Recruitment

Earlier this summer, there was some debate over the fact that the United States Army had below average recruitment and that at current levels, it was going to miss its recruitment goal for the year. (Of course, the articles and debate missed the fact that Army recruitment was about the same in the first half of the year last year and picked up in the secend half enough to reach the goal.) What all the naysayers who were suggesting that young men and women just don't want to join up and go die in Iraq missed was that the Marine Corps has sustained a substantial percentage of all casualties in Iraq since the US invaded, but during that same time, the Marines have consistently met their recruitment goals and in some years have had to turn people away.

Why do the Marines do better than the Army in terms of recruitment? As a viewer of that medium known as the television, all I can say is that the Marines have kick-ass commercials and the Army does not. (Anyone who has seen the movie Patton ought to know what a crock that 'Army of One' line is...)

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "Just as Keanu Reeves fought against the powers of evil, a priest comes to help people fight against sin. There is a battle out there," explained Father Jonathan Meyer, associate director of youth and young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
[...]
Father Meyer said the poster, on which he is featured as the "Matrix"-style priest, had its origins in a skit that he saw during his first year at the North American College, the U.S. seminary in Rome. The skit, put on by a group of older seminarians, was based on the film. In it, a group of priests fought Satan in a series of mock martial-arts confrontations.
[...]
After a few initial edits, the poster was given a trial run at Our Lady of the Greenwood, in Greenwood, where Father Meyer also serves as associate pastor.

Father Meyer said it got a huge response. "They were going like hotcakes. Young kids wanted them to hang in their bedrooms, high school students wanted them to hang in their lockers," he said. "That is invaluable. If we can get kids to hang a picture of a priest in their room, we've done something huge for vocations."

The response, though, seems to make sense to him. It appeals to people at a level that everyone appears to share. "People love heroes. The poster personifies the priest as a hero," he said.
[...]

Read the complete article A la 'Matrix,' vocations recruitment poster shows priest as hero from Catholic Online from CNS.

This poster here I hope is the start of a new trend. The Priesthood ought not be misrepresented, but it could definitely use a little glamour. After all, priests are heroes and they are saving lives around the world everyday. Is the Holy Father's sunwear all that unexpected in this light?

EDIT: If any of my dear, wonderful readers lives in the Indianapolis Archdiocese or has contacts there and could donate a copy of the poster to this author for 'research' (it would look pretty sweet in my room at my new apartment), it would be most appreciated.

The CDF in action

A recent decree by a Vatican congregation removing the well-known founder of a religious order from active ministry could indicate how Pope Benedict XVI will handle the sexual abuse crisis.

The action also may provide some hint of how the Vatican could handle other high profile cases of a similar nature, including one involving the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, a worldwide religious order.
[...]
The case has significance for at least three reasons: it's the first such decree under Levada and the new pope; Burresi is a widely known mystic and Fatima devotee sometimes compared by his followers, including groups in the United States and Canada, to the Capuchin mystic and saint Padre Pio; and finally, because it involves action against a widely known founder of a religious community on the basis of decades-old accusations.

This last point, observers say, could potentially have implications for how the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith eventually handles similar cases, such as charges of sexual abuse against Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ. Maciel has been accused by a number of former seminarians of sexual abuse. His case is reportedly under investigation by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
[...]

Read the complete article CDF acts against a religious founder from The Word From Rome.

As John Allen points out, this move against Father Gino Burresi could serve as the prototype for such a move in the case of Father Maciel, founder and former head of the Legionaries of Christ. Despite the confusion created by certain announcements earlier this summer regarding the case of Father Maciel, it would seem according to Allen that the investigation still exists.

A report cited by Allen that was written by a commission of cardinals is instructive not only in Burresi's case, but also in light of recent events surrounding the CDF's investigation of Maciel. (See this entry and others subsequent for the story on Maciel's investigation that came about in late May and into June.)

