Two of My Favourite Things

I got this email from a friend this morning:


This is an easy way to support LifeSiteNews!

Amazon has good prices. They sell things in many areas, both big and small!

My wife needs to buy a laptop and Amazon prices were very competitive.
Depending on how many other people buy things throught the LifeSite
Amazon portal, LifeSite will get between $50-90 from our purchase
alone!

Please forward to others!! Please share on social networks and with
fellow parishioners and parish administrators.

I imagine 100 parishes and pro-lifers could easily get LifeSite up to
8% of all purchases every month!


PS: You must use the LifeSite Amazon portal!

Here is the hyperlink.

Happy shopping!

Joy!

Melanie writes at Joy.

New Additions

I think women-bloggers are beginning to be encouraged that they have a valuable place at the SCCB! So, our latest is Catherine, who blogs at Sacred Sharings for the Soul.

And, it's about time, a LifeSite editor whose blog will link with ours! (I have tried to link to LifeSiteNews many times, btw.) This one is by their Canadian Bureau Chief, my old colleague, Patrick Craine, who blogs at Pilgrim's Journal. His wife's blog has been on our list for many moons: Last Things First.

Updating the List

I got rid of blogs that have not updated in over six months. I hope Michael Coren updates soon - he's next on the chopping block.

Anudder Anudder Mudder

This time a former student of mine, married to another former student of mine: Stephanie, a young woman living out her faith with her young family.

Why Don't I Bash More?

Some readers and participants might be a little disappointed in me, that I don't take on the kind of editorial leadership that one might expect of someone like me. Why don't I more often condemn what needs condemning, and praise what needs praising?

Short answer - that's your job. I just rebroadcast your thoughts. They're more interesting than mine. Also, I do some of that on thetheologyofdad.

Longer answer - truthfully, I think many Catholic bloggers would share my thought: if you don't have anything good to say, why be just one more blog pointing out the bad? If people didn't get the point from reading Fr. Z, Akin or Shea in the U.S., or Socon or Bust or Heresy Hunter in Canada, why do I think they would get it from my reiteration? I'd rather celebrate the Culture of Life than spend my time decrying the Culture of Death. I think a blogger can't ignore patent evil, but he does equally wrong when he fails to celebrate the life we've been given in Christ.

Often it hardly seems like we have good stories to share. But then again, Sunday marks the ninety-third anniversary of the end of World War I. That's a good story. That marked, just as World War II marked, the victory of freedom over tyranny. We can certainly hope for other victories to come.

Anudder Mudder

I am happy to announce the addition of Stephanie Potter's blog - Woman.Wife.Mother.

I have the feeling that mothers represent the largest demographic among Catholic bloggers, and yet, alas, so many of them want their blogs to remain private. (Some of my friends know that I am talking about them here.)

Anyway, welcome aboard, Stephanie! We look forward to reading.

Great New Blogs

I'm happy to present a new blog that I was just informed about, that of the well-known Damian Goddard who didn't tote the party line on marriage at Sportsnet:

http://www.damiangoddard.com/sword-of-damo-cles/

Two Very Different Women: Kateri and Broten

The Upside

Bl. Kateri will be canonized tomorrow, the glorious culmination of God's love for the Lily of the Mohawks in the world. Neil MacCarthy writes for the Archdiocese of Toronto blog as does Fr. Kuntz for Cathoilic Chapter House.


The Downside

Bishop Mulhull of Pembroke shows some significant leadership in blatantly saying 'no' to Laurel Broten.

Archbishop Prendergast does too, a part of which runs:

"the suggestion is that Catholic teaching on this point should be forbidden in publicly-funded Catholic schools. While people of other faiths and no faith are pro-life, the protection of the vulnerable, including those conceived in the womb is authentic Catholic doctrine and has its place in Catholic schools.

I am reminded of the words of a martyr-priest, whose feast falls in the Jesuit Ordo today but is not observed because of the Lord’s Day: they offer an apt analogy for our times:

‘In all that concerns the king, I will be slavishly obedient; if any attack his temporal power, I will shed my last drop of blood for him. But in the things of spiritual jurisdiction which a king unjustly seizes I cannot and must not obey.’ ~ St. John Ogilvie"

See my post on her too. I am a little less elegant. ;-)

Post of the Week: Od's Blog

A very interesting discussion by Steve Roney of his son's curriculum. Good analysis. Thanks, James, for pointing it out to me.

