LONG TASSLES, A GREAT AND WELL WRITTEN COMMENTARY ON THINGS LITURGICAL

Father George Rutler has a great writing style and uses words in the most eloquent of ways. His article in First Things is long, but well worth reading. It's about the new English translation of the Mass, liturgists, ad orientem worship and the like.
PRESS HERE TO READ IS WELL-WRITTEN ARTICLE, I DON'T THINK HE LIKES LITURGISTS, BUT I COULD BE WRONG!

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: A WONDERUL GRACE FOR ALL INVOLVED!

I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!

You are received into the full communion of the Catholic Church!

Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit! (Confirmation)

The Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ, the completion of God's initiation of the person into His Church.

St. Joseph Church is blessed with a wonderful Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) team and ministry. We have an on-going inquiry phase that begins meeting after the "Rite of Welcome" in November and continues through the summer months. The current group will begin THE more formal inquiry phase beginning next Thursday.

I always find it exciting to work with our inquirers and see them progress in the grace of conversion that God makes possible for them through His Church.

The RCIA makes the grace of God's call to individuals to be members of his Church public and visible. Once the inquirers are welcomed as catechumens, we dismiss them after the homily at each Sunday Mass. We also celebrate all the other milestones of the RCIA process at Sunday Mass.

For those who have been "unofficial" inquirers, meaning they are connected to the Catholic Church through a spouse or a friend and have been attending for a lengthy period of time, I meet personally with them. If they have a strong Christian background and have been worshiping with us for years, there is no need for them to go through what non-baptized inquirers do. It might only take a few private meetings with me and we receive them into the Church at a Sunday Mass.

But other Christians who come to us, although they are strong in their denominational formation and belief, benefit from the RCIA and the amount of time it takes. It helps them to breathe Catholic air. For these Christians we use the "combined rites" for the RCIA, always making distinctions between those who are "baptized" and thus called "candidates" and those who are not baptized who are called "catechumens" once they have made that liturgical step out of the inquiry stage.

How has the RCIA process in your parish assisted you in your own faith? Have you chosen to be a part of an RCIA team or to be a sponsor? The best thing from my perspective about the RCIA is that it involves more people in assisting inquirers to experience God's grace of conversion. It's not just the priest and the person, but many people including the priest. What are your thoughts?

RAT UPDATE

Yes, I know this is disgusting, but it being alive in my house is more disgusting!


We're still battling a rat infestation in the rectory. I think there is one left out of five, four having succumbed to a rat trap behind our kitchen stove. This fifth rat is elusive and evidently very smart. He or she has walked into the kitchen twice while I was there. So I have images of it in my mind every time I go to the kitchen and when I go to bed.

To make matters worse, my bedroom and sitting room which are on the third floor of the rectory has had visitors too! I had to move some furniture two nights ago and discovered hardened rat droppings in two locations. One location was directly underneath my recliner. This has not gone well for my psychological state of mind, especially at bed time and during the night.

Part of the problem with the rats is that we did some construction on the third floor renovating a suite, adding a new bathroom and totally renovating another, which exposed the rectory to open walls and floor joists. The workers discovered an old, but large rat's nest underneath the tub that was removed. This tub's plumbing works are accessed through a door in my sitting room's closet. Plumbers worked on the plumbing from that closet while I was away and left the door open allowing any rats that lived in the wall to enter my room. I'm hoping that the hardened rat droppings occurred while I was away on vacation during construction.

However in our kitchen we have three rat traps and two sticky pads. But this fifth rat is too smart to fall for these. We've seen no droppings in the kitchen and the exterminator told us that if the rat can't find food, more than likely he's moved out. I didn't buy it.

Last night I left two small potato chips in the middle of the kitchen floor to see if they would be gone in the morning at 4:30 am when I go down for breakfast. Yep! they were gone this morning! All the traps though, untouched.

I put two potato chips on the sticky trap. Let's see if he falls for it. My brothers and sisters this is war. But on the psychological front, the rat has won! I've told Fr. Justin that if I actually see a rat in my room at night, that we're moving out until we can be assured that the rat problem is ended. I've never been in such a situation as this.

JUST BECAUSE I'M A PRIEST DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T HAVE A DRY SENSE OF HUMOR!

Even Jesus and the Word of God have a sense of humor guys, loosen up!

The post below this one, "To veil or not to veil" was a tongue in cheek post about veiling the chalice, not about nuns or laity wearing veils, although the comment section has some good points on this! The give away, after what I thought was a brilliant leading you down the garden path to the slaughter, is the link that I insist you press! I was referring to chalice veils throughout the article, not nun's or sister's veils! PRESS HEAR TO SEE WHAT I WAS WRITING ABOUT! What a hoot!

