A Faithful Rebel

Ron Paul Plans Mass Rally During Republican Convention- For the Constitution and Taking Back our Government

2008-07-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE Ron Paul. He is one of the few honest men in politics today. We need more like him (just a little less libertarian please). Here is the letter that I got from him today, announcing a "Rally for the Republic", to take back our government from the special interests before it is too late. The event coincides with the Republican National Convention, and it hopefully will send a clear and compelling message to John McCain and his social club Republican party that they cannot count on conservative support unless they stand firm for conservative principles. The response has been so great that Ron had to move the event to the Target Arena, the largest arena in Minneapolis!

Please do everything you can to attend and take a stand against our growing federal government. A Faithful Rebel will do everything in his power to be able to attend.

Note: I do not agree with Ron Paul on every issue. I especially do not think that an immediate withdrawal from Iraq is a good idea or that it is even moral to do so after the mess that we've created. But I do think that Ron Paul is an honest man and will do everything he can to try to clean up politics and take back the government FOR THE PEOPLE.

Here is Ron Paul's letter:

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

If they expected us to retire quietly from the scene, the political elite are in for a surprise.

Today I am making some very big announcements.

First, from August 31 to September 2 in Minneapolis, we will host a handful of events that will shake the political establishment. Everything will culminate on Tuesday with the official launch of the Campaign for Liberty at the Rally for the Republic.

The Campaign for Liberty will be the largest organization for peace, freedom, the Constitution, and sound money in American history. It will launch in grand fashion with lots of special guests and - if the early television and print inquiries we've received are any indication - plenty of media attention.

I would like to personally invite you and your family to join me and thousands of others in Minneapolis for these events and send a message to the Republican Party.

Tickets will go on sale for the Rally for the Republic this Friday, July 25 @ 10AM CST. We want this to be an unforgettable day, so we are holding a ticket bomb all day Friday in the tradition of our famous money bombs. How many seats can we sell on the first day?

In patriotic fashion all tickets will cost $17.76, so you can afford to bring the whole family.

This leads me to the second big announcement. After measuring the excitement and enthusiasm, we decided that the Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota was just too small to hold you. Therefore, we are making a significant upgrade. The Rally for the Republic will now take place at the Target Center, the largest arena in Minneapolis!

This promises to be the most spirited and provocative political event of the year! We held some very large rallies during the presidential campaign, but I have never attempted anything of this scale before. Its success rests entirely in your hands.

Later this week I will announce two internationally renowned musicians as headliners for the Rally for the Republic. We'll also be joined by rock star Aimee Allen, NBC's Tucker Carlson, Barry Goldwater Jr., Gov. Gary Johnson, conservative stalwart Grover Norquist, former Reagan deputy Attorney General Bruce Fein, presidential historian Doug Wead, MTV's Adam Curry, musician Mark Scibilia, and Frank Sinatra impersonator Rick Ellis. Other special guests will be announced soon.

My staff has been working overtime to provide you with three full days of entertainment. Please visit the schedule page of the website and read all about upcoming events. We also have a lodging page to help you find accommodations in Minneapolis.

Together we are taking back our government and restoring the republic. Please join me in Minneapolis to kickoff the Campaign for Liberty and support our Revolution. Can I count on you to be there?

In Liberty,

P.S. I know that you have done so much already, but with both major party nominees threatening to lead us into bankruptcy at home and more wars abroad, the success of the Rally for the Republic and the launch of the Campaign for Liberty is crucial. Please do what you can to be in Minneapolis August 31 - September 2 and send a loud and clear message of freedom, peace, and prosperity.

University of Minnesota Professor Again Boasts That He will Destroy Eucharistic Host and Desecrate Koran

2008-07-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Yep, this guy is deranged. And I know that you may be thinking, as I am, "why waste more space on your blog writing about such a bigot?" The result that we are seeking is to have the professor removed from his post, so that he can no longer use a professorship as a pulpit to attack Christianity.

As I commented upon yesterday, University of Minnesota associate professor Paul Z. Myers continues his threats to destroy a Eucharistic Host that he obtained after posting an invitation on his blog for people to send him a Host through the mail.

The information that I had yesterday said that Dr. Myers (a true abuse of the word "doctor", which comes from the Latin for "teacher") posted this blog post on the University of Minnesota's server. That actually is incorrect. The blog is hosted by an independent server at scienceblogs.com, and Mr. Myers instead used the University of Minnesota server to link to and publicize his blog, without any standard warning that the "views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Minnesota" bla bla bla. Either way, the professor used his position and his ability to publicize it on the U. of M. server to obtain Catholic hosts for the purpose of desecrating them.

There is a strong effort underway to have him strongly disciplined by the University of Minnesota, even fired, for this despicably hateful tirade. One would think that this is enough to convince Mr. Myers to play it quiet for awhile, and maybe one might think that he may show some sign of regret for deeply wounding so many people; however, it's clear from another post that he has no such feelings. If one looks on his blog, they will see another post, again mocking the Blessed Sacrament, saying that the Host holds so little importance for him that he will go make a sandwich and then maybe, "take a moment to casually demolish a sacred cow." He now also says that he has received copies of the Koran, which he will also desecrate (On this one, he may find Muslims less forgiving than Christians, so I warn him to be careful).

Again, please write, call, fax, email the University of Minnesota and the Board of Regents and tell them that this hateful monster should not be allowed to continue in his post as associate professor. He is clearly using this post as a stepping stone and a forum for corrupting youth and attacking Christianity in the most vile way imaginable. The contact information for the University of Minnesota was posted yesterday on this blog.

