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Sunday, October 31, 2010
Final Mass at St. Peter's Church in Duluth
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Duluth's Catholic community said goodbye to St. Peter's Church Sunday. The congregation held their last mass Sunday morning after more than one hundred years of services.
Duluth's Catholic community said goodbye to St. Peter's Church Sunday. The congregation held their last mass Sunday morning after more than one hundred years of services.
The church bells rang 105 times for each of the 105 years St. Peter's has existed.
"It's sad. Sad that it's happening, but the building is getting pretty dilapidated but its hard to see it go," said Lee Fawcett, who has attended St. Peter's nearly all his life.
Lee Fawcett's history with St. Peter's goes way back, like many who attended the final service. For most St. Peter's is the church they were baptized at or married in.
"Its very hard on everyone filled with stories and nostalgia but its what st. Peter's needed to do," said Father John Petrich, who has presided over the congregation for just eight weeks.
For the last ten years, St. Peter's has been in desperate need of renovations. Father Petrich said the cold and snow of Duluth winters have taken its toll on the walls and the ceiling that are now crumbling.
"Maybe ten years ago if we patched and fixed we wouldn't be here today," said Father Petrich. "But it was getting worse and worse the water comes in one place and pops out in a different place."
The necessary repairs would cost nearly $500,000. Father Petrich said that's just more than the congregation of 50 could afford.
"Can it be saved? With a whole lot of money and it would be more money than the congregation at st. Peter's could even dream of," said Father Petrich.
Next Sunday the congregation will go their separate ways heading to mass at another church, but for those who loved St. Peters, church without it will be changed forever.
"Nope never be the same..never be the same," said Michelle Weegman, who was married at St. Peter's.
The Diocese of Duluth isn't going to close the church altogether just yet, only suspend operations. Next year the community will decide whether or not to close the church altogether. WDIO-TV
Duluth's ‘Italian church’ plans last Mass this month
Four pillars of strength have made St. Thomas Academy a success for 125 years
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A lot has changed for St. Thomas Academy since its modest start on a St. Paul farm in 1885. As the all-boys school celebrates a milestone this year, leaders credit early principles for its longevity.
Archbishop John Ireland, who pushed Catholic education in the Twin Cities, created St. Thomas Academy in 1885 as a school where students would become leaders.
Now, 125 years later, educators are still teaching his mission at the school, which has become the only all-boys, Catholic, military, college preparatory school in Minnesota.
But its modest beginnings have changed.
Students gathered for the first classes on an old farm on the shores of Lake Mennith in St. Paul, which later became the corner of Cleveland and Summit avenues. Today, nearly 700 students in grades seven through 12 attend school in four buildings and play sports in state-of-the-art facilities on a 72-acre campus in Mendota Heights.
School headmaster Thomas Mich said the secret to the academy's survival has been maintaining its four pillars: all-boys, college preparatory, Catholic and military. Though, he admits, those features can be hard for some to swallow.
"I think it's a challenge for us to have people recognize we don't have students goose-stepping along the way," Mich said. "I think if people aren't familiar with the school and they run all those titles together, it can be kind of offsetting."
But students and school supporters say the school's four aspects work together.
"From 1885 to the present, the academy has produced men who become leaders in industry, in the professions, in commerce and in the church," said Archbishop John Nien-stedt of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. "In so many ways, they bring the voice of compassion and the witness of truth to their everyday lives. I can only imagine that in so doing, the academy has responded faithfully to Archbishop Ireland's courageous vision and his greatest hopes."
Since September, students, staff and alumni classes dating to the 1940s have been meeting during breakfasts to celebrate the academy's present and past.
A SMART MOVE
St. Thomas Academy was one of many Catholic schools founded by Ireland, the first St. Paul archbishop, in an effort to teach students Catholicism but also to educate them for the broader world, said Ann Girres, the academy's media specialist and historian.
The school, known as St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, started with 66 boys. It featured a theological department for students entering priesthood and a collegiate department for students going to a university.
Ireland, a chaplain in the Civil War, also was patriotic.
Five years after the school opened, the academy added a Military Battalion program. The academy later became a military school under the supervision of the U.S. Army.
The school also incorporated St. Thomas College into its academic department. But by 1965, the college separated and later became the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The academy moved to its current campus in Mendota Heights.
Typically, colleges swallow up preparatory schools, Mich said. Instead, the academy moved to the suburbs, where development was extremely scarce — but expected.
"It was a very insightful move to come here," he said.
At the new campus, the Army changed the school's military curriculum and students no longer trained with weapons, Girres said. The military program also scaled back because of the Vietnam War. At that time, the school was an easy target for war protesters.
In 1971, the academy transformed again when it added a middle school. It also eliminated a boarding program, which attracted students from other states and countries.
Former Spanish teacher George Schnell remembers when students used to live at the school. Schnell, 89, of St. Paul worked at the academy for 38 years — his whole career.
"I loved the environment," he said.
Schnell is one of four retired teachers known as "the old guard." Alumni remember them as teachers who taught several generations of the same families at the school.
Rick Battis, of the class of 1979, said 27 of his family members have graduated from the academy. The first was his late uncle George Battis, who graduated in 1936.
Rick Battis remembers being an "awkward" kid in school. Although he admits he didn't appreciate the academy until he left, he's now president of the alumni
"There's a tremendous sense of community you feel when you're there," Battis said. "You wander the halls over there, and there's a lot that hasn't changed."
'LIKE A FAMILY'
Today at St. Thomas Academy, pieces of tradition and history can be found everywhere — even with the addition of a new artificial-turf field at its stadium and a new track.
Every school day, students wear button-up, light-blue shirts decorated with their military school rankings, dress pants and shiny black shoes. Every morning, they meet in the main lobby of the school for "formation," where they salute each other and seniors read a speech.
Speaking in front of the whole school was no small feat Wednesday for Madison Whalen, 17. Whalen said that he was nervous at first but that having his classmates around helped.
"It's almost like a family," he said.
Most students say not having girls at the school helps keep them focused. However, the boys sometimes share classes and programs, like band and choir, with girls from Convent of the Visitation School, an all-girls high school that neighbors the academy.
But sometimes, the all-boys school becomes the butt of jokes.
They hear it all, students say. Kids from other schools chant "We got girls" during sporting events. And there are jokes about academy students being rich.
"People think we're snobs," said Thomas Sjoberg, 16, a junior at the school. "But really, a lot of the kids aren't rich. A lot of the kids get financial aid."
This year, 40 percent of students will receive financial aid to help pay for some or all of the school's $16,600 annual tuition, Mich said. Five years ago, 28 percent received help.
"We've had to increase financial aid because of the economy," Mich said.
The school receives aid from its endowment, tuition and donations.
While Catholic schools continue to close because of declining enrollments, budget cuts and changing demographics, the academy has maintained its enrollment the past three years. This year, however, enrollment dropped by 22 students.
Mich doesn't consider the decrease a sign, he said.
"The school is highly valued by its parents, alumni and friends," Mich said. "There has been a great tradition at this school, great loyalty." Pioneer Press
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Is there really media bias? You bet there is.
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Lots of folks say that the media is incredibly riddled with liberal views used to further an agenda. I suspect that is true on particular issues (not necessarily on the Sports or Dining Out pages, though.
My experience this past week contributing to, and then reading media reports on the postcard mailings, has been a bit of an eyeopener for me.
It recalls an incident, many years ago, when at a government hearing where environmentalists were protesting a development project being considered for the City of Stillwater, where I then worked. Lawyers for the objectors, including the then head of the state's Pollution Control Agency, were quite adept at interpreting state laws and regulations to their advantage. We ended up getting our approvals, but it taught me to watch closely what they say, and what they don't say, that I have retained since then.
The first internet awareness of the DFL mailing to voters in Senate District 40 came from a phone call from a concerned Catholic whose friend had received the version of the over-sized postcard showing the "priest" wearing a large "Ignore the Poor" button.
While a few mainline Lutherans, Episcopalians and others might wear the Roman collar (with the white tab at the throat), virtually everybody would first think of a priest. Evangelicals and non-denominational pastors wear business suits.
Well there is nothing wrong with sending a photo of a priest on a political mailing. The real message was contained in the "Ignore the Poor" button. That message was a reminder to Minnesotans of the controversy created among those proposing legislation legalizing homosexual marriage in the state, something that will be hotly debated in the next session of the Legislature.
