FBI Hate Crime Statistics Released

The FBI has recently released the hate crime statistics for the year 2008.  Racially based hate crimes continue to outnumber all other hate crimes and show just how much still needs to be done.  Hate crimes attributed to sexual orientation were fewer than those attributed to religion.  5.1% of those crimes were anti-Catholic in origin.  Statistics show crimes reported were perpetrated against person or property - and sometimes both.  I will just report, you decide.

By bias motivation

An analysis of data for victims of single-bias hate crime incidents showed that:

• 51.0 percent were victimized because of the offender’s bias against a race.
• 17.9 percent were targeted because of a bias against a religious belief.
• 17.6 percent were victims because of a bias against a particular sexual orientation.
• 12.7 percent were targeted because of a bias against an ethnicity/national origin.
• 0.9 percent were victimized because of a bias against a disability. 

Racial bias
More than half of the single-bias hate crimes were racially motivated. Of the 4,934 victims of these racial bias crimes:

• 72.9 percent were victims of an offender’s anti-black bias.
• 16.8 percent were victims because of an anti-white bias.
• 3.4 percent were targeted because of an anti-Asian/Pacific Islander bias.
• 1.3 percent were victims because of an anti-American Indian/Alaskan Native bias.
• 5.6 percent were victims because of a bias against a group of individuals in which more than one race was represented (anti-multiple races, group).

Religious bias
Of the 1,732 victims of anti-religious hate crimes:

• 66.1 percent were targeted because of an offender’s anti-Jewish bias.
• 7.5 percent were victims because of an anti-Islamic bias.
• 5.1 percent were victims because of an anti-Catholic bias.
• 3.6 percent were victims because of an anti-Protestant bias.
• 0.8 percent were targeted because of an anti-Atheist/Agnostic bias.
• 12.8 percent were victims because of a bias against other religions (anti-other religion).
• 4.0 percent were victims because of a bias against groups of individuals of varying religions (anti-multiple religions, group). 

Sexual-orientation bias
Offenders targeted 1,706 victims due to a sexual-orientation bias, and of these:

• 57.5 percent were victims of an offender’s anti-male homosexual bias.
• 27.3 percent were victims because of an anti-homosexual bias.
• 11.6 percent were victims because of an anti-female homosexual bias.
• 2.0 percent were victims because of an anti-heterosexual bias.
• 1.6 percent were victims because of an anti-bisexual bias. 

Ethnicity/national origin bias
Hate crimes motivated by the offender’s bias toward a particular ethnicity/national origin were directed at 1,226 victims. Of these:

• 64.6 percent were victims of an anti-Hispanic bias.
• 35.4 percent were targeted because of a bias against other ethnicities/national origins. 

Disability bias
Offenders targeted 85 victims of a hate crime due to a bias against a disability, and of these:

• 57 were victims of an anti-mental disability bias.
• 28 were victims of an anti-physical disability bias. 

By crime category

Of the 9,691 victims of a hate crime, 57.2 percent were victims of crimes against persons, and 42.6 percent were victims of crimes against property. The remaining percentage were victims of crimes against society. 

By offense type

Crimes against persons
In 2008, 5,542 victims of hate crimes were victims of crimes against persons. Regarding these victims and the crimes committed against them:

• 7 persons were murdered, and 11 were forcibly raped.
• 48.8 percent of the victims were intimidated.
• 32.1 percent were victims of simple assault.
• 18.5 percent were victims of aggravated assault.
• Less than one percent (0.3) were victims of other types of offenses, which are collected only in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
  

Crimes against property
In 2008, 4,131 victims of hate crimes were victims of crimes against property. Of these:

• 81.9 percent were victims of destruction/damage/vandalism.
• 5.9 percent were victims of larceny-theft.
• 4.5 percent were victims of burglary.
• 4.4 percent were victims of robbery.
• 2.0 percent were victims of arson.
• 0.6 percent were victims of motor vehicle theft.
• 0.8 percent were victims of other types of offenses, which are collected only in the NIBRS.
  

