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.

! Catholic Campaign for Human Development! - Reform Needed Now!

Last year, many Catholics put a cut-out picture of an acorn in the basket; this year some are clipping coupons and dropping them in. The collection will take place on November 22 this year and I ask that you prayerfully discern whether or not you wish to participate this year. Previous +Ponderings+ on the topic of the CCHD may be found HERE.

To be fair, it appears that Bishop Roger Morin, Chairman of the CCHD is working to reform the campaign. Read the memo he issued to all US Bishops HERE. In it, he assures the Bishops that the organizations which promoted programs contrary to Church teaching have been defunded. That is an excellent first step, yet a deep trust has been broken and cannot be healed this easily. First millions to ACORN, then the three organizations supporting intrinsic evil. What will it be this year? What surprises may be in store for Americans who are facing an above 10% unemployment rate and must be extremely careful with every penny they can afford to donate?

According to the USCCB, "The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops." As of late, the term 'social justice' has been painted much differently than when the CCHD was founded in 1970. The CCHD says that 'it is time to end poverty in America once and for all. How does the CCHD end poverty? I really would like to know and do not intend it as a trick question.

As for me and my family, we will once again give all money we would have given to the CCHD to Catholic Charities of Western New York. We know where the money will be used and have seen the direct impact they have upon families first-hand. From their website:

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is the most comprehensive human service provider in Western New York, reaching all eight counties with professionally staffed locations. Each year, Catholic Charities serves more than 160,000 Western New Yorkers without regard to age, race or religious affiliation. Today’s Catholic Charities leads the way for an integrated human service delivery system.

In 2007, the agency voluntarily sought and received its first four-year accreditation from the Council on Accreditation, attesting to its adherence to the highest national professional standards and delivery of the best quality services.

Catholic Charities offers programs that strive to empower individuals, children and families. Among them are comprehensive counseling services for all ages, basic emergency assistance and referrals, child and adult mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, educational and vocational services, services to the aging, parish outreach and advocacy, marriage counseling, foster care and adoption services, child and adult day care, and a variety of programs that address prevention and treatment of a number of family issues.

Consider donating to Catholic Charities in Buffalo or your local Catholic Charities office.

'Religion of Peace' Attempts to Exterminate Catholicism in the Middle East

What of those Christians in Iraq? Are there any left?

Pope Benedict XVI announced in September 2009 that there will be a Synod of Bishops in the Middle East to address the current crisis in the region. The eastern 'lung' of the Church is on a ventilator and most people in the world are turning a blind eye. Under the guise of political correctness, many world leaders, including Mr. Obama, are more concerned about avoiding 'hurt feelings' among the Muslim world, than the bodies of Christian martyrs piling up.



Below, an appeal from the Bishops and Priests in Iraq:


(Click to enlarge)

What now? A new documentary has been produced by the Charity and Justice organization. Part one is available and here is a description of An Open Door:

The most important aspect of this documentary is to show Iraqi Catholics in their true light, conveying to the world that Catholics in the Middle East are neither terrorists nor refugees. They are people – individuals with a deep faith, rich heritage, and courage. Episode One covers health, with episodes on spirituality, education, contributions of Iraqi Catholics, and employment to follow.

For Catholics to to stay in Iraq, to thrive, and foster positive relations with their Muslim neighbors, and for those who have already migrated due to persecution or poverty to stay connected to their religion and roots, the global Catholic community must work together to provide the opportunities that will enable Iraqi Catholics to shed their refugee status, and become fully participating Iraqi citizens once again.

This will occur through the construction of Catholic schools and hospitals, and development of industry. This is something Iraqis long for and are ready to work for, and a gift for which Iraqi Catholics will be forever grateful to those who can help them.

View part one of An Open Door below:

Book Review: Come and See Catholic Bible Study: Wisdom

My latest book for review provides an in-depth look at the Wisdom Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, Wisdom and Sirach) in Sacred Scripture. I have participated in a handful of Bible study groups and completed one other on my own. The Come and See Catholic Bible Study: Wisdom is unlike others I have used. Typically, while studying the Bible, I am 'armed' with a good Catholic Scripture commentary and the RSV-CE 2nd Edition. The former was completely unnecessary and the latter was the recommended version.

The Come and See series includes a very good commentary as part of the program and it is very simple to follow. I am more used to having Scripture on the top of the page and commentary below with notes attributed to particular verses, so it took a bit of getting used to. The commentary gives very in-depth analysis of the senses used in the particular passages assigned and provides information from the Church Fathers, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other important Church documents. After reading the assigned Scripture and the commentary, there are questions which follow each section for the reader to answer in spaces provided. I found myself reading the book of Job in a way I never have before, and that is a blessing. I completed the study of Job and am quite anxious to get into Psalms.

