Tom in Vegas

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T19:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything in the past few weeks because my dad has been ill and hospitalized and, as a result, the interest to post just hasn't been there. He has made some improvements, but sometimes I lose hope because of the conflicting reports made by the medical staff. All I ask is that you please keep him in your prayers.

In lesser news...

You have no idea how difficult it was to get this costume on this little bast*rt without losing a finger...or two. Toby, the Evil Halloween Pup, would have nothing to do with his Halloween disguise and decided put his little fangs to use by biting away any attempt to put it on him. Finally, I was able to put it on him but not completely. He was way too angry and unmanageable.

God bless and I hope you and your families have a happy and safe Halloween!

Stop it.

2011-09-18T04:41:00.000-07:00

So I'm doing my best to stay away from the Fr. Pavone controversy and discussing it in great detail simply because I don't believe in fueling disputes that are generated within the Catholic Church itself. However, this much I will say, whatever disgrace comes from this public contention, we have only Catholic sources to assign blame (in my opinion). But regardless of whether the Bishop is right or wrong, or Fr. Pavone has been unjustly removed, whatever happened to promptly addressing the issues and privately discussing them before going public with a war of words? And as a Bishop, certainly you must appropriately and respectfully eye those individuals who are under your jurisdiction, but can you apply your authority harshly and unfairly simply to preserve your "empire"? Yes. Absolutely. Anyhoo, I've said more than I wanted to say about this subject matter.

Quit Sending Me Emails
I get at least two emails a day from some source claiming to be associated with either Fr. Pavone or the Priests for Life caucus. I have unsubscribed myself from I don't know how many bulk email lists and STILL I get stuff in my in box from those sources. I'm not trying to be apathetic to the cause of the Priests for Life in any way, but since the subject matter of these emails is focused on the public dispute, I simply don't want to read them. Don't ask me how they got my email.

On a Lighter and Happier Note
This is Sebastien, my brother's new cat. He is still a baby (only four months old) and extremely playful. Rocco, who was also a youngster, passed away from a rare condition about two months ago.

2011-09-11T03:52:00.000-07:00

It's only in retrospect that we can better appreciate the difference. On September 11, 2001, the human race, not just America, lost more of the benevolence and innocence the Creator imbued humanity with. The world since then has never been the same, nor will it be the same again. We're more distrusting, more suspicious, more technological (with the intent at tracking people of interest), and more alienated. Especially alienated. There was a time in the history of this country when you could knock on the front door of the White House and the President of the United States would answer. Now just try it and see what happens. But it's not just in the access to overly guarded politicians that we see a change, which in the case of the President is understandable. But also in airports security checkpoints, malls, schools, DMV's, borders, sporting events, streets, etc. It's almost impossible to walk around these days and not be seen by camera or some other surveillance device.

The Loss of Human Life
There is so much suffering and loss from the the 9/11 attacks that I simply cannot wrap my head around it. From the "good byes" and the "I love you's" over the phone, and the heroic efforts of both rescue personnel and civilians, to the continued absence of those who perished, there is nothing I can write that can justly describe the intensity and profundity of these events. I'm sure other blogs are posting about the tenth anniversary of the attacks with more eloquent and impactful wording. Please visit those since speech--despite ten years since the attacks--still fails me.

His name was Kevin Cosgrove. He was inside one of the World Trade Center Towers speaking on the phone to a 911 operator as the building begins to collapse. This is the released audio of that chilling call. This audio was played in the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui who is currently serving a life sentence in Florence, Colorado for his involvement in the September 11th attacks. Kevin Cosgrove left behind a wife and three children.

Vocations Revisited

2011-09-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that Catholic vocations have taken a dramatic dip in the past five decades or so. Many diocese and religious orders have fervently taken up the task of encouraging potential candidates to seriously consider a life as a priest or a nun in a diocesan capacity or religious order. If it weren't for those efforts, I think an even greater number of parishes and monasteries might have closed or consolidated to compensate for the lack of clergy. This shortfall in Catholic vocations does, once again, invite a focused analysis of the overall components and pre-requisites of a life as a Catholic priest or Catholic nun.

Celibacy
Supposedly--and I don't always agree with this--the biggest precondition that keeps men from entering the priesthood is the celibacy demand. Many Catholics (and non-Catholics) that I've spoken to consider this pre-requisite to be anachronistic and well within the authority of the Magisterium to change or modify. I think this drive to eliminate priestly celibacy is also encouraged by the knowledge that married men are ordained in the Eastern Catholic Rites, and the exposure some parishes have had to the influx of Anglican priests entering the Catholic Church with wife and children. To this date, I haven't heard anything exceptionally derogatory about parishes managed by married Catholic clergy. But since I have a strong aversion to most things progressive, it's important not to dismiss the criticism that comes from the opponents of lifting the celibacy demand. Having said that, I personally don't think that a multitude of priests getting divorced or accused of infidelity would equal the scandalous and deleterious impact of one sexual abuse accusation. And if this was an issue of conservatives versus liberal Catholics, would the conservatives not be the ones who want to lift the celibatic condition to the priesthood, since, for the first eleven hundred years of the Catholic Church, married men were ordained to the priesthood?

When evaluating the relevance of the ecclesiastical law about sacerdotal celibacy--whether for it or against it--the first thing we have to do is detach ourselves from our egos and propensity to become hostile even at the mention of change. There's no doubt in my mind that some people on both sides of this issue at some point begin to argue for their personal win rather than for what is good and truthful for the Church.

Secularism/ Materialism

"Vocations begin at home."

Our culture measures success by income, status, and material holdings. This type of mentality seeps even into the most faithful of Catholic upbringings, often times promoting prestige and the ability to produce material goods as rewards for hard work and sacrifice (I would argue that mentality is more Protestant than Catholic but, nevertheless, enough Catholics think this way as well). Priestly life, while respected and appreciated (for the most part), is considered a corollary to mainstream professions that provide greater incomes and bigger opportunities to obtain material goods and higher status recognition. If a Catholic child is conditioned to believe those things, The Calling will undoubtedly fall on def ears. So when you think about it, those Catholics who on one hand join parish lay groups that encourage vocations and sponsor seminarians, but on the other hand perpetuate the Protestant Ethic, contribute in large amounts to the vocation deficiency they're trying to diminish.

The Catholic voice has to be louder than the secular clamor most people are accustomed to hearing. This secular cacophony is so ubiquitous and so unchallenged that most of our youth, and indeed their parents, march to the beat of it with an almost trance-like obedience. So when you consider the types of qualities that are valued in some everyday Catholic households, you realize that the lack of vocations isn't just a low number of candidates entering the seminaries, but also a misguided focus on behalf of the Catholic family on things that are ephemeral and materialistic.

Going off on a tangent
Some critics outside the Catholic Church, and even some Catholics, have judged the priesthood and religious life as a place where a gay man or woman could seek cover for the nature of their sexuality and keep suspicion at bay. A Catholic man that knew he would never marry because he was gay could easily account for the lack of a female partner if he was an ordained priest committed to living a chaste life, as I've heard some say. Now that there is a greater acceptance in our society for gay men and women, might that not alleviate the pressure felt by some Catholic members of this demographics to hide their sexuality by entering a religious life that they were never called for? I can hear the argument that a wrong in our society doesn't constitute a benefit for the Church.

Anyway, this is stuff that's been on my mind recently and I'm just throwing it out to you guys.

Photo Credit: Catholic Seminarians of Facebook

Elmo Has Issues

2011-09-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Be responsible this Labor Day weekend. Wild party boozing can only get you into trouble whether on foot or in car, human or not (see above pic). This brings me to my next somewhat related question: is enduring the crappy, godawful, pungent taste of hard liquor worth the buzz? People, you have got to be kidding me. I remember catching a brief scent of Stolichnaya Raspberry Vodka a few years ago and found the aroma quite agreeable. I purchased a bottle for a gathering at a friend's house and after I took the first sip, I nearly hurled! Oh there was plenty of vodka-taste in the sip alright, but NO traces a anything that could remotely be identified as raspberry. I was very disappointed. The raspberry existed mostly in the scent, not the taste.

I very, very seldom drink, but in the times that I do, it's typically wine or a wine-spritzer. And I usually start feeling the buzz--which I absolutely detest--long before I've reached the halfway mark of my drink. Not very manly, is it?

Selling Yourself

2011-08-31T00:20:00.000-07:00

Very few people in the excessively materialistic world of celebrities and glory-hungry hopefuls are as prone to self exploitation as Kim Kardashian. A socialite with no redeeming artistic value, Kim, her parents and sisters currently star in a reality show called Keeping Up With the Kardashians. The success of that show has brought it back for six seasons thus far.

In 2007, Kim made a sex tape that was posted online for public viewing. She sued the adult video producer which posted the video, Vivid Entertainment, and was awarded five million dollars. However, savvy Kardashian negotiated a deal with Vivid Entertainment and as a result of those negotiations the tape became available for public viewing, but for a fee. Kardashian, in turn, would take a cut of those fees. This article credits her sex tape for launching her career.

Earlier this month Kim married NBA player Kris Humphries in Montecito, California. I'm assuming that the smut video his wife made was not an issue when he decided to pop the question. Personally, it would make me sick to my stomach.

What is most disturbing about Kim Kardashian's situation is the fact that her own family, specifically her mother and step-father, have failed to make even the slightest effort to have the video removed and protect the dignity and (potential) respectability of their daughter. They're all reaping the fruits of a porn video.

And I could never forget to give recognition to another twirp whose fame and notoriety are equally as mysterious and inexplicable as Kardashian's. And this, of course, is Paris Hilton.

Skip the Title

2011-08-28T00:47:00.000-07:00

"Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in." ~ C.S. Lewis

Since claiming my return to blogger, you have no idea how many false starts I've experienced when constructing a post. Instead of giving you a count of how many post I began but never developed, I will simply say that I have enough beginning material to last me a LONG TIME, most of which will undoubtedly be deleted. And then there was the indecision of how to return. How on earth do I begin what I said in my last post (three months ago) I was resuming? What post would be fitting? What topic would be appropriate? Since I didn't have a good answer to any of those questions (and still don't), I simply decided to type away and post.

The above quote is from the celebrated author/ Christian apologist, C.S.Lewis. What an admirable and passionate commitment he had to Christianity. I often think of him and those jewels of Saints that pepper Catholic historicity whenever I feel like I'm faltering or about to make erroneous conclusions about God. They don't necessarily stop me from making those bad conclusions, but they sure help me fight my way out of them by functioning as beacons of light in the darkness. How many of us, for example, in the course of our day, besieged by set-backs, bad news, demoralizing defeats, would be tempted to conclude that God is apathetic or that He simply doesn't exist? I think a great deal of humanity experiences that type of situation. And if your Catholic and voice publicly (and honestly) a moment of profound desolation or unbelief, it's nothing short of scandalous! I never understood why, however, since moments of unbelief are part-and-parcel to the ups and downs of a spiritual life taken seriously. It should be, I think, about as unusual and shameful as finding someone with a cold during winter, or a painter with blotches of paint on his uniform.

And there are plenty of experiences that can weaken your faith: A fragmented relationship; bad medical news; shattered dreams; losing a loved-one; life taking you on a path different than the one you hope for, and perhaps, just general unhappiness.

But the good news is this. Could St. Therese de Lisieux, St. Augustine, Mother Teresa, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Benedict, and the courageous steadfastness of the murdered monks of Tibhirine (to mention just a few) be the product of delusion and self deception? Were this people--as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens might lead you to believe--the victims of a sham instituted by shysters and perpetuated by organized religion? Examine that question deeply and the only ones self-deceived are the ones who answer yes.

I want to conclude this short post with this Agnus Dei from Arvo Part's "Berliner Messe." It's simply extraordinary and highlights the meat and potatoes of Catholic worship: Mysticism. Which in this case I mean Mystery of God. Communion is a great part of this Mystery.

Also, I did manage to post a picture of myself on Facebook. Ha! But I made sure that some people couldn't see it. This reminds of my next chore, thin-out my Friends list on Facebook. To be perfectly honest, there are people on that list that I simply don't care to have any connections with. Some of which are on Blogger! Not you, of course:0)

Pentecost

2011-06-12T04:45:00.001-07:00

It's a good day to return, don't you think?

