Catholic Church Conservation

Cardinal in ecumenical chorus line in Berlin for bread blessing

2009-07-17T19:21:00.008+02:00

Festival of the Churches at the beginning of the month. The Cardinal is Georg Kardinal Sterzinski, and the protestant representative, Bishop Huber already reported on this blog for a variety of reasons.

Kyrie eleison!

You I will praise all the time

Coptic bread blessing

The chorus line
Alt-Katholische Kirche, Anglikanische Kirche, Armenisch-Apostolische Kirche, Äthiopisch-Orthodoxe Kirche, Berliner Mennoniten-Gemeinde, Bulgarische Orthodoxe Kirche, Bund Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden (Baptisten), Christliches Zentrum Berlin, Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche, Evangelische Brüder-Unität Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine, Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO), Finnische Lutherische Gemeinde (s. EKBO), Freie evangelische Gemeinden, Griechisch-Orthodoxe Kirche (Antiochien), Griechisch-Orthodoxe Kirche (Konstantinopel), Die Heilsarmee, Koptisch-Orthodoxe Kirche, Mülheimer Verband freikirchlich-evangelischer Gemeinden, Niederländische Gemeinde Berlin, Niederländische Ökumenische Gemeinde, Reformiertes Moderamen (s. EKBO), Religiöse Gesellschaft der Freunde (Quäker), Römisch-Katholische Kirche Erzbistum Berlin, Rumänisch-Orthodoxe Kirchengemeinde Berlin, Russische Orthodoxe Kirche, Schwedische Victoriagemeinde, Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Serbisch-Orthodoxe Kirche, Siebenten-Tags-Adventisten, Syrisch-Orthodoxe Kirche von Antiochien sowie der Rat der afrikanischen Christen in Berlin-Brandenburg und der Internationale Konvent Christlicher Gemeinden in Berlin-Brandenburg.

Lutheran liturgy in Latin- not a common sight!

2009-07-17T15:07:00.001+02:00

Stealth priestess gives blessing in the Diocese of Linz

2009-07-17T14:53:00.002+02:00

(on St Valentine's Day)

Papal vacation interrupted by slight medical problem

2009-07-17T14:33:00.001+02:00

Celibacy becomes private matter for priests in Linz

2009-07-17T10:55:00.004+02:00

From Upper Austrian News

Father Josef Friedl has confirmed that in five conversations with Bishop Ludwig Schwarz he has dispelled all ambiguities about his attitude to celibacy.

OÖN: Father, has everything been discussed bv you and Bishop Ludwig?

Friedl: Basically it is settled. The Bishop said at a press conference that I can remain a parish priest.There were five conversations with him, but I have to keep to our understanding to say nothing more. I trigger nothing more.

OÖN: This means you have left the relationship with your partner?

Friedl: I will certainly not go into it. I say nothing. I've clarified everything out from my side. My private life is private.

OÖN: Bishop spokesman Ferdinand Kaineder was this week relieved of his duties. What do you say to that?

Friedl: bad, very bad. He is a great man and had many good ideas. It is very unfortunate that one looses such people.

OÖN: Did you fear that conservative groups in the Catholic Church could also boot you out?

Friedl: the right wing circles, yes ... Direct fear not, but they have set directed their fire at me.

More fallibility and error in the Diocese of Linz

2009-07-16T22:05:00.005+02:00

Following yesterday's report from Cathcon, the Upper Austrian Ecumenical Summer Academy, or the Witches' Sabbath as kreuz.net calls the show, entered its second day.

First speaker, Dr Franz Wuketits claims that God plays no role in evolution.

The second, Dr Pietschman then goes on that it is fully impossible that natural science can prove there is no God and likewise fully impossible that theology can show that there is.

St Thomas Aquinas would quarrel with both statements.

There is then a picture of the great observatory of the Monastery of Kremsmunster and the Abbot appears saying that today there is not such a great conflict- which contradicts the initial commentary of the programme.

The faces are in the monastery grounds and are works of modern art. The religious significance is next to nothing.

Le Corbusier has much to answer for

2009-07-16T18:55:00.002+02:00

Not least this church, under threat in recent riots, which was inspired by the Cult of Mithras.

