extreme Catholic 

 
My Story about pagans is better that Mark Shea's story about pagans

IC Birmingham (UK): Pagan bands fornication plea

Headlining the night of revelry is to be a Gloucester-based band Inkubus Sukkubus, who take their name from male and female demons.

Managers at the Custard Factory confirmed a "quiet area" would be provided for the group, fronted by female vocalist Candia who is known to get into a state of near hysteria during her performance.

A spokesman said: "They said they needed a quiet fornicatorium. They say it is a fertility rite. The singer goes into a trance-like state. We don't quite know what will happen once the frenzied activity begins."

via fark.com

The BBC reported that the current Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is an honorary druid

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 3:24 PM   Permalink  

 
San Francisco Chronicle: Bishops meet under scandal's shadow Recent black eyes mar church's effort to regain credibility

San Francisco Archbishop William Levada called Keating's comments "unexpected and inappropriate."

"This was not the first time Gov. Keating has painted us with a broad brush as a class of people who need oversight," said Levada, speaking during a coffee break outside grand ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

"He got the idea somehow that he was appointed Mother Superior of the bishops."

What a bizarre thing to say. What in going on in Archbishop Levada's mind when it comes to:

• Why the Conference established a "National Review Board for the Office of Child and Youth Protection" composed of lay persons.
• What the role of an Review Board acting on behalf of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops? Is review supposed to be without oversight or criticism?
• What do the Mother Superiors do? (are women religious ever compared to the Mafia?)

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 1:09 PM   Permalink  

 
Cybercast News Service: Woman 'bribed' to keep baby, planned on abortion

If a person was given a financial incentive to quit smoking, go on a healthy diet, etc. would that be a bribe as well?

This is the flip side of the so-called "wrongful life" lawsuits where a mother alleges not have been informed of a birth defect or genetic problem with her unborn child, and further alleges that had she known she would have aborted the unborn child.

Life and to give life through childbirth is an absolute good. There is no such thing as "life unworthy of life".

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 12:49 PM   Permalink  

 
Arizona Daily Sun: Archbishop vows to heal diocese

Sheehan said he had no plans to alter the landmark agreement.

What about the diocese of Phoenix needs healing? Wasn't the problem confined to the bishop? Or is there some other scandal about to erupt?

This answers my question -- Archbishop Sheehan accepts Bishop O'Brien's agreement as perpetual.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 12:35 PM   Permalink  

 
Forbes: What SCO Wants, SCO Gets

Linux vendors are under attack. In March, IBM was sued for $1 billion by The SCO Group, of Lindon, Utah, which claims IBM has put SCO's Unix code into Linux, the open-source software program. SCO also has sent letters to 1,500 large companies warning them that if they are using Linux, they may face legal problems. Though IBM is the only company named in SCO's lawsuit, other Linux vendors, like Red Hat and SuSE Linux, could suffer collateral damage

For those of you with an interest in the SCO/Linux battle, this article is a must read.

In the 1970's I saw a powered-off PDP-7 computer which was the very first computer to run UNIX and worked on the PDP-11 which is probably the most common system to run UNIX in that era at Columbia University. These computers were made by Digital Equipment Corporation where I worked for 18 years. The source code for those versions of UNIX were available to every college student studying operating systems at that time. The "UNIX System V" code which came in existence in 1986-1987 is at the heart of the controversy in 2003.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:22 AM   Permalink  

 
Hung Jury in Brooklyn Priest's Rape Trial

The trial of a Roman Catholic priest accused of raping a woman in a Brooklyn church ended Wednesday with a hung jury.

A judge declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case against Cyriacus Udegbulem. The jurors had been deliberating since June 12.

A new trial was set for July 28.

Fr. Cyriacus Udegbulem, a visiting priest from Nigeria, based his defense on consent was given by the victim.

Not a national story, but the local media is covering it.

The above story didn't get it quite right - the alleged rape took place in a counseling room at the rectory.

Some rectories around here have a ATM-7/11 type videotaping system in their counseling rooms. Maybe this should be the norm.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:18 AM   Permalink  

 
AP Photo: Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies

Will there be scenes like this when the bishops meet in St. Louis? The Boston Globe has a basic account of what's going on.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:02 AM   Permalink  

 
New Yorker: What Helen Keller Saw

Suspicion stalks fame; incredulity stalks great fame. At least three times—at the ages of eleven, twenty-three, and fifty-two—Helen Keller was assaulted by accusation, doubt, and overt disbelief. She was the butt of skeptics and the cynosure of idolaters. Mark Twain compared her to Joan of Arc, and pronounced her “fellow to Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon, Homer, Shakespeare and the rest of the immortals.” Her renown, he said, would endure a thousand years

Could the blindness and deafness of Helen Keller been faked? The article is worth a glance.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:32 PM   Permalink  

 
The future of the Church in the United States

Are we going to be able to move beyond this is 10 years, 50 years, or 100 years?

