tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20186500333505245692012-02-16T18:47:26.285-08:00RELIGION, n. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.<br> Ambrose Bierce, Devil’s Dictionarysfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.comBlogger1231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-58358735896753756662008-01-26T13:51:00.000-08:002008-01-27T11:37:28.875-08:00

The pope asked the current GC for loyalty to dogma and obedience to himself.What he got was the declaration of a troubled marriage. According to a CWN story: the new superior general of the Society of Jesus said that the Jesuits remain loyal to the Pope. "If there are problems" in the relationship, he said, "it is precisely because we are so close." So, the battle is engaged. The basic issue is,

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-5012256823152382202008-01-23T08:16:00.000-08:002008-01-23T08:48:21.090-08:00

The Georgetown Jesuits taught Bill Clinton defensive parsing.For instance, one can deflect an accusation of lying, no matter how egregious the falsehood, by requiring the accuser to state what the meaning of “is” is.Is St Louis University a Catholic institution? You guessed it—it depends on the meaning of "is."If “is” means disqualified from receiving public funding for a new sports arena (

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-75022163921879391982008-01-21T09:05:00.000-08:002008-01-21T09:27:02.814-08:00

Our attraction to love and truth, kindness and integrity, is the foundation of the Christian religion.For many, Christ IS this attraction.Such is the basis of the three modern Christological heresies. Christ = EvolutionChrist = Poor peopleChrist = One of many leaders The original European Romantic, Novalis, (Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg), asked: Who declared the writing of the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-47006700428320824232007-12-26T21:10:00.000-08:002007-12-26T21:16:17.680-08:00

Colonel Pat Lang (ret) writes a hard nosed blog called Sic Semper Tyrannis, dealing with geopolitical and intelligence affairs. He appears every so often as an expert commentator on TV news programs. His shtick is military professionalism.Recently he wrote a little rant about national TV punditocracy “guiding” the political choices of non-coastal Americans.It seems clear that the "pundits in

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-36376090018609417772007-11-08T11:25:00.000-08:002007-11-08T11:28:22.819-08:00

My impression is that these two completely agree on the WHAT.And that they completely disagree on the WHO.Anyway, both have their hands in a "something to hide" position.Models of monarchy, they represent the good old days when men weren’t afraid to dress-up a little.----- o -----

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-42828243891021353172007-11-06T19:12:00.000-08:002007-11-06T19:22:24.167-08:00

America’s most famous Jesuit, Father Donald McGuire, is in federal custody and prosecutors seem disinclined give him bail, they consider him a flight risk.Does the U.S.A. have an extradition treaty with the Vatican?McGuire, reportedly, had been an important spiritual advisor to Mother Teresa. Teresa was in the news recently when it was revealed that she didn’t really believe the Christ story

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-2424396912526867962007-10-30T09:42:00.000-07:002007-11-06T19:53:57.282-08:00

The Society of Jesus (Jesuit) is built around “Ignatian Spirituality.” This sounds very esoteric.Then, we’re told that Ignatian Spirituality is based on writings by Ignatius of Loyola called “The Spiritual Exercises.”While I’m sure that The Spiritual Exercises contain, like the Bible, many embarrassing passages that are “not to be taken literally,” two leap out at us.These two passages go to the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-49500327148152104122007-10-30T08:23:00.000-07:002007-10-30T08:35:28.664-07:00

By beatifying hundreds of Francoist thugs, Pope Benedict once again reveals his Nazi roots. The fact that the thugs wore Roman collars makes them saints. Read the appalling CWN story here.The Pope says all Christians should be ready to suffer martyrdom.This sounds a little tinny coming from a Pope who once swore personal loyalty to Adolph Hitler. The Pope’s apologists say that Ratzinger wasn’t

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-66577821754235788692007-10-20T10:23:00.000-07:002007-10-20T10:34:03.302-07:00

San Diego bishop Robert Brom has sent letters, including return addressed donation envelopes, to all parishioners asking for $25M to cover part of the diocese’ priest child sex abuse settlement. (Union-Tribune story here.)Brom is an embarrassment. He refers to the $183M settlement which he and his diocese had long delayed with bad faith negotiations and fraudulent bankruptcy filings as “

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-23173242336441188672007-10-19T20:23:00.000-07:002007-10-19T20:39:05.612-07:00

Our received Catholic faith seems to follow a developmental path similar to that of our received belief in Santa Claus. Not so bad, really. Adolescence is always rough, but overall it's a good thing. ----- o -----

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-20456431144376845552007-10-16T19:28:00.000-07:002007-10-20T10:35:55.044-07:00

I have to admit that as an adolescent and young man I did sex things with girlfriends and actually had intercourse with a woman.Yet I represent myself as a gay man.This is not such a big deal. Probably lots of gay guys had sex with girls when they were young, some even get married to women before they decide to follow their lust.But reverse it—say a guy who’s had some youthful sex experiences

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-15359062920434968202007-10-10T21:55:00.000-07:002007-10-10T22:08:25.371-07:00

The upshot of this BBC story is that von Wernich (guilty) is the first of possibly many such Church related cases. According to BBC, the Catholic hierarchy in Argentina all condoned, and some actually participated in the Junta's dirty war.Is there any reason to believe the Catholic hierarchy in any other part of the world is any better?Here’s the Pope’s kidnapping-for-Jesus bit:The most

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-85050359216502790632007-10-10T15:09:00.000-07:002007-10-10T15:22:25.181-07:00

