Abbey-Roads2

Family Feud Host:  Name the most popular religion in the U.S.

The Nelson family responds:  Roman Catholic?

Family Feud Host:  Survey says:  Roman Catholic!  The Nelson family wins!

Gotta get religion! 

From network news to the most insignificant religious blogger (me), the talk of the nation is all about religion today.  A new survey from The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life indicates that the United States is on the verge of becoming a minority Protestant country; the detailed research also turned up data revealing that a significant number of Americans switch religious affiliations over their lifetimes, and that one third of cradle Catholics no longer identify themselves as Catholic.  The survey recognizes what most everyone already knew, Hispanic immigrants are raising the stats for the Catholic Church in the U.S. and filling the gap left by fallen away Catholics.

Sounds like good news to me.

The survey results seem to confirm other stats suggesting mainline Protestants are losing their congregations.  Gee, I wonder why?  I wonder if watered down doctrine has anything to do with it?  Or ordaining homosexuals and women and blessing SS couples?  Probably not.

The glass half full.

One thing the survey couldn’t document is the long venerable tradition of fallen away Catholics returning to the Church after doing whatever it is they do do that kept them from the sacraments in the first place.  Of course, I haven’t read the survey results, therefore I’m unsure if the stats concerning Americans switching denominations, makes much of  the increasing numbers of Protestants entering the Church. 

After the Holy Father visits in April, Catholic stats should see another boost. 

Links: 

Catholic News Agency 

Nearly half of Americans left their childhood faith. 

Acceptance of homosexuality at a new high.

New Oxford Review has a report on a recent Gallup poll which found that mainstream America’s acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, as well as same-sex marriage is at a new high.

A Gallup Poll released on May 29 has found that tolerance of homosexuality in the U.S. has reached a record high. Gallup posed this question: “Do you think homosexuality should be considered an acceptable alternative lifestyle or not?” In 1982, 34 percent of Americans said yes. In 2007, 57 percent of Americans said yes, and only 39 percent said no. Among the 18-34 age group in 2007, 75 percent said yes, and 23 percent said no. - New Oxford

Strangely enough, the same poll found that a large percentage of Americans, both liberal and conservative, feel that U.S. morality is in the toilet. 

Masons!

I found an interesting interview on Zenit with a Spanish priest’s investigation into Masonry.  (I’ll link to it and post a snippet or two after a few quick anecdotes of my own.)

Certainly, the Masonic influence upon society and politics since the French Revolution must be realized as certain by many knowledgeable Catholics, so I don’t really want to deal with all of that here.  Of course Masons are the bane of conspiracy theorists throughout the world, sede-vacantists, SSPX-ers, as well as neo-Nazis and white supremacists.  (Although, you rarely hear that liberals call people Masons - kidding.)

The cult effect.

Locally, there is a rather charismatic priest who genuinely believes most of the ills in society and the Church are due to the international Masonic conspiracy.  A good deal of his followers seem to agree.  Within those ranks are one or two who claim there are Masons even in the local Church.

One fellow, a PI (private investigator) now retired, suggested that even at one of the most conservative local Catholic parishes, Masons were stalking the sanctuary.  Alas - I quit my job before I could get details.  Intriguing huh?  Of course, people have accused Marcel Lefebvre of being a Mason as well, so it slices both ways.  (Although everyone knows Anibale Bugnini was a Mason.)  I think the nuns who taught me were Masons too, because we used to get tickets for the Shrine Circus.  No wonder Sr. Vivian was such a… 

Years ago I stopped in Chicago with a friend, on our way home after we drove to see JPII in Detroit.  My friend wanted to visit a weeping statue of Our Lady.  It was one of the weirdest experiences of my life.  An old Felician sister was there selling books and religious articles, spouting off about the infamous Cardinal Bernardin.  “He was a Mason!” she said, insisting he was in cahoots with the grand International Conspiracy of Masonic Jewish Bankers.  She was a nasty little woman indeed.  (Although I like the word cahoots.) 

This is really a serious post despite the labels.

(I just don’t want to come off as a conspiracy theorist.) 

Anyway, that’s all I have today on the subject, but here are a couple snips from the article with a link to read the entire thing.  Enjoy!

New Age connection.

Q: Does Masonry substitute itself for religion?

