Fr. Martin's dissent.

Makes me sad.

It really does.  I've been loath to admit it it.  I found it hard to believe Fr. Martin was actually dissenting from Catholic teaching.  I still grapple with that.  For me Dr. Janet Smith's recent article in Catholic World Report, Overcoming Fr. Martin's dissent ... is more convincing for me than anything else written to date.  Dr. Smith expresses it beautifully and with great charity. 

I'll share a couple excerpts which resonated with me, and you can read the rest at CWR.  It's stuff I might have, could have said myself.

For Catholics who have some background in theology and philosophy it is deeply disappointing when a highly educated priest uses specious arguments to advance his cause; for those whose every fiber of their Catholic being leads them to want to trust priests, bishops, and religious superiors, such instances of untrustworthiness are scandalous; for those of us who have been fighting dissent for nearly 40 years, seeing a dissenter get ecclesial support and public acclaim is demoralizing. But, mostly, it is sad in the extreme that souls could well be lost.

I find myself, as an aging Catholic warrior, experiencing déjà vu all over again. The faithful of my generation spent a lot of our lives countering the equally specious (though more sophisticated) arguments of Father Charles Curran and his ilk—those who dissented from Humanae Vitae and for decades dominated virtually every Catholic institution. We fought a fight that has enjoyed a lot of success. Because of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Saint John Paul II’s Veritatis Splendor, the appointment of good bishops, the reform of seminaries and many Catholic colleges and universities, the proliferation of the “movements,” and the development of nearly countless good resources and programs, it seemed dissent was almost a thing of the past. Indeed, the younger generation, in general, is unaware of it. Thus they are even more scandalized by dissent when it does emerge.

But it is back and, to be sure, I am despondent to some extent. Though undoubtedly the damage will still be great, it helps that we are much better equipped to respond to it this time. We must not let this crisis go to waste. - Finish reading here.

As she said, "for those whose every fiber of their Catholic being leads them to want to trust priests, bishops, and religious superiors, such instances of untrustworthiness are scandalous."  I want, with every fiber of my Catholic being to trust.  I can't tell you how often that trust has been betrayed - but I keep on.  Jesus, I trust in you!

We got through it before, we will get through it again.

Gloria Princess of Thurn and Taxis and Cardinal Gerhard Müller

The Cardinal and the Princess.

Princess Gloria of Thurn and Taxis invited Müller to present his new book.

The Vatican’s former doctrine chief has criticised Francis’ papacy for lacking theological rigour, while suggesting he is ready to make a comeback and work in the Roman Curia.

During a book presentation in Germany last Friday, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, dismissed from his job by the Pope in July, recalled how the Jesuit Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) told Pope Clement VIII that he did not understand anything about theology.

According to reports of the event in Mannheim the German cardinal then pointed out that Bellarmine was sacked from the Curia three times. Muller added he thought it possible he could return to the curia - a suggestion which was greeted with great applause.

In Mannheim, the cardinal criticised Latin American approach to theology, in what was a thinly veiled critique of the Argentinian Pope and his theological advisers from the continent.

“In Europe, theologians immediately have to have the exact council text ready when words like ‘faith’ or ‘mercy’ are used. This kind of theology with which we are familiar doesn’t exist in Latin America. They are more intuitive there,” Cardinal Muller said during a presentation of his new book 'The Pope - Mission and Task' at the Reiss-Engelholm-Museum at Mannheim.

“They look at a text without considering it as part of a whole. We must somehow respect and accept this style. But I nevertheless wish that as far as teaching documents are concerned clear theological preparation must take place.”

Princess Gloria of Thurn and Taxis invited Müller to present his new book at the museum where there is an exhibition on the Papacy. - Source

I find this story interesting since - from what I understand, the German church is quite rich.  I won't take time to back that up with statistics and anecdotes, but I just remember the so-called Bishop of Bling and other stories associated the wealth of the Church in Germany.  I immediately thought of the rebukes Pope Francis has made against cardinals acting like Princes of the Church, declaring, "one who considers himself a prince has a ‘clericalist attitude’ – that is, hypocritical."

Indeed, Latin American theology may be more intuitive, just as the papacy of Pope Francis is more populist.  Perhaps Müller's remarks shed more light on why he was dismissed than anything Catholics online might come up with to condemn the Pope?  As Pope Francis explained:

Jesus served the people, He explained things because the people understood well: He was at the service of the people. He had an attitude of a servant, and this gave authority. On the other hand, these doctors of the law that the people… yes, they heard, they respected, but they didn’t feel that they had authority over them; these had a psychology of princes: ‘We are the masters, the princes, and we teach you. Not service: we command, you obey.’ And Jesus never passed Himself off like a prince: He was always the servant of all, and this is what gave Him authority. - Pope Francis

Hmmm.