A few weeks ago a Marriage DVD, paid for by an anonymous donor, was sent to all the Catholics of the state. The reaction from some was outrage, criticizing the Church's teaching, and remorseful that that money had not been used to "feed the poor."
Charging that Catholics are in favor of "ignoring the poor" is a despicable slap at Catholics and their Church, the largest private providers of charity to the poor in this country.
By the next morning, it was known that there had actually been three different versions of the mailing to SD 40. The second one was that of an angel holding a banner stating "Blessed are the Rich" with a line above, "The Bible doesn't tell us to neglect the poor." This message obviously complements the "Ignore the Poor" button, aimed at Catholics, on the first post card.
The third large post-card had the image of a small side or chapel altar, with a statue of St. Anthony of Padua, traditionally posed holding the Child Jesus, the "Word of God", since St. Anthony was a very great preacher. This statue is commonly found in Catholic churches but I'd bet not in any Protestant churches that you have seen.
In front of the altar is a "prie-dieux", a prayer kneeler. Any of those in Protestant churches? Maybe, but certainly not in non-denominational or evangelical churches.
Off to the left side, are crutches and a cane leaning against the wall. It is a common practices for Catholics who suffer from a disability to pray to saints (or the Blessed Mother) for intercession for a cure for their affliction. If they get permanent relief, and a very few do, they leave their crutches besides the altar as concrete evidence to others that "prayer works."
Above the altar are political statements against candidate Dan Hall, who is mocked and vilified and slandered on the reverse side of the three postcards. They say: "Dan Hall: Talks like a preacher; Acts like a politician.
Dan Hall is not a preacher. He was ordained as a minister many years ago but now works for an organization that supports chaplains and is himself a chaplain for the Bloomington Police Department and the Minnesota State Senate. On the first card, "Preacher Hall", mockingly, is accused of not publicly objecting to Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of funding for some programs for the poor last summer when Dan was a private citizen.
All of this information has been provided to the major news outlets in Minnesota. And what are their stories about? Whether or not the photo of the guy in the black suit is a priest or a minister. One or two media sites mention in passing the other cards. And they all refer to Hall as "Preacher Hall."
They don't want that information to come out because the cards all were designed to subtly support the proposed legislative bills that will authorize homosexual marriages in Minnesota. This entire postcard campaign was designed to defeat Dan Hall who us up against a very vulnerable incumbent in the district that all thought was very lucky to win last election. And it was also designed to remind voters that Catholics are against the DFL party on many important issues, including homosexual marriage.
But the postcards have backfired, something else that the press has refused to report. State Senate DFLers are privately outraged at the incompetent effort by the state DFL party staff that created and mailed these outrageously anti-Catholic attack ads. Some have apologized to Catholic leaders in St. Paul.
But not Brian Melendez, head of the State DFL party. In his inept response to objections to the cards from the media, he regularly brings up the religion of the minister in the black suit, saying it "could be a protestant." Did you know that Brian Melendez has a degree from the Harvard Divinity School? And he doesn't know what the Roman collar means to virtually everybody?
I've been told, Melendez has been obnoxious and abusive to callers who have gotten through to him. I think he fears for his job and a stain on his remarkable resume'.
You see, many among the DFL leadership don't want the Catholic Church to have a voice in our country. They don't want conservatives to have a voice, either. The Constitution means nothing to them.
Lots of folks say that the media is incredibly riddled with liberal views used to further an agenda. I suspect that is true on particular issues (not necessarily on the Sports or Dining Out pages, though.
My experience this past week contributing to, and then reading media reports on the postcard mailings, has been a bit of an eyeopener for me.
It recalls an incident, many years ago, when at a government hearing where environmentalists were protesting a development project being considered for the City of Stillwater, where I then worked. Lawyers for the objectors, including the then head of the state's Pollution Control Agency, were quite adept at interpreting state laws and regulations to their advantage. We ended up getting our approvals, but it taught me to watch closely what they say, and what they don't say, that I have retained since then.
The first internet awareness of the DFL mailing to voters in Senate District 40 came from a phone call from a concerned Catholic whose friend had received the version of the over-sized postcard showing the "priest" wearing a large "Ignore the Poor" button.
While a few mainline Lutherans, Episcopalians and others might wear the Roman collar (with the white tab at the throat), virtually everybody would first think of a priest. Evangelicals and non-denominational pastors wear business suits.
Well there is nothing wrong with sending a photo of a priest on a political mailing. The real message was contained in the "Ignore the Poor" button. That message was a reminder to Minnesotans of the controversy created among those proposing legislation legalizing homosexual marriage in the state, something that will be hotly debated in the next session of the Legislature.
A few weeks ago a Marriage DVD, paid for by an anonymous donor, was sent to all the Catholics of the state. The reaction from some was outrage, criticizing the Church's teaching, and remorseful that that money had not been used to "feed the poor."
Charging that Catholics are in favor of "ignoring the poor" is a despicable slap at Catholics and their Church, the largest private providers of charity to the poor in this country.
By the next morning, it was known that there had actually been three different versions of the mailing to SD 40. The second one was that of an angel holding a banner stating "Blessed are the Rich" with a line above, "The Bible doesn't tell us to neglect the poor." This message obviously complements the "Ignore the Poor" button, aimed at Catholics, on the first post card.
The third large post-card had the image of a small side or chapel altar, with a statue of St. Anthony of Padua, traditionally posed holding the Child Jesus, the "Word of God", since St. Anthony was a very great preacher. This statue is commonly found in Catholic churches but I'd bet not in any Protestant churches that you have seen.
In front of the altar is a "prie-dieux", a prayer kneeler. Any of those in Protestant churches? Maybe, but certainly not in non-denominational or evangelical churches.
Off to the left side, are crutches and a cane leaning against the wall. It is a common practices for Catholics who suffer from a disability to pray to saints (or the Blessed Mother) for intercession for a cure for their affliction. If they get permanent relief, and a very few do, they leave their crutches besides the altar as concrete evidence to others that "prayer works."
Above the altar are political statements against candidate Dan Hall, who is mocked and vilified and slandered on the reverse side of the three postcards. They say: "Dan Hall: Talks like a preacher; Acts like a politician.
Dan Hall is not a preacher. He was ordained as a minister many years ago but now works for an organization that supports chaplains and is himself a chaplain for the Bloomington Police Department and the Minnesota State Senate. On the first card, "Preacher Hall", mockingly, is accused of not publicly objecting to Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of funding for some programs for the poor last summer when Dan was a private citizen.
All of this information has been provided to the major news outlets in Minnesota. And what are their stories about? Whether or not the photo of the guy in the black suit is a priest or a minister. One or two media sites mention in passing the other cards. And they all refer to Hall as "Preacher Hall."
They don't want that information to come out because the cards all were designed to subtly support the proposed legislative bills that will authorize homosexual marriages in Minnesota. This entire postcard campaign was designed to defeat Dan Hall who us up against a very vulnerable incumbent in the district that all thought was very lucky to win last election. And it was also designed to remind voters that Catholics are against the DFL party on many important issues, including homosexual marriage.
But the postcards have backfired, something else that the press has refused to report. State Senate DFLers are privately outraged at the incompetent effort by the state DFL party staff that created and mailed these outrageously anti-Catholic attack ads. Some have apologized to Catholic leaders in St. Paul.
But not Brian Melendez, head of the State DFL party. In his inept response to objections to the cards from the media, he regularly brings up the religion of the minister in the black suit, saying it "could be a protestant." Did you know that Brian Melendez has a degree from the Harvard Divinity School? And he doesn't know what the Roman collar means to virtually everybody?
I've been told, Melendez has been obnoxious and abusive to callers who have gotten through to him. I think he fears for his job and a stain on his remarkable resume'.
You see, many among the DFL leadership don't want the Catholic Church to have a voice in our country. They don't want conservatives to have a voice, either. The Constitution means nothing to them.
Of course the Catholic Church knows that it will receive criticism if it speaks out on issues that are important to it. It has been doing that for 2,000 years.
It also knows that in this country it has freedom of speech and can inform its 70 million members about political issues without fear of legal or financial repercussions. But it doesn't endorse candidates or parties.
