Pilgrimage News

Fr Erik, famous blogger of Orthometer, is leading a pilgrimage to the Holyland in February of 2011. Unfortunately I can't attend.

Which is too bad. The transportation he's arranged for the tours looks wicked awesome!

(Source)

"Today's Sacrament Is Brought To You By..."

Go to any major city, and chances are a sports arena bears the name of a local corporation that paid significant money for the rights to naming the stadium. Here in Detroit, we have Ford Field and Comerica Park. It provides revenue for the franchise, and the company gets huge exposure while establishing a strong community presence. Once inside the stadium or arena, you see numerous other business logos scattered around - like on the outfield walls, or around the concourse, and so forth. It's expected and part of the consumer culture in which we live.

But in a church???

From the DailyMail.uk: Paddy Power Sponsors Confession Box in Catholic Church

A Catholic church confession box has been sponsored by a bookie.

Paddy Power, the Irish betting firm, has paid £10,000 in the deal with Our Lady & St Etheldreda Church in Newmarket, Suffolk, after being approached by its fundraising committee.

Newmarket is widely regarded as the home of British horse-racing.

Confession time: Paddy Power holds the door as jockey Frankie Dettori kneels inside the sponsored 'sin bin' at Our Lady & St Etheldreda church, Newmarket

Paddy Power spokesman Ken Robertson told Mail Online: 'It was just before Christmas when we got an unsolicited call from a man on the fundraising committee at the church.

'He said Newmarket was the home of flat-racing in Britain and he asked would we sponsor an event to help pay for a new confession box .

'I half-jokingly floated the idea that if we paid for the confession box could we put our name to it - and he spoke to the priest, who was well up for it.'

The box, which has green curtains branded with Paddy Power's logo and the words 'Sin Bin' on the outside, was officially opened yesterday by jockey Frankie Dettori.

It's great that Paddy Power provided funds to the church so that they could get a new confessional. But to have their name be put on it? Kinda goes against Mt 6:2-4, doesn't it? What could have been a truly altruistic act has turned out to be a merely economic one, a marketing ploy. They're trolling for business in the house of God. Didn't Jesus fashion a cord of whips and wreak holy rage regarding something akin to this?

Not to mention the distraction. Imagine it - you're in Church, looking around, and then you see a horseracing logo, which gets you thinking...'boy, which horse should I place bets on after Mass?' To me, the sight of a confessional ought to inspire the need to confess one's sins, not pull out the racing sheet and place bets. This is a mockery of the sacrament.

The pastor made a bad decision - he should have accepted the funds and gratefully mentioned the contribution in the bulletin (the article states that he spoke of the contribution in a homily). He's allowed the spirit of the world to infiltrate holy space, and it might set a regretful precedent.

I predict the odds are 10-1 the bishop intervenes here. I certainly hope so.

p.s.: Some time ago, I wrote a satirical piece where progressive Catholycs placed advertising on Church vestments. I never imagined that something similar would actually happen!

On A (Red) Wing And A Prayer

If it's April, it must be NHL playoff hockey.

And tonight, in Phoenix, the Detroit Red Wings are playing the Coyotes in a Round One Game Seven match - winner goes to round two to face the San Jose Sharks, loser gets to schedule a tee time.

Here's something funny - last year I published a "Prayer Of The Red Wings Hockey Fan" (which is here), and since 5:30 PM, I've had at least 25 32 visitors who Googled "Red Wing prayer". Who says hockey fans aren't religious?

GO WINGS!!


UPDATE #1: At the end of the first period, 0-0.

UPDATE #2: Two periods down, one to go. Red Wings score 4 times, and have a 4-1 lead. Coyotes are gettin' poached!

UPDATE #3: Wings pound Phoenix 6-1. Game One vs. San Jose is Thursday night.

Sob Story

Poor Richard McBrien. He's all verklempt. I'm putting up most of his most recent National Catholic Distorter column, sans comments from me - but I've inserted an accompanying soundtrack. It sets the mood.

A Demoralized Church

The story I am about to tell provides yet one more indication of why so many good Catholics are demoralized these days -- apart, that is, from the ongoing sexual abuse crisis that has reached recently even to the papacy itself.

Some time ago, my weekly column, which appears not only in diocesan newspapers but also in parish bulletins in the United States and Canada, was dropped from one of those parish bulletins by order of the local bishop.

(Start music now - click on the green arrow)

	Audio Network Plc - Red River. Passionate, sad, solo violin. Christian Garrick, PRS. Audio Network US Inc. ASCAP. .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

According to the pastor, some 90 percent of his parishioners were pleased to have access to the column in their weekly bulletin, while only a small slice of the congregation (1 percent was his estimate) was “distressed” by it.

The pastor reported that a few of the critics met with him, while others phoned or sent letters. The pastor’s consistent reply was that the parish needed a different perspective on church-related issues, different certainly from the perspective available each week in the diocesan newspaper.

But the critics were not satisfied with the pastor’s response. They also wrote to the bishop, enclosing underlined copies of the column. The bishop, in turn, forwarded their letters to someone on his staff. The upshot was that the pastor was told that he could no longer carry the column in the parish bulletin.

The pastor subsequently e-mailed me to ask if he might continue to subscribe to the column (the monthly fee was $10) in order to make it available at the back of the church on an entirely voluntary basis. He also expressed his personal discouragement over the “repression” that is happening in the church.

I e-mailed the pastor back, assuring him that I have experienced this before and have become more or less used to it. It happens particularly when a pastorally healthy bishop dies, retires, or is moved to another diocese, and his successor is a rigid, censorious micromanager.

What is disturbing about what happened in this particular parish is that the tiny minority who complained about the inclusion of the column in the parish bulletin undoubtedly felt empowered -- empowered by the knowledge that their views could trump those of the pastor and the overwhelming majority of their fellow parishioners.

They did an end-run around the pastor (which was their right), sending letters and enclosures to the local bishop. The bishop turned the matter over to one of his underlings, who proceeded to shut down the column.

In my response to the pastor, I offered to make the column available free of charge. He thanked me for the gesture, mentioning at the same time that many parishioners were upset about the abrupt act of diocesan censorship. Some of them, he said, also wrote letters to the bishop and his subordinate, but to no avail.

Even some of those who admitted that they occasionally disagreed with points of view expressed in the column acknowledged that the column made them think and often provided historical information of which they had been unaware.

Unfortunately, the story does not end there. The same minority of parishioners wrote again to the bishop to complain that the pastor was still making the column available to parishioners at the back of the church, even if it no longer appeared in the parish bulletin. The same underling, but again with the bishop’s ultimate approval, ordered the pastor to cease doing so.

[sniff sniff] Sad stories get me all teary-eyed. Don't worry - I'll be okay.

