8/29/05: Storm Heaven

This past Saturday at the local abortion mill a mother and daughter came out, and when a protester showed them a sign saying "abortion kills children" the mother nodded in approval. As they drove out of the parking lot, the same person asked them if they would like to take some pro-life literature. The mother responded, "I'll take everything you got." The mother told her that her daughter had not yet had an abortion, and that she was opposed, but that it was her daughter's decision, not hers. So, between now and Thursday (next time the abortionist is in) this mother will be attempting to convince her daughter not to go through with the murder of her child. Prayer and much prayer is needed, that she may succeed, and that her daughter's heart may turn away from the abomination which she intends to commit.

In addition, I request all readers to pray that the mother wake up to the absurdity of her stated belief that her daughter is free to make this decision. She has obviously been deceived by the errors of positivism and libertinism. If she acknowledges that what her daughter is about to do constitutes the murder of her own child, she has a moral duty, as far as it is within her power, to physically prevent her from performing this evil work. Still less should she be driving her daughter to the mill and, presumably, paying for the operation! I am not a moral theologian, but she seems to me to be getting very close to formal cooperation. Both mother and daughter may incur bloodguiltiness if nothing changes in their hearts very, very soon.

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever. Amen.

8/18/05: Pope St. Gregory the Great for Today

St. Bede the Venerable, in his Ecclesiastical History of England preserves a letter of Pope St. Gregory the Great to an Abbot named Mellitus, and a letter to Ethelbert, king of the English, which are, like the passages cited below, quite relevant to the controversies of today. Here we find a yet more authoritative source, a sainted Pope, witnessing to the universal belief of the traditional Church that pagan gods are demons. Moreover, for those who claim that the doctrine of the confessional state, as enjoined in Mirari Vos, Quanta Cura, Immortale Dei, Vehementer Nos, Quas Primas, Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio, et al, was a time-conditioned product of a specific set of historical, cultural, and political circumstances (as opposed to being "the teaching of the Catholic Church", an immutable doctrine, as Pope Leo XIII claims in Immortale Dei) it is here forcefully and unequivocally taught by the same sainted Pontiff in a completely different set of circumstances, over a millennium removed from the encyclicals listed above.

To his most beloved son, the Abbot Mellitus; Gregory, the servant of the servants of God.

We have been much concerned, since the departure of our congregation that is with you, because we have received no account of the success of your journey. When, therefore, Almighty God shall bring you to the most reverend Bishop Augustine, our brother, tell him what I have, upon mature deliberation on the affair of the English, determined upon, viz., that the temples of the idols in that nation ought not to be destroyed; but let the idols that are in them be destroyed; let holy water be made and sprinkled in the said temples, let altars be erected, and relics placed. For if those temples are well built, it is requisite that they be converted from the worship of devils to the service of the true God; that the nation, seeing that their temples are not destroyed, may remove error from their hearts, and knowing and adoring the true God, may the more familiarly resort to the places to which they have been accustomed. And because they have been used to slaughter many oxen in the sacrifices to devils, some solemnity must be exchanged for them on this account, as that on the day of the dedication, or the nativities of the holy martyrs, whose relics are there deposited, they may build themselves huts of the boughs of trees, about those churches which have been turned to that use from temples, and celebrate the solemnity with religious feasting, and no more offer beasts to the Devil, but kill cattle to the praise of God in their eating, and return thanks to the Giver of all things for their sustenance; to the end that, whilst some gratifications are outwardly permitted them, they may the more easily consent to the inward consolations of the grace of God. For there is no doubt that it is impossible to efface everything at once from their obdurate minds; because he who endeavours to ascend to the highest place, rises by degrees or steps, and not by leaps. Thus the Lord made Himself known to the people of Israel in Egypt; and yet He allowed them the use of the sacrifices which they were wont to offer to the Devil, in his own worship; so as to command them in his sacrifice to kill beasts, to the end that, changing their hearts, they might lay aside one part of the sacrifice, whilst they retained another; that whilst they offered the same beasts which they were wont to offer, they should offer them to God, and not to idols; and thus they would no longer be the same sacrifices. This it behooves your affection to communicate to our aforesaid brother, that he, being there present, may consider how he is to order all things. God preserve you in safety, most beloved son.

Given the 17th of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our lord, the most pious emperor, Mauritius Tiberius, the eighteenth year after the consulship of our said lord. The fourth indiction.

To the most glorious Lord, and his most excellent son, Ethelbert, king of the English, Bishop Gregory.

Almighty God advances all good men to the government of nations, that He may by their means bestow the gifts of his mercy on those over whom they are placed. This we know to have been done in the English nation, over whom your glory was therefore placed, that by means of the goods which are granted to you, heavenly benefits might also be conferred on the nation that is subject to you. Therefore, my illustrious son, do you carefully preserve the grace which you have received from the Divine goodness, and hasten to promote the Christian faith, which you have embraced, among the people under your subjection; multiply the zeal of your uprightness in their conversion; suppress the worship of idols; overthrow the structures of the temples; edify the manners of your subjects by much cleanness of life, exhorting, terrifying, soothing, correcting, and giving examples of good works, that you may find Him your rewarder in heaven, whose name and knowledge you shall spread abroad upon earth. For He also will render the fame of your honour more glorious to posterity, whose honour you seek and maintain among the nations.

For even so Constantine, our most pious emperor, recovering the Roman commonwealth from the perverse worship of idols, subjected the same with himself to our Almighty God and Lord Jesus Christ, and was himself, with the people under his subjection, entirely converted to Him. Whence it followed, that his praises transcended the fame of former princes; and he as much excelled his predecessors in renown as he did in good works. Now, therefore, let your glory hasten to infuse into the kings and people that are subject to you, the knowledge of one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that you may both surpass the ancient kings of your nation in praise and merit, and become by so much the more secure against your own sins before the dreadful judgment of Almighty God, as you shall wipe away the sins of others in your subjects.

