A Dim View of a Pittsburgh Priest
The strange tale of Fr. Henry Krawczyk and the University of Pittsburgh football player who died in his church this summer. Ann Rodgers gives the long meandering tale of a celibate priest who led two lives and sought desparately to be one of the crowd.
The novice might think that there were more than enough "warning" signs to have merited his removal years ago, but from my experience all of these signs are such frequent problems among clergy that most diocesan staffs merely shrug their shoulders when complaints come in about "punch and judy" (a term often used to refer to the frequent human failures of priests).
One might ponder what the church would be like in a perfect world, unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world but a fallen world. I do think that all of these revelations will lead to a more public recognition of the sinfulness that is the domain of all of us and that we will begin to have a more realistic view of clergy and to not shake off their faults but demand that they deal with them or find a vocation that suits their lifestyle.
Read the Pittsburgh story here Priest falls from grace
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
The Other Limbaugh has a Bestseller
From Publisher's Weekly:
They may not get thrown to the lions any more, but today's Christians endure subtler forms of martyrdom, argues this strident manifesto. Limbaugh (Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department) recites a litany of abuses and insults perpetrated, he claims, by separation-of-church-and-state absolutists and the forces of secular humanism. Most of them are familiar complaints of the Christian Right: school children are forbidden to pray before football games; nativity scenes are banned from municipal property; the media ridicule Christian politicians, and Hollywood caricatures Christians as Bible-thumping yahoos or axe-wielding fanatics. At universities where Darwinism, relativism and "sexuality studies" hold sway, Limbaugh says, vocal Christians get packed off to the psych ward. Most insidiously, Christians are continually subjected to sensitivity training-which often promotes a "homosexual agenda"-and silenced when they object. Many of the cases Limbaugh cites raise legitimate questions about society's hypersensitivity to religious expression (although the really serious abuses were often remedied after the inevitable lawsuit). Unfortunately, he tends to equate political controversy with religious bigotry, and Christianity with fundamentalism. Many of the issues he cites, like Democratic opposition to pro-life judicial nominees, or laws requiring Catholic employers to cover contraceptives in health insurance, amount to political disputes pitting conservatives like Limbaugh against liberals, feminists, gays or users of contraceptives, with Christians ranged on both sides. Limbaugh has a point: there are anti-Christian tendencies-rigid school bureaucrats, militant atheists and an often profane and irreligious popular culture-in American society. But there are plenty of pro-Christian tendencies too, such that Limbaugh's persecution complex seems overblown.
From Publisher's Weekly:
They may not get thrown to the lions any more, but today's Christians endure subtler forms of martyrdom, argues this strident manifesto. Limbaugh (Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department) recites a litany of abuses and insults perpetrated, he claims, by separation-of-church-and-state absolutists and the forces of secular humanism. Most of them are familiar complaints of the Christian Right: school children are forbidden to pray before football games; nativity scenes are banned from municipal property; the media ridicule Christian politicians, and Hollywood caricatures Christians as Bible-thumping yahoos or axe-wielding fanatics. At universities where Darwinism, relativism and "sexuality studies" hold sway, Limbaugh says, vocal Christians get packed off to the psych ward. Most insidiously, Christians are continually subjected to sensitivity training-which often promotes a "homosexual agenda"-and silenced when they object. Many of the cases Limbaugh cites raise legitimate questions about society's hypersensitivity to religious expression (although the really serious abuses were often remedied after the inevitable lawsuit). Unfortunately, he tends to equate political controversy with religious bigotry, and Christianity with fundamentalism. Many of the issues he cites, like Democratic opposition to pro-life judicial nominees, or laws requiring Catholic employers to cover contraceptives in health insurance, amount to political disputes pitting conservatives like Limbaugh against liberals, feminists, gays or users of contraceptives, with Christians ranged on both sides. Limbaugh has a point: there are anti-Christian tendencies-rigid school bureaucrats, militant atheists and an often profane and irreligious popular culture-in American society. But there are plenty of pro-Christian tendencies too, such that Limbaugh's persecution complex seems overblown.