Catholic priest, Cristian Von Wernich, according to this story on Latin America Press.Org, has been charged with 80 counts of murder and torture.Von Wernich was chaplain to a group within Argentina’s military junta and is accused of thorough participation in that regime’s “dirty war.”Von Wernich was charged in December 2005 after evidence surfaced of human rights violations, but the trial only

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-91606018227918299032007-10-10T14:18:00.000-07:002007-10-10T14:25:23.162-07:00

Over at Metrexius Journal, Vas Corp Por describes a boring metaphysics class, his hatred of someone named Plantinga, and Mike Tyson’s fist.Vas' attention was grabbed when:Somehow, this branched off into a discussion about sex. Evidently, my poor professor was educated by Jesuits for 8 years, and he claims to be completely incapable of conceiving of sex without guilt. As in, he can't imagine a sex

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-7355017695225759342007-09-27T14:43:00.000-07:002007-09-27T15:03:39.270-07:00

The author of Saint Peter’s Second Epistle was not Saint Peter, at least according to the American Council of Catholic Bishops.In their introduction to 2Peter in the New American Bible, they state:Among modern scholars there is wide agreement that 2 Peter is a pseudonymous work, i.e., one written by a later author who attributed it to Peter…The bishops list numerous reasons why 2Peter could not

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-16538952153085759252007-09-27T12:38:00.000-07:002007-09-27T12:44:34.562-07:00

A new conservative blog, Reforming the Jesuits, has emerged.It’s first post, Why Do You Think the Jesuits Need Reformed [sic], is a nifty bill of particulars, beginning with someone named Bollard whotold interviewers on "60 Minutes" that during his seven years as a Jesuit, at least 12 priests made unwelcome sexual advances and invited him to cruise gay bars.Presumably Bollard’s complaint to

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-14490135346064412662007-09-23T05:42:00.000-07:002007-09-23T06:10:19.002-07:00

SCRIPTURES, n.The sacred books of our holy religion, as distinguishedfrom the false and profane writings on whichall other faiths are based.Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary A gay softball teammate one time mentioned that he had been a Catholic seminarian. He said it was mostly the stupid internal politics, corruption, and general nastiness that drove him away.Somehow I mentioned the Bible

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-40235528361059857762007-09-22T21:15:00.000-07:002007-09-22T21:22:46.977-07:00

Two men were ordained bishops in China yesterday. These men were not selected by the pope. According to this CNS story, however, the pope approves:The Vatican newspaper indicated that both ordinations had been carried out with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI. The local Catholic communities, who elected the bishops, had indicated to the Vatican that they were worthy candidates, the newspaper

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-83000278127634950672007-09-15T19:02:00.000-07:002007-09-15T19:16:40.622-07:00

As the total US priest sex abuse payouts, cumulative from 1950, pass $2 Billion, we are seeing more and more reports of financial crime within the RCC.Right wing commentators point to mutual blackmail contributing to the administrative coverup of the priest sex crimes, but the blackmail need not be sexual. Evidence that a superior has been embezzling could protect a priest sex offender from

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-73444436605772078792007-09-15T18:27:00.000-07:002007-09-15T18:35:21.412-07:00

So some Jesuit universities are shilling for student-loan lenders—what’s the big deal? Lots of universities around the nation have been caught doing the same thing. There’s no reason to expect better from the Jesuits, is there?According to this story in Fairfield University’s student newspaper, the Mirror,Late this summer, it was reported that Fairfield, as well as two other Connecticut colleges,

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-55182868803152213342007-09-15T17:59:00.000-07:002007-09-15T18:04:54.774-07:00

Admission to one’s eternal reward is instantaneous upon death. One’s soul goes immediately into the presence of God, or to H – E – double hockeysticks.But wait, there’s more (as if there need be). At the end of the world, our bodies will be resurrected and reunited with our souls and earth will be transformed. We’ll walk around and experience things the way we did in mortal life, except

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-52829338484598891192007-08-28T14:03:00.000-07:002007-08-28T16:41:41.526-07:00

Mr Richard McCurdy, S.J., told our sophomore honor class that Donne’s sonnet, Batter My Heart…, was a little “grown-up” for kids our age, but he thought we could handle it. Also, since he was teaching it to a senior class at the time, it allowed him to kill two birds with one lesson plan. I always think of Batter My Heart as a “terrible sonnet.” Then wikipedia reminds me it was Hopkins who wrote

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-8840162463534973232007-08-28T03:51:00.000-07:002007-08-28T04:15:26.688-07:00

Just the mention of Mother Teresa gets this blog’s juices flowing. We agree with Hitchens, et al, that this purported saint was anything but.Like the witches inside Hans Castorp’s Magic Mountain, her vocation fed on a high birth rate.Our seating plan for the eternal banquet called “Heaven” has Mother Teresa sharing a table with Pedro Arbues, Paul of Tarsus, and Augustine of Hippo—the “Mirth Group

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-63532811734717130172007-08-22T12:30:00.000-07:002007-08-22T12:42:42.907-07:00

One of the dumber sayings to come out of the 1960’s youth explosion was, “Don’t trust anyone over thirty.” It’s good advice only if you add, “…neither trust anyone thirty or below.” I heard a Jesuit twist it to: “Don’t trust anyone over thirty-three, unless they’ve been crucified.”Poor Cardinal Bertone has been whining again about negative press coverage. Like the great majority of Enron

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-64191288584603402482007-08-22T07:57:00.000-07:002007-08-22T08:06:16.560-07:00

Don McGuire, S.J., might be the most famous Jesuit priest in America today. Freed by the court while appealing his felony child molestation conviction, Father McGuire has been jailed twice for violating the terms of his release.According to this Chicago Sun-Times story, a new civil suit has been filed against McGuire and the Jesuits, by a John Doe.The suit alleges that Jesuit priest Donald