Eunice's and Becca's

I am very happy to add yet another great blog. This time a couple of gals who write at Faith and Peanut Butter.

Welcome, Julian

Julian writes about serving the Latin Mass at Servimus unum Deum.

We're on a role here. So glad bloggers are still coming out of the woodwork. Even after having eliminated some inactive blogs, we are up to 153 now!

Welcome to Kevin

Kevin comes from Calgary and shares his knowledge of liturgical music at Breviary Hymns!

On the theme of the liturgy, a parent of my school, Maryvale Academy of Ottawa, pointed out this interesting post. Please, forgive: it's American.

Welcome to Joe

Our latest addition is Joe of Kitchener who writes at Being Joseph Michael.

So great that our community continues to grow!

Worth Reading

Only Fr. de Souza can get away with what would get me permanently excluded from the graces of the society of the well-coiffed sacerdoti. See his latest at the Catholic Register on the V - II conference at St. Paul's. Maybe some day some young priestly upstart will sum-up my life in as equally stinging a manner: It’s polite to listen, as one throws a toothless lion a bone. Yesterday's mavericks are today's toothless lions. Live by the sword of wordliness, die by it fifty years later...

An equally compelling article  of Brian Lilly, about why you should send your kids to Maryvale Academy of Ottawa - that's what I took from it, anyway. We get the stupidity out of our bureaucrats that we deserve, don't we? Why do we who stand for something feel so impotent politically? But we are not: we got 91 of 294 votes. Don't give up hope. It'll end in a victory for life... someday.

An Alumna's Blog

One of the things I learned from my time at OLSWA was that the feminine of alumnus, is alumna.

I was just told about the blog of one of my former students, a gifted artist, and all-around nice person, originally from PEI. Have a look:

http://outofplatoscave.blogspot.ca/

Starting the School Year off Blogtastically

Two people emailed me their blog addresses today, which I am happy to add.

A mother from Toronto:

http://8kidsandabusiness.wordpress.com/

and a father / chaplain / school teacher from Calgary:

http://catholicbiker.blogspot.ca/

I am hoping to eventually add a blog devoted to and written by my school, Maryvale Academy, in Ottawa.

Now that summer is over, we will become more disciplined bloggers !?

WWMD?

What would the Muslim do?

I disagree with everything Putin does and is, except his position on that group of wayward women musicians.

Driving to work on the 417, I'm back in the world, it seems. I see, once again, after a few years' hiatus, manipulations of the symbol held sacred by Christians for 2000 years:

But this act of desecration is funny, because Christians are stupid, bigoted and superstitious. They deserve to have their symbols desecrated.

I say, fine. It's a free world, and if you want to insult religions, why only those you can insult with impunity? The very essence of bullying is targeting those who will not or cannot stand up for themselves.

Here's a suggestion, Mr. and Mrs. Freethinker, driving your Volkswagen Golf down the 417. Go to the corner of Walkley and Albion in Ottawa and do likewise, but this time desecrate a symbol held sacred to Muslims - after all, aren't they just as stupid, bigoted and superstitious as Christians? Maybe there someone will be happy to teach you the other side of civilized co-existence.

So it is with the recent event in Moscow. The St. Elias Today blog is a wonderful site. Today, however, I fundamentally disagree with the article it is carrying from First Things.

But of course, the difference is this, if I ever have the opportunity to go to St. Elias, I would be going to pray silently to God, and not as a publicity stunt put on by money-grubbing cowards. I would go out of reverence for that sacred place.

What would the Muslim do? Maybe it's time to ask them? Maybe this is the puny kid paying the big kid from grade 9 to pound the guy who's making his life a living hell?




* An interesting post here from Peter Stockland on this general theme.

New Editor at Catholic Insight!

I just found out that my friend and former colleague from OLSWA, Dr. David Beresford, is the new editor of Catholic Insight.

Catholic Insight has always been a valuable source of, well - frankly - insight from Catholics. It's chief, Fr. Alphonse de Valk, CSB, has done a fine job with the publication over the years and has, in fact, established himself as an authoritative and respected voice in the Canadian Church.

I could not think of a better person to follow after Fr. de Valk. Beresford is one of the most refreshing Catholic minds I have ever met. He has an infectious love for all things, from nature to supernature. And while we enjoyed exchanging barbs - he attacking my Platonism and me attacking his unbridled devotion to Chesterton - his fundamental commitment to the Church's teaching on faith and reason is something on which our minds and hearts perfectly line up.