And it also knows that receiving criticism means that the power and effectiveness of its messages increase even more, reaching more of its target audience and even non-Catholic who agree with the Church on issues.
Here are the cards. Click twice to see large versions:
Friday, October 29, 2010
8 Biblical Verses That Leftists Have Gotten Completely Wrong
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Politicians of all stripes endeavor to invoke the Bible for many reasons. Some try to use God’s Word to score points with the Christian or Jewish communities. Others employ a Biblical analogy or story to drive a point home. A few even share impactful passages out of sincere faith. However, it appears that most politicians — on the Left as well as on the Right — use the Old and New Testaments to prove or further their agenda.
One of the most insidious and troubling areas in which politicians have co-opted scripture is the “social justice” movement. Since the 19th century, Leftists have attempted to use particular passages from the Bible to achieve progressive and often radical or statist ends. From communitarians to eugenicists to early 20th century progressives to New Dealers, evangelists of various strains of the Social Gospel have attempted to utilize the Bible to justify their views.
Civil rights leaders from the 1950s until today have used scripture to prove their point. Jimmy Carter made no secret of his Christian faith, and he claimed to center many of his policies around it. The environmentalist movement has attempted to lure Jews and Christians into its fold by using the Bible, even coining the term “Creation Care” to make radical environmentalism palatable to believers. The progressive Social Gospel concept has come front and center in the Obama era, with Leftist religious leaders like Jim Wallis and his group, Sojourners, peddling their peculiar band of radically Leftist religious conviction. . . .
Follow the link to the newsrealblog.com It's worth it.
Catholic Defense League Press Release and Letter to DFL Chairman Brian Melendez
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010
CONTACT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Catholic Defense League
3499 Lexington Ave N # 104
St Paul, MN 55126-7056
651.766.7896
Catholics Demand Apology from Minnesota Democrat Party Leader
Mailed postcard is a shameful attack on the Catholic Church
Click to increase size
St. Paul – Today the Catholic Defense League issued a demand to DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez to immediately issue a formal apology for a series of shameful political mailings denigrating the Catholic Church. The mail pieces feature images that are clearly Catholic in their origin.
One of the mailings features a Catholic priest in a Roman collar [a white tab at his throat] wearing a large button that reads “Ignore the Poor.”
“The Catholic Church has a long tradition of outstanding charitable work,” said Dick Houck, president of Catholic Defense League. “For the DFL party to imply that Catholics don’t care about the poor is despicable.”
Some CDL members believe the mailing may be the Democrat’s retribution for the Catholic Bishops’ marriage DVD mailed to Catholic households in September. Mark Dayton, the DFL-endorsed candidate for governor, supports legalizing gay marriage, a position that is a direct contradiction to the Catholic Church’s teaching.
“I can’t help but feel this was the DFL’s way of trying to sling mud at the Church in response to the marriage DVD,” said Ray Marshall, a CDL board member. “We think this shameful tactic will ultimately backfire.”
“Catholics know in their hearts the outstanding charitable works they do to help lift up people in need,” said Marshall. “The Democrat Party isn’t going to win over any Catholic voters by slandering them as uncaring.”
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The Catholic Defense League is a lay Catholic apostolate organization dedicated to the defense of the Catholic Church by protecting its bishops, priests and religious from unwarranted attacks or misleading information. For more information, including images of all three mailings,visit www.cdlmn.org.
TEXT OF LETTER SENT TO BRIAN MELENDEZ
Brian Melendez
Chairman, Minnesota DFL State Party
255 East Plato Blvd
St. Paul, MN 56107
Dear Mr. Melendez,
I am writing to demand that you immediately issue a formal public apology for the recent Democrat Party political mailings that slander the Catholic Church. Your three mailings prominently feature images that are clearly Catholic in origin. The excuse offered by Democrat Party spokesman Donald McFarland that these mailings were targeting a specific political candidate is not an acceptable response.
In particular, your mailing suggesting that Catholics are ignoring the poor is simply reprehensible. There is no organization in the world that does more for the poor than the Catholic Church.
We cannot help but conclude that these mailings are a thinly disguised attempt at retribution for the Minnesota Catholic Bishops’ strong stance on the defense of marriage, which is fundamental to the Catholic faith.
I cannot believe that these mailings are representative of rank-and-file Democrats in the state of Minnesota. Catholics from across the state have expressed their outrage at these campaign materials.
We look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
R. J. Houck, President
Catholic Defense League
Is this Ad Anti-Catholic?
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From the "This Hollow Earth" blog:
From the "This Hollow Earth" blog:
So, the question is, does the Catholic Church believe they can continue to support political messages but never receive any rebuttals for the positions? They have, with great gusto, thrown their pointy hats into the ring. They are a political entity, and can therefore be treated the same as any other. The ad is not anti-Catholic, it’s merely treating them the same as other political entity. Now, about that tax-exempt status …
One Comment on “Is This Ad Anti-Catholic?”
Suspended Basilica artist shows off sculpture of almost 2,000 discs.
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Lucinda Naylor
Artist Lucinda Naylor has created a 6-foot-high, wave-shaped sculpture from nearly 2,000 anti-gay marriage DVDs mailed out by Minnesota's Catholic bishops.
The symbolic protest that goes on display this weekend is her response to the bishops, who mailed out nearly 400,000 of the DVDs to Minnesota Catholics spelling out church teachings on gay marriage and urging them to support candidates who endorse putting the issue to a vote.
The mailing evoked protests that the church was inserting itself into partisan politics and alienating parishioners who support gay rights.
"My whole idea all along was transforming something that was divisive into something that was inclusive," Naylor said. "Wave of change is sort of what's in my brain. I'm trying to make the art symbolic of the movement of the Holy Spirit in the church, which would usually mean a water or fire motif."
Naylor, 53, had been a part-time artist at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis for 15 years until she created a Facebook site seeking discarded copies of the DVD to build the sculpture. Days later, she was suspended indefinitely.
The archdiocese has said neither Archbishop John Nienstedt nor anyone on his staff was behind Naylor's suspension, though they supported the move.
Archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath declined to comment Thursday on the sculpture, which will be on display at 2756 Hennepin Av. S. in Minneapolis through the weekend. Naylor said she expects it will also be displayed in November.
Undeterred by her suspension, Naylor went forward with plans to create the DVD sculpture and said she collected or received nearly half the 2,000 discs from people protesting their distribution.
Many came with notes praising her work or criticizing the DVD's content. The 18-minute production includes an appearance by Nienstedt and stresses the need for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Minnesota.
To jibe with her wave motif, Naylor painted one side of the DVDs a light blue, blocking out the image on the discs of a man and woman's hands entwined and wearing wedding rings and the statement: "View now for an urgent message from Archbishop John Nienstedt." She also made cuts in the DVDs and interlocked them to create the waves.
"A lot of change in the church happens from the ground up," she said. "The hierarchy doesn't always like to admit that. So I think it's one of those things where the people are saying one thing and something else is happening up here. But that doesn't mean that wave won't eventually wash up that way."
About 1,000 DVDs for Naylor's sculpture came from the ReturnTheDVD.org project. The project's organizer Bob Radecki, of Burnsville, said the group has been sent close to 3,000 DVDs, and has received donations or pledges of almost $10,000 to help the poor.
Radecki said the group has requested a meeting with the archbishop to deliver the DVDs and a letter asking him to focus more attention on the poor and less on gay marriage. He said so far they have not gotten a response.
The group shared the DVDs with Naylor at the request of people who sent in their DVDs, Radecki said.
"Our biggest problem is the current leadership seems to be way too focused on that issue [gay marriage]," he said.
"People feel like what the church has done is hurting people. The majority of them are more sad and disappointed than angry. I actually think a lot of people are very hurt by the approach."
StarTribune
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Parishioners at ten churches designated for mergers file appeals
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Parishioners at churches involved in 10 of the 14 mergers announced earlier this month are appealing the decision affecting them through a formal process provided by Archbishop John Nienstedt, according to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Parishioners at churches involved in 10 of the 14 mergers announced earlier this month are appealing the decision affecting them through a formal process provided by Archbishop John Nienstedt, according to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
The archdiocese received more than 100 written petitions for appeal by the Oct. 27 deadline, according to a news release. There were multiple appeals by different people from some parishes.
