A Little Fun.

The Same Old Things.

I hear a lot of Confessions. Not that I am complaining (at least most of the time). And it really heats up during Lent and Holy Week. I hear 3 to 5 hours a day during Holy Week. I want to ensure that there is no excuse for not going to Confession before Easter. (It also has the added benefit of annoying the liturgists. This is always a plus.)

One thing that I hear over and over again is people apologizing for confessing the same type of sin over and over again. First of all, let me assure you that we priest don't grade you on originality. We really don't want you to come up with new and original sins or combination to keep us entertained. Anyways, after 15 years I think it would be difficult to come up with something I haven't heard. Off the top of my head, I think the only things I am missing on my checklist are cannibalism and kidnapping.

Second, it is important to realize that most people do confess the same type of sin over and over again. It is not because they are not, with God's grace, working on conversion. It is because our characters are fairly fixed and rarely change. And the devil attacks us precisely where we are weakest. Is it any wonder that that is where we sin.

So don't give up! Keep working with God's help on strengthening those weak areas and don't worry about boring the priest.

Great Overview On The Media's Attack On The Pope.

Jimmy Akin has a great, comprehensive, and fair overview of the Wisconsin abuse case the NYTimes is milking to attack the Holy Father. Read it here.

Inspired By West Coast Liturgies, They Are Preparing For 2011.

Someone Saw "Cats" Too Often.

You're Entitled

This Explains A Lot!

Awesome!

Congressional Candidate Baby Stephanie pointed out a site that includes this (too bad the posters are all sold out.)

Keep The Change.

"This is what change looks like."
--President Obama, 21 March 2010.

Passiontide!

The Chicago Way

How to fight a Chicago phony and his friends.

Truth Hurts.

Help With Gum.

Anyone know how to get ground in gum out of cloth. Some _____ left gum on one of the pews and someone sat on in. We have tried ice, no luck. Any other ideas. (I am about to the point of announcing that if I see anyone with gum in church, they will be asked to leave and not return.)

Cartoon That Got A High School Student In Trouble.

The World Turned Upside Down

Somehow I think this is appropriate today. The world is indeed turned upside down. The nation that was once a shining light of freedom is selling its soul. Perhaps there is hope however. Remember this was famously played after the last battle of a little adventure that began when the American people became fed up with politicians infringing on their freedom.

Text Of The Telegram I Am Sending Stupak.

Dear Sir,
Words cannot express my disappointment, revulsion, and disgust at your new position on the Health Care legislation. To believe that an executive order changes the anti-life nature of the legislation marks you as a fool or a liar or, more likely both. While I am not a constituent of yours, I will making it my mission to see you voted out of office. I will donate the maximum contribution to your opponent, whoever it might be. You had the opportunity to be an example of integrity and courage and to lead your party out of the wasteland, but instead revealed yourself as a gutless hack.

Update: Ok, it seems telegrams are passe. I will try to fax it.

Update: Daniel Benishek, MD is running against Spelunker Bart.

Why I Will Not Support The Anaheim RE Congress.

I had been working on a post about why I won't send people to or support the Anaheim Congress, but this does a better job. Upshot, going supports an institution that promotes subverts the Faith through many of its speakers.

Stupid Is, Well, Stupid.

Hey Doofette, the Solemnity celebrated today is Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, not Saint Joseph the Worker. (Botox paralyzing your brain huh?) How can taking over health care, imposing an oppressive government bureaucracy, seizing a large portion of people's income, subsidizing and mandating contraception, failing to provide conscience protection, and most importantly subsidizing, directly and indirectly, abortion be considered "life affirming"? Liberal affirming, yes. Socialist affirming, yes. Government affirming, yes. Life affirming, no! I do not give a fig if one or a hundred or a thousand deluded, dying religious orders defy the Church and support your 2700 pages of crap. The truth of the Gospel is clear. How dare you try to use my Church and a great saint to cover your lies and deception. I think it is about time for you to be honest with us and yourself and find a church the actually reflects your values. The Church of Satan is based in your district isn't it? Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

(Yet another reason that Doofette is one off my "reasons for celibacy".)

