I found this to be a valid point about those who really want to pursue justice. This strong passion is something which cannot be avoided because everyone recognizes justice as a good thing. Its just that some see God as the source of all goodness. How can it be otherwise?
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
British Parliament Protests the Papal Visit
If you recall this post from Fr. Z last year....
In a spirit of helpfulness no doubt – printed a letter against the Pope and his state visit signed by some British notables. Well… they are a bit more notable now. Most of them weren’t known by many people before, except perhaps fellow members of the British Humanist Association.
Harsh judgments on the pope and religionDistinguished!
The Guardian, Wednesday 15 September 2010
We, the undersigned, share the view that Pope Ratzinger [In Italy this is not an uncommon way to refer to a Pope. Everywhere else it could be tinged with insult.] should not be given the honour of a state visit to this country. We believe that the pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of course free to enter and tour our country. However, as well as a religious leader, the pope is a head of state, and the state and organisation of which he is head has been responsible for:
Opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of Aids. [Among other things, they don’t help.]Promoting segregated education. [Silly.]
Denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women. [Abortion denies life itself to a vulnerable person, lots of them female.]
Opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people. [Laws should reflect nature and God’s laws.]
Failing to address the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation. [I think it would be interesting to look at the careers of all the people who signed this and all the organizations they have started or worked for.]
The state of which the pope is head has also resisted signing many major human rights treaties and has formed its own treaties ("concordats") with many states which negatively affect the human rights of citizens of those states. [Gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.] In any case, we reject the masquerading of the Holy See as a state [The Holy See is a state. It is not an act.] and the pope as a head of state as merely a convenient fiction [The Pope is a head of state. These people apparently are detached from reality.] to amplify the international influence of the Vatican. [The Vatican has been around for a while, and actually has influence. Most of the undersigned are masquerading as… what… people other people have heard of, perhaps? Let’s see about them:]Stephen Fry, [homosexual humanist gameshow host with bipolar disorder who blamed the Poles for Auschwitz because they are Catholic, member of the British Humanist Assoc.] Professor Richard Dawkins [who thinks maybe aliens started all life, without dealing with who made the aliens, and member of the British Humanist Assoc.], Professor Susan Blackmore [seems to be a disciple of Dawkins into the paranormal as well as a member of the British Humanist Assoc.], Terry Pratchett [member of the British Humanist Assoc. and atheist fantasy writer], Philip Pullman [hates the Catholic Church and, btw, belongs to the member of the British HumanistAssoc.], Ed Byrne [comedian and yet another member of the British Humanist Assoc.], Baroness Blackstone [both a politician and an academic, two strikes, and member of the British HumanistAssoc., strike three], Ken Follett [novelist, atheist, member of the British Humanist Assoc.], Professor AC Grayling [philosopher, atheist, humanist member of the British Humanist Assoc.], Stewart Lee [member of the British Humanist Assoc., comedian, writer director of Jerry Springer – The Opera], Baroness Massey [member of All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group and former director of Family Planning Association and member of the British Humanist Assoc.], Claire Rayner [pres and v-pres of British Humanist Assoc. suggested killing the Pope], Adele Anderson [member of the British Humanist Assoc, actress], John Austin MP [member of the BritishHumanist Assoc.], Lord Avebury [Buddhist National Secular Society’s Secularist of the Year andmember of the British Humanist Assoc.], Sian Berry [Green Party, and what do you know …member of the British Humanist Assoc.], Professor Simon Blackburn [philosopher VP of BritishHumanist Ass.], Sir David Blatherwick [yes, really… former diplomat and member of BritishHumanist Ass.], Sir Tom Blundell [biochemist member of, you guessed it, Brit. Hum. Ass.], Dr Helena Cronin [Darwinian and member of the Brit. Hum. Ass.], Dylan Evans [philosopher atheist and member of the Brit. Hum. Ass.], Hermione Eyre [an atheist member of the Brit. Hum. Ass. who seems not to have done much of anything], Lord Foulkes [politician], Professor Chris French [psychologist into the paranormal, member of the Brit. Hum. Ass.], Natalie Haynes [comedian member of the Brit. Hum. Ass.], Johann Hari [homosexual secularist], Jon Holmes [comedian member of the Brit. Hum. Ass.], Lord Hughes [member of Brit. Hum. Ass. and supporter of assisted suicide], Robin Ince [comedian member of Brit. Hum. Ass., author of "Carl Sagan Is My God…" ], Dr Michael Irwin [member of Brit. Hum. Ass. and promoter of euthanasia], Professor Steve Jones [geneticist and member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Sir Harold Kroto [who thinks there are four four "religions": humanism, atheism, amnesty-internationalism and humourism, member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Professor John Lee [pathologist member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Zoe Margolis [member of Brit. Hum. Ass. who seems not to have done anything except write about sex], Jonathan Meades [member of Brit. Hum. Ass., food writer], Sir Jonathan Miller [atheist member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Diane Munday [promotes abortion, member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Maryam Namazie [member of Brit. Hum. Ass., I like that she is against Sharia Law], David Nobbs [comedian, member of Brit. Hum. Ass., hates religion], Professor Richard Norman [member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Lord O’Neill [member of the Brit. Hum. Ass.], Simon Price [member of Brit. Hum. Ass., wears hair in shape of horns and favors makeup and face hardware], Paul Rose [socialist, member of the Brit. Hum. Ass. ], Martin Rowson [cartoonist member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Michael Rubenstein [member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Joan Smith [atheist], Dr Harry Stopes-Roe [member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Professor Raymond Tallis [member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Lord Taverne [member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Peter Tatchell [seems to be okay with sex with children (aka child rape)], Baroness Turner [member of Brit. Hum. Ass., hates Catholic schools], Professor Lord Wedderburn of Charlton QC FBA [member of Brit. Hum. Ass.], Ann Marie Waters [who knows], Professor Wolpert [biologist, member of Brit. Hum. Ass., doesn’t seem to have a first name], Jane Wynne Willson [Brit. Hum. Ass. member and accredited "celebrant" for humanist "religious" ceremonies]
Sunday, December 25, 2011
News: Seminarians in the United States Steadily but Slowly Rise
From CNS we find some good news regarding seminary enrollment in the United States.
