I think we may need a little bit more formality...

A newly-created cardinal kneels before the Pope at St Peter's in the Vatican. 

In this great shot, you can see the train of the cappa flowing down the steps. 

The Pope imposes the cardinal's galero on his head, 

covered with the cappa's hood. Circa 1960. - Source

The sense of the sacred is otherwise diminished.

I don't really care very much what the pope and the cardinals do or discuss at their consistories - especially as it concerns curial reform and all of that.  I don't have a need to know all the intrigue and politics that goes on.  I don't care that an American wasn't made a cardinal, or this and that one was snubbed, and so on.  All of that 'stuff' is unedifying to me.

Likewise, the lack of formalism - especially the disdain for it - is unedifying as well.

I know Cardinal Burke seemingly goes everywhere in pontificals, and I understand because of that, many people make fun of him.  The disrespect contributes to the erosion of reverence and respect due to the hierarchy.  I know because I've joked about the cappa and choir vesture myself.  Lately I've noted I have a hard time taking it seriously, and when I see photos of this or that prelate - in choir vesture or not, I sense an initial interior inclination to scoff.  I try to mortify the suggestion of course, but it is difficult to avoid the critical spirit when so much is published.

Just thinking out loud here.

BTW:  Pope Francis gave red hats to 20 new Cardinals today.  He instructed them beautifully:

In his homily, Francis reminded his newest collaborators that being a cardinal isn't a prize or fancy entitlement, but rather a way to serve the church better in humility and tenderness.

He warned them that not even churchmen are immune from the temptation to be jealous, angry or proud, or to pursue their own self-interest, even when "cloaked in noble appearances." - AP

source

 "Don't dress down for the poor, they won't respect you for it."  - Imelda Marcos

Impaired Judgement? Or Catholics don't know what they are talking about?

Same thing, really.

At least for me.  The other day I mentioned something about Pope Benedict's resignation and how it seemed to me he was fleeing the wolves, with the caveat, "though my judgement may be impaired ..."  Meaning, I don't have all the facts.  Not having all the facts means impaired judgement.  Which is probably why so many Catholics online don't really know what they are talking about.  Even when they cite Aquinas or St. Toonces or Raymond Arroyo, or NBC Nightly News.  (Brian Williams' judgement may have been impaired by something else - otherwise I believe absolutely everything that is said on nightly news - esp. when he spoke.  Why else would he have had roles on 30 Rock?  And if Sarah Palin never read anything, I don't have to either.)

So here's what I think, "though my judgement may be impaired ..."

Hilary Clinton is having cosmetic surgery/work done - that is why she isn't around right now.

I knew you were wondering.

70 Years After: Remembering Dresden ... February 13 and 14, 1945

When fire fell from the sky ...

after a night illumined 

by an unknown light.

“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace...

"The war is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI... 

"When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father." - Our Lady of Fatima

Dresden after the devastating British bombing campaign of February 1945. 

'The purpose was simple: to kill civilians, to destroy cities and to crush German morale.' 

Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful...

"The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by my Son. Each day, recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and the priests...

"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, and bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their Confreres. The Church and altars will be vandalized. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord." - Our Lady of Akita

 "Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful..."

6 months later, Hiroshima, August 1945.

3 days later, Nagasaki, August 1945

World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. Over 60 million people were killed, which was over 3% of the 1939 world population (est. 2 billion). - Source

50 Shades of Grey - No full frontal ...

Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman, High Anxiety

I don't read a lot of fiction and I never read fan fiction.

I know vaguely what 50 Shades of Grey is about and that it is a best seller.  One can't miss the fact that it is talked about incessantly, especially now that it has been made into a movie - which has been panned pretty much because it doesn't show much actual porn and no full frontal nudity - whatever that means.

Religious people are making their condemnations heard, and bloggers are picking up the hits by writing about it - me too - hence the title of the post.  LOL!

I don't know - about 490 years ago St. Teresa's dad forbade her to read the racy romance novels of the day - but she did.  Every era has its evil books.  It is right to condemn them, but it also helps promote them when we all jump on the band wagon.  Just saying.