The book has some very good suggestions on how to go about beginning a Bible study group on your own. I am certain it would be very helpful to those who do not yet have any Bible study programs available in their parish. There is also a video which you can purchase to accompany your study program. Since I did not buy the video, I cannot speak to whether or not it is an integral part of the program. I can say that in my study, I was sufficiently fed by the book alone. The only thing I missed in the Bible study -- which has nothing to do with the quality of the book -- is that I wished I had studied with others. Having studied Scripture on my own (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit) and in a group, I find it most rewarding with a group.

The Come and See Catholic Bible Study: Wisdom is an excellent tool to help Christians grow in understanding of Sacred Scripture and closer to God.

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Authors: Fr. Jan Liesen, S.S.D; Laurie Watson Manhardt. Softcover, 224 pages. Available at The Catholic Company for $19.95.

Laurie Manhardt holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Detroit and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She led an interfaith Bible study for ten years, which convinced her of the need for quality Catholic Bible study resources. “Come and See” Catholic Bible Study is the result.

Fr. Jan Liesen, S.S.D., is librarian and professor of New Testament Exegesis, Biblical Theology, and Hebrew Bible at the Seminaire Rolduc in Kerkrade, Netherlands. He received his doctorate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome.

FREE Brochures "How to Choose a Catholic College"

The kind folks over at The Newman Guide are offering free brochures on "How to Choose a Catholic College." Head on over there and order as many as you would like for distribution at your parish or local high school. Be sure to get approval from your Pastor or school administrator before stuffing the brochure rack. Click HERE to place your order, financially support the project or to view a copy of the brochure. The brochure includes special messages from Fr. Benedict Groeschel and Fr. C. John McCloskey III.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan to Visit Buffalo/Vespers Invitation for All

UPDATE:

Diocesan radio director Gregg Prince will provide Twitter updates during Archbishop Dolan's pastoral visit to Buffalo, including Evening Prayer. You can follow us at: www.twitter.com/buffalodiocese. Spread the word!

UPDATE: The Diocese of Buffalo has news of the attendance of four additional Bishops at the Solemn Vespers service:

Bishop Edward M. Grosz, auxiliary bishop of Buffalo; Bishop Bernard J. McLaughlin, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Buffalo; Bishop Donald W. Trautman, bishop of Erie, Pa.; and Bishop James M. Wingle, bishop of St. Catharines, Ontario.

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From Western New York Catholic, the Buffalo Diocesan newspaper:

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York will be among the honorees at the 2009 Curé of Ars dinner on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. This will be Archbishop Dolan’s first visit to Buffalo since he was installed as archbishop of New York last April. The dinner is sponsored by Christ the King Seminary.

...

Prior to the Curé of Ars dinner, Archbishop Dolan will preside at Solemn Vespers at St. Joseph (4 p.m.) Cathedral in downtown Buffalo. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec is encouraging all priests, deacons and members of the lay diocesan family to participate in the service.

“This is a rare opportunity for the faithful of the diocese to come together to participate in the Liturgy of the hours, an ancient and sacred tradition of the Church,” he said. The service will include hymns, Psalms, readings from the New Testament, and Canticles taken from Scripture. Following Solemn Vespers, a reception and dinner will be held at the Hyatt Regency.

The Curé of Ars Award was established by the seminary’s board of trustees in 1985 to honor individuals and organizations whose lives reflect the qualities of Christian dedication and service that marked the life of St. John Vianney, the parish priest of Ars, France, and patron saint of priests. For dinner reservations and sponsorship information contact Susan Burns, coordinator of special events for the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo at 847-8373.

All are invited to attend the Solemn Vespers service, and according to reporter Kristyn Million:

“The diocesan festival chorus will be singing, as well as members of the cathedral choir, 65 members in all,” Lukas said. “There will also be a brass quartet, a person playing the flute and a person playing the oboe, so it will be six instrumentalists along with the organ. It will be one of the rare opportunities to hear the cathedral organ at its full power, which you don’t get to hear on a Sunday morning. It will be a unique opportunity to pray and sing together with a thousand other people, which is what we’re hoping to have in attendance.”

Some interior photos of beautiful St. Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo:

Diocese of Buffalo: Bishop Kmiec Issues Pastoral Letter on Catholic Schools

Buffalo - (DOB Office of Communications) Bishop Edward U. Kmiec has written a pastoral letter called “Visioning for the Future” for our Catholic schools. It is the second pastoral letter he has written since becoming bishop of Buffalo five years ago. In 2007, the bishop wrote a pastoral letter about the Journey in Faith and Grace, the diocesan spiritual revitalization process.

He wrote, “There is a renewed sense of commitment and enthusiasm on the part of everyone who is engaged in what I consider a mission vital to the future of the Catholic Church: strong Catholic schools.”

The letter has been sent to all Catholic schools in the diocese as well as all parishes and Catholic institutions for distribution to parents and insertion in parish bulletins the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

Bishop Kmiec wrote that the academic excellence of Catholic schools in the diocese dates back to the 1800s, and continues to this day. “Our students move on to become leaders in our communities, passing on the Catholic values they learned to their children. It is a beautiful continuum of our Church, as Catholic schools instill our core beliefs and commitment to Gospel values in our students.”