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-83309606135410444312007-08-15T13:32:00.000-07:002007-08-15T13:38:56.432-07:00

[This article is reposted from sfwillie's blog.]David Patrick McIntosh, my boyfriend at the time (1970-72), founded the first Gay group in Nebraska, actually two groups:Lincoln Gay Action Group (LinGAG)University of Nebraska Gay Action Group (UNGAG).I’m proud of the important role I played but the driving force was David. He was my first love. We were both Jesuit-trained poets, as evidenced by

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-75441609458173482282007-08-09T10:39:00.000-07:002007-08-09T10:44:08.827-07:00

According to Wikipedia, Nagasaki, in 1580 was a colony of the Society of Jesus.Jesuit influence in, and actual rule over Nagasaki came to my attention a few months ago when the Society complained about incorrect statements in a wiki-entry about some rebellion in Japan and the involvement of the Jesuits. The Jesuits never mentioned Nagasaki, but that's where the action took place. Tomorrow we

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-23001509394832935372007-07-28T14:17:00.000-07:002007-07-28T14:29:12.025-07:00

Many years ago when I was almost young the New Yorker did a three-parter on the profession of Marketing.To illustrate the effects of marketing the author chose an industry that is heavily marketing driven: pet food.The assumption is that no healthy dog or cat will starve to death in the presence of suitable food. Also assumed is that most reputable brands of dog and cat food provide basic

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-23013293074154464252007-07-28T11:27:00.000-07:002007-07-28T11:37:11.302-07:00

Rentapriest blog provides a story about a Swiss Jesuit, Father Lukas Niederberger, who is leaving the priesthood in order to get married.The gist of the article is that Niederberger’s vocational decision coincided with his growing disaffection with Ratzinger and what Ratzinger represents. His decision was announced on the same day the pope issued Motu Proprio.The article continues about

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-44861435332299744562007-07-22T18:09:00.000-07:002007-07-22T18:32:51.296-07:00

Geronimo Cuevas was arrested for misdemeanor sex charges in an outdoor “tearoom.”A tearoom is a public place where men go for anonymous sex with each other. Apparently the danger involved is a sexual stimulant.The department said that the parking lot and trail areas near Pirates Cove, which is close to Avila Beach, have a history of sexual solicitation problems. Deputies are periodically sent

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-52222128874929570612007-07-20T07:03:00.000-07:002007-07-20T07:19:21.287-07:00

One of the Big Lies pounded into American ears is that the United States is a Christian nation, founded on Christian (sometimes they ignorantly say “Judeo-Christian”) principles.My friend Jim, who introduced me to the Cockettes and is revered by many Fomers as a prophet, sends along these ten quotes from Thomas Jefferson about religion. Jim is a real artist. Check out his Blue Elephant

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-78265476617883414712007-07-19T16:28:00.000-07:002007-07-19T16:47:00.797-07:00

Regarding the musicality of God’s Grandeur, my best friend, Pudinhand Wilson said, “It croaks like a syncopated frog pond—don’t you love it!”We were enthusiastic about poetry back in high school. I think it was then Mr. Dick McCurdy, S.J., who made us memorize it.It’s kind of hard to swallow the Holy Ghost thing, but obviously Hopkins was more interested in the warm breast part and the bright

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-24138907890410992162007-07-18T09:10:00.000-07:002007-07-18T09:12:51.109-07:00

LA Archdiocese’ out-of-pocket contribution to the $660 million clergy sex predator settlement equals approximately $1 million per parish.Special collections won’t be needed (what would the church call them?) because the Archdiocese owns $4 Billion in non-parochial real estate.But it’s all collection-plate money, current or past.Some think it unfair that honest, humble parishioners should have to

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-68282480981553595302007-07-11T21:25:00.000-07:002007-07-11T22:23:35.374-07:00

Recently we referred to one of FOME’s (Familiars of Mineral Existence) surmisals.FOME is a dogma-free karass. The closest we get to doctrines are “surmisals.” Surmisal is a variant of the noun surmise. According to poopie Webster, a surmise is a thought or idea based on scanty evidence.Thusly, a surmisal, per an even more spurious online dictionary, is the expression of a belief that is held with

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-23005166149508206092007-07-04T12:07:00.000-07:002007-07-04T12:27:19.608-07:00

From the Third Canon of the Fourth Lateran Council, on heresy, (Innocent III, 1215):Let secular authorities, whatever offices they may be discharging, be advised and urged and if necessary be compelled by ecclesiastical censure, if they wish to be reputed and held to be faithful, to take publicly an oath for the defense of the faith to the effect that they will seek, in so far as they can, to

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-53034315594869725032007-07-03T14:35:00.000-07:002007-07-03T15:12:30.507-07:00

I have all these great things to say about the Jesuits, but I keep getting sidetracked by stuff like this in Catholic World News item titled: Polish priest at Vatican Radio accused of collaboration.Warsaw, Jul. 3, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Father Andrzej Koprowski, the programming director for Vatican Radio, was registered as a collaborator with the Polish secret police during the Communist era, the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-59053435135641814482007-07-02T15:08:00.000-07:002007-07-02T15:21:15.056-07:00

I came across a section of the Baltimore Catechism that recommends certain prayers be said daily. Nothing too exceptional, but this little ditty caught my eye.FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTEDEternal rest give unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.This is familiar language to Catholics, but, wait a second! Is “eternal rest” all we get?I thought the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-32483106628425429122007-06-30T13:28:00.000-07:002007-06-30T13:34:11.809-07:00