Anyway - did you know Dorothy Day read Lolita?  When I was in high school that was the dirty book to read.  Before that it was Lady Chatterley's Lover and Tom Jones.  Boring.  I just thought it funny Dorothy Day read Lolita - I can't find the entry in her Diaries because the page listed in the index is wrong.  I'll come across it another time.

I always had the understanding that women preferred to read eroticism, while men preferred the visual.  Perhaps that's why the 50 Shades movie is not especially graphic - no full frontal shots - it's a chick flick - and deep down, girls feel threatened by a man's _____.

Oddly enough, I've never liked porn.  It never became an addiction or something I sought out for itself.  There but for the grace of God...

There is a classic bit of advice confessors always gave - "Never, ever have or keep porn in the house."  Now with computers and smart phones, an added caution: never click on it.  Someone used to send stuff to me in the mail and I threw it out as soon as I realized what it was.  I understand its potential to arouse.

Bonus!  Never watch Oprah or read Richard Rohr, Fran Ferder, or Chris West either.

BTW:  I have comment moderation on because I've been getting spam comments from foreigners.  What?

Thinking of St. Bernadette

I think the sanctity of St. Bernadette is very often underestimated.  I also think those who portray her in the newest plays and films misinterpret/misrepresent her - much in the same way as the film "Therese" overly romanticized the life of St. Therese.

I also think there are many similarities between St. Bernadette and St. Catherine Laboure.  I think they were very simple, practical and uncomplicated - and excellent examples of the 'little way' of St. Therese, before she conceived of it as a sort of 'doctrine'.

I also think that if we want to know what the Blessed Virgin was like when she lived on earth, we should study the life of St. Bernadette and St. Catherine - and St. Therese.

As for those who claim to see or hear Our Lady today - maybe not so much.  In fact their lives may be the best way to discern if their supernatural experiences are worthy of belief.

Just a thought.

I may be wrong.

Oh.

And.

Don't listen to me.

A timely message from Bishop Athanasius Schneider

“We are now standing in the face of the 

greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced." - St. John Paul II

"It is a sad truth that we are in a time of great crisis in the Church."

I'm sorry folks, I can't remain in denial forever, I can't keep pretending everyone else is nuts and I'm okay.  I can't just keep winking as compromises are continually proffered and promoted.  

Something is really wrong, we all know it.  What to do?  I was sent the following letter of advice this morning ...

It is a sad truth that we are in a time of great crisis in the Church. God is with us, however. You have asked me what the faithful can do to combat the errors spreading through the Church. I would like to answer with some suggestions:

We must create groups of true Catholics, scholars, families, and clergy who will spread courageously the full Catholic truth, especially on the Church’s teachings on the family, on nature, and the commandments of God.

As a means to this aim, we must make use of all the resources that the modern world offers to us. We are not confined to waiting for the media to spread these messages. We do not have to wait for each individual pastor to preach them from the pulpit. We should embrace the new media forms that allow us to spread the Gospel and the teachings of our Holy Mother, the Church. We should take our message to the Internet, publish it on websites, blogs, and social media.

But we must not forget to engage with our fellow Catholics in more traditional ways. We should organize conferences and symposiums on a scholarly level. We should use these to create publications, papers, and books that can be used as a reference and broaden our discussion.

We should also create a movement of Catholic families, of “domestic churches”, to witness, defend and spread the integral faith and the teaching on family, marriage, and the order of nature.

We must, at this dangerous time, be courageous in illuminating the truly Gnostic and revolutionary character of the “Kasper agenda,” demonstrating the continuity of the Divine doctrine on marriage and its practice throughout the two thousand years of the history of our Church. We should inspire the faithful with examples of holy husbands, families, children, and teenagers. We should demonstrate, on the one side, the real beauty of a marital, family, or single life in chastity and fidelity. On the other side, we must point to the demonstrated ugliness, unhappiness, and schizophrenia of a life against the divinely-established order.

To give hope to those who are struggling, it is important for us to give examples of repentant Catholics from the past and present time. Those who converted from their sinful life in adultery, divorce, or sodomy. - Finish reading here.

It makes sense.

H/T Diane at Te Deum 

Editing

What?

I've been going through and deleting negative posts - mostly about priests and bishops - especially as they concern scandal.  It's difficult to recall everything I've written.  Going through the archives takes time and is rather tedious.  Perhaps it can be a Lenten exercise?  I actually cringe at some of the titles of my posts and the subjects I've addressed - so far outside my competence.  I've written pompous, judgemental and outrageous posts just as bad as bloggers I've often criticized have done.

