Cardinal points to use of prayer

What oh what is one to think of Cardinal Keith O'Brien? Before becoming a Cardinal, he deviated from church teaching on issues of sex. Yet once he's Cardinalized, he makes bold statemnts like the re-christianization of Scotland
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48 German Catholics send warning to Pope (parody)

Forty-eight Roman Catholic politicians have warned in a letter to Pope Pius XII that the Catholic Church will revive anti-Catholic bigotry and severely harm the church if they deny Communion to politicians who support the extermination of Jews.

The letter's signers, all Nazis, include at least three politicians with strong anti-extermination voting records.

"For many years Catholics were denied public office by voters who feared that they would take direction from the Pope," they wrote. ". . . While that type of paranoid anti-Catholicism seems to be a thing of the past, attempts by Church leaders today to influence votes by the threat of withholding a sacrament will revive latent anti-Catholic prejudice, which so many of us have worked so hard to overcome."

The three-page letter, dated May 10, was sent to Pius XII because he is considering whether, and how, the church should take action against Catholic politicians whose public positions are at odds with Catholic doctrine.

Political furor

A handful of the nation's Catholic bishops have caused a political furor this year by threatening to withhold the Eucharist, which Catholics believe is the body and blood of Christ, from Catholic officials who support the extermination of Jews.

In their letter, the Nazi House members said they "firmly believe that it would be wrong for a bishop to deny the sacrament of Holy Communion to an individual on the basis of a voting record. We believe that such an action would be counter-productive and would bring great harm to the church."

Noting that the German Courts have ruled that Jews do not have the same rights as ethnic Germans, they said that members of Congress "who vote for legislation consistent with that mandate are not acting contrary to our positions as faithful members of the Catholic Church. We also do not believe that it is the obligation of legislators to prohibit all conduct which we may, as a matter of personal morality, believe is wrong."

'Undermining the church'

The letter questioned how the bishops could limit the denial of Communion to Jews in concentration camps, noting that Pope Pius XII and many German bishops have condemned communism. "All of us firmly believe that we can be good Congresspersons and Catholics and we respectfully submit that, while sometimes difficult, each of us has the responsibility and the right to balance public morality with private morality without pressure from certain bishops," the letter said.

One of the signers with a solidly pro-Jewish voting record, Rep. Hans Vogel (Bavaria), said in an interview that bishops "are making these statements thinking they're undermining the candidacy of Adolf Hitler, when what they're really undermining is the Catholic church."

Vogel added that he has been surprised by the partisanship of some bishops.

"I've had some threaten not to give Communion to me, even though they don't know my position, just because I'm a Nazi," he said. "I've had cardinals refuse to shake my hand because I'm a Nazi, and then somebody whispers to them that, 'No, no, he's a good guy.' "

Another anti-genocidal legislator, Rep. Heinrich R. Ulrichs (Berlin), said that "while I agree with [the bishops] on the Jewish issue, I don't agree with them on denying Communion to those who in good conscience have come to a different position. . . . These are complicated, emotional issues that each of us has wrestled with, and it's not helpful for the church to be punitive or to approach these issues in this heavy-handed way."

The communion controversy, or 'almost beside the point'

The rot in the church:

'I’m speaking as a parish priest who once had a couple – a faithful, Mass-every-Sunday couple, kids-in-CCD couple – suggest to me that my Trinity Sunday homily might have confused the children because "it almost sounded as though you were saying that Jesus is God." I understood immediately where they were coming from, as we were exactly the same age. We made out first Communions in May of 1967. We were the first class never to have seen the Catechism; we got large, outsized books with bright colored pictures and almost no text instead. These folks had never been taught the Faith; it was a minor miracle that they were at Mass at all. But they hadn’t the vaguest idea what the Creed meant, or the Incarnation, or the Trinity. And that was at least partly because of what the Church had failed to teach them.

'Or there was the couple who came up to me after Mass on my first Sunday in my current parish, seeking a blessing. They were beginning treatments in a fertility clinic to produce a child, using a procedure which was clearly immoral.