It’s common to hear Catholics describe prayer as a “conversation with Jesus.” We hardly bat an eyelash when someone says that "Jesus spoke to" him or her. But what of the Buddhist who “has conversations with Buddha”?Or the Scientologist who daily communes on a higher plane with the spirit of L. Ron Hubbard?How about a Moslem whose prayer consists of “a conversation with Mohammad”?Or a Mormon who

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-41282217110868849632007-06-25T20:14:00.000-07:002007-06-25T20:26:48.311-07:00

I saw this blurb-size story in Catholic World News this morning, headed Women one-sixth of Vatican workforce.Vatican, Jun. 25, 2007 (CWNews.com) - About one of every six workers at the Vatican is female.Father Sandro Bianchini of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See announced that roughly 600 Vatican employees, 16% of the Vatican workforce, are women.Seemed kind of deadpan. So

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-17951112872610159482007-06-23T20:43:00.000-07:002007-06-23T21:05:37.110-07:00

Gosh darn it! I was going to write some light stuff about John Donne and his attack on Ignatius. I was going to praise the Jesuits for giving us both Donne and Hopkins.Also, I was going to articulate a basic FOME tenet: Everyone goes to heaven, there’s no such thing as hell, which we think of as "really" good news.Then this.Just when I think I can’t be shocked, a grotesque horror story comes to

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-51882535032550950242007-06-21T13:10:00.000-07:002007-06-21T13:17:05.140-07:00

A man and a woman have been missing in Oregon for almost two weeks, according to this Chronicle story. The missing woman is a 61 year old civil servant from the Bay Area. The missing man is a Jesuit priest, 52, from Southern California.Described as “traveling companions,” and “old dear friends,” the two seem to have been sharing a motel room.The two kept a detailed journal and left an itinerary

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-38729375920253159402007-06-20T19:46:00.000-07:002007-06-20T20:00:53.644-07:00

America’s neo-colonial war of aggression on the people of Vietnam was spearheaded by members of the Roman Catholic Church.Ngo Dinh Diem, first president of South Vietnam, not a country but a short-lived cartographic fiction, was a Roman Catholic, a protégé of America’s prince of darkness, Francis Cardinal Spellman.Diem’s brother was a prominent Catholic priest in Vietnam (later Cardinal). Diem’s

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-36994209090114761952007-06-18T18:27:00.000-07:002007-06-18T18:49:29.197-07:00

The tone of Jesuit Watch can be sharp, even harsh.Sometimes I feel like a mean old man snatching teddy bears from the arms of terrified children, leaving them with nothing but their fears.A commenter recently stated that the Roman Catholic Church has done way more good than bad in the world.And we all sort of let that statement go. But it deserves to be harshly refuted, so:I assert that the world

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-71814286169573942582007-06-16T20:38:00.000-07:002007-06-16T20:45:11.394-07:00

Below is a little blurb from CWN.Jesuit order diminishing in numbersRome, Jun. 14, 2007(CWNews.com) - The Jesuit order diminished in size by 364 men in 2006, the Fides news service reports.In the last calendar year, 486 men joined the Society of Jesus. But 472 Jesuits died, and 378 men left the religious order, accounting for the drop in numbers.There are 19,216 Jesuits in the world today, by the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-40862765988789969782007-06-12T13:17:00.000-07:002007-06-12T13:20:57.476-07:00

We, of Nature’s cruelest choosings, arethe favored heirs, our wealth the savage giftof mere existence—cold, tainted cashwe fear to spend, but take weird pride bequeathing.© Copyright 2007 William Morrissey All Rights Reserved[Previously posted on sfwillie's blog.]

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-63645677261606028382007-06-10T08:22:00.000-07:002007-06-10T08:35:18.915-07:00

One day Jesus addressed a group of small-businessmen, something about mustard seeds.After the talk there was time for questions and answers. One of the businessmen seemed to speak for the group. “Jesus,” he said, “ we think you’re a great guy, and what you say sounds good. But we’re all busy, day and night, trying to support our wives and children. Margins are thin, taxes are fat, we're

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-4218222897285790882007-06-09T18:10:00.000-07:002007-06-09T18:29:35.683-07:00

The most disturbing article I’ve read since starting Jesuit Watch appeared on the blog Clerical Whispers.The Gay Priest Problem, discusses (and criticizes) the persistence of homosexual activity by and among American Catholic priests and seminarians. It comes out swinging. In the second paragraph it references a Kansas City Star report:The death rate of priests from AIDS is at least four times

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-84460744442094824122007-06-06T16:27:00.000-07:002007-06-06T16:40:41.594-07:00

According to Wikipedia he was in an anti-aircraft unit of the Wehrmacht then in some infantry unit. This AP whitewash published in 2005 emphasizes that while J. Ratzinger, Jr, indeed was a member of the Hitler Youth and then Hitler’s Army, he was always unenthusiastic. Not mentioned is any instance of any sanction he received for doing anything other than participate loyally in the two

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-74864824911438853282007-06-04T19:50:00.000-07:002007-06-04T20:01:43.427-07:00

CNA has an amusing story on the “Spirituality of Tithing” out of Apericida, with this lead:In his homily during Mass at the 5th General Conference of the Latin American Bishops’ Council, Archbishop Ubaldo Santana of Maracaibo (Venezuela) said “the spirituality of thankfully giving back” that is, tithing, consists in giving back “that which belongs to God.”It’s pretty clear from the rest of the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-86267202337186101692007-06-03T20:40:00.000-07:002007-06-03T20:48:34.155-07:00

