Bernard Madoff was sentenced this week to 150 years in prison for investment fraud. U.S. District Judge Denny Chin gave him the maximum sentence, stating that his crimes were “extraordinarily evil.”

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Sean Kennedy, the 20 year old in South Carolina who was murdered in 2007 for being gay. His murderer was released from prison yesterday- a week early- for “good behavior” for obtaining his GED.

Total time served? Less than 10 months, plus a visit home to his family at Christmas.

May God have mercy on us.

Pax et bonum.

Name That Rite!

Yep! After reviewing the photos posted below, take a crack at guessing what Ritual and Church is represented in the comments box!

The winner(s) will receive a profound sense of accomplishment. The answer will be revealed on Friday.

Make your best guess. Answer Friday!

Pax et bonum.

“Culture warriors” like to claim that hate crimes legislation for gays and lesbians is unnecessary; that it is “special rights.”

Flickr / sushiesque

They also prefer to selectively report what they find to support their cause: leather drag, “dykes on bikes” at pride parades, and criminal deviants, neglecting, of course, to premise their “reports” that the majority of gay people do not engage in these behaviors. (The same way that we all know that most straight people don’t act like the girls that bare their breasts at Mardi Gras every. single. year. We all know that that freak show is not representative of heterosexuals at large.)

So it should come as no surprise that the usual suspects in the culture warriors club have failed to report an incident that happened in Ft. Worth, TX over the weekend:

No kidding? The Dallas Voice’s blog is reporting that a gay bar in Ft. Worth, Texas, was raided sometime last night:

According to [Ft. Worth Star-Telegram former critic Todd] Camp, the newly-opened Rainbow Lounge is “the only cool gay bar in town,” but the police raided it, arresting numerous patrons for no reason.

snip

They have also received several photos taken by patrons using their cell phones. Numerous patrons report rough treatment by police. Several fled to a nearby home, fearing arrest if they tried to leave the house to get into their cars. There is one report that one man was slammed to the floor and is now hospitalized with a head injury. Another eyewitness said that police gave her the same excuse about responding to complaints from “former bartender” at the week-old business. She also observed that police appeared to be specifically targeting effeminate men.

Arrests weren’t the worst to come of it:

The Dallas Voice’s blog now reports that Chad Gibson’s condition has worsened. Gibson suffered a head injury when he was thrown to the ground by police during Saturday night’s raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Ft. Worth, Texas. Chad is in the Intensive Care Unit at a Ft. Worth hospital undergoing treatment for intracerebral hemorrhaging, or a bleeding in the brain. Doctors will decide soon whether Chad will need to undergo brain surgery to relieve a blood clot that has formed in his brain.

Of course the usual suspects will make statements that say that they do not condone the actions of the police. But how seriously can these statements be taken? The actions of the police are the logical end to much of their rhetoric.

We should all seriously consider the fact that we are all accountable for our actions and our words, no matter the intentions behind them.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.

By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

(Matthew 12:36-37 NAB)

Everyone has the right to speak freely. Never forget, however, the responsibility that it carries. I didn’t say it- Jesus did.

Pax et bonum.

Today is the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles.

Gospel:

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

(Matthew 6:13-19)

Pax et bonum.

The Southern Poverty Law Center lists 14 “Catholic” groups as hate groups. (More precisely, they are designated as “Radical Traditionalist Catholic.”)

The list:

