
the Church's 'rules' on divorce and re-marriage
Touchy-feely watered down liturgy, with touchy-feely false teaching got us into this mess
Poor liturgy, apathetic laity, priests that don’t understand their own ordained powers, poor formation, the constant battering of the liberal media, political correctness, even fear of being open about our beloved Faith
sense of sin has evaporated, nothing matters, ‘everybody is right, you are a good person, I’m a good person’
It wasn’t apathy or the lure of the outside world that drove us away from the Church, it was the behavior and the attitude of the clergy and the religious themselves.
The #1 reason may be the overwhelming sense that God is missing in the life of most parishes/Catholic schools.
Lack of attention to transcendence
The comments section has some good thoughts on how to get people to return, some of which may be right or wrong, but the important thing is that Catholics (especially priests) make the attempt. I think the cleansing of the priesthood that really began in 2002 and hopefully is continuing, will help, as well as the reforming of seminaries. The religious communities that are faithful also can inspire Catholics to deepen their faith and practice. Although many people still try to deny it, orthodox thinking, preaching and living is what attracts people and there is plenty of proof of this for those who have ears and eyes.
And to answer the original post's question, inactive or 'former' Catholics make up the second largest 'denomination' in the USA, right behind Catholics.
The comments section has some interesting thoughts on why people fall away from the Catholic Church, an area of interest of mine. I will list some of the things mentioned there:
the Church's 'rules' on divorce and re-marriage
Touchy-feely watered down liturgy, with touchy-feely false teaching got us into this mess
Poor liturgy, apathetic laity, priests that don’t understand their own ordained powers, poor formation, the constant battering of the liberal media, political correctness, even fear of being open about our beloved Faith
sense of sin has evaporated, nothing matters, ‘everybody is right, you are a good person, I’m a good person’
It wasn’t apathy or the lure of the outside world that drove us away from the Church, it was the behavior and the attitude of the clergy and the religious themselves.
The #1 reason may be the overwhelming sense that God is missing in the life of most parishes/Catholic schools.
Lack of attention to transcendence
The comments section has some good thoughts on how to get people to return, some of which may be right or wrong, but the important thing is that Catholics (especially priests) make the attempt. I think the cleansing of the priesthood that really began in 2002 and hopefully is continuing, will help, as well as the reforming of seminaries. The religious communities that are faithful also can inspire Catholics to deepen their faith and practice. Although many people still try to deny it, orthodox thinking, preaching and living is what attracts people and there is plenty of proof of this for those who have ears and eyes.
And to answer the original post's question, inactive or 'former' Catholics make up the second largest 'denomination' in the USA, right behind Catholics.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
5 Somali pirates drown with ransom money
"MOGADISHU, Somalia - Five of the Somali pirates who released a hijacked oil-laden Saudi supertanker drowned with their share of a reported $3 million ransom after their small boat capsized, a pirate and port town resident said Saturday."
There has to be a lesson in there somewhere......
"MOGADISHU, Somalia - Five of the Somali pirates who released a hijacked oil-laden Saudi supertanker drowned with their share of a reported $3 million ransom after their small boat capsized, a pirate and port town resident said Saturday."
There has to be a lesson in there somewhere......
Friday, January 09, 2009
Cops: Waiter fired for playing Arabic tape at Jewish wedding
"A waiter at a Jewish wedding who is considering converting to Islam interrupted the celebration's final prayers with recorded Arabic chants of "God is great," sparking fear among the 700 guests of a terrorist attack, Nassau County police said Friday.
Stephen Buttafuoco, who police say was fired "on the spot" from the catering service at the Woodbury Jewish Center, had attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan opposing the Israeli campaign last weekend, where he made the recording on his cell phone."
The wedding guests early Jan. 4 couldn't at first decipher the angry-sounding chants blaring over the public address system shortly after 1 a.m. But when they heard "Allahu akbar" -- Arabic for "God is great" -- the guests became worried.
Of course, after doing something stupid like this, the man had to set the record straight:
"Police said Buttafuoco told detectives that he is not related to Joey Buttafuoco, the man involved in a notorious love triangle in the 1990s with Amy Fisher."
"A waiter at a Jewish wedding who is considering converting to Islam interrupted the celebration's final prayers with recorded Arabic chants of "God is great," sparking fear among the 700 guests of a terrorist attack, Nassau County police said Friday.
Stephen Buttafuoco, who police say was fired "on the spot" from the catering service at the Woodbury Jewish Center, had attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan opposing the Israeli campaign last weekend, where he made the recording on his cell phone."
The wedding guests early Jan. 4 couldn't at first decipher the angry-sounding chants blaring over the public address system shortly after 1 a.m. But when they heard "Allahu akbar" -- Arabic for "God is great" -- the guests became worried.