But speaking of sister's veils, Harvard Valedictorian, Mary Anne Marks, is joining a wonderful and booming religious order which, by the way, wears a full habit and the veil. It is the same order that Oprah showcased in the most pleasant way earlier this year. Read about Mary Anne Mark's story by PRESSING HERE!

AND TO SEE THE DOMINICAN SISTER OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST WEBSITE PRESS THIS SENTENCE AND SEE WHAT RELIGIOUS RENEWAL AS VATICAN II ENVISIONED IS ALL ABOUT!

TO BE VEILED OR NOT TO BE VEILED

Sister Angela in my second grade class (1962) pointing out where the Vatican is and all the bishops of the world at Vatican II. She taught us that the veil might be eliminated as well as Latin and other customs to make the Church more modern.And as you can imagine, that pointer sister is using doubled for something else not too pleasant and I'm sure glad Vatican II outlawed it! Please notice that all the children have their knuckles under the table for protection!

I know that I am walking on thin ice with many people, women in particular, when I say I am in favor of the veil. To some, that's like throwing a bomb into the "spirit of Vatican II." And it does go against the grain! I was in London recently and one topic of great controversy was about Muslim women wearing the veil in public, the veils that cover them totally, much like the old habits of nuns and sisters. There is a move in England to outlaw the veil and also in France. So for me to suggest that the veil should be used and in public is a great threat to many people, especially those who think it is a throw back to pre-Vatican II days.

But in Eastern Orthodoxy, the bishop wears a veil. There is no move to make it optional or to ban it outright! But here I go again, advocating for tradition and I know I will have my detractors and those who won't even read much further than this. So be it. It's their loss, not mine!

When I was a small child growing up in the Church, I liked the veil. The veil added mystery and was unique. I often wondered what was under the veil. Many now don't veil and the mystery is gone. I think the veil adds something. It gives some elegance when it is used properly. Others say it adds authority and continuity with the traditions of the past.

I can remember being in parochial school as Vatican II began. Sister Angela who taught us religion in the second grade and was a Sister of St. Joseph of Corondelet and wore their very beautiful and elegant habit, would tell us about the goings on at Vatican II. She taught us that Vatican II would modernize the Church and that there was talk about doing away with many customs and traditions that don't fit in our modern society any more like Latin and the veil. She said the veil might not be needed anymore. She said she would miss it.

Some people despise the veil. They say it is a throw back to earlier times, but not what should be used today. We're modern and and using the veil does not speak to the world of modernity. It turns modern people off.

But in some places the veil is making a come back. In those places, where tradition, daily Mass and strong devotions are present, there is an abundance of vocations with young people entering. I think it has something to do with the veil and all that surrounds its use.

In fact I know of someone who recently went back to using the veil. There are some negative comments about it. But mostly people have been positive about the veil. They like seeing the veil. They ask why not use it? It touches the heart more than the intellect and certainly makes for more public visibility and discussion.

What do you think? Do you like the veil or not? Will the veil help with vocations?
BE SURE TO PRESS THE LINK BELOW AND SEE AN EXAMPLE OF BEING VEILED AND NOT BEING VEILED.YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THE POINT I'M MAKING. IT'S QUITE REVEALING!

PRESS HERE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN BEING VEILED AND NOT BEING VEILED. YOU DECIDE!

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION: TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

I saw an article on Extraordinary Minsters of Holy Communion in the London Telegraph. The reporter wasn't too keen on the use of them. I didn't agree with all of his sentiments but I do have my own take on it.

I think it is wonderful to have laity who are able to bring Holy Communion to the sick and home bound. They need to be trained not only in the reverence required of such an awesome ministry but also how to visit the sick and be pastorally sensitive and professional. It is a great blessing for the home bound and sick to be able to receive Holy Communion frequently. If only priests and deacons could do this, most home bound would be able to receive only monthly if at that.

In terms of the Mass, it is wonderful that the laity can assist in this fashion when there is truly a need. But I have changed my attitude from the liberal use of EM's to a more modified form of it during Mass. You may or may not agree with me.

When our bishop asked parishes to cease having the common chalice at Mass due to H1N1 concerns, I saw something rather marvelous. In the past we would have at least six, sometimes eight EM's come forward at the Sign of Peace. Usually some who were scheduled did not show up. This meant that others in the congregation would have to crane their necks to see if they were needed, thus distracting them at this point in the Mass and creating some confusion when too many came forward to replace the ones that didn't show up. The process of giving all the EM's their Holy Communion was more cumbersome too.

When we only need two EM's for Mass, these always show up, and it is very simple to give them Holy Communion and for us to go and distribute Holy Communion. It is more prayerful and less chaotic.