Who do I think I am?  (That guy in the photo?)

Song for this post here.

Something to think about ...

"Where are apologists of our days, who would announce to men in a clear and comprehensible manner the threat of the risk of loss of faith and salvation?" - Archbishop Jan Pawel Lenga

One can observe at all levels of the Church an obvious decrease of the “sacrum”. The “spirit of the world” feeds the shepherds. The sinners give the Church the instructions for how she has to serve them. In their embarrassment the Pastors are silent on the current problems and abandon the sheep while they are feeding themselves. The world is tempted by the devil and opposes the doctrine of Christ. Nevertheless the Pastors are obliged to teach the whole truth about God and men “in season and out”. - Reflections on some current problems of the crisis of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Jan Pawel Lenga. Taken from Rorate Caeli.

Vaccines DO NOT Cause Autism.

I just saw it on nightly news - so it's true.

(They make your kids gay though.)

Uncanny look-a-likes ...

Lady Mary, Downton Abbey

Bruce Jenner

It's all making sense now.

Song for this post here.

Signs in the heavens! A message for the prophets of doom and gloom ...

In the centre of this image, taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, 

is the galaxy cluster SDSS J1038+4849 — and it seems to be smiling. - Read more here.

Song for this post here.

Blame the Masons

The 3D model of a Masonic lodge interior

I came across a photo of a Masonic Lodge and decided to search Google for more examples of Masonic temple interiors.  It became obvious to me why some people insist the Novus Ordo and the renovation of the sanctuary in many Catholic churches is Masonic.  I knew that, but never thought much about it since Jewish synagogues are somewhat similar as well.  In fact many religions have a similar 'floor plan'.  Indeed, many medieval Catholic cathedrals are said to be modeled after the original temple in Jerusalem... constructed by stone masons.  Nothing new there, but just for fun, I thought I'd post a few more Masonic photos for my conspiracy theorist readers.

Traditional Masonic Lodge interior.

Doesn't this remind you of how people

who may not be able to receive Communion

go up for a blessing?

Scottish Rite Temple.

That looks exactly like a monastic church.

But it isn't.

Look at the arrangement at the UN.

It looks exactly like a Masonic temple.

It isn't.

I found this under "Jesuit Vatican" 

- note the set up is very similar 

to the Masonic Lodge.

But it isn't.

Every.Single.Cotton.Pickin.Time … and again.

I bet she gets really scared when she sees her backseat headrest in the rear view mirror too.

Many, many, many years ago, when I used to smoke, and went to start the car, after having forgotten to turn the radio off the last time I drove, I'd totally freak out when the sound came on.  So I get it.

ChurchMilitant TV: Another scrutiny ...

"Wait a sec. I’m sorry, but I gotta call bullshit on this." - LarryD

Larry at Acts of Apostasy calls them out.

Voris and Niles, that is.

On their promotional material/tactics.

Read more here.

So I said, "You want a PeeWee?

I can be a PeeWee - then they

went and hired Arroyo anyway!"

Why Catholics should boycott "Selma".

Bad costume design.

The nuns who marched never dressed like that.  I hate it when costume designers make up nun's habits.  The entire movie is now lost on me.

What?

The 2015 Grammys

LOL!

The highway to hell is wide, and many choose to travel it.

I only watched the beginning of the show.

AC/DC opened.  They did Highway to Hell and the audience wore horns.  It seemed appropriate.

The music pretty much stays the same.

What was Prince wearing?

And Madonna?

Everyone is a star.

Then I watched Downton.  Crazy Edith took off with her kid.  So pathetic.

Grantchester is a much better show.  It was all about queers last night.

ROFLMAO!

Kudos!

"We join with Cardinal Burke, and say, 'If the pope persists, we too shall resist!'”

Adding to the confusion and fears ...


The interview, the blow back, the new resistance, the new schism?


I don't know ladies and gentlemen, but you're not making things better.


Screenshot:  For Cd. Burke to now say that he will resist if the situation warrants is, in my opinion, a significant escalation 

... more

This made my day: Photo of the Pope visiting a shanty-town in a Roman suburb ...