Catholic seminary enrollment up, but numbers seen as only part of story
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In his first months as rector of Theological College in Washington, Father Phillip J. Brown has been confronting a problem that the national diocesan seminary for the U.S. Catholic Church "has not had for a long time" -- it is bursting at the seams.
Enrollment is maxed out for the 2011-12 academic year at 90 seminarians. Five of those seminarians are back in their dioceses this year gaining pastoral experience, but a Sulpician seminarian and five priests from other countries also live there, bringing the total number of residents to 91 plus faculty members.
"If I had to start with a problem, that's the problem I'd like to have," Father Brown told Catholic News Service. "It's a very healthy sign, a positive sign for Theological College and for the U.S. priesthood."
The trend of rising seminary enrollment is being duplicated around the country:
-- At the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, 40 new seminarians arrived this year, bringing total enrollment to 186, the highest level since the 1970s.
-- St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., welcomed 30 new graduate-level seminarians, making its class of 100 seminarians the largest since 1980. The influx forced 24 seminarians and two priests off campus into leased space at a former convent.
-- In the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., where the St. Pius X diocesan seminary closed in 2004 because of declining enrollment, the number of seminarians has more than doubled from eight to 17 in the past two years.
Most of the Scranton seminarians are studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., where communications specialist Dan Skalski said enrollment has remained steady over the past five years, or at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where a class of 76 "new men" brought enrollment this fall to a full house of 250 seminarians.
In an April report, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University said enrollment was up for those studying for the priesthood, diaconate and lay ecclesial ministry during the 2010-11 academic year -- the latest for which statistics were available.
In all, there were 3,608 post-baccalaureate U.S. seminarians last year, a net increase of 125 seminarians, or 4 percent, over the previous year and the highest number since the early 1990s. More than three-quarters of them were studying for the diocesan priesthood, while 24 percent intend to be ordained for religious orders.
The trend goes beyond Catholic schools to all seminaries, according to figures from the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada from 2010-11.
The organization that accredits theological schools said 75,431 people were studying for the ministry at 261 institutions during the last academic year, an increase of .6 percent from the year before.
But Theological College's Father Brown said a rise in enrollment is only part of the story.
"It's not just the numbers but the quality and spirit of the men who are coming," he told CNS.
"I'm tremendously impressed with the quality of the candidates, their zeal," he added. "We're seeing a real renewal of the priesthood."
Father Brown said the full house has led to "a nice and interesting atmosphere" at Theological College because of the racial and ethnic diversity of the seminarians, who come from "a wide diversity of backgrounds and from a wide diversity of parts of the U.S."
Having more applicants than Theological College can accept also benefits some of the seminarians, who might be referred to a school "better suited to the candidate's academic achievements and aptitudes," he said.
Because its seminarians participate in "an exacting and demanding program" at The Catholic University of America, Father Brown said, Theological College accepts those candidates considered most likely to succeed in a rigorous academic environment.
"As the numbers seem to be increasing for all major seminaries, it's easier to have a more cooperative relationship" among the schools, so that seminarians end up at the seminary that will benefit them the most, he added.
But he said those at Theological College never lose sight of the fact that "our goal is not to produce academicians or intellectuals but to provide good pastors for parishes."
- - -
Contributing to this story was Julie Asher.
Catholic seminary enrollment up, but numbers seen as only part of story
 Seminarians pray during morning Mass at Theological College in Washington Nov. 29. (CNS/Bob Roller) |
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In his first months as rector of Theological College in Washington, Father Phillip J. Brown has been confronting a problem that the national diocesan seminary for the U.S. Catholic Church "has not had for a long time" -- it is bursting at the seams.
Enrollment is maxed out for the 2011-12 academic year at 90 seminarians. Five of those seminarians are back in their dioceses this year gaining pastoral experience, but a Sulpician seminarian and five priests from other countries also live there, bringing the total number of residents to 91 plus faculty members.