When the bishop asked that we stop offering the common chalice (we had six chalice stations)it was the first time that anyone officially acknowledged that there is a possibility of contracting a virus or some other virulent germ from the common cup. In fact most of us know that if the Catholic Mass came under the laws of the state in terms of the consumption of "food and drink" in an establishment, that the Church would be shut down for our relatively recent practice of the common chalice with up to 40 people drinking from the same cup. It is not sanitary and in the eyes of state law could create a health risk for those who do it.

Apart from the laity contracting a disease or illness from the common chalice, the priest, deacon or instituted acolyte who alone may cleanse and purify the chalices must first consume what remains of the precious blood and whatever saliva it contains, then place water into the chalice that some 40 people have shared, consume that and then thoroughly wash the chalice (hopefully).

I cannot in good conscience do it myself or ask any other poor soul, deacon or acolyte to do it. In fact a permanent deacon not far from here who is a medical doctor of the colon, contracted a bacteria that lodged in his colon and nearly killed him. He firmly believes that he contracted the bacteria from the chalices used for common sharing that he meticulously and properly cleanses after Mass according to the norms of the liturgy.

I have not returned the parish to the common chalice. I cannot in good conscience for health concerns.

On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, I did experiment with intinction. I reminded our congregation that if they desired to receive an intincted host that they could not do so by receiving in the hand but must receive on the tongue. If they chose to receive in the hand, they would not receive an intincted host. Nearly 98% of those receiving from me received an intincted host. For many it was the first time in years that they had received on the tongue. I asked for comments after Mass and everyone was very positive about this method of distribution and hoped we would establish it regularly. They felt it much more sanitary too.

Your thoughts?

IF THE BISHOP CLOSED YOUR HISTORIC CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

Their church building in Cleveland, Ohio closed by their bishop. How would you feel?

Mass in their temporary gathering space, does this look progressive to you?

Schism in the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio! The bishop of that diocese had the monumental and unenviable task of closing and consolidating parishes in his city/diocese. One parish, a rather progressive, liberal one, St. Peter's has gone into schism with the Church. This schism is led by its pastor with support of parishioners who love him and love the parish he created with them. READ ABOUT IT BY PRESSING HERE!

What's fascinating to me is that liberals usually are all over the place and cannot organize in any fashion to create any real or lasting schism. Ultra-conservatives, on the other hand, know how to go into schism and pull it off. Think of Archbishop Marcel Lefebre's schism. He knew what he was doing and had a personality that led millions of others into his schismatic sect. Conservatives know how to unify! This can be both a blessing and a curse. But I digress.

The parish I was assigned to in Augusta in 1991, the Church of the Most Holy Trinity,was amalgamated with two other parishes in 1970, an all black parish, Immaculate Conception and and all white one, Sacred Heart Church. The three downtown parishes were in close proximity to one another and there was no longer a need for three downtown parishes since most of the Catholics has moved to the suburbs and new parishes created there. As one can imagine, the two churches that were closed caused great pain for parishioners involved. Some refused to attend Most Holy Trinity and moved to suburban parishes, other stopped attending Mass altogether and still others left the Catholic Church for other Protestant Churches. However, no priest or parishioners went into schism with the Catholic Church setting up an "independent Catholic parish" such as the priests and his groupies, I mean, parishioners in Cleavland.

Sacred Heart Church in Augusta is a "sister" to St. Joseph in Macon, conceived by the same Jesuit brother who also conceived Sacred Heart Church in Tampa and the destroy Sacred Heart Church in Galveston, Texas. All his churches are simply jewels!

What would you do if your historic, much loved Church were closed by the bishop? How would that affect your Catholic faith and participation. If you had a charismatic priest who was willing to rebel and defy his bishop and the Church, would you follow him blindly. Is the "cult of the priest's personality" that powerful in Catholic lives?

I would like to make a comparison. Clericalism, that is, priests who think they are above the law, either church law or civil law and think they compose a caste in the Church superior to anyone else is a grave sin. It has contributed to Catholics believing that their priests are above reproach, are divinely inspired in all their action and trustworthy in all things. Some rogue, derelict and perverted priests have taken advantage of parishioners naivete in this regard by abusing their authority and status. This has led to children, teenagers and adults being sexually and otherwise abused and the crisis we now experience today in terms of Catholic credibility.

Some lay Catholics place their priests so high on a pedestal and make them icons of their lives that they are devastated when they learn that "their" special priest may have committed heinous crimes and sins in their past by using the status accorded to them to take advantage of the unsuspecting.