Memo To Iceland

Call Chuck next time, okay?
Image from Comixed.com.  Some inappropriate content/language at site.

Church Conforming To Culture

To be a Christian means to be counter-cultural, to stand out from the crowd.  To live one's life so radically different, full of joy and peace and grace, such that other people notice and become drawn to Christ as a result.

But there's a right way and a wrong way in being counter-cultural.  The right way is to stand up to the world and make the necessary sacrifices inherent with living an authentic Christian life.  The wrong way is to run up the white flag and take the easy way out, while still claiming to be Christian.

The following story falls under the latter:

From the DailyMail.uk:  Church to Hold Christmas Celebration in April  (bold mine)

Christmas is coming early to one Manchester church this year - because the vicar says his congregation is too busy in December.

Members of the Levenshulme Baptist Church will be sitting down to a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, crackers, and party hats on Sunday, just four months since the birth of Christ was last celebrated.
 
Reverend Ian Spence came up with the idea as he believes getting his flock together to mark the occasion is more important than the date it is held on.

In his experience, his congregation is usually too busy visiting relatives to get together on December 25.

And despite initial scepticism, not least from his wife, Rachel - who is also a minister at the Elmsworth Avenue church - he says members of the congregation are all looking forward to celebrating Christmas early.

He said: 'I think my wife was slightly bemused when I first suggested a second Christmas, but my sons are really excited.'

The couple have two sons, Reuben David, four, and Jacob Peter, two, who will be getting a visit from Father Christmas.

Rev Spence, who's been a minister at the church for four years, said: 'Jesus probably wasn't born in December or April - we don't know when he was born - so this is probably as good a day as any.

'I came up with the idea because many of our congregation are away visiting relatives on December 25, so we don't get to celebrate together.'

Do-it-yourself Christianity - when doing it real becomes too hard.  To me, this has nothing to do with celebrating the birth of Christ - who came into the world to save us from sin - but has everything to do with making the faith convenient.  Too busy at Christmas?  Okay, we'll celebrate in April.  What about Easter?  How's October look for you?

The farther one gets from the Catholic Church, the stranger the variances seem to be.  Granted, there are abuses and silliness occurring within the Church, too - but this is the weirdest one I've ever come across.  "We don't know when he was born" - well, there's a great video called "The Star of Bethlehem" that attempts to shed some light on that mystery, and it's rather compelling.  If you haven't seen it, get a copy.  Pretty cool use of astronomy (not astrology - that's the bad stuff!) to figure out the birth - and death - of Christ.

Granted, this pastor isn't advocating changing Christmas, he's only making the faith convenient.   Which is bad enough in and of itself.  And once you start making things "convenient" on stuff that might or might not be true - "Jesus probably wasn't born in December or April" - then it becomes easier and easier to allow for slacking on the Really Important Stuff. 

And then it's inevitable - they're no longer being counter-cultural.  They blend in with the rest of the faceless folks who are making excuses, admitting conveniences and stumbling about searching for the truth and the meaning and means of a purposeful life.  They fail to witness to the world the joy of being Christian, even if it means making sacrifices.  Especially because it means making sacrifices.

I have family members who attend a "rock-n-roll Bible school" [trans.:  mega-Church], and during Christmas season, the ecclesial community leaders schedule services four to five days prior to Christmas as a convenience for their members.  You know, because people go on vacation, or they have family over, or there are company parties to go to.  One of my family members told me "Hey - Christmas is about kids and families, you know.  That's what's important."

Um - no.  Unless the 'kid' you're referring to is Jesus Christ, and the 'family' is Mary and Joseph.  What does such thinking mean for those who don't have families, or no kids?  Does it suck to be them?  Pretty shallow thinking.  Shifting the focus onto ourselves violates a couple commandments, as I see it, and fails to properly recognize the sacrifices Jesus and the Holy Family made every day of their lives.  For our sakes.  It smacks of selfishness and acquiescing to the demands of comfort, rather than putting Christ first and submitting to the discomfort of sacrifice.

The folks who aren't willing to rearrange their schedules for Christ's sake probably aren't willing to rearrange their souls for Him either.

Star Struck

I don't have much to say this morning, so I thought I'd put up a stunning photo taken by the Hubble telescope - it turned 20 last week, you know.

This image was released by Nasa to celebrate the Hubble's 20th birthday. It shows a small portion of one of the largest star-birth regions in the galaxy, the Carina Nebula. The picture is reminiscent of Hubble's classic image of the Eagle Nebula dubbed the 'Pillars of Creation'. Seen here is the top of a three-light-year-tall pillar of gas and the dust that is being eaten away by the brilliant light from nearby bright stars.  From the Daily Mail

Simply awesome.

AoftheA: In The News

I received an unexpected email late Friday:

Dear Larry - I just wanted to thank you for the blog you run.  We on Gloria.tv run a daily news service.  Here (are) some links to the news, where I reported about some items on your blog:

http://gloria.tv/?media=69699

http://en.gloria.tv/?media=60061

http://en.gloria.tv/?media=67066

Here's the video of the most recent report, aired 4/23/10.  AoftheA comes in at about the 1:25 mark.





I hope they realize what they've done - may God have mercy on our souls!

And I've added Gloria.tv to my "Sites of Interest and Information" list.

Talk Like Shakespeare Day 2010

Tempter's Visit (a sonnet)

Nighttide hisses malice across the wind

And Blackness himself creepeth o'er the sill

"I recall t' thee that thou greatly sinned

And thou hast once more chosen thine own will;

Despite thy baptized mark of symboled cross

And loathful beads pressed in thine guilty hands,

Thine plaintive pleas please none; thou gain but loss;

So grieve not against deep desire's demands.

Doth thou receive peacefulness from thine prayers?

Doth thou believe thou aren't so soon condemned?

Thine countless sins hath struck thee from his care;

When thou expires, thine soul to me he'll send."

I slowly stirred my soul from reverie

And spake "Sorry - were you addressing me?"

(The actual day was yesterday, 4/23 - I started this late at night but didn't get it completed in time.)

Reality Hurts

Running into reality can be rather painful. 

The first step a person has to make in recognizing a problem is to admit that the problem exists.  And it seems that NARAL, after a bit of a painful face-plant, is admitting it has a problem:  their group (and others like it) is failing to attract young members.

From Catholic Online:  NARAL's President Admits:  Abortion Supporters Aging, Pro-lifers Young and Zealous

WASHINGTON, DC (LifeSiteNews.com) - The pro-life movement in America is growing in leaps and bounds, attracting young, zealous women to defend the unborn in droves - a fact that even the president of NARAL has now admitted.