The names of the parishes involved in the appeals have not yet been made public by the archdiocese.
“The archbishop wanted to ensure that people who are affected by a merger and who may have information which was not considered in the process have a forum for sharing their concerns,” the release said. “In fact, the archbishop expanded the process available for hierarchal recourse under church law.”
Archbishop Nienstedt has 30 days from the date he receives a petition for appeal to change either the merger decision or affirm the original decision. The appeal process for parish mergers is described at http://planning.archspm.org as well as in the printed materials distributed at all parishes the weekend of Oct. 16 and 17.
The parish restructuring is one part of a strategic plan released by the archdiocese that shapes the vision for the future of the local church. The plan is intended to ensure the church’s continued vitality for the 800,000 Catholics in the 12-county area it serves.
The plan calls for 21 parishes to be merged into 14 receiving parishes. Decisions regarding buildings and other property of the merging parishes will be made by local leaders in consultation with the archbishop and the Presbyteral Council, a representative body of priests.
In addition, 33 parishes will join together in new cluster configurations, in which one pastor leads two or more parishes (25 percent of parishes within the Archdiocese already share a pastor). And, 25 parishes are identified for structured collaboration, meaning that in the coming year they will have focused discussions about how to improve collaboration on programming and staffing.
No changes are scheduled to be implemented before Jan. 1. The changes will roll out in stages over the coming months and years.
All parishioners have an opportunity to share their thoughts in a variety of ways, including via the Strategic Plan Hotline at (651) 291-4435. People may find out more about the plan by visiting http://planning.archspm.org. Catholic Spirit
Democratic Elected Officials Furious With Minnesota DFL Party Staff
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A well placed source (I've always wanted to be able to use that phrase) has admitted that many DFL elected officials, some holding legislative leadership positions, are extremely furious with the party's paid headquarter staff in St. Paul. They have created and distributed three postcard mailers to registered voters in Senate District 40 in Bloomington and Burnsville that used Roman Catholic images in an attempt to defeat the Protestant challenger there in an extremely close electoral contest.
Those Roman Catholic images were placed there most surely to also subtly remind voters that Catholics were opposed to homosexual marriage and not to vote for candidates supporting Catholic positions on that issue, and abortion issues, two subjects the DFL leadership ardently supports.
The DFL has dreams of winning the governor's seat this year, but it may turn out because of the backfire on these poorly conceived campaign pieces that they might lose both the Senate and the House on election day.
Senior staff executives are so upset that they have been totally in denial and incredibly abusive in their conversations with Catholic Church and Republican officials who have called to complain about the despicable tactics. They deny that the cards use Catholic images to make their point against Protestant Dan Hall, the Republican candidate. Actually, they are frightened for their jobs. They blew it, really bad.
On one side of the three postcards, Hall is mockingly referred to as "Preacher Hall" and criticized for not having objected to Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty's budget cuts that the card claimed were harmful to the poor. Hall did not hold political office when the governor made his cuts. Are private citizens required to go on the record when they don't agree with political decisions?
Where is that record kept? It must be quite large. I've got a few thousand things I object to that I would like to place "on that record."
Hall, while he is an ordained minister, does not work for a church, is a volunteer police chaplain for the City of Burnsville and and is employed by an organization that supports chaplains. He attends a non-denominational church in Apple Valley.
Why the use of the mocking word "preacher?" To most people's knowledge, Hall has never been a preacher.
There are three versions of the very high quality, full color postcard, allegedly paid for by a rich Wayzata family. The "Catholic" images are on the front side with the address, the side that most people would look at first to make sure it was addressed to them.
The first image reported was that of a clergy man, from the chin down, wearing a black suit with a Roman collar (a white tab at the throat) that is most often identified with Catholic diocesan priests, most all of whom wear it. Some mainline Protestant ministers wear it too. But on the model's left side, there is a large campaign type button with the message, "Ignore the Poor", in red, white and blue. Experts say that it was "photoshopped."
They are saying that the Catholic Church "ignores the poor?" The Catholic Charities network is the nation’s fourth largest non-profit, according to The NonProfit Times.
In addition, 19,000 parishes in 195 dioceses, 42,000 priests, 5,000 brothers and 65,000 sisters, working with 70,000,000 Catholics who operate nearly 600 hospitals, 6,000 elementary schools, 1,300 high schools and 231 colleges and universities also provide for the poor.
And then one has to include lay apostolate groups like the Catholic Workers' Movement, founded by Dorothy Day, whose cause for canonization has begun, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, with their nationwide network of outlets providing inexpensive items for those in need, Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis founded by Mary Jo Copeland , Project for Pride in Living in the Twin Cities founded by Joe Selvaggio and other similar Catholic organizations that add to the incredible positive impact of Catholic services to the poor.
Not having seen the back of the card yet, almost all viewers would assume at first glance that it was a Catholic priest promoting that message.
Most Minnesota voters, however, would also be familiar with the fact that several weeks ago, a Marriage DVD was mailed to all the Catholics in the state, creating large numbers of objections from those who favor the legislature granting homosexuals the right to marry. The DVD was a 10 minute message to Catholics on Catholic teaching opposed to changes in those laws. Most of those who objected to the message additionally thought that the [donated] funds that paid for the production and mailing of the DVDs should have been used for aid to the poor.
There is no doubt that the militants among the DFL leadership who were responsible for the creation and approval of the button message wanted to remind voters not to vote for Catholics on one side of the postcard, and not to vote for Dan Hall on the other side.
The second image used on the postcards was that of an angel holding a banner saying "Blessed are the Rich", and a line saying "The Bible doesn't tells us to neglect the poor," another obvious shot at the Catholic Church for having cooperated with the anonymous donor in mailing the DVD's opposed to homosexual marriage. Ok, most religions believe in angels, and even those individuals who are "spiritual but not religious."
But you might want to sit down when reading about the third image, that shows a Catholic side (small altar on either side of a church's main altar) altar surmounted by a statue of St. Anthony of Padua holding the Baby Jesus. Seen that in a Protestant church lately? On either side are large banners saying, "Vote", and some shots at Dan Hall.
Still not convinced that this is a Catholic image? If you look at the lower left of the altar you will see three crutches. These surely were left there by handicapped individuals who prayed and asked for intercession from a saint, in this case, St. Anthony, (or quite often the Blessed Mother). Upon receiving a miraculous cure, they leave their crutches behind as concrete evidence for others of the power available through asking for help from somebody in Heaven.
These three Catholic images have been used by the DFL Party to defeat a Protestant contesting a state Senate seat, while at the same time furthering the Party's interest in having laws favoring homosexual marriage and abortion passed if only the DFL could control all three law-making bodies of government.
A well placed source (I've always wanted to be able to use that phrase) has admitted that many DFL elected officials, some holding legislative leadership positions, are extremely furious with the party's paid headquarter staff in St. Paul. They have created and distributed three postcard mailers to registered voters in Senate District 40 in Bloomington and Burnsville that used Roman Catholic images in an attempt to defeat the Protestant challenger there in an extremely close electoral contest.
Those Roman Catholic images were placed there most surely to also subtly remind voters that Catholics were opposed to homosexual marriage and not to vote for candidates supporting Catholic positions on that issue, and abortion issues, two subjects the DFL leadership ardently supports.
The DFL has dreams of winning the governor's seat this year, but it may turn out because of the backfire on these poorly conceived campaign pieces that they might lose both the Senate and the House on election day.
Senior staff executives are so upset that they have been totally in denial and incredibly abusive in their conversations with Catholic Church and Republican officials who have called to complain about the despicable tactics. They deny that the cards use Catholic images to make their point against Protestant Dan Hall, the Republican candidate. Actually, they are frightened for their jobs. They blew it, really bad.
On one side of the three postcards, Hall is mockingly referred to as "Preacher Hall" and criticized for not having objected to Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty's budget cuts that the card claimed were harmful to the poor. Hall did not hold political office when the governor made his cuts. Are private citizens required to go on the record when they don't agree with political decisions?
Where is that record kept? It must be quite large. I've got a few thousand things I object to that I would like to place "on that record."
Hall, while he is an ordained minister, does not work for a church, is a volunteer police chaplain for the City of Burnsville and and is employed by an organization that supports chaplains. He attends a non-denominational church in Apple Valley.