I believe that the priest in Cleveland who has led his parish into schism has abused his position, taken advantage of his parishioners and his parishioners, so enamored with that priest's abilities, skills and rebellious attitude, have followed him much like so many others who follow cult leaders. It is a shame!

I would hate seeing any parish closed. If I were a lay person I don't think I would ever follow any priest or lay person out of the Catholic Church, at least I hope I wouldn't. What about you?

A TALE OF TWO CITIES, AUGUSTA AND MACON, WHAT IF WHAT HAPPENED IN AUGUSTA HAD HAPPENED INSTEAD IN MACON? WHAT WOULD YOU DO? LOOK AT THE PICTURES:

Augusta's closed Sacred Heart Church

Sacred Heart's "sister" St. Joseph Church, Macon. How would you feel if the bishop closed it?

Interior of St. Joseph which is more elegant than closed Sacred Heart, don't you think?

Interior of Augusta's closed Sacred Heart Church, now a cultural center for receptions!

TODAY IS THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF KNOCK IN IRELAND

I took this picture in the town square of Knock, it is a statue of Christ the King!

I took this picture where the apparition actually took place, which is behind the small parish Church. Today it is enclosed and the small parish church still exists!

I took this picture a month ago today at the Shrine and attend Mass in the afternoon!


On the evening of August 21, 1879 Mary McLoughlin, the housekeeper to the parish priest of Knock, County Mayo, ireland, was astonished to see the outside south wall of the church bathed in a mysterious light; there were three figures standing in front of the wall, which she mistook for replacements of the stone figures destroyed in a storm. She rushed through the rain to her friend Margaret Byrne's house.

After a half hour Mary decided to leave and Margaret's sister Mary agreed to walk home with her. As they passed the church they saw and amazing vision very clearly: Standing out from the gable and to the west of it appeared the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and St. John. The figure of the Blessed Virgin was life-size, while the others seemed to be neither as large nor as tall. They stood a little away from the gable wall about two feet from the ground. The Virgin was erect with her eyes toward Heaven, and she was wearing a large white cloak hanging in full folds; on her head was a large crown.

Mary Byrne ran to tell her family while Mary McLoughlin gazed at the apparition. Soon a crowd gathered and all saw the apparition. The parish priest, Archdeacon Cavanaugh, did not come out, however, and his absence was a disappointment to the devout villagers. Among the witnesses were Patrick Hill and John Curry. As Patrick later described the scene: 'The figures were fully rounded, as if they had a body and life. They did not speak but, as we drew near, they retreated a little towards the wall.' Patrick reported that he got close enough to make out the words in the book held by the figure of St. John.

An old woman named Bridget trench drew closer to embrace the feet of the Virgin, but the figure seemed always beyond reach. Others out in the fields and some distance away saw a strange light around the church. The vision lasted for about three hours and then faded.

The next day a group of villagers went to see the priest, who accepted the their report as genuine; he wrote to the diocesan Bishop of Tuam; then the Church set up a commission to interview a number of the people claiming to witness the apparition. The diocesan hierarchy was not convinced, and some members of the commission ridiculed the visionaries, alleging they were victims of a hoax perpetrated by the local Protestant constable! But the ordinary people were not so skeptical, and the first pilgrimages to knock began in 1880. Two years later Archbishop John Joseph Lynch of Toronto made a visit to the parish and claimed he had been healed by the Virgin of Knock.

In due course many of the witnesses died. But Mary Byrne married, raised six children, living her entire life in Knock. When interviewed again in 1963 at the age of eighty-six, her account did not vary from the first report she gave in 1879.

The village of Knock was transformed by the thousands who came to commemorate the vision and to ask for healing for others and themselves. The local church was too small to accommodate the crowds. In 1976 a new church, Our Lady Queen of Ireland, was erected. It holds more than two thousand and needs to, for each year more than a half million visitors arrive to pay their respects to the Blessed Virgin.

The Church approved the the apparition in 1971 as being quite probable, although it has never been formally stated. The Shrine at Knock is opened year round. In 1994 three life-sized statues were erected of Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John.

HERE COMES THE MASS! HERE COMES THE MASS!

I can't remember if it was Laugh-in or The Flip Wilson Show, but there was an on-going skit called, "Here Comes the Judge! Here Comes the Judge!" Well, finally, we can say about the new English translation: Here Comes the Mass! Here Comes the Mass!

What's interesting is that what many people thought was the final version of the re-translated English Mass and even posted on the USCCB's website, was in fact not the final version. Even after the bishops and the Vatican gave the final approval, some tweaking still took place. Some found the "arbitrary" tweaking, without things going back to committee or national conferences of bishops, very disturbing. I guess they don't have better things to worry about.

At any rate, you can compare some of the final changes from this link from the blog "Praytell." PRESS HERE! PRESS HERE!