• Tradition In Action (Los Angeles, CA): According to their website, they are “committed to defend the perennial Magisterium of Holy Mother Church and Catholic traditions. TIA also works for a restoration of Christian civilization, adapted to contemporary historical circumstances.” They are also registered as a 501 c3 non-profit corporation.
• OMNI Christian Book Club (Palmdale, CA): A title from their bookstore, chosen at random, is described as: UNCOVERING THE MYSTERIES OF YOUR HIDDEN INHERITANCE By Robert Alan Balaicius / Formerly titled Your Inheritance, this revised/enlarged edition discloses that the Anglo-American peoples are the literal Israelites of the Bible, while the modern ‘jews” are Canaanite imposters. The very root of the entire world-wide conspiracy is introduced through laying bare this “terrible switch.”
• Culture Wars / Fidelity Press (South Bend, IN): They don’t say much about themselves….
• St. Joseph Forum(South Bend, IN): Popularizes the anti-semitic writings of the Irish priest Father Denis Fahey. Their website seems pretty out of date.
• The Remnant / The Remnant Press (Forest Lake, MN): The Remnant describes their position as “a simple one, as it essentially strives to adhere to Catholic teaching in every aspect of its journalism. There has been great upheaval and revolution within the Catholic Church over the past five decades — not unlike the one encountered in the fourth century by St. Athanasius, called the Arian Heresy — and Catholics are called to oppose that which in any way contradicts the infallible teachings and immutable traditions of the Catholic Church.” The newspaper frequently publishes anti-semitic rants and pseudo-research.
• Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary(Richmond, NH): The “Feeneyites.” Founded by an ex-communicated ex-Jesuit. Their mission revolves around the idea that there is “no salvation outside of the Church.” Which, incidentally, is where they are, having no recognition by either their local Ordinary or the Holy See.
• The Fatima Crusader / International Fatima Rosary Crusade (Constable, NY): Founded and published by “Father” Nicholas Gruner, a rogue priest whose faculties were removed because he refused to submit to the authority of a bishop.
• Catholic Family News / Catholic Family Ministries, Inc. (Niagara Falls, NY): The publishing arm of the SSPX, Angelus Press, advertises in this privately-owned and operated newspaper. Joe Sobran, a well-known anti-Semite, is in the paper’s employ.
• Catholic Counterpoint  (Broomall, PA): This one is really special: ultra “traditionalist” liturgy; 9/11 conspiracy theory; JFK assassination conspiracy theory; and much, much more. (Throw in the typos that seem epidemic to the writing, and you are definitely in for a treat!)
• Alliance for Catholic Tradition (Pleasant Unity, PA): Extreme splinter group. Founded by Mel Gibson’s father.
• Catholic Apologetics International (State Line, PA): Highly controversial lay teaching group. Robert Sungenis, the group’s founder and current leader, was denounced by Bishop Kevin Rhoades, his Ordinary, for his anti-Semitic teachings. (”Hostile, uncharitable, and un-Christian.”) Also believes that Galileo was wrong; he is a “geocentrist” (yes, he believes the universe revolves around Earth).
• Legion of St. Louis / IHS Press (Norfolk, VA): 9/11 conspiracy theory; ant-semitic; adhere to the teachings of “Fr.” Fahey (See also St. Joseph Forum.) Fight “Judeo-Masonic” elements in the culture.
• In the Spirit of Chartres Committee (Suffolk, VA): Jewish conspiracy theorists; “traditionalist” Catholics.
• St. Michael’s Parish / Mount St. Michael (Spokane, WA): Radical, ex-communicated “traditionalist” group; anti-Semitic; accused of cruelty in their compound. Judeo-Masonic conspiracy theory.

Some of these groups are not recognized as being part of the Catholic Church, and some have been disavowed. Some on the list, however, have quite a following of Catholic “faithful.”

It should be our duty, always and everywhere, to denounce these groups and their anti-Christian and anti-Catholic positions and ideas. They not only do harm to themselves and to those whom they act against, but they do harm to the Church universal. We must always do our part to make sure that groups like this never speak for us.

Pax et bonum.

It isn’t for lack of coverage that I wanted to address the untimely death of Michael Jackson, but rather the lack of reasoned, Gospel-oriented coverage. As I tried to form my thoughts to write, I ran across this post which says everything that I wanted to say but couldn’t. (My emphases in bold.)

People has an extraordinary story about Michael Jackson’s final week. It tells you more about his death, in a few paragraphs, than CNN would tell you in an entire afternoon.