Jesuit Watch is flattered to have an anonymous commenter.In his or her first comments, to Boys, 7-12, Anon wanted to know why we're interested in the Jesuits, (“vendetta,” “animosity”).Then he or she took issue with our answer to the question, “Why do rich people like the Jesuits?” This is on the post, Wealthy with Grace.My first contact with Jesuit educators is detailed in the classic post, Mr

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-34647922663604056362007-05-27T18:38:00.000-07:002007-06-03T19:59:34.783-07:00

This ad appeared today in the left-column sidebar of the California Catholic Daily. St. Michael's Summer Camp, a day and night resident camp for boys ages 7-12, located in south central Orange County (5 or 405 Freeway to El Toro Rd., seven miles east). Come join the fun! Hiking, swimming lessons, campfires, sports and much more! And learn more about the Catholic faith! Download flyer:

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-65247292463096202862007-05-15T17:58:00.000-07:002007-05-15T18:10:42.215-07:00

In an Al Jezeera article, Tribal Indians Condemn Pope, Pope Ratzinger endorsed the European conquest, enslavement, mass murder and forced conversions of the indigenous peoples of the New World as a good thing.Indian leaders in Brazil have reacted angrily to comments by Pope Benedict that they had been purified by the Roman Catholic church since Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492.The pope had

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-48620254618731003052007-05-11T07:00:00.000-07:002007-05-11T07:16:00.175-07:00

The Pope visits our hemisphere and things start popping. This is great!Finally, we might get some resolution. No person, including any politician, can support legal abortions and also be a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Politicians who support abortion are excommunicatedThe Vatican is clarifying, saying that a politician who votes for a woman’s right to choose is not the subject of a formal

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-44858075703067502682007-05-02T07:10:00.000-07:002007-05-02T07:18:41.767-07:00

As I recall, the Baltimore Catechism doesn’t mention lawsuits by the faithful against the Church hierarchyAccording to this Sun-Herald story a group parishioners in Katrina-ravaged Biloxi, MS, want to rebuild their church on its same beach-front site. The bishop thinks otherwise.So they’re going to civil court. At dispute is the ownership of the land the church was built on. The suit, filed by

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-57205045716958273952007-05-01T06:51:00.000-07:002007-05-01T07:07:21.988-07:00

Math is math. Whether you’re counting holocaust victims or angels on the head of a pin, you don’t need a holy person, or even a good person to teach how, just a competent one.Hiring someone to teach math is a routine task that can be delegated to the lay people who supposedly run St. Louis University. But when it comes to hiring a basketball coach you need the services of a Catholic priest,

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-83897767274528091062007-04-30T19:08:00.000-07:002007-04-30T19:21:07.504-07:00

“The path of ideology leads to heartlessness and cruelty.”Pudinhand WilsonThis CNS April 30 Newsbriefs story reminds us that no matter how earnestly liberal theologians try to soften the edges of Catholic ideology, collection-plate dollars are being used daily to thump thump thump away at women’s reproductive health.Bishops fight contraception mandate in Connecticut Catholic hospitalsDeclaring

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-61767847886264942132007-04-26T15:08:00.000-07:002007-04-26T15:14:17.682-07:00

This tragic scenario is not impossible.A mom and dad with their week-old infant are driving to the church where their baby will be baptized as a Roman Catholic.Approaching them, in another car, is another mom and dad with their own week-old baby. They are returning home after their the baptism, RC, of their child.There’s a collision and everyone dies including the two babies, one baptized,

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-52366575225937520942007-04-25T07:58:00.000-07:002007-04-25T08:03:58.313-07:00

Mexico City has legalized first trimester abortions. Catholics are upset as a matter of religion (and sex uptightness).The five Catholics on the U.S. Supreme Court appear ready to rubberstamp any anti-sex, anti-reproductive health laws any crackpot legislative body can come up with. The practical effect of abortion and contraception restrictions (don’t forget, the Catholic Church is DEAD SET

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-20737960782596591152007-04-22T08:06:00.000-07:002007-04-22T08:19:24.837-07:00

A nice guy I see on the tennis courts sometimes, I’ll call him Jack, responded to my various comments about religion. (At the time I was just learning about Scientology’s cosmology.)Jack, who’s education and resume are way more impressive than mine, asked why I was interested in religion.“Because I root for the underdog,” I said, “and religion is one way the strong bully the weak.”The story Jack

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-66789784548474820272007-04-18T06:36:00.000-07:002007-04-18T06:50:52.700-07:00

We'll be on assignment until Friday. Next post Saturday Apr 21. We'll be inside Cardinal Mahony's see, examining his bishopric. Interview plans are incomplete.----- o -----

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-75298005459543305972007-04-16T05:38:00.000-07:002007-04-16T06:03:41.656-07:00

When you molest children or cause children to be molested, which everyone agrees is the case in the Diocese of San Diego, the law says that the people responsible (the Diocese of San Diego) should make restitution for the damage done. See previous post on sfwillie’s blog.The Law of God says this.The laws of the United States and of the State of California say this.Bishop Brom didn’t like the Law

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-1521177861205075642007-04-14T11:14:00.000-07:002007-04-14T11:26:43.982-07:00

Joke:Q. Where is Pope Benedict coming from?A. Midway between Dachau and Mauthausen.This CNS throwaway item got me curious.The first map indicates the general area of Europe where Ratzinger was born. There are three blue markers, with a green arrow hiding behind the middle blue marker.The second map brings us in closer. We see the city of Munich near the left blue marker and the Austrian city of

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-63878582470163794802007-04-13T07:13:00.000-07:002007-04-13T07:26:32.178-07:00