Of course, after doing something stupid like this, the man had to set the record straight:
"Police said Buttafuoco told detectives that he is not related to Joey Buttafuoco, the man involved in a notorious love triangle in the 1990s with Amy Fisher."
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Fr. Richard Neuhaus, R. I. P
Prayers go out for the former Lutheran pastor, Catholic convert, founder of First Things and the Institute On Religion And Public Life, conservative intellectual, author and Catholic priest who essentially was considered by many to be the godfather of Catholic blogging via his column "The Public Square".
Prayers go out for the former Lutheran pastor, Catholic convert, founder of First Things and the Institute On Religion And Public Life, conservative intellectual, author and Catholic priest who essentially was considered by many to be the godfather of Catholic blogging via his column "The Public Square".
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Drunk Driving
Tonight 60 Minutes ran their story on Nassau D.A. Kathleen Rice's campaign for harsher sentences for drunk drivers who kill people. The story revolved around the horrible wedding day crash that killed a limo driver (Stanley Rabinowitz) and an 7 year old flower girl (Katie Flynn). The drunk driver, Martin Heidgen received 18 years to life. During the broadcast, a detail was mentioned by Katie Flynn's father that I forgot about: Flynn's father, who was also severly injured in the accident, received last rites by Msgr. Costello, a priest who later would be killed by a drunk driver.
Tonight 60 Minutes ran their story on Nassau D.A. Kathleen Rice's campaign for harsher sentences for drunk drivers who kill people. The story revolved around the horrible wedding day crash that killed a limo driver (Stanley Rabinowitz) and an 7 year old flower girl (Katie Flynn). The drunk driver, Martin Heidgen received 18 years to life. During the broadcast, a detail was mentioned by Katie Flynn's father that I forgot about: Flynn's father, who was also severly injured in the accident, received last rites by Msgr. Costello, a priest who later would be killed by a drunk driver.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Another Revert speaks:
"But my story, because it is a return, requires a departure. And that departure, to be candid, does not speak well of the early post-Vatican II American Church. That Church was littered with dioceses, parishes, and schools that did not adequately catechize their young people with a clear and defensible presentation of the Catholic faith. Things, of course, have changed, and swaths of the American Church seem to be ridding themselves of the vestiges of that unfortunate era. The inspiring pontificates of John Paul II (1978–2005) and Benedict XVI (2005– ) have resulted in a new evangelism within the Catholic Church, especially in the United States. Those entering the priesthood seem more serious and theologically orthodox than the priests I remember from the late 1960s and 1970s."
This is an excerpt from the introduction to Return to Rome Confessions of An Evangelical Catholic by Francis Beckworth. Beckworth was the President of the Evangelical Theological Society and his reversion made some news.
"But my story, because it is a return, requires a departure. And that departure, to be candid, does not speak well of the early post-Vatican II American Church. That Church was littered with dioceses, parishes, and schools that did not adequately catechize their young people with a clear and defensible presentation of the Catholic faith. Things, of course, have changed, and swaths of the American Church seem to be ridding themselves of the vestiges of that unfortunate era. The inspiring pontificates of John Paul II (1978–2005) and Benedict XVI (2005– ) have resulted in a new evangelism within the Catholic Church, especially in the United States. Those entering the priesthood seem more serious and theologically orthodox than the priests I remember from the late 1960s and 1970s."
This is an excerpt from the introduction to Return to Rome Confessions of An Evangelical Catholic by Francis Beckworth. Beckworth was the President of the Evangelical Theological Society and his reversion made some news.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A Criminal Injustice
This new book is about the fight to free Marty Tankleff from jail over 17 years and the attempt to bring to justice the people who murdered his parents. For the interesting and infuriating details of the Tankleff case, see Marty Tankleff's website.
This new book is about the fight to free Marty Tankleff from jail over 17 years and the attempt to bring to justice the people who murdered his parents. For the interesting and infuriating details of the Tankleff case, see Marty Tankleff's website.
Presidential Pardons
President Bush pardoned and then revoked the pardon of con man Isaac Toussie. Whether Toussie's father's sudden donations to the Republican party sealed the deal, or the president did not really know the extent of his crimes involving poor people, it was obvious that the pardon was a major goof. Some have been reminded of President Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich which outraged even Clinton supporters. It would be good for more discussions on the need for pardons to be given out as acts of mercy for those who could use some mercy. This would be a much better use of this power than giving last minute, lame duck pardons of those who have strong lobbies pushing for them, or those who are wealthy or politically connected. Pardons, if used correctly, could assist justice, not work against it.
Donald DeMarco on the Relationship Between Mercy and Justice
"King Frederick William I (1688–1740). This German king once visited a prison where he listened intently to a number of pleas for pardon from prisoners who claimed to be victims of injustice. All swore they had suffered imprisonment on account of prejudiced judges, perjured witnesses, and unscrupulous lawyers. From cell to cell, allegations of wronged innocence and false imprisonment continued until the king came to the door of a cell occupied by a surly inmate who said nothing.