Here is his latest post on the subject:

Good grief, but this is tedious. I'm still getting piles of email every day from people 1) begging me not to abuse a cracker because it is so sacred to them, piles of email telling me to 2) abuse a book because it is so sacred to Muslims (I've even been sent two copies of the Koran!), and of course, the 3) bizarre complaint that I'm a coward, afraid to commit sacrilege. You can all stop now. 1) Your personal sense of the sacred in a piece of bread dough is absurd to me and imposes on me no sense of obligation. 2) Since I now own one entirely superfluous copy of the Koran, it will meet the very same fate as the crackers. Thanks to all who have demanded that I treat that silly book with disrespect, I'll have to treat both equally. 3) I have not rushed to be rude to a cracker because, well, it's there, it's ridiculous, and it's not very important. I've been traveling, and I've come home to writing deadlines, and those get first priority. Heck, going into the kitchen right now and fixing myself a sandwich for lunch has higher priority. After I've cleared the deck of my work this week, then I might take a moment to casually demolish a sacred cow.

Now enough. You can all stop dunning me. Be patient, godless ones, and surrender to despair, O Ye Believers. And if this turns into another thousand comment thread, I shall be very, very cranky.

Dr. Paul Zachary Myers, Mentally Ill University of Minnesota Professor, Threatens to Publicly Desecrate Blessed Sacrament

2008-07-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

As a blogger, I see lots of disgusting, sick, perverted things; some of them I report on and some of them I just ignore. Well folks, this one takes the cake. This is the most mean spirited, sickening, childish grab at attention that I have ever seen. Ignoring the faith of a billion people on this planet and living in his smug and almost certainly mentally ill, self-delusional world, a University of Minnesota Associate Biology Professor is actively seeking people to send him the Most Blessed Sacrament so that he can broadcast a desecration of the Eucharist on the internet. And not only this, but Prof. Myers now says that he has actually obtained the Blessed Sacrament.

Mr. Myers wrote on his science blog, which is hosted on University of Minnesota servers, the following:

“Can anyone out there score me some consecrated communion wafers? . . . If any of you would be willing to do what it takes to get me some, or even one, and mail it to me, I’ll show you sacrilege, gladly, and with much fanfare. I won’t be tempted to hold it hostage … but will instead treat it with profound disrespect and heinous cracker abuse, all photographed and presented here on the http://www.morris.umn.edu/index.php."

Note: The link to Morris's page was taken off of the faculty page. However, it can still be viewed from internet archives: http://tinyurl.com/6q8fah

But will this be labeled a hate crime? Of course not. He only hates Christians.

Nevertheless, no matter how much the smug and apparently insane Professor Myers fights against the Catholic Church, the more he helps it. Isn't it ironic? It's people like him who will eventually be responsible for waking up the larger Church on the dangers of receiving Communion on the hand. But this doesn't relieve him of his grave guilt. He ought to be disciplined, even fired, immediately by the University of Minnesota.

Check out the story and let's let the University of Minnesota hear from us. They should take immediate disciplinary action against this hateful monster. Anyone deranged enough to do something like this just for kicks, is he to be trusted around young people?

Here is contact information for important members of the University of Minnesota administration (NOTE: Area code is 612 unless otherwise noted) :

Office of the President, Robert H. Bruininks
Phone: (612) 626-1616
Fax: 625-3875 Email: bruin001@umn.edu

Asst to Pres—Sharon Olson 624-1065
Exec Sec (calendar)—Gail Eckel 625-1871
Exec Asst—Laura Wegscheid 624-4521
Prin Sec—Everett Flynn 624-8213
Special Asst to Pres—Alfred Sullivan 626-3838
Asst to Susan Hagstrum—Jill Christianson 626-8187
Eastcliff—Robert Bantle 627-6801
Dana Zniewski 627-6800
VP & Chief of Staff—Kathryn F Brown
Exec Sec—Cheryl Crosby 624-1345
Assoc to VP & Chief of Staff—Lynn Holleran 626-5093
Exec Asst—C J Johnson 624-0549
Assoc to VP & Chief of Staff—Patricia Franklin 624-5737
Assoc to VP & Chief of Staff—Kathryn Stuckert 625-8844
Dir of Communic—Jim Thorp 624-8942
Editor—Eve Wolf 624-5720
Grad Stu Resrch Asst—Brianne Keeney 626-5738

Board of Regents

Honorable Patricia S Simmons (chair)
600 McNamara Alumni Ctr
200 Oak Street SE
Minneapolis 55455

Honorable Clyde E Allen, Jr (vice chair)
318 44th Avenue S
Moorhead 56560

Honorable Anthony R Baraga
Box 26
Side Lake 55781

Honorable Dallas Bohnsack
5550 Bohnsack Way
New Prague 56071

Honorable Maureen Cisneros
1062 Ottawa Avenue
W St Paul 55118

Honorable Linda Cohen
2402 Oakland Road
Minnetonka 55305

Honorable John Frobenius
3008 Dunbar Road
St Cloud 56301

Honorable Venora Hung
2445 Manchester Drive
Golden Valley 55422

Honorable Steven D Hunter
175 Aurora Avenue
St Paul 55103

Honorable Dean Johnson
3228 Eagle Ridge Drive W
Willmar 56201

Honorable David M Larson
Cargill Inc
15615 McGinty Road W
Wayzata 55391

Honorable David R Metzen
273 Salem Church Road
Sunfish Lake 55118

Finally, Dr. Myers himself may be reached at the following:

Phone: (320) 589-6343
E-mail: myersp@morris.umn.edu

(Note: Calling names and launching ad hominem attacks won't make any enemy a friend. Remember the Gentle Jesus, whom Dr. Myers holds in such low regard, before you write to Dr. Myers. If you're so angry that you can't write without verbally abusing him, then please abstain from it. Yes, he should be disciplined by the school, even fired, but that doesn't mean that we should treat him in any way other than a great sinner in need of great public repentance.)

Truly as Christians we have a dual responsibility - one to be gentle and forgiving, and the other to protect against attacks on the Faith and desecration of what we hold dear. We will therefore not idly sit by while a public university's resources are used to attack us.

Anglican Communion Again Betrays Christ: Bishops' Answer, 'How about a game of cricket?'

2008-07-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Anglican "Bishop" Duleep de Chickera of Colombo gives the opening sermons at Lambeth, explaining why the Anglican Communion must be an "inclusive community."

