The Day of Atonement - sort of a Jewish Good Friday.
When my mother’s brother told my brother that we may indeed have Jewish blood, I began to observe this fast day of the Jewish calendar. That was about 35 years ago. This year Yom Kippur began at sundown today and goes until sundown tomorrow, October 9.
Always pray for our elder brothers and sisters in the faith.
Holy Crap!
Speaking of gay priests… “There is a funny little subtext that goes along with this double standard. Private and secret alliances and friendships are formed among the gay clergy who tacitly “come out” to each other while equally tacitly agreeing to never become “inconvenient” by coming out publicly or by getting caught in any type of scandal or even by becoming involved in any type of gay ministry. Some of these relationships are cemented by sex and some are platonic friendships. Those of this group who are elevated to higher rank are then able to advocate for the promotion of their gay friends. My time in Rome gave me an education about the clandestine efficiency of this system.” - Fr. Tony
Fr. Geoff planned the whole thing.
Fr. Raphael G. Farrow, who came out last Sunday in opposition to Proposition 8 in Fresno, California - and then revealed he is a gay priest - now has a blog - Fr. Geoff Farrow… and blogger buddies… some who appear to be gay priests themselves. One blogger is urging other gay priests to come out as well. It is almost like St. Sebastian’s Angels all over again.
From the new BFF, Fr. Tony.
“These are the days of unpredictable weather for these priests. One moment, folks are asking for a blessing, and the next, they are raising fists to punch out the teeth of those suspected of child molesting. The Church proclaims that God’s love is all inclusive, but drives out gay leaders who become inconvenient by acquiring visibility and countering Church dogma. The bishops try an impossible balancing act by teaching that homosexual orientation is not a sin but that homosexual actions are sinful. They say they would not suspend a homosexual priest who was living a celibate life, but they concoct new seminary rules that keep openly gay men from entering the priesthood. Meanwhile, in the Vatican, old men who are to spirituality what gourd-shaking witchdoctors are to modern medicine, rail against any priest who even suggests that gay might be good.
The homosexual priest has to keep his mouth shut about his sexual orientation for a number of reasons.” - Can you love a gay priest.
From his old BFF Jeff:
“I don’t see Father Geoff all that often, because he’s based in Fresno. We had dinner about a month ago and he spoke of his plans to publicly come out against Proposition 8. That may not sound too shocking until you realize that he’s based in Fresno, where the proponents are the strongest. So this could be a move that is not only career ending, but potentially harmful physically as well.This morning, Father Geoffrey Farrow delivered this sermon at 11 AM Mass…” - World of Jeff
And then from Fr. Tony again:
“I just got off the phone with Father Geoffrey Farrow. (A blogger friend of his suggested I contact him and was kind enough to facilitate our introduction.)
If the word gracious can be undertstood to mean filled with grace in the spiritual sense, I’d like to apply it to Father Geoff who has surely fired a graceful shot to be heard round the world.He seems like a gentle man. A man of integrity who demonstrates once again that the greatest thing a man can do in this world is simply to be true to himself and to care about the people entrusted to him.
We talked about the fact that most priests are gay, and about the power structure that keeps them silent when in their hearts they know they should be working to overturn the ridiculous mistreatment of gay people by the Catholic Church. He said that at a gathering of priests that followed the news about his sermon, the bishop was assured by many of the priests that Father Farrow was wrong and should be punished. This is disgusting and yet so very believable.
I wish I could shout out to all the thousands of gay priests out there. This is your chance, guys. Father Geoff took the first shot. He made the bold jump. Are you going to let him stand there alone and vulnerable? Are you going to turn your back on him? Or, will you stand up and be counted? Will you use your pulpits to support what he has begun?” - Farmboyz
And yet people get mad at me when I say gay men should not be ordained.
All I can say is what an old black lady named Betty Lou - who once worked for me - used to say after repeating some admonition she had given many times previously. She was especially forceful when the other person tried to argue their point further. Her patience worn thin, hands on her hips, leaning into the culprit’s face, Betty Lou would close one eye, toughen up her mouth, raise her finger and wag her head with all the attutude she could muster, and growl in the deepest Whoopie voice you ever heard: “Whaddaye tell you? Huh?!” And I’ll finish that for her: “DO NOT ORDAIN GAY MEN!”
(H/T to Paula for the story.)
October 5th was his feast day.
And I forgot until this evening as I prayed the rosary in the presence of his relics.
Blessed Alberto Marvelli, died at the age of 28 on October 5, 1946. He was hit by a truck as he bicycled to a city election meeting. He had been elected as a town Councillor after the war, since upon returning to Rimini he was placed in charge of securing housing for the many left homeless and destitute by the bombings. Alberto bought food clothing, bedding and other essentials for the poor. Since early childhood he possessed a particular devotion to the poor, a habit acquired from his mother.
At the age of 18 he became president of Catholic Action. He had a lively devotion to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati who also had pursued a career in engineering. From his earliest youth, Bl. Alberto’s goal was to become holy, which he accomplished through a discipline of prayer and service to the poor, as well as fidelity to the duties of his state in life.
He is an excellent model for young men, especially those who have chosen the single state in life. The Vatican has a brief, yet detailed biography on Blessed Alberto.
I often like to remind people that he was friends with the Italian film director, Federico Felini, when they were young.
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