AS WELL, YOU CAN PRESS THIS ENTIRE SENTENCE AND GO TO THE BISHOPS' WEBSITE FOR THE COMPLETE ORDER OF THE MASS AND WHAT THE NEW TRANSLATION FOR THE LAITY'S PART'S OF THE MASS WILL BE. PRESS THIS WHOLE THING! PRESS THIS WHOLE THING!

GEORGIA CHURCH NAMED MINOR BASILICA--HAPPY AND SAD DAY FOR ME!

The Basilica of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Atlanta! Congratulations!!!!!

The "Basilica" of the Most Holy Trinity, Augusta, GA


"Basilica" of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Macon

Sacred Heart Church in downtown Atlanta has been named a minor basilica! Congratulations to the pastor, the parish, the Archbishop who supported the cause, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops who approved it and the Vatican which named it. You can read about it by pressing here!

When I was pastor of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in downtown Augusta,(1991-2004) which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, I wanted to have our "new" Church with construction begun in 1857 and completed and paid for in 1863 during the height of the War Between the States or the War of Northern Aggression, whichever you prefer, named a minor basilica. The parish, which was very eager and willing to do all the hard work to present to the USCCB was thwarted in its grand plans. I won't go into the sad details.

The Second Bishop of Savannah, Bishop John Barry, who was pastor of the parish for more than 30 years and named the Bishop of Savannah and later laid the cornerstone for the new Church, but died before it was completed, had hoped to make the Church of the Most Holy Trinity the new Cathedral of the Diocese since Savannah was a hotbed for yellow fever, misery and death! His plans did not come to fruition. He is interred in an above ground tomb in the crypt of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity with about 12 other priests.

Compared to Sacred Heart Basilica, the Church of the Most Holy Trinity is older, grander and with a more colorful history spanning being a part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore at its founding, then later the Diocese of Charleston and finally the Diocese of Savannah. It could have been the Cathedral of the Diocese of Augusta! So sad!

And while I'm writing, St. Joseph Church in Macon is a good candidate for "basilicaship" too, although its history is not as storied as the Church of the Most Holy Trinity. It's architecture is grander and certainly significant for the area in which it was built. Maybe one day there will be support for two basilcas, if not three, if the Cathedral in Savannah applied for it, in our diocese. Time will tell!

Maybe one day I can answer the telephone at the Basilica of Saint Joseph in Macon by simply saying, "Basilica!" Oh what a happy day that will be!
Saint Joseph Church interior

Basilica of the Sacred Heart interior

Church of the Most Holy Trinity Interior

WELL, WELL, WELL!

UPDATED WITH THE BISHOPS WEBSITE ON THE NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE MASS




The word from Msgr. Guido Marini, papal master of ceremonies, is that the new English translation of the Gloria will be sung at the Papal Mass in England as well as some other newly translated parts of the congregation.

This is good news. I've been advocating for a long time that bishops allow pastors of parishes to prepare people for their new parts, already approved by the Vatican, as soon as possible. I know that it would not take much for my parish to receive these and to start singing and saying them with gusto!

For some reason, bishops think these parts need to be implemented all at once throughout the diocese. I recommend a more piecemeal fashion with a final date in which the entire diocese must be on board.

As I recall, when the new order of the Mass was implemented in the mid 1960's, some parishes implemented it more quickly than others. I see no reason why the new English translation couldn't be implement now in parishes that have known about what is coming for the past three years, like mine!

I recommend that we be allowed to implement the greetings, preface dialogue, Confiteor and revised Penitential Rite, Gloria, Credo and Sanctus even now.

For some reason, many bishops and priests think that the laity are too rigid to accept these changes without a lot of moaning and protesting. Evidently they don't have a very high regard for the laity and their flexibility. What do you think?

PRESS HERE FOR THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS WEBSITE ON THE NEW ENGLISH MASS

IF A CATHOLIC PROPAGATES WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES ON SEX AND MARRIAGE, IS THAT CATHOLIC A BIGOT OR A HATE MONGER?

The politics of same sex marriage has turned ugly. Those Christians and others who belong to other world religions that acknowledge that marriage is between one man and one woman and thus beneficial for the well being of society, the rearing of children and the stability of cultures, are being marginalized as bigots and being opposed to basic human rights, the right to marry whomever one wants even if they are of the same sex.

Those who want religion out of politics, law and legislation say that religious beliefs about marriage and the nature of sex is a private matter that should not be brought to the public square or shape judicial and legislative processes and laws. In some places, just saying out loud that two homosexual persons should not be allowed to marry and that homosexual sex is a sin could be classified as "hate" speech resulting in a fine or jail time.

