FURY DOESN'T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE MY MOOD

On 11/03/10, Al Qaeda in Iraq took it upon themselves to murder Catholics who were worshiping in their own church, bothering nobody. The story, from Catholic News says, among other things:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Catholic Online) - Catholics, other Christians, other people of faith and people of good throughout the world continue to mourn and reflect upon the brutal killing of Catholics at Holy Mass in Baghdad last Sunday. However, those associated with the Muslim extremists who perpetrated the evil act continue to spew their hateful and violent rhetoric. We are committed to updating our global readers on the unfolding danger that these threats portend against Catholics and other Christians. Serious times demand a serious response.

Asia News has provided excellent coverage of the massacre and its aftermath. On November 3, they filed this report: "The so-called 'War Department' of the 'Islamic State of Iraq' (ISI) al-Qaeda in Iraq issued a statement on the Web to announce that the passing of the deadline of its "ultimatum" to the Egyptian Coptic Church to release two Egyptian women, Camilia Cheh and Wafa Constantine, wives of Coptic priests, whom according to the terrorists are detained against their will in a convent after converting to Islam. Their conversion has been denied by all the Islamic religious authorities in Egypt, and the Muslim Brotherhood have harshly attacked the authors of the massacre in Baghdad. Al-Qaeda, however, confirms that all Christians and their churches have become "legitimate targets" of the terrorist group and are therefore are in danger. The message issued today by the Iraqi cell of al-Qaeda also makes explicit reference to the Vatican.'

"While confirming its desire to attack the Christians, the terrorists say they want to give one more chance to the Catholics of the Church of Rome. They claim that "the War Office of the Islamic State of Iraq announced that starting today all the churches and Christian organizations and their leaders are a legitimate target for mujahedeen. These politicians and their bosses in the Vatican should know that the sword will not fall on the heads of their followers if they proclaim their innocence, and distance themselves from what has been done by the Egyptian Church. Al-Qaeda calls on Catholics to "send a clear signal to the mujahedeen of their effort to put pressure on the Egyptian Church in order to obtain the release of two women, their prisoners."

My first impulse is to want to eradicate every single member of this murderous death cult masquerading as a legitimate religion! I am, however, a good Catholic woman who will, instead, pray for the repose of the souls of the dead and for the return to sanity of those who orchestrated this shameful and despicable attack.

And by the way, have we heard ANYTHING at all in the so-called "elite media" about this OUTRAGE! I think not. And that is the most troubling aspect of all!

QUIT PICKING ON MY CHURCH AND MY POPE!

People seem to have developed a very selective memory on the subject of the abusive priest scandal in the Catholic Church, forgetting as they have that all faiths have been tarred with the brush of this despicable abuse of the most vulnerable persons among us and that the current Pope has been in office since the death five years ago of Pope John Paul II, during whose tenure MOST if not all of the abuse took place (during the 1980s), with the Pope doing absolutely nothing about it. Nor have the Jews done anything about the Rabbis accused in New York of abuse.

The New York Times is leading the slander and frankly folks, I'm tired of hearing about this crap! It happened, it was horrible, it is being dealt with! What else do you want from the Catholic Church? Seriously! The Pope's sermon yesterday, Palm Sunday, alluded to the scandal in the view of a newspaper's assumptions:

While he did not directly mention the scandal involving sexual abuse of children by priests, parts of his sermon could be applicable to the crisis he and the Roman Catholic Church are facing. [Note: the abuse happened in the 70s and 80s kids - it isn't a crisis NOW except in the 2nd rate and biased minds of the NYT editors!]

The newspapers are positing a point of view that the Pope will express quite firmly and clearly should he wish to do so. He hasn't. So don't assume. It makes an ass out of you for sure. It's all very fashionable and trendy to adopt a shallow, brittle pose of anti-Catholicism - it's also bullshit!

UPDATE: The Anchoress has, as usual, done her impeccable research and covers the roots of the story here. The horror stories quote a priest who was never interviewed by the NYT!

PATRICK KENNEDY - MAYBE HE DOESN'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT HIS "FAITH" AS HE THINKS HE DOES!