The release of the pastoral letter coincides with the issuance of a report on the initial phase of a strategic planning process that objectively assesses the current experiences and status of elementary schools in the diocese.

Called “Visioning for the Future,” the goal is about securing the future of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Buffalo according to Carol Kostyniak, Secretary for Catholic education for the diocese. “Our schools must continue to be strong models of Catholic Identity and to provide the academic excellence for which they are noted. Their leaders and governing boards must be trained in best practices while budgets must provide for fiscal stability to ensure viability well into the future. Evaluating demographic data, economic trends and constituent input we have the opportunity to prepare a bright future for our schools.”

Included in the report are a series of recommendations that will initiate phase two of the process which will involve the implementation of earlier recommendations that address the structure and organization of Catholic elementary schools, leadership, education programs, governance and finances. It also includes parish investment and support of schools, financial assistance and enrollment potential.

Catholic elementary schools are already working in conjunction with the diocese on a number of programs designed to stabilize and increase enrollment. By examining enrollment and tuition trends throughout the diocese, the schools have a better understanding of the landscape and they share best practice ideas.

There is a tremendous sense of enthusiasm among the participants in the planning process. At St. Joseph School in Batavia, school principal Karen Green said the school has been given the power “to make the changes necessary to ensure a viable school. It has allowed us to plan for the future instead of being restricted by the past.”

School leaders are now better able to make enrollment projections and in turn, adjust budgets accordingly, according to Green. “Our marketing and enrollment strategies remain a part of our discussions throughout the year, not just at the enrollment period. These approaches and more allow us to foster an open dialogue with our parish and have encouraged more proactive responses to challenges.”

DeSales Catholic School in Lockport is a regional school success story. Ellen Roth, director of development, said DeSales has been involved in strategic planning for more than a decade. “We’ve seen this work at DeSales. When we started our school’s strategic planning process, the DeSales community knew the work was going to be hard, but necessary, in order to maintain our academic quality, fiscal soundness, and enrollment strength.”

Roth said that all Catholic elementary schools need to have a “strong plan” in place in order to meet current and future challenges. “This diocesan-wide process has to result in a definitive plan of action that has practical applications in all of the diverse Catholic schools in our area. I know that what works here at DeSales won’t necessarily succeed at another type of school, but if this process can give each of us some tools and the know-how to make them work, then each elementary school can not only survive, but become stronger in our own communities.”

Father Gregory J. Dobson, canonical administrator for Southern Tier Catholic School in Olean, said the planning process is important to the school “at this critical juncture in our history to assure that we hold on to the vision of Catholic education as it is articulated in the diocese in this century. We are no longer what we were, nor can we be, nor do we want to be. We are trying to think ‘outside the box’ in areas of recruitment, programming and funding.

“As we do that, not only are best practices that are tested and effective important, but a sense of direction and solidarity with the larger Church are critical. We cannot become just a private school. We cannot be just parochial in our outlook or outreach.”

“While we focus on our Catholic identity,” Bishop Kmiec wrote, “our schools have a longstanding tradition of welcoming families from diverse backgrounds in terms of religion, race, ethnicity, economic status and ability.”

The bishop is encouraging everyone in the diocese to come together, “to work to ensure that our Catholic schools grow and prosper while remaining available, accessible and affordable.”

In LeRoy, Holy Family School draws students from Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Father Michael R. Rock, OdeM, serves as canonical administrator of the school. He sees the planning process “breaking down parochialism that has existed for decades in our schools, parishes, and even among people.

“It sends a clear message that Catholic schools and Catholic education are not only critical to the life and future of the diocese, but that it is everyone’s responsibility to support it through prayer and with financial help,” Father Rock said. “It gives us a strong sense of support and helps us through collaboration to keep improving our school by raising the bar to reach benchmarks given us by the diocese.”

Green, the principal of St. Joseph School, said the challenge is clear. “The central focus within the process must remain on Catholic identity and excellence in academics. As we move forward in this process my hope is that our Catholic schools will become increasingly viable and that they will continue to play an important role in our local communities serving the many children who ultimately benefit from our presence.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PASTORAL LETTER

H1N1: Bishop Kmiec to institute liturgical changes in the Mass

By DOB Office of Communications

With widespread reports of H1N1 and other influenza-like illness in Western New York, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo, has issued a directive to all parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo to immediately suspend the distribution of Holy Communion through the cup. The bishop is also asking church goers that instead of shaking hands during the Sign of Peace at Mass, they offer a nod or a verbal greeting of peace.

“In the past few weeks, we have seen a dramatic increase in sickness in our Catholic schools and in the workplace,” Bishop Kmiec said. “Based on our consultations with Catholic Health officials and a number of county health departments in Western New York, we feel this is a prudent decision to make at this time. If people are sick, they should stay home. They are excused from their Sunday Mass obligation.”