Bonus photos of the Princess

The Princess and the Cardinal.

Family portrait.

The Princess with interior designer to the rich

and famous, Peter Marino,  Marino at her right. 

The Princess at the dedication of a boat.

For more information on the 'Punk Princess' go here.

I'm not going back on that Bridge.

(Leonora Carrington)

I'm stepping back from the LGBTQ Bridge Building project.

I think it was Dawn Eden who connected PTSD to the effects of childhood sexual abuse in adults.  I've always shied away from using a term like that, since I'm unwilling to diminish the meaning of the disorder for survivors of very severe trauma, such as suffered by wounded vets, victims of torture, and so on.  Nevertheless, there are aspects of PTSD which may be attributed to psychological trauma caused by abuse and other negative experiences.  Maybe that's what is wrong with me.

I always step into it when I write about gay-ssa-lgbtq crap.  It is crap, let me tell you.  Even as I read supportive books and articles - supportive of leaving gay behind and promoting Catholic teaching, offering encouragement for one who has spent many decades integrating oneself into the sacramental life of the Church, it is difficult to deal with all the 'talk' which surrounds it.  You want to move on but the controversy can pull you down.  For me it's like always talking about exorcism and exorcists and demonology and possession - when you handle pitch you get dirty.  Frequently, those engaged in ministry - on either side of the issue can make mistakes and exceed established boundaries when reaching out to others.

You get accused too.  You get talked about.  You get labeled and summarily dismissed.  You carry that weight even though your shoulders have been freed of the burden.  Remember Lot's wife?  I have to remember her.  She turned to watch the Sodomites perishing, while Lot made it across the bridge.  She got stuck there - and turned to stone.  I don't want to go back on that bridge, much less look back.

There are many good people online to help others discern the truth about homosexuality and authentic Catholic teaching - there are also crackpots who deviate from Catholic teaching.  I have nothing to offer anyone on the subject, except to direct people to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and documents on the subject at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.  Courage Apostolate is the best resource for how to integrate oneself into the sacramental life of the Church, as well as the best support for living a chaste, celibate, holy life in obedience to God's will.  One can join a Courage chapter, or simply use the resources offered by Courage.  The Church is enough - the sacraments and spiritual direction in confession or outside the sacrament, prayer and fidelity to the duties of one's state in life is sufficient for salvation.  A Catholic, no matter what his background, should be able to be accepted and able to fit into the ordinary parish community.  One can always trust the Church but remember her ministers are only human and sometimes over-compensate and err on the side of caution, or worse, permissiveness.  Men will always dissappoint you.  Christ is for you and is faithful - even when we or his ministers are not.

That's all I need to say.

The Crucifixion by Altichiero da Zevio c.1380 Detail. 

The angels take the soul of the 'good thief'.

The Cross is a denial of self, but in service to the will of God himself who makes life come from death and empowers those who trust in him to practise virtue in place of vice. 

To celebrate the Paschal Mystery, it is necessary to let that Mystery become imprinted in the fabric of daily life. To refuse to sacrifice one's own will in obedience to the will of the Lord is effectively to prevent salvation. Just as the Cross was central to the expression of God's redemptive love for us in Jesus, so the conformity of the self-denial of homosexual men and women with the sacrifice of the Lord will constitute for them a source of self-giving which will save them from a way of life which constantly threatens to destroy them. 

Christians who are homosexual are called, as all of us are, to a chaste life. As they dedicate their lives to understanding the nature of God's personal call to them, they will be able to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance more faithfully and receive the Lord's grace so freely offered there in order to convert their lives more fully to his Way. - Letter to Bishops 1986

Get Back ....

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, 

“The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, 

but do not follow their example. 

For they preach but they do not practice.  

They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] 

and lay them on people’s shoulders, 

but they will not lift a finger to move them.  

All their works are performed to be seen. 

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.  

They love places of honor at banquets, 

seats of honor in synagogues, 

greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’

- Matthew 23

Do not follow their example.

I'm going back to the beginning.  When I was oblivious to bishops and cardinals and teachers of the law and all I thought about was "Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and no one keeps him company."  I need to get back to that.  I need to let the dead bury their dead.  I keep saying that.  I keep trying.  I'm going to keep on trying.

Song for this post here.

Today's First Reading ...

Put not your trust in deceitful words ...

