What a Government!

Feds sue Arizona for protecting it's citizens:

"The US government on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Arizona for a controversial immigration law which has been sharply criticized by America's neighbors and by the US administration.

A Justice Department statement said it was challenging the new state law in the courts because it hampered the authority of the administration of President Barack Obama to enforce national immigration policy.

...The American people must wonder whether the Obama administration is really committed to securing the border when it sues a state that is simply trying to protect its people by enforcing immigration law," Republicans John McCain and Jon Kyl said in a joint statement.

More than 60 percent of the US population supports Arizona's new immigration law, according to a recent opinion survey."

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TSA tells it's employees they can't browse "controversial" sites:

"The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is blocking certain websites from the federal agency's computers, including halting access by staffers to any Internet pages that contain a "controversial opinion," according to an internal email obtained by CBS News."

Well, they changed their "minds."

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NASA concerned about Islamic self-esteem:

"When I became the NASA administrator -- or before I became the NASA administrator -- he charged me with three things. One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering," Bolden said in the interview."

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Department of Justice Nailed for Race Prejudice in Voter Intimidation case

"Today I testified to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights pursuant to a subpoena investigating the New Black Panther Party voter intimidation dismissal. I would rather no such obligation had arisen.

My previous Pajamas Media article comprised much of what I was willing to testify about. In that article, I detailed specific instances of hostility being expressed towards a race-neutral enforcement of civil rights laws, and in particular laws regarding voting and elections."


He Has Backup, Now

Several former DOJ employees have been in contact with Pajamas Media, interested in publicly supporting J. Christian Adams as he comes forward about the DOJ’s failure to enforce the country’s laws from a race-neutral perspective.

These former DOJ employees have expressed a willingness to go on record regarding Adams’ professionalism, excellent performance, and outstanding record of enforcing the law without racial bias.

Additionally, they would like to corroborate Adams’ statements about the DOJ.

And perhaps — pay attention, DOJ press liaisons — offer their own accounts regarding the DOJ’s hostility to race-neutral law enforcement."

"Why Do They Have Whale Music at the Mass?"

This week's America magazine has an article by Father Michael G. Ryan, since 1988 pastor of St. James Cathedral in Seattle. Fr. Ryan is troubled by the new liturgical translations coming out of Rome:

"It has become painfully clear that the liturgy, the prayer of the people, is being used as a tool—some would even say as a weapon—to advance specific agendas."

Yeah, that's been painfully clear for about 46 years.

Father suggests: "...what if we were to trust our best instincts and defend our people from this ill-conceived disruption of their prayer life?" and directs people to a website where they can recommend the translations be put on hold.

I'm not sure who Father means by "we" but speaking of "ill-conceived disruptions," I will say St. James Cathedral has the distinction of being the church with absolutely the worst Mass I have ever attended. In 2008, I was in Seattle, donating a kidney to my cousin, who has diabetes. The hospital was only two blocks away from St. James. Two days before the operation was Pentecost. The Mass was a theatrical production that I won't even go into, except to say that the choirmaster had composed some special music "in the spirit of Pentecost." My cousin's daughter, in her twenties and anything but a traditionalist, leaned over and asked me "Why do they have whale music at the Mass?"

I went the next Sunday, too, during my recuperation. It didn't seem as bad, but of course by then I was on opiates.

h/t Good Jesuit, Bad Jesuit

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Hilarious! "It's not April 1, is it?"

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize. A number of people have suggested he be given the Cy Young Award, too.

For once, I agree with officials in the Obama White House:

"Two key White House aides were both convinced they were being punked when they heard the news, reported ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.

'It's not April 1, is it?' one said."

The California Society of Community Organizers...

formerly known as the Society of Jesus have a new video. I guess the idea is....well, I don't exactly know what the idea is. Because if its about vocations, they seem pretty comfortable with the lack thereof.

One interesting thing is the number of references to PICO, the nationwide Alinskyite "Community Organizers" federation founded by Jesuit priest John Baumann. You can watch the video here:



This is funny, too. The screenshot below of a lone priest in a collar appears while a lady is saying that Jesuits "...have to be coaxed and pulled along a little bit..." into collaboration. (I don't know about that!)

It's about 8:30 into this penitential experience. I had to do a double take. For a second I thought it was Fr. Fessio!

It's not him (that's him below at left, of course).


But it's funny that when they talk about "needing to be coaxed and pulled along" they just happen to pick a Fessio-lookalike (dressed like a priest and everything!) as the graphic.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

"The Council!...The Council!"

The provincialism is breathtaking.

This statement, from Cardinal Mahony down at the Religious Education conference, had the normally genial Fr. Z in what I'd call a quiet rage:


"Ann Scolari: What are your thoughts on the Trindentine mass?


Cardinal Mahony: Ann, the Tridentine Mass was meant for those who could not make the transition from Latin to English [or other languages] after the Council. But there is no participation by the people, and I don’t believe that instills the spirit of Christ among us."

So the spirit of Christ showed up in the 60's--right along with the Beatles, but before Pink Floyd. I remember it....I think.

For Cardinal Mahony et al, "The Council" is rapidly becoming what the "War Between the States" was for unreconstructed Southerners....

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Good News (I guess)!

San Francisco Catholics who were dismayed to learn that our local Catholic Charities is helping same-sex couple to adopt children will be relieved to learn that Catholic Charities actually accepts no money from the Catholic Church.

At least, that's according to this article in the "Bay Area Reporter" whose motto is "Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, & transgender communities since 1971."

Then what were all those second collections about? And where does one apply for a refund?

Hat tip: Uncle Di.

Posted by Gibbons (while Fr. John is on retreat).

Fragrance?

I just read California Catholic Daily’s article “How is the Holy Spirit like fragrance?”

It was a report on Thomas Zanzig’s address to Catholic educators in Los Angeles on June 22nd. Zanzig works for the Silver Burdette Gin religious publishers. Their web site offers sample strategies from the Zanzig-edited Adult Faith Formation Strategies.

Treating the “Mission of Jesus,” the strategies speak only of addressing poverty, healing broken hearts, freeing the oppressed and those in prison, and comforting those who mourn -- presented in a manner to elicit clarifying responses from participants. Personal faith sharing seems central, with some Church teachings introduced in the course of the faith formation experience. Gimmicks, too, are encouraged -- such as simmering potpourri and asking, “How is the Holy Spirit like the fragrance.

We are encouraged to move from “knowledge about” to “relationship with” and from “understanding for the sake of belonging to action, service and witness for the sake of justice, peace and ecological survival.”

Yes, justice and peace and ecology are important issues, but a faith based mainly on these, with less emphasis on the teachings of the Church and personal sanctity is not going to lead to the Truth and the Life. I would not trust the above approach in my adult formation program.