"When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim."

Happy birthday, Church! And to all of you, my blogger pals, it's time for us to reconnect and pick up from where we left off.

Check out this video. This is simply amazing!

Did any of you know about this?

2011-01-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

Hates begets hate. This misanthrope praises the death of six innocent human beings (one of which was a child) and then has the audacity to thank God for it. He is the "Christian" equivalent of Muslim extremists.

A New Year Has Begun

2011-01-03T15:20:00.001-08:00

Let me begin this post by extending a Happy New Year to all of you and your families. I truly hope that whatever you were lacking in the previous year, or had been vexing you in 2010, will emerge or leave your life hastily, never to return.

Some times I get a bit apprehensive about the new year. I think of it as a long, untraveled road with sporadically hidden and unforeseen surprises. As you know, these surprises aren't always good. But what really puts me on edge is WHERE these surprises are hidden, ready to spring up and reveal themselves at the last moment or when it's already too late. My grandmother, in her kind and infinite wisdom, would have no such worries. When I was very young, I encountered a very frustrating moment and, amid the frustration and despair, uttered the famous grown, why me? To which she responded, "Why not you?" I don't think my grandmother knew anxiety like I have known it, nor did she ever worry about things that were beyond her control.

I have decided to take spring semester off from school. My plate is full and adding more to it for the sake of an accelerated completion just isn't worth my sanity. I hope resume my studies with greater clarification and focus during summer session.

May Christ be with you, protect you, guide you, and bless you and your families this new year and everyday of your lives. Amen.

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-25T03:55:00.000-08:00

Oh shameful, shameful me. I've neglected my blog for a whole month! O.K., so that has to change. In the meantime, I'd like to wish you and your families a blessed and Merry Christmas, and may the incoming New Year bring you all good health and prosperity.

2010-11-25T15:17:00.000-08:00

Who is not hungry at Thanksgiving?
The turkey, he’s already been stuffed!

Why did Johnny get such low grades after Thanksgiving?
Because everything is marked down for the holidays.

Okay, enough with the stupid jokes. But I would like to wish you and all your loved-ones a

Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Mixed Signals??

2010-11-20T17:03:00.001-08:00

So the big news circulating in some Catholic and non-Catholic media outlets is that Pope Benedict has approved the use of condoms in certain circumstances. Asked if the Church has had a shift in principles, Pope Benedict answered:

"She of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality." Read full article here.

I find this story, which, again, is spreading through the internet like wildfire, somewhat unreliable. But if true, I can see former critics singing his praises and current supporters feeling somewhere in between confused and outraged.

CNS provides a piece that seems to clarify Pope Benedict's stance on the use of condoms. Read here.

It's Here!

2010-11-08T00:45:00.000-08:00

My blogger friend, Terry, has fired the first official Christmas salvo here. I'm going to fan the flames by posting favorite Christmas carols, followed by more Christmas music and many other Christmasy things.

The BEST Advent piece (advent is right around the corner!) ever composed.

(Turn your volume up.)

Hacked

2010-11-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

I think both my Blogger and Facebook accounts were hacked into recently. I'm wondering how these little cyber monstrosities get inside places they're not suppose to when I'm pretty tenacious about protecting my passwords, accounts, and about the places I visit online.

Could you PLEASE notify me if you've gotten any spam emails from me on Blogger or on Facebook? I'd feel so embarrassed if one of my Blogger or Facebook friends received from me any spam or emails or messages or Lord knows what else happens when your system is hacked into.

If this is the case, I sincerely apologize to any of you, my Blogger friends, ahead of time.

Elections Tomorrow

2010-11-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Vote these losers OUT!
Republican or Democrat, party affiliation is inconsequential.
These two are BAD for the country.

Does anyone remember this spectacle?

2010-10-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd defend Juan Williams, but the day has indeed arrived.

These are the comments Williams made during an interview with Bill O'Reilly that got the dipsticks at NPR all fired up, and ultimately cost him his job at NPR: "I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country," Williams said. "But when I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they're identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

I hope enough NPR enthusiasts take issue with the station's conduct and withhold their donations during the station's pledge drives.

SNL's Royal Deluxe II

2010-10-21T00:53:00.000-07:00

One of the funniest SNL sketches/ commercials ever!

Old News

2010-10-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

The depravity of Father Marcial Maciel is beyond comprehension to me. How was he able to seamlessly reconcile the significance of the priesthood with a behavior that was nothing short of barbaric? Was he mentally ill? Did he suffer from some kind of undiagnosed neurological disorder that no one knew about? Did he think the filth hidden in his rotten, private life would would always remain concealed?

I know Maciel is old news and the shock of his debasement has diminished. But went I think of the troubles the Church has experienced in resent times, his face inevitably is one of the first to surface.

Complacency in Faith

2010-10-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

"If you understood, what you understood was not God." ~ St. Augustine

I've used this quote by St. Augustine quite a bit. I reflect on it during those moments in life when one is tempted to conclude that God is absent or that He doesn't care. Only in retrospect can the value of those desolate moments be truly appreciated as opportunities to expand your faith.

I'm guilty of this: I get "comfortable" with my faith and with my idea of God. There is the temptation to conclude that while somethings remain mysterious, for the most part, we have this life and the things that happen in the next life figured out to some extent. You die. You are judged by Christ. Heaven, hell, or purgatory. The end. Personally, I think this simplicity undermines a Mystery that is both hidden and beyond comprehension. Sometimes I hear a good-intentioned individual describe to me almost in step-by-step sequence of what happens to the soul as it enters into eternity.

Know this, regardless of how well versed you are in Church teachings, theology, Christology, mysticism, and the lives of the saints, the only thing we can say with certainty is that God is both infinite justice and infinite mercy. No one who has died absolutely and irrevocably has come back to life to give an account of what the whole experience was like. God is both infinite justice and infinite mercy. Those two qualities are not opposites. On the other hand, it's a mistake to conclude that because God is infinite justice, that in the word "justice" is implied a condemnation to hell. I think hell is tragically the place or word people think of when we speak of God's justice, when justice could mean mercy as well.

I know it sounds silly to some of you, but it's stuff like the above piece (arguably the greatest sacred composition of all time) that energizes me and awakens my senses to the Mystery the Catholic faith is imbued with. I often wonder what Allegri's Miserere sounds like to my non-Catholic blog visitors. Archaic? Anachronistic? Baroque crap? Clearly, everybody has his or her likes and dislikes, and some just miss the point altogether.

Cheesy Nuns

2010-09-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is better than that other nun story CNN was running yesterday.

Personal Revelations and Apparitions

2010-09-15T00:23:00.000-07:00

One of the most fascinating explications and clearly defined Catholic position on apparitions and personal revelation. Understanding is one of the many positive bi-products of listening to someone who knows what he is talking about. And Cardinal Francis Arinze- who stands a decent chance at becoming the next Pope - knows what he's talking about.

Labor Day

2010-09-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day weekend to all of you and your families from all of us!

Toby wants to celebrated Labor Day by going to a friend's house and "enjoying a quiet time with friends and work colleagues." Can you believe that??? That's the most ridiculous things I've ever heard! Toby actually being quiet- ha! I know him to well. He's going to go there and get boozed up.

I said NO. He threw tantrum.

Heads up, ya-all!

2010-08-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

It is Tuesday, August 17, 2010. I'm quite certain you knew that already, but did you know what this also means? It means CHRISTMAS is just four months away!! Less if you consider the time the decorations start going up and the rampant commercialism kindles. A few short months, grumpy, and Christmas time arrives! I'm going to make some mulled cider sometime this week just so I can get into the spirit of the season sooner.

Com'on, get in the spirit, will ya? And lose that cheerless demeanor, it's just not welcomed here.

I love Christmas. I've always wanted to spend it somewhere in a New England village with lots of snow, narrow streets, and colonial-style architecture. Instead, I get to spend my Christmases in a barren dessert with ubiquitous roadwork, unnatural palm settings accompanied by man-made oases and white tigers. Lovely. But it isn't all that bad. I have some very fond childhood memories of Christmas here in Vegas. Simpler times when I had my grandparents with me.

Well, that's it my little Grinches. I just wanted to remind you that it's almost Christmas and you should feel joy, happiness, merriment, and, yes, some nostalgia. M'kay Ebeeezer?

And speaking of Ebeneezer, I'm going to leave you with two of my favorite Christmas songs. The first one is called "December the 25th" and it's from my all-time favorite Christmas movie: Scrooge with Albert Finney. It's a musical that you just have to make a part of your Christmas movie collection (I know, it's a musical. But some musicals are actually pretty good!). Mr. Fezziwig has lead vocals on this one and he's just so darn jolly!

The second song is the classic "Gabriel's Message." Listen to the arrangement of this song. It's so contemplative and evocative of a snowy, gray-sky Christmas Day. Turn your volumes up for this one.

Meme

2010-08-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by my blogger-pal Terry over at Abbey Roads with a meme (I think) he made up on a whim. Basically, I'm to state a series of points that I'm against or in opposition to.

1) Catholic Pro-aborts: I feel such a tremendous sense of betrayal of both Church and God every time I see a "practicing Catholic" facilitating or defending the so-called right to destroy an unborn child. Politicians, like the current whack-job Vice President, are so high on my "S" list it's not funny. Yet, he is allowed to remain in the Church! See my post on Church politics. And check out this video featuring Cardinal Arinze. FUNNY!

2) Reality Shows: I've yet to find one that I think is worth watching. Most of the time they show individuals reaching new lows, trying to usurp one another (unless producers are staging these events for higher ratings). Regardless of their authenticity, there are too many of these shows on the air right now.

3) Bill O'Reilly: He is NOT a nice guy, nor is he as tolerant as he wants you to think he is. I don't even think he's a real conservative but rather a TV personality saying what he thinks his audience want to hear him say. Warning: Bill has a potty mouth.

4) Grunge music during mass. That's right. GRUNGE MUSIC. The teen mass in my parish played what I would call a "slow ballad written by Curt Cobain if he were alive." It was pretty awful, even though I know the teenagers meant no offense by it. This happened quite a while ago and I've not had the chance to hear the music they're performing these days. I think these kids were just in desperate need of a good choir director.

5) Christian Fundamentalism: Perhaps the most disturbing component of this methodology is their inherent anti-Catholic bigotry. Time after time I see uneducated preachers print an essay or stand in from of their flock (on television) spewing lies about the Catholic Church. As a matter of fact, these pulpiters can't even tell or don't know the truth about themselves! The Protestant preachers manning these rouge churches haven't had any formal theological training of any kind. They just pick-up the Bible and preach their own interpretation of what they read. Here's a new term their congregation should cozy up to: stillborn Christianity.

6) Sister Donna Quinn- A nun who volunteers her time escorting clients into an abortion clinic. Isn't that lovely? An individual who supposedly consecrated her life to God, now working earnestly to help terminate the most vulnerable beings of our society. I can't help but sometimes wish for a hell infinitely worse than the hell depicted in the most horrific of horror movies.

Assumption

2010-08-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Calling all movie buffs

2010-08-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

Has anyone seen Jim Carrey's A Christmas Carol in 3D? I just pre-ordered it from Amazon and it's set for a delivery date of mid to late November. It came out last year on the big screen and I completely missed it. Let me know if you saw it and if it was any good. I've got plenty of time to cancel the order.