Willingly hear, devoutly perform, and studiously retain in your memory, whatsoever you shall be advised by our most reverend brother, Bishop Augustine, who is instructed in the monastical rule, full of the knowledge of the holy Scripture, and, by the help of God, endued with good works; for if you give ear to him in what he speaks for Almighty God, the same Almighty God will the sooner hear him praying for you. But if (which God avert!) you slight his words, how shall Almighty God hear him in your behalf, when you neglect to hear him for God? Unite yourself, therefore, to him with all your mind, in the fervour of faith, and further his endeavours, through the assistance of that virtue which the Divinity affords you, that He may make you partaker of his kingdom, whose faith you cause to be received and maintained in your own.

Besides, we would have your glory know, we find in the holy Scripture, from the words of the Almighty Lord, that the end of this present world, and the kingdom of the saints, is about to come, which will never terminate. But as the same end of the world approaches, many things are at hand which were not before, viz. changes of air, and terrors from heaven, and tempests out of the order of the seasons, wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes in several places; which things will not, nevertheless, happen in our days, but will all follow after our days. If you, therefore, find any of these things to happen in your country, let not your mind be in any way disturbed; for these signs of the end of the world are sent before, for this reason, that we may be solicitous for our souls, suspicious of the hour of death, and may be found prepared with good works to meet our Judge. Thus much, my illustrious son, I have said in few words, to the end that when the Christian faith shall increase in your kingdom, our discourse to you may also be more copious, and we may be pleased to say the more, in proportion as joy for the conversion of your nation is multiplied in our mind.

I have sent you some small presents, which will not appear small, when received by you with the blessing of the holy apostle, Peter. May Almighty God, therefore, perfect in you his grace which He has begun, and prolong your life here through a course of many years, and after a time receive you into the congregation of the heavenly country. May heavenly grace preserve your excellency in safety.

Given the 22nd day of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of the most pious emperor, Mauritius Tiberius, in the eighteenth year after his consulship. Fourth indiction.

Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum, 1:30,32

8/17/05: Bede for Today

In only the first few pages of St. Bede the Venerable's Ecclesiastical History of England (first published c. 733 A.D.) I have found three passages of special relevance to the controversies of today. They touch on papal primacy, pagan worship, and baptism by blood, respectively.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 156, Marcus Antoninus Verus, the fourteenth from Augustus, was made emperor, together with his brother, Aurelius Commodus. In their time, whilst Eleutherus, a holy man, presided over the Roman Church, Lucius, King of the Britons, sent a letter to him, entreating that by his command he might be made a Christian. He soon obtained his pious request, and the Britons preserved the faith, which they had recieved, uncorrupted and entire, in peace and tranquility until the time of the Emperor Diocletian...

It happened that the judge, at the time when Alban was carried before him, was standing at the altar, and offering sacrifice to devils. When he saw Alban, being much enraged that he should thus, of his own accord, put himself into the hands of the soldiers, and incur such danger in behalf of his guest, he commanded him to be dragged up to the images of the devils, before which he stood, saying, "Because you have chosen to conceal a rebellious and sacrilegious person, rather than to deliver him up to the soldiers, that his contempt of the gods might meet with the penalty due to such blasphemy, you shall undergo all the punishment that was due to him, if you abandon the worship of our religion." But St. Alban, who had voluntarily declared himself a Christian to the persecutors of the faith, was not at all daunted at the prince's threats, but putting on the armor of spiritual warfare, publicly declared that he would not obey the command. Then said the judge, "Of what family or race are you?"--"What does it concern you," answered Alban, "of what stock I am? If you desire to hear the truth of my religion, be it known to you, that I am now a Christian, and bound by Christian duties."--"I ask your name," said the judge; "tell me it immediately."--"I am called Alban by my parents," replied he; "and I worship and adore the true and living God, who created all things." Then the judge, inflamed with anger, said, "If you will enjoy the happiness of eternal life, do not delay to offer sacrifice to the great gods." Alban rejoined, "These sacrifices, which by you are offered to devils, neither can avail the subjects, nor answer the wishes and desires of those that offer up their supplications to them. On the contrary, whosoever shall offer sacrifice to these images shall recieve the everlasting pains of hell for his reward...

At the same time was also beheaded the soldier, who before, through the Divine admonition, refused to give the stroke to the holy confessor [St. Alban]. Of whom it is apparent, that though he was not regenerated by baptism, yet he was cleansed by the washing of his own blood, and rendered worthy to enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Bede, The History of the English Church and People (New York: Barnes and Noble Publishing, 2005) pp. 9, 12-13, 14)

Why would the King of the Britons address the Roman Pontiff, instead of a local bishop, with his desire to convert, unless the Roman Pontiff had a primacy of jurisdiction? It appears that like St. Cornelius, who was told by an angel to seek out St. Peter for his conversion (Acts 10:5-6), someone told King Lucius who was in charge. Second, How can conservative Catholics continue to defend John Paul II's encouragment of pagan prayer at Assisi, when the objects of pagan prayer are demons? They are towing the party line to the detriment of the cause of truth. Finally, how can the followers of Fr. Feeney obstinately deny the doctrine of baptism by blood, when so many fathers and doctors of unimpeachable orthodoxy, here exemplified by St. Bede the Venerable, treat it as established, unquestioned fact? They seem to believe that the farther they can get to the theological "right" the more faithful they are being to the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, this is just as false as the idea that the more lock-step one is with the private actions and opinions of the reigning Pope, the more faithful one is to the Catholic Church.

8/17/05: Seeds of Degeneracy

SATURNALIA OF WANTON RHYTHM
FASTEST OF ALL DANCING SHOWS
A Maelstrom of Lithesome Sprites in Divertissements of Exotic and Daring Conception Culminating in the Terpsichorean Peice de Resistance.