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to a shantytown on Rome’s outskirts on Sunday, 

stunning poor residents, many of them from his native South America.

I was immediately reminded of the famous photo of Pius XII going to the people at San Lorenzo after the bombing of Rome.

Calling out the gossip mongers.

Miraculous Communion of St. Catherine, Beccafumi

A Correction.


Catholic in Brooklyn has a terrific post going after Church Militant, Mic'd Up, The Vortex for the recent coverage on homo-priests.

In January, Michael Voris did a Vortex episode entitled, "GET OUT!" in which he once again attacked the "homosexual and homosexual-friendly clergy" of the Catholic Church. He, as is his usual custom, wasted no time in condemning those he accuses: 

"These weak men, these weak leaders have absolutely no right to work out their psychological illnesses and depravities through the priesthood and episcopate.

And yes, they are depravities. For a man who is a practicing homosexual, or struggling with trying to explore his identity, to do that on the Church’s watch is beyond horrible." - Voris

Voris played his usual deceptive games by talking about "gay priests" while showing films of gay pride parades which have nothing to do with any Catholic priests. But it is a way of manipulating people into thinking that these priests he is accusing are right there in the parades. - Catholic in Brooklyn

The CinB article continues taking down the original presentation by Voris, including Voris' quote from Catherine of Siena on God's condemnation of homosexual acts and the fact that even the demons flee from the sight of such unnatural vice.  The author went beyond the famous passage from The Dialogue citing excerpts containing what God the Father went on to say concerning those who attack and denigrate His ministers who though they sin against nature, they remain His 'chosen, His anointed, stewards of the body and blood of His only-begotten Son'.  It's an awesome account.  I feel badly for not noting it myself, since it has been many years since I read The Dialogue myself.

Let the reader go here to read the entire post, I would just like to print one more excerpt which should give all of us pause ...

God the Father says that those engaged in the practice of persecuting priests and bishops "regardless of how good or evil they may be" actually puts them in service to the devil himself:

"This chain binds the persecutors of the blood one with the other, and as members bound up with the devil they have taken on the function of the devils. The devils make every effort to lead my creatures astray, to lure then away from grace and drag them down into the guilt of deadly sin so that others may share the evil that is in themselves. This is what such people do, neither more nor less. As the devil's members, they go about undermining the children of the bride of Christ, my only-begotten Son, undoing them from the bond of charity and binding them up in the wretched chain where they will be deprived of the fruit of the blood along with themselves.

The links of this chain are pride and self-importance along with the slavish fear that makes them lose grace rather than risk losing their temporal powers. So they fall into greater confusion than ever, since they have forfeited the honor of the blood. Their chain is welded with the seal of darkness, so that they do not recognize into what great trouble and wretchedness they have fallen and are making others fall. this is why they do not change their ways. They do not know themselves, but blind as they are, they take pride in their own spiritual and bodily ruin.

O dearest daughter, grieve without measure at the sight of such wretched blindness in those who, like you, have been washed in the blood, have nursed and been nourished with this blood at the breast of holy Church!  Now like rebels they have pulled away from that breast out of fear and under the pretext of correcting the faults of my ministers -- something I have forbidden them to do, for I do not want [my anointed ones] touched by them." - The Dialogue/Catholic in Brooklyn

A big thank you to Mary of Catholic in Brooklyn blog for following her conscience and offering this excellent post, inspiring all of us to examine our conscience and repent.

+ + +

O my God!  I am heartily sorry for having offended you, my God!  Forgive me for calling out the faults of others, especially your ministers, who have washed me numerous times in the precious blood of your only begotten Son.  Have mercy upon me a miserable sinner.  Lord Jesus Christ!  Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner.

The Saints of the Northern Thebaid

St. Sergius and the Bear

I've been watching some things on PBS about bears, and I was reminded of St. Sergius and the bear, as well as other saints who made friends with wild animals.  It appears the phenomenon is not limited to saints.  In fact, BBC Nature is what I watched about the bears in my 'part of the woods'.  

I only have stuffed bears and a cat who pretends to be a bear.  She tried to eat me yesterday.

Young St. Sergius, Mikhail-Nestero

Never listen to the Devil.