In its conclusion, the report urged the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to take administrative action against Burresi despite the statute of limitations. One concern, the report suggested, was that if no action resulted, Burresi's followers would interpret the investigation as evidence of unfair hostility against him.

"It should not be forgotten that during this process some persons said that the accused 'would come out of it triumphant, more esteemed than ever, and thus without any shadow, indeed more glorious than before,' " the judges wrote.

"[They said] 'that the Secretariat of State defends Fr. Gino, thus victory is assured.' If no new limitation is applied to his ministerial liberty simply due to the fact that the proven offenses have been prescribed [by the statute of limitations], probably the sentence of this court will be used as an instrument of propaganda in favor of the accused. He will be able to continue to do harm to those psychologically weak persons who place themselves under his spiritual direction."

Allen points out just who that reference to the Secretariat of State could be referring to, but it is merely his speculation. But in any case, it is interesting that once again, State is seen as a 'protector' of someone who was under investigation by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.

Hope yet for the Spanish

Madrid, Jul. 21 (CNA/CWNews.com) - A judge in Alicante, Spain, is refusing to marry a lesbian couple and has filed a legal challenge against the change in Spain's Civil Code allowing same-sex couples to contract "marriage." If the case reaches Spain's Constitutional Court, that body could reverse the new law.
[...]
The leading opposition party in Spain, the Partido Popular, is also considering a challenge to the new law's constitutionality. In order to initiate such a proceeding, the party would need 50 senators or representatives to vote in favor. Such a vote is all but guaranteed as more than 143 representatives and 131 senators voted against the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Read the complete article High Court might reverse same-sex marriage in Spain from Catholic World News.

Hopefully the Spanish judiciary has enough 'reactionary' judges to garner a reversal. Not a fan of judicial activism, but a move like this is certainly one reason why the courts exist and exercise judicial review. We'll see what comes of this.

WYD itinerary of the Holy Father

Thursday, August 18:
1000 - Depart from Rome
1200 - Arrive at Köln/Bonn Airport/welcome ceremony
From there, the Holy Father will travel to the Archbishop's residence.
Afternoon - Rhine ferry trip with young people and visit to Kolne Cathedral
After, the Holy Father will return to the Archbishop's residence.

Friday, August 19:
Morning
- Courtesy call on the President of Germany
- Visit to the Kolne Synagogue and address to the Jewish community
Lunch - Archbishop's residence with a group of young people
Afternoon
- Meeting with seminarians at St. Pantaleon Church
- Ecumenical meeting at the Archbishop's residence

Saturday, August 20
Morning - reception of civil and political authorities
Afternoon - reception of the various Muslim communities
2030 - The Holy Father will preside over the WYD Vigil at Marienfeld.

Sunday, August 21
Morning - The Holy Father will preside over the WYD Mass.
Immediately following - The Holy Father will lead the midday Angelus.
Afternoon - Meeting with bishops and greeting of the WYD committee
1930 - Depart for Rome

Read the complete article from Agenzia Fides.

Comments on Spirit...

I finished The Spirit of the Liturgy today. It was my first Cardinal Ratzinger book. Any recommendations on what I should read next of his?

The then-cardinal brought up a lot of different points about Mass that I had perhaps considered in the past but never took the time to really think through to the logical conclusion. Why is the Sign of Peace where it is and does it belong there? Just structural questions like that were brought up as points to consider.

The one point that I've been considering the most was at the end of the book when Ratzinger discussed silence and prayer in the Mass. He suggested how perhaps the Eucharistic Prayer should be recited silently by the priest after saying the first few words of each section as a cue for those present. This would serve as a means of drawing everyone into the 'action' rather than just standing/kneeling and listening to the recitation. It brought to mind my own experience during Mass. I have always followed along and in places where I knew the parts well, I mouthed the words along with the priest. Would silence bring closer attention or would it just allow those present to space off?