In the Anglican Communion these days, truth really is stranger than fiction. The Lambeth Conference continues, and it is turning out to be as much of a mockery of the Gospel as many had anticipated.

In truly British style, a liberal "bishop" from Sri Lanka offered a suggestion to his fellow "bishops" at the Lambeth Conference that they should work out their problems over a game of cricket.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Christian world, at least those serious about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, warned the Anglican Communion that further betrayal of the Gospel would result in an even greater isolation of the Anglican Communion from the rest of the Christian world:

From Rome, the Cardinal Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone wrote: "New issues that have arisen in our relationship pose a further and grave challenge to the hope for full and visible unity that has been the long-standing goal of our joint ecumenical endeavour."

Incompatible with the Gospel: Episcopal "Bishop" Gene Robinson, actively homosexual, once said of his impending "civil union" with his gay partner that he had, "always dreamed of being a June bride."

The Orthodox Church's Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said: "Living as we do in an age of anxiety, at a time of rapid change and sharp controversy, it is often difficult for us as bishops to exercise our diakonia in an unifying way. With all our heart we as Orthodox pray that the present Lambeth Conference will prove to be a council of reconciliation and unity, an occasion for speaking the truth in sincerity and without compromise, yet an occasion for speaking the truth in love."

Patriach Alexy of Moscow said: "It seems to me that members of the conference have a very serious task: they have to choose between the traditional, biblical norms of morality and tendencies which consider sin and general permissiveness as manifestations of love and tolerance. That is why there is laid on members of the conference such a great, historic responsibility.

"The decisions you will take today are of immense importance for the whole Christian world, for on them, in many ways, depends the future of the relations of many Christian churches and communities within the Anglican Communion."

Meanwhile, speaking of truth being stranger than fiction, check out this story of liberal Episcopal "Bishop" John Chane who actually had the nerve to call conservative Anglican bishops "demonic." So much for "inclusiveness", but then again, isn't that the way liberals always behave? They don't care about inclusiveness; what they really care about is shoving an agenda down peoples' throats, whether they like it or not. If you like it, you're included. If you don't, you're "demonic."

By the way, to the "demonic" conservatives in the Anglican Church: What you sew, that also shall you reap. The false doctrine of sola scriptura, taken to its logical conclusion, leads to this. Separation from the living authority of the Catholic Church leads to this, the substitution of private conscience for Revelation and the authority of those appointed by Jesus Christ to govern His true Church until He returns. Will you any longer be fooled by the deceptive "via media" of the Anglican Communion, which has now become a "via extrema" instead? There is no via media in Christianity.

"Scio opera tua quia neque frigidus es neque calidus utinam frigidus esses aut calidus sed quia tepidus es et nec frigidus nec calidus incipiam te evomere ex ore meo."

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Darth Vader Attends the Lambeth Conference - Bishops Discuss Diversity and Inclusiveness of 'Sith' Bishops

2008-07-21T11:33:00.001-07:00

I am strongly of the opinion that a good dose of mockery and consternation ought to be the order of the day for the Anglican Communion and the laughable Lambeth Conference, which effectively is a conference on how to betray the Gospel of Jesus Christ while creating the least possible fallout. Just such a dose of mockery is served in ample portion at the Blog Jerusalem.

Thanks to my reader Wilde Mann for the tip.

Meanwhile in Sydney....

2008-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

.... the clergy can barely conceal their great excitement at the Pope's visit.

Did St. John Bosco Foresee Pope Benedict?

2008-07-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

As a number of bloggers have already pointed out, there is a remarkable similarity between a dream that St. John Bosco had in 1832 of a Pope straining to steer his ship between two great pillars and the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to World Youth Day in Sydney. Many are commenting upon this, and the images are rather striking. Following is the explanation by St. John Bosco himself of this dream, along with my commentary in bold:

Theflagship commander - the Roman Pontiff- standing at the helm, strains every muscle to steer his ship between the two columns, from whose summits hang many anchors and strong hooks linked to chains. The entire enemy fleet closes in to intercept and sink the flagship at all costs. They bombard it with everything they have: books and pamphlets, incendiary bombs, firearms, cannons. The battle rages ever more furious. Beaked prows ram the flagship again and again, but to no avail, as, unscathed and undaunted, it keeps on it course. At times, a formidable ram splinters a gaping hole in its hull, but immediately, a breeze from the two columns instantly seals the gash.
[I am by no means saying that this is anything more than a dream. It may not have any prophetic meaning. However, it certainly fits the situation in the Church and fits rather well with the situation as the Holy Father visits world youth day in the troubled year of 2008. Two pillars, with the Holy Father steering between these and straining to do so... these pillars at first seem to be an obstacle. The Holy Father must carefully guard against striking them. This could have a number of interpretations, but as St. Augustine says of Scripture and which could be applied here for different reasons, the interpretation that tends to the building up of faith and of charity ought to be accepted. These pillars are Jesus and Mary, the great protectors of the Church on earth, the militant Church against which the world rages and is unable to destroy. The Holy Father must keep the Church's course straight without slamming into the pillars, that is, live in the world and not be of the world. The Holy Father stands in peril... assaulted from all sides, but he dare not veer from the doctrine of Jesus Christ and the honor due to Him and his Blessed Mother. The safe course is to avoid striking the great pillar, much as Christ's words say, "They who fall upon this stone shall be ground to powder." The Roman Pontiff is given great aid and guidance to help him safely steer the Bark of Peter , the Catholic Church, to its destiny. The Holy Father must guide a Church dangerously close to striking against the great pillars of Jesus and Mary. Yet the Successor of Peter, with all of his might strained and with the aid of God, steers it clear of this disaster and shipwreck of Faith.
It is further remarkable to notice the means of assault against the Pope. He is not only physically assaulted. He is assaulted by all the means of the media and communications industry. How can this but remind us of the negative press coverage of the Pope's visit, centering not upon the joy of the occasion, but the horrible actions of disobedience priests and their crimes against children? And we are also reminded of the vile protesters who threw condoms at the Catholic attendees of WYD and shouted slanders at Peter's Successor on loud speakers, all with the protection of Australian law.]
"Meanwhile, enemy cannons blow up; firearms and beaks fall to pieces; ships crack up and sink to the bottom. In blind fury, the enemy takes to hand-to-hand combat, cursing and blaspheming. Suddenly the Pope falls, seriously wounded. He is instantly helped up, but struck a second time, dies. A shout of victory rises from the enemy, and wild rejoicing seeps their ships. But no sooner is the Pope dead than another takes his place. The captains of the auxiliary ships elected him so quickly that the news of the Pope's death coincides with that of his successor's election. The enemy's self-assurance wanes.
[May our Holy Father live to be 100 years. Ad Multos Annos! And yet the icy fingers of death lay hold even of the ruler of Kings and Princes, the spiritual guide of the World, the Pope. He will certainly die and will meet his heavenly reward. No doubt when this sad day comes, if the coming of the Lord does not precede it, many liberals will even dare to cheer the death of this great Pontiff, who has done nothing but seek peace and unity in the Church and fidelity to Christ. They will cheer and the news media will speculate again on the Church's "election process", wondering, as ones without faith often do, whether the Church is in its last hours and whether the next Pope will overturn everything done by his predecessor. Perhaps this prophecy signals a final blow to the godless resistance in the Church as one great Pope passes and another great Pope takes the helm to continue his work.]
"Breaking through all resistance, the new Pope steers his ship safely between the two columns; first, to the one surmounted by the Host, and then the other, topped by the statue of the Virgin. At this point, something unexpected happens. The enemy ships panic and disperse, colliding with and scuttling each other.
"Some auxiliary ships, which had gallantly fought alongside their flagship, are the first to tie up at the two columns. Many others, which had fearfully kept far away from the fight, stand still, cautiously waiting until the wrecked enemy ships vanish under the waves. Then they too head for the two columns, tie up at the swinging hooks and ride safe and tranquil beside their flagship. A great calm now covers the sea."
[The ships that stayed out of the fight on account of cowardice, how great must be their shame when Peter's Humble Fishing Boat overturns the great armies arrayed against it! What honor there is to stand and fight with the Church, with the Vicar of Christ upon earth. Dare we wait until that time to realize it?
"something unexpected happens. The enemy ships panic and disperse, colliding with and scuttling each other." The triumph of our Lady's Immaculate Heart and the era of peace, when "A great calm now covers the sea." This prophecy occurred 55 years before the vision of Our Lady of Fatima also foretold an era of peace and a great triumph, after the conversion of Russia. Are the "Many others, which had fearfully kept far away from the fight," the Russians and the Orthodox? This would make sense that upon reunification that, "they too head for the two columns, tie up at the swinging hooks and ride safe and tranquil beside their flagship." What is the flagship except the Mother and Mistress of Churches, the Church of Rome? And we must give thanks and pray for the success of the Holy Father's efforts for reunification of the Eastern and Western Churches. Such a reunion and a conversion of heart would no doubt usher in a spiritual renewal in the entire Church, perhaps enough to send the enemy ships scattering in defeat.]

News Roundup for Friday July 18

2008-07-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Pictured: His Holiness arrives to watch the Stations of the Cross on a screen at St. Mary's Cathedral Crypt, in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 18, 2008. (AP Photo)

Australian Newspaper: Pope to Revive Traditional Practices at WYD Mass, Including Communion on the Tongue

Faithful and Protestors Rally Before Papal Mass (Yes, some people are so far gone that they will protest at a Mass. God help them.)

Bush Attends Funeral Mass for a top White House Former Advisor

The Papal Address at Australian Ecumenical Meeting: Ecumenism at a 'Critical Juncture'; Shared Communion the Ultimate Goal of Ecumenism

Renegade Russian Bishop Declares Russian Patriarch a 'Heretic'

American Archbishop Praises Growth of Anglican Use Liturgy

Catholic News Roundup for Thursday July 17

2008-07-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Pictured: Australian Aborigines give the traditional welcome to Pope Benedict XVI at WYD 2008 in Sydney.

Herald Sun in Australia: "Pope Benedict Knows Best" - A lovely description of how the tired Pope lifted the spirits of Sydney.

Top Vatican Official to Visit Russia Soon

The Wired Pope: Benedict Uses SMS Text Messages to Reach out to Young People at WYD

In Mecca, a Muslim King Teaches Peace

Vatican City Suffering from U.S. Economic Downturn

Iraqi Prime Minister to Visit the Pope

California Religions Split on Same Sex Unions (Catholic Church, as usual, stands strongly against such nonsense)

Russia Solemnly Honors its Royal Family Ninety Years After Their Brutal Murder

2008-07-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Russia Solemnly Marks the 90th Anniversary of the death of Czar Nicholas II and the Royal Family

A Faithful Rebel joins in solemn honor of the Russian Royal family, brutally murdered ninety years ago today by the Communists. With them died a crucial part of Russian identity and pride. May Russia quickly recover this pride and Christian identity. This day of painful memory comes at a time where the entire western world confronts the loss of its identity and the ongoing demolition of its Christian heritage. Thus let us move forward, Orthodox and Catholic together, to a day where we are all united in the one True Faith of Jesus Christ, when the Eastern and Western Churches live and breathe as one.

Requiescant in Pace. +In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.+

Holy Father Warns WYD Participants Against Sexual Exploitation and Moral Relativism

2008-07-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

The Bark of Peter: Pope Benedict XVI makes a grand entry via boat to the World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.

Here is an abbreviated version of a report from Vatican Information Service about the Pope's visit to Australia. In it, the Holy Father the VIS reports on a beautiful reflection given by the Holy Father, where he warns against sexual exploitation and moral relativism. His comments are clear, powerful, and inspirational.