Detail: Garden of Earthly Delights

Hieronymus Bosch

I always say that.  Why?  Because he lies.

So if you hear someone talk about what the Devil told them about rectal emissions - ignore it.

The Devil lies.

I wrote about it here, and repeat it today.

I came across a commentary on the Gospel for today, offering an explanation as to why Jesus commanded the demons he drove out, not to speak.

"The reason why Jesus forbade the devils to speak was to teach us not to believe them, even if they say true.  For if once they find persons to believe them, they mingle truth with falsehood." - Theopylact of Ohrid

It is the same with 'New Age' Catholic spiritual guides and heretics.  They collect what seems good to them from other cultures and religious systems and concoct a syncretic-cocktail of error, with a shot of truth.  Of course, though it may be dangerous to the faith, one may read or study and listen to anyone.  When one moves beyond Jesus and the Church - then one knows they have left the narrow way that leads to life.


Random thought:

"The male penis is not a weapon or a mere tool, but it is a means of making contact, 

literally "reaching out" for the other, not to hurt or invade, 

but to pleasure and delight – mutually! . . . 

Not just me, and not just the other, but both simultaneously. 

Is that not an ideal metaphor for what all human relationships should be? 

And maybe even what morality should be." - Richard Rohr

Brian Williams scandal.

The fact that he lied is one thing - getting caught in the lie - well there's the problem.  Right?

I think that may be a mortal sin in secular terms.

Hillary Clinton lied.  Her husband lied.  Sports stars lie.  Then, when they are caught, they lie to explain their lie.  If they are well enough liked, if they are supported by the right people - they get away with it.  Look at Bill Clinton.  He was impeached but wasn't forced out of office - his reputation was simply tarnished - and he's as popular as ever.

If I remember correctly, not too long ago Brian Williams was on with David Letterman talking about Charlie Hebdo/freedom of the press and all of that.  Letterman was so captivated by him, almost as if he were some sort of oracle with answers to all the problems in the world.   But the guy just makes stuff up.

Isn't that queer?

Song for this post here.

Abbey Roads will return to normal blogging in 1, 2, 3 ...

Please stand by.

Mental Illness and Cultural Change.

Inmates running the asylum...

If you've been reading me you know the subject of mental illness is a recent topic here.  Specifically, are gay people nuts?  Just pushing your buttons - it's really about the former diagnosis of homosexuality as a mental illness and how that is so not the same as bipolar.  The discussion drives people nuts - but I'm sure there is a medication for that.  What?  I don't take it seriously.

That said, I mentioned an article someone sent me about a feminist who was diagnosed schizophrenic and also wrote on gender issues - and I kinda sorta implied she lacked credibility because of the diagnosis - not to mention the irony of writing about gender ideology.  Unfortunately, I had not read the entire article and it turns out it was a sort of obituary on Feminism's Rotting Corpse, by Kathy Shaidle.  The article is from Taki's - a magazine I normally don't read.

Anyway - to add more background to where I was coming from, I will reprint a couple of out takes from that article.  It's quite interesting because it helps us understand the origins of gender ideology.

Shulamith Firestone

"[T]he end goal of feminist revolution must be…not just the elimination of male privilege but of the sex distinction itself: genital differences between human beings would no longer matter culturally."

After learning of the death last week of Shulamith Firestone, author of 1970’s The Dialectic of Sex, I roused myself to search for the book ...

Her first and most important work is still required college reading, but unlike those of her second-wave feminist peers—Greer, Friedman, and Gloria Steinem—Firestone’s is not a familiar face. She never turned up on The Phil Donahue Show or in the gossip pages or on Henry Kissinger’s arm. 

And yet in the photo accompanying her New York Times obituary, Firestone looks exactly like you’d expect. That “look”—the frizzy hair, the Lennon spectacles, the lipstick-free, unsmiling mouth—transcends eras. Firestone eerily resembles one of my old Reagan-era anarcho-peacenik comrades—also crazy, also brilliant—who helped me block consensus when some other chick in our women’s caucus proposed dropping the word “caucus”because “it has the word ‘cock’ in it.”

Firestone published her radical manifesto calling for the liberation of women from childbirth’s unfair burden—and from gender itself—at only 25. That’s around the age when schizophrenia tends to claim its victims, of which she was one. - Read more here.