Why Do I Feel Like I Work At Rose Law?

We had a visit today from the industrial schreders. Part of my Spring parish de-junking project.

New Item On My Travel Itenary.

This May a young man from my parish is graduating from Annapolis and I am going back for a few days to be in attendance. (Jake got his first choice of assignment too: Marine aviation. He will be flying copters for the Corp.) The plan is to do a few other things too: taking in the Smithsonian especially the new Air and Space annex, visiting the Marine museum at Quantico, saying a Mass at the National Shrine, and maybe a trip up to Gettysburg.

I may have discovered something else to do. SondraK, slayer of Lympians and mistress of Corgyn, points out that ex-Catholic and reason for celibacy #34 Cindy Sheehan is camped out on the Mall. I may have to stop in and pay Cindy a visit. For some time I have wanted to ask her if she has ever thought about what her son would think of what she is doing. (I suspect he would not be pleased.)

Pray For Phillip!

Please remember to pray for Phillip Jennings, grandson of Tara the Loved Sinner and my junior-est godson, who is having major surgery today.

Just Squeaking By.

Scenario #1: Inevitably someone at a wedding will ask me, "Hey, does this count for my Sunday obligation?" After, I give him THE LOOK and say no, they respond, "Ah, you mean I have to go to Mass twice in ONE weekend?" (This is one of the reasons I won't do a wedding Mass after 2:00 pm. Also, this is why I alter the Mass schedule when Christmas falls on Saturday or Monday. No double dipping on my watch!)

Scenario #2: After I announce the fast and abstinence laws for Lent, some old fart (I mean senior citizen) will say, "This is great I am old so I don't have to do it anymore!" I usually respond, "Well, you aren't required to do it, but if you love God so little and you have no health reason to avoid fast and abstinence, I suppose it is OK." (Yes, I can be mean.)

Scenario #3: The bishops lift the obligation for holy days that fall on Saturday or Monday and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God(OK, the last one is only in some place, like here). Also, Fridays outside of Lent, go ahead and name your own penance, which, for most people, means just forget about it. Worship and communal penance are severely weakened in the name of convenience.

Scenario #4: The Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, falls on a Friday in Lent. Canon Law lifts the obligation to abstain when a solemnity falls on a Friday. Fair enough, though I would argue that it really ought to apply only to those areas where Friday abstinence outside of Lent has been unambiguously retained. What I find troubling is how many people are seemingly rejoicing in not celebrating the Lord's Sacrifice. I could see it if we still observed the traditional Lenten fast, but do we really need to eat meat to honor St. Joseph? This seems to be yet another case of just doing the minimum and patting ourselves on the back for it.

Daniel Boone Is Dead.

For 190 years, yes I know. I am talking about TV's Daniel Boone, Fess Parker. Those older than me may remember him as Davey Crockett, but to me he will always be Daniel Boone, a staple of post-school TV viewing during my early years.

What Does It Take To Suppress A Congregation?

Some folks are wondering just what changes the Vatican visitation is going to mandate for the Legionaries of Christ. Suppression is, of course, a possibility, but not, in my view, a likely one. I suspect that the possibility most mentioned, Rome imposing new leadership that will purge Macielism from the congregation, is what is going to happen. I think this is the right thing. This congregation can be saved and gotten on the right track in spite of its founder.

Closer to home, we have a collection of dying congregations of religious women coming out full tilt for Obamacare in opposition to the stand of the bishops. Here we have several groups promoting dissent and undermining Church teaching and discipline. These are groups that ought to be suppressed, though I doubt anyone has the guts to do it. Strike that, time will take care of the problem, though not soon enough.

FYI, here is the 'dishonor roll' taken from Creative Minority Report. (Notice how many of the usual suspects are present.)

Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA
LCWR President
Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Joan Chittister, OSB
Co-Chair Global Peace Initiative of Women
Erie, PA

Sr. Mary Persico, IHM
President
Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Scranton, PA

Sr. Susan Hadzima, IHM
Councilor for Missioning and Community Life
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Scranton, PA

Mary Genino (RSHM)
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
Western American Province.

