Abbey-Roads2

Nancy Pelosi, armchair theologian corrected by the USCCB.

The Bishops of the United States have quickly pulled together and reiterated sound teaching on the abortion issue, in particular, the question of when human life begins, in order to refute the pretentious and deceptive statements made by the Speaker of the House and her cohorts - barking their wisdom and showing off their piety at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.   From the Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON, Aug 26, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, have issued the following statement:

In the course of a “Meet the Press” interview on abortion and other public issues on August 24, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion.

In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.” (No. 2271)

In the Middle Ages, uninformed and inadequate theories about embryology led some theologians to speculate that specifically human life capable of receiving an immortal soul may not exist until a few weeks into pregnancy. While in canon law these theories led to a distinction in penalties between very early and later abortions, the Church’s moral teaching never justified or permitted abortion at any stage of development.

These mistaken biological theories became obsolete over 150 years ago when scientists discovered that a new human individual comes into being from the union of sperm and egg at fertilization. In keeping with this modern understanding, the Church teaches that from the time of conception (fertilization), each member of the human species must be given the full respect due to a human person, beginning with respect for the fundamental right to life.  - Market Watch

“She’s a pretty nice girl, but she doesn’t have a lot to say… she’s a pretty nice girl, but she changes from day to day.  Oh yeah, she’s a pretty nice girl” - but I wouldn’t want to make her mine… no, I wouldn’t want to make her mine.  (Beatles - Abbey Road:  “Her Majesty” - rearranged.)

Big thanks to Paula for this story.

St. Teresa of Avila.

Elena notes today as the feast of the Transverberation of the heart of St. Teresa of Avila, observed by Carmelites throughout the world.  Read her post here.

St. John of the Cross also writes about these mystical graces of Divine union and spiritual marriage in these words:

“It will happen that while the soul is inflamed with the Love of God, it will feel that a seraph is assailing it by means of an arrow or dart which is all afire with love. And the seraph pierces and in an instant cauterizes this soul, which, like a red-hot coal, or better a flame, is already enkindled. The soul is converted into an immense fire of Love. Few persons have reached these heights.”  (Collected Works, John of the Cross.)

Thirty years ago today tomorrow - Today!

Albino Luciani was elected pope on August 26, 1978.  Not unlike his predecessors Paul VI and Pius XII, his name is being defamed by innuendo and lies.  Books and articles have circulated for some time now alleging the Holy Father was murdered by Vatican insiders.  That is about as likely as the plot of the DaVinci Code.  In addition, at least one author has written false quotes in support of homosexuality and contraception attributed to the Pope, purportedly from Luciani’s years as bishop and prior to his election as pope.

I noticed the quotes on another blog written by a gay-Catholic activist.  I forgot the subject matter, but a commenter used excerpts from the book, “Murder In the Vatican” by Lucien Gregoire, to support an argument for gay, loving relationships (same-sex unions).  The following is an excerpt from the book, offered by the commenter who also has a website promoting the cause of “St.” Mychal Judge:

“We must hold this holy union in sacred trust before Almighty God whenever it exists between ANY of God’s children — man and woman, or black and white, Christian and Jew, virgin and divorcee, man and man, or woman and woman.” - Source  

Lies for the cause.

My gut reaction told me the quote was a lie, but of course I had no way to verify the author was either lying, relied on faulty translations, or indeed had access to forged documents.  I contacted a friend who agreed the information was false, yet suggested I let the matter rest.  In the meantime he contacted another friend of his who happens to be an expert on the life of John Paul I. 

First of all, the Vatican never “cleans up” the image of any candidate for sainthood - as the commenter suggested - thus, if these false statements attributed to Pope Luciani were in fact true, they would not  be covered up, and more likely than not, Luciani’s cause would never go forward.  Anyway - this is what a real expert on the life of John Paul I had to say:

“In regard to the Lucien Gregoire book, I have looked through it a little in the past on Amazon.com. It’s utterly appalling! From what I read of the first chapter or two, the work is at 99% but more likely 100% total fiction. If this guy ever met Albino Luciani in his life, I’m the Taj Mahal!  I think this author must be a pathological liar, totally delusional, or both.

“I know what I’m talking about, since I’ve been researching Luciani’s life in the original sources (in Italian) for close to 30 years, and have translated many of his writings into English. Believe me, I know his life and thought, and this ain’t it.

“Needless to say, the quotes bear no resemblance whatever to anything Luciani ever said. Just to be sure, I checked out the date and circumstances given for the quote - to seminarians in 1961, in the volumes of his Opera Omnia published in Italy 1988, and his letter to seminarians from this period does not address the subject of sexuality at all, much less in those outrageous terms.

“However, here is an authentic quote from Luciani from 1974 from an interview he gave to the newspaper Il Gazzettino of Venice on sexual morality after the Italian episcopal conference had written a document on the subject:

“A sexuality that is worthy of man must be a part of love for a person of a different sex with the added commitments of  fidelity and indissolubility.”(Il Gazzettino, February 12,1974, p. 7) ”

Providentialy I received the information this morning, the anniversary of the election of JPI - unfortunately I do not have permission to reveal the source, but I assure you it is reliable.  Regardless, even without documentation, I would decry such outrageous claims in defense of the Servant of God, John Paul I.