'Or the couple who had been counseled into a ‘selective termination’ by a priest; the wife had conceived twins, the doctor said that one twin was in trouble and, if he were aborted, the other would be healthier. They came seeking the priest’s advice; he told them that whatever they did, God would be with them…

'Oh, I could multiply such stories almost infinitely, but to what purpose? It is obvious that something is wrong, seriously wrong. It is the birthright of a Catholic to be born into the Family of God, to be raised in the Faith, to be formed by the Gospel and the Catholic Tradition. A Catholic should be able, throughout his life, to assist at the sacred Liturgy celebrated according to the mind of the Church, the feasts and fasts and sounds and scents of which shape and form the very soul. He should have learned the stories of the Lord Jesus and the teachings of the Church.

'It is a shameful situation that so many have been robbed of this birthright; but it is true. Gallup established that even with regard to a central doctrine such as the Eucharist, only a third of MASS-ATTENDING Catholics could identify the Catholic teaching when it was set before them. And Mass-attending Catholics are harder to come by nowadays; after a drop of more than sixty percent over thirty years, Mass attendance stands at some 18%. '

Sex in Our Cities

Someone send this to Jessica Pivik and any airhead chick who wants to be "smart and sassy" like Sarah Jessica Parker.

"In the make-believe world of Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones, bed-hopping and partner-switching are a glamorous, if exhausting, enterprise. Sex is a game, men are playthings, and women achieve liberation by acting as ruthlessly detached as men can be in their pursuit of pleasure.

"The Chicago study paints a considerably grimmer picture of sex in our cities. The study, which is part of the Chicago Health and Social Life Survey published this spring in book form, includes data from interviews with more than 2,000 Chicago residents ages 18 to 59, as well as clergy, police officers, and social workers. The researchers closely examined city neighborhoods with predominantly black, Hispanic, and gay populations between 1995 and 1997. Their findings are not pretty. "

How un-pretty? Dig this:

"Consider the situation in the African-American community that the researchers dubbed "Southtown," where marriage rates are low, women outnumber men, and polygamy is the norm. According to the Boston Globe, Edward Laumann, the author of the study, said Southtown's "ratio of marriageable men to women...has gone to hell in a go-cart over the last 20 years." More than one in five Southtown men reported that they planned to maintain ongoing sexual relationships with two different women for the next few months, as compared to only one in 20 other survey respondents.

"As the Globe reported, Laumann blamed economic problems for the high rates of two-timing in Southtown, where a large number of women must compete for the attention of a small number of financially stable men. ... It's too bad that, unlike HBO's starlets, the real-life women who have adopted such cavalier attitudes about casual sex cannot walk off the set after six years and into a syndicated sunset. Instead, they must linger in the purgatory of one-night stands and conditional commitments, long after the glamour of sexual liberation has faded into black. "

Not exactly breezy and lighthearted.

Surf's up for Hawaii high schools

Surfing is now a recognized sport in Hawaii schools. How cool is that?!

Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary gets Cannes glory

I'm inclined to groan about this, but I haven't seen the movie so I'll pass on judgment...for now. I may pass on the movie altogether because I don't subscribe to Moore's point of view, and I don't believe the rumors upon which this film is supposedly based.

"Moore said Tarantino whispered to him on stage, telling him: 'We want you to know that the politics of your film had nothing to do with this award, we are not here to give a political award, on this jury we have different politics and some of us have no politics -- you were given this award because you made a great film.'"

Notice he said nothing about the film being truthful.

The part about politics seems like crap. Do I believe Tarantino? Yes, I believe he probably told the truth as he saw it. Do I believe Tarantino is the apolitical one? Yes, I believe he is the least political of any of the judges. Do I believe that bias was absent fromthe process? Not on your life. The water in France has traces of politics, and Hollywood folks are brainwashed to be against the conservative bogey man.

New theory addresses how the sun was born

A new theory says the sun emrged from an "EGG". What does that make us - chickenshit?!

Seriously, these learned men are working dilligently attempting to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Bravo to them - knowledge is an inherently good thing, and theorizing is the intellectual equivalent of "riffing" (those who know me are aware of riffing being a pet phrase of mine.)

Those who are introspective - myself included - continue to wonder about the nature of human existence. What on Earth are we here for? Admittedly, no mega-selling book (sorry Rick Warren) or the best sermon from the most charismatic and learned preacher can fully quench the questioning. Deep down, they have no idea why we were placed here and how we fit in the puzzle of life.