Surprised at his silence, Frederick remarked, somewhat sarcastically, “Well I suppose you are innocent too.” “No, your Majesty,” came the startling response. “I am guilty and richly deserve all that I get.” “Here, turnkey,” thundered Frederick, “come and get rid of this rascal quick, before he corrupts this fine lot of innocent people that you are responsible for.”
"Mercy must honor justice. It can be dispensed rightly only when the validity of justice is acknowledged. Similarly, forgiveness can be granted only when a transgression is acknowledged.
Mercy “does not destroy justice,” as Aquinas noted, “but is a certain kind of fulfillment of justice.” “Mercy without justice, he added, “is the mother of dissolution.”
President Bush pardoned and then revoked the pardon of con man Isaac Toussie. Whether Toussie's father's sudden donations to the Republican party sealed the deal, or the president did not really know the extent of his crimes involving poor people, it was obvious that the pardon was a major goof. Some have been reminded of President Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich which outraged even Clinton supporters. It would be good for more discussions on the need for pardons to be given out as acts of mercy for those who could use some mercy. This would be a much better use of this power than giving last minute, lame duck pardons of those who have strong lobbies pushing for them, or those who are wealthy or politically connected. Pardons, if used correctly, could assist justice, not work against it.
Donald DeMarco on the Relationship Between Mercy and Justice
"King Frederick William I (1688–1740). This German king once visited a prison where he listened intently to a number of pleas for pardon from prisoners who claimed to be victims of injustice. All swore they had suffered imprisonment on account of prejudiced judges, perjured witnesses, and unscrupulous lawyers. From cell to cell, allegations of wronged innocence and false imprisonment continued until the king came to the door of a cell occupied by a surly inmate who said nothing.
Surprised at his silence, Frederick remarked, somewhat sarcastically, “Well I suppose you are innocent too.” “No, your Majesty,” came the startling response. “I am guilty and richly deserve all that I get.” “Here, turnkey,” thundered Frederick, “come and get rid of this rascal quick, before he corrupts this fine lot of innocent people that you are responsible for.”
"Mercy must honor justice. It can be dispensed rightly only when the validity of justice is acknowledged. Similarly, forgiveness can be granted only when a transgression is acknowledged.
Mercy “does not destroy justice,” as Aquinas noted, “but is a certain kind of fulfillment of justice.” “Mercy without justice, he added, “is the mother of dissolution.”
Sunday, December 28, 2008
I just got home from dinner where we had heard a thud and felt a vibration, followed by many fire trucks speeding down a street. Apparently this is what happened -
Officials: Gas explosion levels Amityville house
Prayers go out in case anyone was home.....
UPDATE: I just saw on the 10 PM news that the family smelled gas and got out of the home before it blew up!
Officials: Gas explosion levels Amityville house
Prayers go out in case anyone was home.....
UPDATE: I just saw on the 10 PM news that the family smelled gas and got out of the home before it blew up!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Gregory Shemitz, whose photos often appear in the Long Island Catholic, notified me that his website has just been redesigned. The site looks very sharp and contains slideshows including the Funeral Mass for Cardinal Dulles and the recent ordination of transitional deacons. Check it out!
2008
Although we are in the Season of Advent and the Christmas Season is approaching, the end of the calendar year is coming up so it is time to look back at 2008 in the Diocese of Rockville Centre:
Ordinations
There were 26 men ordained in the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 2008 as follows:
Nine men ordained to diocesan priesthood June 14
13 men ordained to permanent diaconate
4 men ordained transitional deacons
Catholic schools
St. Joseph's in Brentwood - it was announced this school is closing due to low enrollment
St. Anthony's in Huntington - the school opened its new chapel featuring a traditional style
St. Pius X in Uniondale - The Diocese seems to be getting ready to sell off this property although there has not been an official announcement. This school closed in 1983 but the building was being used to house retired priests, a health care clinic and was the site of the weekly traditional latin Mass.
Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington - Archbishop Demetrios, patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in the U.S. spoke on St. Paul for the Pauline Year at the sixth annual Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua Lecture on Pastoral Theology
Voice of the Faithful
A Long Islander became the national head of the organization, which makes less and less news as it focuses even more on the same tired old ideas already done to death by Future Church and Call To Action. VOTF Long Island held their annual convention and it did not even register a blip on anyone's radar.
Diocese HQ
The Diocese created a Pastoral Council
Bishop Murphy issued a pastoral letter 'Do This In Memory Of Me' in which he called for an end to weekday communion services held in place of Mass.
Of interest to Catholics on Long Island:
Catholics in New York 1808 - 1946 Exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York ran from May to December
The murder of Marcello Lucero made international news and put the spotlight once again on Long Island's treatment of the (mostly Catholic) Latino immigrant community.
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