Bishop Kmiec quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church when he noted, “Since Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species, communion under the species of bread alone makes it possible to receive all the fruit of the Eucharistic grace.”

The bishop is also advising priests, deacons and Eucharistic ministers to wash or sanitize their hands prior to the distribution of Holy Communion.

Dr. Brian D'Arcy, senior vice-president for Medical Affairs for Catholic Health, endorsed the decision, “Catholic Health supports the bishop's directive regarding liturgical changes in the Mass related to potential spreading of both seasonal and novel H1N1 flu. From a medical perspective, it makes good sense to take practical measures to minimize the spread of the flu where ever possible,” D’Arcy said.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has posted “Ten Questions on Influenza/H1N1 (Swine) Flu and the Liturgy” and the Erie County Health Department has developed a list of “Ten things you can do to prevent the flu,” including: wash your hands often, especially after coughing and sneezing; wash for 20 seconds with soap and warm water; use alcohol-based hand sanitizers or wipes if soap and water are not available and when coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.

Changes in the liturgy in the Diocese of Buffalo are in effect until further notice.

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Pondering: +++Certainly the statement was meant to say Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and not Eucharistic Ministers... I know that old habits die hard, but Cardinal Arinze did make the instruction back in 2004. Redemptionis Sacramentum was a perfectly good document and I do wish more people would read it.+++ The EMHCs that I personally know are very good and faithful people who do not mistake themselves for priests, but I say enough already with calling people Eucharistic Ministers who clearly are not. /rant

DOR Catholic Courier Gains a Customer

What happens when a blog in the Diocese of Rochester, seeking to expose the continuing liturgical abuses, buys ad space in the Diocesan paper? I cannot wait to find out.

Cleansing Fire was started in June of 2009 by a few concerned Diocese of Rochester parishioners who are greatly hurt by what they have witnessed in their parishes over the course of thirty years. Since the "bonfire of orthodoxy" began, it has already logged more than 31,000 hits. That is 30k hits in a mere four months. Cleansing Fire has received enough donations from blog readers that they can now purchase an ad for their site in the Catholic Courier.

No, not the ballet. 'Liturgical Dance' at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

You may ask, "Why all of the talk about the Diocese of Rochester? I do not live there so it is really none of my business." It is our business as WE are Church. It is not your church, my church, his church, her church or even their church. If you see a house on fire, do you not call 911? Or do you just decide that it is really none of your business -- it isn't your house. What hurts one part of the body of Christ directly hurts the entire body. If a part of the Church is hurt, it affects us all. People are hurting and souls are at risk. Remember, there are sins of commission and those of omission. Know the difference.

Pray for the people of the Diocese of Rochester.

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10 Most Common Liturgical Abuses

Compendium on the Eucharist Update

One year ago I made a blog entry about a forthcoming Eucharistic Compendium which happens to be one of the most popular page for 'hits'. Catholic News Agency reports the following today:

Vatican City, Oct 21, 2009 / 01:38 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Antonio Canizares, Prefect of the Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, today officially presented Pope Benedict XVI with the “Compendium eucharisticum,” aimed at helping priests to properly celebrate Mass.

The compendium, which was officially published on October 19, is a collection of study materials, prayers and meditations related to the celebration of the Eucharist. According to Cardinal Canizares, it is “a response to the desire of the Holy Father and the request made by the bishops during the 2005 Synod on the Eucharist.”

According to the daily edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the document “puts together texts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, prayers, theological explanations of the Roman Missal’s Eucharistic prayers and everything that may be useful for the correct understanding, celebration and adoration of the Sacrament on the altar.”

L’Osservatore Romano also explained that the Pope’s desire is that the compendium will help both priests and laity in “believing, celebrating and increasingly living out the Eucharistic Mystery.” The Holy Father also hopes that it will stimulate “every faithful person to make of their own lives a spiritual worship,” the paper added.

I'll provide more information on availability as it is known.

Henry VIII Rolls Over in his Grave

Catchy title, isn't it? The above parchment, bearing 85 seals, is the Address of the Peers of England to Pope Clement VII asking for annulment of King Henry VIII's marriage. The King, as you recall, was seeking a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry a lady-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn. The Pope then declared legitimate Henry VIII’s marriage with Catherine of Aragon, and therefore indissoluble. Hindered from carrying out his plans, the King got married again and declared the separation of the Church of England from the Church of Rome.

On October 20, 2009 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released the following:

NOTE OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH ABOUT PERSONAL ORDINARIATES FOR ANGLICANS ENTERING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

With the preparation of an Apostolic Constitution, the Catholic Church is responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion.

In this Apostolic Constitution the Holy Father has introduced a canonical structure that provides for such corporate reunion by establishing Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony. Under the terms of the Apostolic Constitution, pastoral oversight and guidance will be provided for groups of former Anglicans through a Personal Ordinariate, whose Ordinary will usually be appointed from among former Anglican clergy.