NARAL's Nancy Keenan told Newsweek last week that she considers herself a member of the "postmenopausal militia" - a phrase that captures the situation of pro-abortion leaders who are aging across the board, including the leadership of Planned Parenthood, and the National Organization for Women. Newsweek's Sarah Kliff notes that "these leaders will retire in a decade or so." 

Keenan also remarked on the enormity of this year's March for Life in Washington, D.C., and, according to Newsweek, is troubled that such passion has faded among the youth on her side of the movement.

"I just thought, my gosh, they are so young," Keenan said about stumbling on this year's March for Life in Washington. "There are so many of them, and they are so young." 

While March for Life estimates it drew 400,000 pro-lifers to Washington for this year's March, Planned Parenthood's "Stop Stupak" rally in December only drew about 1,300 attendees.

Post-menopausal militia?  They're not fighters and battlers - unless you want to call them mercenaries.  They're more like the Antediluvian Agents of Death and Dismemberment.

What I find amazing is that she's finally coming to the painful realization that the pro-life groups are full of young, vibrant, active, enthusiastic people.  The young pro-lifers realize that the Antediluvian Agents of Death and Dismemberment have killed off one-quarter to one-third of their generation, and they're committed to not subjecting the next generation to the same deadly fate.  While Keenan's group and other pro-abortion groups have been motivated by anger and hatred, the pro-life groups have love and compassion at their core.  Which is more appealing - groups of gray-haired grisly gruesome gripers who deny the humanity of the unborn child, or the vibrancy and vitality of the youth who embrace both mother and child - AND pray for the conversion of those mired in the pro-abortion swamp?

Even the attempts of the Antediluvian Agents of Death and Dismemberment to recruit college-age members are miserable failures:

Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America told LSN that the fears expressed by the pro-abortion giant are playing out visibly on college campuses, where she says pro-life groups are routinely more vigorous and longer-lasting than pro-abortion groups.

"That's exactly what we see every day on college campuses," said Hawkins. "We'll have pro-choice groups that spring up in reaction to the pro-life groups that are started on campus and those groups, they last maybe a year. The only purpose they serve is to be reactionary towards our pro-life students."

Hawkins noted that groups such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and the Feminist Majority Network struggle to maintain campus chapters. "They all are incredibly well-funded, have a lot more money than Students for Life of America, yet none of them can [keep] active groups," she said.

I find this story deliciously ironic - the AADD have aborted themselves into near-oblivion and struggle to fill their depleting ranks.  They're in denial and in panic mode, seemingly clueless as to the reason why.  Meanwhile, the survivors are growing by leaps and bounds, and by God's grace, may have the sheer numbers in a generation to completely overwhelm the pro-abortion opposition.  That gives me hope.

Young women, said (Kristin) Walker, (Communications Director of the American Life League), "aren't looking at the Nancy Keenans of the world and thinking - 'I want to be just like her some day.'" "They're looking at the joy that comes with selflessly embracing life and human rights and dignity," she said. 

That about sums it up.

Urf Day 2010 Video: Tree Hugger Parody

Urf Day 2010

*Editor's note:  I've invited a special guest to write a post to commemorate the solemn nature of Earth Day.*

Hello everyone!  My name is Loofa Leaf, the Earth Day Dryad!  Yay, it's Earth Day!  I'm so full of glee and happiness today!  It makes me want to fly!!

Once a year, on this very special day, I emerge from my secret woodland hideaway and leave presents for all the believing boys and girls.  During the night, I travel around the world in my magical flying Prius, and enter homes through geothermal home-heating vents or solar panels.  Then I fill their recyclable totes with all types of goodies, such as presents made out of 100% recycled products, or GMO-certified organic treats, or Blu-ray discs of important environmental films like "The Day After Tomorrow", or boxes of CFL bulbs.       

I know that many have fallen for the so-called 'Climategate' scandal.  That makes me so sad, because as fewer people believe in man-made global warming, then fewer children believe in me.  And then I get stuck with all these products in my secret woodland hideaway - let me tell you, it's getting cluttered around here!  Hopefully if Cap-n-Trade passes, more people will come to believe in me, and then I can unload some of this stuff next year.

So please, please tell your children that the Earth Day Dryad does exist!  Have them decorate the compost bin!  Encourage them to mail "Dear Loofa" letters (if you send them to Mr. Al Gore, they'll get to me!), listing all the wonderful environmentally friendly products they would love to have.  Sing Earth Day carols!  Just open your heart, and believe!

I'll leave you with my favorite Earth Day carol:  "Loofa Leaf Is Comin' To Town".

You better cut back

You better not waste

You better keep track

Of how much carbon's displaced

Loofa Leaf is comin' to town

He's makin' a list

He's checkin' it twice

Gonna find out

Who won't sacrifice

Loofa Leaf is comin' to town

He knows if you're efficient

He knows if you pollute

He knows if you eat too much meat

So eat more veggies and fruit - oh!

You better cut back

You better not waste

You better keep track

Of how much carbon's displaced

Loofa Leaf is comin' to town!

Happy Earth Day everyone!!

SNAPped

Whatever good the group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) has done in its advocacy for abuse victims has just vanished in a poof of idiocy and dispersed by a breeze of ignominy. 

There's a website called "Put The Pope In Jail" that hawks merchandise with a jailed pope theme.  According to the site, all proceeds from the sale of merchandise go directly to SNAP.  Here are two examples of their wares:

Despicable.

I've emailed the directors of SNAP:

I came across this site this evening:  http://www.putthepopeinjail.com/

You're hoping to raise money by selling items that show the Holy Father as an imprisoned criminal.  As a faithful Catholic, I find this to be despicable and dishonorable.  You aren't seeking to help those who have been abused by the clergy - you're only trying to garner public support by appealing to hyperbole and ad hominem attacks on Pope Benedict XVI.  Last I checked, the Holy Father has not been found guilty of any crime by any court, except in the rabid irrational court of Public Opinion.

As Catholics, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

I ask you to take the site down - and if you do not, I will contact Cardinal George and Archbishop Carlson directly.  Thank you.

**UPDATE**  One of the directors of SNAP responded to my email, stating that they are not affiliated with the website.  I was a little skeptical, but am no longer.  I've learned that someone else has contacted the operator of PutThePopeInJail Cafepress site, and a disclaimer has been added that they are not affiliated in any way with SNAP, but that they support their work.  I'm debating about contacting Cafepress and asking them to shut down the site due to its offensive nature.  What do you think?

**UPDATE #2**   I emailed an apology to SNAP for presuming they were a party to this site.   I should have dialed back the zeal, and rather than accuse them of propagating this, I ought to have just asked if they were involved or aware of this, and I should have contacted the site owner directly.  Humility FAIL.

Obscure Elements Of The Mass

It's commonly been taught that the Novus Ordo is comprised of two sections:  the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

But depending on where you go to Mass, there are other parts not so clearly detailed.  AoftheA attempts to define some of these more obscure elements.  