The story features electronic messages, sent out earlier this week, by a Jackson fan from the United Kingdom who was invited to watch the King of Pop practice for his big comeback tour. The fan was horrified by what she saw and expressed doubts that Jackson had the health or strength to go on stage in London. Her comments, in hindsight, are spot on. …

There are plenty of folks who think America is a “Christian nation.” I’d like to ask them: What does Michael Jackson’s life and death say about our country, our culture, and our celebrity-crazed nation’s spiritual health?

How does our idolization, fascination, and/or obsession with the likes of Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith, Madonna and John and Kate plus Eight square with any Christian (or Jewish or Muslim) value.

We have created a sick, Freak Show culture that poisons our minds and - all-too-often - devours and destroys the Idols we place on our National Stage.

Source

 Where’s that culture of life?

Pax et bonum.

Just when I thought that life couldn’t get anymore interesting, it did. I’ve been dealing all week with the very real possibility that I, and many of my co-workers, could lose our jobs due to our governor’s proposed budget and the very real fact that it would cut our library’s operating budget by 50%. All of us have been trying hard to get the word out that we could effectively lose library service for our county, and in many parts of the state. Insult to injury is the fact that the proposed state budget also calls for a $20 million tax cut for Ohio oil companies.

So I thought that I had a handle on this. “I can deal with this,” I said. Whatever happens, happens. It’s out of my hands.

After I mowed the yard this evening I decided to run into town to clear my head and get a soda.

I swear… I didn’t see him coming. I did, though, when it was too late.

He jerked his motorcycle left, hard, as I jerked my wheel left and slammed on my brakes, but he had already hit the ground and began to skid across the road, slamming into my bumper on his way to the guardrail.

I can still see him sliding past me, in slow motion.

I thought he was dead.

As I got out of my car, he stood up.

I don’t often speak about angels, but surely they were watching tonight. In spite of his helmet, I don’t know how that 19 year old kid made it with only some (terrible) road rash. But he did.

The cost of my citation and insurance deductible really matter very little when I consider how horrible tonight could have turned out for one kid on a motorcycle, and the guilt that I would have carried for the rest of my life.

Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. (Job 7:1-2)

How I long for the shade.

Pax et bonum.

Rough day; new content on Tuesday Wednesday. (Promise. I’m exhausted.)

(Go on. Click it.)

I urge you to watch both of these videos, in spite of their length. (Really begin to pay attention around 3:30 on the first one, and for the entirety of part 2. The vids aren’t high quality, but you’ll get a good taste of their flavor.)

Part 1:

Part 2:

*

I attended the festival at Columbus Pride yesterday afternoon with a friend. People have asked me, and I can conceive of others asking, as well, “How can you attend such an event?”

For starters, I attended a festival. Pretty tame stuff. I skipped out on the parties and whatnot.

But why go at all?

1. Solidarity. Standing in solidarity with other people who share the same orientation that I do in their struggles for peace, justice, and equality in the eyes of civil law. Solidarity in facing many of the same struggles- and joys- everyday.
2. Responsibility. Responsibility in seeing injustice, and responding to it. Responsibility in making sure that every voice is heard in the “gay community,” and not just the voices of a few of the loud or unique.
3. Shared sense of “survival.”  Most people who did not grow up gay cannot imagine what it is like. Many people experienced physical abuse at the hands of bullies at school, members of their communities, and even parents and members of their own families. Many more experienced emotional abuse at the hands of the same. Many more than those, I’d say the majority, have experienced spiritual abuse at the hands of family members, and more importantly, at the hands of those people who have been entrusted with the sacred duty of caring for souls and spirits. The videos posted above serve as an example of the kind of spiritual abuse of which I speak, though it can take forms much more quiet and insidious. Off-hand and explicit comments, insensitivity, confusing sacred scripture with social norms, and a variety of other types of irresponsibility are all part of the same cycle of abuse. Others in the community, older than I, witnessed friend after friend die in the scourge, especially in the 1980’s and 90’s. All of these contribute to an incredible sense of, “I don’t know why, but we’re here, we survived, and we’re not crazy. Now we move forward.”
4. It’s not “who you are…” it’s what you do that matters in the end. There’s a saying which comes off as cliche to the core, but in reality it holds much truth: “God doesn’t make junk.”
5. We are all called to love. We cannot love others until we learn to love ourselves. If we cannot see the fingerprints of God on our own person, how can we see those fingerprints all over anyone else?
6. Pride. Not  “sinful” pride, but pride in being unique children of God. No one can be the exact person that you were created to be; only you can be that person. And this is true for all of us, no matter our orientation (or race, or ethnicity, or gender). And for those who have been maligned and ostracized by family, friends, and society, it’s a wonderful feeling to, at times, get together with people who have experienced the same to celebrate not only our uniqueness, but also our shared sense of being human, no matter the voices of others who suppose differently.