The Archdioceses of Boston, Philadelphia are open and they are usually the sees of Cardinals.

My own diocese of Brooklyn is overdue.

There are over 30 appointments pending at bishops reach the age of 75, and in most cases, the archbishops who are cardinals are allowed to serve until 80, at that age they also lose their vote in the conclave.

So I'm praying hard that bishops are chosen who will be compared to Elliot Ness or Batman or Jesus and not to the Mafia.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:02 PM   Permalink  

 
Most Reverend Thomas J. O'Brien Bishop of Diocese of Phoenix has resigned

• Most Rev. Michael J. Sheehan, Archbishop of Santa Fe becomes Apostolic Administrator.
• O'Brien has not made any public statement. We cannot even assume that he still maintains he is not guilty.
• Between now and the arraignment, a police investigation will gather evidence that could exonerate O'Brien or lead to a charge that he was driving while intoxicated.

On Monday (June 16) Reuters filed this report:

"The Diocese will cooperate fully in any police investigation. No further statement will be made while the investigation proceeds." Richard Moyer, vicar of the diocese of Phoenix, said in a statement.

Hey, I thought, wouldn't be interesting if there really, really were no further statements from the diocese while the investigation proceeds. No such luck.

The Arizona Republic reported with this dateline Wednesday (June 18 12:00 AM)

However, diocesan spokeswoman Kim Sue Lia Perkes declared, "He's still bishop. He's still in charge."

But as we know now, the announcement was only hours away.

I echo Romley's comments:

In any case, Romley said the bishop is charged with a Class 4 felony, leaving the scene of a fatal accident. "We must keep our focus here: A person has died."

It will be interesting to see if Archbishop Sheehan:

• Openly accepts the O'Brien's surrender of Church authority as binding on himself and the diocese.
• Openly rejects it as not binding on the himself and the diocese.
• Quietly performs what is mandated.
• Quietly ignores it all.
• Renegotiates.

This is tough on Jim Reed's family, they never wanted to be pulled into this.

I take no delight in this. I hope the lesson learned is that the resignations be accepted from the bishops who like Law and O'Brien assigned sexual predator priests to parished after credible accusations or admissions on the part of the priests were made.

I think a fitting resolution would be to suppress the diocese and reincorporate it into Tuscon.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:17 PM   Permalink  

 
Imagining Heaven

I remembering wondering if people in heaven had to wear such old fashioned clothing.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 5:00 PM   Permalink  

 
Tennesseans get a "Choose Life" license plate

I like to identify small victories for life in the blog. It's not as if everyday we face defeat after defeat in our opposition to the "Culture of Death".

A big victory with the enactment of the Partial Birth Abortion law and a little victory here. The war is far from over.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:03 AM   Permalink  

 
Chicgo Sun-Times: With Rapture Index hitting 168, how to avoid being Left Behind

Background on the popular culture fascination with the rapture. The article discusses Rapture Ready, a cool site that doesn't take itself too seriously.

As Catholics, of course, we do not believe in a rapture. In fact, this was unknown in Christianity anytime before 1800.

Here are books and tapes on the topic from Amazon from the Catholic point of view:

• Catholics and the Rapture: Will You Be Caught Up Or Left Behind? by Patrick Madrid, Carl Olson
• The Rapture Trap: A Catholic Response to "End Times" Fever by Paul Thigpen
• The End : a Study of the Book of Revelation by Scott Hahn (Audio Cassettes)

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:40 AM   Permalink  

 
Chicago Sun-Times: "Roe" requests that Roe v. Wade be overturned

The Smoking Gun has the Supreme Court filing from Norma McCorvey.

Looks like Blogger ate my homework. I remarked how few of the stories on this topic mention that she has received into the Catholic Church. This is via Priests For Life

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:21 AM   Permalink  

 
I know all the blogs are talking about it

but just in case you are visiting my blog first, here's the lame Flash animation cartoon on the Bush administration produced by the Democratic National Committee. "Bushenstein"

The fact is that President Bush has not yet been given the opportunity to make a Supreme Court nomination

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:20 PM   Permalink  

 
Meanwhile, on Long Island the trial of a man who murdered a priest and parishioner continues

Long Island Newsday: Testimony: 'Help Me, Help Me,' Priest Yelled When Shot

Rev. Larry Penzes had just finished delivering the homily to his congregation at Our Lady of Peace Church in Lynbrook when suddenly gunshots rang out, creating pandemonium, a deacon testified Tuesday at the murder trial of Peter Troy.