Universal salvation is a heresy- pro multis does not mean for all

2009-07-16T18:11:00.007+02:00

which is sadly proclaimed in Novus Ordo Masses in many countries where the words of institution over the chalice by Our Lord have been mistranslated as "for all" instead of "for many". This is a grave error as the words of the Bible have been changed. How can the fruits of the Mass be applied if everyone is saved.

Cathcon has now studied no less than seventy four "words of institution" in the many and venerable rites that at to be found in Eastern Christendom.

Here are the results

Primarily offered for:

You and many

41 times

Many

You

All

No words

They who drink

Those who receive

Life eternal

Believers

Sins

Not specified

Why do Bishop's conferences carry on permitting this manifestly erroneous translation, which conforms neither to Scripture or Tradition?

Full background here.

Catholic university education disappearing in Bavaria

2009-07-16T17:55:00.002+02:00

A report from Bild.

After a decision on fundamental principles from the government on the theological training, the Catholic Theology Faculty of the University of Passau will be now closed. The University Board has decided that the Faculty will be merged into the Philosophy Faculty on 1st October, according to a report from the university on Thursday. In future, now more theology diploma students will be taught, only religious studies teachers. The Regional Parliament has decided with the support of the Vatican that in Bavaria there will be only four instead of six Catholic theology faculties. The Bamberg Faculty will be the next to be laid to rest.

Cathcon: looking on the bright side of life- less employment opportunities for modernist "theologians"- but it will be a long way back to reconstruct Catholic theology when there are fewer and fewer faculties.

Telephone interview with future Auxilliary Bishop of Linz

2009-07-16T17:23:00.002+02:00

Dr Felix Fromm (which means Dr Happily Pious)
Will celibacy now be finally abandoned in the Diocese of Linz?
Will women be ordained?
Should the laity preach at Mass?
Will there be a Corpus Christi procession with pitta bread ever again in Linz?
Will you conform to the Linz Way?

Which part of the word NO do the liberals of the Diocese of Linz not understand.

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

2009-07-16T11:20:00.001+02:00

Priest allegedly worked as a pimp

2009-07-15T23:51:00.000+02:00

From Spiegel Online

He took the matter of charity literally: A French priest found a young prostitute a job in a massage parlor gives. Now he must answer a charge of pimping.

Paris - A French priest from Metz allegedly worked as a pimp. He has been suspended from service. The judiciary have undertaken a preliminary investigation, reported the newspaper L'Alsace. "

According to initial investigations the priest wanted to find a young prostitute a job in a massage parlour in which he himself had been a customer several times. The approximately 50-year-old did not profit from it, but only wanted to help the young woman, his lawyer Alain Behr stated.

Indeed a pimp ring was active based at the massage parlour who offered young women on the internet. The gang was active not only in Lorraine, but also in Luxembourg, Belgium and Paris.

Of the ten suspected members under investigation since June, a pair has spent about ten days in jail, the priest being temporarily held in custody and released subject to bail conditions.

Another Passionist saint?

2009-07-15T22:56:00.001+02:00

Never has such a small order, given rise to so many saints!

Linz welcomes Professor who accused Pope of misusing his office

2009-07-15T21:57:00.009+02:00

The Upper Austrian Ecumenical Summer Academy which is taking place in the Benedictine Monastery of Kremsmunster opened today.

It is sponsored by ORF Upper Austria und ORF-Religion (Cathcon- state run TV), the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria, the Linz Private University for Catholic Theology, the Protestant Educational Movement in Upper Austria, the Linz Diocesan Newspaper, the monastery herself and the Upper Austrian Government.

Linz have excelled themselves- the first speaker of the day was Professor Hünermann who accused the Pope on the lifting of the SSPX excommunications of misusing his office and also said that the lifting was null and void because the necessary act of penance allegedly had not been made. The Bishop of Graz is one of the final speakers so hopefully he will take the opportunity of reminding people of the falsity of these rash comments. The Professor is one of the world's great ecumenists, except when it comes to the SSPX.

From Upper Austrian TV- "the Church becomes more conservative" I, for one, certainly hope so.

Sabine Bieberstein one of the other speakers is a top feminist theologian who definitely supports women preaching during Mass and doubtless their attempted ordination as well. She maintained in one of her sermons that there were no priests in New Testament times- try telling that to those present at the Last Supper.