Liturgy of the Bulletin  

This normally occurs prior to the final blessing, but it can occur at the beginning of Mass as well.  Sometimes the priest makes announcements of upcoming events at the parish, reading directly out of the church bulletin, such as social justice opportunities or the local CORPUS meet-n-greet pancake breakfast in the school hall; mostly, though, the Liturgy of the Bulletin is led by the Extraordinary Minister of Remedial Reading.  Incidentally, many congregants participate on their own, particularly during the homily.

Liturgy of the Exodus

Some parishes designate one of their Sunday Masses the "family Mass", where all the children are encouraged to leave their families just before the first reading to go listen to dumbed-down versions of the readings and Gospel.  Sometimes this is referred to as the "Children's Liturgy".  The children are invited to the altar for a blessing, and then are herded out of the church worship space to a different room, dutifully following a DRE lackey Youth Minister who holds a Sacramentary-like book (that is probably filled more with homogenized pictures than actual Scripture) above her head; it's called the Liturgy of the Exodus because most of the kids - particularly the older ones - can be seen grumbling and muttering under their breath.

Liturgy of the Ours

This element can occur twice in any Mass.  It more commonly occurs during the Prayers of the Faithful, when congregants are asked and encouraged to blurt out any personal intentions.  None of these are audible to anyone outside of a fifteen foot radius from the speaker, or several people attempt to speak at once, leading to awkward silences or people talking over one another.  This element can also take place after the Liturgy of the Bulletin, whereby the priest asks if anyone in the congregation has anything they would like to announce, or he asks if anybody is celebrating a birthday during the upcoming week, so that the entire church can sing to them.  Really!

Liturgy of the Hugs 

 

Commonly called the "Kiss of Peace" or "Exchange of Peace".  But in some places it can last longer than the homily, as congregants mill about to shake hands and hug and chatter with nearly every person in attendance.  When the priest leaves the sanctuary to join the Liturgy, you have an advanced form of the liturgy.  Sometimes the Liturgy of the Hugs commences prior to this point - during the Our Father, when the entire congregation contorts, twists and stretches to grasp hands with one another.  This is the Liturgy of the Human Chain.  The H1N1 scare curtailed this liturgy somewhat, but it remains a fairly popular element.

Liturgy of the Dine and Dash

This liturgy is an option-out feature of the Mass.  It occurs during distribution of Holy Communion, when a percentage of the congregation leaves immediately after receiving Holy Communion.  What makes this practice particularly unfortunate is that the participants miss out on the Liturgy of the Bulletin and in some places, the Liturgy of the Ours.

Granted, not all of these elements are incorporated everywhere.  They are not universal norms.  Some parishes skip these altogether.  But I hope this brief synopsis of the other liturgical elements provides you with a deeper appreciation for the hard work and commitment of creative liturgists and priests, with the goal of increasing active participation.  

Never have so few done so much to provide so little.

Deusaster Poker

The recent rash of powerful earthquakes has produced some rather...interesting...explanations.

Remember Pat Robertson's claim regarding the Haitian earthquake?

Pat Robertson, the American Christian televangelist and host of "The 700 Club," said that Haitians need to have a "great turning to god" while he was reporting on the devastating 7.0 earthquake that shook the island nation — the most powerful to hit the country in a century.

 As Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said "well over" 100,000 people may have died in the natural disaster, Robertson took to the airwaves Wednesday on his show and said that the country has been "cursed by one thing after another" since they "swore a pact to the devil."

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about," Robertson said Tuesday.

"They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.' True story. And so the devil said, 'Ok it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got something themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another," Robertson said.

Danny Glover made the ridiculous claim that the Haitian earthquake was a result of global warming.  Bit of a conflict with Robertson.

Then, after the Easter Sunday earthquake that struck Baja, Mexico and southern California, transcendentalist mental-ist Deepak Chopra said this:

"Had a powerful meditation just now -- caused an earthquake in Southern California," Chopra wrote to his nearly 179,000 Twitter followers shortly after the quake.

And then, to clarify: "Was meditating on Shiva mantra & earth began to shake," he tweeted. "Sorry about that."

So I guess it should come as no surprise that an Iranian cleric was quoted as having said the following:

From the DailyMail.uk:  Women who wear revealing clothing and behave promiscuously are to blame for earthquakes, a senior Iranian cleric has said.

Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi's comments follow a warning by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that a quake is certain to hit the capital Tehran and that many residents should relocate. 

In a prayer sermon, the cleric said: 'Many women who do not dress modestly... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes.'

Well, immodest dress might cause certain things to shake about, but I highly doubt tectonic plates is one of them.

We're experiencing what I'm calling "Deusaster Poker" - "I see your crazy spiritual explanation for a natural disaster, and raise you one."  It's fun!  Anyone can play!

Here's the basic formula for playing:  [Natural disaster] because [unrelated spiritual/religious/ecological/cultural reason].

For example - [Chile was struck with an earthquake] because [financial institutions employed predatory lending practices on poor people].

It doesn't have to make sense.  In fact, the less sense it makes, the better your chances of winning the game.

I'll deal the next hand:  [Mt. Eyjafjallajokull erupted] because [?]

Play your cards in the combox.

It Has Begun

The 4th Annual Cannonball Catholic Blog Awards, that is.  The only contest that matters.  It's the one contest where participants need to go to confession afterward - yeah, it kinda gets knock-down drag-out, but in a good way.

Nominations are currently being taken at the Crescat, so check out the categories and nominees, and add others you feel deserve recognition.

AoftheA has been nominated in five categories this year (thanks to those who beat me to it!):

Best Under Appreciated Blog
Best Hifreakinlarious Blog (2009 winner - and I'm not about to relinquish that title willingly!)
Snarkiest Catholic Blog
Most Bat Sh!t Crazy Blog
Most Church Militant Blog

Voting begins after May 10, but that might change since Kat's trip to Malta/Rome has been canceled on account of that dumb ash Icelandic volcano (so go to her blog and express your condolences).

Trust me - you'll be notified when it's time to start voting.

Up In The Air

This won't be good for the anthropogenic global warming nuts.  Some scientists are predicting that the sudden shutdown of the airline industry in Europe due to the Iceland volcano may lead to a temperature increase.  "But LarryD, LarryD!  For years, the environazis have been saying that aircraft emissions will contribute to rising temperatures!  So shouldn't a decrease in traffic lead to a temperature decrease?"

Hey, all I can say is, these are eco-fruits we're talking about here.  They've never made sense before - why start now?

From the DailyMail.co:  Grounding of Planes Across Europe 'Could Lead to Rise in Temperatures'

Temperatures in Europe could rise as a result of planes being grounded across the continent, according to research.