Why the use of the mocking word "preacher?" To most people's knowledge, Hall has never been a preacher.
There are three versions of the very high quality, full color postcard, allegedly paid for by a rich Wayzata family. The "Catholic" images are on the front side with the address, the side that most people would look at first to make sure it was addressed to them.
The first image reported was that of a clergy man, from the chin down, wearing a black suit with a Roman collar (a white tab at the throat) that is most often identified with Catholic diocesan priests, most all of whom wear it. Some mainline Protestant ministers wear it too. But on the model's left side, there is a large campaign type button with the message, "Ignore the Poor", in red, white and blue. Experts say that it was "photoshopped."
They are saying that the Catholic Church "ignores the poor?" The Catholic Charities network is the nation’s fourth largest non-profit, according to The NonProfit Times.
In addition, 19,000 parishes in 195 dioceses, 42,000 priests, 5,000 brothers and 65,000 sisters, working with 70,000,000 Catholics who operate nearly 600 hospitals, 6,000 elementary schools, 1,300 high schools and 231 colleges and universities also provide for the poor.
And then one has to include lay apostolate groups like the Catholic Workers' Movement, founded by Dorothy Day, whose cause for canonization has begun, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, with their nationwide network of outlets providing inexpensive items for those in need, Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis founded by Mary Jo Copeland , Project for Pride in Living in the Twin Cities founded by Joe Selvaggio and other similar Catholic organizations that add to the incredible positive impact of Catholic services to the poor.
Not having seen the back of the card yet, almost all viewers would assume at first glance that it was a Catholic priest promoting that message.
Most Minnesota voters, however, would also be familiar with the fact that several weeks ago, a Marriage DVD was mailed to all the Catholics in the state, creating large numbers of objections from those who favor the legislature granting homosexuals the right to marry. The DVD was a 10 minute message to Catholics on Catholic teaching opposed to changes in those laws. Most of those who objected to the message additionally thought that the [donated] funds that paid for the production and mailing of the DVDs should have been used for aid to the poor.
There is no doubt that the militants among the DFL leadership who were responsible for the creation and approval of the button message wanted to remind voters not to vote for Catholics on one side of the postcard, and not to vote for Dan Hall on the other side.
The second image used on the postcards was that of an angel holding a banner saying "Blessed are the Rich", and a line saying "The Bible doesn't tells us to neglect the poor," another obvious shot at the Catholic Church for having cooperated with the anonymous donor in mailing the DVD's opposed to homosexual marriage. Ok, most religions believe in angels, and even those individuals who are "spiritual but not religious."
But you might want to sit down when reading about the third image, that shows a Catholic side (small altar on either side of a church's main altar) altar surmounted by a statue of St. Anthony of Padua holding the Baby Jesus. Seen that in a Protestant church lately? On either side are large banners saying, "Vote", and some shots at Dan Hall.
Still not convinced that this is a Catholic image? If you look at the lower left of the altar you will see three crutches. These surely were left there by handicapped individuals who prayed and asked for intercession from a saint, in this case, St. Anthony, (or quite often the Blessed Mother). Upon receiving a miraculous cure, they leave their crutches behind as concrete evidence for others of the power available through asking for help from somebody in Heaven.
These three Catholic images have been used by the DFL Party to defeat a Protestant contesting a state Senate seat, while at the same time furthering the Party's interest in having laws favoring homosexual marriage and abortion passed if only the DFL could control all three law-making bodies of government.
New York Times: Key Groups Abandon Obama
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[Slate]
[Slate]
Key Groups Abandon Obama
Crucial groups that flocked to Obama's banner in 2008 are now abandoning him in droves, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. Women, Roman Catholics, poor Americans, and independent voters went blue in 2008, but Democrats no longer hold the upper hand with such groups, according to the New York Times. The rightward shift of women voters would be particularly notable: Women haven't sided with Republicans in House races since exit polling began in 1982. All in all, the poll results suggest a nation in a state of desperation: 57 percent of registered voters said they were more inclined to gamble on a candidate with little experience this year, while a quarter said they could get behind a candidate whose views "seem extreme." Voters know there are problems, but apparently don't know what they want done about them. For example, 90 percent of respondents said they wanted cuts to government spending and more than 50 percent said they wanted the government to offer fewer services. But respondents ardently opposed raising retirement age or reducing retirement benefits in order to cover the cost of Social Security. Opposition to increasing taxes on the wealthy has also increased over the year. The nation is divided on the repeal of health care, with 41 percent supporting the repeal and 45 percent opposing it. In terms of party support, 46 percent of likely voters said they would go with the Republicans, while 40 percent said the Democrats would get their vote.
Read original story in The New York Times | Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Just in case you were wondering about how much the Church supports the poor. . . .
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For the record… The Catholic Charities network is the nation’s fourth largest non-profit, according to The NonProfit Times. The combined revenue of the Catholic Charities network from all sources, public and private, was $2.69 billion in 2000. Nearly 90 percent of these funds were spent on programs and services, making the Catholic Charities network one of the country’s most efficient charities. Today, the Catholic Charities network — more than 1,600 local agencies and institutions nationwide — provide help, sometimes with government funding, and create hope for 6,597,998 in 2003, regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds thanks to the dedication of more than 51,000 staff and 175,000 volunteers.
For the record… The Catholic Charities network is the nation’s fourth largest non-profit, according to The NonProfit Times. The combined revenue of the Catholic Charities network from all sources, public and private, was $2.69 billion in 2000. Nearly 90 percent of these funds were spent on programs and services, making the Catholic Charities network one of the country’s most efficient charities. Today, the Catholic Charities network — more than 1,600 local agencies and institutions nationwide — provide help, sometimes with government funding, and create hope for 6,597,998 in 2003, regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds thanks to the dedication of more than 51,000 staff and 175,000 volunteers.
That's only Catholic Charities. That doesn't include:
19,000 parishes in 195 dioceses, 42,000 priests, 5,000 brothers and 65,000 sisters, working with 70,000,000 Catholics who operate nearly 600 hospitals, 6,000 elementary schools, 1,300 high schools and 231 colleges and universities.
And then one has to include lay apostolate groups like the Catholic Workers' Movement, founded by Dorothy Day, whose cause for canonization has begun, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, with their nationwide network of outlets providing inexpensive items for those in need, Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis founded by Mary Jo Copeland , Project for Pride in Living in the Twin Cities founded by Joe Selvaggio and other similar Catholic organizations adding to the incredible positive impact of Catholic services to the poor.
All of these provide incredible amounts of charity at the local level. Plus incredible amounts of prayer, for both the rich and the poor!
Don't tell us that Catholics ignore the Poor!!!
And each of us could do more.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
2 Catholic parishes hope to save their congregations
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St. Canice in Kilkenny and St. Austin in north Minneapolis will appeal the archdiocese decision to close and consolidate their churches.
St. Canice in Kilkenny and St. Austin in north Minneapolis will appeal the archdiocese decision to close and consolidate their churches.
At least two of the 21 Catholic parishes facing mergers and church closures will appeal their fate.
Parishes affected by the sweeping reorganization of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have until Wednesday to appeal to Archbishop John Nienstedt.
Archdiocesan officials say they don't yet have a total of how many will try to fight the plan because they're still processing the appeals.
Under the reorganization plan, the 21 parishes will close their buildings and be merged into 14 receiving parishes. At the end of the process, the archdiocese will have a total of 192 parishes instead of the current 213. In addition, 33 parishes will join in new "clusters," in which one pastor will lead two or more parishes.
The reorganization, the largest in the archdiocese's history, is a response to tighter budgets, shifting demographics and a projected shortage of priests. The archdiocese counts close to 800,000 members, the largest religious denomination in the Twin Cities.
One of the churches appealing is St. Canice in Kilkenny, a congregation of about 400 members 65 miles southwest of Minneapolis. The nearly 152-year-old parish is set to merge with Holy Redeemer Church in Montgomery.
"It doesn't make any sense," said St. Canice trustee Gene Mach, who is helping spearhead the appeal. "We have no debt, and we do have money in reserve. Our membership has increased over the last year. Everything to this point has been on the upswing."