Apologies are flying at St Joseph’s University, according to this story from KYW Newsradio. KYW's Ian Bush reports officials at St. Joseph's University are apologizing for the April Fool's parody edition of the student paper, which called Cardinal Rigali "gay" and compared Jesuits to Nazis.I guess the students hit a nerve.University president Fr. Timothy Lannon, expressed regret to the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-32598599717128550302007-04-13T06:45:00.000-07:002007-04-13T06:55:16.092-07:00

An ongoing question here is why so many pervs wind up as Catholic priests. My assumption has always been unfortunate mismatch between person and career.With the constant revelations of priest (even Jesuit) sex abuse I’m wondering if there is something more than unfortunate mismatch. Maybe, for some men, the trappings and context of priesthood are necessary to achieve erections.I used to think

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-10968848312782821472007-04-07T07:15:00.000-07:002007-04-07T07:49:43.771-07:00

Thanks to Mirror of Justice and Inside Higher Ed for sharing this amusing bit of moral slapstick.Story Outline: 1) First year law student at Georgetown University (Jesuit) applies for summer internship funding from the school (common practice).2) Her internship is to be with Planned Parenthood.3) The school denies funding because Planned Parenthood kills babies (supports abortion).4) School

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-59723476616880533432007-04-02T20:02:00.000-07:002007-04-02T21:25:12.633-07:00

Heaven for climate, hell for society.-TwainquotesYou know, the Church considers Hell to be res not spes. According to Jesus, as interpreted by the Catholic Church, there are souls in Hell right now, who will never escape excruciating pain. This is one reason given by Bertrand Russell for Why I Am Not a Christian. Russell is all like, Who needs a God that creates places like Hell? You know, with

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-15654686980134147772007-03-31T09:07:00.000-07:002007-03-31T09:17:32.306-07:00

I’m sorry, but this headline was irresistible:Jesuit College: Immortalisation Project BeginsI’m thinking, They should patent it before they announce it. And, like, What will this mean for world population?The story is not so racy. It’s from an African country, apparently Nigeria.The move to immortalise the 60 students of Loyola Jesuit College who died in the December 2005 Sosoliso plane crash in

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-62116848104087998172007-03-30T21:14:00.000-07:002007-03-30T21:33:34.386-07:00

The model of Judeo-Christianity is that of a contract, a quid-pro-quo agreement between God and His Chosen People.The word “Testament” means contract.The Old Testament says if Jews obey Jahweh He will favor them among nations. When misfortune befell the Jews it was seen as divine retribution for disobedience, or as unjustified. The contract was two-way, and Jahweh was expected to uphold His

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-20808432598426712572007-03-27T13:56:00.000-07:002007-03-27T14:06:04.157-07:00

It’s not unusual to hear a church person lamenting the faithlessness of his would-be flock. But in this funny little CNA article Father Benno Benes SDB seems to lament the prosperity and freedom of the Czech people. “In communist times, the people stuck together, because they could feel that the Church was under enormous pressure. But today, the freedom and the liberalisation of life are so

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-82121562010249599502007-03-27T13:15:00.000-07:002007-03-27T13:30:52.958-07:00

Gay sex is NOT sinful. Prejudice against gay people IS sinful.According to a recent N.Y. Times story, a Jesuit theologian has been condemned for these and other pro-sex views of Catholic doctrine.The theologian, Daniel C. Maguire, teaches religious ethics at Marquette University, a Jesuit institution in Milwaukee. He is a 75-year-old former priest and a prolific writer, educated at the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-6389079318513178502007-03-23T06:21:00.000-07:002007-03-23T06:29:31.967-07:00

Entire religious movements have been triggered, or justified, by individual Bible-verses.Thus, the story of Jacob and Esau could reassure pederast priests that their longing for males without body hair, is, well, God-like.Maybe not too big a deal, except Jacob was renamed “Israel.”Sooner or later genome mapping stuff will be able to tell us, in those days, were the Israelites less hairy than

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-58662051238498255042007-03-22T21:30:00.000-07:002007-03-22T21:42:31.485-07:00

From the semi-sophisticated University of San Francisco to a small hospital in Duarte, California, is a big step down, if only in air quality. Father Fessio S.J. was shitcanned by his Jesuit superior for peddling his fundamentalist, hegemonic form of CatholicismMaybe Father Fessio felt a little underused in the 40-bed-hospital assignment. Like, obedience is one thing, but, sheesh! Who's ever

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-29984597871348196372007-03-22T20:52:00.000-07:002007-03-22T22:01:55.830-07:00

This just in. Father Fessio who was fired yesterday and told to leave campus by sundown has negotiated a parachute even a secular academic would be proud of.The below email was posted on AngelQueen blog. AngelQueen has more speculation about what went on. Some say Fessio and Healy didn’t get along. One of them had to go. So the pizza guy dropped the hammer on Fessio.From: Nick HealySent: Thu 3/22

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-19449773814727525392007-03-21T19:33:00.000-07:002007-03-21T19:48:50.884-07:00

Nudity was a big deal to the writers of Genesis. Embarrassment at their nakedness is the only immediate effect of Adam and Eve eating the apple.Before they ate:Gen 2:25The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.After they ate the apple:Gen 3:7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-16953549307622136162007-03-20T20:54:00.000-07:002007-03-20T21:03:47.149-07:00

There’s lots and lots of minimizing by Germans who got through the Third Reich alive and without getting into trouble with the Nazis, and Ratzinger is no different. Though denying any enthusiasm, Ratzinger was a member of the Hitler Youth, which means he must have taken this oath (from The History Place)."In the presence of this blood banner which represents our Führer, I swear to devote all my