_________________________________

Pope Benedict XVI Releases Album

The Vatican will only receive 31,000 Euros for making the CD.  Proceeds from the album will help fund musical education for underprivileged children around the world.  +Catholic Ponderings+ receives a small commission for the purchases made via this blog entry.  All of those proceeds will go toward the purchase of Catholic books for the school library at Holy Family School in LeRoy, NY.

We Await a Savior

We await a Savior,

The Lord Jesus Christ,

Who will reshape the body of our lowliness

After the shape of the body of His splendor.

Temperately, justly, reverently,

Let us live in this world,

Awaiting the blessed hope

And advent of the glory of the great God.

Catholic Alumni Partnership - Investing in Catholic Schools

What is Catholic Alumni Partnership? The Catholic Alumni Partnership (CAP) is a new, privately funded effort in support of Catholic elementary schools. A pioneering undertaking, CAP aims to implement strong, sustainable annual fundraising programs for each of the Catholic elementary schools participating in CAP, with alumni support as its foundation.


Who Runs CAP? CAP is currently a collaboration between three hundred and three Catholic elementary schools from seven Arch/dioceses. These Arch/dioceses include: the Diocese of Bridgeport, the Diocese of Brooklyn, the Diocese of Buffalo, the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

How is CAP funded? The benefactors currently wish to remain anonymous but are deeply committed to ensuring the ongoing success of the Catholic elementary school system and wanted to help it establish a stronger base through more effective alumni outreach.

Why should Catholic elementary school alumni support this program?

Few elementary schools have had the resources until now to reach out to their alumni. Research shows that 82% percent of elementary school alumni would give to their schools if contacted. This data is supported by a study by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, which showed that almost 90% of parents surveyed who, themselves, attended Catholic schools rated their experience good to excellent, and that experience was an important factor influencing their decision to enroll their child in a Catholic elementary school.

CAP in the news, from the Diocese of Buffalo website:

Alumni outreach effort bolstered by $1.4 million grant

By Office of Communications - September 14

When it comes to engaging their alumni, colleges, universities and high schools have dedicated tremendous resources and have reaped the benefits. Now Catholic elementary schools in the diocese are in excellent position to do the same thing.

That process has been bolstered significantly through a $1.4 million dollar grant for the Catholic Alumni Partnership, a new privately funded effort in support of Catholic elementary schools. The grant was secured for the diocese by Carol Kostyniak (left), secretary for Catholic education for the Diocese of Buffalo.

“This is great for our schools, the Church and our alumni,” Kostyniak said. “We are grateful to the Catholic Alumni Partnership for their generous gift that will help to strengthen our schools and help our alumni to reconnect with their schools and their friends.”

Buffalo is one of seven (arch) dioceses to share in CAP grants. The other recipients are the archdioceses of New York and Hartford, and the dioceses of Brooklyn, Rockville Center plus Norwich and Bridgeport, both in Connecticut.

“Ensuring the future of viable, accessible and vibrant Catholic schools must be a priority for all community stakeholders,” said Dr. Rosemary Henry, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese. “This momentous gift to create the Catholic Alumni Partnership provides the stimulus to forge partnerships and to leverage support from alumni near and far. Through this generosity the best is yet to come in Catholic education where children reach for excellence and are transformed into disciples of Christ.”

Spearheading the local effort is Karin Krasevac-Lenz (pictured above with Carol Kostyniak), Catholic Alumni Partnership director for the diocese who said the goal of the program is to “re-engage the alumni to help our Catholic elementary schools become stronger with an ever growing community to help them serve the young students of Western New York in sharing their time, talent and treasure.  We want to awaken their desire to serve the schools in many ways: on boards, as mentors for students, through prayer, as special event volunteers, as donors, as alumni event planners and in ways likely not yet imagined.  A central focus of this program is to bring together and reinvigorate Catholic school communities which have thrived here for more than a century.”

This is the second grant the diocese has secured to reach out to elementary school alumni. Last year, CAP provided a $600,000 grant that was used to digitize more than a quarter million alumni records of students who graduated from Catholic elementary schools between 1945 and 2005.