There it is, my admission. I will never stop wondering, pondering, and questioning. And that's okay. Life itself is a journey that may or may not lead to the truth being revealed. Faith and conviction are largely comforting and momentarily satisfying like water to a parched throat.

A cynic would say we are alone, nothing but maggot-feed in waiting. Yet I know that now is real and that there's a moment after now that I am on my way towards. I cannot imagine not being in the "now" even though there was a time that I didn't exist. Drawuing this to its logical conclusion, how far are the boundaries of our existence? One we exist, do we ever cease to be? (If I start thinking about forever and the concept of an infinite existence, my brain begins to swell and ache.) Ultimately, such thought is self-centered and time consuming (much like this blog, sorry to say). Better to focus on the task at hand, which is entertaining the peoplevia both this site and the airwaves of WDGL-FM. (Multitasking is a wonderful thang.)

Could God create a people who are always wondering, always uncertain of their purpose? I believe he could. If the sun came from an egg, than anything is possible.

Thanks Easter Bunny...bock bock!

As Cos tells it, we ain't learnt nothin' yet

Who doesn't love Cos, even when he's mad? It's like TV dad shaking his finger at everybody. "Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. ... You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth!"

This is a lesson that everyone should heed, no matter where their position on the socio-economic scale may fall. The more you refine your communication skills, the greater the advantage you will have in the workplace. Or as Roger Ailes says, YOU are the message.

Some will say that these comments are funny coming from the man who unleashed "Hikky-Burr", the theme to the Bill Cosby Show (ooh lawd!) on the world. Of course, the man does have a Ph.d. in Education from Boston University so he does speak with some authority. He's also a successful black man shooting straight: unless you seek the betterment of yourself lead a troubled life that is corrosive to society and your soul. His son Ennis died at the hands of thugs and Cosby's lingering rage is both justified and, in this instance, instructive.

Cosby understands if the economically-underprivileged in America are to succeed, the glorification of the thug will have to be cast off (that may come as a shock to lotsa white trash who think Marshall Mathers is da bomb, but I digress.) He's very much cognizant that he's damn well the most successful black man in the history of show business and his words mean things, especially to the rapidly emerging black middle class. They've bought in to the vision of a successful black family a-la Cliff and Clair Huxtable from his 1980's sitcom. Like Cos, these newly affluent black parents don't want their kids slipping into darkness and despair. They're quietly nodding their approval to his comments.

Miller: Finger-pointing, Apologies Over Prisoner Treatment Only Boost Enemy

Once again, Zell Miller proves why he is beloved in the great state of Georgia with his common sense: "I Refuse to Join In National Act of Contrition". Here's more, lap it up:

“Those who are wringing their hands and shouting so loudly for “heads to roll” over this seem to have conveniently overlooked the fact that someone’s head HAS rolled - that of another innocent American brutally murdered by terrorists.

“Why is it? Why is it that there’s more indignation over a photo of a prisoner with underwear on his head than over the video of a young American with no head at all? Why is it that some in this country still don’t get that we are at war? A war against terrorists who are plotting to kill us every day. Terrorists who will murder Americans at any time any place any chance they get.

“And yet here we are, America on its knees, in front of our enemy, begging for their forgiveness over the mistreatment of prisoners. Showing the enemy and the world once again how easily America can get sidetracked and how easily America can turn against itself.”

California to Ban Teens From Tanning Booths

Is there NOTHING the left doesn't seek to control?

"'If this bill passes it proves there's no part of somebody's life this Legislature won't stick its nose into,' said GOP Assemblyman Ray Haynes."

Wail on, Brother Haynes.

48 Catholic congressmen warn bishops on bigotry

"Forty-eight Roman Catholic members of Congress have warned in a letter to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C., that US bishops will revive anti-Catholic bigotry and severely harm the church if they deny Communion to politicians who support abortion rights."

How DARE they?! Politicians are playing hardball with the Church. Undoubtedly, a new low in American politics.

Liberalism is a religion and its supposed higher purpose trumps even the authority of God's pilgrim Church on Earth, Those who espouse the liberal philosophy know better than we wee idiots, so therefore it is necessary to caution the Bishops...after all, they don't know any better.