Year of the Rosary
The year of the rosary is quickly coming to a close but praying the rosary is once again becoming a way of life for Catholics and some other Christians as well. Amy and I have a rosary book that includes the Mysteries of Light and was published this year:
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
The year of the rosary is quickly coming to a close but praying the rosary is once again becoming a way of life for Catholics and some other Christians as well. Amy and I have a rosary book that includes the Mysteries of Light and was published this year:
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
If Clark Were the Nominee and the Election Were Today...
Neither of which is the case, of course, but it is interesting. Clark is a Catholic convert who was raised Southern Baptist.
From Yahoo! News - Clark Tied With President Bush in Poll:
"Clark, a retired Army general, garnered 49 percent support to Bush's 46 percent, which is essentially a tie given the poll's margin of error. The CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll was conducted Sept. 19-21, beginning two days after Clark announced he would become the 10th Democratic candidate for the party's nomination. "
Neither of which is the case, of course, but it is interesting. Clark is a Catholic convert who was raised Southern Baptist.
From Yahoo! News - Clark Tied With President Bush in Poll:
"Clark, a retired Army general, garnered 49 percent support to Bush's 46 percent, which is essentially a tie given the poll's margin of error. The CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll was conducted Sept. 19-21, beginning two days after Clark announced he would become the 10th Democratic candidate for the party's nomination. "
Monday, September 22, 2003
This is Not a Good Sign
Ironically, the convent in question is the subject of one of the finest books that has been released this year about the nuns and the woman who encounters them. I link to the book after the story.
From newsnet5.com - News - Officials Say Cloistered Nuns Are Security Risks:
"NewsChannel5 reported that the Department of Homeland Security is ordering two Korean sisters out of the country, saying they don't qualify for visas. But the cloistered nuns are hoping a higher power will intervene.
The women live as cloistered nuns with the order of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. Inside, the nuns pray for the entire world 24 hours a day. They never leave the church except for when they need medical care, and they have almost no contact with the outside world.
But on Friday, they spoke with NewsChannel5 behind steel bars in the visitors' parlor. The bars are a symbol to their commitment to God, prayer and their separation from society.
Sister Mary Cecilia and Sister Mary Catherinia, of Korea, must now deal with the outside world. The Department of Homeland Security said the sisters are security risks. Both Korean sisters may be deported because the U.S. Immigration Service said they don't qualify for religious worker visas.
'I think it's very sad,' said Sister Mary Joseph, a cloistered nun. 'They're not going to hurt anyone at all.' "
Ironically, the convent in question is the subject of one of the finest books that has been released this year about the nuns and the woman who encounters them. I link to the book after the story.
From newsnet5.com - News - Officials Say Cloistered Nuns Are Security Risks:
"NewsChannel5 reported that the Department of Homeland Security is ordering two Korean sisters out of the country, saying they don't qualify for visas. But the cloistered nuns are hoping a higher power will intervene.
The women live as cloistered nuns with the order of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. Inside, the nuns pray for the entire world 24 hours a day. They never leave the church except for when they need medical care, and they have almost no contact with the outside world.
But on Friday, they spoke with NewsChannel5 behind steel bars in the visitors' parlor. The bars are a symbol to their commitment to God, prayer and their separation from society.
Sister Mary Cecilia and Sister Mary Catherinia, of Korea, must now deal with the outside world. The Department of Homeland Security said the sisters are security risks. Both Korean sisters may be deported because the U.S. Immigration Service said they don't qualify for religious worker visas.
'I think it's very sad,' said Sister Mary Joseph, a cloistered nun. 'They're not going to hurt anyone at all.' "
Pope Prepares for End of Rosary Year
From Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome:
"The Holy Father proposed the luminous mysteries when he convoked the Year of the Rosary last October. That year ends this Oct. 19.
These mysteries of Christ's life, which complement the traditional joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, present key moments in Jesus' public life: his baptism, the wedding of Cana, the proclamation of the Kingdom, the transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and the institution of the Eucharist.
They 'are instances of revelation; indeed, luminous mysteries, which reflect the splendor of the divine nature of God in Jesus Christ,' the Pope told the pilgrims gathered at the papal summer residence.