Father Guerra: Masonry, in line with one of its products, the New Age, prefers to use the term “spirituality,” which has a more subjective resonance than the term “religion.”

Some Masons say that they are Christians and deny that Masonry is a religion. They should rather recognize that they belong to two religions: the Catholic one and the Masonic one.

But in fact, at least for many, above all for the Masons who are agnostics and deists, Masonry is a substitute for religion. Indeed, Masonry is called a “religion” and sometimes “the religion” in Masonic writings and those of Masons.

They are everywhere.

Q: Is the famous Masonic conspiracy a myth?

Father Guerra: It is necessary to distinguish between Masonry and the Masons. Masonry, as such, does not aspire to power or at least to having it serve its own principles and interests.

Nevertheless, Masons are in fact present in every international organization in which decisions are made and in the multinational corporations that have an influence on economic and political power.

It is logical to think that they try to pass on their ideological principles — relativism, atheism, gnosticism — wherever they are and to irradiate them beyond their own context. - Zenit

“You can’t handle the truth!” - Jack Nicholson

So what if all of these Protestant converts coming into the Church - well some of them - are really Masons?  Or the Trads - yes the Trads - what if they…Or Fr. Richard McBrien- yeah, he has to be.  (Look for that little Fez thing they wear.)

Photo:  Wiccan prayer beads. 

More on the Cosmic rosary thing…again? 

Michael Brown of Spirit Daily has another post on the Cosmic Rosary - gosh - he just won’t let this go will he?  Why do people think this is such a big deal?  Catholics don’t have a copyright on prayer beads.

Religions predating Christianity have used stones or beads to count their prayers, as have later non-Christian religions, such as Islam.  In Persia, a string of prayer beads is called a Tasbih.  Prayer beads are far more ancient than Christianity; Hindus, Buddhists, and other pagan religions have all used prayer beads, some with amulets attached.  (In China the beads are called, Shu Zhu; in Japan, Juzu; in India, Japa Malas.)  The Marian rosary, as we know it, began as Pater Noster beads, 150 count, for people who did not know the psalter by heart.  (The Eastern Orthodox retain the use of so-called Jesus beads, developed by early hesychasts.) 

Catholics believe Our Lady instructed St. Dominic to promote the rosary amongst the faithful to defeat heresy and evangelize the people.  The rosary given by Our Lady at that time, was pretty much the same format as we pray it today.  Although in medieval art, the rosary is often depicted without a crucifix or even a centerpiece.  In fact, the Dominican method of praying the rosary does not include the first five beads of prayer between the crucifix and centerpiece.  (1 Pater bead, 3 Ave beads, 1 Gloria bead, etc.)

Today, non-Catholics, such as Lutherans and Anglicans, sometimes pray the traditional Roman Catholic rosary.  In fact, Anglicans have developed a variant on the rosary, but I am unfamiliar with it.  Today neo-pagans and New Agers have come up with they’re own style of prayer beads.  The “new” beads are obviously not the rosary of Our Lady.

But so what?

***

Interestingly enough, the Lutheran rosary uses what they call the pre-Trent Hail Mary on the Ave beads, or an invocation of Martin Luther’s in honor of the Madonna:

Pre-Trent Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Evangelical praise of the Mother of God (Attributed to Martin Luther)

O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, what great comfort God has shown us in you, by so graciously regarding your unworthiness and low estate. This encourages us to believe that henceforth He will not despise us poor and lowly ones, but graciously regard us also, according to your example.

This is an example of the so-called New Age crucifix that was reported on Spirit Daily, which I commented on in my previous post.  Quick! Emily Rose!  Call the exorcist! 

The crucifix, obviously an older style, as it appears here could be of French design, maybe even bastardized Celtic, or simply Italian Renaissance decorations - whatever its origins, it is NOT New Age.  The standard behind the corpus, with the snake, clearly symbolizes the pole Moses erected in the desert, mounting a bronze serpent atop - as God commanded, which prefigured the crucifixion of Christ on the cross.  Read your Bibles! (Numbers 21: 4-9 and John 3:14) 

To use St. Teresa’s words, “I don’t understand these fears, ‘The devil!  The devil!’, when we can say, ‘God!  God!’, and make the devil tremble.” - Life, Ch 25,22. 