A study conducted after commercial flights were grounded for three days following the September 11 terror attacks found the average daily temperature range in the U.S. rose markedly - exceeding the three-day periods before and after by 1.8c.

Scientists claimed this showed that clouds formed by the water vapour in the exhaust from jet planes have a small but significant effect on daily temperatures.

The unprecedented study suggests the UK and Europe will experience a similar pattern. 

Planes have now been grounded for 48 hours and there is no suggestion when they will return to the skies, meaning Britons could enjoy hotter than normal temperatures for days.

Watch out for environmental wackos' exploding heads - they can't handle such paradoxes.

So if grounded planes lead to higher temperatures, then more air traffic has to be generated, and quickly. Where are those individual jet packs??  

See, now this is green technology I can support.  Strap on a couple Sidewinders, and I'm there!

Judging A Man By His Friends

I don't have an issue with any imaginary friends Obama may have - it's his real ones that frighten me.

image from Pundit Kitchen

What I'll Be Watching...

...at 9:00 PM Eastern.  The season premiere of Dr Who on BBC America!

I've been looking forward to this for a long long time.

An aside to any readers in England - no spoilers please!!

**UPDATE** -  New season, new Doctor.  Pleased with the start thus far - have to adjust after three seasons of David Tennant as the Doctor - but the story was good, effects were great, humor was timely, and looking forward to rest of the season.  Any other fans out there?

On The Trail Of Bad Benny

I suspect that most people by now have heard that Christopher Hitchens, world renowned Angry White Atheist Male, wants to arrest Pope Benedict when he arrives in England this September.  It's a ridiculously stupid idea, of course, but Hitchens appears to be serious about it.

Mark Shea at Catholic And Enjoying It! found a video of Mr. Hitchens "sallying forth to arrest the Pope".

Safe Sex...For Animals?

Gotta hand it to the activists at PETA - they sure can be entertaining, in a wacky, idiotic sorta way.  Their advocacy for animal rights more often than not exceeds socially acceptable standards while at the same time exhibiting a deficiency of intelligence and common sense.

For instance -

From CNSNews.com, on 4/15/10:  Dressed as 'Giant Condoms', PETA Activists Promote 'Safe Sex' for Animals

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) dispatched two of its members to a busy intersection in Little Rock, Ark., dressed as “giant condoms” to promote “safe sex” for animals.

“If cats and dogs could wear condoms, millions of animals would be spared from suffering and death,” PETA campaigner Virginia Fort said in a statement.

The PETA activists, decked out as extra-large contraceptives, stood at the intersection of President Clinton Avenue and North Rock Street in Little Rock last Thursday, waving signs that read: “Condoms Won’t Work: Fix Your Cat!” and “Dogs Can’t Use Condoms: Spay and Neuter!”

The funniest thing about this demonstration is that they were standing on a street named for Bill Clinton.  The saddest thing about this demonstration is...the demonstration.  Their parents must be soooo proud.  These folks need to get a life.

Now, I know they're not advocating contraception for animals - but at first glance, doesn't that appear to be the case?  I mean, I wouldn't put it past these folks to suggest it.  Good luck dressing up a Siamese cat or bull mastiff!

Pfleger Pfollow-up

The front page of the Archdiocese of Chicago has this on its home page:

It's a statement from Fr. Pfleger, and it reads:

On Sunday, April 11, while preaching a sermon on the power of fear, I was referring to the fear that paralyzed the apostles, locking them in a room, leaving only John and the women at the foot of the cross.  I stated that is why I believe women ought to be able to be ordained, as well as priests ought to be able to get married.


While this is my personal opinion, I do respect and follow the Catholic Church teachings and I am sorry I failed to do this.

Rev. Michael L. Pfleger

Not much of an apology, IMHO. Nor is it a retraction of statements made in his homily.  Seems to me he's only sorry that his 'personal opinions' were broadcast across the Internet, and not for the fact that his 'opinions' are contrary to Church teaching.  Thoughts?


s/s to Fr. Z

1 Request Ignored 11,000 Times

I remember as a kid my mom having to yell at me several times to do stuff - like, "time to come in for dinner!"; or "it's time for bed!" - and when I would finally do her bidding, she'd say "What, are you deaf?" and I would answer something along the lines of "I didn't hear you call me the first three times".  Duh.

I think any parent would excuse a child for not hearing the first request, maybe the second one too.  But not ever past three.  At that point the line of disrespect has been egregiously crossed, and nothing short of a sincere apology (followed by appropriate punishment) will be sufficient to placate the angered parent.

So what should happen if a request has been ignored more than 11,000 times?  I'd say: time to bring in some mighty big guns.  I hope the Archdiocese of Detroit has 'em.

From Pewsitter.com:  Jesuit University of Detroit Mercy Fails to Act on 11,000 Requests to Remove Planned Parenthood Links

April 14, 2010 - At least 11,000 students and concerned parents have petitioned the Catholic University of Detroit Mercy to remove links to abortion promoters from its web site. So far the request has not been granted. Links to Planned Parenthood and the National Organization for Women (NOW) are still listed in two places: “career & professional resources” and “external sites of interest.”

The average internet savvy webmaster could remove these pro-abortion links with ease in less than five minutes. Yet this Jesuit-Mercy university has not removed them so far, thus giving scandal to students who are faithful to Catholic teaching on abortion. The university’s seeming unwillingness to remove these links might be related to another troubling discovery.


Wolf in Nun's Habit?

Sister Margaret A. Farley, RSM is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Detroit Mercy.  Over the years, she has taken positions favorable to abortion, same-sex “marriage,” sterilization of women, divorce and the ordination of women to the priesthood. Sister Farley, who taught Christian ethics at Yale Divinity School, is well known for her radical feminist ideas and open dissent from Church teaching.

In 1984 she co-signed an ad in The New York Times by Catholics for Free Choice challenging Catholic teaching on procured abortion.  “Statements of recent Popes and of the Catholic hierarchy have condemned the direct termination of pre-natal life as morally wrong in all instances. There is a mistaken belief in American society that this is the only legitimate Catholic position,” reads part of the statement. Another co-signer of the ad is long-time Detroit Mercy faculty member Prof. Jane Schaberg, author of the blasphemous book, The Illegitimacy of Jesus.

Although the Vatican and the American Catholic Bishops called the signers of the ad on the carpet urging them to recant, the warning seems to have made no lasting impression on Sister Farley or Prof. Schaberg who continue to promote abortion and unorthodox ideas.

Remove Dissident Nun

TFP Student Action invites its members – students and parents – to respectfully speak out against this scandal, to be the voice of the unborn that clamor for justice, and oppose the sin of abortion.  Let us continue politely urging the University of Detroit Mercy to remove its web site links to abortion promoters.