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
Reform your ways and your deeds,
so that I may remain with you in this place.
Put not your trust in the deceitful words:
“This is the temple of the LORD!
The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!”
Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds;
if each of you deals justly with his neighbor;
if you no longer oppress the resident alien,
the orphan, and the widow;
if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place,
or follow strange gods to your own harm,
will I remain with you in this place,
in the land I gave your fathers long ago and forever.

But here you are, putting your trust in deceitful words to your own loss. - Jeremiah 7:1-11

As for me ...

I had rather lie abject at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked. - Ps. 84

"...it is precisely our malady that becomes the locus of contact."

- Pope Francis

I wonder if people really believe God when He says: "Put no trust in princes-in mortal men-in whom there is no salvation."

Chaos

I still think I'm right about the fascist categorization ... and here's why 99 ...

Because Hillary and Bill and Barry have all been accused of being Marxist Communists and friends of Communists and, and, and, Bill Ayers and Bernadine Doran and the Weather Underground and Crosby, Stills, and Nash ... Won't you please come to Chicago and Hanoi Jane Fonda and Saul Alinsky - c'mon - that's kind of Russian.  So anyway - I grew up thinking the Left were communists and now people are trying to say they are fascists?  Really?  I don't get it.  (I wasn't a Political Science major, obviously.)

These conversations are kind of like the priest telling a gay guy that he, the priest, is SSA but doesn't inhale and then gives him his phone number and tells him to give him a call.  What?  Was that a bad thing to say?

So seriously.

I don't need to be right, I don't have to prove a point, I don't need people to agree with me - and I could even be wrong.  But you people who are so attached to labels and acronyms and party politics and movements and, and, and ... need to get your terms straight.  Yesterday I posted something of a 'profile' for why Trump (may be) is a narcissist.  I linked to a blog post whose author cited an expert who may lack a certain degree of academic credibility - it worked for me nonetheless.  I worked for a guy like Trump once - he was my vice-president.  The narcissist takes advantage of dictatorial powers, must be in control, must never be opposed, and so on.  So, I 'instinctively' recognized the mega-narcissism in Trump.  (Anyone who ever watched The Apprentice could, as well.)

That said, Mr. Vandelay - I mean Sam Vaknin,

a mental health expert and author, has studied over 600 hours of Donald Trump footage and made the harsh conclusion that Donald Trump is not simply a classic narcissist — he is, in fact, a “malignant and, probably, psychopathic narcissist.”

Vaknin says, the diagnosis for Trump is rather easy, although he does qualify that with the fact that no mental health professional can make a true diagnosis without lengthy testing and engaged dialogue with the person being diagnosed. But based on 600 hours of observation, Vaknin feels confident that Trump is a disturbed person. - Finish reading here.

'A disturbed person' - aren't we all lately.  Nevertheless, the traits fit - but who believes in stuff like that unless it supports their agenda?  Psychiatrists differ on such simple questions as, is homosexuality a mental disorder or not?  

Back to Tea With Mussolini.

I think it's because of some of the dowager nobility online (and offline - e.g. Mrs. Schlafly), who have come out for Trump that I was instinctively reminded of Maggie Smith's character, Lady Hester and her admiration for Il Duce, that I connected Trump to Mussolini style Fascism.  I came across a Salon article which helped support my theory.  (I know - I expect I'm not 'supposed' to agree with such articles.  Eyeroll.)

Trump may not be Hitler ... but ...

In an interview with Slate, the historian of fascism Robert Paxton warns against describing Donald Trump as fascist because “it’s almost the most powerful epithet you can use.” But in this case, the shoe fits.

Like Mussolini, Trump rails against intruders (Mexicans) and enemies (Muslims), mocks those perceived as weak, encourages a violent reckoning with those his followers perceive as the enemy within (the roughing up of protesters at his rallies), flouts the rules of civil political discourse (the Megyn Kelly menstruation spat), and promises to restore the nation to its greatness not by a series of policies, but by the force of his own personality (“I will be great for” fill in the blank).

[...]

To be fair, there are many differences between Italian Fascism of interwar Europe and Trumpism of (soon to be) post-Obama America. For one, Mussolini was better read and more articulate than Trump. Starting out as a schoolteacher, the Italian Fascist read voraciously and was heavily influenced by the German and French philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Marie Guyau, respectively. I doubt Trump would know who either of these two people were. According to the Boston Globe, Trump speaks at the level of a fourth grader. - Read more here.

To be really fair - I recognize the bias in the Salon article as well as the Vaknin analysis.  My point is that these articles resonate with me, they clarify for me my caution as regards Trump - which tends to accelerate every time I see crazed fans reaching out for selfies with the guy, or twittering 'hail Trump' tributes online.  People are certainly free to do that of course, but any credibility they had once before with me is diminished.  And if they think Pope Francis is an anti-pope or heretic, that's it - they have moved into right-wingnut territory for me.  We can still be friends of course, because I tend to love crazy people - although the self-righteous-churchy-types are more difficult to be around - ask any pastor.  But I digress.