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-30120344505777953202007-03-20T20:28:00.000-07:002007-03-20T20:30:36.193-07:00

On SFWILLIE’S BLOG I’ve posted a little essay, Pierre and I, about my agreement with Pierre Teilhard de Chardin on the basics of what is. This could be the first in a series covering My Favorite Heretics.----- o -----

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-3056843123012581782007-03-18T16:57:00.000-07:002007-03-18T17:02:14.664-07:00

One guy is sprawled on his stomach, his face against rough downward sloping rock. Another guy is jumping on the sprawled-guy’s back with his right foot, and is about to thrust a spear into the back of the sprawled-guy’s neck.Murder in progress? Crime scene?No, this is Yahweh’s will being carried out.It’s about good and evil. The guy flat on his face is evil. The guy about to thrust the spear is

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-57266138073934103942007-03-18T16:00:00.000-07:002007-03-18T16:11:44.492-07:00

It’s a simple syllogism:1) Per Baltimore Catechism #2, it’s a mortal sin to willfully miss Mass on Sunday.390. Q. Is it a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a Sunday or a holyday of obligation?A. It is a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a Sunday or a holyday of obligation, unless we are excused for a serious reason. They also commit a mortal sin who, having others under their charge, hinder them from

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-89885729550593145892007-03-14T20:37:00.000-07:002007-03-15T11:01:00.414-07:00

Here are two rather off handed quotes on non-religious websites by visitors to Mexico.This quote from a mountain biking website. The particular article is about biking in Baja California.Here’s what the author has to say about the Jesuits.Loreto nestles against the ocean beneath a western skyline of jagged desert peaks. It's a quiet town where dogs sleep in the shade and kids cruise the

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-21867182104504619852007-03-13T19:59:00.000-07:002007-03-13T20:31:13.941-07:00

I first heard of Ambrose Bierce (wikilink) in sophomore English class at St Ignatius High. He is a major figure in San Francisco’s thin literary history.His delightful Devil’s Dictionary is in the public domain. Bierce wasn’t a big fan of religion in any form, per the below entry.MAMMON, n.The god of the world's leading religion. The chief temple is in the holy city of New York.He swore that all

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-7976377271567936052007-03-12T19:30:00.000-07:002007-03-12T19:35:51.122-07:00

Margaret G writes to Catholic Answers – Ask an Apologist about an attempt to receive the sacrament of Penance from a particular priest.Then in the middle of confession his cell phone rang, he picked it up to see who was calling and then put it back without turning it off. Because of this distraction he even forgot to give me my penance. I tracked him down to tell him that he forgot to give me my

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-5239026288768773542007-03-11T18:14:00.000-07:002007-03-11T18:27:30.051-07:00

We have mentioned that the role of the Church as interpreter of Divine Scripture is necessitated by the inarticulateness of God.There are things that God wanted us to know, so he dictated the Bible. But for some reason, God wasn’t able to explain things in a way that humans could easily understand.Omnipotent in every other way, God needs help from really smart humans, Catholic priests, to figure

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-14417512167186439482007-03-10T21:09:00.000-08:002007-03-10T21:17:14.784-08:00

According to predictive reports, Jesuit liberation theologist Father Jon Sobrino will soon be silenced by Pope Ratzinger.Liberation theology focuses on helping poor people and on eliminating systems of poverty. Ratzinger’s view is that strictly speaking the Church’s only obligation to the poor is one communion wafer per person per day—any more is optional, like charity.Ratzinger’s opposition to

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-76789965228138907122007-03-09T20:14:00.000-08:002007-03-09T20:17:50.868-08:00

[This post also appears on SFWILLIE'S BLOG.]The last time San Francisco’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were in the news was a controversial celebration on Easter Sunday. Local Catholic thick-necks took umbrage at the date and petitioned the Board of Supervisors to withhold a street-closing permit. Gay people were determined to close the three blocks in question with or without a permit, but

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-58835684235923648402007-03-09T05:01:00.000-08:002007-03-09T05:08:47.255-08:00

Boys – The BeatlesThe Jesuit values of excellence and leadership are important in worldly as well as spiritual endeavors. For instance, the effort put into a still life painting can be totally AMDG.Joseph (Deacon Joe) Lundowski, assigned by the Jesuits to tend to the spiritual needs of a remote Alaskan village, was not a still life painter in his spare time, he was, allegedly, a child molester.

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-8084547638642987602007-03-08T12:26:00.000-08:002007-03-08T12:31:31.092-08:00

There’s a gathering in San Francisco this weekend for teen Evangelicals called BattleCry. (Chron story here.) It seems intended to energize teen Christian culture warriors. Planners predict over 20,000 attendees for rock concerts, rallys and other events.There are Christian critics of BattleCry’s hostility. The Chron quotes one of them."You can tell people about God in more of a loving way than

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-35567027696125724492007-03-08T11:56:00.000-08:002007-03-08T12:03:23.718-08:00

Jesuit Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda says the Church needs to use the psychological sciences to help weed out homosexual candidates from the priesthood. What a moron! I’m sorry, what I meant to say is that Father Ghirlanda could possibly be mistaken. (CNS story here.)When this guy Ghirlanda gets to the “individual judgment” and the sin of employment discrimination comes up, he’ll be pleading

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-62108529211318987352007-03-07T03:53:00.000-08:002007-03-07T04:00:46.156-08:00

She was a nice young woman, we’ll call her Ms M. She had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and she got pregnant. She decided to have an abortion.There are many heart-wrenching stories that lead up to women’s decisions abort their babies. Ms M’s was particularly innocent. Ms M wanted above all else to be a Catholic nun. She thought that having a baby would disqualify her.Ms M had been

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-64547960592139785392007-03-06T13:47:00.000-08:002007-03-06T13:56:58.598-08:00

We were taught that Mary, mother of Jesus, is, was, and always will be a virgin. When pressed, priests told us that, yes, to this day Mary’s hymen is intact.This means that Mary and Joseph were never really married, that is, they never performed the marriage act.The sacrament of matrimony is performed by the couple involved. Sexual intercourse, “the marriage act”, is itself the sacrament.