So what's a practicing, believing Catholic to do?

First we must acknowledge that homosexual persons or persons with homosexual tendencies have been discriminated against, marginalized, hated and persecuted. This has occurred at the hands of Catholics, other Christians and people of other religions. We all know the words that are used in a derogatory way directed against homosexuals. It is no wonder there is a backlash against this sort of thing and a mentality of trying to get even.

Second,Catholic teaching is built on love and respect even for those who do not uphold our basic beliefs and moral teachings. We do not stone those caught in adultery. We do not imprison women who get pregnant out of wedlock. We do not love our children any less if they masturbate, fornicate or use pornography. Many Catholic parents are very weary of those who hate, mock and persecute their homosexual children and rightfully stand up for the inherent dignity of their child or children.

Catholic teaching does allow for a chaste relationship between two committed homosexual persons. The key here is chaste, no sex. The Church even allows for a "brother and sister" or chaste relationship between two heterosexual Catholics who are married outside of the Church thus allowing them to receive Holy Communion if no scandal is given. The Church's pastoral sensibilities recognizes that stable relationships built upon chaste love are to be preferred to promiscuous lifestyles and multiple partners. Fidelity to a life partner in a loving chaste relationship is permitted by Church teaching for unmarried couples. Others would do well not to become preoccupied or voyeuristic by the relationships that people form that are healthy and happy. Where there is doubt, give them the benefit of the doubt. It's between them and God.

So how do we as Catholics uphold our Catholic teachings on sex and marriage?

1. We teach chastity, meaning no sexual, genital contact of any nature before marriage. This precludes masturbation, the use of pornography, heavy petting, and the like. This applies equally to heterosexuals and homosexuals and those with other disordered desires. We also teach that married couples (man and woman) must remain chaste after marriage, which means fidelity to one's spouse in thought and deed.It means that every sexual act in marriage must be open to the transmission of life although the Church teaches that married people may plan their families naturally, not in a disordered way.

2. We teach that marriage is based upon not only the mandates of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, but also on natural law. Sexual intercourse must be natural and as God intended, i.e. the procreative aspect of sexual intercourse which by nature occurs between a man and woman. Thus acts that are not natural or disordered would include masturbation, oral and anal sex not to mention bestiality. These would be morally wrong and disordered for both homosexual and heterosexual persons.

3. Within natural or "not disordered" sex, any mechanical device, pill, surgery or act that eliminates the pro-creative aspect of sex as God intended it (natural law) would be illicit, immoral and disordered. Natural law also allows for the pleasurable aspect of heterosexual sex, the two aspects of sexual intercourse are parts of natural law between a husband and wife.

4. The Church and thus all Catholics have a mandate to hand on the teachings of the Church in the areas of sex and marriage and to have a voice in the public debate about marriage and laws surrounding it.

5. Marriage is for a lifetime, until "death do you part." It is here that the greatest threat against marriage exists and Catholics would do well to be as energetic as possible in stemming the tide toward divorce and multiple remarriages. This is for the benefit of families, children and the stability of society and the Church.

6. Because of original sin, we are all born "disordered" including our sexual appetites. Some sexual acts are inherently disordered, other sexual acts are natural and of God, in particular procreative and unitive sex between one husband and one wife which is a permanent commitment.

Finally, I recognize that many reading this are freaking out since the official teachings of the Church are difficult, especially in the area of sexuality where hormones sometimes control the mind rather than the intellect. Sometimes full consent of the will in giving into temptation is compromised by hormonal activity and so-called physical needs.These sexual urges could be understood as a part of our fallen and thus "disordered" humanity. It is here that both homosexuals and heterosexuals have recourse to God's Divine Mercy in Jesus Christ and in the Sacrament of Penance. Not all is lost and where we fail, God's sanctifying and actual grace will make up. We all fall short and if not for the grace of God all mankind is lost. Thank God for His grace, His Son, His taking our sin to the cross and for redemption and salvation.

In other words, Catholic sexual morality and the teaching on marriage is not meant to make the sinner who seeks God, His mercy and His grace, neurotic, scrupulous and anxiety and depression ridden. Saying yes to God in what He expects and what the Church teaches is meant to be liberating not oppressive. A healthy understanding of human nature, human imperfection and God's grace, mercy and forgiveness must be at the core of every aspect of our Catholic lives. If one is to obsess on any aspect of Church teaching in the area of sexuality, obsess on mercy and forgiveness. It's more healthy to be scrupulous about mercy and forgiveness rather than sin and damnation! Catholics are to be joy-filled, not shrill, angry and repressed!

Love the sinner, despise the sin.