EL BOLERO
The Dance of Salome before Herod, the Parade of La Bal de Quartz Arts, the Hula Hula, the Passion Dance of the Bongo-Bangoes, the Can-Can of Montmarte and the Habana Rumba, all pale beside this Tabasconian Blast from Old Cordova.

22 STUPENDOUS SPECTACLES
The Wizardry of Modern Stagecraft at its Zenith... An Eye-filling Spectacle of Superb Magnificence... A Prince's Ransom Lavished with a Prodigality Befitting a Hindoo Nabob at the Durbar of Dehli... Rich Vestements and Dazzling Gems Conspire with the Delectable Creatures they adorn to make BILLY ROSE'S CRAZY QUILT the Crowning Optical Delight of the Universe.

This, ladies and gentleman, is how pornography was advertized in 1931. Note the tremendous vocabulary. Note the allusions to Scripture, to classical mythology, and to world history. This is topless dancing as it is advertized in a culture informed by Christianity. As one might expect, after 75 years of inundating ourselves with this filth the vestiges of our Christian heritage and even of our literacy are quite gone from our pornographic solicitations. And we don't bother to try and dress it up as art anymore. The moral degeneracy inherent in pornography such as that advertized above has manifested itself in the absolute degeneracy of every facet of the pornography of today, which is advertized with a vocabulary of about five words consisting of profanity and vulgar epithets for the organs of generation. As Mark Shea puts it, sin makes you stupid. And oh how we have made ourselves stupid. If I believed in evolution I'd say in another 75 years we'd go back to being apes.

8/2/05: If Only Someone Preached to Kerry et al Like This

Henry [VIII] attended Holy Mass at the Observants' convent in Greenwich, possibly on Easter Sunday of that year, March 31st, only a few weeks it seems before he settled this business of the annulment through a compliant Cranmer. No doubt he was well aware of the friars' already expressed resistance to his known will. (A lay brother at the convent, Richard Lyst, had been recruited by Cromwell earlier that year to act as an informer: he was later rewarded with a position at Cambridge — no surprises there.) The three individuals foremost in their opposition to the King's annulment at the convent were friars Peto, Elstow and Forest. Friar Peto preached upon this occasion, and evidently the presence of the King encouraged rather than deterred him. Peto's strong denunciation of Henry stunned many in the congregation. He compared Henry to Ahab whose wife Jezebel had slaughtered the true prophets and had them replaced by priests of Baal (recall that at this time Henry was "married" to Anne Boleyn, and she was known to favour some of the continental heresies), and warned Henry that if he continued to behave like Ahab then it might come to pass that after his death dogs would lick his blood as they had licked the blood of that unfortunate king. To those who knew their Old Testament this was strong stuff indeed. Ahab's life had not been a good or happy one, and his death was shameful.
The Observant Friar Martyrs of Greenwich

7/22/05: Ashamed of the Decoration of Their Own House

Joan Carrol Cruz's book Eucharistic Miracles records an incident involving Jews perpetrating theft and sacrilege against the blessed Sacrament:

On April 4, 1370, Good Friday, the Jews assembled in their synagogue in Brussels. After laying the sacred Hosts out on a table, they inflicted upon them both verbal and physical abuse. At some point during the sacrilege, knives were drawn and the Hosts were stabbed. Immediately, before the stunned eyes of the Jews, blood flowed from the stab wounds. Moreover, the attackers' weapons fell from their hands, trembling seized them, and they fell to the ground in terror.
Joan Carroll Cruz, Eucharistic Miracles (Rockford, IL: TAN Books, 1987) pp. 112-113

She later describes a series of paintings in St. Michael's Cathedral in Belgium which depict the series of events surrounding the miracle. As one would expect, it appears that the local Church authorities are ashamed of these paintings. Cruz quotes a guide book to the Cathedral published in 1975: "On December 30, 1968, the diocesan authorities of Malines-Brussels Archdiocese declared that the charges of theft and sacrilege of the Blessed Sacrament in 1369-1370 which were brought against the Jewish community of Brussles were unfounded. The visitors and the faithful will situate the iconography in the cathedral in its proper historical context and not misinterpret the worship of the Blessed Sacrament" (Ibid. pp. 115-116).

Cruz's commentary: "The reasons for this disclaimer were not given, but it would seem that some explanation is warranted for a devotion that has been observed since 1370 and which was commemorated for centuries with yearly observances. Moreover, it is undeniable that the miracle has been honored by the clergy and the hierarchy, as well as by persons of title and position, since its very origin. Moreover, the history of the miracle has been recorded by many authors, including R. P. Lucq, O. P.; Navez; Estienne Ydens; Cafmeyer; and Griffet" (Ibid. p. 116). The reason for the disclaimer appears quite clear to me, as I'm sure it is to Mrs. Cruz: the diocesan officials are ashamed of paintings which depict Jews committing horrible crimes, as such things are offensive to many and obnoxious to Jewish-Christian ecumenism. One wonders how long it will be before they remove these paintings and replace them with the sort of "art" which currently defaces the Cathedral of Notre Dame de la Chapelle in Brussels. See The Devil and All His Works.

