extreme Catholic 

 
Cardinal decries pop culture : CWN

During a press conference on ethics in the medi,a organized by the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez of Santo Domingo, said human beings were not meant to engage in dances that are proper "for dogs."

Referring to popular dance styles that are receiving heavy coverage in the media, the cardinal criticized a popular type of reggae music whose rhythms and beats, he said, do not correspond to "the best expressions of art and inspiration." The cardinal said another dance style known as the "doggy dance," which includes imitation of sexual acts, "may be very popular, but I don't think it is meant for human beings."

"Let's leave the 'doggy dance' to the dogs," the cardinal added.

Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez also criticized the way in which television has been promoting homosexuality as something "normal." "We already have a lot of unpleasant things to watch, let alone to have to tolerate these kinds of things," he concluded.

How would he know? I mean about the dance moves?

The "toleration" that we have to worry about is not homosexuality and its worldview on television, but a Christian worldview being tolerated in our culture.

I remember seeing a movie that satirized this kind of vular dancing. High School High was rated PG-13 for crude sexual humor, partial nudity and some drug references. The linked review covers the scenes where humans are dancing as Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez described, and indeed where dogs themselves are involved in dancing with humans. It's a Zucker Brothers film (Airplane, Police Squad, etc.)

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:28 AM   Permalink  

 
Priest Convicted of Having Dog Killed : AP

A judge has convicted a priest of having a popular street dog put to death because the animal allegedly disrupted religious services.

In a televised interview Wednesday, the Rev. Carlos Artavia acknowledged having a local veterinarian put the dog, Camila, to death and apologized to those who were offended.

A judge on Tuesday sentenced Artavia to 30 days in jail — a penalty waived on payment of 1,000 colons (about $2.10). He said Artavia should have established that the dog was ill or a threat.

The dog had been popular in the poor neighborhood and was known for accompanying funeral processions as well as attending Mass.

"I am going to pay the fine happily and I take the opportunity to offer my public apologies to all those who felt offended," Artavia said to Channel 6.

The dog vanished on Jan. 24 and some neighbors say it enter the priest's car. He admitted having her put to death, prompting some parishioners to file a complaint.

This priest could have a future in the United States where such a clever statement could be useful in more grave matters: He doesn't apologize for killing the dog, but apologizes for the offense to these who felt offended.

If no one were offended, this wouldn't be a problem at all.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:18 AM   Permalink  

 

A Roman Catholic vs. Protestant Debate on the Catholic Catechism, Paragraphs 841 & 1260

BILL RUTLAND: "A Non-Christian CAN Enter Heaven!"

Bill Rutland believes that the Catholic Catechism Paragraphs 841 & 1260 are compatible with the teachings of Scripture on salvation.

Before converting to Catholicism Mr. Rutland received his seminary training at the Salvation Army College for Officer's Training in Atlanta, GA, and is a former ordained minister with both the Salvation Army and the Southern Baptist Church.

After several years of intense prayer and study, Mr. Rutland and his wife Linda converted to the Catholic Church in 1999.

Mr. Rutland is a lecturer and teacher, a contributor to This Rock Magazine, and has appeared on The Journey Home broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

He is also the former Director of Religious Education at St.Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish in Rogers, AR.

As a public debater, Mr. Rutland’s formal live debates include such opponents as Church of Christ preacher and radio talk host Wayne Greeson, Dr. Bill Jackson of Christians Evangelizing Catholics and Dr. Richard Howe, philosophy professor at the University of Arkansas and former faculty member of Southern Evangelical Seminary.

Mr. Rutland has been recognized by his peers in the Catholic apologetics field for his excellence.

Well-known Catholic apologist Tim Staples of Catholic Answers writes of Bill Rutland: "For any who would enquire, I would say that having read some of your work as an apologist defending the Catholic Faith, I am very much impressed with your knowledge of the Catholic Faith from both an historical and biblical perspective.

I would be confident that the Catholic Faith would be defended well in a debate if Bill Rutland were to represent the Catholic position."

JAMES R. WHITE: "A Non-Christian CANNOT Enter Heaven!"

James R. White is Director of ALPHA & OMEGA MINISTRIES, a non-profit, theologically Reformed, Evangelical Protestant Christian apologetics organization in Phoenix, AZ, where he also serves as one of the elders at the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church.

Dr. White was appointed Scholar in Residence in the College of Christian Studies at Grand Canyon University, and was chosen as an Adjunct Professor with the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary's Arizona Campus.

Dr. White has lectured in Greek, Hebrew, Systematic Theology and Christology for Golden Gate, and Theology and Church History at Grand Canyon.

He is also Professor of Apologetics for Columbia Evangelical Seminary in Longview, WA.

He is the author of over 20 books, including THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONTROVERSY, MARY: ANOTHER REDEEMER?, SCRIPTURE ALONE, THE GOD WHO JUSTIFIES, THE POTTER'S FREEDOM and DANGEROUS AIRWAVES: HAROLD CAMPING REFUTED & CHRIST'S CHURCH DEFENDED.

He has also contributed to such publications as TableTalk and The CRI Journal.

He has engaged in more than forty five moderated public debates on a very wide range of topics.

Dr. White has also served as Critical Consultant for the New American Standard Bible (Update) 1995.

He is heard frequently as a guest on such national Christian radio broadcasts as THE BIBLE ANSWER MAN with Hank Hanegraaff and JANET PARSHALL'S AMERICA, and hosts a weekly internet broadcast called THE DIVIDING LINE.

You can visit Dr. White's web site for ALPHA & OMEGA MINISTRIES at www.aomin.org

Call 1-866-DEBATE-1 for info

I beg forgiveness, I thought this was scheduled for June 23 and got reminded it's on June 9. Please email me if you are going and we can meet at the event and say hello to Bill. I wasn't able to find his home web site or email.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:33 AM   Permalink  

 
The big news in New York is "no" to Jets stadium

NY Olympics Bid: Bronze -- But Not Silver

New York City's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics appeared in danger Monday when a powerful state board rejected a plan for $300 million in critical public funding for a $2 billion stadium on Manhattan's West Side.

The state Public Authorities Control Board vote came after Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver came out against the plan. Without Silver's support, the state funding cannot move forward.

This wasn't a vote not to build the stadium but to provide $300 million in taxpayer funding up front. The stadium could still be build using entirely private sources of money. The press conference was interesting: I've seldom seen a New York City press conference so full of guys like me (middle aged with guys in ball caps and golf shirts) which claimed to represent the best interests of the city.

If I were writing the headline, I'd say that this is a memo to Bloomberg to get the rebuild of downtown and the area around the WTC started and get the Second Avenue subway built.

I disagree with Silver on nearly everything but he correct in pointing out that pouring investment into the empty West side is just going to relocate businesses who would otherwise just build in midtown or downtown.

Finally, New York City doesn't need the Olympics. It needs improvements in schools and transportation to hold on to its private employers and employees. The number to look at for the self-destruction of New York City is the pecentage of residents who are employed by private employers or self-employed. The Olympics would start a mini-construction boom but so would a lot of other projects. I'd even support another trans-Hudson bridge -- about 50 million hours wasted each year when the wait to cross the George Washington bridge exceeds 1 hour.

It was a huge mistake to try to sell this as the home for the 2 pre-season games and 8 regular season games per year the Jets will play there.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 8:54 AM   Permalink