The Church & Politics: An Unenviable Position

2010-08-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

"No one can serve two masters." ~Matthew 6:24

The Church has always done politics. Many times it's damned if you do and damned if you don't for Church leaders who do the politicking. This is especially true for dioceses and the local parishes who deal with a politically assorted, sometimes affluent and progressive laity that it does not want to alienate. It does this by adopting a passive or inclusive attitude towards Catholics who publicly, in some way, labor to oppose Church teachings. But how much "politics" can the Church do without sacrificing the authenticity of the teachings it has been handed down from Jesus Christ and the Apostles? First and foremost, for the purposes of this post, the type of Church politics that I'm focusing on is the propensity of Church leaders to fail (or feebly enforce) Church teachings on social issues such as abortion with Catholic lawmakers who promote, or at the very least defend, this so-called choice (it can be any social issue). How many times have we seen a Cardinal mingle with powerful Catholics who are diametrically apposed to Catholic social teachings? Many of these liberal Catholics donate large sums of money to their diocese, and the bishops and archbishops overseeing those diocese don't want to rub them the wrong way by insisting they get their act together. At the same time, these same Church officials are under pressure from vigilant, conservative Catholics to enforce Church teachings, even at the risk of distancing progressive Catholic benefactors. This inclusiveness doesn't always have to be for financial reasons. I sincerely believe that some bishops and pastors WANT to be liked so badly that they are in complete opposition of showing disapproval or lack of support for any groups that enjoy secular approbation.

Take St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in New York. For years a group of gay and lesbian parishioners from Xavier has been marching in New York's gay parade with a banner proudly displaying their Catholic affiliation. The pastor of the church, Father Joe Constantino, is fully aware of this custom and has been supportive of this group's presence in the gay parade. Then Archbishop Timothy Dolan got wind of what was going on and barred the group from carrying the St. Francis Xavier Banner in the gay pride march. Needless to say, Father Constantino was quite disconcerted when the Archbishop handed his decision. But what were Father Constantino's motivation behind the support for this group? Was he trying to be inclusive? Did he just want to be liked by all his parishioners in the hope of keeping the Church full on Sundays? I certainly would be appalled by the idea of barring gays and lesbians from entering the Church and denying access to pray before our icons or from from receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so to that extent, inclusiveness is a moral must. However, I do find Fr. Constantino's motives in this situation highly suspect.

The above recapitulation is just one example out of Lord knows how many better ones I can submit. But clearly, some of our Church leaders are obeying two masters when it comes to enforcing the Church's position on social issues. They are trying to be Catholic and on the other hand they want to be popular with specific demographics.

Here's another example. The pro-abort politicians, how many of these have been denied communion? Very few, to my knowledge. As a matter of fact, the Church's upper echelon has dismissed any and all requests from more faithful Catholic laity to refuse communion to any politician who supports the destruction on an unborn child. They simply don't want to alienate the politically powerful, who often times is very wealthy, and lose the benefits of having someone of that status in their Catholic camp.

Instead of condemning clergy like Father Constantino and other Church leaders, the first sentiment that strikes me when I read of their situation is how unenvious it must be to be in their position. They have a progressive component in the Church tugging at them who want to be accepted and feel they can contribute to the Church both financially and through their presence. And, on the other hand, their is a traditionalist constituent inside the Church who insist that our priests adhere to and enforce the teachings of the Magisterium. To the clergy who feel they are caught in the middle, to you I simply say you can't serve two masters.

Devotions Meme

2010-08-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Terry from Abbey Road s has tagged me with a Devotions meme. I haven't been tagged in ages, and surprisingly, I've never been asked to complete a meme with this subject matter.

It's quite simple. Just list my five favorite Devotions, then tag a few of my blogger pals at the end. The first one should be of no surprise to anyone.

1) Mass/ Eucharist.

2) Throughout the day, I PRAY and REFLECT quite a bit on the closing Doxology of the Mass. I'm deeply moved by this simple collection of words that describe the Trinity so concisely, so completely, so deeply. I can't find a better description of the Holy Trinity than in this short prayer:

"Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen."

3) This one may sound a little strange, but I think those venerable monks who go deep inside themselves to look for God, understand where I'm coming from. Okay, here it comes:

I meditate on the knowledge that God is real, and that He exists, and because He exists I exist. Because of His incomprehensible and unimaginable love, and through His son Jesus Christ, we have been created and can share in the hope of someday seeing Him "as he is."

I know that sounded trivial, but it's profoundly meaningful for me.

4) Confession. A bundle of nerves before it, but feel SO renewed after it.

5) Rosary. Sometimes I'm at work and begin praying it, but in the hustle and bustle lose track of which Hail Mary I'm on. When I have doubts as to how many I've prayed, I'll say a few more just in case.

I tag any of my blogger pals who want to participate. (And hopefully some of you will want to!)

A Throwback to Antiquity?

2010-08-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Or is this the way it should be?

I'm struggling with this video. It was posted on another blog by another Catholic blogger. It has intentions that are respectable, but at the same time there is something very, oh how shall I put it, sectish or fundamentalist/ evangelical about it. The lady in the video speaks about a program she has put together called "Completing Him." Supposedly, this program, or "challenge" as she puts it, assists or offers guidance to wives who want to be more supportive of their husbands. Sounds okay so far, right? Right. But then she makes a comment that modern-day society would rise in opposition to: "our husbands are our leaders." Before making that statement, she makes several scriptural references that reinforce an exclusive male domination over members of the immediate family.

Yes, there are several passages in Scripture that give authority to the man, placing his spouse and his children in a subservient capacity. But haven't the most orthodox of Catholics and Protestant practitioners abandoned a male-centric power structure for a more progressive power-sharing arrangement when it comes to marriage? How many of you ladies out there would feel comfortable with the statement "our husbands are our leaders" or any other arrangement that gave the men in your lives exclusive veto power over what could or could not be done?

What about a video training men how they can be more supportive of their wives, but also asking those same men to allow their wives to be the leaders? How would that go down?

What I hate About this Post

Does this post not sound politically correct? You have no idea how loathsome and superficial I find it being politically correct. It's a type of behavior that is driven by the politics of saying anything (or not speaking the truth truthfully) for the sake of capturing the populous vote.

From one of the greatest albums of the 20th century

2010-07-27T22:53:00.000-07:00

Please pause music player on the right

Hello!

2010-07-25T14:07:00.001-07:00

Miscellaneous

I haven't posted anything for nearly two weeks, but that is partly because I've been too busy, and partly because I've been too lazy to write anything during those brief moments of reprieve. I have a lot of school loose-ends to take care of, and I'm anxious to begin drawing with my oil paints. Tonight I'm going to drive to a street here in Vegas and snap a picture of it. It's one of these streets that's imbued with an odd mixture of desolation and an elusive attractiveness that is difficult to put into words. I hope to make a decent drawing of this lovely avenue.

On Saturday I had to rush my dad to the ER. He's doing better now, but he's fighting an infection that should hopefully abate with the antibiotics he was prescribed. As a result, I was unable to make my volunteer shift at my local hospital. To make matters more complicated, I was unable to reach the voice-mail of the volunteer coordinator to inform her that I wasn't showing up. Her phone number was in my old cellphone (which you can observe nn the previous post), and as you can see, in such deplorable condition that the display no longer functioned. I had to leave a message on a different voice-mail that doesn't get checked very often. When I go snap my photo tonight, I may make the long drive to her office and slip a note under her door.

Take Me to Prague

I've been stricken with a fascination with Prague. For the longest time I've been wanting to make a trip there, but just recently those hopes have intensified. I've seen pictures of this magnificent city and I can say that I love the many churches, the narrow streets, the snow (in the winter), the historicity, all those things about this place (how did this place ever manage to fall to the grips of the communists with such a pronounced Catholic presence?). My brother, who has visited Europe many times before, and just about every major city in the world at least once, has been to Prague. I've failed to pick his brain about the experiences he had there, nor have I seen any of the pictures he snapped on one of his visits. I must put that on my to-do list.

Here's a brief video of Prague. There are better ones than this, but I prefer this one because of the way it presents the Catholic Churches. Notice how the music becomes choral (at 3:04) when the video reaches the segment showing the churches.

Pause music player on the right

Thanks for stopping by and please keep my dad in your prayers. God bless you.

I Didn't Have to

2010-07-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

...but I did anyway.

I went ahead and purchased the new i-Phone 4. This is a pic of it, inside a protective case, leaning against my acrylic mediums. It really is an amazing apparatus, despite the justified criticism it has received over a design flaw in the antenna. The antenna in this thingamajig can be found throughout the border of the i-Phone, the same place most people smother when they talk on the phone. When the i-Phone is gripped in a certain way, calls have a tendency to fail because the phone can no longer receive any transmissions. A protective case (now being issued for free) diminishes the frequency of the dropped calls.

Or maybe I did have to...

The above pic is of my old cellphone. As you can see, it's in a decrepit condition. I'm trying to start a rumor on blogosphere that this was the same phone Mel Gibson used in his very publicized tirade against Oksana.

Conclusion

2010-07-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

Here lies Mel Gibson's career. On the ascend for a number of years, it recently suffered major collisions with the media and various groups who took offense to comments he made that were less than complementary. The final punch came on July 9th when his former girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, released a taped conversation in which Gibson is allegedly heard going on a tirade, and even admitting to domestic violence. Also laid to rest today is this blogger's hope that Mel Gibson - a once popular actor with a history of "Catholic involvement" - would tout the many positives of the Catholic Church to those unfamiliar with the Catholic faith.

Corny

2010-07-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

A long time ago Terry posted what I would have to describe as one of the corniest Youtube videos around (there's another video of an older couple teaching how to dance to disco music that is equally maladroit). Anyhoo, listen to the music (I know, it's hard!) and pay close attention to the dancing, especially to the dance moves of the male lead singer.

Terry, hope it makes you laugh like it did last time!

Pause music player to the right to avoid cacophony.

Did you know...

2010-07-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the 4th of July? Gives me goose bumps when I think about the probability of two American figures of great historical significance dying on the same day, and, of all the days in the year, the fourth of July.

Pause music player to avoid cacophony.

Happy 4th of July weekend!

Before and After

2010-06-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

Before

After

I'm only showing a small part of the kitchen. The counter top continues to the left, and in that same direction is the refrigerator. In order for me to show the other half of the kitchen I have to do that "stitch assist" with my camera and I'm really no good at it. If you continue to the right, you would find my new (yay!) dishwasher. Also, as you can see I had to put plastic wraps over my kitchen utensils, toaster, and mixer since at the time that these pics were taken, we were still working on minor loose ends. I didn't want anything getting inside someplace it wasn't suppose to.

Finally, I leave you with a pic of THE most ferocious beast of the west coast. He was fed this evening in a paper plate because his bowl was untidy and the poor thing was very hungry.

Be careful! Don't get too close to your screens. He's off his leash and ANYTHING can happen!:0)

More Trouble for Mel

2010-06-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Mel Gibson and girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva split up earlier this year? They both have a daughter together who was born on October 30th of 2009.

It was on April of 2009 that Gibson and his wife of thirty years filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences for their break-up. Shortly thereafter, Mel Gibson's relationship with Oksana Grigorieva became public. Today, several media outlets report that Gibson has filed a restraining order against Oksana Grigorieva.

I'm not sure what to think of Mel Gibson anymore. He once gave me the impression that he was trying to be more Catholic than the Pope by rejecting both Papal authority as well as the reforms of Vatican II (let's not even talk about his father). Now I see him caught up in divorce and fathering a child with someone he has absolutely no intention of marrying.

Was it all just talk, Mel, this Catholic fire and brimstone exhortation? I'm not judging you. We're all sinners.

For the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I know. I'm late.)

2010-06-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

I must apologize for my untimely observation, but I wanted to post this for the feast day of The Immaculate Heart of Mary. Unfortunately the feast day passed without my contribution. This is the Salve Regina by my current favorite composer Arvo Part.

Important: Please ignore the absurd commentary/ imagery of this video. Just stay focused on the music. I'm going to try to look for a different video that offers this same piece of music. Pause Music Player to the right of the blog before continuing

Murderer x 2

2010-06-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

I hope this bastard gets whatever is coming to him.

His father is deceased, so he doesn't have the free legal advice this time around.

Two More Go Up

2010-06-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

Two more windows went up today with still a few more to go. I'm also going to paint the house on the outside, so we're in the process of prepping the exterior for the paint.

This whole revamping experience has been a Nightmare on Elm Street.

Also, is anybody interested in a small dog who is in cahoots with the forces of evil?

Yes, the landscaping in the first pic above will also be overhauled. I'm just not sure whether I should put in new grass or desert landscaping.

Again, if you are interested in an (evil) pup, please let me know.