And as we renew and intensify this peaceful protest, let us also ask for the removal of pro-abortion Sister Margaret A. Farley from the university's Board of Trustees.

Please note: Always be respectful and polite when contacting members of the hierarchy.

Well, can't say I'm surprised.  Yet another CINO center of higher learning infiltrated by fake Catholycs who are more interested in corrupting the minds and souls of their tuition-paying students than show at least some faint modicum of faithfulness to Church teaching.

I'm impressed with the persistence of TFP Student Action.  The gospels recount a parable of Christ's, the one concerning the widow who constantly pestered the unjust judge, until he finally relented, granting the widow her deserved justice.  Christ didn't mention how many times she confronted the judge - but one would think that after 11,000 requests, the university would finally submit to get the students and parents off their back.

Nope.  This is about abortion rights and feminism.  In Farley's mind, justice has already been served. 

Pfleger Pfuror

Several days after receiving an award from Cardinal George, the Pfamous Pfather Pfleger gave a sermon on Divine Mercy Sunday wherein he openly called for the priestly ordination of women.



Note how many in the congregation responds.  Sad.

I hope Cardinal George comes down swiftly on Pfleger.  Sure, the man is a bombast and a publicity hound.  But he is also a dangerous crank, pflaunting the pfaith he once promised to protect and defend.  He also represents the bishop - in this case, ultimately, Cardinal George- so if the cardinal remains silent, then any credibility he has as leader of the Chicago Archdiocese and head of the USCCB (for all that's worth) vanishes.  To me, it appears that Pfleger wants the confrontation in order to pfoment pfurther division in the Church.  I say - don't give him that satisfaction.  Cardinal George should have a private meeting with the man and if he doesn't recapitulate, pfire him.  Then issue a simple statement that Pfleger has been removed from ministry with a short explanation, and leave it at that.  Battling this out in the open is exactly what Pfleger wants.  Don't give it to him.

This isn't a matter of difference of opinion, or political ideology.  This is a matter of a priest preaching heresy.  If he doesn't recant, remove him.  He'll end up on the Call-to-Action speaking circuit and the MSM short-list for Catholic talking-heads, but that's better than using the Church pulpit to spread dissent and heresy.  Cardinal George owes his pflock at least that much.

s/s to Pewsitter via Creative Minority Report

Another Round Of Fauxrdinations

In case you missed it, two more women were ordained ex-communicated this past Saturday.  *Yawn*   Heidi Schlumpf at the National Catholic Distorter wrote about it Monday.

While she was taking notes, Joe King, crack photographer for AoftheA, sneaked into the ceremony and took several photos.

This first one is the fauxrdination procession.  The two ex-communicants are in purple robes. 

Then the bishop arrived to commence the ceremony:

After donning traditional vestments, he invoked the spirit and led the community in prayer into heresy:

Family members celebrated after the two candidates were ordained ex-communicated:

Afterward, fellow ordained ex-communicated priests play-acting women, along with their husbands and wives, put on a revue.  The picture below is from when the group performed "Set Not Your Lamp 'Neath A Bushel, But Let It Burn Brightly O'er Your Head".  According to Joe, everything was going fine until hot wax ignited the girl's hair, but a quick-thinking cast member used their dunce-like bushel cap to douse the fire.

Sounds like a grand time.

Is It Real Or Is It Parody?

There's nothing more disappointing to a blogger who revels in parody and satire to come across something real that out-parodies any of my original parodies.  It's frustrating, you know?  Kinda like getting beat up by a girl - unless that girl is Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor.  I could live with that.

But this?  I don't know...this might be tough to overcome.

From the Sister of Mercy of the Americas:  PRAYER:  Earth Day Novena

As we are called to see ourselves and each other as earthen vessels that hold God's presence and bring God's gifts to the world, so too, this very world and all that is above, around and within it are Earthen Vessels - just as easily shattered, just as much in need of our loving attentiveness and support. May our hands align with God's in caressing and shaping these.

Together we proclaim:
We, and all creation are God's earthen vessels.
Help us, O Lord to live and act in harmony and interdependence with all creation.

Earth Focus Group New Jersey Mercy Justice Circle

Day One: trees, plants, crops, and forests. 

Day Two: water, oceans, rivers, streams and ponds. (what about lakes?  Aqua-bigots!)

Day Three: air, wind, climate and weather. (yes!  More hurricanes and tornadoes please!)

Day Four:  sun, clean energy and prevention of global warning. (they forgot to add 'hoax' at the end)

Day Five:  animals, especially endangered species. (what about threatened species?)  

Day Six: humankind. (woo-hoo!  We made the list!)

Day Seven: recycling and moderate personal consumption. (huh?)

Day Eight: proper use of chemicals and disposal of toxic waste. (I pray for that every day, you know)

Day Nine: Earth and unity. (all praise Gaia!)

The novena starts today, culminating on Earth Day.  Forget about the pope - pray for AlGore.

This bunch isn't on the list of 19 communities that were chosen for site visits by the Vatican's Apostolic Visitation.  Perhaps they ought to have been.

Pope Benedict's Birthplace Vandalized

The attacks continue.

From the Australian Broadcasting Corp:  Pope's Birthplace Sprayed With Abusive Graffiti

A vandal has spray-painted an abusive message on the house in southern Germany in which Pope Benedict was born.

Police spokesman Konrad Rutzinger says the graffiti was sprayed in blue on the front door of the house, a three-storey, 264-year-old building in Marktl am Inn in the predominantly Catholic state of Bavaria.

He says the message seems to be linked to the abuse scandals that have engulfed the Catholic Church.

"F*** yourselves" read the graffiti, according to photographs published in the German press. It has been hastily painted over.

A recent survey found that a quarter of Germany's Catholics were considering quitting the Church in the wake of reports of hundreds of cases of sexual abuse by clerics, some many decades old.

Last week clerics in Germany used Easter sermons to pray for the victims as public sentiment against the Church turned decidedly negative.

Remember to pray the novena.  As the prayers increase, the intensity and frequency of attacks will also increase.  Satan is attempting to discourage the faithful - we mustn't allow him the full measure of pleasure.  As the article states, plenty of Catholics are abandoning the Church - so part of the Evil One's goals are being accomplished.  Include these discouraged brethren in your prayers.  Now is not the time to flee.

BTW - It goes without saying that our prayers cannot stop at the conclusion of the novena.  The novena is just the beginning.

Oh - this is somewhat related - head over to Fr Z where he has links to two spurious polls concerning Pope Benedict XVI.  While it's true that these polls have no bearing on anything, other than fan the flames of irrational behavior and feed the bigoted beast of anti-Catholicism, it's important to show support for the Holy Father wherever and however he is attacked.