The forthcoming Apostolic Constitution provides a reasonable and even necessary response to a world-wide phenomenon, by offering a single canonical model for the universal Church which is adaptable to various local situations and equitable to former Anglicans in its universal application. It provides for the ordination as Catholic priests of married former Anglican clergy. Historical and ecumenical reasons preclude the ordination of married men as bishops in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Constitution therefore stipulates that the Ordinary can be either a priest or an unmarried bishop. The seminarians in the Ordinariate are to be prepared alongside other Catholic seminarians, though the Ordinariate may establish a house of formation to address the particular needs of formation in the Anglican patrimony. In this way, the Apostolic Constitution seeks to balance on the one hand the concern to preserve the worthy Anglican liturgical and spiritual patrimony and, on the other hand, the concern that these groups and their clergy will be integrated into the Catholic Church.

Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which has prepared this provision, said: "We have been trying to meet the requests for full communion that have come to us from Anglicans in different parts of the world in recent years in a uniform and equitable way. With this proposal the Church wants to respond to the legitimate aspirations of these Anglican groups for full and visible unity with the Bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter."

These Personal Ordinariates will be formed, as needed, in consultation with local Conferences of Bishops, and their structure will be similar in some ways to that of the Military Ordinariates which have been established in most countries to provide pastoral care for the members of the armed forces and their dependents throughout the world. "Those Anglicans who have approached the Holy See have made clear their desire for full, visible unity in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. At the same time, they have told us of the importance of their Anglican traditions of spirituality and worship for their faith journey," Cardinal Levada said.

The provision of this new structure is consistent with the commitment to ecumenical dialogue, which continues to be a priority for the Catholic Church, particularly through the efforts of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. "The initiative has come from a number of different groups of Anglicans," Cardinal Levada went on to say: "They have declared that they share the common Catholic faith as it is expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and accept the Petrine ministry as something Christ willed for the Church. For them, the time has come to express this implicit unity in the visible form of full communion."

According to Levada: "It is the hope of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, that the Anglican clergy and faithful who desire union with the Catholic Church will find in this canonical structure the opportunity to preserve those Anglican traditions precious to them and consistent with the Catholic faith. Insofar as these traditions express in a distinctive way the faith that is held in common, they are a gift to be shared in the wider Church. The unity of the Church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity, as the history of Christianity shows. Moreover, the many diverse traditions present in the Catholic Church today are all rooted in the principle articulated by St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: ‘There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism’ (4:5). Our communion is therefore strengthened by such legitimate diversity, and so we are happy that these men and women bring with them their particular contributions to our common life of faith."

Background information

Since the sixteenth century, when King Henry VIII declared the Church in England independent of Papal Authority, the Church of England has created its own doctrinal confessions, liturgical books, and pastoral practices, often incorporating ideas from the Reformation on the European continent. The expansion of the British Empire, together with Anglican missionary work, eventually gave rise to a world-wide Anglican Communion.

Throughout the more than 450 years of its history the question of the reunification of Anglicans and Catholics has never been far from mind. In the mid-nineteenth century the Oxford Movement (in England) saw a rekindling of interest in the Catholic aspects of Anglicanism. In the early twentieth century Cardinal Mercier of Belgium entered into well publicized conversations with Anglicans to explore the possibility of union with the Catholic Church under the banner of an Anglicanism "reunited but not absorbed".

At the Second Vatican Council hope for union was further nourished when the Decree on Ecumenism (n. 13), referring to communions separated from the Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation, stated that: "Among those in which Catholic traditions and institutions in part continue to exist, the Anglican Communion occupies a special place."

Since the Council, Anglican-Roman Catholic relations have created a much improved climate of mutual understanding and cooperation. The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) produced a series of doctrinal statements over the years in the hope of creating the basis for full and visible unity. For many in both communions, the ARCIC statements provided a vehicle in which a common expression of faith could be recognized. It is in this framework that this new provision should be seen.

In the years since the Council, some Anglicans have abandoned the tradition of conferring Holy Orders only on men by calling women to the priesthood and the episcopacy. More recently, some segments of the Anglican Communion have departed from the common biblical teaching on human sexuality—already clearly stated in the ARCIC document "Life in Christ"—by the ordination of openly homosexual clergy and the blessing of homosexual partnerships. At the same time, as the Anglican Communion faces these new and difficult challenges, the Catholic Church remains fully committed to continuing ecumenical engagement with the Anglican Communion, particularly through the efforts of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.

In the meantime, many individual Anglicans have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. Sometimes there have been groups of Anglicans who have entered while preserving some "corporate" structure. Examples of this include, the Anglican diocese of Amritsar in India, and some individual parishes in the United States which maintained an Anglican identity when entering the Catholic Church under a "pastoral provision" adopted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by Pope John Paul II in 1982. In these cases, the Catholic Church has frequently dispensed from the requirement of celibacy to allow those married Anglican clergy who desire to continue ministerial service as Catholic priests to be ordained in the Catholic Church.