During some dark days I could always count on his encouragement.

Congratulations, David! We'll be reading!

Dieppe Remembered

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Dieppe. It was a day of bravery and destruction. It was also a day of tragedy, as the predominantly Canadian invasion force was routed by the German Army. Regardless of any tactical evaluations of Dieppe, these men of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (with a contingent of Brits and a few Americans) fought with exceptional heroism in defence of our freedom.

Pray for the repose of these heroes and thank God for your freedom. Don't let their sacrifice be for naught. Live resolutely the freedom they defended bravely.

Two Posts on OLSWA

Of course, one was written by yours truly, at thetheologyofdad. The other by Kathleen Dunn at the Catholic Chapter House.

Now that I am living in Ottawa, I promise that the SCCB will be even more cutting edge and socially and politically relevant! Well, actually, that's up to you. I just collect your blogs!

Rad Conrad, Again

He's on a roll. In an article for the National Post, after a slightly trying history lesson, he proceeds with this tour de force:

If this [Obama] administration is reelected, there is no reason to doubt that it will continue to restrict, on the spurious pretext of separation of church and state, any moral or practical authority except that of the government. It stops short of the 19th-century German societies that had services of state worship highlighted by flags, artillery, and anthems, but it threatens to generate far more serious cultural disputes than the deep ideological divisions already existing in America.

Do these people really want the state to be all-powerful? I don't think so; I think they simply see the state as the only means by which to establish their idea of utopia. In this they are just like their bogey-men inquisitors of the past. Without God, you will always become what you most fear.

He continues on in a way that I think would be most surprising to these people. Yet Black is correct:

From the most simplistic and mawkish religious views to the most intellectually subtle ones, the body of ecclesiastical beliefs and practices has been, in many countries (but not always), the most reliable restraint to overweening statism. However much these views may be despised by the academic, bureaucratic, and media elites that are the core of the strength of the Democratic party, most Americans are somewhat religious, and most are cautious, as were the Founders, about the powers of government. Most Americans do not respect the Supreme Court, and the great majority have been contemptuous of successive Congresses and administrations.

Yes, the Christian religion is today the most reliable restraint to overweening statism. Overweening statism is bad. Perhaps it will come for us inevitably, and this is the end times for liberty, and all the distopian science fictions writers will prove correct. That would be bad. The thing is, Christians don't care about politics nearly as much as secularists do. Their treasure lies elsewhere. The great lie is to present secularists as tolerant. In fact, that is false. Totalitarianism is, of necessity, secularistic. Why? Again, Christians don't care about this world so much as to want to control every aspect of it. (Hence, the non-politics of the so-called politics of Augustine's City of God.) Totalitarianism comes from the imminentism of paganism.

He concludes:

In trying to subordinate and marginalize America’s religious institutions, the Obama administration is playing with high explosives. It is a bad, dangerous, and devious encroachment on constitutional liberty, and could undermine one of the greatest pillars of American national success. The balance between faith and reason is for the determination of each individual, and of the people as a whole, not of unauthorized government officials uttering impious humbug as they arbitrarily do so.

So, in the end, despite how badly these people think religion sucks, I cannot bear to imagine what life will be like without it. A world where everything is China, but with American cutting-edge technology to enforce this Chinese-style control.

Wait, I'm a Christian, so I can bear it. Why? Because my treasure lies elsewhere - and you secularists should thank me for being this way. For without me, your god, the all-powerful state, will destroy you.

Phrase du Jour: Conrad Black's

Unlike some, I have bought wholesale into Lord Black. (What can I say, I'm a sucker for fine writing and a good vocabulary.) Read his piece in the National Post. You'll find, as you always do with him, an uncommon diction from an uncommon mind. And this bon mot:

I felt a sensation of hatred toward this ghastly mutation who thought it his righteous prerogative to disrupt the dinner of strangers and shout abusive comments on the sidewalk, but also pity for this pathetic interloper reduced to such depths of sociopathic impotence.

Besides its literary quality, the article also has spiritually poignancy, a good thought for a Sunday.

Stockland on Batman

Peter Stockland has an thought-provoking article today at Cardus - though I don't think I agree with a word of it. Please read it!

Posts of Note

I count it a great blessing that I still get emails from people who have discovered SCCB and would like their blog listed on it. I get about one email a week like this, it seems to me. Like you, I have my favourites from the list that I keep my eyes on and am always especially excited to see a new post from them appear.