It's About The Ideology

I can't help but think that if Pope Benedict had decreed four years ago that the Church actually did have the authority to ordain women; and three years ago had changed the Church's teaching against artificial contraception; and two years ago had relaxed the discipline of celibacy for priests; and last year declared that homosexual acts were no longer disordered, that all the fake Catholycs - who want and desire such impossible things - would be ardently and passionately defending the Holy Father against the media-driven smear campaign this year.

Actually...if all that were true, there'd be no need for any smear campaign. 

Pray the novena.

Novena For Pope Benedict XVI

In response to the continued attacks in the media against the Holy Father, the Knights of Columbus are asking faithful Catholics everywhere to pray a novena, beginning today, Divine Mercy Sunday, and ending April 19th.  That day also happens to be the fifth anniversary of the start of Pope Benedict's pontificate.

Here's the link to the K of C site that includes a short video presentation by Bishop Lori of Connecticut.

Here's the link to the novena prayer card.  I'm displaying the prayer in my sidebar for the next nine days.

The pope is always in need of prayers, now more than ever.  Please participate in this endeavor.  Involve your friends and family members. 

And pray for his detractors, both within and without the Church.

Sister Patricia On: Church Music

(Sister Patricia Owens O'Flannery, OP, a post-modern pre-traditional omni-spiritual Dominican sister, periodically contributes to AoftheA. Today she has something to say concerning Church Music.)

Hello gentle readers! May the peace and joy of the hopeful springing of Spring Hope fill your consciousnesses with effusive light and peaceful wisdom! I so love this time of year, heralded by the Vernal Equinox, a wonderful feast day full of hope and change. Although...if my sinuses weren't suffering so from a relentless onslaught of allergies, I'd be enjoying this season so much more! Ah well - I read somewhere once that suffering is to be expected. While I admit there's truth in that statement, it is so rife with negative energy...thank Sophia for reiki though! That'll absorb the negative energy and disperse it into the Eternal Voidness!

Anyway...it's been some time since my last post (my apologies for the lengthy interlude!), but I haven't been a stranger to the blog. I've been reading regularly, and I noticed that LarryD recently posted on a hymnal recently published by the Laodicean Church. Those songs sound simply wonderful! I googled the church, hoping to find a local branch. Unfortunately, I only found obscure references about it in the Scriptures, and since the Scriptures can be so unreliable, I've come to the conclusion that ii must exist as an underground church, avoiding persecution from the Roman Church (akin to the Apostolic Visitation, but with secret agents from Opus Dei). Sadly, they're in hiding, but have taken a tremendous risk by unveiling their blessed hymnal. Such bravery! Such courage! I would join that fellowship in a heartbeat...so if any member is reading this, please contact me and let me know where you meet! Take me!! I'm trustworthy, and I won't let anyone know where you worship!

I feel that each of those hymns would touch my soul, like "Just As I Pretend To Be" and "Special Special Special". They speak to the heart, don't they? Especially "Special Special Special". It's important to remember that in Godde's eyes, we are indeed very special.

I'm struck by the similarity that many of these Laodecian hymns have with what is played during worship ceremonies throughout Catholic churches around the world, including my own community. Songs that build us up and emphasize our inherent divination, like "I Am The Bread Of Life", or 'Here I Am, Lord" (I like that one because it's like a conversation I have inside my head all the time!). And I just love "Let There Be Peace on Earth" - one of my favorites! Because, after all, peace does begin with me. And with you, too! And I can't think of a better moment to reflect on that truth - while doing liturgy. A perfect synthesis of deep theological pablum and anthrocentric contemplation while in the midst of fellowship. Being in the presence of Godde is icing on the cake!

Unfortunately, there appears to be a pushback against these wonderful hymns by some people in the church. A regression to the more (gak!) patriarchal traditional hymns and (ick!) Gregorian chant. Songs that are bereft of inclusive language and have strange words like thee and thou - some are even in a foreign language called "Latin". Such individuals claim that such hymns reflect 'authentic Catholic identity', but I say pish-posh. Singing a few rousing verses of "Table of Plenty" is much more Catholic than sitting in the pew listening to a bunch of hoity-toity cassocked choir singers. But to each their own, I suppose.

Music is so important to me, and church music even more so. It lifts the soul, fills the heart and makes some of the boring parts of worship go by a little bit more quickly. I'm sure that none of you knew this - perhaps you've had a suspicion or inkling - but years before I joined my order, I recorded inspirational songs. Yes it's true! In my youth, I was a member of a trio - I had the prettiest baritone voice you ever did hear, and on occasion I could push it up to countertenor. Here's one of our album covers:


I ditched the glasses years ago - I go with contacts now.

UN Judge to Britain: Detain The Pope!

The attacks get loonier and loonier - but here's the thing.  Someone, someday, will seriously attempt this.

From CathNewsUSA:  Prosecute Pope, UN Judge Proposes

United Nations judge Geoffrey Robertson has called on the British government to detain Pope Benedict during his upcoming visit to Britain, and send him to trial in the International Criminal Court for “crimes against humanity.” 

In an article published last week, Robertson said that jurists should invoke the same procedures that have been used to indict war criminals such as Slobodan Milosevic, C-Fam reports.

Robertson is one of five select jurists in the UN’s internal justice system responsible for holding UN officials accountable for corruption and mismanagement. His article was published in several countries and reported on by the Associated Press. 

Professor Hurst Hannum of the Fletcher School at Tufts University told the Friday Fax that it would be a “real stretch” to use the ICC since that court’s jurisdiction is mainly reserved for crimes during war.

More likely, Hannum said, is that experts would invoke the principle of “universal jurisdiction” so that national courts all over the world could detain the pope whenever he stepped foot on their soil. 

Yet Robertson insisted that the ICC could be used as long as the Pope’s sovereign immunity was waived and as long as jurists can show that the sex abuse scandal was carried out on a “widespread or systematic scale.”

Anti-Catholics and secularists across the globe would love nothing better than to see the Holy Father in handcuffs, led away to court and found guilty of perpetuating the sex abuse scandal.  I predict it would lead to a full-scale worldwide investigation of every cardinal, bishop, priest and deacon, which in effect would bring the work of the Church to a standstill.  The goal, of course, being the destruction of the Church.  This has nothing to do about children.

This judge's opinion is not so far-fetched.  There are lawyers in Kentucky who want to question the Holy Father under oath.  There are reports that lawyers in Australia are keeping a close eye on this case, and will consider similar tactics if this is successful.

But for crimes against humanity, in the ICC?  With these folks, anything is possible. 

When he became Pope in 2005, the Holy Father asked that we pray he not flee from the wolves.  That he will stand strong to defend the Church.  So keep praying, and when you're done, pray some more.

