Abbey-Roads2

“Oh!  I am blogdom’s fool!”

I may have to do a few critical posts - but I’ll pray about it first.

UPDATE: 

Answered prayer - Maybe another time. 

Catholic bloggers are only voices - they are not the Church. 

I think some bloggers are not what or who they say they are.  I think a few seem  to be Catholic, but they are not.  Quite a few are protestant Catholics - commonly called ‘dissident Catholics’, or in some cases ‘rad-trads’ - they are both protestant however.  I think bloggers who claim to be Catholic generally are Catholic, but many seem to lack experience and don’t really know what they are talking about when it comes to dogma, discipline, liturgy, tradition, prayer and spirituality, and all of that.  Not a few bloggers are recent converts or born again Catholics - they go by the title, ‘reverts’.  Some are simply misfits spouting off interpretations of things they may have studied in the past few years.  (And some lie.)  But, like I said, many are in their first fervor and haven’t much more than a clue as to what living from faith is really all about.  Some are even self-proclaimed mystics with a private message from God.  Promoting oneself is usually a good sign of at least vanity, if not deceit. 

There are a lot of strangers out there blogging - be really, really careful.  (Maybe I should do a list?)

Art: “Ship of Fools” - Bosch 

Fr. Zuhlsdorf, the blogosphere’s pastor.

Here I am, minding my own business, checking blogs - I go first to Sante Pater  to see what Vincenzo did - he has a post on Fr. Z  - like a biography, and I think - “Does he hang out with Father?”  (Twinge of envy.)  I read the post, and I think, “Wow!  Vincenzo really writes well!”  (Stab of envy.)  I re-read it, and I think, “I didn’t know that!”  (Admiration.)

Then I go to Fr. Blake’s blog,  and he too has a piece on Fr.Z - as I read the post I realize Father had been interviewed by the Catholic Herald,  and both Fr. Blake and Vincenzo linked to the interview.  And a great interview it is.  It is a must read.

Just yesterday I was telling my friend John Hastreiter how important Fr. Zuhlsdorf  is to the Catholic Internet, and what he does is a real apostolate.  He is the pastor of the blogosphere, and the world is his parish. 

Objectifying men in Holy Orders.

Catholic news is often full of stories about liberal nuns who want greater equality in a male dominated Church, along with reports of their counterparts who either lobby for female ordination or go ahead and have themselves ordained. 

Then there are the periodic reports of the occasional scandal involving a priest leaving orders to marry a parish worker or some Camille he may be counselling.  Media, including Catholic bloggers love to exploit these stories.  Such stories also provide an excellent opportunity for uber-Catholics to proclaim their orthodoxy and fidelity to everything traditional, while condemning the heretics.  It’s something to blog about.

However, I find it curious that women, like gay men, seem to have an inordinate attraction not only to the priesthood, but to priests themselves.  I’ve heard some very traditional women say they think the priest is sexy in his cassock - even if he may have ho-hum looks.

Of course, Donatella Versaci has been rather vocal about her attraction to Monsignor Ganswein, the Pope’s secretary; last year she based a portion of  her men’s collection on clerical wear because of him.  The Monsignor also seems to be popular with female bloggers - Catholic and non-Catholic, and as one would expect, gay men seem to have the hots for him as well.  The poor Father is just too sexy for his cassock.

Respecting boundaries. 

Fatal attractions for priests and religious are nothing new, the movie, “The Devils” based upon the book by Aldous Huxley, ”The Devils of Loudon”, contains several scenes of Vanessa Redgrave’s character lusting after the local parish priest.  She was especially turned on by her fantasy of him naked beneath a lacy alb.    I don’t really know what it is that women find so attractive about priests and seminarians - and although I have a few ideas, I won’t go there.  (Photo: Oliver Reed from “The Devils”, Ken Russell, 1971.  Shown here is his scene as a fantasy of Christ for the prioress [Redgrave] who lusted after him.)

Even the most devout and sincere woman can mistake attraction for  devotion and dedication to her faith or position in the parish, although in many instances, she is most likely in denial.  I expect that must be the case when it leads to a priest leaving ministry for the woman he either worked with or counseled.  There are all sorts of situations which can befall a priest, and although it takes two in cases involving romance, the woman may indeed have greater responsibility in the affair.  Why?  If, as studies suggest, women are more intuitive than men, they ought to be more sensitive to the onset of infatuation and lust.  Men, ordained or not, often just don’t see it until it  happens. 

In such cases women would do well to recall the old saying; “Where there’s smoke there’s fire.”  Although before it gets that far, they ought to keep in mind the  other saying;  ”Where there’s fantasy there’s desire”.

It may be better to pray for priests, rather than to foster crushes on them.

Links:

Priests and Emotional Love, by Rev. Thomas G. Morrow - A very good article on the subject.

 [Top photo:  Monsignor Ganswein with another prelate.]