Forgive them Father, they know not what they do.

Frist's son stopped for alleged DUI in Princeton

I said this when Al Gore's son was arrested: leave these kids alone.

Kerry Settles On Campaign Theme, 'Let America Be America Again'

What the hell does that mean?! This is the best they could do?

Fidel Castro can live to 140, doctor says

...but this doctor won't live 14 seconds if he were to state anything slightly to the contrary.

More Than 1,000 Gay Couples Seek Licenses

An historic event. They'll be able to pass on pictures and memories to their children.... oh, wait, I forgot, never mind!

Tests Confirm Sarin in Iraqi Artillery Shell

Ladies and gentlemen, here they are, front and center, WMDs you've heard about.

Bush renominates Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve

A wise move. No need to give John Kerry an issue. The Dems aren't stupid enough to criticize a move that Bill Clinton himself made twice...or are they?!

Four arrested over beheading of US businessman in Iraq

GET 'EM!

Tony Randall Dies at 84

How many people's days are ruined by this news? Tony Randall is one of everybody's favorites, one of those stalwart presences on TV and in movies that has always seemed to be there. He was so active for so long, just last year playing opposite Ewan MacGregor and Renee Zellweger in Down With Love, an homage to the kind of movies he made with Rock Hudson and Doris Day way back when. He has the distinction of appearing on countless hours of game shows as a celebrity guest Hollywood Squares, Pyramid, What's My Line, you name it. He was always good for a laugh on Carson or Letterman.

Sad.

'Lesbian' Tatu star pregnant

"Julia Volkova, 19, is expecting a baby in September with her married lover Pasha Sidorov."

Wait a minute...a pop singer from Russia who is eighteen years old, performs in a Catholic schoolgirl uniform and purports to be a lesbian is now pregnant with her "lov-ah" who also happens to be married, only not to her. In one fell swoop. the image of the act is destroyed, the possibility of touring revenue is squashed, and someone's marriage is kaput. Who knew sex could be so destructive?

Endangering the Tax Exemption

The Church begins using it's moral authority to instruct the faithful on voting for candidates. You can bet that the ACLU and the libs will try to strip it of its tax exempt status for doing so. For years, the Church has steadfastly avoided getting in the middle of anything political, but with the number of pro-choice lawmakers identifying themselves as "Catholic" it could remain silent no more. It's a risk worth taking.

Why now, in the shadow of scandal and so close to an election? Didn't the Bishops know that such a strong stance would expose the Church to great scrutiny and opposition? Perhaps Il Papa had laid down the law. Perhaps the shock of the recent scandals shocked the good priests back to life and into action. Whatever the reason, the Holy Spirit works mysteriously. Realize that these actions will be greeted with howls of protest and will be responded to by liberals doing what they do best - filing lawsuits targeting whom they don't like.

Can't forget the Motor City

I know this show is still on the air, but until Smokey Robinson took the statge, the program was nothing short of excruciaing.

Hearing Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong sing lyrics that Diana Ross made famous was underwhelming. That's Honors English for "these old broads suck." Nick Lachey, Raven, and a chick from American Idol did nothing to illuminate the material they were charged with interpreting. Even the normally-stellar Joss Stone tried to funk up "I Second That Emotion" and fell flat.

The old-timers are proving equally disappointing. I mean who would pay to hear The Four Tops without Levi Stubbs? Yes, poor Levi has had a stroke but his youngish replacement flubbed the medley, mixing up lyrics from "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Standing In The Shadows of Love". Were there no rehearsals?

As for Smokey Robinson, the man remains ageless. His falsetto voice is still as smooth as silk and he looked twenty years younger than his 60+ years. And Gladys Knight, my lawd, the woman ruled the room.

The Temptations are on right now, and I know what to expect as all the original members save Otis Williams have passed on. Otis remains the mack, though. And dig this: he's brought aboard G.C. Cameron from the Spinners as lead (that's him singing "It's A Shame" and who had a solo smash with the original "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday). Cameron is a powerhouse and can sing the hits of David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards with ease, as his own vocals seem to be a blend of the two. The guys can still move!

At least we still have the orginal singles.