Of course, in my present condition, the Mass is pretty much silent anyway, so for me, Ratzinger's thought is in fact reality, though I have no cue words to go by...

Clarification

A thank you goes out to a long time reader for emailing and clarifying a point on the Ukrainian situation. I wasn't aware of certain points, but the email and a quick trip to the following article clarified a few things.

History of Christianity in Ukraine from Wikipedia

I didn't realize the situation in Ukraine was that complex. In any case, I'm interested in seeing how it all pans out.

Sunglasses

In a few different places, comments have been made about Benedict XVI's sunglasses. Most all of these comments have centered on the choice of sunglasses made by His Holiness and how they fit into his wider taste in clothing...

While this is a rather interesting and humorous line of discussion, I would also note that it is misguided. Sunglasses are a part of our lives. They are recommended to protect our eyes from the harsh UV rays of the Sun. That Benedict would choose a pair of sunglasses that are close-fitting and wrap around his eyes is completely understandable. That they happen to cost around £200 is perhaps a bit vain on his part, but so what? I'm just wondering if he talked to his confessor about wanting £200 sunglasses... ;)

A new catechism

PERTH, Australia (CNS) -- The writers of the first comprehensive catechism for Ukrainian-rite Catholics hope it helps diminish the effects of the "Latinization" of the Byzantine church, said the bishop in charge of the project.

Australian Bishop Peter Stasiuk of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Sts. Peter and Paul of Melbourne said Ukrainian Catholics worldwide "have become instilled" with teachings of the Latin rite.

"We attend Roman Catholic schools, we read their religious literature and we have become more or less immersed in Roman Catholic theology and tradition. No wonder our church is deeply Latinized -- to the extent that we have become so comfortable that we do not even see a need to change or to rediscover our own roots and traditions," said the bishop, who also chairs the Synodal Catechetical Commission of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
[...]
The catechism, a draft of which is 600 pages long, will be divided into three sections: "Our Faith," "Our Prayer" and "Our Life," he said.

The first section will explore the Nicene Creed, the Ukrainian Catholic liturgy and how God has revealed himself, Bishop Stasiuk said. The second section will focus on prayer and the liturgy and will follow the cycles of the day and the year in the prayer life of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, he said. The last section will be dedicated to morality.

The "thread that will keep the catechism" together will be the prayers of St. Basil the Great recited during the act of consecration during the liturgy, he said.
[...]

Read the complete article Catechism will help Ukrainian Catholics recover identity, bishop says from Catholic News Service.

I'm interested in picking this up once there's an English translation. It's nice to see the Ukrainians reclaiming their identity. I'm sure Moscow is not going to be pleased with a catechism aimed at strengthening the identity of the Ukrainian Church in Ukraine itself.

I read the other day about how the Ukrainian Orthodox community was pushing on with its efforts to form their own church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate. All the noise that the Russians make regarding the Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Catholic situation I'm sure is muted compared to the internal battle surrounding the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Personally, if I were the Ukrainian Catholics, I'd let the Orthodox situation resolve itself. That way, if the local Orthodox do indeed get their own patriarch, then Moscow would perhaps be quiet since a Catholic patriarch in Kiev would not really its problem anymore...

Down south II

In comments to the previous post, fears included the people choosing Chavez over the Church. It would appear that the Venezuelan people have their priorities straighter than previously thought.

[...]
Caracas sociologist Mercedes Pulido, a Chavez critic who was minister of the family under a previous government, said Chavez also was angered by several surveys released in mid-July that found that the Catholic Church is the institution with the highest credibility among Venezuelans.

The church "is the only institution which (Chavez) has not been able to control," she said.

Read the complete article Venezuelan bishops' statement leads to war of words with president from Catholic News Service.

Down south

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) -- Venezuela's highest Catholic prelate on Sunday condemned President Hugo Chavez's rule as a dictatorship and urged Venezuelans to reject it in an attack likely to strain already poor church-government ties.