This will be one Catholic story that I don't expect that anti-Catholic bigot Jimmy Breslin to have an opinion on.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:52 PM   Permalink  

 
Reasons the Pope has not acted on the bishops scandal (that they knowingly reassigned sexual predator priests to parishes where they were able to exploit children and teens): (in order from most probable to least probable:)

• The Pope believes the impact of the scandal is far less that it truly is.
• The Pope believes the United States Conference of Bishops is handling the scandal well on its own.
• The Pope believes intervention by the Holy See will be regarded as unwanted interferece in the intenal affairs of the Church in the United States.
• The Pope believes that the bishops need the opportunity to implement their own reforms without intererference.
• The Pope believes that this will set a bad precedent changing the relationship between bishops and the Holy See.
• The Pope believes intervention will been see as a concession to state power or mob rule
• The Pope believes the scandal has been exaggerated by the media.
• The Pope believes this will lower the threshold for demanding an intervention by the Holy See in a diocese.
• The Pope believes that time of the scandal has passed and the restoration has begun.

I know I've said this elsewhere but I need to repeat it so that I'm not misunderstood: I believe all that the Church teaches and I believe that Church teaches that in their own domain, the bishops were, are, and should continue to be monarchs.

From Canon Law Can. 375 §1 By divine institution, Bishops succeed the Apostles through the Holy Spirit who is given to them. They are constituted Pastors in the Church, to be the teachers of doctrine, the priests of sacred worship and the ministers of governance.

From Catechism of the Catholic (quoting Lumen Gentium here) 862 "Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office, which the apostles received, of shepherding the Church, a charge destined to be exercised without interruption by the sacred order of bishops." Hence the Church teaches that "the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ."

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:00 PM   Permalink  

 
Text of Resignation letter of Keating and reply from Bp Gregory

As I have recently said, and have repeated on several occasions, our church is a Faith institution. A home to Christ's people. It is not a criminal enterprise. It does not condone and cover up criminal activity. It does not follow a code of silence. My remarks, which some bishops found offensive, were deadly accurate. I make no apology. To resist grand jury subpoenas, to suppress the names of offending clerics, to deny, to obfuscate, to explain away; that is the model of a criminal organization, not my church.

The humiliation, the horrors of the sex scandal must be a poisonous aberration, a black page in our history that cannot ever recur. It has been disastrous to the Church in America

Keating wasn't a hero of mine. I think the board was all for show from the start. On the other hand, I have higher expectations from Kathleen McChesney.

The medieval solution to this problem of accountability would be for the Pope to appoint a special legate with the Pope's power to depose bishops delegated to him. This legate in turn would appoint investigators whose legitimate inquiries into the personnel histories and decisions would be backed by the power of the keys.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:45 AM   Permalink  

 
Presumption of innocence

I simply couldn't be on a jury in this case. Bishop O'Brien gave no public explanation for this damage to his car. He's not obligated to make such a statement of course. On the other hand, common sense tells me that without an explanation for this damage, he must be lying if he claims that he's not guilty.

Yahoo AP Slideshow on this story

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:01 AM   Permalink  

 
Bishop O'Brien arrested in fatal hit-and-run

After more than four hours of questioning, Phoenix police this afternoon arrested Bishop Thomas O'Brien in the fatal hit-and-run of a pedestrian this weekend.

This is a tragedy on so many levels:

If the victim could have been saved by prompt medical attention then this is a moral, spiritual, and criminal disaster.

If the victim could have been given last rites this is a spiritual disaster.

To leave the scene of an accident is cowardice and irresponsibility. I agree with the earlier comment that it may have been done to avoid the fact that he was intoxicated.

If he was intoxicated, it's possible that someone will come forward to implicate O'Brien.

It's seems irrational and highly arrogant to me that O'Brien thought he could avoid arrest by saying "I may have hit something".

In situations that involve managerial discretion like the assignment of priests, there is the wiggle room of prudential judgment and special pleading that we don't understand the bigger picture. This is such an outrageous case where everyone knows what the right thing to do is, that in terms of scandal, for Bishop O'Brien that smashed windshield is all the one needs to see.