I Wasn't Kidding

2010-05-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

The floors are done, but the house still is a mess. I have a long way to go before all the furniture is put back where is belongs. Speaking of furniture, the one you are seeing in this pic, is on its way out. There is the option of refurbishing those bumps and grinds that occur over the course of time. It can save me a pretty penny if I take that route. I'm still, for the most part, undecided.

The new kitchen. Pardon my dust. As you can see, I have to clean it from all the dust generated by the removal of the old counter top. There is even a screw driver on it from all the activity happening to the right of it.

New energy efficient windows (is that the correct term?)

These are new as well. The patch-up you see on the wall is the result of a new kitchen sink and plumbing that I'm putting on the other side. It will, of course, be fixed properly and meticulously. But that is for the outside renovation, I'm still working on the inside.

Out with the old, in with the new. The old counter top has been dumped. In it's place will be a granite surface with new sink.

My pool. Next to it is the sofa that will join the sink and the carpet. On top of the sofa are clothes I had to remove from a closet somewhat abruptly. They'll probably not go back in there again. And yes, the pool deck I have to mend as well. Here in Vegas, and I suppose in many other places as well, their is subtle seismic activity that over time creates cracks in the decking. That and the unforgiving heat. In the background, you can see that my neighbor is doing his share or renovations as well.

Prayers for Toby. Busy.

2010-05-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of getting my house painted, and at the same time, in another part that is already painted, I'm putting in tiles on the floor (bye, bye carpet!). This is the second week that I spend time working on this and there is much more to go.

I took Toby to get groomed this morning (as EVERYTHING else was taking place) when I got a call from the groomer telling me he could not be shaved. Apparently, he was being very combative, so they put a muzzle on him that also covered his eyes. The groomer then told me he might have had a seizure, since he stiffened up and his tongue turned blue. I rushed him to the vet where he is in the process of getting check out as I write this (BTW, they couldn't draw blood because he fought both the doctor and the technicians. Subsequently, they had to sedate him to run the tests).

I'm being selfish, but if you can, could you say a prayer for Toby and for a peaceful solution the phenomenal mess I'm in right now? Thank you and God bless!

PS
I meant to visit the blogs of some of my dear blogger pals, but as described above, EVERYTHING is hitting at once (other stuff I'm not mentioning).

UPDATE

I brought Toby back from the vet yesterday afternoon, after being sedated so the doctor could perform blood work on him. Toby, before sedation, was very unruly and combative with the medical team, so he had to be asleep for the procedure. Tomorrow (Monday) I may have the full results of the blood work.

This afternoon, he vomited just as I was about to give him his chow. The doctor instructed me to give him just a spoonful of food, and see how he reacts. If all is well after a short while, I can give him a little more.

All ways something, isn't it? That's life, however.

THANK YOU for keeping us in your prayers! Remember us, please, next time you pray.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL :0)

Fallen

2010-05-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

I was just reading in the news that the son of the late actress Dana Plato, Tyler Lambert, committed suicide on May 6th of this year. Almost 11 years to the day in which his mother died of a drug overdose. He was only 25 years old. This got me thinking about the multiple tragedies that characterize the lives of crestfallen celebrities. Many child stars, like Dana Plato, begin their careers at an age when most children are thinking about school and playmates, not contracts and maintaining a public image. When their careers begin to plateau, that's when the trouble starts. In Plato's case, she had reduced herself to committing armed robbery, engaged in drug abuse, and starred in softcore pornographic films.

The deaths of Dana Plato and her son Tyler Lambert, are analogous to the tragic deaths of Anna Nicole Smith and her son Daniel Smith. Both situations (Plato/ Lambert; Smith/Smith) involved individuals who wanted more than what life could give them, and all of the individuals involved died young, some while possessed by addiction.

As a child, I remember watching Different Strokes, and thinking to myself just how beautiful Dana Plato was. Those big, dazzling eyes, freckled cheeks, and a mouth that seemed to smile even when serious were just some of the things this puberty-bound boy became enamored with when her image appeared on my television set. How undeserving of any human being to spiral to an early grave the way she did.

For the Ones Who Died by Suicide

God, lover of souls, You hold dear what You have made and spare all things, for they are Yours. Look gently upon those who have taken their own lives, and by the Blood of the cross, forgive their sins and failings. Remember the faith of those who mourn and satisfy their longing for that day when all will be made new again in Christ, our risen Lord, who lives and reigns with You forever and ever. Amen.

Betty White on SNL (For Adults Only)

2010-05-09T14:13:00.001-07:00

The venerable Betty White (88 years old) shows that older folks can make younger audiences laugh till they bust a gut.

This is the link to the video on Hulu.com

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T05:29:00.000-07:00

A Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there who have patiently, and through very difficult times, given us your unconditional love. God bless you immensely!

And a BIG Happy Mother's Day to the most beautiful and sweetest supermom I know...MY mom!

God bless all the moms everyday of the year!

What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life

2010-05-05T00:50:00.000-07:00

One of the best jazz arrangements of this song ever. Don't ask me why, but it reminds me of a drive on a warm summer night through New England.

Hospital Volunteer Stuff

2010-05-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hospital Dynamics

I volunteer at a local Catholic hospital here in Las Vegas. The unit I've been assigned used to specialize in joint replacement, but now accepts adult patients who are dealing with every malady known to medicine. I hate to admit this, but when I first started volunteering, I felt an almost debilitating fear when I had to address the patients face-to-face. I was afraid of making them unhappy by denying them fluids after they requested it during a period in which they weren't allowed any (typically, when you're going into surgery or are having tests, doctors placed you in an NPO status: "Nulla Per Os" which means "Nothing by mouth") or by informing them that their nurse was busy with another patient, therefore would be a few minutes longer in bringing them their medication. These things I know happen, and NOT because I or any of the staff was either negligent or apathetic. It's considered sound medical operation to deny patients food and water before surgery or medical tests because anesthetics can cause nausea and create a very perilous condition for the patient. Nurses are VERY busy. Taking care of people in a hospital comes with a slew of paperwork, verifications, and a mess of procedural requirements that must be followed before administering any medications. This means that as they're taking care of one patient, simultaneously another patient may develop a need to see her or him.

The Patients

Needless to say, all types of people come and go in a hospital. One of the more memorable individuals was an elderly lady who (poor thing) would speak in indiscernible sounds. I would say a quick prayer just before walking into her room, hoping that when she spoke her jumbled words that at least I would be able to understand what she needed. Unfortunately, it was impossible. Her meshed words were completely inscrutable. I even tried reading her gestures to make out the gist of her concerns. I would later learn from one of the nurses that this poor lady was disoriented and confused about her surroundings. Despite her inability to communicate - which presents another medical problem for the nurses and doctors - I stayed by her side until she was finished saying what she had to say. I told her I understood, and would get back to her as soon as I could (what else could I say?)

Last week I had to apply my signature to a document that stated I had witnessed a patient sign a paper that transferred power of attorney to one of her family members. This was done at the request of the patient, and was overseen by the hospital chaplain. This made me very sad, since it gave me the impression the patient was preparing herself for the worst. She was young, and looked healthier than most people you see in a hospital.

A month or two ago a man came into our unit after undergoing back surgery for a herniated spinal disk. The man was in excruciating agony, and was taking a very powerful medication to diminish the pain on his back. What was his reaction when jolted by the pain in his spine? He would erupt into uncontrollable laughter. It was the oddest most inappropriate combination of laughter and pain that I had ever seen in my life. This man would have tears running down his cheeks, but was it from the pain on his back or from the laughter or was it from both?

In conclusion, I find a sense of solidarity with people who suffer, and a hospital is a unique place where that type of fellowship can be experienced. Perhaps what brings me closer to those broken people (both patient and loved-ones) that I meet there is my own fragility and brokenness. There is something Christ-like about people who are broken both physically and mentally, yet I can't definitively say what it is, but I know it's there. I also know that someday something beautiful will come from all the suffering and the loss.

I like this hospital. Most of the nurses I've come across are solid professionals who have humanity and compassion for the patients entrusted to them. If ever I found myself as a patient there, I would find a great measure of peace knowing that dedicated individuals like them were charged with my welfare.

St. Mathew Passion Final Chorus

2010-04-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard J.S. Bach's St. Mathew Passion? It is one of THE most "aesthetically pleasing" sacred works in all of Christendom. By "aesthetically pleasing" I mean that it's a beautiful composition on the surface level - which is to say the music and arrangement - but it lacks the profundity and mysticism of a traditional Catholic composition. Nonetheless, the piece is breathtaking and only works to solidify Bach's reputation as an indisputable baroque genius.

This is the famous final chorus of his magnificent work the St. Mathew Passion. Give it a listen. You wont regret it. By the way, the final chorus actually begins 41 seconds into the video, so you can skip to that point if you'd like.

That string section is incredible!

Apathy

2010-04-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

In this video, a homeless man tries to save a victim of an armed robbery and winds up getting stabbed himself. Both victim and robber flee, and passerby's don't bother to call either the police or an ambulance for the man who got stabbed. Meanwhile the good Samaritan dies in a pool of his own blood on the sidewalks of New York. God rest his soul and forgive the rest of us.

Gabriel's Message

2010-04-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

I was trying to locate this arrangement of Gabriel's Message this past Christmas, but unfortunately I had no success. Well, folks, here it is. This is THE BEST arrangement of Gabriel's Message anywhere (IMHO). Turn your volume up since it doesn't play very loud, and the sound quality isn't the best either. On the track that you find on the CD, there is a beautiful echoey sound to this choir that escapes this video significantly.

By the way, I listen to Christmas music year round. Do you?

Miscellaneous Stuff

2010-04-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a pastel drawing again. I'm hesitant to say anything about it, since I'm not sure about the time of completion. As soon as it's finished, however, I'll post a picture of it and gladly invite any criticisms any interested onlookers may have to offer. Believe me folks, you can be perfectly honest with me. None of you will choose the words I will have already chosen at the moment of self-evaluation.

Speaking of pastels, this weekend I purchased a 72 count set of Unison Handmade Pastels. Since these - as the name implies - are handmade and (thankfully) are not extruded, they were pretty expensive. Exactly $227.00 for the "professional" set. I really have to watch my spending going forward, since the cost of summer classes came in at just under $2000.00, and this is not including books. Next week I have to register for fall semester and I just can't wait for the atrocious bill from the financially strapped university to hit me.

And finally, on a musical note...

I bought this song on i-Tunes. I had been resisting the temptation for the longest time, and finally gave in to the enticement on Saturday night.

This one is BAD to the BONE

2010-04-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

This pic was taken at a friend's house (Grrrrr!)

Doing time for misbehavin'

On Easter week, he ate something he had no business eating, and suffered from loose stools as well as vomiting. We took him to the vet and he spent the night there. The X-rays taken on two separate occasions revealed that he (thankfully) had no bowel obstructions, and that he was suffering from gastritis. He was prescribed two medications, and $500 later, he seems to be doing just fine. A little while ago he broke into a room in my house that I thought was closed properly. When he got in there he managed to climb unto a sofa, grabbed the Kleenex box and went nuts with it.

Our vet. told me that Toby needs Prozac to correct his attitude. Yes, you read correctly. PROZAC. (Why not a stiff drink and a cigar?) Sheesh. After this last incident, I'm willing to give anything a try.

The Critter was NOTHING like Toby. He was such an angel that in retrospect, I think that what I had with him must have been something anomalous. He was so well behaved, subdued, and trustworthy. Toby, on the other hand, is a minion of the dark lord. Yes, we love him dearly, he's just so misbehaved!

By the way, next week he gets a haircut. Ha!

And the Winner is (drums please)...

2010-04-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

...Father Michael Pfleger.

He will receive the "Office for Racial Justice Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of [his life] of service in pursuit of dismantling racism, injustice and inequalities on behalf of African Americans and all people of color."

-Two years ago he invited Jeremiah Wright, who was the spiritual adviser to then Senator Barack Obama, inside his church, to deliver a blessing during mass.

-In 2003 he invited Al Sharpton to speak in his church, to the objections of Francis Cardinal George, the same man giving him the award.

Catholic clergy, throughout history, have always stood up for the oppressed and for those who are less fortunate. They've spoken about the evils of race discrimination, violence, and have promoted equal opportunity for all human beings through peaceful means and often to the detriment of their physical well-being. But is this guy the best choice for this award?