I suppose the premise of the article may be summed up in this quote: “Yesterday’s mental illness is today’s social policy.”  The irony of which lies in the fact that was pretty much what the bipolar lady I criticized was saying.

I give up.

St. Benedict Joseph, pray for us.

Something Aaron Taylor wrote about chaste gay celibate friends...

It's taken from the US Catholic bishops’ document, Principles to Guide Confessors in Questions of Homosexuality (1973) and it is something I have never come across before.

A homosexual can have an abiding relationship with another homosexual without genital sexual expression. Indeed, the deeper need of any human is for friendship rather than genital sexual expression … If a homosexual person has progressed under the direction of a confessor, but in the effort to develop a stable relationship with a given person has occasionally fallen into a sin of impurity, he should be absolved and instructed to take measures to avoid the elements which lead to sin without breaking off a friendship which has helped him grow as a person. If the relationship, however, has reached a stage where the homosexual person is not able to avoid overt actions, he should be admonished to break off the relationship. (p. 10-11) - US Catholic bishops’ document, Principles to Guide Confessors in Questions of Homosexuality (1973) - Spiritual Friendship blog

Aaron Taylor's essay is well worth the read and our consideration.  Stealing the words of  Eve Tushnet in the SF com box,  Aaron's essay makes it easier for people "to avoid falling into the cultural default in which all important relationships between adults are viewed through the lens of romance". Or, in the words of Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser, avoid the sexualization of friendship - which has proved so detrimental to our contemporary view of BFF same sex friends.


Song for this post here.

BFF's!

Fr. Z has a lot of hits.

I was just reading a post on Fr. Z's blog and noticed his site meter moving.  I watched it for awhile and it was continuously moving, almost faster than a racer's mileage calculator - I didn't time it - but it looked as if he was getting 2 to 4 hits a second.  If he only got 1 hit a second, he could be getting 86400 hits in a 24 hour period.  If he got .05 cents for every hit .. he could make $4320.00 a day.  That's better than his $5000.00 a month.

Fr. Z has to be the most famous priest blogger in the world.

Jordanian Pilot Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh Burned Alive by ISIS

From Huffington Post:

A video circulating on social media on Tuesday appears to show the murder of a Jordanian fighter pilot by militants of the Islamic State group.

Supporters shared a video purporting to show Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh dressed in an orange jumpsuit standing in a cage, before being burned alive. - Finish reading here.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,

 Lord, hear my voice!

O let your ears be attentive

to the voice of my pleading.

*

Rescue me, Lord, from evil men;

from the violent keep me safe,

from those who plan evil in their hearts

and stir up strife every day;

 who sharpen their tongue like an adder's,

with the poison of viper on their lips.

*

To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned:

in you I take refuge; spare my soul!

 From the trap they have laid for me keep me safe:

keep me from the snares of those who do evil.

 Let the wicked fall into the traps they have set

while I pursue my way unharmed.

O my God!  I am heartily sorry ...

A man and his rabbit.

I was looking for photos of Newcomen Bridge in Dublin, when I came across a story about a homeless man and his rabbit.  It's an old story by now, although I only discovered it yesterday.

Meet John Byrne, The Homeless Man Ready To Die Saving His Pet

John Byrne has beeen living on the streets of Dublin since the age of 14. He is one of approximately 5,000 homeless people in Ireland at the moment, and for John, home isn’t measured in square feet or granite countertops. Instead home takes the shape of a small brown rabbit and a Jack Russell Terrier who show him what it means to be a family.

One July morning, John was begging on the O’Connell Bridge when 18-year-old Gary Kearney took him by surprise. Kearney grabbed Barney right out of John’s arms and hurled him over the bridge and into the river below.

Breathless and in shock, John looked over the side of the bridge with dread. He was expecting the worst but was relieved to see that Barney had not died on impact. The bunny was swimming in circles in the water below. Without hesitation, John joined him in the River Liffey.

Around 200 people watched as John struggled to save Barney from being swept away. Read more here.

I wanted to do a post refuting something another blogger wrote, but it seemed to me it would be like taking her pet rabbit from her arms and throwing it in the river.

It's better to lose and leave to others their own opinion ...