In the light of these developments, the Personal Ordinariates established by the Apostolic Constitution can be seen as another step toward the realization the aspiration for full, visible union in the Church of Christ, one of the principal goals of the ecumenical movement.

The Archbishops of Westminster and Canterbury respond to the news with the following:

Today’s announcement of the Apostolic Constitution is a response by Pope Benedict XVI to a number of requests over the past few years to the Holy See from groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and are willing to declare that they share a common Catholic faith and accept the Petrine ministry as willed by Christ for his Church.

Pope Benedict XVI has approved, within the Apostolic Constitution, a canonical structure that provides for Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spiritual patrimony.

The announcement of this Apostolic Constitution brings to an end a period of uncertainty for such groups who have nurtured hopes of new ways of embracing unity with the Catholic Church. It will now be up to those who have made requests to the Holy See to respond to the Apostolic Constitution.

The Apostolic Constitution is further recognition of the substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality between the Catholic Church and the Anglican tradition. Without the dialogues of the past forty years, this recognition would not have been possible, nor would hopes for full visible unity have been nurtured. In this sense, this Apostolic Constitution is one consequence of ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

The on-going official dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion provides the basis for our continuing cooperation. The Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) agreements make clear the path we will follow together.

With God’s grace and prayer we are determined that our on-going mutual commitment and consultation on these and other matters should continue to be strengthened. Locally, in the spirit of IARCCUM, we look forward to building on the pattern of shared meetings between the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Church of England’s House of Bishops with a focus on our common mission. Joint days of reflection and prayer were begun in Leeds in 2006 and continued in Lambeth in 2008, and further meetings are in preparation. This close cooperation will continue as we grow together in unity and mission, in witness to the Gospel in our country, and in the Church at large.

London, 20 October 2009

Imagine -- the Queen of England being welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church. As she is advancing in years, I can only imagine how difficult it may be to find a successor who was not divorced after a Sacramental marriage.

Read Fr. Z's take on the matter over at his blog which may be found HERE.

Diocese of Rochester: 1979 - Present

+Catholic Ponderings+ has covered disturbing and a bit of hopeful news coming from the Diocese of Rochester over the last two years. To review previous posts, please click here.

The faithful who live within the Diocese of Rochester have been suffering in various ways for three decades now, and the toll is staggering. Dr. K over at Cleansing Fire has documented the past thirty years. To those who continue to turn a blind eye toward the liturgical abuse, over-use of pastoral administrators who happen to be proud members of the Women's Ordination Conference, the closing of dozens of Catholic schools and the exodus of Catholics to either a neighboring Diocese or out of the Church altogether: Please take a new look at the timeline. Mammon has been at work in the Diocese of Rochester, and the Holy Spirit has been shunned in many places.

Here is the link to the timeline. Your comments are appreciated. Please pray for the Diocese of Rochester.

Book Review: Bleeder

Having read a series of apologetics material, heady theology and most recently, teen fiction, I was happy to settle in with a good mystery. I began reading Bleeder the moment I cut open the packaging on my trip from the mailbox. The subject matter may seem a bit gory to some, but I assure you that even the most sensitive person will not be offended. The blurb on the back cover reads as follows:

A stigmatic priest bleeds
to death on Good Friday
in front of horrified
parishioners.

A miracle? Or a
bloody murder?

Aristotle professor
Reed Stubblefield
needs to know.

After all, police say
he's the prime suspect.

Quite a catchy glimpse of the story and it certainly prompts an interested party to dive into the book. The web becomes more complex than the blurb lets on, but the storyline never leaves the reader confused. Author, John Desjarlais seems to be heeding the literary mantra, "Write what you know" as he provides a college professor protagonist that teaches writing - as is his profession as well. Though the plot is outstanding and the book ends with all of the loose ends neatly tied, I finished feeling a bit deflated. The book was overrun with 'MacGuffins', motivating plot-prodders, that really end up serving no purpose to the story. I understand the intent, as with a mystery, one must provide enough distractions so that the resolution is difficult to achieve. In my opinion, the distractions were too numerous and unnecessary.

I was delaying this review because I did not want to tear apart the hard work of another which was, overall, a good book. Mr. Desjarlais has pulled together an intriguing story with a very diverse group of characters and stories within the story. We learn about the double-whammy of personal tragedies to strike Reed Stubblefield and his struggles which have been a direct result. The reader is introduced to Casey, a young female newspaper reporter with an undertone of potential romantic interest in Reed. There is a strong Mexican presence, many of whom follow Fr. Ray, the priest who attracts a great deal of followers seeking his alleged healing powers. Reed's brother, Dan, is a beneficiary of Fr. Ray's gift and we see Reed call into question his own faith (self-described as a Presbyterian... sort of). With Fr. Ray's death during the Good Friday service, Reed quickly emerges as a prime suspect to nearly everyone - and a potential victim himself if he is not careful.