(Thanks to Jeffrey for the link to the sketch.)

Policing the pews. 

Nothing turns off non-religious (and in some cases, religious) people more than when they run into the “holier-than-thou” types who are always focused upon correcting other people.  You know, the “Church lady” types who are not just members of the liturgy police, but keep their eyes on the faithful at Mass as well.  They tend to be authorities on just about everything Catholic - because they have read and studied every single Vatican document that was ever issued on the subject.  Many of us - yes me - have fallen into this spiritual pride that seeks to “instruct” the ignorant.  It is after all, a work of mercy.  (Maybe a ’severe mercy’ at times.)

Recently bloggers have posted about proper attire for Mass, I stepped in to call attention to the fact that people have to first understand what the Mass is - it is more than an obligation - as well as insisting the Mass should be celebrated devoutly, reasoning people would be more inclined to dress appropriately if they understood what was happening.  Few people seem to realize however, that despite how one is dressed, it may be a big deal they are even at Mass in the first place.  One never knows at what stage a person is at in their spiritual life.  

Skipping Mass on Sunday.

Another issue has raised its ugly, self-righteous, little head however.  I had heard it expressed in the past, by uber-Catholics I once worked with, and that is:  attending the anticipatory Mass for Sunday on Saturday evening!!!  It is so evil!!!  (Can you hear that cresendo?)  OH! MY! GOSH!  Some Catholics have the audacity to consistently attend Mass on Saturday evening.  And as the “holy of holies“ have it - it is merely a matter of convenience that they do so.  On one blog, a commentator has even stated that in such a case these scoundrels do not fulfill their Sunday obligation.  Tell the daily-Mass-attendee Grams and Gramps that - since it is often the elderly who attend the vigil Mass in my parish.  (Do I know if they attend Mass the next day?  It’s no one’s flipping business!)

One more thing for many to feel guilty about.  Ladies and gentleman, you are never going to measure up - face it - you are going to hell.  You walk into Church for the vigil Mass wearing shorts - it is a damnable slippery slope.

It is licit!

I have never heard a priest or a bishop say that attending the vigil Mass on Saturday was illicit.  For whatever reason the concession was permitted, it has never been suggested that a person fails to fulfill his Sunday obligation by attending the vigil Mass - no matter what the reason. 

Few people understand that liturgically, whether it be a major feast day, or a Sunday, the liturgy of the day commences with Vespers the evening before.  Hence, the vigil Mass is celebrated within the liturgical event - which is Sunday, or the proper solemnity of the following day. 

People can speculate their butts off as to the motivation or the devotion of those who attend vigil Masses - nevertheless it is permitted to them to do so.  If the local bishop or the USCCB permits it, it is licit. 

Watch your self-righteous step.

Some of these people may claim to be more Catholic than the Pope, but no one can claim to be more holy than the Church.

I once worked next door - the next cubicle - to a traditional Catholic woman, and she insisted she was more Catholic than the Pope.  She felt it her duty to set everyone straight about all the rubrics and Papal teachings as well as the Vatican documents.  In addition, she never batted an eye when she had to tell someone they were a bad Catholic or that they were going to hell.  She has now returned to her former ways however - she went back to Wicca.

John of the Cross speaks to this issue in his wonderful instructions to beginners in the spiritual life, when he writes:

“Sometimes they seek to instruct rather than being instructed; in their hearts (he might say, on their blogs) they condemn others who do not seem to have the devotion they would like them to have, and sometimes give expression to this criticism like the pharisee who despised the publican while he boasted and praised God for the good deeds he himself accomplished.” - Dark Night, 2:1

Isn’t that special!  

In the 1960’s it would have been referred to as a ‘happening’.  Today it is art.

Pictured: A previous ”exhibition” of the artist’s work - naked people paving an avenue.

A record 18,000 people took off their clothes to pose for U.S. photographic artist Spencer Tunick on Sunday in Mexico City’s Zocalo square, the heart of the ancient Aztec empire. - Reuters 

Spencer Tunick does this stuff.

Pictured: Today’s “exhibition” in Mexico City.

“This event proves that really we’re not such a conservative society anymore. We’re freeing ourselves of taboos,” said Fabiola Herrera, a 30-year-old university professor who volunteered to strip, along with her boyfriend. - Reuters