And let's not forget - the world has been battling against the Church since the beginning.  Nearly every Pope for the first three centuries or so were martyred.  Part of the job description is persecution.  It comes with being a Catholic.  We're not to actively seek out persecution, but we aren't permitted to run away from it either.  That's why I have little respect for those who are abandoning the Church - oh, I understand why they do it.  It's a weakness, a condition of our humanity.  They feel betrayed, or overwhelmed with disillusionment.  For many, it's the primeval 'fight or flight' response.  In this case, though - in the all-important matter of salvation - flight is the wrong response.  This isn't akin to abandoning your hometown baseball team because they traded your favorite player, or boycotting a manufacturer's product because they use slave labor, or even switching political parties over ideological issues.  Leaving the Church over the sex abuse scandal is an abandonment of faith.  Leaving the Church over the media's spin on the sex abuse scandal is an abandonment of reason.  There is no excuse for either.

Someday, down the road, some Eurocrat or bureaucratic anti-religionist may get their wish, and have the Holy Father arrested.  I pray it doesn't happen.  But for those who understand the nature of the battle we're engaged in, such a development ought not surprise us.  "Strike the shepherd and scatter the sheep" is the strategy of the enemy.  Right now the Church needs fighters.  The Holy Father needs his defenders.  The weak are running away, leaving fewer soldiers in the ranks to battle it out. 

So will you be scattered, or will you stand?

Celebutard Has-Been: Church-going Catholics Ought To Lose Custody Of Their Kids

Roseanne Barr, star of the wildly successful movie She-Devil, proves once again that people who make a living repeating words that others have scripted for them ought not to speak in public.

From No LibURLS:  Church-going Catholics "Should Lose Custody" Of Their Kids

For some reason, washed up celebrities simply cannot resist weighing in on the Catholic Church's ongoing abuse scandal.

The latest is Roseanne Barr, who last weekend wrote on her personal blog that Catholics who bring their children to church should lose custody. "Taking your kid where you know sex offenders hang out is inexcusable!!!"

This is but the latest example of vitriol directed at the Church in recent days, and just the most recent demonstration of Roseanne's deranged anti-Catholic views (h/t Big Hollywood headlines).

In a brief blog post, Roseanne wrote,

The pedo priests are trying to cover up the number of LITTLE GIRLS they have molested too, as if that doesn't matter as much as what happens to boys. Trust me, the number of girls raped and molested by priests is at least double the boys. They are trying to cover it all up so that they can end up purging gay priests, and laying the blame on them. The fact is pedos like to rape both boys and girls, and only a small number of pedos are exclusively into male children. I am starting to think that any parent who takes their kids to catholic churches from now on should lose custody. Taking your kid where you know sex offenders hang out is inexcusable!!!

So let's see...Sinead O'Connor has bashed the Church, calling it "utterly anti-Christian and evil".  And earlier this week, Rosie O'Donnell compared the Church to the Jonestown suicide cult.

Keep it classy, ladies.  You too, Rosie (either one, take your pick).

What I'd like to point out is that, according to a LifesiteNews article, a 2004 study showed that "the physical sexual abuse of students in schools is 100 times the abuse by priests".  Using her logic, those parents ought to lose their custody rights as well.

Any guesses on who the next celebutard to spew vitriol and venom will be?  Sarah Silverman?  Michael Moore?  Wanda Sykes?  Bill Maher?  Rachel Maddow?  I'm not taking bets, but who knows, a "Celebutard Pool" might be fun.

Then again, why give these folks more publicity than they deserve.  Does anyone seriously care what these celebutards think?  And for the lost souls who do listen to them - do they deserve any consideration either?  Other than our prayers for their conversion. 

I didn't think so.

Attention Job Seekers!

The economy is still in rough shape.  People are looking for work.  AoftheA is here to help.

From Call-to-Action:


Call To Action Job Posting
Church Justice Coordinator (Part-Time)

Call To Action, a national progressive Catholic organization working for equality and justice, seeks an organized, energetic part-time (17.5 hours per week) Church Justice Organizer to coordinate Call To Action's JustChurch program (www.ctausa.org/justchurch/). 

The JustChurch program brings to national attention local injustices and motivates grassroots efforts to bring about positive change.

The Church Justice Coordinator will put their grassroots community organizing skills and their Catholic knowledge to work to help Call To Action build a just and inclusive church.  The successful candidate will be committed to social justice, have grassroots and netroots organizing skills, have outstanding communication skills, be a team player, and prioritize tasks so that she/he may assist in media campaigns, create educational and action materials, and build relationships with other justice organizations.

This position will require some night and weekend work. While this position will involve periodic travel, the position will be based at Call To Action's Chicago office.

Who knew that organizing a 'just Church' can be accomplished in only 17-1/2 hours a week?  At night?  Over the weekend?  Maybe if they increased their commitment, they'd get farther along in their goals.  Maybe?

Since this position is based in Chicago, perhaps Fr Pfleger can get hired.  This group is right up his alley.

Oh wait - I overlooked this statement near the bottom:

People of color and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Angry white guys need not apply.  But...Call-to-Action is inclusive.  Riiiiiiiight.

Their posting needs a little...polishing.

Call-to-Action, a national aging fake Catholyc organization working for heresy and secularism, seeks an organized, energetic part-time (17.5 hours per week) Church Hurt My Feelings Coordinator to coordinate Call-to-Action's JustMyChurch program.

The JustMyChurch program brings to national attention local hurt feelings and aggravates grassroots efforts to bring about changes we demand because our feelings are really, really hurt.

The Church Hurt My Feelings Coordinator will put their Marxist, liberation theology skills and faithful dissenting Catholyc beliefs to work to help Call-to-Action destroy the Catholic Church and create one in our image.  The successful candidate will be indoctrinated by the public education system, be committed to social justice, have grassroots aggravation skills, have outstanding communication skills, be a team player, is willing to fill in as liturgy presider from time to time, can protest outside the cathedral during ordination services, create misinformation media packets and build relationships with other heretical fake Catholyc groups and leftist ultra-liberal organizations.

If you ever voted Republican in your life, or said a prayer for the Pope, or know what a rosary is for, or are straight - applying would be a waste of time.

I think that's more accurate.

Rare Early Episode Of "The Journey Home" Found!

One of EWTN's popular shows is "The Journey Home" with Marcus Grodi - wherein he interviews various former Protestants and non-Christians who have entered the Church and discusses their conversion story.  It can be seen on television and heard on the radio.

Well, if you're familiar with the show (and even if you're not), then you'll find this is to be really cool.  The Research and Archival Department at Acts of the Apostasy has discovered a 5:00+ minute fragment of an early audio recording from the program's very first season.  And when I say 'early', I mean 'early'. 

Click the link to listen!