Nancy Conway CSJ
Congregation Leadership Team
The Congregation of St. Joseph

Debra M. Sciano, SSND
Provincial Leader
Milwaukee Province, School Sisters of Notre Dame

Josephine Gaugier, OP
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Holy Rosary Mission Chapter Prioress
Adrian, MI

Kathleen Nolan, OP
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Office of the General Council

Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA
President
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
La Crosse, WI

Corinne Weiss
Servants of Jesus Leadership Team
Saginaw MI

Adrian Dover OP
Prioress
Dominican Sisters of Houston, Texas

Rose Mary Dowling, FSM
President
Franciscan Sisters of Mary

Leadership Team
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(from Mary Martens, BVM, Administrative Assistant)

Beatrice Haines, OLVM
President, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters
Huntington IN

Joan Saalfeld, SNJM, Provincial
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
U.S.-Ontario Province

Jo'Ann De Quattro, SNJM
Sisters of the Holy Names
U.S.-Ontario Province Leadership Team

Sharon Simon, OP
President
Racine Dominicans

Maryann A. McMahon, O.P.
Vice President
Dominican Sisters of Racine, WI

Agnes Johnson, OP
Vice President
Racine Dominicans

Pat Mulcahey, OP
Prioress of Sinsinawa Dominicans

Pam Chiesa, PBVM
President
Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco

Patricia Anne Cloherty, PBVM
Leadership Team, Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco

Gloria Inés Loya
Leadership Team
Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco

Gloria Marie Jones, OP
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
Congregational Prioress and Council

Mary Litell
Provincial Councilor
Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity St. Francis Province

Theresa Sandok, OSM
Servants of Mary (Servite Sisters)
Ladysmith, Wisconsin

Sr Claire Graham SSS
General Director
Sisters of Social Service
Encino CA

Margaret Byrne CSJP - Congregation Leader
Teresa Donohue CSJP - Assistant Congregation Leader
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

Sr. Carmelita Latiolais, S.E.C.
Sisters of the Eucharistic Covenant

Joan Mumaw, IHM – Vice President
On behalf of the Leadership Council
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Monroe, Michigan

Sister Clare of Assisi Pierre, SSF
Sisters of the Holy Family
New Orleans, LA

Sister Marla Monahan, SND
Provincial
Sisters of Notre Dame
(St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, KY
and St. Charles Care Center in Covington, KY)

Vivien Linkhauer, SC
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, United States Province
Greensburg, PA

Dolores Maguire
Sisters of the Holy Faith
Northern California LCWR Region XIV

Sr. Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB
Subprioress
Mount St. Scholastica
Atchison, KS

Marianites of Holy Cross
Sr. Suellen Tennyson, MSC
Congregational Leader

Barbara Hagedorn, SC
Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
Mt. St. Joseph, Ohio

Francine Schwarzenberger OP
Dominican Sisters of Peace
Denver, Colorado

Sister Maureen McCarthy
School Sisters of St. Francis
U.S. Provincial Team
Milwaukee, WI

Eileen C. Reid, RJM
Provincial Superior
Religious of Jesus and Mary
Washington DC

Sister Cecilia Dwyer, O.S.B.
Prioress
Benedictine Sisters of Virginia

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
Sister Joann Sambs, CSA
General Superior

Sisters of St. Francis
Tiffin, Ohio
(from Sr. Mary Kuhlman)

Sr. Helen McDonald, SHCJ
Province Leader
Society of the Holy Child Jesus

Leadership Team
Sisters of the Precious Blood
Dayton, OH

The Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis
Sister Jane Blabolil, SSJ-TOSF
Sister Michelle Wronkowski, SSJ-TOSF
Sister Dorothy Pagosa, SSJ-TOSF
Sister Linda Szocik, SSJ-TOSF

Sr. Gladys Guenther SHF
Sisters of the Holy Family
Congregational President
Fremont, CA

Sr. Dorothy Maxwell, Councilor
Sisters of St. Dominic
Blauvelt New York

Sheral Marshall, OSF
Provincial Councilor
Sisters of St Francis

Marilyn Kerber, SNDdeN
Canonical Representative, Ohio Province

Sisters of St. Louis, California Region
(from Sr. Michele Harnett, SSL)

Ruth Goodwin, OSF
Sisters of ST. Francis of Philadelphia

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Leadership Team

Sr. Joanne Buckman, OSU
Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland

Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

The Gunny Is On The Job.