Around and around…

A blog I respect  actually has a current post concerning an Elvis impersonator priest, whom I posted about months ago on my “funny” blog, Abbey1.  (It is a non-issue which ubers  obviously feel a need to respond to - just read the nutty comments.  Since I am not an Elvis fan, I simply think the priest has no taste.) 

To be sure, it is no big deal who is first to post what, although what cracks me up is how this type of trivia acquires a semblance of importance, and gets circulated so repetitively, while there are always several readers who jump into the com-box to condemn whatever is regurgitated. 

Just think, a person just starting to blog today will repeat what somebody writes about tomorrow. 

And other bull$#!@.

Eat, Pray, Love.  Oprah is promoting this book by Elizabeth Gilbert- in fact, yesterday she just did another show on the book.  It is a best seller which is apparently liberating women from whatever keeps them back from self-pleasuring themselves with the freedoms they are missing out on in life.  (Not a few end up leaving their husbands as the author had.)  You can read a review of the new age spiritual classic here. 

Anagrammatic coincidence.

The so-called war on Christmas is fought on many fronts.  One familiar enemy of Christmas has always been the Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christians, once known as Puritans.  For these folks, any tradition associated with Christmas that smacks of Roman-ism is deemed satanic.  (And Catholics are worried about “The Golden Compass” maligning the Church!)

Writing on his blog, author John Shore claims that Santa is Satan:  “And Santa being Satan certainly explains a lot. For one, it explains the red suit. It also explains the flying reindeer. Remember how scary the flying monkeys were in The Wizard of Oz? Clearly, making mammals fly is an earmark of the malevolent. And seriously, what would you rather have flying over you: a 50-pound monkey, or a 500-pound reindeer? That wide-brimmed hat the Wicked Witch of the West wears might protect her from monkey droppings, but is it really going to help against a team of reindeer flying overhead?” - Read more.

As every good Christian ought to know, Santa traces his origins to St. Nicholas   - and he is definitely not the anti-Christ.  I’m not saying the commercialized version of santa Shore describes has much to do with the Catholic saint, but he certainly is not a danger to children’s souls either.  Christian parents, especially Catholics, should have enough faith to be able to differentiate the reality from the myth for their kids - at an appropriate age.  All too often religious people imagine the devil in the wrong places and disguises… while he is busy fitting-in  elswhere.

Circumventing authority.

Gay activists in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis are making an issue over Archbishop Nienstedt’s authority  to defend faith and morals for Catholic faithful.  These unhappy people, otherwise known as dissident Catholics, are writing letters of resistance to the editors  of various newspapers, calling television news to document protests, while using their blogs to put pressure upon the Church to change Her traditional teaching regarding homosexual sexual activity. 

Many of these people are the same ones who insist there is no gay agenda to change culture, the Church, or the world.  Ah!  But there is an agenda.  On one “Catholic” blog site, which is against just about anything that is traditionally Roman Catholic (such as papalism- as the author refers to it), I found an offering suggesting ways dissidents may discreetly circumvent authority.  The presentation was given by a sister of the nearly extinct order of women religious known as the Sisters of St. Joseph.

How to dress up in sheep’s clothing - strategies for the wolf.

What follows is from a local gay activist’s weblog:  “Sponsored by the Homophobia and Heterosexism Working Group of the Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Sister Jeannine’s talk was entitled “Transforming Hierarchical Structures,” and offered a number of “guiding principles” for such transformation within the Catholic Church, along with some concrete strategies by which this much needed transformation can and is being achieved.

1. Active compliance: when we work actively with those within the hierarchical system and abide by whatever decision comes about. We make our position known but nevertheless comply. In this way the hierarchy at least knows of an alternative position and seeds of change may well have been planted.

2. Creative circumvention: when we follow the letter of the hierarchical law but not its spirit. An example: Lay people, forbidden to preach during Mass, give a “talk” before or after Mass.

3. Prophetic obedience: when one follows in the tradition of Jesus and the prophets and publicly name and confront structures that are oppressive to people.” - The Wild Reed

“Homophobia and Heterosexism Working Group of the Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet” - HUH?

No earth-shaking revelation from Sr. Jeannine, to be sure.  However, the above excerpt from The Wild Reed helps to demonstrate that these people spend a great deal of time researching ways in which to circumvent Church teaching.  Through a more in-depth examination of the literature disseminated by a couple of the organizations associated with this local movement,  I couldn’t help but be impressed by the extent to which these people immerse themselves in gay studies programs and ongoing education, comprising questionable academic and scientific research as regards homosexuality.  The group seems to be very well equipped and organized in their assault upon Church teaching and discipline.  Riding the coat-tails of a well-established reputation, once enjoyed by the formerly vibrant order of the Sisters of St. Joseph, these false teachers have created a convenient platform from which to carry on their battle.  Yet hopefully, not for long.  