Krasevac-Lenz said nearly 221,000 of those records have been successfully matched to current addresses.

All parish and regional Catholic elementary schools in the diocese have participated in the effort to help locate their eighth grade alumni. Contact information for alumni of merged and closed elementary schools has also been sought.

“In the next phase of this project,” Krasevac-Lenz said, “alumni will be personally updated via an initial newsletter followed by ongoing outreach to help them reengage with their alma maters and their fellow graduates. All alums will learn more about the continued mission of Catholic schools in their old neighborhoods and the many ways our schools serve today’s children.”

Ongoing support for the elementary schools will be significant. CAP professional staff that will be fully funded by the grant program, will regularly interface with staff and volunteer school leaders to help them establish regular contact with their alumni through social media, mailings and events. All schools will also have access to new technology including a professional quality alumni data base to help them keep current with news and addresses of their alums.

The grant providing this Web-based system includes all necessary training and specific types of assistance from staff of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. The grant also covers printing and mailing costs for a wide array of contacts with alumni.

Three positions are currently being advertised by the CAP program: director of major gifts, director of annual appeals and director of alumni relations.

The Catholic Alumni Partnership is working to implement strong, sustainable annual fundraising programs for each of the Catholic elementary schools participating in CAP, with alumni support as its foundation.

On Refusing Communion to Excommunicated Politicians

Until now, I have avoided discussing the current situation with Congressman Patrick Kennedy. This entry really isn't about the Kennedys, Pelosis, Bidens, etc. Clearly, much of the Kennedy clan has made a choice to cast their Catholic faith aside as have many Catholic politicians. As you know, Catholicism is a way of life and not simply something you 'put on' each Sunday. If God were first in the lives of these politicians, it would show in their votes. You cannot be Catholic and 'pro-choice' - we have discussed that here before. If you disagree, God is clearly not first in your life. Period.

Last night I received a 'tweet' on Twitter telling me that Fr. Mitch Pacwa was to be on CNN discussing the most recent Kennedy situation. Sadly, the interview was really a debate between Fr. Pacwa and Fr. Reese from Georgetown which was no more than a few minutes. Fr. Pacwa was clearly frustrated because he was engaging in conversation with a pro-choice priest who has fallen far from his vocation. Having been born in the 'Summer of Love' myself, I was struck by the irony that Fr. Reese is the head of the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown. The name Woodstock sadly illustrates Fr. Reese's views if you harken back to a field in upstate New York in 1969 and the 'if it feels good, do it!' mentality which permeated attendees. Fr. Reese is a pro-Obama, pro-gay, pro-give communion to whomever wishes to receive it kind of priest. Yet another reason to not send your child to Georgetown University. Read what other bloggers have to say about Fr. Reese HERE. His favorite retort to spew when someone says that politicians who vote for pro-choice legislation cannot receive communion is that Pope John Paul II gave communion to some pro-choice politicians (Italian). Read this document, Fr. Reese, a.k.a Fr. Pick-and-Choose-Which-Teachings-You-Will-Follow-and-Which-you-Will-Not. A note to Fr. Reese: you're receiving the Eucharist unworthily yourself and as an ipso facto excommunicated Catholic, you have plenty of company.

Here is the transcript from CNN:

BROWN: So is this the case of religion being use as a political weapon? And joining me to try to talk this through are two Catholic priests, Reverend Mitch Pacwa and Fr. Thomas Reese.

Father Pacwa, our apologies, Father. So let me start with you. Do you agree with Bishop Tobin that it was right, I know, to tell Congressman Kennedy that he shouldn't take communion because he is pro-choice? I guess --

REV. MITCH PACWA, S.J., HOST, "EWTN LIVE: THRESHOLD O HOPE": Absolutely.

BROWN: Does that apply, though, to everybody? Would you give that same counseling to all of your parishioners or do you think it's different because of who he is?

PACWA: No. It's the kind of advice that I would give to everybody. That somebody who is in favor of abortion or has done abortions, this is a very serious sin. And that the issue is not as was portrayed earlier in your own remarks, that this is religion intruding into politics. It's rather that a political position is trying to intrude into who may receive Holy Communion and that the norms are set by the Catholic church for centuries and that this has been the 2,000-year teaching that abortion is a serious sin, excluding people from communion.