I wish I had more time and ingenuity to donate to this project. As I've likely said before, one of my dreams is to have a quarterly newsletter mailing of 'best posts' from our bloggers. Yet, unfortunately, I have a job. Yes, alas, a job inconveniencing me in this time of global economic recession. If someone has the necessary software (Quark, InDesign, whatever) and know-how, I would be glad to supply the editing oversight. Oh yea, we'd need a investor donor too to cover the costs of at least the first few editions.

_______________________________

A new blog that I have recently added to the list is Team Orthodoxy. I like the idea of "Top Ten Tuesdays." Let's call it the Canadian version of Fulwiler's 7 Quick Takes Friday.

The Crossroads walkers are in Ontario now. Blogging on their behalf is a former student of mine - Pat Wilson. That he writes so well I take as a partial compliment. Come to think of it, he always wrote well, so never mind.

Archbishop Prendergast was over today and, yes, in addition to other things, we talked blogs. He never forgets his camera. Learn from him, fellow bloggers! (I know I need to. I never seem to remember mine.)

_______________________________

I am glad that not too many of us think summer vacation means a vacation from blogging. It's too hot to do anything else, anyway.


Maybe I should start watering my grass!

Another Canadian Gem from MacLean's

Lest we think we are, racially speaking, pretty good, which we usually do, or live under the illusion that secularism is a viable alternative to Christianity, or that socialism is good for the soul...

Comparing two statistics from that survey referred to in the previous post, you will find that, whereas Canadian households bring in an average of $68,560 per year, the average Canadian donates a mere $260 to charity a year. As the head of a family that has never pulled in that much money, I am appalled. Compare this with the $155 the average Canadian spends on lottery tickets, the $420 on pets, the $1990 on clothes - every year!

"How Canadian am I?" asks MacLean's...

Hopefully, not very!

What the MSM Refuses to Acknowledge

People who oppose anything at all that pertains to the gay agenda are regularly called homophobic. They fear homosexuals. Weird.

Let's reflect on a few things the latest issue of MacLean's states in its feature, "How Canadian Are You?"

According to them 59 % of Canadians support gay marriage. That means 41 % do not. Accordingly, if the country has, say 35 million people, that means 14,350,000 Canadians are against it. More than 14 million Canadians are what gay activists would call "homophobes," or would seem to fit into that group of people the genius Justin Trudeau suggests are "repulsive."

14 million Canadians are repulsive to a man who thinks that he can be a leader of a national party some day. Good luck with that. But I guess that would be par for the course for Liberal success of late.

The Spirit is Saying: Freedom!

We can find on the blog roll three important reflections on the ways in which entities are trying to chain the Word of God.

First, John Pacheco tells us about Quebec's latest witch hunt.

Next, but still here in Canada, Ezra Levant tells us about his war with the SBSC. I'm glad he's doing it. Let's support him in whatever way we can. He has some great suggestions.

Then, Fr. de Souza tells us about the fight of American Catholics to live their faith in light of Obama's persecution, something he connects to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta.

In all these cases, we need to take a cue from these braver men...

Do You Know CatholicCanada.com?

This is a great site, run by Fr. Sehl, who is a priest of the Hamilton Diocese. I think of it as the NewAdvent of Canada. That is more or less fair. Whatever the case, it is an excellent aggregator of all things Catholic with a strong emphasis on Canadian content. Whereas the Society of Canadian Catholic Bloggers sticks to Canadian Catholic blogs, CatholicCanada casts its net much more widely.

This is part of their description:

We hope to provide easy access to all that is happening in the Catholic Church, its hierarchy, and the Catholic people of Canada.

As bloggers know, and anyone who keeps any kind of website knows, a lot of work would go into such an ambitious project. No doubt it does! It certainly helps to fill a gap left by so many poor diocesan websites! Make sure you visit them.

Catholic Teachers, What's Their Deal, Man?

The National Post is carrying an article about a teacher who may lose his teaching job for refusing to follow the his principal's 'No Zero Policy.' This is in the Edmonton School Board. He failed a student who did 6 of the 15 assignments.