CATHOLIC INTERIORS, ANY THOUGHTS AND INSPIRATIONS?

Looking at the altar:

Looking at the door:

DILUTING ITS IMAGE, KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN OR KFC

What do you want from KFC? This

Or this?

I hear that some franchise owners of Kentucky Fried Chicken, I mean, KFC don't like the loss of emphasis on fried chicken that the company has undergone. Even the name change means something. It's not about fried chicken anymore. It's about Kentucky Grilled Chicken KGC! The colonel would not be pleased these franchise owners say. Kentucky Fried Chicken is meant to be finger licking good!

Sounds like the battle of new Coke, remember? Old Coke was removed from the market and a new and improved version sold down our throats. It tasted sweeter than Pepsi. It missed the mark. People bought Coke, because it was not Pepsi, because it was crisper and less sweet.

Coke repented and went back to the old Coke and new Coke is gone. Some even suggested that the controversy over new coke and eliminating old coke was like the Catholic Church developing the new Mass and eliminating the old Mass.

At least KFC hasn't eliminated its iconic brand, at least not yet until the health police of our puritanical society stop them from frying!

Of course it all could be a publicity stunt to sell more chicken. Many thought that Coke was doing the same thing. Deprive the world of what it wants, create hysteria and then give it back.

Did Vatican II do the same thing? New Mass in, old Mass out; Pope Benedict revives old Mass. Was it all a publicity stunt?

We cannot scrutinize the ways of God! He's above it and so is the Church.

SHOULD THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN WHERE A MOSQUE WILL BE BUILT IN NEW YORK CITY?

"Saint Sophia" Mosque in Istanbul formerly known as "Constantinople". This former Cathedral was to the Church of the East what St. Peter's Basilica is to the Church of the West. When the Muslims invaded Turkey and conquered it, they suppressed Christianity, they took over this Byzantine, Orthodox Cathedral and turned it into a mosque. It would be like the Muslims taking over Rome and changing St. Peter's into a mosque--an act that would create centuries of hostility between the two religions. Would it be an act of ecumenical significance for the Muslims to return Saint Sophia to the Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) so that it might be restored as the center of Orthodoxy once again? What a grand gesture that would be. But don't hold your breath!

The Blue Mosque in Turkey

I won't rehash the politics concerning the building of a mosque near the site of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center and a monument to all those killed there on 9/11. From a legal point of view, Muslims have a right to build this mosque. It is not overlooking the site of 9/11, not on government property and the site cannot be seen from where the Muslims intend to build the mosque. It is about three blocks away. Certainly, once the high rise is in place, one could see the new building from the mosque.

The greater issue is one of sensitivity on the part of the Muslims building this Islamic center. Families and friends of those killed find the building of the mosque in the vicinity of the 9/11 monument grossly insensitive. The nerves of many in New York and elsewhere are frayed when it comes to radical extremists in the Muslim community. For the most part, moderate Muslims have done a very poor job of distancing themselves from the more radical elements of some of their members, especially "clergy." In many Muslim countries, Catholics, other Christians and Jews can't even wear images of their religion in public, let alone build a Church or synagogue. There is no outcry against this sort of religious triumphalism and contempt for other religion from moderates in the Muslim community.

Should President Obama have entered into the fray and controversy about this? I personally think he should have moderated his comments and simply said, Muslims in New York should show sensitivity and other religious sectors of the same city should be concerned about the religious freedom our country protects as a constitutional right.

How would Catholics feel, in light of the clerical sexual abuse scandal, if politicians and other religions began to dictate where a Catholic Church and rectory could be built and couldn't be built? Is a public school too close? A child care center? What if the President of the United States entered into the fray?

Oh, President Bush did in 2002. He recommended, and I quote very loosely, that Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church attend to the issues surrounding the scandal. He had no doubt that the issues of the scandal would be addressed. He didn't go any further and I don't think any Catholics actually took any offense. I don't think it was a politically motivated statement and the President was wise not to get into too many details concerning the scandal.

We do have to be cautious about not painting all Muslims and their worship centers with the broad stroke of radical fundamentalism. That would be like painting the Catholic Church as terroristic because mainly Catholics formed the Irish Republican Army.

Would we do the same with other Christian denominations because mostly Protestants belong to the KKK?

A PRE-MODERN TABERNACLE AND MANY POST-MODERN TABERNACLES

This is the tabernacle of St. Joseph Church in Macon. It is a part of the old altar (now a reredos for the new altar). Above it is the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, which the Mass makes truly present and below it, but not visible in this photo is the Last Supper scene. Thus the reservation of the Most Blessed Sacrament is situated within the context in which it is consecrated, the sanctuary, the altar and the images that signify what the Mass truly is. Please note also above the tabernacle a place for exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. This photo was taken during a Benediction celebration which included a lengthy exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.