Addendum

I certainly recognize that, while the level of racism in this country has diminished, there are still pockets of individuals who are pathetic and misanthropic enough to objectify and degrade another human being because of his or her race, gender, ethnicity, even sexual orientation. Most of us, thankfully, abhor such practices. Unfortunately, a few members of our society subsequently feel that the remaining segregationist and blinded-with-rage-morons still in existence gives them license to pump the masses with racially charged demagoguery.

Easter Sunday

2010-04-03T23:52:00.000-07:00

"Proclaim the message,'Behold our savior is risen!' Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!"

"The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. The old myth of the dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history. It happens - at a particular date in a particular place, followed by definable historical consequences. We pass from a Balder or an Osiris, dying nobody knows when or where to a historical person under Pontius Pilate. By becoming fact it does not cease to be myth: that is the miracle...this is the marriage of Heaven: Perfect Myth and Perfect Fact, claiming not only our love and obedience, but also our wonder and delight, addressed to the savage, the child, and the poet in each one of us no less than to the moralist, the scholar and the philosopher." ~ CS. Lewis

A blessed Easter Sunday to all of you and your loved ones!

Good Friday Reproaches

2010-04-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Good Friday

2010-04-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

For Bill Maher and Richard Dawkins

2010-03-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

You can plant one right on my...well, I'll let the nice little fellow guide your chops in the right direction.

+ Read Dawkin's comments posted by Damien Thompson.(Thanks to Standing on My Head blog).

This week at the Sistine Chapel

2010-03-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know of a documentary in which cameras were allowed to film the performance of "Miserere me deus" inside the Sistine Chapel?

Palm Sunday

2010-03-28T00:03:00.000-07:00

"Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross." ~Philippians 2: 6-8

The above scripture reference reminds me of what St.Augustine once said:

"If you understood, what you understood was not God."

Those are good words to ponder next time you feel like you're in the eye of the storm, and are perplexed by the path God is leading you though.

A blessed Palm Sunday to all of you and your families.

Friday's in Lent: Agnus Dei

2010-03-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

This Agnus Dei comes from Karl Jenkin's The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. It sounds quite different than what I'm accustomed to posting, but it does have its meritorious qualities to consider.

On a side note, NEVER did I dream I would witness in my lifetime a contaminated plume of profanation and putridity sweep through the Catholic Church.

Fr. Hans Küng

2010-03-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

(jerk)

The Catholicism Project (Coming soon)

2010-03-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

"The Catholic story is being told, but being told by the wrong people in the wrong way."

Infestation

2010-03-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how upset I am with the new accusations that have recently surfaced about child molesters in the Church. In a CNN report the headline reads, "Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal goes global." It's as if there is an infestation of pedophiles and deviants crawling inside the Catholic Church. This humiliation is undoubtedly being used by people who are ardently anti-Catholic to either validate their own religious beliefs (which is to say they are right and we as Catholics are wrong), or by the irreligious who don't like anything dealing with religion, especially if it's as big and bulky as the Catholic Church.

It also disturbs me how a group of degenerates - namely the offenders - can callously bring shame upon themselves and upon this Church without any consideration of the impact it can have both on the laity and on the victims. Good priests (the VAST majority) are held with an air of suspicion and as eventual child molesters or as the object of ridicule in inappropriate jokes.

There seems to be no end to the reports of sexual abuse. They surface faster than Church authorities can address them. Keep in my that the Catholic Church operates in terms of centuries, which means that the disgrace of these scandals are not going to go away anytime soon, nor the calumnies that are leveled by phony storytellers and cynics.

And finally, how many people are we losing because of this mess? Yes, they can always come back or we can characterize their departure as "their" loss. But the Church diminishes in numbers at least at a faster rate as the result of this mayhem. I don't want to even try to put numbers together.

Faithful Servant St. Joseph

2010-03-19T00:08:00.000-07:00

He was a compassionate, caring man. He is a model husband that men in today's society should aspire to imitate. He was a humble and faithful servant, concerned not about himself, but for the family God gave him to look after. It's believed that by the time Jesus entered his public ministry that Joseph might have already been deceased. He is the Patron Saint of the Universal Church.

From the video:

"Joseph is helping to create the instrument most needed for the salvation of the world."

Beautiful words that are referencing St. Joseph's paternal love in the raising of his son, Jesus. Even more beautiful when you consider that as a carpenter, he has a natural disposition to create things.

If you have time, check out this short video on St. Joseph.

God Bless the Irish (Watch out for Armando!)

2010-03-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's St. Patty's Day, ma lads! Are you wearing green? If not, pinch yourself in chastisement!

On a serious note, on this greenish day we celebrate the feast day of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Many question his actual contribution to Irish history, and some even question whether he even existed. Folks, St. Patrick DID exist and as far as I'm concerned STILL exists, perhaps more so now than he did while on earth.

Perhaps if we pray to him earnestly, he can vanish the snakes in DC.

On a Related Note...

I'm sure that all of you have heard several stories of Christmas elves gone bad (the most famous one being that of Starky the Elf who later changed his name to Dirty Durell), but here's a story of a leprechaun who is bad to the core. His name: Armando. Armando is a leprechaun with a reputation for silently breaking into the homes of unsuspecting urbanites, drinking all their liquor and scrawling graffiti all over their walls. He hits mostly on St. Patrick's day, and has been known to invade dozens of households within this twenty-four hour period.

Last St. Patty's Day, inside the home of a Mr. and Mrs. Bixby of Spokane, Washington, Armando broke in through an unsecured doggie door, and after drinking an entire bottle of Glenlivet, plus a one liter bottle of Beringer Zinfandel, proceeded to draw a picture of Mrs. Bixby's late Boston Terrier on the living room wall with his middle finger extended. You can imagine the horror on Mr. and Mrs. Bixby's face when they got home that night and found all their liquor gone (ha!).

So folks, please be careful this St. Patty's Day. Armando is evil and he's out there somewhere waiting to get drunk and scribble all kinds of offensive images all over your walls. As a matter of fact, he may have already snuck inside your home and is watching you read this post, seeing his plans gradually come to fruition as he sees you shake your head in disbelief. "Oh he doesn't exist," you might declare. But the Bixby's from Spokane can tell you otherwise. The ink used to draw Mrs. Bixby's Boston Terrier was impossible to remove. No amount of alcohol, paint thinner, or napalm could erase the ghastly image of the offensive bowwow. Eventually the entire wall was taken down.

More reports of Armando to follow.

UPDATE:

In another case that is being investigated by federal authorities, the barely discernible image of a small man was captured on video making his way inside a Manhattan apartment building with what appeared to be a box of crayola crayons and several cans of spray paint. With phenomenal speed and agility, he was seen taking the stairs all the way to the 23rd floor of the high rise, where he broke inside the apartment of a Mr. Robert Palowski. Law enforcement officials report that after helping himself to a box of Lucky Charms, the intruder raided Mr. Palowski's home bar and helped himself to at least six bottles of miscellaneous cordials, 2 bottles of Vermouth's, and a five gallon bib of margarita mix. The assailant then broke out his graffiti paraphernalia and drew a picture of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in an amorous pose on one of the living room walls. He was then seen exiting the building through the same method he entered.

Mr. Palowski, who at the time of the incident was away on business, was unavailable for comment.

One Film and One Actor

2010-03-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

I know I'm behind the times here, but I just got done watching the film Gran Tarino, starring Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, a retired autoworker who recently lost his wife, and sees the neighborhood he has lived in for so long dramatically change in racial demographics. The film was phenomenal, concluding with a rather heartbreaking finale that was accompanied by an equally poignant score. Have any of you seen it? If you have you'll be happy to acknowledge that the Catholic priest in the film was portrayed positively and, I believe, as a benevolent presence in the life of Walt Kowalski. It's worth the CD purchase, but not, I repeat, NOT suitable for younger audiences.

Did you know about the Murray's?

Actor Bill Murray has a sister who is a Dominican nun and stars in her own one-woman play about St. Catherine of Siena. I didn't know! (To quote Terry).

From Sister Nancy Murray's website:

Nancy Murray, OP, is making her mark on audiences across the country and throughout the world, bringing to life the Dominican saint Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church. With simple props and a fertile imagination, Sister Nancy portrays Catherine as the colorful, strong, passionate and enthusiastic personality that she was. Thanks to Sister Nancy's gift of transforming herself into this 14th century saint and patroness of the Dominican Order, numerous churches, schools and organizations have become acquainted with Catherine's fierce devotion to and love for God.

The ironic thing about this discovery is that Sister Murray is part of the Adrian Dominican Sisters based in Michigan who founded a Catholic hospital here in my neck of the woods, which also happens to be the Catholic Hospital I volunteer at every week. Maybe I should start asking the nurses if they know the Murray's.

It's Getting Closer

2010-03-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

This part of the country doesn't really get a spring season. Instead, we have what one might call transitional weeks, in which winter retreats and gives way to the searing heat only a scorching Nevada summer can inflict you with. I shouldn't complain, however. Some of you poor folks are still getting belted by winter storms so close to the official start-day of spring. Today, the weather here is a balmy 65 degrees.

It's almost here, summer that is. It will arrive. May as well usher it in with a summer tune.

Checkout this YouTube video. It contains photography by some very famous artists/ photographers that may make someone who lived during these times a bit nostalgic. I LOVE the picture taken by Roy DeCarava that comes into view at 7:34 in the video. Does that look like Chicago or New York to you? Either way, for me it's the quintessential 1940's/ 1950's Gotham imagery. Also, I must confess beforehand to not being well versed in the lives of any of the photographers whose work is featured in this video.

Friday's in Lent: Medieval Sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes

2010-03-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Usually performed on Easter Sunday. It's a chant that is attributed to Wipo of Burgundy, among others.

Oscar Controversy

2010-03-09T00:02:00.000-08:00

Why was Michael Jackson - who made I believe just two films - included in the "In Memoriam" section of the Oscars and Farah Fawcett omitted? Many of the people featured in the 2010 phase of the program I hadn't even heard of before. Nevertheless, God rest their souls- regardless of who they were. But it's a shame they left Fawcett out.

Why call it a Vatican sex scandal??

2010-03-06T18:06:00.001-08:00

It's been reported by various media sources that a member of the Italian government was involved in some kind of financial corruption, and that he also used a Vatican choir singer to arrange gay liaisons for him. Angelo Balducci, who is described as a "Gentleman of His Holiness", allegedly employed the services of Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, a Vatican chorister, to arrange meetings with men of his choosing.

What I find especially vexatious about the media dynamics surrounding this story, is that it's been reported as a VATICAN SEX SCANDAL. In other words, it's the entire Vatican, perhaps the ENTIRE Catholic Church, involved in sustaining and perpatuating this debauchery. You'd almost think the Pope was involved in the sorted affair of selecting men for his own people or for corrupt Italian government officials . The media (as always) takes those eye-catching buzzwords (Vatican, Pope, sex scandal, etc.) and run with it in the hopes of attracting more viewership. Don't these sleazy, neurotic, filthy smut merchants have better things to write about? Or at the very least, report the story (whatever the story might be) with accuracy and professionalism.

The title "Gentleman of His Holiness" is nothing more than a papal usher, which, if I'm not mistaken, is a non-paid position that is bestowed on the laity. Yes, I realize that the misconduct did occur and there is no defending it. But what some of my Catholic and non-Catholic friends need to realize is that this is NOT the behavior that the Catholic Church condones, not is it the conduct that the vast majority of Catholic laity and clergy engage in.

I'm so tired of this crap. Not just of the sex scandals that stigmatize the Church in the eyes of a few, but also of the media treatment of the Catholic Church. For you Church bashing Catholics- yes you who supposedly love the Catholic tradition but have to be shamefully reminded that the actions of this Italian official and member of a choir are not representative of the Church - shame on you! You talk like an outsider who has never seen the daily operations of this Church, or have never heard during mass the many admonitions and reminders of what God (NOT the Church) expects of you. Your vitriol is especially venomous and fifth-columnist, and I pray that you have the courage to find your spiritual home outside the Catholic faith.