Statue Found, Doofus Arrested.

Here is the story:

What once was lost, now is found. A statue stolen from a Salt Lake area church is back where it belongs.

Salt Lake police found the statue of St. Ambrose Monday afternoon, now it's back at the Catholic church that bears his name. The church got a tip from someone claiming their buddy stole the statue, and they knew where it was. Police looked into it, and found the statue in the garage of a home in Midvale and returned it to the St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Salt Lake City.

Officers arrested 31 year old Christopher Hayward for possession of stolen property. He's facing second degree felony charges. Police said the statue was damaged with permanent marker on his chest with a superman looking design, and the nose was scratched up a bit. Regardless, the father at St. Ambrose is just glad to have it back.

"(I’m) very happy, very pleased, grateful to everyone who prayed to bring it back here to the parish," said Father Andrzei Skrzypiec.

He said the statue has a sacred sentimental value for the people at St. Ambrose. Had it not been returned, it could have never have been replaced. ABC 4 is told the sculptor died several years ago.

Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl (Literal Version)

Scum At Work In Salt Lake.

Eight-foot bronze statue stolen from St. Ambrose Church in Salt Lake City

For two decades, an eight-foot bronze statue of Saint Ambrose has greeted Sunday morning parishioners upon entering the Salt Lake City Catholic Church. Yesterday, however, there was a vacant concrete pedestal at the north entrance. The statue had been stolen sometime late Friday evening or early Saturday morning.

Father Andrzej (Andrew) Skrzypiec, pastor of St. Ambrose, arrived at the church Saturday afternoon to prepare for the 5 p.m. Mass and noticed the empty pedestal. A few screws were left lying on the ground.

Due to the size of the sculpture, he suspects the culprits may have used a crane to remove it. "There is really nothing sacred or respected anymore," the priest said. "Churches were something that even criminals wouldn't vandalize." Father Andrew and members of the parish felt violated and sad.

The statue, originally valued at $30,000, was sculptured by Angelo Caravaglia in 1988. Saint Ambrose is the parish's patron saint. He was a bishop of Milan and a defender of orthodoxy against the Arians in fourth-century Italy. He was named a Father and one of the four original Doctors of the Church.

In the stolen bronze piece, Caravaglia depicted Saint Ambrose in a walking position with his right foot in front of the left. He carried a book tucked under his left arm and a sword in his right hand. A miter on his head signified his role as a bishop.

Father Andrew and parishioners are pleading for the safe return of the statue and are hoping it isn't senselessly destroyed for scrap metal.

St. Ambrose Catholic Church is located at 1975 South 2300 East in Salt Lake City. Anyone with information about the stolen statue is urged to call the parish rectory at (801) 485-5610.

(From an article at Examiner.com)

UPDATE!! Monday 2215 MDT I just got word that the statue has been recovered. I will try to post details tomorrow.

Good Night Mr. Phelps.

Thanks for the REAL Mission Impossible. Rest in peace.

How I Feel This Morning.

Did I mention that I hate Daylight Savings Time?

Yet More Proof That The Stole Is To Be Worn UNDER The Chasuble.

After all, one wouldn't want to be confused with water-witches.

(Zucchetto spin to the Famous LarryD.)

My Next Car.

(Zuccetto spin to Barneso!)

Dat Daylight Sabings Time Is From Da Debil, Bobby Boucher!

I hate it. It serves no useful purpose. It needs to be abolished. It is the only reason I would want to live in either Arizona or Hawaii.

Good News!

Dark Horizons reports:

At last its back in proper episodic form. The first twelve episodes from the all new season will begin airing on Comedy Central in June says the network.