BROWN: All right.

PACWA: So it's simply being applied to this representative.

BROWN: So, where do you draw the line? Or do you draw the line? Should politicians who support the death penalty still take communion?

PACWA: You know, one of the things that has to be paid attention to is that the church is teaching on the death penalty is of a different order than that of abortion. And one of the things that you see in Canon Law is that it's not absolutely prohibited but it's what the church would like us to do so that we can be consistently pro life. But there are situations where the death penalty is allowed in certain, again, certain cases, especially in places where people cannot afford to sustain people in a life imprisonment situation.

BROWN: OK, Father Reese.

PACWA: So that might be another situation.

BROWN: Father Reese, I know you disagree. Let me give him an opportunity to speak.

PACWA: Sure.

BROWN: Father Reese, go ahead.

REV. THOMAS REESE, S.J., AUTHOR, "INSIDE THE VATICAN": Sure. You know, I think the thing that needs to be pointed out is that most of the bishops in the United States simply don't agree. They have only a small percentage of the bishops have gone into this business of denying communion to Catholics, politicians who are pro choice.

In fact, it's a well-known fact that the pope, Pope John Paul II gave communion to pro-choice politicians in Italy. Now, is Father more Catholic than the pope? You know, are these bishops more Catholic than the pope?

You know, so I don't think that we can simply say that this has been a long teaching of the church or this is our tradition of denying communion to people when in fact Pope John Paul II didn't do it.

BROWN: So how do you respond to that, Father Pacwa?

PACWA: I don't know what Pope John Paul knew about those politicians in that circumstance. However, what I do know that during his reign --

BROWN: But what do you need to know? I mean, if they had publicly pro-choice positions --

PACWA: What I need to know is this. What I need to know is this, that during his reign he had legislation that was put out by the office for the defense of the faith, that said politicians who are pro abortion may not receive Holy Communion. That is church policy. And Bishop Tobin was simply making that policy. In terms of what the pope knew about this person coming to communion and so on, I don't know. BROWN: All right. I don't want to get lost -- I kind of want to keep this a little, more big picture if we can.

PACWA: Right.

REESE: This is a situation --

BROWN: But, Father Reese, go ahead.

REESE: This is a case where facts matter. I mean, you know, if the pope is giving communion to pro-choice politicians in Rome, I mean, the pope's not -- you know, John Paul is not a dummy. This was a very smart man who knew the situation and was giving them communion. I think, you know, it's important to make a distinction between people who are pro abortion and people who are pro choice. If someone gets up and says, I think abortion is wonderful and every woman should have one...

BROWN: But no one is pro abortion.

REESE: ... this is very different.

BROWN: I mean, that's --

REESE: Well, exactly. I mean even --you know, within the last couple of months, the editor of "Osservatore Romano", the pope's newspaper, made the statement that he did not think that President Obama was pro abortion. And this upset people in the United States. They wanted him fired. Well, he's still in his job.

BROWN: All right. Gentlemen, this is -- we need a whole lot more time to get into this issue, I know. But I appreciate you both sharing your views with us tonight.

Father Pacwa and Father Reese, thank you so much.

PACWA: You're welcome.

_____________________________


1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.

A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup.

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

The Word of the Lord.

Rosaries Needed - Send Your Extras to Fr. Richard

I spotted this plea over at A Capuchin Journey and cannot think of a better blog entry to post tonight.

Father Richard Crawley OFM, CAP posted the following note:

The students at the college of St. Joseph seem to love rosaries! It has been a good way to connect with them, and I have been showing them how to pray the rosary. However, my only problem is - I have run out of rosaries to give them. Yesterday, I gave away my last one. You would think, being a priest, I would have an endless supply of them, but I don't, and I don't have the budget to buy them. So I am asking my brothers and sisters out there in the blogging community to help by sending any extra rosaries you might have, but don't use. I could not think of a better way of supporting the ministry here, and helping the spiritual life of the students by donating a rosary. If you like to send some rosaries here is my address:

St. Peters Frairy

134 Convent Avenue

Rutland, Vermont 05701-3903

Thank you and God bless.