Fridays in Lent: Thomas Tallis' Spem in Alium

2010-03-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm willing to wager that most of you have not heard of the sixteenth century English composer Thomas Tallis. During his life, he composed a number of works for the Church, but his crowning piece is the beautiful Spem in alium. In this composition, Tallis' work exhibits an interesting dichotomy. The volume of the piece does not diminish, instead it increases but still manages to remain profoundly contemplative.

I hope this analogy doesn't sound too silly, but you can think of Spem in alium as a massive fire, not so much in size as in intensity, which musically evokes a state of consummate contemplation. It's another jewel from my favorite musical period.

Latin Text:

Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te
Deus Israel
qui irasceris
et propitius eris
et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis
Domine Deus
Creator coeli et terrae
respice humilitatem nostram

English Translation:

I have never put my hope in any other but in you,
O God of Israel
who can show both
and graciousness,
and who absolves all the sins of suffering man
Lord God,
Creator of Heaven and Earth
be mindful of our lowliness

Gun Control

2010-03-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

I realize that some of you are very passionate about the right to bear firearms. Many of you insist and argue that there is a constitutional right to keep personal handguns in your homes, and that this accord is guaranteed to all Americans by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. I respect your opinion. Currently, the justices of the Supreme Court are evaluating arguments that may impact, in some way, gun laws in this country.

For me personally, I find it difficult to construct arguments against gun control laws. Even more amazing to me are the individuals who become apologists for easing some of the current firearms restrictions that some states have on the books. The people I've watched vigorously make those arguments seem to possess a pathological obsession with keeping a weapon on their person, and are convinced that the federal government is a far greater threat to them and their family than Al-Qaeda or the former Soviet Union (not an exaggeration). Most of the reasoning in favor of unhampered access to firearms seem to involve the conviction that more guns are needed to defend ourselves from pre-existing guns. In other words, now that there are so many weapons in the wrong hands, we need more weapons to defend ourselves from the weapons that are in the wrong hands. This type of mentality creates a vicious circle that only exacerbates gun proliferation in this country, and the senseless violence that subsequently arises from it. I have heard no argument from handgun aficionados that work at reversing the number of guns circulating in this country, nor have I heard them introduce an effective strategy that will remove firearms that have fallen into the wrong hands.

And yes, you can hit me with all types of data and statistics and demographics and whatever to prove that restricting access to firearms does absolutely nothing to diminish the number of violent acts involving a handgun. Here is my response to those arguments: I simply don't believe them.

Bowling for Columbine?

The deleterious Michael Moore showed faint signs of intelligence when he made the film Bowling for Columbine back in 2002. Whether you like of hate the man, try and look at the film devoid of his insane political views ( I know it's difficult). You'll be surprised what you'll find as the reason for so many firearms purchases in the United States.

Very disturbing.
(To avoid cacophony pause music player)

I know that NOT every gun enthusiast is a fanatic or an unbalanced megalomaniac with a trigger-happy finger. That, however, does little to assuage my distress over the amount of gun violence that takes place in our society every day.

Are You A Smart Atheist or A Not-So-Smart Theist

2010-02-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

Results from a research experiment that are slated to be published on March 2010 in the issue of Social Psychology Quarterly, it was concluded that most individuals who identify themselves as liberal and atheist had a higher I.Q. then people who characterized themselves as conservative (source).

The article goes on to say that "The IQ differences, while statistically significant, are not stunning" and that "the data should not be used to stereotype or make assumptions about people."

Stereotyped

Although the individuals who executed the above experiment go on to say that stereotypes based on their conclusions are inappropriate, the reality is that they are also inevitable. How many well known misanthropic atheists such as Richard Dawkings, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris - who have virulently lumped together every member of just about every religious tradition with the perpetrators of the September 11th attacks - are going to feel intellectually glorified after reading the conclusions of this experiment? Their type of atheism is venomous, and is guided not so much by disbelief in God as it is by a deep seated rancor towards religion.

Apocalyptic Babble

"But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." ~ Matthew 24:36

With all the horrific earthquakes and tsunamis that the world has experienced in recent years, I'm surprised that Christian fundamentalists haven't revved-up their end-of-times sermons and preachification. For how long have religious and New Age zanies been predicting the rapture and the end of the world? I've been hearing this stuff for years now with no accuracy whatsoever. Someday they're going to get it right, not because they have some supernatural contact telling them things none of us can hear, but because eventually we know the world will come to an end. Even the irreligious who practice their own version of scientific fundamentalism believe the earth will someday perish.

Remember, folks, when it comes to Catholicism and eschatology, Mathew 24:36 is the golden rule.

Church Music

2010-02-23T00:24:00.000-08:00

Have any of you sang the first song during mass? I'm trying to recollect what parish I was in when I sung it but I can't remember which one.

Yes, it is a nice hymn, but nothing like the second one below.

What was Father Gregorio Allegri thinking when he compose this piece almost four hundred years ago? For a complete dullard like me, it's impossible to even figure out how he was able to go from one note to another without wrecking the beauty, Mystery, and transcendence of what in my humble opinion is the greatest sacred musical work ever conceived. In a few short weeks, this piece will be performed in the Sistine Chapel.

Alexander Haig, Ronald Reagan, & Others

2010-02-21T01:20:00.000-08:00

I remember Alexander Haig from the Reagan administration. When I was a kid, my mom had a pamphlet about the size of a business card detailing some facts about his life. Stuff like he was a Republican and general, a Roman Catholic - you know, that type of things you want people to know about you when you are running for office. I'm pretty sure she would have voted for him had his bid for the Presidency contained more momentum. Yesterday, Alexander Haig passed away at the age of 85.

Regardless of how you feel about Ronald Reagan, one can't help but feel saddened by
the number of cabinet members from his administration who have passed away. Their youth coincided with WWII and the Korean War, and their political and military positions were shaped by the proliferation of communism and the Soviet Union. There was something respectable about being a politician during the days of Ronald Reagan. Even if embroiled in some kind of political scandal, you could still emerge from it as a statesman with a lot more respect than contemporary political hacks. And even if you dislike the military build-up this country experienced under the Reagan presidency, most experts - to my knowledge - credit his administration with winning the Cold War.

Here are just a few individuals affiliated with the Reagan White House who have passed away. Although I was just a child when Ronald Reagan constructed his administration, I remember these folks especially. Their names were quite ubiquitous between 1980 and 1988.

Ronald Regan- Secretary of Treasury (December 21, 1918 – June 10, 2003)

Caspar Weinberger- Secretary of Defense (August 18, 1917 – March 28, 2006)

Jeane Kirkpatrick- Foreign Policy Adviser (November 19, 1926 – December 7, 2006)

Ash Wednesday

2010-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Remember man, thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return."

Lent

has

arrived!

Showing Your Anger

2010-02-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

In an interview he gave for a documentary a number of years ago, Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete encouraged anyone who agonized over their faith to aggressively pursue those questions regardless of where the road took them. If it meant, out of sheer frustration, to wave your hand in the air and curse at God, then so be it. I will never forget Monsignor's candid interview, nor will I fail to remember my reaction to his words, since I interpreted them as a provocation to commit a great sin. In retrospect, I understand what Monsignor Albacete was trying to say.

You see, I no longer think that getting angry- and I do mean ANGRY - with God is such a bad thing. I think the anger towards God that many may be experiencing in their lives is just another invitation/ opportunity to seek Him on an extensively profound level. I believe the Monsignor encouraged believers and skeptics alike to toil with their frustrations with God because he knew that at the end of such an exhaustive and battering process was God Himself.

On the television drama The West Wing, President Josiah Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen) rages against God for having allowed an accident that killed his secretary to take place. I must admit to never having seen a single episode of this drama, but I did manage to catch what might be the single most riveting scene in the entire series

President Josiah Bartlet is Catholic. The translation to the words in Latin are just below the video. If any of these translations are wrong, please notify me at once. Thank you.

Gratias tibi ago, domine.
Thank you, Lord.

Haec credam a deo pio, a deo justo, a deo scito?
Am I to believe these things from a righteous God, a just God, a wise God?

Cruciatus in crucem
To hell with your punishments! (literally "(put/send) punishments onto a cross")

Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui; officium perfeci.
I was your servant, your messenger on the earth; I did my duty.

Cruciatus in crucem -- eas in crucem
To hell with your punishments!
And to hell with you! (literally, "may you go to a cross")

I Shall Not Walk Alone

2010-02-07T00:57:00.000-08:00

I think this one qualifies as folk music, NOT country. Anyway, it kinda reminds me of the Beatles' Let It Be with its reference to Mary in the chorus. I've included the lyrics below so you can judge the song thumbs up or a thumbs down. Personally, I give it a thumbs up, but I don't quite feel it belongs in mass.

Oh and where did I come across it? Of all places- an episode of Lost.

Battered and torn, still I can see the light
Tattered and worn, but I must kneel down to fight
Friend of mine, what can't you spare?
I know some times, it gets cold in there

When my legs no longer carry
And the warm wind chills my bones
I reach for Mother Mary
And I shall not walk alone

Hope is alive, while we're apart
Only tears speak for my heart
Break the chains that hold us down
And we shall be, forever bound

When I'm tired and weary
And a long way from home
I reach for Mother Mary
And I shall not walk alone
I shall not walk alone

Beauty that we left behind
How shall we tomorrow find?
Set aside our weight in sin
So that we can live again

When my legs no longer carry
And the warm wind chills my bones
I reach for Mother Mary
And I shall not walk alone

I shall not walk alone

Father Mychal Judge

2010-02-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

Recognized officially as the first victim of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center Towers, Father Mychal Judge was a Franciscan who served as chaplain for the New York Fire Department. He was killed (if I'm not mistaken) by falling debris from one of the collapsing World Trade Center towers. Much has been said of Father Judge, including reports that he was gay (in orientation, not practice). His sexuality was discussed in the 2006 documentary The Saint of 911, which chronicles major events of his life, and includes interviews with colleagues and other individuals who knew him personally.

I know many bloggers have written extensively on Father Judge (especially right after his death as reports of his life began to surface) both in favor and in condemnation of the late priest. Some Catholic authors have thrown in their two cents on this subject matter and vigorously denied Father Judge was gay. These authors allege that Father Judge's life is being commandeered by gays and lesbians to promote their agendas and political objectives. Others, however, have supposedly given proof that Father Judge was gay by submitting excerpts of entries he made in his journals. He also supposedly revealed the true nature of his sexual orientation to friends and colleagues who were close to him. By all accounts, Father Judge remained faithful to his sacerdotal vows of celibacy and remained chaste to the last minute of his life.

I was hesitant to write this post simply because individuals like Father Judge have become a cliche poster child for Catholic controversy. Regardless of the benevolence and authenticity one detects in his life, it's almost impossible to avoid recognizing that his time on earth is celebrated more by a politically correct caucus than by any faithful Catholic coterie. When the name of Father Judge is brought up for discussion, those sources who are vehemently anti-Catholic diminish their quasi-misanthropy for all things Catholic without actually appreciating that Father Judge was Catholic as well. Perhaps they regard him as their type of Catholic.

I recently came across this image again, which is what triggered this post:

In this picture - which still moves me 9 years after the September 11th attacks - I'm assertively reminded of what I would describe as the inherent fragility of the human sinner. In this final image, Father Judge's politics, right's and wrong's, flaws and weaknesses have all come to an abrupt and violent end, and are devoid of the rigor and fervor that may have caused other people to dislike him. Gay or straight, regardless of who he was, in this picture he seems so fragile, so human, so surrendered, and so broken by the unspeakable evil that lurks inside the worst of human nature.

Taboos of Spiritual Lives

2010-01-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

I'm wondering why most of us who write posts that are inherently religious in subject matter always write material that seems to describe the assertions of our Catholic tradition with unwavering faith and certitude. Do any of you ever doubt? Are most of us walking around in a state of perpetual ecstasy? Perhaps I'm wrong, but sharing those things that make our spiritual life falter might be just as therapeutic as visiting a shrink or a top-notch theologian.