We can now look forward to much more of Bender telling people to bite his shiny, metal ***.

Safety Dance: Literal Video

Priest Does The Right Thing, Is Supported By His Bishop, And Scewered By The PC Crowds.

Pop on over to Fr. Z's and take a look.

Sandra Bullock Razzie Awards 2010

Prayers Please.

Please remember my mother Kristen in your prayers tonight. She broke her hip and will have surgery tonight or tomorrow.

Update: Sunday, March 7th, 1312 MST: Mom had her surgery this morning. The doctor said that she came through it fine. But, please keep her in your prayers for her rehab and recover. (Does this now mean that I have a bionic mom?)

File Under, "How The Heck Was This Guy Made A Bishop?"

Catholic Culture gives us the following headline: Irish bishop 'embarassed' by kissing the Pope's ring.

An Irish bishop has caused a stir by saying that he was uncomfortable kissing the Pope's ring when the Irish bishops met with the Pontiff in February. Bishop Bill Murphy of Kerry said he was "rather embarrassed" when other Irish bishops kissed the Pope's ring rather than shaking his hand, but he followed suit. The gesture, he said, is "out of touch with modern thinking."

I simply cannot understand how people can still be entranced by 'modern thinking'. Has it really done us so much good? Has it done the church in Ireland so much good? I think not. The Pope is not a business executive, he is not your equal, he is not a rock star or celebrity. He is the Vicar of Christ on Earth. Kissing the ring is a gesture of humility and submission to the Universal Pastor. If the Irish Bishops need anything, it is a good dose of humility and submission.

Dave Lister Meets Richard Sharpe.

I was watching Sharpe's Gold again and I swear that one of the British deserters was Craig Charles, better known as Dave Lister from Red Dwarf. This film isn't listed on his credits and he isn't listed as one of the actors, but I would still swear it was him. OK, he didn't call Napoleon a smeghead, but it had to be him.

Gems Found On Facebook.

Cinema Nirvana.

We all have an internal fantasy universe. To a greater or lesser degree, this can correspond to reality.The fans of Josh Whedon, creator of Buffy, Angel, and Firefly, call his the Whedonverse. Well, I have the Krautverse and it corresponds to reality to a high degree. The great villains of the Krautverse are, in no particular order: demons, Nazis, Commies (include here the liberal subgroup), Heretics, Hippies, Clowns (mimes are a particularly creepy sub-group), Vampires, and Zombies. Combining two or more of these categories results in the possibility of a good book or movie. Zombieland has zombies and clowns. The Death Master has hippies and vampires. Hellboy had demons and Nazis. (I have been toying with writing a Nazi/vampire novel. But I lack one thing; talent in writing fiction.) I have yet to encounter a Nazi vampire movie. The Keep had sort of zombie Nazis, but so far there have been no good Nazi zombie movies. (I am deliberately ignoring the 70s-80s Italian flicks that are little more than soft-core porn.) But now there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it came in the mail yesterday: Dead Snow. I will let you know what I think, but I expect good things from what I read over at Kindertrauma.

Sometimes You Have To Take The Gloves Off.

I got tired of people helping themselves to the donations intended for the local food bank.
(I have thought of posting this on the pay-day loan places in my town.)

When "South Park" And The Real World Meet...

it can't be a good thing. Matt Archbold over at Creative Minerority Report points us to a post over at Cheeky Pink Girl concerning a mandatory assembly for public school students in Racine, Wisconsin. The inmates of are shown how to substitute words for "vulgar" words. Obviously, this is intended to produce sensitivity among the inmates, I mean students.

Holy synchronicity Batman! This is right out of South Park episode 614 "Death Camp of Tolerance". Take a look a this clip where the boys are taken to the Museum of Tolerance. Why do I get the feeling that all this assembly did was teach the kids new words to insult each other with? And I bet they had to make macaroni pictures of people of all different races, colors, and sexual preferences.

Where Your Parking Is, There Is Your Heart.

At both of our local hospitals, physician parking is front and center closest to the door. Usually, employee parking is in Outer Mongolia. What does this tell us of their priorities?