6/26/05: The Unpublished Letters

The Daily Collegian, Penn State's student newspaper, has yet to publish any of the letters I have sent in. You will see why when you read them:

Some of the responses to Chris Kovalchick's Feb. 17 letter contained substantial factual errors. First, there is no evidence that 10 percent of the population is gay. All major research studies show that it is closer to 2-3 (e.g. Bernstein, UCLA, 2003). Gay activists admit this, for example in footnote 42 of their Lawrence v. Texas amicus curiae brief. Second, it is absolutely false to compare homosexuality to gender or ethnicity, which are inborn, immutable traits. People are not "born gay," and Dr. Hamer's 1993 study which purported to demonstrate that this to be the case has been discredited (Horgan, Scientific American, 1995; Rice et al, Science, 1999). There are documented cases of identical twins having different sexual orientations as adults (Baily, Archives of General Psychiatry, 1991). Homosexual adults often share similar childhood psychological histories such as sexual abuse, hostile or distant fathers, and peer labeling during their formative years (Nicolosi, NARTH, 2004), which indicates that it is these experiences which produce homosexuality. Also, homosexuality often is an outgrowth of the (curable) malady of childhood gender identity disorder (Harry, Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1989). Finally, there are mountains of evidence that homosexuality is treatable, and thousands of success stories (Nicolosi et al, NARTH, 1998; Hatterer, Sexual Behavior, 1972; Spitzer, ASB, 2003). Sexual reorientation is possible, desirable, and even imperative, for physical reasons (cf. Diggs, The Health Risks of Gay Sex, 2002) and spiritual (cf. 1 Cor 6:9). (2/18/05)

The comments offered by "Ronnie," the nurse at State College Medical Services who was quoted in yesterday's Collegian, are so utterly vacuous as to demand a response. First, it is asinine to point out that the abortion clinic performs some legitimate medical services (STD treatment, etc). I already knew that, and I don't care -- even Dr. Mengele practiced some legitimate medicine. Treating Human Papilloma Virus does not mitigate the fact that the clinic also vacuums the legs off of babies. Second, the idea that "women will do anything to end unwanted pregnancies", the implication being that criminalizing abortion will not make it significantly less common but only drive it underground, is soundly refuted by the historical example of Poland. Third, yes, the promiscuity on campus is in part due to offices such as State College Medical Services, since they offer a quick, if bloody and unpleasant, means of escape from responsibility for such reckless behavior. Finally, it is everyone's business when a defenseless, innocent human life is ripped limb from limb. It is in no way, shape, or form the right of the mother to decide for herself whether to trample on the rights of her child. (3/21/05)

I cannot help but be enraged by Ms. Knepper's audacity in arrogating unto herself the right to decide whose life is worth living. First off, Terri Shiavo is not "struggling to simply die in peace." It is her husband struggling to quietly kill her off. Mrs. Shiavo is quite happy to live as she is and be taken care of by her family. In fact, you can watch videos of her online smiling and laughing at her parents, and upbeat music. You can read affidavits from certified neurologists that she uses simple words such as "hi" and "yeah." If her life is at all unpleasant you can lay the blame squarely at the feet of, you guessed it, her husband, who has denied her basic medical care, as a result of which several of her teeth have rotted and her arm froze in a contorted position. It is her husband who has been "ruthless" throughout this entire process. To call Mrs. Schiavo's poor parents "ruthless" for simply wanting to save their daughter, who clearly wants to live, from being cruelly starved to death is slander of the most vile variety. God save you, Ms. Knepper, and as you're a psychology major, God save any mentally handicapped persons who might have the misfortune of falling under your power. (3/29/05)

Margaret Spear, the director of University Health Services, has been engaging in highly misleading semantics, if Karen Karaszkiewicz's April 26 article accurately represents her. She rightly identifies the three mechanisms by which the birth control pill frustrates procreation, one of which is by "inhibiting implantation." But this mechanism is not properly contraceptive, as it does not prevent conception. Rather, it cuts off the source of safety and nourishment of a newly conceived human being. Whether we choose to call this an abortion, or, like Mrs. Spear, we reserve that term for processes which tear the developing life off the endometrium subsequent to implantation, is really irrelevant. An innocent human life is snuffed out nonetheless. By stating that "the... pill is not abortive" and that the mechanism in question kicks in "if a woman ovulates despite being on the pill," rather than the more accurate "if she conceives despite being on the pill," (after all, unfertilized eggs don't try to implant in the uterus) Mrs. Spear obscures this. (4/26/05)

6/21/05: Tough Love

In Padre Pio the Stigmatist (Rockford, IL: TAN Books, 1989) Fr. Charles Mortimer Carty reproduces as great deal of letters in which people recount their first hand experiences with the Saint. One man relates that St. Pio said the following to him in the confessional: "These are all heresies, and all your Communions have been sacrilegious... You must make a general confession; make your examination of conscience and try to remember when you last made a sincere confession. Jesus has been more merciful with you than with Judas... You have launched a hymn to Satan, whereas Jesus in His tremendous love has broken His neck for you" (pp. 106, 107). The result? "From that day to this, I have been to daily Mass and Communion. I have become a Franciscan Tertiary, and so has my wife, and not only do I believe in the dogmas of the Catholic Church, but in its most minute ceremonies, and I could not lose this Faith without also losing my life" (p. 109). So you see, tough love works.

5/13/05: The Gospel According to the Ephesians

"I will digress a bit and explain how these stone-quarries [of Ephesus] were discovered. Pixodorus was a shepherd who lived in that vicinity. When the people of Ephesus were planning to build the temple of Diana in marble, and debating whether to get the marble from Paros, Proconnesus, Heraclea, or Thasos, Pixodorus drove out his sheep and was feeding his flock in that very spot. Then two rams ran at each other, and, each passing the other, one of them, after his charge, struck his horns against a rock, from which a fragment of extremely white colour was dislodged. So it is said that Pixodorus left his sheep in the mountains and ran down to Ephesus carrying the fragment, since that very thing was the question of the moment. Therefore they immediately decreed honours to him and changed his name, so that instead of Pixodorus he should be called Evangelus. And to this day the cheif magistrate goes out to that very spot every month and offers sacrifice to him, and if he does not, he is punished." (Vitruvius, The Ten Books on Architecture, Morris Hicky Morgan, trans. [New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1960] pp. 289-90)

Amazing what miniscule things people will worship when they are caught in the darkness of idolatry.

5/8/05: Byzantines, Help Effect the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart!