I've been in blogosphere now for a few years and not once (to my recollection) has anyone openly written about any nagging ideas or circumstances that may have lead to a moment(s) where you question profoundly the existence of God. I wrote about some of my own moments of incredulity way back when I first started this blog, but never have I seen a similar attempt on behalf of other bloggers. Yes, I've read plenty of conversion stories that speak of pre-conversion misconduct and conscienceless ways of living, but one might come to the conclusion that after the conversion all was peachy and fab. Why? Is showing or sharing with others any weaknesses (not sinfulness) in our faith tantamount to being an exhibitionist? Or, worse yet, would a divulgement of that sort destroy our credibility in such a way that the next post we write about Christmas or the risen Christ would have absolutely no merit?

Keep in mind that I'm not saying one should go public with his or her sinfulness so that everyone gets a chance to know about it. I'm referring to those thoughts that off and on plague the religious and may cause him or her to question the validity of their faith.

Even St. Thérèse de Lisieux (and Mother Teresa) had their moments. I'll try to find the quote of St. Thérèse where she expressed a profound moment of disbelief.

UPDATE:

And here it is: "I get tired of the darkness all around me and try to refresh my jaded spirits with the thoughts of that bright country where my hopes lie; and what happens? It is a worse torment than ever; the darkness itself seems to borrow, from the sinners who live in it, the gift of speech. I hear its mocking accents; 'It's all a dream, this talk of heavenly country...Death will make nonsense of your hopes; it will only mean a night darker than ever, the night of mere non-existence.'"

I love St. Therese. Here is someone of great saintliness experiencing tremors in here spiritual foundations. It's of little wonder she's a Doctor of the Church. Pray for me and for all of us, Little Flower.

Saint Joseph Cafasso

2010-01-23T00:05:00.000-08:00

Father Cafasso had spent a whole week instructing and encouraging forty-five notorious criminals in a large cell, in preparation for the feast of the Virgin Mary. Almost all of them had promised to go to confession on the eve of the feast.But when the day arrived, no one had the courage to be the first one, whether because of human respect, the guile of the devil, or for some other reason.

Father Cafasso renewed his request, briefly recalling the instruction of the preceding days and reminding them of their promise, but in vain. What was he to do?

Supernatural love is ingenious, and Father Cafasso found a solution. Laughingly he approached one of them, the tallest and strongest among them. Without uttering a word, he grabbed the man's long, thick beard in his frail hands. At first the prisoner thought that Father Cafasso was jesting, so he only said, with as much courtesy as one might expect from one of his kind, "Take all of me, but leave my beard behind."
"I'm not letting go until you come to confession."
"But I'm not coming."
"Then I wont let you go."
"I don't want to go to confession."
"Talk all you want, you're not going to get away from me. I wont let you go until you've made your confession."
"I'm not prepared."
"I'll help you."
The convict could have very easily shaken off Father Cafasso's hold, but either because of respect for him, or, better yet, because of God's grace, it is a fact that the convict yielded and allowed Father Cafasso to lead him to a corner of the large cell. The priest sat down on a straw mattress and prepared him for confession. Surprisingly, in a few moments, the convict was deeply moved, and amid tears and sighs, was just barely able to finish the recitation of his sins.

Taken from the book The Wisdom of the Saints.

Take a Listen

2010-01-14T20:38:00.000-08:00

I've never seen the movie "The Specialist", but I'm a huge fan of British composer John Barry. Barry is amazingly prolific, composing soundtracks to some of Hollywood's most successful films, including the early films of the James Bond franchise. Below is an excerpt of the "The Specialist" soundtrack- one of my favorites by this great composer and one of his more evocative composition. When you listen to it, you might be reminded of a Hollywood-type film noir in which a man wearing a classic Fedora hat and a gray raincoat (a detective?) meets a woman of interest inside a smokey, dimly-lit tavern. The string section has a rich, romantic accompaniment, which is one of Barry's signature marks.

I know you know this one!

Theme to "Out of Africa"

Manna from Heaven??

2010-01-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

I can imagine that many Catholics are driven out of the Catholic Church for all kinds of reasons: poorly catechized; misperceptions; misunderstandings; lacking meaningful connections to a local parish, etc. Some fall for the likes of the evangelicals featured in the two short videos below.

I can respect religions that are not mine for reasons that I think are too obvious to state here. I know that the whole salvation thing is much too complex and inaccessible for a human being to know fully, which is why in the Catholic Church we canonize individuals, but never, NOT ONCE, have we said anyone is officially in hell. I also believe that God's saving grace is mysteriously present in non-Catholic/ non-Christian religions, beckoning to him those practitioners through means that are unrecognizable to me as Christian in content.

If you are a Catholic (once a Catholic always a Catholic) practicing another faith and want to reconnect with your spiritual roots, why don't you click on the "Catholics Come Home" icon located on the top right hand side of this blog. It will provide you with a slew of information as to how to come back home. If you want to find a Catholic parish in your vicinity, click here.

How do some of these televangelists do it? Peter Popoff, who is as crooked as they come, had been exposed for fraud in the late 1980's and then makes a resurgence as a televangelist despite his charlatan past.

Peter Popoff's Manna from Heaven

They Speak in Tongues

My First Portrait

2010-01-09T03:58:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to get myself into a Lenten state of mind. I'm trying to instill in me the Lenten spirit that echoes of renewal and rebirth in Christ, and of the promises of life in Him after this one.

This is my first portrait of Jesus, done in pastel pencils. It isn't very large, and after examining it up close I see the tell-tale signs that this image was produced by a neophyte. This is absolutely true. I'm a complete novice in the art arena and NOWHERE nearly as talented and as experienced as Terry, who has produced some very beautiful pieces. The many infractions that are clearly visible in this portrait might still be correctable, but down the line. I may leave them there as a way to gauge my progress and learn from my mistakes. I haven't worked with pastel pencils to this degree ever, so I still need plenty of elbow grease with this medium.

Excuse my imprudence. I still had it on the easel when I took this picture, so the masking tape is still showing. Again, I clearly see the "too much" and the "not enough" faux pas present in this drawing, which I may correct in a future opportunity.

2010-01-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Here's one I should have posted during Christmas week (lyrics below).

New Kids got run over by a reindeer
All the little children are in shock.
No more loud annoying high falsetto-oh-ohhh
Now there's no more New Kids on the Block.

They were singing their new hit song,
"Cover Girls With The Right Stuff".
Now they're trophies for a reindeer,
Mounted on his mantle, Hangin' Tough.

Many times I was mistaken,
When I went to see their show.
Danny, Donny, Joe, Jon, Jordan,
Or was it Larry, Curly, Shemp and Moe-oh-oh-oh-ohh?

New Kids got run over by a reindeer.
All the little children are in shock.
No more loud annoyin' high falsetto-oh-ohh
Now there's no more New Kids on the Block.

Now the New Kid fans are cryin',
And they say this really sucks!
But don't blame it on the reindeer,
'Cause I'm the one who gave him fifty bucks.

Life is great without the New Kids,
Now let's deal the final blow:
Drop our pants and hang our hineys,
And tell their fans it's really mistletoe-oh-oh-oh-ohh.

New kids got run over by a reindeer.
No more little brats for me to mock.
No more pre-pubescent high falsetto-oh-ohh
Now there's no more New Kids on the Block

Goin' Honky Tonkin' (A trivial post)

2010-01-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the majority of radio stations in the United States cater exclusively to country music aficionados? This music genre is arguably one of the most popular types currently in existence, boasting millions in record sales each year, and televises countless numbers of award ceremonies that many Americans enjoy watching. Many of my closes friends love country music as do many of my co-workers.

I hate it.

I love the country and the contemplative plains and log cabins and horses and stables and much of the imagery that is currently associated with country music. It's the soundtrack to the country scene that I CANNOT absorb without medicinal assistance (kidding). But my aversion to country music is very real. That twangy, ascending and descending scales played by an instrument (I think) called the pedal steel guitar is the yowl of Armageddon, as far as I'm concerned. And the accentuated vernacular that we all have heard country music singers employ, I simply find cruel and immoral, since I'm convinced it's bundled with the sounds of a tortured kitty. Ya'll get me?

No, no, no, thank you, Mr. Strait. Listening to your song makes me feel like I'm on a wagon surrounded by outlaws.

By the way, I'm opened and receptive to criticism of the so-called "music of antiquity" : the Allegri, Victoria, Tavenor, Part and Palestrina compositions. I recognize that their music- which I love to no end -is not exactly what one would refer to as mainstream.

Pray For Elle

2010-01-03T03:13:00.000-08:00

Update:
Elle passed away. Please keep her mom, Adrienne, in your prayers.

"Sunlight streams through window pane unto a spot on the floor.... then I remember it's where you used to lie, but now you are no more. Our feet walk down a hall of carpet, and muted echoes sound.... then I remember, it's where your paws would joyously abound. A voice is heard along the road, and up beyond the hill, then I remember it can't be yours.... your golden voice is still. But I'll take that vacant spot of floor and empty muted hall and lay them with the absent voice and unused dish along the wall. I'll wrap these treasured memorials in a blanket of my love and keep them for my best friend until we meet above."

____________________________________
Keep Elle in your prayers.

Reconciled and Reformed

2010-01-02T23:24:00.000-08:00

Looks like the brothers (Barry and Robin) made-up and have decided to reform the Bee Gees.

Guess what?

2010-01-01T17:32:00.001-08:00

February 17, 2010.

It will arrive (thank God) before you know it.

2009-12-31T19:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all of you and your families! May 2010 bring you good health and prosperity.

In case you were wondering, I'm not letting Toby drink this New Year's Eve. He and his doggy pals formed a ruckus this past fourth of July when they purchased beer with a fake ID and threw a soiree while I was away. His pals cleared out of my house just as I pulled up to my driveway. Needless to say, I became suspicious when I got home and saw ashtrays piled high with cigarette butts and Toby, in a drunken stupor, singing Abba's "Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight" in the middle of the living room. (As I said, he was drunk).

Bad, bad, Toby;0)

Angelina

2009-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

When I was in ninth grade, I had an amazing crush on a girl who was NOT named Angelina. However, every time I heard this song and the lyrics "Girl you left me nothing, nothing but a photograph" (3:28) I was instantly reminded of her.

You can tell how well it went, can't you?

If you didn't listen to this song then, you more than likely wont like to now. Love this song still.

Also, I'm starting a new blog called Dulcet Pandemonium where I can post songs/ videos like this more often.

I'm doing it all wrong

2009-12-26T18:55:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was a huge payday for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives. The top executive echelons of the financially distressed companies received 6 million dollars a piece, with lower raking minions receiving about 2 million.

Here's the real outrage: ME! I'm going to school so I can better myself, while simultaneously working full time and taking care of my parents. Now I'm asking myself, "Does life really have to be this combative?" Obviously the answer is no. If I can divert my energies to smooching my way into either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or an existing (government subsidized) corporation equivalent, I can make bank! After all, thanks to you, my fellow tax payers, the government will pay anyone anything for everything, regardless of the substandard work performance or the uselessness of the product being sold.

By the way, have any of these executives conclusively fixed the enormous financial upheaval plaguing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Have they earned their pay?

Better yet, why don't we cut the middle man on the government's prodigal spending and just send your checks directly to me. Doesn't that make more sense to you? Why add Uncle Sam's second pair of hands to this process when it's infinitely more efficient to just handover your finances directly to me? Now all I have to do is smooch you good folks and not some bureaucrat who's a part of a good ol' boys network.

I can provide an address to mail your checks to for those of you who see the light.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T01:34:00.000-08:00

A blessed & Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to all my blogger pals and their lovely families- this includes their four-legged family members that are as mischievous as Toby;0)

I've been extremely busy the past three weeks with school ending for this year (to resume in about three weeks) and various others things exploding here and there. Forgive me if I seem to have ignored you or forgotten about your blog, but the fact is that I have NOT. This weekend should allow me time to catch-up on many things that need completion.

Again, God bless all of you and your families!

Men's Fashion and Other Stuff

2009-12-21T21:42:00.000-08:00

I'm not someone who is overly interested in fashion or fashion design. I do appreciate dressing nicely and appropriately, but I have no interest in knowing who is wearing what to the Grammy Awards or what designer is incorporating some bazaar new fashion dynamic into his or her seasonal attire. But there are a few trends in current men's fashion that have (regrettably) caught my attention, primarily because they annoy like a bad song stuck in one's head. Here are just a couple (I'm aware there are more).