Bishop O'Brien, your scandal now has a body count.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 8:42 PM   Permalink  

 
New York Times MANHATTAN: BOMB HOAX AT ST. PATRICK'S

A false bomb threat delayed the 10:15 a.m. Mass yesterday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the police said. Officers with bomb-sniffing dogs searched the cathedral after worshipers filed out of the previous Mass, but they found no explosives. The police said an unidentified man had telephoned the Cathedral Parish House, a church residence, and said he had left a bomb during the 8 a.m. Mass to "blow up all you Catholics and Your Eminence." Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman who has worked with the archdiocese for 21 years, said, "This is the first time I can remember something like this happening on a Sunday." Michael Brick (NYT)

But Mr. Zwilling, no doubt, appreciated the correct form of address was used in the phone call.

I work across the street from the Cathedral. I believe it's only a matter of time before they have to install airport-style security.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 5:15 PM   Permalink  

 
Passion about the Passion

Mel Gibson Defends the Passion

Mel Gibson insists his forthcoming film about Jesus Christ will "inspire not offend" Catholics and Jews.

Only a few days ago the USCCB backpedaled on a criticism of The Passion based on this Zenit wire story that made it seem as if the U.S. bishops were condeming the film -- when it was the work of "ad hoc committee of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs"

This is the same "ad hoc" nonsense that gave us

A deepening Catholic appreciation of the eternal covenant between God and the Jewish people, together with a recognition of a divinely-given mission to Jews to witness to God’s faithful love, lead to the conclusion that campaigns that target Jews for conversion to Christianity are no longer theologically acceptable in the Catholic Church"

Note: this document is now expunged and disavowed by the USCCB But Boston College kept a copy of Reflections on Covenant and Mission

More background on this in World Net Daily.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 3:45 PM   Permalink  

 
Faux Catholic Church Watch

Beine trial on exposure charges begins

Later, Beine established a Catholic-oriented ministry of his own, calling it the Orthodox Catholic Church and appointing himself an archbishop.

The St. Louis diocese has said Beine's renegade church has no place in the Catholic church. Last year, the diocese said that as early as 1990, Archbishop John L. May wrote to priests warning of Beine, "Many have been victimized and defrauded."

Here's a link to the Syro Russian Orthodox Catholic Church which mentions Beine as a bishop

Beine also shows up in this database of bishops

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 2:09 PM   Permalink  

 
The Manilla Times: Settle Sex Raps in Church

Avoid legal battle, Bacani’s aide urges

By Ferdinand C. Patinio, Correspondent

An official of Bishop Teodoro Bacani’s diocese said on Monday that the Catholic Church, not the courts, is the proper venue for grievances against priests or Church officials.

“A complaint against a priest should be addressed to the bishop. A complaint against a bishop should be addressed to the Papal Nuncio because the nuncio is the Vatican’s representative,” said Msgr. Romulo Ranada, spokesman for the diocese of Novaliches in Quezon City.

Ranada said the Church “has jurisdiction over cases [against the clergy], and not the Supreme Court.”

Bacani has been accused by a former secretary of sexual misconduct, an allegation he denies.

The woman, France Elaine Ventura, complained to the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Franco. Following Church procedure, Franco investigated the complaint and reported his findings to the Congregation of Bishops in Rome.

Ranada said “a proper investigation” has been conducted, and that both accuser and accused were given the chance to be heard.

If Ventura decides to press charges against Bacani, the Church will not interfere, Ranada said, but if she does “it is no longer in the hands of the Church.”

It is not known if Ventura will go to court. She has declined to be interviewed by the media.

On Monday, Fr. Walter Erbi, second secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, said the Vatican will come out this week or early next week with a decision on the accusations against the 63-year-old Bacani.

“It could be within this week or so,” Erbi said in a telephone interview.

He did not say if the decision would be made public. “The Nuncio and the Apostolic Nunciature have nothing to say at this time, but if and when we have something to say we will find a way,” Erbi said.

On Friday, Franco returned to Manila from Rome, raising speculations he has the results of the inquiry.

The Church has staunchly defended Bacani. In a letter read at Mass in all Catholic churches on Sunday, the archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, said the allegations against Bacani being spread in the news have been stretched, “causing so much pain to everyone.”

Fifty-two priests in the Novaliches diocese wrote to the Papal Nuncio reaffirming their support for Bacani.

Fr. Robert Reyes, “the running priest,” appealed to the media to stop feasting on the controversy.

Reyes, the parish priest of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Project 4, Quezon City, said the media have been “hurting” him, the alleged victim, Bacani and Bishop Socrates Villegas in making conclusions about the complaint.

“The people who are making a lot of demands and conclusions about what is going on are really acting on the basis of disinformation and also ignorance, and there’s a lot of ignorance in the information going around right now,” he said.