I hope that you or someone you know can help Fr. Richard in his ministry.

CCHD Collection This Weekend at a Parish Near You

I thought that I had discussed the CCHD collection for the last time with my last entry, yet this video which just landed in my inbox changed my mind. I will not summarize the concerns about the CCHD but you may follow the story by reading previous posts on this page.

Watch this video produced by Real Catholic TV.

Welcome to the Blogosphere, Bishop Edward Kmiec!

On the left, Bishop Edward Kmiec, Diocese of Buffalo and on the right,
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York.

There is a new blogger on the block and he is Bishop Edward Kmiec, shepherd of the Diocese of Buffalo. His first entry is as follows:

Hello friends, and welcome to my blog page!

I think it is very important for the Catholic Church to be present on the Internet, and this is one more way that I can communicate with members of the Diocese of Buffalo and other followers of the Church, as well as those who are interested in our mission of building the Kingdom of God here in Western New York.

Take some time to look around our entire Web site - we've spent the last several months updating the site, adding this blog function, podcasting and making it a lot easier to access diocesan offices and organizations. We'll soon launch new sites for Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Daybreak TV Productions and the Western New York Catholic.

I'm interested in what you have to say, so feel free to respond to my blog entries or send an e-mail, I'd like to hear from you.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Kmiec

I look forward to future posts and getting to know our Bishop a bit better. That he asks for feedback is indeed a wonderful blessing - and - I hope he knows what he's getting into ;) . On the right side of +Catholic Ponderings+, you will see that I include a listing of blogs. They are listed with the most recent entries published at the top. I now include the blog of Bishop Kmiec. I do not recommend other blogs lightly, as there are thousands of Catholic blogs to sift through. Please note that Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York also has a new blog. You may read my review of Archbishop Dolan's most recent book HERE.

Automatic Holy Water Dispenser?

Folks, this is not a joke but I wish it was. I've posted some funny videos in the past here, here and here but the one below is actually quite sad. Hat tip to Crescat.



Now go watch the ones I linked above and have some fun.

Bishop Morin at USCCB Fall Conference on CCHD

Some quotes (and 'tweets' via USCCB Media) from Bishop Morin during today's afternoon session at the Fall Conference of US Bishops:

"Two years ago with the ACORN problem, bad PR, call it whatever you want ... our action was as swift and as thorough as it possibly could be."--Bp. Morin at Press Conference following afternoon session

Tweets:

• Morin says some attacks of CCHD have concern for poor and legitimate concerns. We welcome questions and concerns. Others don't seem to understand Church's teaching on justice, care for poor and addressing root causes of poverty.
• Those with ideological and political agendas spread outrageous claims that bishops fund groups who promote abortion.
• Says critics say bishops not committed to caring for life of unborn. Says bishops are absolutely pro-life.
• We do not ever grant funds to any group that is ever involved in any activity contrary to Church teaching.
• CCHD is Gospel at work and faith in action.

________________________

Pondering:

I do not doubt Bishop Morin's sincere intention to purge all of the unworthy recipients from the CCHD. I take the man at his word. I also understand from listening to the post conference presser that the vast majority of US Bishops have good things to say about the positive impact they have personally witnessed while observing CCHD grantees. After reading Bishop Morin's document For the Record - The Truth about CCHD Funding I found myself puzzled by the line of defense the Bishop is using. I personally have not been under the impression that anyone believes the Bishops themselves support anti-life groups or their teachings. Either those of us who are concerned about the CCHD are not being heard or are being ignored. Those are the only possibilities in explaining the chasm between those who are deeply concerned about the purpose and process used to vet grantees and the CCHD.