In the link below, please look at all the post-modern tabernacles. Obviously Christ reserved in one of these is truly present. However, what does the place of reservation as well as the art of the tabernacles posted do for you? Your comments on St. Joseph and the others!

PRESS HERE FOR POST MODERN TABERNACLE IMAGES

IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO OPPOSE SAME SEX MARRIAGE?

I was listening to the Catholic Channel on my XM radio yesterday. The talk show host was on the topic of the recent ruling on same sex marriage in California. He played two clips, one from an activist gushing over the victory of same sex marriage and the other lamenting what had happened.

The homosexual activist praised the decision as a happy day for America, for freedom, and for the pursuit of life, love, liberty and happiness--the American way.

The proponent of traditional marriage railed against the decision, mocked it and was rather shrill in her attacks on same sex marriage and the homosexual community.

Of the two reactions, the Catholic host seem to think that the younger generation would agree with the homosexual's description of things as being positive and loving and the proponent of traditional marriage as mean-spirited and ugly. And to me I would have to agree after listening to both "rants," if you will.

How can we as Catholics put forth our Catholic understanding of marriage which predates Catholicism, Judaism and other world religions and do so in a convincing, loving way that does not make us look like the stereotypical "homophobes?"

And in a court of law, how are those who want to keep the definition of "legal" or "civil" marriage as being between one man and one woman without resorting to the rhetoric of marriage being divinely instituted and defined? The American court system will not decide the issue on religious principles or on any belief in God but rather from a purely legal and political point of view. Do those who want the traditional definition of legal marriage know how to defend it without resorting to pious religious platitudes? Religious belief about marriage is simply not going to work in a court of law in the USA.

I'm not a lawyer, but lawyers representing the side of those who want legal marriage defined as a union between one man and one woman had better get as wise as the world and become worldly in all of their arguments if they want to win this one especially when it reaches the Supreme Court. The religious definition of marriage just isn't going to cut the mustard on this one. What does Jesus say about the worldly? They get the job done, whereas the spiritual seem to lack proper motivation and tactics.

As Catholics we must also admit that the greatest threat to marriage whether it is a sacrament or not is divorce not same sex marriage. Nearly 50% of marriages end up in divorce.

As Catholics we must also admit that we don't believe that a man and woman who enter second marriages while their first spouse is still living without the benefit of a Catholic annulment are in a marriage although the state law says it is.

As Catholics we also have to admit that within our very own tradition we allow for the marriage between a baptized person and an unbaptized person and that the "legal bond" can be celebrated at a Catholic wedding in the Church. This type of marriage is not a sacramental marriage but rather only a "holy" legal bond. It can be dissolved by the Church, not through an annulment but through dissolution--divorce Catholic style. So in effect, even in the Catholic Church we acknowledge some marriages as valid and legal but not sacramental because a sacramental marriage must be between two baptized Christians.

Even if civil law changes the definition of legal marriage, the Church can still uphold the Catholic understanding of marriage. But here we must ask the question, will there come a time in our country or in some other country that the Church must allow same sex marriage in the Church? Not all countries have the clear separation of Church and State as does the USA.

Finally, as Catholics we teach a very strict sexual and marital ethic based upon Scripture, Tradition and natural law. We teach chastity, no sexual genital contact before marriage and fidelity or chastity within marriage. We also teach as the Bible does and natural law reveals that sodomy both oral and anal are opposed to God's will for both homosexual and heterosexual individuals even within the bond of marriage between a man and women. However, we do not police what consenting adults do behind closed doors. However, when married couples have sex in public or prance around publicly naked, they'll be arrested, convicted of obscenity and put in jail.

As Catholics we should not be preoccupied by what consenting adults do behind closed doors and privately. That's between them and their Maker and for Catholics if sin is involved, after a thorough examination of conscience, confession to a priest is required for penance and absolution. But the priest is not a voyeur peeking through the lattices of the bedroom or a deputy dragging people to confession for things done in private.

So let us get a grip on things, uphold our Catholic understanding of marriage and to the extent that our political and judicial system allows and and uphold our teachings on sex in all of its facets and find worldly ways to pro-actively keep the time-honored definition of marriage in the public square and on the law books.

And for those who do not accept the Catholic Church's teaching on sex and marriage, let us Catholics not get shrill about those who want legal recognition of their relationship and the benefits of law that come from this legal recognition. Let's be as politely pro-active in all the the arenas available to make sure that these civil unions are not called marriage, call it a legal partnership or civil union. Let's make sure we argue the traditional case for legal marriage properly in whatever court of law that will be necessary.