The Blogosphere. 

In keeping with the holiday spirit, Jeffrey Smith has posted a satirical critique of blogdom…  I think it’s very fun.

“Hello?  No, I’m sorry,  there is no one here by that name.” 

When I have nothing to blog about, I go looking for trouble.  I’ve actually picked up a few links in the process.  I’m kind of in to Sr. Mary Martha  now - she is actually very funny - especially if you imagine she really looks like the photo she has of herself.

My favorite nut-job articles are usually found at Spirit Daily.  Was it last week the missing British girl was supposedly seen in Medjugorje?  After a day or two, I had to read the account.  It reminded me of the Hitchcock film, “The Man Who Knew Too Much”… dumb story.  I know people see a lot of stuff in Medj - but Madeleine?  C’mon.  Days later, the sighting is confirmed to be in error  - except for die-hard Medj people - I’m sure for them it was some sort of a sign.

Don’t look at the digital clock!

Another intriguing article on Spirit had to do with people seeing the same numbers all of the time - especially 11:11.  One reader wrote:

“This has been going on for years, especially since September 11,” noted Diane Santoro. “I thought it was odd that I would not look at a digital clock all day and then when I did it was 11:11. Even at night I would wake and it would be 11:11 or 3:00 a.m. After several years I mentioned it to two devout Catholic friends and they said, ‘Us too!’ Today another friend who is close to the Lord said out of the blue that she keeps seeing 11:11.” - Spirit Daily

Wow!  That’s eerie - huh?  I just checked the date on my caller ID screen and it said 11:15.  I’m so glad I didn’t check it on 11:11!

Time flies, doesn’t it?

Spirit Daily is entertaining though.  There was another riveting article on how time seems to be speeding up.  One reader wrote:

“My daughter called her three daughters in for dinner (ages eight for the twins and a ten-year-old).  They said to her, ‘Mommy, it can’t be dinnertime. We just ate breakfast!’” - Spirit Daily

Isn’t that just so freaky?  (What if the mom had early onset of Alzheimer’s though, and the kids really had just eaten breakfast?)

“Where were the men?” asks Doris.

The following is the best story though - Spirit has an article on how something is going to happen  - and soon!  (I knew something was going to happen sooner or later!)  It has to do with a rumor - something big is going to happen.  (I think it is connected to numbers and the fact time is speeding up - in fact, seeing how fast time goes by, maybe it already happened, and we are just now becoming aware of  it!)  We are not told anything specific, just enough to be prepared however.  (It seems to be a “need to know” thing.)

Recently there was a rumor that something was about to break, that a new item would soon come that would greatly shake the faithful. It would affect many apostolates, said this rumor — not exactly a rampant rumor, but one about which we received limited word.

It sounded like scandal. Would it be a major bishop? Would it be problems in Rome? - Spirit Daily

I’m on pins and needles.  When it breaks - believe me I’m blogging about it!  And don’t try to accuse me of detraction either.

“No!  I told you Madeleine is not here!  Now quit calling!”

Sometimes when we touch…

The honesty is too much.   (I hated that song.)  Anyway - with all the blogs, Youtube, Facebook, and religious TV shows, many of us tend to reveal way too much about ourselves.  I’ve written revealing posts about myself, although I eventually take most of them down because I realize they are imprudent and indiscreet - and I want everyone to like me.

I have sometimes referred to significant events involving my conversion in a few posts, yet I’ve never written an entire story on it.  Mainly because I’m no saint.  Conversion stories can mislead people into believing the convert should be a little better for the experience, after returning to the practice of the faith that is.  A conversion is just a start - not the finished project.  For me, the best conversion stories are about dead people - people like Matt Talbot, converted, lived like a saint, died.  Now that’s a story worth telling.

Today people reveal far too much about their personal life.  Such as the recent case of the young, everyone-knew-he-was-gay-anyway  priest who came out during Mass  last weekend.  First, it was so inappropriate to do it during Mass - see, that is where homilies can go off the deep end - not that it wasn’t interesting mind you.  But Fr. Hotstuff politicized the Mass, and told everyone more than anyone needs to know about his private life, and scandalized  people in the process.  You know - if a guy is a celibate, living chastely, why does he have to announce his sexual preference?  Isn’t he supposed to be vowed to ED for the rest of his life anyway?

Then there is Fr. Francis and the EWTN announcement.  Too much information.  Did we need to be told he fell in love with a widow?  (How many of us started to wonder if the widow was Courtney Love?  See, we don’t have to go there.)  Although, maybe all the details were revealed to forestall a bigger scandal.  Since it was made public, I posted about it - when you make a public statement, you are asking for a public discussion - and it isn’t always going to be praise.

Something for bloggers to think about when they write their tell-all posts.

BTW - I’m still sick and probably dying from my cold. But don’t worry.   :)