Never to be explained is the apparent vast knowledge of Catholicism by a supposed Presbyterian with little interest in matters of faith. The frequent references to Reed's health and the effects of the medications on him was, at times, redundant. It was made clear early in the story that his medication had dangerous side-effects when mixed with certain foods and often left him light-headed, yet throughout the story, the same explanations continued to emerge. Flashbacks to Reed spending time with a very sick wife were overused. It lent an insight into Reed's state of mind and his personal struggles, but in a mystery novel, the oft repeated use was unnecessary.

In summary, and probably much to your surprise, I would recommend this book. If you like a good plot line that will keep you guessing until the end, this is a book you would enjoy. A best seller? I'm not so sure. A good fall read while nestled next to a fire with a cup of coffee? Yes! And a note to Mr. Desjarlais: I know I'm not much of a writer and it is clear that you are much more talented. I appreciate good fiction without all of the sexual garbage so prevalent in the world of fiction today. Your storyline was outstanding and would make an excellent film. I just think elements could have been trimmed from the manuscript and the book would have worked better. I look forward to reading more of your books in the future.

___________________________

Bleeder is available at The Catholic Company. 272 pages, softcover and $14.95.

Irena Sendler: No Nobel Prize Required

Irena Sendler, born in 1910, was raised by her Catholic parents to respect and love people regardless of their ethnicity or social status. Her father, a physician, died from typhus that he contracted during an epidemic in 1917. He was the only doctor in his town near Warsaw who would treat the poor, mostly Jewish victims of this tragic disease. As he was dying, he told 7-year-old Irena, “If you see someone drowning you must try to rescue them, even if you cannot swim.”

In 1939 the Nazis swept through Poland and imprisoned the Jews in ghettos where they were first starved to death and then systematically murdered in killing camps. Irena, by than a social worker in Warsaw, saw the Jewish people drowning and resolved to do what she could to rescue as many as possible, especially the children. Working with a network of other social workers and brave Poles, mostly women, she smuggled 2,500 children out of the Warsaw ghetto and hid them safely until the end of the war. Sendler took great risks – obtaining forged papers for the children, disguising herself as an infection control nurse, diverting German occupation funds for the support of children in hiding. She entered the Warsaw ghetto, sometimes two and three times a day, and talked Jewish parents into giving up their children. Sendler drugged the babies with sedatives and smuggled them past Nazi guards in gunny sacks, boxes and coffins. She helped the older ones escape through the sewers, through secret openings in the wall, through the courthouse, through churches, any clever way she and her network could evade the Nazis.

Once outside the ghetto walls, Sendler gave the children false names and documents and placed them in convents, orphanages and with Polish families. In 1942 the Polish underground organization ZEGOTA recruited her to lead their Children’s Division, providing her with money and support. Her hope was that after the war she could reunite the children with surviving relatives, or at least return their Jewish identities. To that end she kept thin tissue paper lists of each child’s Jewish name, their Polish name and address. She hid the precious lists in glass jars buried under an apple tree in the back yard of one of her co-conspirators.

In 1943 Irena Sendler was arrested, tortured and sentenced to death by firing squad. She never divulged the location of the lists or her Polish underground contacts. At the last moment she was saved by ZEGOTA which bribed a guard to secure her freedom. After the war, the Communist government suppressed any recognition of the courageous anti-fascist partisans, most of whom were also anti-Communists. Irena’s story and those of other courageous Poles, were buried and forgotten. Her courage and resourcefulness were recognized by Israel in 1965 when she was awarded the Yad Vashem medal given to Righteous Gentiles who risked their own lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. In 1983 a tree was planted in her honor in Israel. But in general, the world was silent about Irena Sendler.

Silent until 1999, when three Kansas teens uncovered Irena’s story. Liz Cambers, Megan Stewart, and Sabrina Coons (a fourth, Jessica Shelton, joined later), students at rural Uniontown High School were looking for a National History Day project. Their teacher, Norm Conard gave them a short paragraph about Irena Sendler from a 1994 U.S. News and World Report story entitled “The Other Schindlers” and they decided to research her life. According to the article, Irena Sendler smuggled 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghetto just prior to its liquidation in 1943. (An internet search turned up only one web site that mentioned Irena Sendler. Now there are over 300,000.)