No one is saying that the Church should not help the poor. I would like to hear less defensiveness and see examples of exactly how the CCHD helps the poor become self-sufficient. After nearly forty years of funding, there should be a whole lot of self-sufficiency. In For the Record, it is stated that "[CCHD] has distributed more than $400 million in grants to more
than 4,000 community groups throughout the United States. An independent study
conducted at The Catholic University of America in 1994 concluded CCHD has funded
projects that have affected fully half of America's poor." Telling the faithful who fund the campaign how many millions you have given on our behalf does not really help to convince the skeptic; it makes one wonder what good the money has done if it meant to merely compliment other Catholic charitable groups.

If you feed the homeless 20 million meals, I hear that you fed the hungry. If you provide clothing for 2 million inner-city children, I hear that you clothed the naked. If you provide hospital care for 20 million Americans, I hear that you cared for the sick. If you tell me you gave $400 million to community organizers, I hear nothing but a busy signal on the phone. If you want money put in the basket when the CCHD collection rolls around, let us know that it will indeed help the poor to become self-sufficient as your mission indicates. Show us. If you tell us that plenty of the Bishops support it, the words mean very little.

Mark 14:7 "The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me."

New Missal Translation Passed by USCCB! (Not Without Speedbumps)

US Adaptation of Roman Missal passed. Serratelli calls this historic moment. George quips, "Not yet." Serratelli: Perfection will come when liturgy on Earth gives way to worship of God in Heaven.

November 17, 2009

[Reading the moment by moment replay below may seem drab, but I assure you - it will perhaps be a bit entertaining or at the very least, enlightening. Bishops are indeed human...]

• Deliberation on liturgy begin by addressing Trautman concern about antiphons.
• Trautman asserts that Rome is overstepping rights of the Conference to consider this part of the translation.
• Trautman moves to have graybook from ICEL on antiphons before recognitio be issued.
• Serratelli answers Trautman's charge. Paprocki is addressing the Code of Canon Law.
• Paprocki has taken the meeting into Latin.
• Paprocki says Trautman has raised a legitimate point. George says this question should be discussed later. Trautman says no.
• George urges that the bishops move on to the work before them. Trautman asks to speak again.
• Trautman notes that his motion is still alive. "Not to complicate matters further, but ..."
• Serratelli is introducing Proper of Saints, noting this is bishops' last chance for input.
• Passage of this, as other items, requires 2/3 vote of Latin-member bishops.
• Serratelli notes that a decade-long process is nearing an end.
• Bishop Sklba stands to note good work of Serratelli and committee, but flaws of translation.
• Sklba suggests that welcoming of traditional Anglicans will mean our translation is unfavorably compared to Book of Common Prayer.
• Niederauer notes that everyone can find something to dislike here. Blaire notes that other English-speaking countries have passed this.
• Bishops voting on Proper of Saints.
• 88% percent of bishops approve (195)
• Serratelli presents Roman Missal Supplement.
• There are no amendments to this document.
• Silva notes that saint whose feast is celebrated in Hawaii is eligible to be on national calendar.
• Serratelli and George say this can be considered under US Proper discussion.
• Serratelli presents translation of Commons.
• In arguing inclusion of Hawaiian saint, Silva notes several saints on calendar who lack the "national cultus" his saint presumably lacks.
• Bishop Rosazza notes that English-speaking bishops seem to be held to tighter translation than, say, the French.
• Bishop Trautman re-raises point about Rome stepping in on the antiphons. Serratelli asks that current text be addressed.
• Impromptu amendment on mentioning Native Americans accepted on the spot.
• US Propers goes up for vote. Bishops approve.
• US Adaptation of Roman Missal passed. Serratelli calls this historic moment. George quips, "Not yet."
• Serratelli: Perfection will come when liturgy on Earth gives way to worship of God in Heaven.
• Serratelli speaks on importance of catechesis on translation. Says time of implementation of translation will be determined by recognitio.
• George thanks head of ICEL for his work on the translation.
• George says Trautman issue will still be addressed, as Conference may have right to translate antiphons.
• Says USCCB could sue Congregation in Apostolic Signatura, or USCCB could say they approve Congregation's help with translation.
• Bishops take evening coffee break.
• Trautman makes motion on antiphons.
• Wuerl asks if body can simply approve antiphons based on what they've seen in order to get recognitio.
• Abp. Myers asks if another vote follows recognitio.
• Vigneron asks if Trautman's motion might be remanded to committee. Wants thoughtful review of appropriate people.
• Chaput wants opinion of canonist if bishops can vote to delegate to the Congregation on matter of antiphons.
• Conlon, Bruskewitz, Mahony, Listecki, Sample, others speak up.
• Pilarczyk offers to submit motion that work on antiphons be remanded to Rome.
• Trautman says bishops shouldn't get into habit of walking away from having their rights overstepped.
• Bishops voting on Trautman motion.
• Motion fails.
• Pilarczyk submits motion that antiphons be remanded to Rome. Bishops voting.
• Motion passes overwhelmingly.
• Bishops proceed to doctrine action item. Bishop Lori presents. [Discussing end of life issues - medically assisted hydration and nutrition]