Reyes said he felt bad when news stories insinuated that he was behind a campaign to discredit Bacani, since he was among those who helped Ventura.

He said the psychological and spiritual counseling Ventura is undergoing has helped her heal the pain.

Last week, reports had it that the accusations against Bacani were publicized to lessen his chances of being appointed as the next archbishop of Manila.

First, check out the dateline in the linked article -- Jun. 17 -- I bring you tomorrow's news today.

I linked to the bizarre simultaneous apology and denial from last week.

France Elaine Ventura who is described as the alleged victim apparently made the accusation against Bishop Bacani first by a complaint to the papal nuncio.

I don't know what provision of canon law gives a cause of action for inappropriate expression of affection (Bacani) or unwanted sexual advances (Ventura).

the Philippines constitution does not establish the Catholic faith as the official religion.

Letters decrying the publicity given to the case. In one the alleged victim is called the "complainant". Which itself is sort of strange given that the bishop (sort of) apologized.

One thing I have not been able to find is the nature of the accusation under canon law made by France Elain Ventura aganist Bishop Teodoro Bacani. and why it would be filed with the the Papal Nuncio and not with the Tribunal (otherwise known as the Canonical Court) of the Diocese.

If the accusation is (as far as I know) limited to unwanted sexual advances which continued after a request to stop -- then a civil case or criminal complaint may be the only place where Ventura will be able to make a case.

Lots of speculation that this was all a hatchet job on the reputation of Bishop Bacani. But I'm on the other side of the planet, so I all know is what I read off the net.

OK, I admit it -- I'm fascinated by all the Church/State issues here and the idea that a woman in a male-dominated culture would bring a complaint of sexual harassment to a papal nuncio and expect that she's going to get a favorable hearing and just outcome.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 12:42 PM   Permalink  

 
You always hurt the one you love

1010 WINS:Anniversary Celebration Ends in Death

Police said an intoxicated Long Island woman [Joanne Riva] drove over her husband [Frank Riva], killing him, after the pair got into an argument following a night out celebrating their wedding anniversary.

Suffolk County police were still investigating what led to the fatal hit and run outside the Riva's Holbrook home

1010 WINS: Cops: LI Mom Stabbed Husband on Father's Day

Suffolk County police say a woman broke up an argument between her husband and children by stabbing her husband in the chest.

Police say 47-year-old Grenda McDaniels of Brentwood was awakened at 10:15 last night by the argument. She allegedly got a kitchen knife and stabbed her husband - 49-year-old Columbus Poole - in the chest.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:31 AM   Permalink  

 
"Mockingbird" co-star to give Peck eulogy

Brock Peters, who co-starred in "To Kill a Mockingbird" and remained close friends with Peck for four decades, will deliver Peck's eulogy at a mass set for 2 p.m. (5 p.m. EDT) Monday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles, Peck's spokesman said on Friday.

Roman Catholic Cardinal Roger Mahony will celebrate the public mass at the $193 million cathedral, which opened its doors last September as the new home of the Los Angeles archdiocese.

Brock Peters is a fantastic actor. He's got quite a film resume. He played two roles in Star Trek: Admiral Cartwright (set in TOS time) and Captain Sisko's father (set in DS9).

That being said, wasn't there a consensus among the bishops of the United States that eulogies were not supposed to included in Catholic funerals Masses?

One rule for celebrities? One rule for everyone else? Think of it as a velvet rope that Cardinal Mahony uses as he sees fit. After all, we know that he's only accountable to the Pope.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:59 AM   Permalink  

 
Associated Press: Keating Quits Sex Abuse Panel Over Mafia Remark

LOS ANGELES, June 15 -- Former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating (R), criticized for remarks in which he said some church officials were being as secretive as members of the Mafia, will resign as head of a national panel examining sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests, his spokesman confirmed today.

Church observers said the step would be a serious setback, but not a fatal one, to the National Review Board, of which Keating is chairman.

Spokesman Dan Mahoney said Keating would send a resignation letter to Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy, and issue the text Monday or Tuesday. The Los Angeles Times first reported on Keating's plan in today's editions.

What does this mean? That the bishops are not secretive or are they?

I think it means that the bishops still are in charge and that this is a warning to any lay person who has something politically incorrect to say.

It would be nice if the announcement of the resignation contained some commitment to have the process of compliance to the Dallas norms opened up.

The photo of Frank Keating is off the Mahony dart board, it's been replaced by one of Kathleen McChesney.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:56 PM   Permalink  

 
As you enter my neighborhood, R. Lee Ermey greets you:

Blogger images may be broken

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:33 PM   Permalink