And another of the speakers, Manuela Kalsky who somehow is a Professor at a Dominican House of Studies has written a book calling for christology to be recast from a feminist perspective and, at the time of the release of Gibson's Passion denied that Christ died to pay the price for our sins.

The same woman "does" feminist theology.

Bertram Stubenrauch yet another speaker has distinguished himself by calling for hand communion, female servers and extraordinary ministers to be introduced into the old Rite, together with Sacro-pop music!

And finally speaker Franz Josef Wetz has written a book called "The Illusion of Human Dignity".

What a sorry hot-spot of dissidence and infidelity.

They seek him there, they seek him there, the Bishop of Linz goes missing

2009-07-15T21:43:00.000+02:00

Revolving door personnel policy of the Diocese of Linz will convince no-one in Rome that the Bishop means business

2009-07-15T18:55:00.004+02:00

What ecclesiastical office will the Bishop think of for Mr Kaineder?

How many liturgical abuses can you spot in an hour long Mass?

2009-07-15T18:18:00.003+02:00

And Joke, the since sacked stealth priestess at a Pax Christi Mass

Hardliners in the Vatican blamed

2009-07-15T17:14:00.001+02:00

By parishioners in Kirchschlag, where Mr Kaineder was given to preaching and reading the Gospel.

Statement from the Bishop of Linz

2009-07-15T14:41:00.001+02:00

Linz (kath.net) The Linz Diocesan Bishop Ludwig Schwarz has written a statement about the dismissal of Ferdinand Kaineder as head of the Communications Office of the Diocese of Linz . The Diocese published this on its homepage. The statement was delivered in written form because of the Bishop's illness.

"I have been considering for a long time a change in function for my spokesman." While Ferdinand Kaineder worked as a very dedicated employee, he was himself again and again the subject of controversial opinions, which brought him in tension with his role as spokesman for the bishop.

That is why I have decided on a change of function after several discussions. In these discussions, he was also offered very specific different opportunities to work in the diocese. These are being seriously considered by him and in the foreseeable future decisions will be taken in consultation with him.

To confront various conjectures, I would like to emphasize that this is the functional change in a single specific area. "

Italian journalist fired for patronizing the Pope

2009-07-15T14:07:00.003+02:00

From Die Presse

Vatican spokesman calls for respect for the church and person of the Holy Father.

A journalist of the public service TV channel RAI 3 who reports on the Vatican has been removed after his patronizing remarks about the Pope gave rise to protests. In a report on the arrival of Benedict XVI in the mountain village where he spends three weeks vacation, the reporter said on Monday that a "handful of people" were to expected, "who still had the courage and the patience to listen to his words. "

These statements sparked enraged reactions. "Why this anti-clericalism?" asked a parliamentary representative of the opposition PD (Democratic Party), Giorgio Merlo, who called for punitive measures against the journalist. The Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, called for respect for the church and the person of the Holy Father.

After the protests, the editor of RAI 3, Antonio Di Bella, dismissed the journalist, Roberto Balducci who publicly apologised for his words. (APA)

Tree Hugger Diocese

2009-07-15T11:09:00.002+02:00

The website of the Diocese of Linz has chosen today of all days to issue a cheery press release about a tree hugging conference it is hosting, which was already highlighted by Cathcon already highlighted by Cathcon when it was announced.

Articles of Faith calls Linz eccentric- that's what happens when you start trying to create your own realities. Not for nothing is it called The Linz Way.

As a Salesian, the Bishop of Linz should know what to do next

2009-07-15T10:53:00.005+02:00

Anchor his Diocese firmly between devotion to Our Lady, Help of Christians and the Blessed Sacrament, in total dependancy on the Barque of Peter.

DREAM OF TWO PILLARS
BY FR. JOHN BOSCO

"Imagine yourself to be with me on the seashore, or better, on an isolated rock and not to see any patch of land other than that under your feet. On the whole of that vast sheet of water you see an innumerable fleet of ships in battle array. The prows of the ships are formed into sharp, spear-like points so that wherever they are thrust they pierce and completely destroy. These ships are armed with cannons, with lots of rifles, with incendiary materials, with other firearms of all kinds, and also with books, and advance against a ship very much bigger and higher than themselves and try to dash against it with the prows or burn it or in some way to do it every possible harm."