With the help and inspiration of their teacher, they began to reconstruct the remarkable achievements of this forgotten hero of the Holocaust. The three Kansas girls assumed Irena Sendler must be dead and searched for her burial site. To their surprise and delight, they discovered that she was still alive, 90-years-old, living with relatives in a small apartment in Warsaw. They created a play about her rescue efforts called Life in a Jar, which has since been performed more than 200 times in the U.S., Canada and Poland. In May 2001 they visited Irena in Warsaw and began a friendship that has inspired other Polish Righteous Gentiles to break their silence. The visit also made Irena's story known to the world, through the international press. They have visited Irena and Warsaw on four different occasions. Irena is now a Polish national hero and Poland is coming to terms with the painful legacy of the war and the Holocaust. Irena last visited with the Life in a Jar students on May 3, 2008. She died on May 12, 2008, at the age of 98.--Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project

Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 but lost to former U.S. Vice President, Al Gore, poster boy for global warming alarmists. Mr. Gore joined a long list of admirable persons including Blessed Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, Jr. Now the current U.S. President, Barack Obama, has been awarded the great prize. Nominations for the prize were due 11 days after Mr. Obama took the oath of office. Clearly, the Nobel Peace Prize has an increasingly diminished value and is not based upon what someone has done to spread peace; it is now a political award, not given based upon merit, but on an individual's popularity.

Thankfully, as Christians, we know that we are not of this world. We are here for a short time and we have great hope for life eternal with God. That is the prize which counts, and one of which I am fairly certain Mrs. Sendler has been awarded. Irena Sendler, pray for us.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Taking Applications

Above is a screenshot of the application for community organizers to seek grants from the CCHD. Click on the picture for a larger, more clear view. The deadline is November 1 - just in time for the CCHD annual appeal which hits most US parishes at Thanksgiving. How many community organizers know and understand Catholic Moral Teaching? One glaring omission is the promotion and/or dispensing of contraceptives. If something is intrinsically evil, should the Church be omitting it from an 'eligibility quiz'? And certainly all applicants are truthful - right? ACORN and all of the little mini-ACORNs wouldn't deceive, would they?

The Chinese Progressive Association received funding from CCHD yet in their voter guide, instructs people to vote against legislation that would require girls under 18 to have parental permission prior to an abortion and also pushes for gay 'marriage'.

Then there is the Los Angeles Community Action Network. A recipient of funds in the past, though admittedly not on the current grantee list, advocates 'reproductive health services' at a clinic which provides birth control, 'emergency contraception' (abortion pill) and God knows what else. The Rebecca Project pressed President Obama to take action in his first 100 days in office regarding matters such as defunding abstinence-only programs, pushing 'emergency contraceptive' (abortion pill) availability among other anti-Christian agendas. VOICE Buffalo is currently pushing for Health Care legislation as it currently stands, including tax dollars for abortion - and they proudly display their affiliations with the Church on the website home page.

There are more to list, but why bother - same story, different name. At the bottom of the application, it states the following:

AGREEMENT

Those submitting online grant or refund applications, submitting responses to the CCHD “Eligibility Quiz” or otherwise interacting with CCHD and/or USCCB by way of providing information above, understand and agree that these applications and submissions are all made in the District of Columbia. It is further understood and agreed that all grants, awards, refunds or business decisions regarding these issues, are made in the District of Columbia. Further, it is understood and agreed that any and all claims arising from these grant or refund applications, the CCHD “Eligibility Quiz”, or otherwise relating to the provision of information above, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia.

It is further understood and agreed that the sole jurisdiction and venue for any litigation arising out of or relating to any such applications, grants, refunds, participation in the “Eligibility Quiz” or the provision of information above, will be in an otherwise appropriate federal or local court located in the District of Columbia.

In the event that any portion of this Agreement is held unenforceable, that unenforceable portion will be construed in accordance with applicable District of Columbia law so as to, as nearly as possible, reflect the expressed original intentions of the parties, and the remainder of the provisions will remain in full force and effect.

By submitting the above application for a grant or refund, submitting responses to the “Eligibility Quiz” or otherwise providing information, the submitter or provider agrees to all of the above conditions.

Not too scary, eh? Assuming all applicants are well informed on District of Columbia law seems to be a bit lazy, no? Any forms I sign usually give me pause because I am so afraid that I may have accidentally overlooked something and fear prison time if I added something correctly or forgot to initial a box. How about: If any information is found to be incorrect, any grant money must be refunded in full and you will be ineligible for further grants in the future. Where is that line? Oh, probably included in some D.C. law. Or the online application which is promised if they pass the initial sniff test.

I understand that the CCHD can only go by what information is provided them and that the application for funding is based upon trust. Perhaps if they simply had a couple of college students at the Catholic University of America volunteer some time googling potential grantees, they could save a lot of money which would have funded unworthy recipients. If they cannot responsibly handle the oversight of millions of well-intentioned Catholic parishioners, perhaps they should get out of the funding business.

Call for and end of the CCHD. It is clear that the Bishops are overwhelmed with this so we should lend them a hand by not giving them any money to worry about. Give to other causes which make a measurable difference without supporting sinful agendas. Leave the basket empty - or better yet, enclose a note in the envelope - and send a loud signal to your Pastor, your Diocese and the USCCB. Below are links to Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services - click on the pictures and give to them instead.

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Click here to read all +Ponderings+ on the CCHD. Educate yourself because the USCCB is not going to.