NR Editors on Gay Marriage on National Review Online

"We support an amendment for two basic reasons: We oppose both judicial lawlessness and same-sex marriage. Many conservatives seem tongue-tied on both points at the moment. It is sometimes supposed that opposition to same-sex marriage is legitimate only if it can be shown that it would have negative consequences that social scientists can measure: if it would reduce rates of marital stability, or by some chain of causes prove bad for children. We do not doubt that same-sex marriage would have substantial negative social consequences. But these consequences would derive from a more fundamental moral flaw. The law would now be teaching that marriage is not what it is, and is what it is not; it would be teaching that same-sex relationships have the same moral status, and should have the same social status, as marriages.

"Marriage would not exist in the first place if the conceiving of children were not a regular consequence of heterosexual sex, and it would not have any legal importance if the law were held to have no role in shaping a society's morality. Marriage regulates and ennobles the natural truth of heterosexual coupling, making that coupling the biological foundation of a complete sharing of life. Our culture and law have moved away from this idea of marriage in many ways, but not entirely. We do not need legal changes that move marriage, and thus society, even further away from an orientation toward the rearing of children by their parents.

"One common confusion can be dispelled here. We are not saying that we oppose same-sex marriage because homosexuality is immoral. It's more the other way around. An adverse judgment of homosexuality rests on the prior judgments that sex properly belongs to marriage and that homosexual unions cannot be marriages."

"...The law makes no inquiries into sexual desire: A gay man and a lesbian can get married in any state, if they so choose. The question here is one of definition, not eligibility."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Lavigne blames carbs for her angry lyrics

Okay, I'm a believer in the whole low carb thing but even I think it's a bit much for a young woman with raging hormones and menstruation to blame her "nyah! Canada!" demeanor on a 25-cent pack of twinkies.

Cannes screening for most sexually explicit British film

"The grunt and huff-and-puff factor in the film is notably high."

Aside from that senetence being the most witty turn-of-phrase I've read in quite some time, the content of the film profiled in the article is, ahem, quite appealing to the prurient interest.

"The most sexually explicit film in the history of mainstream British cinema, containing unsimulated sex scenes including fellatio, ejaculation and cunnilingus, many in close-up, yesterday had its first screening at Cannes. Michael Winterbottom, the Lancashire-born director of Nine Songs, a love story, said: "I had been thinking for a while about the fact that most cinematic love stories miss out on the physical relationship, and if it is indicated at all everyone knows it is fake.'"

I'll say. Ever seen the Friday night lineup on Skinemax? They're great for a laugh, like the time a couple was playing rough in their living room and the guy rolls over to reveal a sock firmly affixed to his vital parts. That's old timey contraception in action. But I digress...

"The sex scenes, which occupy more than half of the film, are intercut with scenes of bands playing, including Franz Ferdinand, the Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Super Furry Animals."

Oh how artsy. Where's the remote (fast forward through band #1...stop on sex scene...grunt/slap, etc...fast forward through band scene #2...)

"Of the fellatio-and-ejaculation scene, the one likely to give the censors most pause, he said: 'We can always take that out.'"

In other words, you can always pull out if it's getting too intense.

"Derek Malcolm, the Guardian's veteran film writer, said: 'Nine Songs looks like a porn movie, but it feels like a love story.'"

Trust me, to a 14-year old kid at home alone sneaking a DVD peek, it's gonna feel like a porn movie.

"The sex is used as a metaphor for the rest of the couple's relationship."

Notice he neglects to say what exactly is that metaphor. Can you imagine someone saying "our relationship is like good sex..." Boy, what depth. Nice to know in this post-Sex and The City world that sexual thinking has reached such a high plateau.

Dylan Klebold led life of religious contradictions

For the record, Klebold's upbringing must have been spiritually vague. In a supreme irony, Mrs. Klebold is Jewish yet the family is supposedly laxed Lutheran. Whatever.

Klebolds Say They Don't Need Forgiveness

I agree with the headline, but not the spirit of the Klebolds' comments. Before they can obtain forgiveness, they must display a heapin' helpin' of contrition, which is absent from their comments.

First and foremost, the long history and tradition of western civilization mandates parental responsibility over minor children until age of majority. The Klebolds simply reject this and give no reason except ignorance. Talk about denial.