'It was the time when Jesus, with the power of the word and works, revealed fully the face of the heavenly Father, inaugurating his Kingdom of love, justice and peace,' he said.
Noting that the rosary proposes the contemplation of the love of Christ with the eyes of the Blessed Virgin, the papal meditation focused on the second mystery, the wedding at Cana, where Mary's presence is more evident.
'It is she, in fact, who points out to her Son that there is no more wine; and when he replied that 'his hour' had not yet come, she insists with maternal urgency, saying to the servants: 'Do whatever he tells you,'' the Pope recalled.
'In this way she shows that she intuits more than anyone else the profound intentions of Jesus. She knows him 'heart to heart' as, from the beginning, she kept and pondered every gesture and word of his,' he added.
The 'Virgin is the first and principal teacher of Christian prayer,' he said. 'In her school one learns to contemplate the face of the Lord, to assimilate his sentiments and accept his values with generous consistency.' "
The papal meditation ended with an exhortation: "In these last weeks of the Year of the Rosary, let us feel ourselves more united than ever in reciting the holy rosary, in a particular way for families and for peace in the world."
From Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome:
"The Holy Father proposed the luminous mysteries when he convoked the Year of the Rosary last October. That year ends this Oct. 19.
These mysteries of Christ's life, which complement the traditional joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, present key moments in Jesus' public life: his baptism, the wedding of Cana, the proclamation of the Kingdom, the transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and the institution of the Eucharist.
They 'are instances of revelation; indeed, luminous mysteries, which reflect the splendor of the divine nature of God in Jesus Christ,' the Pope told the pilgrims gathered at the papal summer residence.
'It was the time when Jesus, with the power of the word and works, revealed fully the face of the heavenly Father, inaugurating his Kingdom of love, justice and peace,' he said.
Noting that the rosary proposes the contemplation of the love of Christ with the eyes of the Blessed Virgin, the papal meditation focused on the second mystery, the wedding at Cana, where Mary's presence is more evident.
'It is she, in fact, who points out to her Son that there is no more wine; and when he replied that 'his hour' had not yet come, she insists with maternal urgency, saying to the servants: 'Do whatever he tells you,'' the Pope recalled.
'In this way she shows that she intuits more than anyone else the profound intentions of Jesus. She knows him 'heart to heart' as, from the beginning, she kept and pondered every gesture and word of his,' he added.
The 'Virgin is the first and principal teacher of Christian prayer,' he said. 'In her school one learns to contemplate the face of the Lord, to assimilate his sentiments and accept his values with generous consistency.' "
The papal meditation ended with an exhortation: "In these last weeks of the Year of the Rosary, let us feel ourselves more united than ever in reciting the holy rosary, in a particular way for families and for peace in the world."
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Mike Bianchi Always Says it Best
From OrlandoSentinel.com: Sports Columnists:
"By now, you know what happened. The Gators had the ball with 52 seconds left in the first half, ran a play, called a timeout and tried to drive down the field. Except they ended up having to punt and giving Tennessee just enough time to complete an improbable Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half.
Hail Mary, full of Zook,
Run out the clock or your goose is cooked.
'When I looked down and saw that ball in my hands, my eyes got so big I felt like I was watching a horror movie,' UT receiver James Banks said after catching the pass. 'I was shocked. That play gave us the momentum.'
And gave the 'Give Zook the hook' crowd another round of ammunition. That whirring sound you heard at halftime Saturday was the sound of FireRonZook.com rebooting."
From OrlandoSentinel.com: Sports Columnists:
"By now, you know what happened. The Gators had the ball with 52 seconds left in the first half, ran a play, called a timeout and tried to drive down the field. Except they ended up having to punt and giving Tennessee just enough time to complete an improbable Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half.
Hail Mary, full of Zook,
Run out the clock or your goose is cooked.
'When I looked down and saw that ball in my hands, my eyes got so big I felt like I was watching a horror movie,' UT receiver James Banks said after catching the pass. 'I was shocked. That play gave us the momentum.'
And gave the 'Give Zook the hook' crowd another round of ammunition. That whirring sound you heard at halftime Saturday was the sound of FireRonZook.com rebooting."
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