"If I had to start with a problem, that's the problem I'd like to have," Father Brown told Catholic News Service. "It's a very healthy sign, a positive sign for Theological College and for the U.S. priesthood."
The trend of rising seminary enrollment is being duplicated around the country:
-- At the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, 40 new seminarians arrived this year, bringing total enrollment to 186, the highest level since the 1970s.
-- St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., welcomed 30 new graduate-level seminarians, making its class of 100 seminarians the largest since 1980. The influx forced 24 seminarians and two priests off campus into leased space at a former convent.
-- In the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., where the St. Pius X diocesan seminary closed in 2004 because of declining enrollment, the number of seminarians has more than doubled from eight to 17 in the past two years.
Most of the Scranton seminarians are studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., where communications specialist Dan Skalski said enrollment has remained steady over the past five years, or at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where a class of 76 "new men" brought enrollment this fall to a full house of 250 seminarians.
In an April report, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University said enrollment was up for those studying for the priesthood, diaconate and lay ecclesial ministry during the 2010-11 academic year -- the latest for which statistics were available.
In all, there were 3,608 post-baccalaureate U.S. seminarians last year, a net increase of 125 seminarians, or 4 percent, over the previous year and the highest number since the early 1990s. More than three-quarters of them were studying for the diocesan priesthood, while 24 percent intend to be ordained for religious orders.
The trend goes beyond Catholic schools to all seminaries, according to figures from the Association of Theological Schools in the U.S. and Canada from 2010-11.
The organization that accredits theological schools said 75,431 people were studying for the ministry at 261 institutions during the last academic year, an increase of .6 percent from the year before.
But Theological College's Father Brown said a rise in enrollment is only part of the story.
"It's not just the numbers but the quality and spirit of the men who are coming," he told CNS.
"I'm tremendously impressed with the quality of the candidates, their zeal," he added. "We're seeing a real renewal of the priesthood."
Father Brown said the full house has led to "a nice and interesting atmosphere" at Theological College because of the racial and ethnic diversity of the seminarians, who come from "a wide diversity of backgrounds and from a wide diversity of parts of the U.S."
Having more applicants than Theological College can accept also benefits some of the seminarians, who might be referred to a school "better suited to the candidate's academic achievements and aptitudes," he said.
Because its seminarians participate in "an exacting and demanding program" at The Catholic University of America, Father Brown said, Theological College accepts those candidates considered most likely to succeed in a rigorous academic environment.
"As the numbers seem to be increasing for all major seminaries, it's easier to have a more cooperative relationship" among the schools, so that seminarians end up at the seminary that will benefit them the most, he added.
But he said those at Theological College never lose sight of the fact that "our goal is not to produce academicians or intellectuals but to provide good pastors for parishes."
- - -
Contributing to this story was Julie Asher.
Merry Christmas!
A blessed and merry Christmas to everyone. Consider the following which was written by Virgil around 40 BC:
Now comes the last age of the Cumaean song;
the great order of the ages arises anew.
Now the Virgin returns, and Saturn's reign returns;
now a new generation is sent down from high heaven.
Only, chaste Lucina, favour the child at his birth,
by whom, first of all, the iron age will end
and a golden race arise in all the world;
now your Apollo reigns.
And indeed, Pollio, during your consulship
this glory of the age will enter in,
and the great months will begin to advance;
while you lead, if any stains of our sins still linger,
their negation will free the lands from endless fear.
He will take up the gods' life, and he will see
heroes and gods intermingled;
and he himself will be seen by them,
and with his father's virtues will rule a world at peace.
Fourth Eclogue
P. Vergili Maronis (70-19 BC)
For more on the significance of this writing from my perspective please click here.
Now comes the last age of the Cumaean song;
the great order of the ages arises anew.
Now the Virgin returns, and Saturn's reign returns;
now a new generation is sent down from high heaven.
Only, chaste Lucina, favour the child at his birth,
by whom, first of all, the iron age will end
and a golden race arise in all the world;
now your Apollo reigns.
And indeed, Pollio, during your consulship
this glory of the age will enter in,
and the great months will begin to advance;
while you lead, if any stains of our sins still linger,
their negation will free the lands from endless fear.
He will take up the gods' life, and he will see
heroes and gods intermingled;
and he himself will be seen by them,
and with his father's virtues will rule a world at peace.
Ultima Cumaei venit iam carminis aetas;
magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo.
Iam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna;
iam nova progenies caelo demittitur alto.
Tu modo nascenti puero, quo ferrea primum
desinet ac toto surget gens aurea mundo,
casta fave Lucina: tuus iam regnat Apollo.
Teque adeo decus hoc aevi, te consule, inibit,
Pollio, et incipient magni procedere menses.
Te duce, si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri,
irrita perpetua solvent formidine terras.
Ille deum vitam accipiet, divisque videbit
permixtos heroas, et ipse videbitur illis,
pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem.
Te duce, si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri,
irrita perpetua solvent formidine terras.
Ille deum vitam accipiet, divisque videbit
permixtos heroas, et ipse videbitur illis,
pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem.
Fourth Eclogue
P. Vergili Maronis (70-19 BC)
For more on the significance of this writing from my perspective please click here.
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