Rep. Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat and son of the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, was criticized by Bishop Tobin of Providence for his attacks on the Catholic bishops’ opposition to abortion funding in health care legislation. Recently, Kennedy revealed that Bishop Tobin had asked him to refrain from receiving communion because of his public contradiction of Catholic teaching. Rep. Kennedy is playing fast and loose with reality here since the good Bishop asked this of the Representative in 2007 (long before the health care debate even began) and now the whining little scion of the reprehensible Senator is trying to lecture the Catholic Church on how it is supposed to behave and believe vis-a-vis the health care debate as it pertains to abortion, which any intelligent and marginally well-educated Catholic knows is a big no-no! It's called MURDER, Rep. Kennedy. It isn't an elective belief. It's an absolute. Supporting abortion rights, however politically expedient it may seem to you, is an endangerment of your immortal soul.

Rep. Kennedy - quit trying to be a Catholic scholar. You don't have the requisite intelligence to do so. Listen to what your Bishop is telling you and act on it. Or don't receive communion. It's your choice. Just as it's my choice to pray for the health of your immortal soul.

FEEL THE JOY!

I have been deeply emotional of late, and this stunning ordination film clip really got the waterworks going! The faces of these five young men glow with the sublime happiness they are experiencing of entering formally into the service of God!

NOTRE DAME IS WHOLLY "TONE DEAF" ON THE SUBJECT OF GIVING AN HONORARY DEGREE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

Bishops’ statements on Notre Dame’s invitation to Barack Obama:

- Bishop John D’Arcy, Fort Wayne-South Bend
- Cardinal Francis George, Chicago
- Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Galveston-Houston
- Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Milwaukee
- Archbishop John Nienstedt, St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Archbishop Eusebius Beltran, Oklahoma City
- Bishop Edward Slattery, Tulsa
- Archbishop John Myers, Newark
- Archbishop Alfred Hughs, New Orleans
- Bishop Joseph Martino and Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty, Scranton
- Bishop Thomas Doran, Rockford, Ill.
- Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Phoenix
- Bishop Gregory Aymond, Austin
- Bishop Robert Lynch, St. Petersburg
- Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Sioux City
- (Paul Schenck, on behalf of) Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Harrisburg, Pa.
- Bishop William Lori, Bridgeport, Conn. UPDATED
- Bishop George Murry, S.J., Youngstown, Ohio UPDATED

These high ranking Bishops are making clear statements concerning the disconcerting invitation of The Won to Notre Dame for the award of an honorary degree to the baby-murderer in chief of this nation, our President Barack Hussein Obama. Despite the clear teaching of the Catholic Church on the subject of "giving scandal to the faithful" - which this invitation certainly does - or honoring you faith properly which this invitation does not.

The President actively promotes and supports two initiatives that are anathema to Catholics: embryonic stem cell reasearch and abortion on demand. What part of stupid mental disconnect on the part of whoever at Notre Dame issued and approved this inviation? Isn't an apology to all Catholics appropriate!? and Soon?!

Over 259,140 signatures on the online petition at "Happy Catholic blog" so far. Go on over and make your voice heard if you agree that this is a travesty!

UPDATE: There are those who find the protests somehow not terribly Catholic in nature and who claim that Catholics should see this as an opportunity to teach our belief to the rest of the world. What rest of the world is that? The one that thinks it has the right to tell Catholics what their beliefs should be without invitation? The world that thinks it is okay to pacify and generally kiss the butts of Muslim lunatics who want to kill us because of our beliefs. Of generations of listening to various church leaders promulgate rules for Catholics, only to see those leaders allow prominent Catholics to bypass those rules, as when Jacqueline Kennedy married a divorced man in the Greek Orthodox Church which should count according to the Church's teachings as both adultery and sacrilege. But noooooooooooooo - Jackie O. was the Queen of Camelot and above reproach in the Church's eyes. This is called a big fat honking double standard and it ticks me off something fierce. John Kerry never satisfactorily explained that he had been annulled in the Church before remarrying his sugar mama - TuhRaza!! Ted Kennedy drove Joan to drink and then divorced her; remarrying supposedly in the Church with no admonishment from church leaders. Now, finally, the Church is drawing the line in the sand! It's long overdue and it doesn't surprise me that other faiths don't have much respect for the Catholic Church.