Mach said petitions were placed at every entrance of the church last weekend, and a majority of parishioners wanted to appeal the merger. He said many also wrote letters with "their own personal thoughts" which will be delivered to the archdiocese.
"The trouble is we may be considered small by Twin Cities standards, but out here, we're not really," Mach said.
The Rev. George Kallumkalkudy, pastor at St. Austin in north Minneapolis, said church leaders there also plan to appeal its merger with St. Bridget. He said St. Austin's 600 or so parishioners would prefer a "cluster" situation -- sharing one priest -- instead of merging the churches.
"They don't want to see the church close," Kallumkalkudy said. "They don't mind sharing a pastor, but they want to keep church buildings open and church activities going."
Archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath has said a "very small number" of churches slated to merge intend to appeal the plan. He didn't have specific figures on Tuesday afternoon.
Catholic canon law provides a means for churches to appeal the archdiocese reorganization plan. An appeal must include a petition to the archbishop outlining why the decision should be changed. It can take weeks, if not months, for churches to get an answer. The reorganization itself is expected to take several years.
The Twin Cities archdiocese has steadily grown in the past decade, an increase fueled by immigration and growth in some suburban areas. But diocesan officials say a disproportionate number of parishes are in areas where the population is no longer able to sustain them. Maintaining too many aging buildings is a financial burden the archdiocese is trying to address. The archdiocese also expects to have 19 fewer priests eligible to serve as pastors in 2020. Of the 302 priests in the archdiocese, 182 are eligible to be pastors. Star Tribune
Reflections on the Postcard mailing depicting a priest wearing a "Ignore the :Poor" button
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Here are some thought by me as to the chronology and events on this event. 25 blogs and websites around the country, some of them really popular ones, have picked up the story.
Here are some thought by me as to the chronology and events on this event. 25 blogs and websites around the country, some of them really popular ones, have picked up the story.
KSTP news story on the subject.
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1809604.shtml?cat=1
Minnesota DFL Postcard Mailing Insulting Catholics and Bashing a Republican Candidate for State Senate
On Monday, October 25, it was reported that a resident of Minnesota Senate District No. 40, comprising parts of Blooming and Burnsville, received in the U.S Mail a postcard depicting on one side what appeared to be a Catholic priest in a black suit with a roman collar (a white tab at the throat) wearing an approximately 3” diameter red-white-blue button on his coat bearing the message “Ignore the Poor.” The postcard was mailed by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the face of the national Democratic Party in the State of Minnesota.
The Republican candidate in District 40, Dan Hall, was the target of an attack ad on the reverse side of the postcard. It showed a picture of Hall, and pictures of an elderly woman, a child, and what appears to be a father and child.
The message on that side read “Who in God’s name would deny health care to the poor? Preacher Dan Hall.”
It then went on to criticize Hall for not speaking out when, according to the card, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty “cut health care to the poorest Minnesotans.” The message continued the argument, ending with “Preacher Dan Hall protects politicians, not the poor.”
After reading both sides of the card, one supposes that the voter who received the card would read the message look at the photo of the priest and assume that it was “Dan Hall.”
Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of religion would know that Catholic priests are not called “preacher.” While a few protestant ministers might wear the roman collar, nearly all Catholic diocesan priests wear it.
While Dan Hall has been ordained as a minister, he does not work in a parish. He attends a non-denominational church where clerical clothing is not worn. He is the director of an organization called Midwest Chaplains and has served in the past as a Director with the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
Dan Hall in the pictures on his web site and on the internet is always photographed with a shirt and tie, or tie-less.
Why was he portrayed as a Catholic priest? Why, in a second mailing, is there the photo of a small altar with a statue of St. Anthony holding the Baby Jesus on it? How many protestant churches have statues?
Archbishop John Nienstedt of the Diocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has within the past few weeks received a tremendous amount of personal criticism for the mailing of a DVD on Catholic Church’s Teachings on Marriage to all Catholics in the archdiocese. The other five bishops in the state mailed the DVD to their parishioners. The rationale for most of that criticism was that the money should have been “used for the poor.”
When it was pointed out that the money came from an anonymous donor, the critics said that the archbishop should have refused it. What they really were against is the Catholic Church’s adamant opposition to any form of homosexual marriage being provided in state law.
There is no doubt but that the Minnesota DFL Party leadership, virtually unanimous in support of homosexual marriage provisions were violently opposed to the mailing of the video. That issue is expected to be very importing in the upcoming session of the legislature, so the DFL leaders obviously decided to take a whack at the Catholic Church while attacking Dan Hall.
Interestingly, among the hundreds of thousands of Catholics in Minnesota, its liberal and progressive segment are among the most committed and active in providing funds and services for the poor of the state. The DFL really was attacking and insulting its diehard supporters. It shows the willful ignorance of Democrats by ignoring what Catholic Charities, the many thousands of Catholic parishes with social justice ministries, especially parishes like St. Joan’s, Cabrini, Christ the King, St Edward's, Pax Christi, St. Stanislaus, some of the most active of Catholic progresssives in the entire country, and the Catholic school system, pre-K to grad schools, and what they have done and continue to do for poor people in this country.
For the record… The Catholic Charities network is the nation’s fourth largest non-profit, according to The NonProfit Times. The combined revenue of the Catholic Charities network from all sources, public and private, was $2.69 billion in 2000. Nearly 90 percent of these funds were spent on programs and services, making the Catholic Charities network one of the country’s most efficient charities. Today, the Catholic Charities network — more than 1,600 local agencies and institutions nationwide — provide help, sometimes with government funding, and create hope for 6,597,998 in 2003, regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds thanks to the dedication of more than 51,000 staff and 175,000 volunteers.
October 26th, 2010 | 12:48 pm | #1
I do not agree with the Catholic Church on many doctrinal matters, but I have to tell you, throughout history none of man’s institutions can come close to the Church’s record of caring for the poor.
Is it a perfect record? No. But whether you are talking about the Catholic nuns who came to the New World to teach children, the modern Catholic Charities who cares for so many of our poor and destitute today, Mother Theresa – who gave every minute of her life in care for the poor of India – the list is nearly endless of those who in the name of the Catholic Church have gone round the world doing good for the poor.
More, it is a record that no other religion on earth can match.
Cathedral - Faith and Reason session: "Can Rights Exist Without Natural Law? -- October 28, 7:00 p.m.
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The Faith & Reason series begins again on Thursday, October 28 at 7 p.m. Father Joseph W. Koterski, S. J., will be presenting “Can Rights Exist Without Natural Law?” Fr. Koterski will discuss the difference between civil rights which are bestowed by communities and natural and human rights which come from our common human nature. He will provide the Catholic tradition and understanding of human nature in God as the creator of that nature and as the source of the natural moral law that governs human conduct. All are welcome. There is no charge but free will donations will be gratefully accepted. This event is co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary.
The Faith & Reason series begins again on Thursday, October 28 at 7 p.m. Father Joseph W. Koterski, S. J., will be presenting “Can Rights Exist Without Natural Law?” Fr. Koterski will discuss the difference between civil rights which are bestowed by communities and natural and human rights which come from our common human nature. He will provide the Catholic tradition and understanding of human nature in God as the creator of that nature and as the source of the natural moral law that governs human conduct. All are welcome. There is no charge but free will donations will be gratefully accepted. This event is co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary.
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- When: Wednesday, October 27, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
- Where: St. John the Baptist's Parish
- St. Joseph's Hall
- 835 2nd Avenue NW
- New Brighton, MN 55112
- Who:
Father Michael Skluzacek, pastor of St. John the Baptist
Father Michael Becker, Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary - What:
1. Review the Bishops' DVD on Marriage - 2. Listen to Bishops' Catechesis on Marriage
- 3. Questions and Answers
- The recent Marriage DVD mailed to Catholic households by the bishops of Minnesota has prompted questions from the Catholic community. Attend this session to hear the teaching of the Church explained.
Monday, October 25, 2010
DFL Central Committee Insults its Base: Catholic Progressives behind Loaves & Fishes and the Homeless Shelters
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The DFL Central Committee, it's governing body, most probably composed of the most radical of the DFL activists (I actually heard at one convention one candidate being asked, "What is your position on abortion and how radical are you?") has sent out a postcard to prospective voters, with this photo of a Catholic priest wearing a campaign button saying: "Ignore the Poor."