It focused my thinking on the situation of the Catholic Schools here in Ontario. I think about the OECTA - their union - how miserably informed and committed it is to their mission of Catholic Education. It's easy enough to deride from the outside such egregious failures in education as this particular case in Edmonton, but what about the equally - no, greater - failure of Catholic teachers to do their job? Yes, abundant apologies to those good Catholic school teachers I know. They, however, are in the minority. Visit the OECTA site any time and tell me if you are impressed by their commitment to excellence in education and in handing on the Catholic Faith. You'd get more Catholicity from a Jewish Board of education, if there were such a thing. I'm not joking.

There is very little Catholicity on that site. In fact, there is basically none. It is a disgrace. Here is something priceless from their president:

"Respecting Differences" is a document produced by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association, which represents the officials elected to sit on Catholic school boards in Ontario. The document is not reflective of any views or input from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA), which represents the 45,000 elementary and secondary teachers who work in Ontario's publicly funded Catholic schools.

It's hilarious when incompetence happens 2000 kms away in Edmonton, but not when it occurs here with those who teach my children.

So, in the spirit of Mr. Lynden Dorval (the Edmontonian teacher mentioned above) why don't we bring in some of kind of performance review for the OECTA teachers? Most industries incorporate some kind of performance review process. I am sure the teachers get measured on their classroom performance, but I bet not on their knowledge of the Faith. I could design a very simple test to measure the knowledge and commitment of these teachers. And, I'll do it for free - just because it's that important!

Unless Mr. Dorval and I are both wrong, and objective performance doesn't actually matter, neither for teachers nor for students.

'Hurrah' to the Cardinal!

By now most of you have read about Cardinal Collins' statement on 'GSA's. It is a masterpiece of prose and of diplomacy. You can find the entire text here.

Please take the time to read His Eminence's full text. I find that many do not thoroughly understand the Church's actual view on homosexuality - at least not as well as the Cardinal does! A careful re-read of the Catechism could be in order too, especially paragraphs 2357-9.

Thanks for Your leadership, Your Eminence!

Pentecost Inaugurates a New Age

What is Pentecost? The facile answer that it marks the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles isn't sufficient. 

Why? The Holy Spirit is given and was given many times.

What makes this gift so significant?

It is the answer to the question as to why it is better that Christ depart, as He indicated in John 16:17:

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Nothing seems like a good trade when you are trading away Christ, of course. But we should get a hint from another of Christ's enigmatic statements to the Magdalene in the same Gospel at 20:17:

"Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father."

Have not some of you thought the fair but blasphemous thought: I'd rather have Jesus than the Spirit? I know I have!

But let us take Him at His word. The gift the Spirit at Pentecost is the gift of the full power of the Paschal Mystery, which was never given before. Augustine understood the difference made through the Paschal Mystery with the simple nomenclature, 'the grace of Christ.' It stands to reason, then, that the difference between the Pentecost grace and all preceding graces would be the difference between sanctifying grace (that which makes one worthy of heaven) and actual graces (graces that do something, but do not give salvation itself). I think that this was the gift of sanctifying grace for the first time.

Yet, let's study for a moment the characteristics of this grace as portrayed in Acts. It is the grace that inaugurates the new age. It is clearly an outward-leading grace: the communicating of the Gospel to all peoples is its most obvious manifestation here. But you'll also note the virtues that suddenly came into being in the hearts of the Apostles that made this communication possible: courage, zeal, wisdom, piety, love, hope, faith.

Evangelizing cyberspace is a part of the work begun at Pentecost. May we do it with all boldness, wisdom, charity and creativity!

Thoughts on the CBC

I used to listen to CBC Radio a great deal.

a) when it used to play classical music (instead of jazz or whatever it plays now)

b) before I grew up and realized how one-sided it is.

If it is Canadian, then I am not. And so they would want me therefore to conclude. I had occasion to listen to it today for about five minutes in the car - where I live, you drive behind a hill and suddenly you've got one station to chose from.

There was an interesting reflection on the failure - it seems - of the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman. After that came on something else - "Q News" was it called? featuring a standard, long term CBC personality and someone whose name I did not catch but whose voice sounded like that red-headed comedian who was featured on an episode of Seinfeld. I'm sure many of you know who I mean. Well, whether I wanted to hear it or not, I learned that this woman is a lesbian. I don't know, sex seems like a fairly private affair. Why was she telling me? I don't believe that was the point of her being on the show, to tell Canadians about her sexuality, but she mentioned it anyway. In case any of us were dying to know.

I don't really care what the program was called, who the intended audience was, or anything else - and that's the point of this post: I DON'T CARE.

I Don't Care about CBC - But Shouldn't I?

As a Canadian. As a tax-payer.