"I am convinced that what we have here is a dictatorship," Cardinal Rosalio Castillo, who is retired, said in a interview published by El Universal newspaper.

He told Venezuelans to use their constitutional right to refuse to recognize the left-wing president on the grounds he was not ruling democratically. Castillo did not elaborate on what actions he thought Venezuelans should take.
[...]

Read the complete article Venezuelan cardinal: Chavez a dictator from CNN.

Today, I'm not going to write so much as a Vatican watcher...

In prosecuting the War on Terror, the United States has let its responsibilities in the Western Hemisphere be sidetracked. The War on Terror needs to be fought, but Chavez is an excellent example of how US foreign policy has 'forgotten' what are traditionally its primary areas of focus.

As recently as twenty years ago, the President of the United States and his close advisors were prepared to secretly run counter to the will of Congress in funding anti-communist forces in Latin America. The current administration doesn't seem to give Chavez and his emerging brand of communism in Venezuela a second thought while it deals with Iraq and other hot spots in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Fighting for liberty for all people around the world is something I'm 100% behind. The US thought could stand to reevaluate its priorities as Latin America slowly drifts left.

I commend the Church in Venezuela for seeing Chavez for what he really is and calling attention to him and his brand of totalitarianism. Hopefully, they'll pull their country back from the brink before it's too late.

Thanks goes out to the Fly for the link to CNN.

A blog I found

Does anyone else read White Around the Collar?

It looks interesting.

It's all in the details

Vatican, Jul. 15 (CWNews.com) - Vatican employees will lose one annual holiday under a work schedule set by Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news).

In an internal memo to the offices of the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Sodano (bio - news), the Secretary of State, has listed the holidays set by the new Pontiff.

As usual, the new Pope has set the anniversary of his election, April 19, as a holiday for Vatican employees. But Pope John Paul II (bio - news) also declared a holiday on the feast of his patron saint, St. Charles, on November 4. The March 19 feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the new Pontiff, is already a full holiday on the Vatican calendar.

Many Vatican employees had hoped that the new Pope would a holiday on July 11, the feast of St. Benedict, whose name he chose when he was elected to the papacy. But Pope Benedict held with tradition and left the holiday on the feast of the saint in whose name he was baptized. Born Joseph Ratzinger, he will celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, just as the previous Pope, born Karol Wojtyla, celebrated the feast of St. Charles. ("Karol" is a Polish form of "Charles.")

The anniversary of the current Pope's election, on April 19, will replace the previous annual holiday on October 16, the anniversary of Pope John Paul's election. Several new memorials have been added to the working calendar. Vatican employees will also be asked to commemorate April 2, the anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II; April 16, the birthday of Pope Benedict XVI; and April 24, the anniversary of the current Pope's installation. But those dates will not be full holidays, and Vatican offices will be open for business.

Read the complete article Vatican employees will lose one annual holiday from Catholic World News.

Will the personnel at the Vatican go on strike like the French when they lost the Monday after Pentecost? Developing...

Educating the masses

Magister's new look at the pontificate of Benedict XVI as it has progressed so far provides much insight into what's going on in Rome and the changes that are waiting to be made as the Vatican continues the transition from John Paul II to his successor. Rocco takes a good look at these different points over at Whispers in the Loggia and I don't need to rehash the excellent points he's made.

There is one section of Magister that I would like to examine in more detail, however.

[...]
But for his part, Benedict XVI is captivating the crowds.

The same masses of the faithful that applauded the gestures or striking phrases of pope Karol Wojtyla, while almost completely missing what it was that he was talking about, are doing the opposite with the new pope. They follow Ratzinger's homilies word for word, from beginning to end, with an attentiveness that astonishes the experts. Verifying this takes nothing more than mingling among the crowds in attendance at a Mass celebrated by the pope.