I don’t know how many were sent out, but this was received by a Catholic in the Twin Cities. It shows the willful ignorance of Democrats by ignoring what Catholic Charities, the many thousands of Catholic parishes with social justice ministries, especially parishes like St. Joan’s, Cabrini, Christ the King, St Edward's, Pax Christi, St. Stanislaus, some of the most active of Catholic progresssives in the entire country, and the Catholic school system, pre-K to grad schools, and what they have done and continue to do for poor people in this country.
Is this intended to bring out the Catholic progressive vote? Or those who hate Catholics?
Click for increased size and once more for full size!
There were 3 mailings of postcards in this political race
If you think that this photo shows a protestant altar?
How many protestant churches have statues of
St. Anthony of Padua and the Baby Jesus?
The DFL Central Committee, it's governing body, most probably composed of the most radical of the DFL activists (I actually heard at one convention one candidate being asked, "What is your position on abortion and how radical are you?") has sent out a postcard to prospective voters, with this photo of a Catholic priest wearing a campaign button saying: "Ignore the Poor."
I don’t know how many were sent out, but this was received by a Catholic in the Twin Cities. It shows the willful ignorance of Democrats by ignoring what Catholic Charities, the many thousands of Catholic parishes with social justice ministries, especially parishes like St. Joan’s, Cabrini, Christ the King, St Edward's, Pax Christi, St. Stanislaus, some of the most active of Catholic progresssives in the entire country, and the Catholic school system, pre-K to grad schools, and what they have done and continue to do for poor people in this country.
Is this intended to bring out the Catholic progressive vote? Or those who hate Catholics?
Click for increased size and once more for full size!
There were 3 mailings of postcards in this political race
If you think that this photo shows a protestant altar?
How many protestant churches have statues of
St. Anthony of Padua and the Baby Jesus?
Minnesota Catholic Bloggers Holding Their Own on the NewsBobber Top 100 Blog List
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The Associated Press has come out with a story entitled "Lay Catholic bloggers aim to purge dissenters", an article that concentrates on three or four of the many thousands of Catholic bloggers in the country who criticize Church officials who stray from official teachings.
It is a giant leap of logic to think that this tiny number of individuals might be able to alter the behavior of dissidents and liturgical experimenters after 50 years of them having had free reins on their activities.
What these few volunteer blogging observers are doing is providing the same role that the enormously well-paid AP critics do when they when they review activities on the screen, in the arts, in books, magazines, sports, theater, dance and other events. The most they can hope for is to influence their readers to write a letter to the perpetrators, or their superior.
If the AP knew anything about blogging at all, they would realize that there is a huge amount of diversity in blogging and only a tiny number of bloggers are playing the "liturgy cop" role.
The Newsbobber blog, provides a wonderful digest of Minnesota news and provides a list of the top 100 blogs by popularity in the State of Minnesota. Five Catholic bloggers, none of whom could be considered as liturgy cops are on that list and demonstrate that diversity.
No. 26, with a score of 7.8, "Adoro", blogging at her Adoro te Devote blog, provides a very open glimpse of what it is like to be a young Catholic woman.
No. 43, 7.1, John Sonnen, blogging at Orbis Catholicus, and (not rated by NewsBobber) Orbis Catholicus Secundus, is a graduate student in Rome who also has a tour guide business. Lots of great photography and information on the Church in Rome.
No. 71, 6.5, Margaret, blogging as Minnesota Mom, provides a glimpse of her life and family.
No. 78, 6.5, The Ironic Catholic, blogging at her blog of that name, a theology professor at a Catholic university, and mom, provides some Catholic humor for a world that needs more of it.
No. 80, 6.4, Terry Nelson, a "starving artist" and cat lover, blogging at Abbey-Roads, provides his opinions on many of the issues that are confronting the Church today, especially by members and those who want to be members. He also has a second blog, Up Your Street, where he displays some of his artwork.
Congratulations to these five talented people who provide a very interesting bit of perspective on what Catholics are really like.
The Associated Press has come out with a story entitled "Lay Catholic bloggers aim to purge dissenters", an article that concentrates on three or four of the many thousands of Catholic bloggers in the country who criticize Church officials who stray from official teachings.
It is a giant leap of logic to think that this tiny number of individuals might be able to alter the behavior of dissidents and liturgical experimenters after 50 years of them having had free reins on their activities.
What these few volunteer blogging observers are doing is providing the same role that the enormously well-paid AP critics do when they when they review activities on the screen, in the arts, in books, magazines, sports, theater, dance and other events. The most they can hope for is to influence their readers to write a letter to the perpetrators, or their superior.
If the AP knew anything about blogging at all, they would realize that there is a huge amount of diversity in blogging and only a tiny number of bloggers are playing the "liturgy cop" role.
The Newsbobber blog, provides a wonderful digest of Minnesota news and provides a list of the top 100 blogs by popularity in the State of Minnesota. Five Catholic bloggers, none of whom could be considered as liturgy cops are on that list and demonstrate that diversity.
No. 26, with a score of 7.8, "Adoro", blogging at her Adoro te Devote blog, provides a very open glimpse of what it is like to be a young Catholic woman.
No. 43, 7.1, John Sonnen, blogging at Orbis Catholicus, and (not rated by NewsBobber) Orbis Catholicus Secundus, is a graduate student in Rome who also has a tour guide business. Lots of great photography and information on the Church in Rome.
No. 71, 6.5, Margaret, blogging as Minnesota Mom, provides a glimpse of her life and family.
No. 78, 6.5, The Ironic Catholic, blogging at her blog of that name, a theology professor at a Catholic university, and mom, provides some Catholic humor for a world that needs more of it.
No. 80, 6.4, Terry Nelson, a "starving artist" and cat lover, blogging at Abbey-Roads, provides his opinions on many of the issues that are confronting the Church today, especially by members and those who want to be members. He also has a second blog, Up Your Street, where he displays some of his artwork.
Congratulations to these five talented people who provide a very interesting bit of perspective on what Catholics are really like.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
If Catholics wanted this, there would be rioting in the streets
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British museums fear putting skulls on display because of protests
Human skulls or ancients mummies are being removed from British museums for fear of insulting minority religious groups, academics have warned.
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Already museums around the country have been forced to close coffin lids, remove skeletons and respectfully replace the shroud on mummies in order to placate protesters. There are fears such artefacts could be banned altogether.
Small groups such as the Pagan Organisation Honouring the Ancient Dead claim that it is against the religious beliefs of our ancestors to put bodies on show.
Museums are becoming increasingly nervous about displaying human remains. Seventeen have drawn up guidelines advising curators to warn the public and only display photographs of mummies with a shroud.
The Egypt gallery at Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery now has half-closed coffin lids on its display of mummies. Manchester University Museum covered up an unwrapped mummy and removed the head of an Iron Age bog body. The Museum of London removed the skeleton of a boy with rickets.
In a new book Dr Tiffany Jenkins, of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), pointed out that mummies, skeletons and skulls are often the most popular display in museums.
Dr Jenkins feared that the guidance will mean that eventually there will be no human remains on display at all for fear of offending any number of small groups.
“The profession is overreacting to the claims of small minority groups – such as the Pagan organisation Honouring the Ancient Dead. Curiously, the profession do not take into account the feelings of other Pagan groups who advocate the use of human remains in research and display, such as Pagans for Archaeology. This reflects the unease within the sector with researching and displaying human remains.”
A recent opinion survey for English Heritage shows that nine tenths of the public are comfortable with displays of human remains.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a Parish in Rochester?
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Anonymous Request: "I will be working in Rochester the next few months and was wondering if any of your readers could recommend a church? A Sunday Mass without music is fine, but if it does have music, I'd prefer a Mass that has music written prior to 1970. For lack of a better word, I'm looking for a 'reverent' Mass."
Anonymous Request: "I will be working in Rochester the next few months and was wondering if any of your readers could recommend a church? A Sunday Mass without music is fine, but if it does have music, I'd prefer a Mass that has music written prior to 1970. For lack of a better word, I'm looking for a 'reverent' Mass."
I have seen the future: Es muy español y muy, muy jóvenes!
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I have seen the future, and it is very, very Spanish. And it is very, very, very young!