Among the very few things that Harper and I seem to be able to agree about anymore, it is that CBC is terrible.

It is a media 'empire' that maintains a privileged place in the media layout in Canada - one which the other media companies in this country would kill for - that is to say, that it is financed in large part by tax-payer money. And so, knowing that it will never go bankrupt, how do you mess up a business like that?

It is one for which I have no use. And I'm Canadian. Other than for perhaps a total of fewer than 50 days of my life, my entire life has been lived a mari usque ad mare. I get Canada. It interests me. And I like the radio. I like news. I like culture. I like driving in my car listening to the radio. So do millions of other Canadians. Unfortunately, CBC registers the favourite channel for a dismal few of us.

And who would those few be?

I can tell you who it is not, who does not, it seems, deserve to be considered Canadian:

1. Conservative Christians of any stripe.

2. Conservatives Jews, Muslims, etc.

3. Social conservatives of any other stripe.

4. People who do not want to know about some disembodied voice's sexuality.

5. People who want to hear all sides of the story.

6. People who don't want representatives of the 'other' sides of the story presented as 'Exhibit A,' to be ridiculed by the cultured, bilingual cappuccino suckers in Ottawa and Montreal.

So, CBC, this is why your business model is failing (and this from a PhD in theology who is perpetually insolvent):

your audience is limited to the people you like.

That's kind of like deciding only to sell Coca-Cola to whities.

And why companies like Sun News are growing while you scuttle along in your self-imposed irrelevance.

All you journalist execs working for CBC remember back to your undergrads, reading about how controlling education and the media could change people ('conscientizing,' Marx called it), and that is why you have adopted and been committed to this cynical mode of operation. Yet Marx wasn't completely right. Some people can do a little bit of thinking for themselves... maybe a surprising number, judging from CBC's lack of success in holding onto a market the Federal Government hand-delivers it.

_________________

This gets me thinking: what does a government like Ontario fear when a plan like the 'Gay Cults' they want to impose on Catholic Schools fails? Or succeeds? Alienating such a significant portion of your citizenry cannot but have negative long-term consequences. It's not simply victory.

Any of you SCCB readers and bloggers listen to or watch CBC?

When was the Last Time...?

..that the CCCB took the lead on an explicitly Catholic issue?

The Catholic News Agency finds the bishops talking religious freedom (finally). Looks like their big bro bishops in the US have emboldened them.

Pilgrim Reader

I might be moving out of the Ottawa Valley soon. I have always wanted my blogs to promote this area - the wonderful land of - for lack of a better phrase - Catherine Doherty and of Madonna House. Since she came and set up this spiritual community other great things were drawn in - the formation house of the Companions of the Cross and Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Catholic college. Many wonderful families have come in as a result. If you are looking for a nourishing place to raise a family and grow in your prayer life, this is the place for you.

One little place I want to mention as well is a little book store that I have enjoyed visiting these last five years - The Pilgrim Reader. Run by the Lynch family, they have an excellent assortment of books. It is one of the best collections and one of the most pleasant book store environments I have ever encountered. Believe me, I have been to countless used bookstores! I am especially fond of their collection of Eastern Theology texts, specifically, their assortment of St. Vladimir's Seminary Press books, of which I purchased a few the other day. They also have a nice collection of children's books and books for young people.

If you can't make it into Combermere, visit them and order a book online. Support this fine family and their efforts to provide good books to this area.

Other Important March for Life Events

See Archbishop Prendergast's blog for some of these.

Blogmeet Ottawa March for Life

No doubt, I wish I could be there. The irony of many family cares is keeping me from the March for Life in Ottawa this Thursday.

But I do want to direct your attention to an idea that my friend, journalist par excellence, fellow-blogger, new Catholic, Deborah Gyapong, has for a blogger-meeting sometime around the time of the March. See her notice.

I'll make sure to post the pics here.

We need to get to know each other. I have met some of you in person and so many more of you online these last few months. Let's keep building community. I know we are on to something good!

Parents as First Educators

I want to give a shout out to my new friend, Teresa Pierre, and the organization she heads up:

Parents As First Educators (PAFE).

They describe their organization in these terms: PAFE informs and activates Ontario Catholic ratepayers on issues of accountability, transparency and fidelity to the Catholic faith.

Why not pay their website a visit and see the good work they are up to?