Some of the more Eastern Orthodox-leaning Byzantine priests will discourage their parishioners from praying the rosary. They allege that it is a Latin devotion which is foreign to the Eastern spiritual tradition, and thus should not be practiced by Eastern Christians. My pastor, Fr. Robert Oravetz, wanted to find out if this was true, so while he was meeting with three of our bishops (we have four dioceses in the country), he asked them if the rosary was something Eastern Catholics ought to be praying. All three of them promptly reached into their pockets and pulled out a rosary, and then one of them asked Fr. Oravetz if that answered his question. So yes, Byzantines ought to pray the rosary as often as possible. We too must help effect the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

5/8/05: Zing

"[The Pharisees], therefore, called the man again who had been born blind, and said to him: Give glory to God. We know that this man [Jesus] is a sinner" (John 9:24). Fr. Haydock's commentary: "So say our separated brethren, when they derogate from miracles done by saints, pharisaically pretending the glory of God, as if it were not God's glory when his servants act by his power and virtue. Witness Peter's shadow, (Acts v.) and Paul's handkerchiefs that cured diseases, and expelled wicked spirits. Acts xix. 11, 12." (The Douay-Rheims New Testament [Monrovia, CA: Catholic Treasures, 1991] p. 1412).

5/6/05: I Have Prayed the Rosary with This Man

Fr. John Nesbella comes to the State College abortion clinic every few weeks to pray the rosary. He and his group are usually there earlier than I am, but I join in when I arrive. He has stuck me as a dedicated and orthodox man, with a great deal of chutzpah to boot (he brings a megaphone), which I admire. Now he is in the news. Bishop Joseph Adamec of the diocese of Altoona Johnstown has put him on a leave of absence, and forbid him from exercising his priestly ministry. This is in response to his clashes with the diocese over the alleged cover-up of homosexuality in the clergy (the word "alleged" is really just there as a formality; I have every reason to believe that Fr. Nesbella is telling the truth). Here is the article: Priest, Diocese at Odds. Please pray for him, and for Bishop Adamec as well.

5/6/05: Possible Means of Exculpating Our Late Holy Father

According to this article, John Paul II's disastrous laxity in dealing with homosexuality in the priesthood was the result of psychological trauma. Well, let's hope that this is the case, and keep praying for the repose of his soul.

4/22/05: James White Refuses to Defend Remarks about Me

I called in to the Dividing line a little over an hour ago, and got (I believe) Richard Pierce, who asked Dr. White whether he wanted to talk to me. He does not. Odd, the man seems to desire so eagerly that people who have said nasty things about him online call in to receive his admonition. Yet he can call me a fanatic (or at least imply this by association) on-air and refuses to hear a word of rebuttal from me.

4/19/05: Habemus Papam

The conservatives are elated. The liberals are dismayed. The traditionalists are... well, to speak for myself, relieved. Pope Benedict XVI most likely will not consecrate Russia or reaffirm the Catholic doctrine of the confessional State, but he is not going to teach open heresy either, and he is going to be firm on issues of morality. God willing he may even enforce canon law on pro-abortion politicians and give a wider foothold to the Traditional Latin Mass.

Here's hoping he repents of his high esteem for the scholarship of Fr. Raymond Brown and reaffirms the great encycical of his namesake Benedict XV, Spiritus Paraclitus. Here's hoping that Michael Davies was right about him, and that he truly is the traditionalist's only friend in the Vatican. Here's hoping he reconciles the SSPX. Here's hoping he reads Immortale Dei and realizes that its doctrinal content is part of the ordinary Magisterium and thus binding on the consciences of Catholics. Here's hoping he saves the dying Byzantine Rite by consecrating Russia to Mary's Immaculate heart in union with all the bishops, thus adding 100 million to our ranks.

We must pray for the new Pope fervently. How many immortal souls he is able to shepherd into heaven depends on it.

4/16/05: James White Talks about Me on "The Dividing Line"

He doesn't mention me by name, but it's me he's talking about. The following is a transcript of the conversation:

Caller: Do you have any contact with the hard-core traditionalists?

White: Here's the quandary I'm up against at this particular point in time, and that is, for example, there is a traditionalist who is a volunteer or a part of a traditionalist "apostolate," quote un-quote, who has responded to some comments that I made in my book on justification. Now, it's not that these are overly challenging comments. It's not that they're overly difficult comments to respond to, but the problem is, a lot of these real small apostolates, especially the traditionalist type, they only exist when people will pay attention to them. And so, if I invest the time to respond to this particular individual, not only do they want me to do that, that's their bread and butter, that's how they prove to their very few followers that they're very dependent upon that they're doing something wonderful and great. Um, but not only that, any time I spend and invest in responding to them, the mainline Roman Catholic folks will say big deal; they don't represent us anyway. They're off on their own; they're out denying the, you know, the authority of the current Pope or whoever the next Pope is and so on and so forth, so who cares? So, I haven't responded and the reason I haven't responded is (a) I don't want to help them stay in existence, and (b) if I do invest that time the others are going to say that's irrelevant to what we're actually talking about. So I was just looking at the blog today of one of the biggest mainline Catholic apologists and he makes some comments, soteriologically speaking, that I wanted to respond to, and I figured that investing that time in that is significantly better than the others. But no, those guys, those guys don't, you know, at least with the traditionalists, yeah, it's a matter of truth, error, so on and so forth. But there also tends to be quite honestly a level of fanaticism there that makes meaningful dialogue and conversation pretty difficult, no two ways about it.

Caller: Well at least they're consistent.

White: (chuckles) That's for sure.