St. Stephen's parish in Minneapolis this morning celebrated its 125th birthday as the 9th parish in the City of Minneapolis. In honor of the occasion, Archbishop John Nienstedt came to celebrate the Mass with the combined English and Spanish language parishioners and some invited guests.
One large invited group of about 50 was the Emmanuel Community, an international lay apostolate group that has worked with St. Stephen's pastor, Father Joseph Williams, in evangelizing the neighborhood surrounding the parish: Stephen's Square, Institute of Arts, etc. They have knocked on every door within the parish boundaries the past two Lents.
It was standing room only in the church so it was difficult to count the attendance, especially with all the babes in arms (not to mention the overflow crowd watching the Mass on television in the Church's downstairs hall. But it must have been 500 or more. And the average age of the Hispanic community had to be somewhere in their lower 20s.
The Mass was a wonderful multi-lingual experience with plenty of Spanish, Latin and English used in the hymns and the words of the Mass. With six concelebrating priests and a deacon, no Extraordinary Ministers were needed.
After Mass Father Williams thanked all those who helped with the 125th celebration, and in particular thanked the Archbishop for all of his help to him when he took over the parish two years ago and for not closing the parish last week.
Archbishop Nienstedt did reveal that the first draft of the archdiocesan plan did recommend that St. Stephen's be merged with the Basilica. But because he had been regularly involved with the problems in recreating the parish after the departure of many of its former members, he knew of the successes that Father Williams had been having and he immediately removed that option as a possibility.
A reception was held after Mass in the school building across the street.
I have seen the future, and it is very, very Spanish. And it is very, very, very young!
St. Stephen's parish in Minneapolis this morning celebrated its 125th birthday as the 9th parish in the City of Minneapolis. In honor of the occasion, Archbishop John Nienstedt came to celebrate the Mass with the combined English and Spanish language parishioners and some invited guests.
One large invited group of about 50 was the Emmanuel Community, an international lay apostolate group that has worked with St. Stephen's pastor, Father Joseph Williams, in evangelizing the neighborhood surrounding the parish: Stephen's Square, Institute of Arts, etc. They have knocked on every door within the parish boundaries the past two Lents.
It was standing room only in the church so it was difficult to count the attendance, especially with all the babes in arms (not to mention the overflow crowd watching the Mass on television in the Church's downstairs hall. But it must have been 500 or more. And the average age of the Hispanic community had to be somewhere in their lower 20s.
The Mass was a wonderful multi-lingual experience with plenty of Spanish, Latin and English used in the hymns and the words of the Mass. With six concelebrating priests and a deacon, no Extraordinary Ministers were needed.
After Mass Father Williams thanked all those who helped with the 125th celebration, and in particular thanked the Archbishop for all of his help to him when he took over the parish two years ago and for not closing the parish last week.
Archbishop Nienstedt did reveal that the first draft of the archdiocesan plan did recommend that St. Stephen's be merged with the Basilica. But because he had been regularly involved with the problems in recreating the parish after the departure of many of its former members, he knew of the successes that Father Williams had been having and he immediately removed that option as a possibility.
A reception was held after Mass in the school building across the street.
Rural Goodhue County churches fight to stay alive
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Parishioners of two rural Catholic churches who have been told they will be merged with a third "receiving" parish overwhelmingly oppose the plan.
Parishioners of two rural Catholic churches who have been told they will be merged with a third "receiving" parish overwhelmingly oppose the plan.
Members of St. Columbkill Church in Belle Creek Township and St. Mary's Church in Bellechester met independently Thursday evening to voice their reaction.
Both groups voted to file appeals with Archbishop John Nienstedt of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Members of Holy Trinity Church, which is designated as the receiving church in the archdiocese's new strategic plan, considered an appeal but decided at a meeting Wednesday to remain mute.
They didn't want an appeal to be misinterpreted as meaning they would not welcome the parishioners from St. Columbkill and St. Mary's. In every other way, a spokesman said, they entirely support those church's efforts to change the archbishop's decision.
The three churches already are "clustered" and share a priest, Father Bruce Peterson.
The two congregations designated for merging began collecting signatures Thursday and hope to complete the process at church Sunday so they can deliver their appeals to the archbishop by a Wednesday deadline.
St. Mary's
Upwards of 100 people at St. Mary's Church voted unanimously to appeal, spokesman Todd Majerus said.
Parishioners don't understand why the archbishop would even take such a step; the merger ruling surprised them.
"Nobody can figure out what the ultimate goal is," he said, since the parish is stable and debt-free. Majerus acknowledged that the church hasn't seen a lot of growth, but said that could change with the Elk Run development in nearby Pine Island.
Older members of the congregation, which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, are concerned about the financial implications - Holy Trinity has some debt - and the possible loss of the church name, Majerus said.
"Nobody likes change," he added. "Nobody wants to see this happen."
The three congregations have a good relationship, he stressed. "We're hoping it'll continue forever." But if the merger happens, "We'll all pitch in to make it work."
St. Columbkill
"We'd just like to remain in our own parish with our own name," said Bob Eppen, spokesman for St. Columbkill Church.
The crowd of about 100 appeared unanimous in its support of the appeal, he said.
"We're worried about losing our identity, and we don't like to be told what we have to do," Eppen explained - especially when it's not clear what the archdiocese would get out of forcing a merger. "The archdiocese gains nothing," he said.
St. Columbkill has no debt, Eppen said, and it's a vibrant parish with young families in church every Sunday and a building that's in excellent shape.
Most of the people chose to live in rural Goodhue, he noted, because it's a small community with its own school - not paired with any other. Older parishioners were baptized and married at St. Columbkill, he said, "and hope someday to be buried there."
To be told they have to merge, "That just doesn't sit right," Eppen said, citing 150 years of making their own decisions as a parish.
"We're clustered now. We'd just like to keep it that way," he said. Eppen stressed that nobody has anything against Holy Trinity. "They're our friends and neighbors."
"We're just a little rural church doing what it should do."
Holy Trinity
Catholics of Holy Trinity hope the other churches' appeals are successful, according to spokesman Brandon Schafer.
But after what he described as "extensive discussion" about the possible effect of the strategic plan on their church as well as on St. Mary's and St. Columbkill's churches, the Holy Trinity council decided not to file an appeal as a body. Individuals may do so on their own, however, he said.
"There are lots of unknowns," Schafer said. "We have a great concern about what might come to be" if Holy Trinity does become the "receiving" parish.
It's very frustrating to be in their position, he said.
"I was seriously disappointed," he said. The churches were not informed more going forward and not given an opportunity to be a part of the process as it played out in the hands of the task force.
All three are victims of circumstances outside their control, Schafer said, and decisions may not be based on complete information.
The others face the possibility that they may cease to exist as parishes, he said, but they are not alone in facing major change.
If the merger does take place, Schafer said, Holy Trinity does not see itself as a "mother parish that would call the shots." Rather, he sees "three members becoming one. ... Holy Trinity would cease to exist as we know it today," though it might retain its name.
A merger would require full involvement of all three in the development of "one whole new parish," he said.
And it would bring new challenges and new concerns, Schafer acknowledged. "As we join, would all people come with us?" Logistical and social implications could lead some people to make "life changes."
The most important thing right now, Schafer said, is that the people of St. Mary's and St. Columbkill must focus on their appeals.
"I would be ecstatic if the appeals succeed," he said. The prospect of losing your home church is difficult.
"This is very much like a death in the family for some folks."
He's a person who "plans for the worst and hopes for the best," Schafer said. Once the appeals are filed, it could take 30 days to get a decision - and the archbishop's ruling could again be appealed.
He doesn't want to waste that waiting period, but to use that time to begin three-way conversations about the future.
"We can gain from the process if all three come to the table, and be stronger than ever," Schafer said, whatever the archdiocese ultimately decides. Red Wing Republican Eagle
October 29, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Of course the Catholic Church knows that it will receive criticism if it speaks out on issues that are important to it. It has been doing that for 2,000 years.
It also knows that in this country it has freedom of speech and can inform its 70 million members about political issues without fear of legal or financial reprecussions.
And it also knows that receiving criticism means that the power and effectiveness of its messages increase even more, reaching more of its target audience and even non-Catholic who agree with the Church on issues.