From the USCCB Media Twitter 'tweets':

November 16, 2009

• Bishop Serratelli at the podium for presentation of final five Roman Missal translation items.
• Says plan for translation set deadline for this month. All changes must be sent to Rome at this session to be considered.
• Anticipates Rome's recognition in first half of 2010. Publisher needs 12 months to produce translation in English.
• Presenting Proper of Saints. Bishop Trautman wants to know when he could raise issue on antiphons. George says will find time. [Pondering note: Bishop Trautman has been vocally opposed to the new translation for quite some time. He thinks the people in the pew are not sophisticated enough to understand some of the new words]
  
• Serratelli now introducing ICEL translation of Roman Missal Supplement.
• Serratelli presents ICEL translation of the Commons. More than 150 translation suggestions on this received by ICEL.
• Now presenting the US Propers.
• Committee has modified prayers for July 4 to allow for more inclusive language.
• Prelude for Thanksgiving Day Mass revised to answer concerns of several bishops.
  
• Now presenting US Adaptation to the Roman Missal.

Washington Continues Challenge of Eighth Commandment

It seems that the truth-challenged (politically correct term for liar, just so as not to offend anyone) leader of the United States does not approve of the Stupak Amendment in the Health Care Bill which recently passed by a narrow margin in the House of Representatives. This story was reported in many media outlets, but I wanted to be certain to link to a 'news' site which is not wholly offensive to the leftists (ie: FOX News). From CNN:

In an interview that aired Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, Obama adviser David Axelrod reiterated the president’s position on how abortion should be handled in the debate over health care reform.

“The president has said repeatedly, and he said in his speech to Congress, that he doesn’t believe that this bill should change the status quo as it relates to the issue of abortion,” Axelrod told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. “He’s going to work with the Senate and the House to try to ensure that at the end of the day the status quo is not changed.”

Asked specifically whether the Stupak amendment changed the status quo, Axelrod replied “I think it’s fair to say the bill Congress passed does change the status quo. But I believe there are discussions ongoing as to how to change it accordingly.”

King asked Axelrod whether the president would sign a final health care bill that contains the Stupak amendment. Likening it to Obama’s position on the public health insurance, Axelrod said Obama “believes both these issues and can and will be worked through before [the final bill] reaches his desk.”

You may recall his address to Congress on September 9th. He stated with great conviction
"And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place."

Will the real President Obama please come forward?

"A bad name and disgrace will you acquire: 'That for the evil man with double tongue!'" -- Sirach 6:1b

Book Review: Doers of the Word: Putting Your Faith Into Practice

I was very excited to have the opportunity to read the recently published Doers of the Word: Putting Your Faith Into Practice written by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. Solidly Catholic, delightfully touching, inspirational and always pointing to Christ all describe this collection of essays written by Archbishop Dolan. In the Preface, His Excellency shares that he wrote the essays while in the chapel of his residence. Each essay is followed by a brief paragraph of instruction or prayer pertaining to the essay. Some of the essays are only one page long and others span a few pages. The book is broken into seven chapters with the topics of: My Lord and My God, Signs of Faith, In the Year of the Lord, We Are the Branches, The Communion of Saints, Our Mother and Workers in the Vineyard.