TURNING OUR BACK ON CREATOR'S PLAN PROVOKES DISORDER

VATICAN CITY, 17 JUL 2008 (VIS) - At 2.35 p.m. Australian time today, the Holy Father travelled to Rose Bay Quay in Sydney where he was greeted by elders of Australia's Aboriginal peoples. During the ceremony, songs were sung in the local Aboriginal dialect and in other languages of the indigenous peoples of Oceania.

The Pope then boarded the ship "Sydney 2000" to cover the six nautical miles separating him from Bangaroo East Darling Harbour where he would be welcomed by thousands of young participants in World Youth Day. Benedict XVI, accompanied by Cardinals Tarcisio Bertone, George Pell and Stanislaw Rylko, stood at the prow of the vessel on the second deck, while the first and third decks were occupied by young people waving WYD flags.

A fleet of smaller boats, also carrying young people, accompanied the papal vessel to the quay at Bangaroo which, in tribute to the origins of the city, takes its name from the wife of a local Aborigine chief. On his arrival, the Pope was greeted by a group of young Australian Aborigines and a group of young people from the Pacific area, who sang indigenous songs and "Tu es Petrus".

In his address, the Pope thanked the Aboriginal elders who had welcomed him, asking them to transmit his "heartfelt greetings to your peoples". He went on: "I am deeply moved to stand on your land, knowing the suffering and injustices it has borne, but aware too of the healing and hope that are now at work, rightly bringing pride to all Australian citizens".

"Standing before me I see a vibrant image of the Universal Church. The variety of nations and cultures from which you hail shows that indeed Christ's Good News is for everyone; it has reached the ends of the earth. Yet I know too that a good number of you are still seeking a spiritual homeland. Some of you, most welcome among us, are not Catholic or Christian. Others of you perhaps hover at the edge of parish and Church life. To you I wish to offer encouragement: step forward into Christ's loving embrace; recognise the Church as your home. No one need remain on the outside, for from the day of Pentecost the Church has been one and universal".

Benedict XVI praised "the majestic splendour of Australia's natural beauty" which evokes "a profound sense of awe. It is as though one catches glimpses of the Genesis creation story: light and darkness, the sun and the moon, the waters, the earth, and living creatures; all of which are 'good' in God's eyes".

Yet "there are also scars which mark the surface of our earth, erosion, deforestation, the squandering of the world's mineral and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable consumption. .... And we discover that not only the natural but also the social environment - the habitat we fashion for ourselves - has its scars; wounds indicating that something is amiss; ... a poison which threatens to corrode what is good, reshape who we are, and distort the purpose for which we have been created. Examples abound, as you yourselves know. Among the more prevalent are alcohol and drug abuse, and the exaltation of violence and sexual degradation, often presented through television and the internet as entertainment.

"I ask myself", the Pope added, "could anyone standing face to face with people who actually do suffer violence and sexual exploitation 'explain' that these tragedies, portrayed in virtual form, are considered merely 'entertainment'? There is also something sinister which stems from the fact that freedom and tolerance are so often separated from truth. This is fuelled by the notion, widely held today, that there are no absolute truths to guide our lives. Relativism, by indiscriminately giving value to practically everything, has made 'experience' all-important".

"Life is not governed by chance; it is not random. Your very existence has been willed by God, blessed and given a purpose! Life is not just a succession of events or experiences. ... It is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this - in truth, in goodness, and in beauty - that we find happiness and joy. Do not be fooled by those who see you as just another consumer in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth. [POWERFUL. My how these young people need to hear this message! Thank you Holy Father. ]

"Christ offers more! Indeed He offers everything! Only He Who is the Truth can be the Way and hence also the Life". But "the task of witness is not easy. There are many today who claim that God should be left on the sidelines, and that religion and faith, while fine for individuals, should either be excluded from the public forum altogether or included only in the pursuit of limited pragmatic goals. This secularist vision seeks to explain human life and shape society with little or no reference to the Creator. It presents itself as neutral, impartial and inclusive of everyone. But in reality, like every ideology, secularism imposes a world-view. If God is irrelevant to public life, then society will be shaped in a godless image, and debate and policy concerning the public good will be driven more by consequences than by principles grounded in truth".

"Experience shows", said Pope Benedict, "that turning our back on the Creator's plan provokes a disorder which has inevitable repercussions on the rest of the created order. When God is eclipsed, our ability to recognise the natural order, purpose, and the 'good' begins to wane".

The Holy Father invited young people to be "alert to the signs of turning our back on the moral structure with which God has endowed humanity" and to "recognise that the innate dignity of every individual rests on his or her deepest identity - as image of the Creator - and therefore that human rights are universal, based on the natural law, and not something dependent upon negotiation or patronage, let alone compromise. And so we are led to reflect on what place the poor and the elderly, immigrants and the voiceless, have in our societies. How can it be that domestic violence torments so many mothers and children? How can it be that the most wondrous and sacred human space - the womb - has become a place of unutterable violence?"

"God's creation is one and it is good", Pope Benedict concluded. "The concerns for non-violence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity. They cannot, however, be understood apart from a profound reflection upon the innate dignity of every human life from conception to natural death: a dignity conferred by God Himself and thus inviolable.

"Our world has grown weary of greed, exploitation and division, of the tedium of false idols and piecemeal responses, and the pain of false promises. Our hearts and minds are yearning for a vision of life where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. This is the work of the Holy Spirit! This is the hope held out by the Gospel of Jesus Christ". [Beautiful. Inspirational. Powerful. The Holy Father's statments here are excellent. ]

Following the ceremony, the Holy Father travelled by popemobile to Cathedral House, where he spent the night. Along his route he was greeted by many people gathered around Sydney Opera House, symbol of the city and, since 2007, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

PV-AUSTRALIA/WELCOME/SYDNEY VIS 080717 (1270)

Pope Benedict Wears a Police Cap

2008-07-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

Laying down the law: His Holiness wears a police cap during his meeting with a former Australian Police officer at the Kenthurst Study Center in Sydney, Wednesday, July 16, 2008. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

All joking aside, what is it with the recent papal desire to wear so many (often funny) hats? Yeah, there's no big harm done, but it does seem beneath the dignity of the office.