THE POPE AND THE CONDOM CONTROVERSY

The excellent Benedict has ignited a firestorm of criticism because of his comments that condoms may, rather than impeding the spread of HIV, AIDS and other STDs, actually be encouraging their spread. From the standpoint of Catholic doctrine, the Pope is absolutely right. Abstinence is the only surefire way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases of all kinds. It also prevents the need for abortions, which is likewise absolutely forbidden by the Catholic Church. Condoms can fail and many men (and women) are either ridiculously cavalier about their use or just plain stupid in believing that "it cannot happen to me" - when it clearly can. Else how to explain all the unplanned pregnancies. I've never understood why anyone sane would have unprotected sex. I still don't!

Abstinence is also an excellent builder of self-esteem for the single person, since the Church expects those who seriously consider themselves Catholics to abstain from sexual relations except within the marriage bond. And promiscuity is not a lifestyle that leads a person to a good self image. Been there, done that, didn't benefit from it!

I realize that people of different (or no) faiths may not think that way. That is, however, no reason for the Pope to restrain his teachings to the Catholic faithful in order to spare the feelings of believers in other religions. It is also wholly inappropriate AND outrageous for anyone who is not Catholic to dare to criticize this pronouncement or to tell the Pope how to interpret the laws of the Catholic Church! How dare you?

Here's your yardstick. If a Muslim cleric made precisely the same pronouncement, would you have the effrontery to run your big stupid mouth? No, you wouldn't dare. How then is your babbling okay when Catholics are involved? Answer: It isn't!

Problem solved.

THE POPE MEETS THE BOTOX QUEEN!

La Pelosi apparently was under the impression that she and Pope Benedict were going to be muy simpatico during their audience today at noon Vatican time. Not so much! According to this statement from the Vatican:

Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.

His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.

Guess ole Nancy's foray into moral theology was a big fat bust, eh? Thank you God for the excellent Benedict, a Pope who doesn't equivocate, nor is he cowed by someone of enormous self-importance such as the (as described in a UK newspaper) "ghastly" Nancy Pelosi.

PRAYERS FOR OUR NATION

I received an email from my cousin over the weekend. He is joining with his own church (in Ohio) to participate in a nationwide weekend of modified fasting (except those with health concerns) combined with prayer on behalf of the safety and future well being of our nation, asking God to protect us from those who would wish us ill. I think it’s one heck of an idea and intend to participate. At the very least it will give me incentive to keep my hot little hands out of the leftover Halloween candy!

There is another Internet push to rally as many as are willing, asking us to pray for our nation at 9 p.m. ET each day. This is another worthwhile effort and one in which I hope you will participate. The more people besieging heaven on our nation’s behalf between now and the election is a very good thing.

In further news:

“This Sunday, all the parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington will pray the Litany of St. Thomas More, martyr and patron saint of statesmen, politicians and lawyers. We will ask St. Thomas More to intercede so all statesmen and politicians may be courageous and effective in their defense and promotion of the sanctity of human life. We hope Sen. Biden will carefully listen to the Church’s 2,000 years of testimony on abortion and that he will join in the defense and promotion of the sanctity of life.”

Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, bishop, Catholic Diocese of Wilmington

Bishop Malooly is Senator “Rosary Joe” Biden’s own Bishop! I think of myself as a "constantly striving and frequently failing" Catholic and I think any Catholic who is making a sincere effort feels the same way. I don't think I know everything about my faith and so I am pretty much always moving forward with explorations of it. I find it somewhat perplexing that both Rep. Pelosi and Senator Biden seem to interpret their faith to suit themselves and tend to give the impression than they know more than the Church heirarchy about Church doctrine. Trust me guys, being a second rate politician doesn't impute or imply any kind of deep doctrinal wisdom. It is true that if I were to tell either of you (or Senator Kerry) to "stick with what you know", you'd have little to talk about - but wouldn't that be somewhat peaceful too? I'm just saying.

Our nation needs our prayers more than it usually does! And it needs you to vote next Tuesday.

UPDATE: Note to diabetics - I'd prefer that you not fast. And those of you, like me, who are will-power-deficient, give up something you really really love. I've decided that from Saturday at noon through Tuesday midnight, no coffee or chocolate will pass my lips. That, for me, is an enormous sacrifice!

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ISN’T THE ONLY ONE
WITH A “PASTOR PROBLEM”

From an article at Fox News election coverage, the following:

“Televangelist John Hagee, one of John McCain’s highest-profile supporters from the religious right, has apologized for calling the Roman Catholic Church “the great whore” and “the apostate church.”

In a letter Monday to Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote, “I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful.”