I'd like to make three short observations. First, I'd like Dr. White to substantiate his claim that my essay doesn't present much trouble to the Protestant position. Second, I appreciate that we see eye to eye regarding the proper approach to truth and the incredible importance of the issues being disputed here. Third, my contention that Dr. White preaches a false, damnable gospel which has its genesis in hell is basically the same thing he maintains about the Catholic Church, so if that is what he's basing his charge of fanaticism on, then he is using a double standard. In any case, I am quite capable of reasoned dialogue with people with whom I vehemently disagree. For example, I can rationally debate pro-aborts right at ground zero, the very altar of Satan on 900 W. College Avenue which I so utterly despise. Now, if I can rationally debate someone advocating an abomination so thoroughly damnable and wicked, so putrid and hideous in the sight of Almighty God, while only a few feet from where I stand that very abomination is being perpetrated and the innocent blood of slaughtered babies is crying out to heaven for judgment and wrath, I can have a rational discussion with a Reformed Baptist who preaches a false gospel.

4/2/05: John Paul II, R.I.P.

For the servant of God John Paul II and for his blessed memory, and that his every transgression, voluntary and involuntary, be forgiven, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That he may stand uncondemned before the dread tribunal of Christ, and that his soul may be included in the realm of the living, in the place of light, where all the saints and righteous repose, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

May He Who has the power over the living and the dead, Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most pure Mother, of the holy, glorious, and all laudible apostles, of our venerable and God-fearing fathers, and of all the saints, establish in the mansions of the righteous the soul of His servant John Paul II, who has been taken from us, give him rest in Abraham's bosom, and number him among the just, and have mercy upon us and save us, for He is gracious and loves mankind. Amen.

O Lord grant eternal rest, in blessed dormition, to the ever- remembered soul of your servant John Paul II and make his memory eternal.

3/14/05: An Eastern Prayer for Lent

O Lord Almighty, God of powers and of all flesh, You dwell on high but watch over the humble. You search our heart and clearly perceive our secrets. O eternal and ever-existent Light, in You there is neither change nor even a shadow of change. O Immortal King, accept our prayers which at this present moment depend upon the multitude of Your mercies, and which we offer to You from defiled lips. Forgive our transgressions committed in word, deed, or thought, committed with knowledge or through thoughtlessness. Cleanse us from every kind of defilement of body and soul; and grant that we approach all the nights of this present life with a watchful heart and sound judgment, awaiting the glorious coming and day of revelation of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ Who will come with glory as Judge of All, granting to everyone according to their deeds. Let us not fall and become slothful, but, rather, help us to be on guard and ready for good works. Let us turn from our former ways and be ready to joyfully accompany Him into the divine inner-chamber where the sound of rejoicing never ceases, and where there is indescribable delight in those who behold the inexpressible goodness of Your countenance. For you are the True Light that enlightents and sanctifies all things, and all creation praises you forever and ever. Amen.

2/7/05: Another Biblical Contradiction to Calvinism

This passage jumped out at me at Mass a while ago: "But take heed, lest your liberty become a stumbling block to the weak. For if a man see him that hath knowledge, sit at meat in an idol's temple; shall not his conscience, being weak, be emboldened to eat those things which are sacrificed to idols? And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?" (1 Cor 8:9-11, DRV) Now, let's look at this from the perspective of a 5 point Calvinist. If this "weak brother" is one of the elect, then he is not supposed to "perish," and if he is not one of the elect, Christ was not supposed die for him. Yet St. Paul explicitly says that (a) he could very well perish and (b) Christ died for him. Thus limited atonement must be false.

The only possible counter argument I can see is that "perish" [Gk. apollutai, present passive indicative, from apollumi] here means something other than spiritual death, being severed form Christ, falling from grace, &c, for example a serious setback in the weak brother's sanctification. However, this argument does not hold water; apollumi demands a strong interpretation. The Crosswalk online Greek lexicon defines the word (in part) as follows: "to destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin, render useless, to kill, to declare that one must be put to death, metaph. to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell, to perish." Thus, 1 Cor 8:11 is far more likely about spiritual death than mere injury. A quick review of some other New Testament passages which use this word should make things even clearer. The following are from the DRV:

• "And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt 10:28).
• "Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish" (Matt 18:14).
• "But when the king had heard of it, he was angry: and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers and burnt their city" (Matt 22:7).
• "What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy One of God." (Mark 1:24)
• "No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
• "And in the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all" (Luke 17:29).
• "For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting" (John 3:16).
• "While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou gavest me have I kept: and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition: that the scripture may be fulfilled" (John 17:12).
• "For whosoever have sinned without the law shall perish without the law: and whosoever have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law" (Rom 2:12).

Incidentally, Romans 14:15 says the exact same thing as 1 Cor 8:11: "For if, because of thy meat, thy brother be grieved, thou walkest not now according to charity. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died." I will close with Fr. Haydock's commentary on this verse: "S. Paul repeats this, in almost the same words, in 1 Cor. c. viii. and plainly gives us to understand, that Christ died for the salvation of all men, by supposing a Christian brother, for whom Christ had died, in danger of perishing by the scandal given by another. This supposition could never have been made, if the death of Christ was only offered up for the elect: but be learn from S. Paul, that they for whom Christ shed his blood and suffered the death of the cross, may perish eternally; and therefore all, even the greatest reprobates, may be saved, if they effectually desire it, by virtue of the death of our divine Redeemer" (The Douay-Rheims New Testament [Monrovia, CA: Catholic Treasures, 1991] p. 1497).

9/26/04: Michael Davies, R.I.P.

May He Who has the power over the living and the dead, Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most pure Mother, of the holy, glorious, and all laudible apostles, of our venerable and God-fearing fathers, and of all the saints, establish in the mansions of the righteous the soul of His servant Michael Davies, who has been taken from us, give him rest in Abraham's bosom, and number him among the just, and have mercy upon us and save us, for He is gracious and loves mankind. Amen.

O Lord grant eternal rest, in blessed dormition, to the ever- remembered soul of your servant Michael Davies and make his memory eternal.