But there is one other hat that I would like to see His Holiness wear. I think that it would be more his style:

“Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns and know that thou art Father of princes and kings, Ruler of the world, Vicar of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who possesses honour and glory from century to century. Amen.” - Traditional Papal Coronation

London Telegraph: Pope Clears the Way for Mass Anglican Conversions

2008-07-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

The Pope has opened his arms to "traditionalist" Anglican communities, to bring them into the Catholic Church.

This is from Damian Thompson's excellent blog at the London Telegraph today. It is wonderful news indeed! Deo Gratias (and thanks to the Pope too!)

Ex-Anglican communities to become Catholic, Rome confirms
Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 07:08 PM GMT [General]

The Catholic Church will expand its provision of "Anglican Use" parishes in the United States in order to allow whole communities of traditionalist Anglicans into the Roman fold, a senior Catholic archbishop has announced.

The Most Rev John J Myers, Archbishop of Newark and Ecclesiastical Delegate for the Pastoral Provision, told a conference of ex-Anglicans on Friday that "we are working on expanding the mandate of the Pastoral Provision [of Catholic parishes using Anglican-inspired services] to include those clergy and faithful of 'continuing Anglican communities'.

"We are striving to increase awareness of our apostolate to Anglican Christians who desire to be reconciled with the Holy See. We have experienced the wonder of several Episcopal bishops entering into full communion with the Catholic Church and we continue to receive requests from priests and laity about the Pastoral Provision."

This is big news, and makes nonsense of the claim that Pope Benedict wants to dissuade Anglo-Catholics from converting. The obvious interpretation of the Archbishop's words is that the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), a "continuing church" which has hundreds of thousands of members worldwide (though few in the UK), will eventually be given its own Catholic parishes which use a Eucharistic Prayer incorporating Cranmerian language.

This possibility has existed since the 1970s, but Archbishop Myers indicates that it is only now - under a sympathetic Pope, and during the break-up of the Anglican Communion - that the Pastoral Provision is entering a new dimension.

If Rome is expanding its network of ex-Anglican parishes in America, then we can rest assured that it is sympathetic to the notion of group conversion in England. The Vatican is well aware that such a process is likely to be complicated and patchy; no one is naive enough to assume that entire parishes will "bring their buildings with them".

But the plan to found a priestly Fellowship of St Gregory the Great for ex-Anglican clergy and members of their flock seems eminently feasible, given imagination on the part of both sides - and the courage to defy the Tabletistas who would try to sabotage the scheme.

Hat tip to Perpetua for drawing my attention to Archbishop Myers's announcement, a truly remarkable development.

A St. Olaf Parishioner Speaks Out

2008-07-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

I got a very interesting and obviously heartfelt comment today from a parishioner at St. Olaf's parish in Minneapolis, where the Anglican "priestess" was scheduled later this month to lead a new-age "centering prayer." The event was canceled when Archbishop Niestedt wisely intervened. The comment struck me because it states well the situation in so many parishes today, where a committed and very vocal group of lay people, with an agenda other than advancing in holiness and following the teachings of the Church, drives the parish along a false path. Often, alas, the parish priests, rather than being shepherds, act as sheep as they are driven along with these latest modern "movements" and untested and unsanctioned practices (as well as the more blatant and openly scandalous things as well).

My thanks to the parishioner for speaking out. I hope to hear from more people across the country as to the situation in their parishes. I'll be happy to analyze them and publish the information (Please be charitable. I won't name priests by name unless they are repeat offenders and commit public scandal or heresy.)

Here is the comment from the parishioner from St. Olaf in Minneapolis:

Parishoner S.O. said...

I am a parishoner at St. Olaf's, and was surprised when I found out about the event. It sounded new-age, and so I assumed one of the old leftist social ministries nuns/laywomen brought it into being.

Our pastor is a younger fellow, and is quite loyal to the Church, though seems easily persuaded by the modernist social justice types that still have hegemony in the parish governance. The pastor was far more explictly orthodox when he first arrived, but has "mellowed" in his tenure. [Reverend Father, have courage. The Lord is with you when you defend the teachings of Holy Mother Church. Shepherds lead the sheep. That is the way it is meant to be, and any situation where the laity try to run the show is misguided and dangerous.]

I was told a group of people did request a Tridentine Mass at St. Olaf's but were told "there is not a stable enough group," by the pastor and it was dropped. [My comment: this is typical. Buddhist/Hindu influenced gnostic prayers are acceptable in many places, but not the Catholic Faith as it was handed down and received by the fathers and martyrs. Such an attitude is unbelievable and contradictory to every proper sense of Faith.]

It is a parish that is not thriving, but is also not significantly dimishing. It is more a commuter parish, and does not seem to have a solid base, thus making it open to oppotunists. [In my experience, people will travel long distances for the truth. As the Lord said, the true sheep know His Voice. He is the Good Shepherd, and His message is not easy. It does not mix error with truth. It calls us to a life of radical holiness and detachment from the ways of the world and to fidelity to the Church. Parishes that do not promote this, regardless of their numbers, will rot from the inside out.]

Unfortunately the parish has the old Gather "inclusive" hymnal, OCP banners (which are hideous, really), decentered tabernacle, feminist language in services, no kneelers or raised altar in the ajoining chapel, "contemporary" choirs that do not allow any contemplative periods at the Sunday liturgies, and statuary is removed to side cubbies. [The church is a sacred space, the gateway to Heaven. It ought to be so designed and furnished as to lift up the mind and heart to God. Many parish committees and planning people haven't received the memo, but such things are losing their temporary appeal. They were fads that came in in the 1960s and 70s and are steadily dying. ]

Though the parish does have adoration now, a daily rosary, daily confession, and an extremely well-versed assistant pastor whose homilies are worthy of a theology department faculty member. [A bright spot of hope - adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a pastor who is well versed in the Church's teachings. There are many opportunities for grace apparently, and I hope that they will be received in the spirit of authentic Catholicism, united with the universal Church throughout the ages, as the Church intends.]