1) Men who wear tennis shoes with suits.

Is it really necessary to dress yourself in a three-piece suit just so you can destroy the coherence with a pair of Adidas? Who came up with this idea? Is this considered fashionable? Someone obviously thinks this is hip and trendy.

2) Men who wear dress shoes without socks.

Again I ask, is this something that your average man considers appropriate and fashionable? How many men do you know that will dress in formal attire, with dress shoes, and leave out the socks?

The Nutcracker

I was watching the Nutcracker this evening on PBS and I was reminded of the stereotype and stigma attached to men who perform in ballets. Some people believe that it's less than manly for a male to dance ballet for a living, since it is (or was) considered a predominantly female operation. In the Nutcracker (and other ballets) not only are there grown men performing, but also some very young boys. Imagine yourself for a moment the parent of a nine or ten year old boy. Would you allow and encourage your son to take up ballet lessons if he showed interest? Some individuals in this society - mostly fathers - would hear nothing about such things.

Rachmaninoff's "Hail Mary" (Orthodox)

2009-12-08T17:34:00.000-08:00

As I understand it, the Hail Mary prayer in Greek is very common in Eastern Catholic Churches as well as in Orthodox Churches.

If you want to find this Hail Mary performed beautifully on CD, then do yourselves a favor and buy this one:

It is by the Choir of New College, and it contains not just the music performed in the video above, but some of the most beautiful Catholic sacred pieces many of us have come to love. It's also a GREAT Christmas gift for someone who wants an introduction to a variety of sacred music. The Choir of New College is one of the best ensembles in the music business.

An Incident (this post is not intended for children)

2009-12-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

I have an account with YouTube. Once in a while, I find something on there that is truly informative or educational or infused in some way with meaningful Catholic spirituality. Also - and you may not believe this - some of the videos used in my science classes are located there, requiring a visit on my part to re-evaluate that data disseminated during lecture. A few weeks ago I got an email entitled "wakey wakey wakey" (this is how he wrote it) from a YouTube subscriber. The entire email was a diatribe of the Catholic Church and the supposed rampant molestation of children by priests, under the noses of apathetic Church hierarchy. This individual, who goes by the name of rock9711, apparently prowls YouTube for Catholic content, then sends emails to individuals who have left comments in the channels posting Catholic videos. Initially, it appeared to me that this lunatic was with an anti-Catholic fundamentalist sect, who felt compelled to awaken members of the Catholic Church to their inevitable damnation. But there was a completely different motive compelling this natural-born fool that I will discuss at the end of this post.

Needless to say, I was a little ticked. I don't go on YouTube or elsewhere to knock on other religions, so I expect the same courtesy be extended to me. I may critique the methodologies and theological soundness of non-Catholic faiths, but never have I willfully and maliciously disparaged other belief systems or the individuals who adhere to them.

Here's a snippet from one of the early email responses I got from rock9711 after I suggested he consult a book that contained actual facts:

"i have a book without naked pictures of little boys and girls like the one that your priest and bishops and pope carry around in their back pockets ,, a book your church used to burn people alive for touching or try to read ,, a book which spells out the faith of an institution here on earth that claims to follow its principles and values. a book which spells out the doom and destruction of an institution which is blood guilty... an institution which spreads falsehoods and lies... a book which tells of mans beginning and why he is on earth and why we grow old and die and a book which teaches that soon there will be a new kingdom on this earth that will be free of all men who kill and rape ,, all the things your church practices on a daily basis now for the last 1,500 years ,, and a book that calls any false religion a harlot that will be made to know poverty..."

What an asshole.

In another email he writes:

"SEEK GOD AND BEG FOR FORGIVENESS .. YOU MURDERESS WHORE AND PEDOPHILE CATHOLIC CHURCH... THE UNITED NATIONS MILITARY POLICE WILL SOON DEAL WITH THIS WHORE CHURCH... MAYBE EVEN BEFORE THIS PAGAN CHRISTMAZ ,, THAT IS ON DEC 25TH.. THE SAME DAY THE PAGAN ROMANS WORSHIPED THE SUN,, WHILE YOU WHERE WORSHIPING A VIRGIN CALLED MARY... TWO DINGS DON'T MAKE A DONG OF SHIT IN THE REAL WORLD..

YOUR WHORE CHURCH IS IN COURT... THATS THE BOTTOM LINE!!!"

He writes again:

"HAVE YOU SEEN MIRACLE ON 5TH STREET.. ? ASK SANTA TO HELP THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHEN IT GETS THE WARRANT TO SEIZE ALL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATIONS FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS... AND THEN SEE YOUR HOLY FATHER SHIT HIS PANTIES.. HEY LOOK THERE ELVIS!..

YOUR PEDOPHILE NAZI CATHOLIC CHURCH IS IN SUPREME COURT FOR THE MOLESTATION OF 950,498 KIDS AND THE BUTCHERING OF 750,000 PEOPLE IN CROATIA AND THE THEFT OF GOLD... I WOULD SAY YOU NEED A WIZARD MORE THAN YOU NEED SANTA..... \

HEY LOOK! A BUNNY WITH CHOCOLATE"

I have to admit, that if I had been the bigger man and smarter than this misanthrope, I would have left him alone and refrained from responding to his nonsensical gibberish. Unfortunately, I stooped to his level, and for every email I got from him I fired one back. This exchange unfolded during the course of about two days and it involved almost two dozen email responses. I'm posting a few that contain limited vulgarity. The others he wrote were too derisive and explicit for me to post here. Eventually, he relented and after a series of back-and-forths he sent me a final email:

"my name is charles,,Pedophile Prowlers,,

we do some under cover work for the capture of men that abuse children,, and in some cases through the use of "pedophiles within the catholic church" messages are sent ,,, and in some case we do receive some angry comments from certain people which are not pedophiles ,, but some are.. in which we report this to authorities that handle it from there.. in this case, based on your comments there is no need for concern on your part...."

Outside an election year, I have never been fed heaping humps of BS by any one individual at any time. Yet this rock9711 wants me to believe he is doing society a great service by hatefully seeking out peaceful Catholics on YouTube - who are there only to share their faith with Catholics and non-Catholics - and through a series of bloody-minded accusations and misrepresentations, expose the pedophiles among them and report them to the proper authorities. What a humanitarian! I can't begin to tell you how many things are wrong with his ridiculous rationale.

Since that final email, he has blocked me from his channel, which means I can no longer leave any messages on the videos he posts. How cowardly is that?

Why don't you pay a visit to the newest member of the Catholic faith and tell him what you think about his methodologies.

rock9711

The Case of Julia Sweeney & Other Tidbits

2009-11-30T20:55:00.000-08:00

Actress Julia Sweeney was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from the time she joined in 1990 until the time of her departure in 1994. After exiting the show, Sweeney experienced a series of personal disasters in which family members - including herself - were diagnosed with some form of cancer. Raised a Roman Catholic, Sweeney's adult battle with cancer culminated in a public declaration that she was an atheist, and even wrote a monologue called Letting Go of God, in which she elaborated on her newly formed atheistic beliefs. According to Wikipedia, famed atheist Richard Dawkins has quoted Letting Go of God extensively in his book The God Delusion.

When I was a member of my Church choir, I knew a man who lost both of his parents in rapid succession. Such an excruciating experience drove him away from the Church and never again did I see him return. I think both his and Sweeney's experiences might be structured almost identically.

I actually empathize with people who have shifted to disbelief that was caused by an extreme, personal ordeal. The hurt and the anger that compels them is more heartbreaking - at least in my eyes - than the tragic abandonment of God and their faith. I'm always reminded of the fact that these individuals have reached a breaking point in which pure exasperation took control of their senses.

Salvation

I think sometimes we inadvertently get a little overzealous and focus too much on the excerpts of Scripture that describe the sheer difficulty (and, perhaps, likelihood or unlikelihood) of reaching the abode of the saints. Some people unjustly focus too much on that and build a fire and brimstone sermon that makes it sound like we're ALL going to hell. Yes, God is infinite justice and His wrath should make us all tremble. But God is also Love, and when the phrase "infinite justice" is evoked the first thing that comes to the minds of some is a God who mercilessly tosses wayward souls into the fires of hell without a second thought. Have you ever considered the possibility that the highest form of infinite justice God can apply might actually be infinite mercy? A God that embraces your return to Him very similarly to the loving reception experienced by the prodigal son in the famous parable. I'm fairly certain that we make the whole salvation desire much more difficult than what it actually is, and it's hard enough already!

Here's a brief video (again) of Thomas Merton. Listen to the narrator, speaking in the voice of Thomas Merton, say: "Faith means doubt. Faith is not the suppression of doubt. It is the overcoming of doubt, and you overcome doubt by going through it. A man of faith who has never experienced doubt is not a man of faith." Towards the end of the video he concludes with a profound observation that has had me thinking about it since the first time I heard it: "...the gate of Heaven is everywhere." What a beautiful thing to say.

Thanksgiving Aftermath

2009-11-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

I ATE TOO MUCH.

- Turkey

- Rice and Black Beans (it was Cuban themed, folks)

- Stuffing

- Bread (LOVE bread!)

- Apple Pie

- Pecan Pie

- Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (Half Baked)

- Miscellaneous yummies that are too numerous to mention here

So how was your gastronomical fandango?

Wanna go for a walk? (burp!)

To Perceive or Misperceieve

2009-11-21T18:04:00.000-08:00

People say things they don't always mean. Often times they become angry from some perceived injustice or insult done to them and they retaliate with a finely orchestrated vitriol meant to cause equal, if not greater injury, than was done to them. These things happen. But with most reasonable people the anger dissipates, and they come to regret their comments and wish for a chance to take back their diatribe. Unfortunately, once the words are delivered it's too late to un-ring the bell.

"Don't worry about trying to figure out the Trinity. You can't even figure out yourselves." ~ A wise priest I know.

I think communicating with another human being can bring a hornet's nest of possible misunderstandings. You never know if your message is coming across with clarity and precision, or if aberrations you failed to account for corrupt the essence of your point-of-view. This type of miscommunication reminds me of the analog signals that until recently were used to transmit audio and visual signals to many television sets across America: A transmitter (this would be you, the speaker) sends a series of signals to a receiver (the person you are communicating with) that can be processed in some useful way. As those signals travel to the receiver, distortions and electrical pollutants can corrupt their integrity and consistency, and the picture and sound delivered to the receiver are unrecognizable and indiscernible.

Can you imagine how many faulty conclusions people have made and are making around the world (even as you read this) and will react to in some method? How many of these will involve violent reactions? How many will damage the reputation of the individual who wrote or spoke the words? How many of these misinterpretations will go undiagnosed as a misperception, failing to yield the opportunity for explanations and clarifications. Such a scenario could not only perpetuate a misunderstanding, but it could do so indefinitely. I've actually seen a scenario like the one I just described begin to take shape, but thankfully I had the good fortune to catch it in time.

Such an admonishing is especially true, here, in the written world, where communication is devoid of facial expressions, mannerisms, and a tone of voice to help place ideas and opinions in their proper context. I know I've written things that came off wrong and the individual who read them - either out of politeness or self control - chose not to offensively repudiate what they perceived was incorrect. I have had, however, commentators that took issue with some of the criticisms that I've leveled against certain individuals and specific groups by taking my words completely out of frame.

These types of inexactitudes make me wonder how much I really know. And out of those things and individuals that I think I do know but have dismissed as absurd and thoughtless, how much of those should I re-visit and re-evaluate to form a more accurate and respectable opinion of what they were all about. Can we say with absolute and unequivocal certainty that misperceptions or misunderstandings NEVER - not once - played a role in the censure and/or excommunication of any one individual in Church history? Some people argue that in the case of Teilhard de Chardin, a serious misjudgement occurred when authorities evaluating his writings never understood them in great depth.

By the way, this post is actually about the culinary experience of eating tainted fish with root beer and scotch;0) What were you thinking it was about?