9/5/04: On the Altar of Ecumenism

There was white-out in my missal today. Sometimes there's pen scribbles, but usually, like today, it's white out. "And the Son." These three words have been effaced from thousands of Byzantine Catholic missals around the world for the sake of ecumenical ventures with pompous, hypocritical Eastern schismatics who think we do not have a right to exist. Catholic dogma is being suppressed and confusion is being sown among the Byzantine faithful for the sake of unity with men who are not members of the mystical body of Christ, exactly the thing condemned by Pope Pius XI in Mortalium Animos as contrary to the Catholic faith. Granted, it is not explicitly heretical to say the Nicene Creed without the words "and the Son." But as the dual procession of the Holy Spirit is Catholic dogma, it is explicitly heretical to deny it. And this is exactly how great numbers of Byzantine Catholics are going to interpret it when they see "and the Son" excised from their missals. "Why don't we say this anymore? Was it wrong? Have the teachings of the Catholic Church changed? Are we not required to believe this because we are members of an eastern rite?" This change serves no purpose but to obscure the teachings of the Catholic Church and make our liturgies less offensive to non-Catholics, much as the Novus Ordo Missae serves no purpose but to make to the Mass of the Roman rite less offensive to Protestants. Byzantine Catholics are being sacrificed on the altar of ecumenism.

And the liturgy is not the only place this is happening. John Paul II is not appointing a Patriarch for the Ukrainians precisely because he does not wish to offend the schismatics. See, many schismatics look down on Byzantine Catholics, much as Orthodox Jews look down on Messianic Jews. In their view we are uniates, sell-outs to Rome; we are Eastern Christians on the surface but underneath we have compromised the purity of our faith and played the harlot with Roman errors; we should not exist; we are theirs by right and should be under their jurisdiction. Never mind that the schismatics plant metropolitans throughout the traditionally Roman Catholic world; they simply will not have Catholics hierarchs operating in the territory which they assert to be theirs (the Russians, for example, whose Patriarch is an ex-KGB agent, will not have Catholics setting up dioceses in Siberia even though they dragged these Catholics there in chains). Hence, as the schismatics would be incensed were the Pope to give the Ukrainians a Patriarch as they deserve, he is of course acquiescing to their demands. He is neglecting the pastoral needs of the Catholic faithful so that he can have more pearls to throw before schismatic swine.

There is only one way the Pope will ever be able to achieve unity with the schismatic eastern Churches, and it is not by making himself look impotent by caving to their ridiculous demands; it is not by sacrificing the eastern Catholic faithful; it is not by giving the schismatics precious gifts which they will subsequently pooh-pooh, spitting in his face; he must consecrate Russia by name to Mary's Immaculate heart in union with all the bishops of the world, that they make be converted from their heretical errors and enter the one sheepfold of Christ, along with all the multitudes of other Russians who are Protestants, Muslims, Jews, and godless Pagans. We must pray for the Pope, that God may grant him the graces necessary to do so.

9/4/04: Schindler's List and My Judgment

Near the end of "Schindler's List" there is a scene where Oskar Schindler is about to flee from the advancing allied forces (he was a member of the Nazi party) in his car and he realizes that if he had sold this car, he could have saved the lives of about four or five people in addition to the thousands he had already saved. Then he looks at a gold pin on his coat, and realizes that if he had sold that as well he could have saved one more. He is overcome with grief at how stupid he was to keep these things when they could have been used to the end of saving lives.

This is what my judgment is going to look like, or worse. Probably worse. As we learn from Mary, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Athanasius, and St. Catherine of Sienna, among countless others, one human person can be responsible for the salvation of millions of souls. And, hypothetically, I could do likewise. Christ has merited an infinite treasury of graces for mankind through His most holy Passion, and as such the only thing preventing me from growing in holiness and drawing others to Christ is my own laziness and sin.

Here's the rub. Like Schindler, I have made the mistake of holding onto silly, inconsequential things which, were I to forsake them, would allow me to work more effectively for the salvation of others. Why did I spend those 4 hours playing a computer game? If I had spent that time in prayer I might have moved God to save a friend. Why did I spend $300 on a high-carbon steel claymore? Am I ever going to fight a medieval battle? If I had given that money to the FSSP they could have used it toward the construction of a new church or seminary. Why did I spend so much time reading voluminous fantasy books? Did I gain anything useful from them? If I had used that time to research the NAB I could have written my article thereon (which I know from feedback to be affecting numerous lives) sooner, and be working on a new project right now. There are so many things I should give up which I do not. Moeover, I do things positively injurious to the salvation of others i.e. sin.

Schindler was overcome with grief when he realized that for the thousands of people he saved, he could have saved 6 more. What will it be like for me if God tells me that I have brought, say, 5 people to Christ, but that, if I had cooperated with every grace He bestowed on me, and had forsaken all my stupid diversions for prayer, works of mercy, and study, that number could have been one million? And this with reference to eternal life, not solely temporal?

There is a reason Jesus Christ told the rich young man to give up everything and follow Him. There is a reason He told us to love God with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind. Everything means everything, and whole means whole. All must be directed for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Eternal lives are at stake; we cannot afford to do anything less than all.

7/25/04: If You Can Be in Scranton, PA on November 6...

I will be speaking at the second annual conference of Catholics Defending Biblical Inerrancy, hosted by Gerry Matatics. I will be giving a speech based upon my critique of the New American Bible which is featured on this website. Hope to see you there.

6/8/04: My Letter to the Editors of The Nation

John Nichols's June 14 article, Kerry and Communion, raises some interesting questions, most of which should be fairly easy to answer.

§ No, being a Catholic and a Democrat are not mutually exclusive. However, being a Catholic and pro-abortion are. The Catholic Church teaches that human personhood begins at conception and as such abortion is a form of murder (Catechism 2270-2275). In the eyes of the Church, to claim to be personally opposed to abortion yet against making it a criminal offense is like claiming to be personally opposed to genocide yet flying for the Luftwaffe. If legislators like Pelosi and Daschle disagree with the Church's teaching, no one is forcing them to remain Catholic.