So - to be fair - and I always am ...

A friend sent me a blog post titled, Wm. Bennett on Trump.  Now Bill Bennett is someone I pay attention to, and give a lot of credence to.  His observations make a lot of sense, especially in the light of what took place in Chicago this weekend - the protests to silence Trump and so on.

What I See Happening In a Trump Presidency

By Bill Bennett

They will kill him before they let him be president. It could be a Republican or a Democrat that instigates the shutting up of Trump.

Don’t be surprised if Trump has an accident. Some people are getting very nervous: Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton and Jon Corzine, to name just a few.

It’s about the unholy dynamics between big government, big business, and big media. They all benefit by the billions of dollars from this partnership, and it’s in all of their interests to protect one another. It’s one for all and all for one. - Source

Again - this resonates with me and is why I posted a photo of Trump with the Clintons last week or the week before.  Instinctively I have had the impression that there is little difference between Dems and Republicans - that it is a big machine.  Why else do you think abortion is still a civil right, that it is still legal?  But I digress.

(Bill Bennett continued...)

It’s a heck of a filthy relationship that makes everyone filthy rich, everyone except the American people. We get ripped off. We’re the patsies. But for once, the powerful socialist cabal and the corrupt crony capitalists are scared. The over-the-top reaction to Trump by politicians of both parties, the media, and the biggest corporations of America has been so swift and insanely angry that it suggests they are all threatened and frightened.

Donald Trump can self-fund. No matter how much they say to the contrary, the media, business, and political elite understand that Trump is no joke. He could actually win and upset their nice cozy apple cart. It’s no coincidence that everyone has gotten together to destroy The Donald. It’s because most of the other politicians are part of the a good old boys club. They talk big, but they won’t change a thing. They are all beholden to big-money donors. They are all owned by lobbyists, unions, lawyers, gigantic environmental organizations, and multinational corporations – like Big Pharmacy or Big Oil. Or they are owned lock, stock, and barrel by foreigners like George Soros owns Obama or foreign governments own Hillary and their Clinton Foundation donations. - Source

And the following echoes the sense of what I said above, as to why abortion is a sacred rite in our country:

Don’t you ever wonder why the GOP has never tried to impeach Obama? Don’t you wonder why John Boehner and Mitch McConnell talk a big game, but never actually try to stop Obama? Don’t you wonder why Congress holds the purse strings, yet has never tried to de-fund Obamacare or Obama’s clearly illegal executive action on amnesty for illegal aliens? Bizarre, right? It defies logic, right? - Source

*Ed. note:  First correction, 3/13/16 @4:36pm.

It turns out Bill Bennett did not say or write the above.  A reader posted a link to Truth or Fiction indicating the attribution is unfounded.  In fact - and thank God this is true, Bennett said he would not be okay with a Trump candidacy.

HANNITY: So you OK with a Donald Trump candidacy?
BENNETT: No, I’m not OK at all!
HANNITY: Why not?
BENNETT: Because I look at a man and the totality of his acts and his record and the things he has and stood for. And I think, probably, he’s not very principled in terms of his convictions anyway, except he, you know, is a businessman who does things his way, his own idiosyncratic way.

My apologies - I should have vetted the transcript I used.  The part about the 'establishment' just worked so well with what I was trying to say.

Note to self: Double check your sources.

Yeah, so ...

Chaos, indeed.

So this is what I can do.

Stop pretending.

I think everyone needs to do that.

I read a thing at Renew America, a priest suggesting Trump could change and become like Reagan - since people are already comparing him to Reagan - I guess...  The priest calls it hope.  It's strange to me because I've long not placed hope in any man, any political party, and certainly not in any Supreme Court justice - and this is where I come from, suggesting that the GOP has held pro-life Americans captive for years with their false promises.  Again I digress.

From Matt Abbott's reprint of the Ohio priest's essay:

Many have compared this consummate capitalist-candidate to former president Ronald Reagan (may he rest in peace), who himself was seen as 'too much,' or even extreme, in the course of his candidacy.

It appears that many, even among those of a conservative bent, have subconsciously relinquished much of their personal capitalistic, work ethic-related convictions. They have despairingly felt that our nation has crossed a line, or has gone beyond the point of no return, and that to restore a society which would basically recognize St. Paul's words that 'Those that do not work, should not eat' (2 Thess. 3:10) is hopelessly harsh and no longer sustainable. Hence, we see the fear that Trump causes in the hearts of such voters.