Walk justly. Love mercy. Do good. Be you. That’s my agenda. Is it yours?

Happy Pride.

Pax et bonum.

A friend recently referred me to an excellent blog with which I had not been previously familiar. It is written by an Orthodox priest, and his insights are astounding. However, unlike most Roman Catholic blogs, the comments sections of his posts are also valuable and full of insight. One such insight sent me reeling a few days ago when I read it:

One of the first times I saw a liturgy was in a Russian church. I didn’t understand anything, of course, and at first I was a bit distressed that people came and went, children wandered around, etc. But then I noticed that no matter what anyone was or wasn’t doing, the liturgy continued. It was obvious that the audience was God, not the restless congregation. When I returned to my evangelical church, I asked the pastor if he would do the same things he had planned to do this Sunday if no one showed up. He was very struck by that and couldn’t answer.

I know what the answer would have been in the pentecostal church of my youth, and I daresay that nearly every Protestant church would have the same answer to that question: dumbstruck silence. Odds are that this question would never have occurred to them. Which is understandable, but regrettable.

In most Protestant worship services, the “worship plan” simply would not work if the congregation did not show up for services. Nearly every element of it is dependent upon the participation, whether active or passive, of those gathered. Worship leaders would have no one to lead. Large, white screens projecting song lyrics that adorn either side of the  platform would have no readers. Hymn boards would go unnoticed. No one would “amen,” and no one would “testify.” No one would listen or scribble notes in the margins of their Bibles during a 50 minute sermon. When the invitation was given, no one would respond.

Liturgical Catholic worship, the greatest expression of which is the Mass (or the Divine Liturgy, Holy Eucharist, whatever you wish to call it based on your tradition), is different, or at least it should be different. No one could show up but the priest, and yet the worship could, and should, happen anyway. And not only should it happen, but anyone who could not make it for some unforeseeable reason could, in faith, unite themselves spiritually with that worship no matter where they happened to be, because they knew the “game plan” well in advance.

However, we as Catholic worshippers must be careful not to fall into the same trap. Innovations which seek to elevate the worshipper over the Worshipped must not be permitted to enter the liturgy. Our focus should never be on ourselves. We enter our holy houses to be in the presence of One who far surpasses our ability to understand. We gather to worship and sacrifice; as a community, to be sure, but community is not the end. (This is why I emphatically advocate worship ad dominum at the Altar, instead of the precarious orientation that many churches have adopted during the last century.) It takes a little more doing, but it is possible for Catholic worship leaders to come up with the same response as their Protestant counterparts when asked the question of the day: dumbstruck silence.

Smug smiles and pats on the back should be shelved for a moment by “traditionalists,” many of whom might think that this question doesn’t apply to them. It does. The circumstances can become a bit trickier, but it is still a danger that even traditional Catholic worship can be turned from its purpose: worship. I dare not attempt a list of possibilities lest I begin a comments war that rivals those of a Minnesotan birdwatcher. Use your thinkers.

Would your corporate worship work if no one showed up? I pray yes.

Pax et bonum.