"As escorts to that majestic fully equipped ship, there are many smaller ships, which receive commands by signal from it and carry out movements to defend themselves from the opposing fleet. In the midst of the immense expanse of sea, two mighty columns of great height arise a little distance the one from the other. On the top of one, there is the statue of the Immaculate Virgin, from whose feet hangs a large placard with this inscription: Auxilium Christianorum - "Help of Christians"; on the other, which is much higher and bigger, stands a Host of great size proportionate to the column and beneath is another placard with the words: Salus Credentium - Salvation of the Faithful (Believers).

"The supreme commander of the big ship is the Sovereign Pontiff. He, seeing the fury of the enemies and the evils among which his faithful find themselves, determines to summon around himself the captains of the smaller ships to hold a council and decide what is to be done.

All the captains come aboard and gather around the Pope. They hold a meeting, but meantime the wind and the waves gather in storm, so they are sent back to control their own ships. There comes a short lull; for a second time the Pope gathers the captains around him, while the flag-ship goes on its course. But the frightful storm returns. The Pope stands at the helm and all his energies are directed to steering the ship towards those two columns from whose summits hang many anchors and strong hooks linked to chains.

"All the enemy ships move to attack it, and they try in every way to stop it and to sink it: some with books and writings or inflammable materials, of which they are full; others with firearms, with rifles and with rams. The battle rages ever more relentlessly. The enemy prows thrust violently, but their efforts and impact prove useless. They make attempts in vain and waste all their labor and ammunition; the big ship goes safely and smoothly on its way. Sometimes it happens that, struck by formidable blows, it gets large, deep gaps in its sides; but no sooner is the harm done that a gentle breeze blows from the two columns and the cracks close up and the gaps are stopped immediately.

Meanwhile, the guns of the assailants are blown up, the rifles and other arms and prows are broken; many ships are shattered and sink into the sea. Then, the frenzied enemies strive to fight hand to hand, with fists, with blows, with blasphemy and with curses.

"Suddenly the Pope falls gravely wounded. Immediately, those who are with him run to help him and they lift him up. A second time the Pope is struck, he falls again and dies. A shout of victory and joy rings out amongst the enemies; from their ships an unspeakable mockery arises.

But hardly is the Pontiff dead than another takes his place. The pilots, having met together, have elected the Pope so promptly that the news of the death of the Pope coincides with the news of the election of the successor. The adversaries begin to lose courage.

"The new Pope, putting the enemy to rout and overcoming every obstacle, guides the ship right up to the two columns and comes to rest between them; he makes it fast with a light chain that hangs from the bow to an anchor of the column on which stands the Host; and with another light chain which hangs from the stern, he fastens it at the opposite end to another anchor hanging from the column on which stands the Immaculate Virgin.

At this point, a great convulsion takes place. All the ships that until then had fought against the Pope's ship are scattered; they flee away, collide and break to pieces one against another. Some sink and try to sink others. Several small ships that had fought gallantly for the Pope race to be the first to bind themselves to those two columns. Many other ships, having retreated through fear of the battle, cautiously watch from far away; the wrecks of the broken ships having been scattered in the whirlpools of the sea, they in their turn sail in good earnest to those two columns, and having reached them, they make themselves fast to the hooks hanging down from them and their they remain safe, together with the principal ship, on which is the Pope. Over the sea their reigns a great calm."

And some comment from The Times, Catholic Herald and kreuz.net- a pointless ball from a paleo-liberal.

The "bishop" who seized the Host giving her opinion of ecclesiastical authority

2009-07-15T10:44:00.001+02:00

St Peter's Seminary Cardross before the vandals arrived

2009-07-15T10:40:00.000+02:00

Why is the Bishop of Linz being criticised on the Linz Diocesan website?

2009-07-15T00:17:00.005+02:00

Margit Hauft who seems incapable of giving a simple yes or no answer to whether she assents to Catholic teaching on the reservation of the priesthood to men has issued a statement as President of Catholic Action Upper Austria, which is actually on the Linz Diocesan website. Either that statement should go or she should go. Either she assents to Catholic teaching as an office holder in the Diocese or she should go.

If a Bishop cannot control his own Diocesan website, he can hardly control his Diocese and perhaps he should be considering his position as well.

Replacing an arch-liberal with a paleo-liberal (or is that the other way around) at the head of the communications office will have done nothing for his credibility in Rome.