MY CHILD, do not be curious. Do not trouble yourself with idle cares. What matters this or that to you? Follow Me. What is it to you if a man is such and such, if another does or says this or that? You will not have to answer for others, but you will have to give an account of yourself. Why, then, do you meddle in their affairs? - Imitation Bk III, Ch. 24

One of the neighborhood child molesters died last week ...

The house where I lived was torn down (foreground) ...

the back of the house in the background was where

the 'love shack' was.

Gumdrop... RIP

Last evening, for some odd reason, I looked up the local obituaries online.  I used to get the newspaper and that was pretty much the only feature I read. I cancelled the newspaper, because I get my news online, and eventually lost interest in the obits.  So it was kind of out of the blue that I decided to read the obituaries last night, only to discover that one of the more well known neighborhood fruitcakes died last week.  I can't use his name because I'm not sure how public his reputation was, he was 76 years old when he died in a nursing facility.  I'll call him Gumdrop - a name the neighborhood girls gave to him.

He never molested me - I think he was more interested in girls.  He was creepy looking, skinny, badly dressed, unfortunate facial features, big eyes, weak chin, a leer rather than a smile, premature balding, and a little hunched over.  I specifically recall seeing him once on the playground when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, and he was selling Catholic religious medals.  He had a salesman's case and everything.  I was so excited and ran over to look at the medals.  My sister ran over, pulled me away and told me never to go near him.  (I have a feeling he was after my sister and maybe used me to bait her.)  Much later, in middle school and in a new neighborhood, my new friends all knew about him too.

Gumdrop was one of many molesters on the East side of St. Paul.  One heard stories of men pulling over to expose themselves to girls, invite them into the car to pet his puppy, and so on.  We knew some girls were molested, but no one ever seemed to report it.  Some of the boys occasionally hitchhiked from one end of town to the other, and bragged about the blow-jobs.  They weren't gay either - several were the tough-hood types, the ones the more slutty-girls often chased.

Everyone knew who the fruitcakes were, and parents warned kids to stay away from them.  Some were 'queers' others were simply referred to as 'fruity'.  My parents warned me and my brother and sister to stay away from this or that creepy guy.  Why?  As my dad once said, 'he's a g-d d-n fruit, that's why!'

It seems incomprehensible to modern ears that the police weren't always called, or suspicious fruitcakes weren't at least taken in for questioning.  I don't know why that was.  No one mentioned these things except to warn.  It may explain why we today accuse the Church of cover up when it came to fruitcake priests.  Yet that is how things were back then.  That was in the day when it was still shameful for unmarried girls to get pregnant, and when they did - they were mysteriously sent away - to have the baby or do something about it - only to return as if nothing happened.  Another interesting note is that girls were said to have gotten themselves pregnant:  "She went and got herself pregnant."  People today would never accept such language.  Imagine a girl being responsible for an unwanted pregnancy?  Or an abortion?

Anyway - so all of these memories came flooding back last night.  I prayed for Gumdrop and the others.  But it didn't get rid of the haunted feelings, the flood of memories.  I still couldn't go to sleep.

I once looked up another neighborhood molester - the creepy guy next door, whom my parents actually befriended afterwards!  I know!  This guy now lives at the same exact address my family did when we first moved to St. Paul.  It was a different neighborhood, and it was there that I was first molested by another neighbor - and now, that other perpetrator lives there.  That just seems so strangely ironic to me.

Laying awake, I went through all of those mental archives, spilled out like files all over the room, and I spent the entire sleepless night trying to put them all back in order, noting things I hadn't paid much attention to before, praying.  I counted almost half a dozen pervs in my one neighborhood - the last neighborhood I lived with my parents - before I ran away.  Gumdrop never lived there, he just wandered through - roaming the territory.  As for resident-pervs, there was one guy who had a corner store - a lot of guys hung out there - not many knew he was gay.  Then there was the florist - as well as a counselor at the community center - few knew they were gay.  Then of course, the guy(s) next door.  One of the guys just demonstrated masturbation for the boys.  Another exposed himself in the 'picture window' - to women passers-by.  The most well known perv had a 'love shack' shed which he used as an art studio - he also supplied booze and cigarettes, and of course, fellatio.

Overall, last night was a very creepy night.

I have nothing edifying or spiritual to say about it.

Song for this post here.