§ Denying Communion to pro-abortion legislators would not "mire the Church in partisan politics." It is simply an attempt by a religious organization to prevent blasphemy within its sanctuaries (1 Cor 11:27) and enforce discipline among its members. Surely these are legitimate prerogatives of any Church?

§ Father Greeley's question regarding denying Communion to politicians who support the death penalty and the Iraq war is quite discouraging; someone of his status really should know better. The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is an intrinsically evil act; it has never said the same regarding either the death penalty or war. With respect to the death penalty, the Catechism of the Council of Trent actually called the execution of murderers an act of supreme obedience to the fifth commandment (you shall not kill). Granted, John Paul II has suggested that society has progressed to the point where capital punishment is no longer necessary, however he has left the decision of when and where to apply it to the relevant civil authorities (Evangelium Vitae 56).

The issue of the Iraq war is similar. To answer Fr. Greeley's question, yes it would be a sin to support an unjust war and to vote for a candidate responsible for such a war. However, whether the war against Iraq is unjust is a prudential judgment which Catholics are free to make for themselves, until such time as the Pope makes it for them. So far, all John Paul II has done is advise against the war. He could, if he so desired, issue a formal decree condemning it as unjust and forbidding all Catholics from participation. But he has chosen not to do so. At least for now, Catholics may take opposite sides on this issue yet remain in good standing within the Church.

§ The John Kennedy quote near the end of the article is irrelevant. As he said himself, "I don't speak for the Church and the Church doesn't speak for me."

5/25/04: Condoms Are Not the Answer

According to Science News (Nathan Seppa, "Uganda Shows Strong Gains in War on AIDS," Science News, Vol. 165:301-302 (May 8, 2004)) HIV cases in Ugnada have dropped by more than two-thirds since the early 1990s, while neighboring countries have not shown similar progress. What is more, while condom use did increase slightly in Uganda during this time period, it did not increase as fast as in those other countries. The real cause of this extraordinary decline in infections was a public health campaign to inform people about the dangers of casual sex. Between 1989 and 1995, the number of people reporting casual sexual relationships declined by three-fifths, and the proportion of unmarried women reporting having sex dropped from 53 percent to 16 percent. This is wonderful news. It just goes to show you, monogamy, fidelity, and restraint are the answer to almost all the problems in the world. Condoms are not going to stop the AIDS epidemic, but morals can.

5/24/04: Attention All Catholic Apologists!

The rich man of Luke 16:19-31 was not in Purgatory. This passage has been divinely interpreted. He was in Hell.

If they finish their life, dying in hatred with the guilt of mortal sin, their souls, by divine justice, remain for ever bound with the bonds of hatred, and for ever obstinate in that evil, in which, therefore, being gnawed by themselves, their pains always increase, especially the pains of those who have been the cause of damnation to others, as that rich man, who was damned, demonstrated to you when he begged the favor that Lazarus might go to his brothers, who were in the world, to tell them of his pains. This, certainly, he did not do out of love or compassion for his brothers, for he was deprived of love and could not desire good, either for My honour or their salvation, because, as I have already told thee, the damned souls cannot do any good to their neighbor, and they blaspheme Me, because their life ended in hatred of Me and of virtue. But why then did he do it? He did it because he was the eldest, and had nourished them up in the same miseries in which he had lived, so that he was the cause of their damnation, and he saw pain increased to himself, on account of their damnation when they should arrive in torment together with him, to be gnawed for ever by hatred, because in hatred they finished their lives.
The Dialogue of St. Catheirne of Sienna. (Rockford, Illinois: Tan Books, 1974) pp. 108,109

4/3/04: What I Would Say...

...if someone asked me how to get to heaven.

Believe that Christ is God and that by His death He has turned away the Father's wrath and opened the doors for you to become an adopted son of God. Repent of your sins, and bear fruits which befit this repentance i.e. do works of penance out of love. Then find a priest who will make you an adopted son of God through water Baptism, whereby all of your previous sins will be wiped away. After doing this, spend the rest of your life avoiding sin and striving for holiness. Give to the poor, frequent the sacraments which God has instituted to mediate His grace to you, and follow Christ with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. As an aside, these actions must be motivated out of love of God and detestation of sin; if they spring from a baser motive such as fear of punishment they will be next to meaningless in the sight of God. If perchance you should fall into serious sin at some point in your life, make haste to confess to a priest, whom Christ has granted the authority to forgive sins in His Name. Above all seek to die in a state of friendship with God, for if you do this, you will be admitted into heaven. What you should do right now is pray for yourself, that God may grant you the grace to complete this journey successfully. Once you have been made a servant of God, begin praying for others, for it is not only your own salvation which your actions will affect, but the salvation of everyone around you. A great saint draws a thousand to heaven with him; a great sinner a thousand to hell.

3/26/04: A Comparison

And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock [you] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock [not you] I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

2/12/04: A Rant on Gender Neutral Pronouns

I find it amazing that people even attempt to make the Bible politically correct. No amount of gender neutral pronouns will ever make a book in which God commands a people to invade a land, dispossess the inhabitants, and smash all their false idol-gods politically correct. These people who insist on gender neutral pronouns are simply fighting a hopeless battle. The Bible will always offend people. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, offended people. Moreover, Jesus told the apostles that one of the marks of His true disciples would be that the world would (not just be offended by them) hate them! Christianity is supposed to shock people! We teach that God became man, and died! We teach that fornicators will not inherit the kingdom of God! We teach that unless one eat the flesh and drink the blood of God, he has no life within him! One who is too worried about offending people to use a masculine pronoun simply has no place in Christianity.