The new pope's style is sober in terms of his contact with the masses. His symbolic expressiveness comes entirely from the liturgy, which he celebrates with a great sense of authority. But apart from the Masses, catecheses, and blessings, Benedict XVI is a minimalist. "The pope must not proclaim his own ideas, but rather constantly bind himself and the Church to obedience to God's Word," he said when taking possession of the Chair of the Bishop of Rome, in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on May 7. And he keeps to this standard even in regard to public gestures. He does very little of his own. He wants the faithful to pay attention to what is essential, which is not his own person but Jesus Christ alive and present in the sacraments of the Church.
[...]

Read the complete article The First Three Months of Benedict XVI: New Pope, New Style from www.chiesa.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with the book Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. It's about computer hackers who set up a secure data storage site as a commercial venture, but the venture morphs into something much bigger.

In the novel, one of the major characters is Enoch Root. Root is a former Catholic priest whose departure from the Church is never spelled out, but still works with the Church at the grassroots level. While he is in jail with the protagonist, he talks about how at one time, those in his profession were expected to deliver interesting and thoughtful theological and philosophical homilies every week (back when Oxford was still dedicated to educating the clergy).

While I'm sure Stephenson is exaggerating to some extent, I would find it most interesting if Benedict XVI were to lead Catholics into a new period taking the faith seriously not only as a 'faith', but as an intellectual subject that is worthy of study and understanding. The 'why' we believe what we believe can be just as important is the 'what' we believe.

This is not to say that what our priests are teaching us each Sunday in Mass is boring or not very stimulating. Far from it, learning about the Gospel is fundamental. But on issues that have divided and caused so much debate in society, it is as important to learn about the Church's reasoning behind its positions on stem cell research, abortion and marriage.

As the section above illustrates, the laity are probably far hungrier for such reasoning than they're given credit for by most everyone.

Rest in peace, Bishop Locati

VATICAN CITY, JUL 15, 2005 (VIS) - Bishop Luigi Locati, apostolic vicar of Isiolo, Kenya, was murdered last night by a group of unidentified persons who shot him as he returned home from a parish center. The police are unaware of the motive for the killing.

The Italian bishop, who was almost 77 years old, presented his resignation upon having reached the age limit for bishops two years ago, but was still awaiting the appointment of a successor.

MURDER OF BISHOP LOCATI, APOSTOLIC VICAR OF ISIOLO, KENYA from Vatican Information Service.

Please everyone take a moment and say a prayer for the deceased bishop and the Kenyan authorities that they may bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.

Convergence

LONDON (CNS) -- A Catholic bishop said Anglican clerics opposed to the ordination of women bishops should not be received into the Catholic Church for "negative reasons."

Bishop Declan Lang of Clifton, one of England's leading Catholic ecumenists, spoke amid rising speculation that the vote taken by the Church of England July 11 to remove legal obstacles to the episcopal ordination of women would lead to mass defections of traditionalist clergy.

Bishop Lang, co-chairman of the English Anglican-Roman Catholic Committee, a group that meets twice a year to promote ecumenical projects and the joint study of theology, said mechanisms existed within the English Catholic Church to receive married Anglican ministers and even to ordain them as Catholic priests.

"When there was the ordination of women in the first place there were some Anglicans who applied to be received into the Catholic Church, and the same provision is there at the moment," he told Catholic News Service July 12. "But there is an understanding that you don't come into the Catholic Church for a negative reason.

"Those Anglican priests who were received into the church were received for positive reasons -- for example, that they accepted the teaching authority of the church," he said.
[...]

Read the complete article Bishop says fleeing Anglicans must join church for positive reasons from Catholic News Service.

Just another article on the situation with the Church of England. Towards the end, the article looks a possible 'third province' provided by the Catholic Church for former Anglicans:

[...]
Oddie, a former Anglican minister who converted to Catholicism in the 1980s, said that in the 1990s some disaffected Anglicans made contact with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Vatican's doctrinal congregation, about a possible "parallel jurisdiction," and the future Pope Benedict XVI was said to have been sympathetic.