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-43314361181046318252007-03-05T19:08:00.000-08:002007-03-05T19:13:52.478-08:00

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was educated by the Jesuits at Holy Cross 1968-71. (So much for the value of a Jesuit education!)[Life is good these days for Clarence Thomas.]According to this New Georgia Encyclopedia entry, Clarence was recruited to Holy Cross because he was black.This unusual interview addresses this aleged affirmative action, against which Clarence maybe doth protest too

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-83561376451138715422007-03-05T18:31:00.000-08:002007-03-05T18:41:58.068-08:00

I’ve been dealing with a friend today who has chronic life problems stemming from childhood sexual abuse. The damage is not theoretical, it’s real.His abuser (a non priest) had this in common with most priest sex criminals, he was able to avoid prosecution for his multiple felonies. It seems that Catholic priests tend to avoid jail by international flight, or by invoking a statute of limitations.

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-42315123640324276072007-03-04T04:48:00.000-08:002007-03-04T04:55:48.509-08:00

According to a deposition cited in this Anchorage Daily News story, Rev James Jacobson, S.J. couldn’t pay for the support of his four children because he needed the money for prostitutes.Now that the Reverend is retired, he can revisit the mid-370s of Baltimore Catechism #2.373. Q. What is the seventh Commandment?A. The seventh Commandment is: Thou shalt not steal.374. Q. What are we commanded by

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-77941416898944055282007-03-04T04:06:00.000-08:002007-03-04T04:47:06.760-08:00

Superstition - Stevie WonderBelow are three questions from the Baltimore Catechism #2.10. Q. How shall we know the things which we are to believe?A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.30. Q. Can we fully understand how the three Divine Persons are one and the same God?A. We cannot fully understand how the three Divine Persons

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-50804519841903914162007-03-03T14:26:00.000-08:002007-03-03T14:36:21.643-08:00

The story idea below is suggested by a post in Idle Speculation about an important Jesuit missionary to China. The suggestive paragraph:Michael Alphonsus Shen Fu-Tsung was born of Chinese Christian parents and came to Europe at the instigation of Father Philip Couplet, Procurator of the China Jesuits in Rome. After leaving Macao in 1681 they traveled together in Italy, France and England. Shen

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-39603911574067134672007-03-02T17:26:00.000-08:002007-03-05T19:41:38.403-08:00

This guy who preaches to the Pope warned against dialog with other religions. At a retreat attended by the Pope and other Vatican bigshots, Cardinal Biffi cautioned that equal dialog with non Catholics is a temptation of the Antichrist. According to a Catholic News Service article: He said there are "absolute values such as the good, the true and the beautiful. One who perceives them and loves

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-9299489824814166642007-03-01T11:49:00.001-08:002007-03-05T19:44:05.059-08:00

Here’s the story from AP via Yahoo. Fischer Price got fined almost $1 million because they put profit ahead of child safety.FP knew that their toy had a choking/aspiration problem and continued to sell the toy and failed to notify the Consumer Product Safety Commission (recall notice here).It’s bad taste to cheat kids. The Koran is big on this, especially orphans. In Islam, if you mess with an

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-15949594223425463552007-03-01T11:05:00.000-08:002007-03-01T17:30:29.724-08:00

[Note: This post also appears on SFWILLIE'S BLOG.]Catholic parochial school kids of my generation all learned their religion from the Baltimore Catechism. This book presents, in question and answer format, the basic beliefs and practices of Roman Catholics.Here’s an excerpt:LESSON FIRSTON THE END OF MAN1. Q. Who made the world?A. God made the world.2. Q. Who is God?A. God is the Creator of heaven

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-19726010027862449752007-02-28T18:00:00.000-08:002007-02-28T18:06:13.576-08:00

Loyola-Chicago has appointed Christine Wiseman, J.D. to be provost of the university. Of courts the press release speaks highly of Ms Wiseman and describes her new job thusly:As chief academic officer, the Provost oversees teaching, learning, research, and academic services; formulates general academic policies for the University; and promotes quality in undergraduate, graduate, and professional

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-35737522963418806142007-02-28T17:30:00.000-08:002007-02-28T17:38:00.788-08:00

SFWILIE’S BLOG reacts to San Diego Diocese’ decision to seek bankruptcy protection rather than go to trial over a case of priest sex abuse.One motive cited by plaintiff attorneys is that a trial would force the disclosure of secret Church documents possibly containing evidence of serious criminality as well as the expected evidence of embarrassing venality.Brom: What Seventh Commandment?

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018650033350524569.post-84154548658894386802007-02-27T19:40:00.000-08:002007-02-27T19:54:28.904-08:00

According to the plaintiff in this story, two Jesuits molested her and she wants a cool five mil. This seems like a lot to ask the faithful to pay for their priests to have sex.While I don’t necessarily advocate or condemn commercial sexual interactions, there is such a thing as prostitution, there is also unfortunately child prostitution.I point this out only to say that it's possible to

sfwilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.com1