More of the same:

"The Klebolds said their son was set off by the 'toxic culture' of the school, where athletes were worshipped and bullying was tolerated."

Rubbish. If they didn't know how far gone their son was, how could they possibly have known that the atmosphere at the school was "toxic"? By claiming to be both ignorant of their son's issues and at the same time perceptive of the oppressive atmosphere at Columbine High School is utter hypocrisy.

Add to the mix heavy doses of denial, posessiveness and self-loathing: "'I think he suffered horribly before he died,' Susan Klebold said. 'For not seeing that, I will never forgive myself.' "

Not to belabor the point but what about the victims, Mrs. Klebold? Have you no regrets about them? Is everything about your precious posession/progengy? It's not about his suffering and dying, it's about those whom he murdered in cold blood. That's the regret you should have, Mrs. Klebold, because the one regret the families of the victims have is that you ever spawned your child and neglected to raise him properly.

We can and should pray that these idiots finally see the light, realize their awesome responsibility in this matter, express a sense of real remorse to the families of the victims and beg for forgiveness. The Klebolds need to realize the curse of Pontius Pilate that their son's sins has placed upon them: as much as they try to wash their hands, they'll still have blood on them.

Teeny Bikinis!

Who needs china when you can eat breakfast off of a supermodel's tummy?! A feast fopr the eyes....growwwwl!

Powell criticizes Arafat for impeding peace

This is the real news from General Powell.

BLEEP THE PRESS: CAMERA MOVED OFF POWELL DURING RUSSERT GRILLING; AIDE ATTEMPTED TO CUT OFF INTERVIEW

As I mentioned in my previous post, my morning has been rigidly paced so I was not able to view Meet The Press. It is currently residing on the hard drive in my TiVo deck - a miracle product, I can't state that enough - and after reading this post on the Drudge Report on an aide attempting to cut off an interview with Secretary of State Colin Powell, I am looking forward to seeing it.

By reading the transcript, I can ascertain a general idea of what went on: an overzealous aide attempts to protect her boss by abruptly cutting off a pre-taped interview she perceives as disrespectful, an in the process creates news. It's incidents like these which plants seeds of doubt in people's minds - "why doesn't Powell want to amswer Russert's questions?" or "What is he hiding that this controlling aide doesn't want aired?" - and ultimately makes viewers sympathtic to the press in general, especially a straight-shooter like Tim Russert. So what if the interview went over the allotted time and forced another sunday chat show to wait...this is Meet The Press and it's the most important of the four (for the record, I'd say "Face The Nation" and "Fox News Sunday" are next on the rung. The CBS show is newsworthy to and held in high esteem by Washington insiders, while the latter is big in Republican circles and "flyover country." I have no idea who, if anybody watches "This Week with George Stephanopolous" [sp?])

Ultimately, Powell came off looking good by ordering the camera placed back on him. What's so stupid is that Russert was on his last question when all of this brou-ha-ha went down. Had this woman kept her cool, let the interview conclude and then make her displeasure known to the NBC News brass directly, I wouldn't be writing about this. Instead, she blew it and allowed Russert and NBC ro make the administration look bad. Powell continuing reinforces his image as the cabinet member who is open and truthful, in contrast to the media portrayal of Rumsfeld and Cheney as secretive and sneaky (I can hear Eric Alterman now: "It must've been them who wanted to cut Powell off! Let him speak!")

Never give the media food for them to prolong their anti-conservative feeding frenzy.

Tarver left hook takes out Jones in two

Given that Jones is from around these parts, the local sportscatsers will be making a big deal of this, and the sportswriters may already have (I haven't seen a paper yet as I went from bed to breakfast at Piccadilly to Mass to my air shift, where I am typing this.) But boxing is too far gone as a "sport". Mike Tyson and Don King and the whole little sleazy boxing cabal have cast a pall of unscrupulousness over boxing that major publications are pondering whether or not it can be saved from itself and if the effort is even worth it.

Two sweaty men beating the hell out of each other isn't ordinarily my thing - of all televised sports I probably like baseball, golf, and football the most - but if the PC gang moves to outlaw it, you can bet I'll be there in favor of boxing's restoration.