I am very glad this event was moved, it seems this new Archbishop is no joke. The local media, Catholic liberals, and gay-rights groups loathe him so he must be doing something right! [Amen to that.]

Forgive any histronics but on behalf of the conservative lay faithful at St. Olaf's I apologize for being unknowingly complicit in allowing a speaker such as the aformentioned to almost have had a stage at our holy church. St. Olaf pray for us. [St. Olaf, pray for us all.]

San Francisco Official Condemnation of the Catholic Church to be Challenged in Court

2008-07-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

Pictured: A parade in San Francisco. This is one of the tamest images that I could find. Naked or nearly naked people can run around the streets of SF (usually with children all around in the crowded streets of SF) with an official parade permit from the city and that's okay, but the Catholic Church is "ignorant" and to be condemned? How backward can you be?

There is a very nice reflection on this at the very nice blog Etheldreda's Place, and I urge you to check it out, along with the rest of her blog.

Anyway, here is the story:

In a move that further alienates San Francisco from even the lax moral norms of the rest of the country (and for that matter, most of the entire world), the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors two years ago passed a resolution officially condemning the Roman Catholic Church as a hate organization.

No, you aren't reading the Onion. This isn't a parody. This is real. It is hard to believe that grown men and women would result to such childishness, but then again, we've come to expect that from San Francisco, the home of every variety of weirdness and immorality.

However, now the city is being taken to court, and it's about time. And this requires a little legal explanation, which I will keep simple:

Cities are granted their legal status by the state in which they are located. When the various States joined the Constitutional compact, they agreed to the terms of the U.S. Constitution on behalf of all of their citizens. No city therefore can be exempt from the Constitution. This is especially true after the fourteenth amendment stated (in part):

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

This has often been interpreted by the Supreme Court, especially by liberals, as applying the federal guarantees, even those invented by the courts (such as abortion), to the States. Thus state laws in violation of these federal guarantees (the real and imaginary ones) have been declared unconstitutional.

Of course, an official condemnation of a religion, if passed by Congress, would be declared unconstitutional as violating the terms of the first amendment. And of course, given the Court's use of the fourteenth amendment, San Fransisco's ridiculous and embarrassing (for them) resolution is also clearly illegal, and they almost certainly knew this (since it's so obvious) and just didn't care. If it were possible, they ought to every one be fined for such a ridiculous abuse of their offices.

But what does San Francisco care about the law? What do they care about the logic of what they are saying (or rather the illogic)? They have an agenda to push, and if anyone gets in the way, even the Christian Church itself, they will hatefully slander it to advance their SICK agenda.

And it isn't hard to see that such an attitude is spreading. The West continues its moral decline as Christianity goes more and more on the defense. In not too many years hence we could actually see the Bible ruled as hate literature. We could see Christianity ruled as hate doctrine and officially outlawed. (these things are already a reality in certain places.) In such an event, we would have no choice but to return to the catacombs and endure another persecution.

The only way to stop it is prayer. Are we praying enough and purifying ourselves enough? Are we sharing the reasons for our faith enough and showing enough Christian kindness? Do we care enough to stop it?

The Mystery of the Papal Kitty

2008-07-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Pictured: A gray tabby kitten, much like the mysterious kitten that the Pope may (or may not) have been given by Australians to keep him company. Or could this be the very same kitten? The mystery continues...

It must be a pretty news-starved day. This is one of the headlines in today's International Herald Tribune:

The mystery surrounding whether Australians gave the pope a kitten for company

Of course there are many more pressing matters that the Tribune could have covered, but we are always happy to get a glimpse into the life of our Pope. It was reported yesterday in the Australian press (and quickly picked up in news outlets around the world) that the Pope, who is known to be fond of stray cats, had been given a young gray tabby kitten to keep him company while he is away from the Vatican. However, now, this reported glimpse into the Pope's private life turns out to be not quite so certain.

But the Tribune, and apparently newspapers around the globe, today are diligently seeking to find out the truth behind this newest of Papal mysteries.

The story begins:

For Pope Benedict XVI, the cat is not quite out of the bag. [Journalism at its best. How very clever. Bravo.]
Organizers of the Catholic youth festival in Sydney say they borrowed a gray cat named Bella to help the feline-loving pontiff pass the time at his retreat in Australia's bush country, according to front-page stories in Australian newspapers Tuesday.

Of course there's nothing wrong with the Supreme Pontiff enjoying a little feline company; however, as usual with anything concerning the Pope, the Vatican spokesman Fr. Lombardi today promptly denied the report, and we may never know the truth behind this mystery.

Hello to My Readers

2008-07-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would take just a moment to say hello and God bless you to all of my readers, who within the past 24 hours have come from 1238 cities in 46 countries on five continents, including readers within the past hour from these cities (only a partial listing of the last 50, in no particular order, except that the Vatican visits go to the top of the list):

1.
Vatican City (A special hello to you!)

2.
Minneapolis

3.
London

4.
Sydney

5.
Chicago

6.
St Paul

7.
New York

8.
Cambridge

9.
St Ann

10.
Sale

11.
Edinburgh

12.
San Antonio

13.
Washingtonville

14.
Etobicoke

15.
Pittsburgh

16.
Newark

17.
Syracuse

18.
Lisbon

19.
Dublin

20.
Phoenix

21.
Hopkins

22.
Oklahoma City

23.
Prague

24.
Houston

25.
Kitwe

26.
Manila

27.
Rosario

28.
Melbourne

29.
Dunkirk

30.
North Metro

31.
Adelaide

32.
Manchester

33.
Washington

34.
Singapore

35.
Wetteren

36.
La Vista

37.
Hobart

38.
Johnston

39.
Glendale

40.
Estero

41.
Columbus

42.
San Luis Obispo

43.
Newtonville

44.
St Rose

45.
Lagrangeville

46.
Delray Beach

47.
New Hyde Park

48.
Eastpointe

49.
Portland

50.
Greenville

May God richly bless you all.