Hurtful? Hurtful? No, you ignorant buffoon, I found them insulting and infuriating, both a failure of logic and of intelligence. And I found your apology to be both insincere and politically motivated. You know you don’t mean one word of your apology. Vicious words such as the ones you uttered are not just some off the cuff example of “misspeaking” but rather a manifestation of a soul-deep bias.

The Catholic Church was been around for over 2,000 years. In that time, many John Hagee types have come - - and gone - - while the Catholic Church endures. And as a Catholic, I am insulted and offended and no, I do not accept your apology because it is insufficient and insincere and because some trifling apology does not take away in the slightest the illumination of your rather pathetic soul resulting from your ill-considered and stupid words. Pastor Hagee, the only thing you regret is that you were caught spouting your stupidities. Shame on you.

THERE IS NOTHING “INTERIM” ABOUT THIS POPE!

From Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. until 8:45 this morning, Washington, D.C. was blessed with the presence of the Holy Father, the extraordinary Pope Benedict XVI.

President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna Bush were at Andrews Air Force Base to greet our beloved Pontiff, the first time the President has so honored a visitor to our country. Through the duration of the Pope’s visit and whenever he was in public, there were enthusiastic and vocal welcomes extended to him. On Wednesday, the Pope met with President Bush at the White House and was treated to 2 enthusiastic renditions of “Happy Birthday”, one planned and one spontaneous. He was also given a 21-gun salute – that salute was clearly audible from my office, since we are in an office building with windows that still open (and it was a beautiful Spring day so a lot of the attorneys were taking advantage of that pleasant bonus) just 2 blocks from the White House. I discovered first hand that a 21-gun salute is LOUD! I mean I knew that in theory – but Wednesday I experienced it in real time!

I will be the first one to proclaim loud and clear that for the three days of the Pope’s visit, this holy man blessed this sometimes extremely unholy city with his charm, his humility, his humanity and kindness, together with a demonstrable deep faith in God. Yesterday I was working on a brief all day for my boss, but the nature of this project was that I could keep the Pope's Mass playing in the background throughout its duration. When one round of edits was complete, I could bring the Mass to the foreground and watch and listen to a remarkable event, frequently with moist eyes. The Pope's homily was profoundly moving.

We had heard dire predictions of terrible traffic problems in the weeks leading to the Papal Visit. They really didn’t materialize. In fact, traffic was less snarled than it had been in the prior few weeks when the Cherry Blossom Festival was going on. And there was a sense of joy in Washington, D.C. that I haven’t really noticed before. I know that really listening to the Pope’s words generated in me a sense of rediscovered spiritual lightness.

All the above being said, the one fly in the ointment was, per usual, the chattering classes of the mainstream media beginning with the appalling Katie Couric and continuing through numerous commentators who displayed their complete ignorance of Catholicism and, worse, seemed to be proud of their stupidity!

So I will reiterate what I have said multiple times over the past few weeks when non-Catholics have had the effrontery to tell me what changes the Catholic Church must make in order to satisfy their (non-Catholic) sensibilities! It isn't going to happen. We are who we are. Deal.

Each time someone would reference some Catholic Church doctrine that they felt should be changed, usually a doctrine that I both understand and approve, I had to remind myself of something that Dennis Miller said this week. He opined that it’s okay to insult Catholics because it’s a safe bet that Catholics don’t riot in the streets and kill people when they’re insulted. I guess that means WE are civilized. And I guess we know who isn’t!

God bless, everyone, and have a great weekend. I’m heading into this weekend with a little Papal Energy Boost which hopefully will translate into an immaculate house and lots of clean laundry by Monday morning. And none of this will interfere with my quality time with the remarkable Sam, my 26 pound cat (yes, he's lost a bit of pudge folks) because after all, our beloved Pontiff, Papa Ratzi, loves cats! And Mozart!

THE EXCELLENT BENEDICT WILL BE IN

WASHINGTON, D.C. NEXT MONTH!

The excellent Pope Benedict XVI will be in D.C. next month and will celebrate Mass at the new Washington Nationals stadium during his visit. I very much suspect that he will draw a crowd far larger than will the baseball team – and rightly so.

Pope Benedict garnered headlines during Easter observances when he very publicly baptized with his own hands, and publicly, one Magdi Allam, who chose the baptismal name “Christian”.