Such a parallel jurisdiction, Oddie said, would mean that the former Anglicans would be in communion with the Catholic Church but would be under the authority of their own bishop.
[...]

The only question I would have on this idea is when all these bishops and clergy move to the Catholic Church, are they going to be bringing their parishes with them?

Regarding the previous post and a comment made about it, I would think that any kind of communion between the English and Roman Churches after some kind of crisis in the Anglican Communion would not be a bad thing insofar as bringing in elements that led to the Anglicans' current crisis of identity. The exact circumstances I don't care to predict, but such an event precipitated by a crisis I think would be an expression of a return to more orthodox (i.e. Catholic) doctrines) over all.

The third way: a third province?

Nearly a quarter of the Church of England's bishops, including several of its most senior, are likely to oppose moves to consecrate women as bishops at the General Synod in York today.
[...]
The traditionalist wing does not have the numbers to halt the proposed reform at today's vote, but they intend to demonstrate their strength.

They are threatening a mass exodus if the Church refuses to grant them a Third Province, a parallel Church with male-only clergy led by its own Archbishop and bishops.
[...]

Read the complete article Hundreds of clergy 'will leave church over women bishops' from Telegraph Online.

The 'traditionalists' want a third province. I'm assuming that this province would be without any territory, but instead would include all those parishes that don't want to be under female bishops... That's an interesting solution to the problem. But do they really think anyone would go for it?

I keep waiting for the final conflict that will lead to the complete dissolution of the Church of England and the greater Anglican Communion. How these guys manage to string along their organization when its membership is composed of such disparate factions is really amazing in a way.

In the end though, I am still of the belief that the see of Thomas Becket and many others will be in communion in Rome again in my lifetime.

Memorial erected

From July 6th:

DAVENPORT, Iowa (CNS) -- In an effort to promote healing, the Diocese of Davenport has dedicated a monument to victims of clergy sexual abuse.

About 50 people, including abuse victims, gathered around the modest monument, called the Millstone Marker, outside diocesan headquarters June 20 for a solemn dedication ceremony of prayers, Scripture readings, songs, blessings and bagpipe music.
[...]

Read the complete article Davenport Diocese erects monument to abuse victims from Catholic News Service.

The Diocese of Davenport is of course my diocese at the moment. I should drive over and check out the monument. It's interesting how some victims were satisfied and others weren't. I do think that most of the priests being on a golf outing is kind of tacky. Personally, I'd suggest that they put up a statue next of a priest and a layman or woman walking together as a symbol of all the hard work and memorial to all the good people who've made the diocese what it is today.

Audiences with Amato

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 8, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:
[...]
- Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
[...]

From the VIS daily email.

Once again, the Holy Father has met with Archbishop Angelo Amato. I do believe that the archbishop has been granted more audiences than any other person, even the likes of Sodano, etc.

Does anyone out among my wonderful readers know anything about Archbishop Amato? He was appointed to his current post only three years ago. Is he a trusted associate of Ratzinger or what?

My (definite) return

I was sucked into the Fourth of July holiday and spent much time visiting. I intended to get back in the loop, but something always came up and I wasn't able to do much of anything. Plus, my mom's keyboard just causes so much pain.

In any case, I'm back home now and will be able to post at a regular clip. Take care all and say a prayer for our British comrades.

A personal update

I've been gone this last week as you all noticed. I've been off getting my housing situation in hand and spending time with my parents. It's been a long week of driving, as both activities needed doing, but were separated by a three hour drive.

A few news items...
Spain passed the marriage bill and it is now law there. Canada's lower house passed the marriage bill and it goes to the senate for consideration. Pallia (plural?) were handed out this week. Bishops were appointed, audiences were granted.

Check out the links along the left and I'll see you all hopefully with something new tomorrow.