There have been disturbing and legitimate Catholic concerns relative to Trump's affirmations of the work of Planned Parenthood and ambivalence relative to the attacks on the sacrament of matrimony, let alone toward sodomy-based lifestyles. Yet let us not be cynical toward the possibility of an evolving enlightenment of a candidate toward a more pro-life stance.

After all, Reagan, while then governor of the hyper-progressive state of California, had signed into law in 1967 that state's abortion law. Yet he went on to become the nation's most pro-life president ever.

Trump has adamantly promised to end the half-billion dollar annual funding of Planned Parenthood, has shown support for the First Amendment Defense Act (restoring religious freedom), and supports the repeal of socialized medicine (Obamacare), among other positive stances.

So let's pray that Trump's enlightenment will continue in this promising direction. The general election is still many months away! - Source

Been there, done that. I did the same justification with Bill Clinton - I was as sincere as this priest.  You are trusting in men when you do that.  I think we are easily manipulated and misguided.  Go ahead - pray for Trump and all the politicians.  Pray for God's will to be done.  Vote for Trump if you want to.  It's all good.

Just remember: 

A king is not saved by his army,
nor a warrior preserved by his strength.
A vain hope for safety is the horse;
despite its power it cannot save.

As Dawn French might say:  "I'll never be a good conservative - but I might be a martyr if they killed me quick."



h/t to Ray for the Wm. Bennett piece.

Confidence in God

Something to think about.

“Across that threshold I had been afraid to cross, things suddenly seemed so very simple. There was but a single vision, God, who was all in all; there was but one will that directed all things, God's will. I had only to see it, to discern it in every circumstance in which I found myself, and let myself be ruled by it. God is in all things, sustains all things, directs all things. To discern this in every situation and circumstance, to see His will in all things, was to accept each circumstance and situation and let oneself be borne along in perfect confidence and trust. Nothing could separate me from Him, because He was in all things. No danger could threaten me, no fear could shake me, except the fear of losing sight of Him. The future, hidden as it was, was hidden in His will and therefore acceptable to me no matter what it might bring. The past, with all its failures, was not forgotten; it remained to remind me of the weakness of human nature and the folly of putting any faith in self. But it no longer depressed me. I looked no longer to self to guide me, relied on it no longer in any way, so it could not again fail me. By renouncing, finally and completely, all control of my life and future destiny, I was relieved as a consequence of all responsibility. I was freed thereby from anxiety and worry, from every tension, and could float serenely upon the tide of God's sustaining providence in perfect peace of soul.” ― Walter J. Ciszek, He Leadeth Me

 I highly recommend reading Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J..  For a long time he thought he was in control and that God would act in such and such a way that he imagined he should or would...

The Sinner's Pope...

For me, one of the greatest gifts of this papacy is the Pope's exposition on the mercy of God - God's love for sinners ... and sin itself.

Today the Pope spoke of King David again - and his grave crimes - his mortal sins - arranging for the killing of Uriah.  Astonishingly, David's sin did not harden his heart or lead to total 'corruption' as the Holy Father points out:

“David is a saint, but also a sinner.” He falls on account of lust, the Pope said, and yet God still loves him very much. However, the Pope notes, “the great, the noble David” feels so secure – “because the kingdom was strong” – that after having committed adultery he does everything in his power to arrange the death of a loyal man, falsely passing it off as an accidental death in battle.

“This is a moment in David’s life that makes us see a moment through which we all can pass in our life: it is the passage from sin to corruption. This is where David begins, taking the first step towards corruption. He has the power, he has the strength. And for this reason, corruption is a very easy sin for all of us who have some power, whether it be ecclesiastical, religious, economic, political… Because the devil makes us feel certain: ‘I can do it’.”

Corruption – from which David was saved by the grace of God – had wounded the heart of that “courageous youth” who had faced the Philistine with a sling and five small stones. “Today I want to emphasize only one thing,” the Pope concluded. “There is a moment where the attitude of sin, or a moment where our situation is so secure and we see well and we have so much power” that sin “stops” and becomes “corruption.” And “one of the ugliest things” about corruption is that the one who becomes corrupt thinks he has “no need for forgiveness.” - Chris Wells, Vatican Radio

The Holy Father has really helped me to examine my conscience in a new light, from a completely different perspective - perhaps even how God sees me.

... for he knows of what we are made,
he remembers that we are dust. -Ps. 103:14

That's how the Pope makes me feel.

(And my parish priests as well.)

The Norwich Ghost

Medieval Ghost Bishop of Norwich.

I've been taken by ghost stories about as often as I've been taken by visionaries, locutionists and doomsayers ...

What?