Anglican Priestess Event at Catholic Church Moved to Episcopal Church After Archbishop Intervenes

2008-07-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

Pictured: St. Olaf Catholic Church in Minneapolis

A reader today left a comment with a little newsworthy information in it. As I reported yesterday, Archbishop Niestedt intervened to prevent the "centering prayer" from taking place at St. Olaf's parish in Minneapolis, led by an Anglican "priestess" with gnostic tendencies and who has openly opposed Catholic teaching on homosexual unions, after the event was exposed here on A Faithful Rebel blog.

Rick said...: Good news!

As of 12 noon today, St. Olaf's parish informed me that the event will occur at an Episcopal Church instead.

Deo Gratias!

This new Archbishop of yours is apparently no joke at all.
Of course, a prayer led by an Anglican priestess belongs in an Episcopal or Anglican Church. This just makes sense. One wonders why it wasn't scheduled this way in the first place!

However, I'm more than a little disappointed to see that the "Centering Prayer" is still being promoted on St. Olaf's web site.

News Roundup for Tuesday, July 15

2008-07-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

Be on your Guard: How Gay Activists Plan to Secretly Change American Politics: "They Won't Know What Hit Them."

Opening mass of World Youth Day underway

Shocking: In Florida, UCF Catholic Group Faces Hazing Charges For Protecting 'Body Of Christ'

Sydney Court Overturns Pope protest law

Monks Close to SSPX Unite With Rome: Canonical Censures Lifted

Scandal in New York: Catholic School Principal Caught In Gay Tryst

Pro Soccer Player Retires to Become Catholic Priest

The Pope and the Kitten

2008-07-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

If you read the news roundup that I blogged today then you would have seen that the Pope is very fond of kittens and that a little 11 month old grey tabby kitten was brought to him at his residence in Australia, reportedly to keep him from getting homesick and missing his own pet kitties. Well one reader suggested that it would be wonderful if there were a picture of this warm and fuzzy occurrence with the Pope.

Alas, after trying hard to find such an image, even in the massive records of Google Images, all I was able to find was this image, which sort of blends certain elements of "Felinity" and the Papacy, and another one of Pope John Paul II holding a Kuala Bear.

I'm reluctant to post this, however, out of fear that some liberals may look at it and have a sudden flash of genius (which liberals are always subject to do) and start promoting the ordination of Feline priests. You can be sure that A Faithful Rebel will be watching to make sure that such an effort is stopped by the proper authorities before it has a chance to even begin!

But back to the Pope and the kitten: where is the Vatican photographer when he's really needed? Show us the Pope and the kitten!

Update From Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis: Gnostic prayer led by Anglican 'priestess' cancelled at Minneapolis Catholic Church

2008-07-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

I just received word from the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis that the event featuring an Anglican "priestess" and a very questionable "centering prayer" will not be held on Church property and that those involved with it will not be able to use the name of St. Olaf's Church as being in any way supporting the event. This occurred after A Faithful Rebel exposed the event yesterday, and thousands of visitors have flooded this blog since that time, no doubt many of them contacting the Archdiocese to express their concerns. According to the Archdiocese, His Excellency Archbishop Niestedt himself took action in this regard. Let us pause to thank God for his very able leadership in this matter.

The Archdiocese further commented that:

"neither the pastor, nor the associate pastor, knew anything about this situation. I doubt that the lay parish administrator, who I couldn't reach today, knew anything about it either. It was put together by the centering prayer group there and no one had either known about it nor checked this speaker's background or bio. That won't happen again."

This should not be a lightning rod for controversy. Rather, it ought to be a teaching opportunity for all of us. While we must show respect to those who do not hold the Faith of the Catholic Church, we ought to first of all be careful to protect our own tradition. "Ecumenical" activities which threaten to undermine our Catholic identity and use practices that are not approved by the Church and that often run contrary to her teachings, will not be fruitful activities. Instead, they tend to build up a false and premature unity that denies our own identity as Roman Catholics.

Cynthia Bourgeault, an Anglican "priestess", gnostic thinker and writer, and advocate of the "centering prayer", a mixture of Christian, Buddhist and Hindu elements, has also publicly opposed the teachings of the Catholic Church in a number of areas. This is why the event was canceled. Catholic Churches are for Catholic worship and they ought not to be used for such questionable events. The Archbishop, as shepherd of his diocese, has the charge from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and from His Vicar on earth, the Successor of Peter, to protect the flock entrusted to his care from any scandal or corruption in faith or morals. He thus had no choice but to act as he did, as an obedient and humble servant of the Faith.

Those who will be tempted to attack His Excellency for this should take a few moments to reflect upon the matter and to educate themselves on Catholic teaching and the many problems with the "centering prayer," as well as the other clear problem of having anyone publicly use Catholic facilities who has opposed the Church's teachings. Catholic facilities and buildings are built and maintained by the generosity of many faithful and under the control and guidance of the universal Catholic Church as administered through the Diocese. They are not the private property of a few, or even of the majority, of a given parish.

Those who are involved with such questionable events as "centering prayer" retreats should at the very least seek the guidance of an experienced (and orthodox) priest and would be better off avoiding it entirely for more certain methods of prayer that are built up in the Catholic Church over so many centuries. In no case should they ever be allowed on Catholic property. Think about it people, this is your eternal salvation that you are talking about. Will you listen to just any novelty or new-age "method" that comes along?

Catholic News Roundup for Monday July 14

2008-07-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Vatican Radio interview Fr. Joseph Kramer, FSSP about the new personal parish in Rome

Anglican Communion: More than one in four bishops to boycott Lambeth Conference

An Online History of the Order of Saint John

Cardinal Newman to be reinterred in preparation for sainthood

Security Scare in Sydney for Pope's Visit

Pope's Smitten with a Kitten

VATICAN - Pope’s Message for Australians: “My prayer is that the hearts of the young people who gather in Sydney for the celebration of World Youth Day will truly find rest in the Lord, and that they will be filled with joy and fervor for spreading the Good News...”