I will share with you two of the essays that touched me most. In one, His Excellency shares that a priest friend of his was Pastor of a very wealthy parish. They had plenty of cash pouring into the collections and the buildings were very lavish. One Sunday, he surprised his parishioners with the announcement that he was going to ask for a transfer to another parish. He said that it was obvious he was not needed. Ouch.

"You don't need me here," he explained as the people gasped. "Like Jesus, I came to call sinners. And apparently, we have none here. I've heard maybe a half-dozen confessions since I got here six months ago. You're obviously all saints; I came to serve sinners. You don't need me."

In another, he relates a story about two couples he had been praying for. One couple had five boys, and one of the children was profoundly handicapped. They found out that another child was expected and that child would have Down's Syndrome. They prayerfully decided that they would give the child to another couple through adoption because they were already struggling to care for the one child with great needs. Enter the other couple, who were unable to have children biologically. What followed in the story he shared will bring tears to even the hardest heart. You'll have to read the book to find out how this one ends.

This is THE perfect gift for any Catholic you need to find something for. Though theologically sound, this book is not strictly for the Catechist. Certainly, the religious education teacher would love it, but think also about a Catholic who may be having struggles. Perhaps their state in life has taken their focus off of Christ and the book could serve as a mini retreat. Busy parents who have little time to read anything but bedtime stories would love the book. The book can be read in five minute spurts and may even be used as a daily devotional. Buy yourself a gift. I cannot recommend this book more highly. If you know me personally, I'll be happy to let you borrow it - but woe to the person who fails to return it!

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Published by Our Sunday Visitor, Doers of the Word is 125 pages, paperback and is $9.95. Find this and other books by Archbishop Timothy Dolan at The Catholic Company.

Diocese of Rochester Contest: How many Liturgical abuses can fit into a single Mass?

Go take your favorite antacid and then come back to watch a typical Mass at Assumption parish in Fairport. This was from this past Sunday.




How many abuses have you found? Please feel free to list them in the comment box.

Hat tip to Cleansing Fire, proud distributor of asbestos suits in the Diocese of Rochester and Rich over at Ten Reasons.

A Priest and a Bishop Write Two Very Different Books

I am pleased to announce the newly published book, The Holy Mass: Our Gift and Our Life, written by Fr. Timothy Brady, O. de M. Father Brady is a Mercedarian Priest serving the Church in LeRoy (Our Lady of Mercy Parish) and (St. Brigid's) in Bergen, N.Y. I placed the book on my wishlist at Amazon and hope to find it as a surprise in my mailbox in the very near future. The book is in paperback and is 46 pages long. The description reads:

This book will take the Second Vatican Council's description of the Holy Mass and will divide it into three sections. They are: 1) Sacrificial Component 2) Redemptive Component 3) Our Participation. The purpose for writing this book is not only to enrich the spirituality of all the faithful attending the Holy Mass but to challenge those who justify not coming to Mass by addressing their conclusion that they do not receive anything from going to the Holy Mass as well.

I wish Fr. Brady much success on his latest endeavor and hope it sells well. The need for good, orthodox Catholic catechesis is tremendous. He also happens to be my son's favorite confessor. Any priest who inspires an eleven year old boy to go to confession is a good priest in my 'book'.

Fr. Timothy Brady at the 30th Provincial Chapter in San Felice Circeo, Italy in June 2009

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From orthodoxy, we travel to heterodoxy -- and some would say a shepherd steeped in heresy. Tough words, I know. Bishop Matthew Clark of the Diocese of Rochester has also written a book. I discussed it in an earlier entry and it is finally available at the end of November, also on Amazon. Bishop Clark, a huge fan of lay ministry and the sidelining of Priests, has written a book on his favorite topic - Forward in Hope: Saying Amen to Lay Ecclesial Ministry. In case you missed it, look at this timeline of Bishop Clark's 30-year history in Rochester over at the Cleansing Fire blog.

Bishop Matthew Clark assisted by Sister Binsack, Vice Chancellor and Administrator of the Bishop's Office. Many of the sisters the Bishop relies upon are also members of the Women's Ordination Conference and he is their number one fan.