As the inimitable and brilliant Anchoress put it:

“Magdi Christian Allam — or Christian Allam, however this very brave man wishes to style it — told reporters, after receiving baptism, confirmation and his first Holy Communion, “this is the happiest day of my life,” and he also had a few words to say about the current state of Islam.

Christian Allam knows that he is now a target, that in some extremist quarters his conversion is seen as justification for his death.

But Christian Allam is now justified by Christ.

I am sure the timing of this baptism was no accident. And I have read more than a few comments suggesting Christian Allam go into hiding, somewhere. But I doubt he will. He seems made of tough stuff.

Christian Allam now feeds on the Body and Blood of Christ - through his veins the blood runs both royal and supernatural. If Christian Allam is now killed for his faith he knows his place in eternity; he knows, too, that anyone stupid enough to murder him for his faith will speed Christian Allam’s way to heaven wearing a martyr’s crown - and a true martyr eats not the golden raisin nor plunders the numerous virgins; he becomes a saint in heaven, and an inspiration. He also becomes an intercessor-in-prayer for the rest of us.”

As an American, and more than that as a Catholic American, I am looking forward to at least being in the same city with this remarkable and holy man!

AT LAST - SOME COMMON SENSE ON GLOBAL WARMING!

In an article in the Daily Mail (London) today, it is reported that the excellent Pope Benedict XVI is essentially saying “not so fast” to the ersatz global warming prophets of doom and suggesting that extensive scientific inquiry might be warranted before declaring impending doom. How refreshingly sensible and intelligent of him! How very adult!

While the prophet of doom (aka Albert Gore, Jr., high priest of faux science) seems to accept as “settled” his conclusions about the threat of global warming, I have been skeptical from his first utterance on the subject. This is a man who is on a “mission” and like many false prophets, he and his slavish devotees allow no discussion of alternative views.

I have repeatedly expressed total doubts about the threat of global warming, most especially because I well remember some 30 years ago when an impending ICE AGE was being predicted by the same nutbars and half-assed scientific types that now are screaming “Chicken Little – the sky is falling” to credulous buffoons who are too lazy to think for themselves, or incapable of doing so.

I have been a fan of Benedict XVI since his election as Supreme Pontiff and as a devout Catholic, I have followed his writings and speeches (get yourself a copy of his address at the University of Regensburg – the one that caused such a ridiculous fuss – it is astounding in its lucid research and reasoning - brilliant work) with great interest. It is my belief that, in his unique way, Benedict XVI will go down in papal history as a GREAT pope. Completely fitting for a Pope who loves both cats and Mozart!

I AM IMPRESSED, AND DELIGHTED!

Father Jonathan Morris writing on FoxNews.com takes Director James Cameron to the woodshed in the most delightful manner when he writes that Cameron should have said the following at his press conference:

"Thank you for being here. I must admit, I am pleasantly surprised so many of you have come. Our public relations company had quite the challenge to convince you our commercial projects were headline-worthy. After all, what we are peddling is pseudo-science based on old and discredited news. But we obviously hired the right company. They came through on their promise that you wouldn’t remember, or wouldn’t care, that when this tomb was discovered twenty seven years ago, the Jewish archeologist in charge of the investigation, Amos Kloner, determined it was not the tomb of Jesus and his family and that, in fact, it is unlikely Jesus and his relatives even had a family tomb. To think that not a single respected archeologist from the Holy Land region is willing to go on record that our claims are true, and still you are here with us today, is mind-boggling. How can we thank you enough?"

As I have said before, the best way to deal with this kind of drek is to laugh at it. It's impossible to take these people seriously. We should be treating the exaggerated claims of the adherents of the Religion of Global Warming in precisely the same manner. Do this with caution, however, as their heads may explode!

Have a good weekend.

FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND!

Thanks to our beloved Anchoress, I have discovered a new site called The Three Masketeers wherein, to my complete astonishment, I learned new things about my Catholic faith, about Lent and about a priest who is, if you'll pardon the expression, a complete ROCK STAR, Fr. Philip N. Powell, OP, whose homily is reprinted by these three savvy bloggers.

I also learned that the best way to deal with Director James Cameron's new campaign (wherein he claims he has "discovered" the graves of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene and Jesus' son - what nonsense) is to just laugh at it. It's the annual Lenten silliness and not to be taken seriously.