Catholic Education

I don't like to quote American things here at the SCCB, since this is a Canadian forum, but I'd like to draw your attention to an article being carried by the Newman Society about a study conducted at Georgetown University on what consequences for faith life going to university has. Whereas upon entering university 11% describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated, upon leaving that number rises to 25 %. This is not all that unexpected, but, for as expected as it is, it might still give us pause for thought. See the executive report of the study here.

I want to address this matter here because it is obviously a serious one. Having spent the last twenty years in Catholic Education - both as giver and as receiver - and as a convert to the Faith - I find the positions Catholic families adopt on their children's education quite interesting.

What do you think of the state of Catholic higher education in Canada?

Perhaps I should also put in a plug for the two Canadian schools who made the Newman Society's list of good Catholic schools: my old employer, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom and another school that I have been hearing a lot of good things about, Redeemer Pacific. Give them some consideration.

Enduring, Evil Connections

It looks like Big Blue Wave was originally behind this one - see Socon or Bust for the Story.

These sites mentioned a link between the Diocese of Trois-Riviere and an abortion-supporting woman's group ages ago - in fact, it was back in February of 2010. But it's still on their website! That diocese mentions there an organization called La Table de concertation du mouvement des femmes de la Mauricie (TCMFM). If you go to that organization's website you will find the following phrase: le droit à l'avortement.

Everything sounds nice in French. When you translate it into English you get: right of abortion, or abortion rights, as we usually say. Not so nice. And so one might ask, why? Why is the Apostolic Church associating itself with a group promoting le droit à l'avortement?

It's not a small thing. It's a big, giant, evil thing. And why is this still going on? Somebody, a few somebodies, in Trois-Riviere obviously don't have the slightest problem with this. Absolute impunity.

Two Ways to Look at Something

My old friend, Archbishop Martin Currie, used to say that there are two ways to look at things pastorally - as problems or as opportunities. I think about that a lot.

So when big things erupt like the contraception mandate in the U.S., the abortive sex-selection thing here in Canada, etc., etc., for as objectively bad - evil - as these things are, these are also, in fact, opportunities to get the message of the Gospel out to a people who would otherwise be completely unaware of it. How many Catholics in the U.S. have suddenly been made aware that their religion thinks contraception is sinful? I bet just thousands upon thousands.

How many people do you think know what partial-birth abortion is - and that it is legal? Getting the message out... something to think about, especially for us bloggers.

Canadian Bishop Trivia

Did you know that our Bishop Dowd of Waiting in Joyful Hope is the 7th youngest bishop in the world, the youngest in the Western Hemisphere?

The longest-ordained living Canadian Bishop is Bishop Paul-Émile Charbonneau, who was ordained a bishop fifty-one years ago. He is not the oldest Canadian bishop, though. That honour falls to Archbishop Joseph-Aurèle Plourde, who is 97, and emeritus of Ottawa.

There are only three vacant dioceses in the country - St. Paul, Alexandria-Cornwall and Timmons.

Did you know that our Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Quintana, was formerly nuncio in Nepal, and before that India, and was ordained a priest of Compostella, Spain - and that he was ordained priest by Bl. Pope JP II and, over twenty years later, consecrated a bishop by the same pope?

(All of these facts courtesy of catholic-hierarchy.org)

Stockland on Gravel

Peter Stockland has an excellent article at the Catholic Register here about Fr. Gravel's _________ position on euthanasia.

I wouldn't dare describe this position; Fr. Gravel is really testy about adjectives. I can't risk being sued. I'm just a poor layman. Yet, of course, only stupid people would confuse being pro-abortion and pro-choice. Me, I would never confuse being pro-euthanasia and pro-medical assisted suicide. Duh.

You might want to check out Charles Lewis' too on suffering. It's here. God bless him.

Earth Day: What a Surprise, Montreal

You ever seen people mobilized in Montreal? Ever seen the clergy? Without reading further, and even if you have been living under a rock for forty years, it's a good bet this isn't to stand up for life...

I am going have to sit with this one for a while. I hope The Register's Michael Swan has made a mistake here. I thought with the elevation of Archbishop Lépine the days of embarrassing the Kingdom of God by praying for the Montreal Canadiens were over. Nope. Today we're going to ring the church bells to protest the Harper Government's neglect of the environment:

The Assembly of Quebec Bishops has alerted pastors and the faithful that they want church bells ringing out at 2 p.m. across the province in support of Earth Day protests. Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine sent out an additional letter to parish priests and parochial administrators urging them to organize parish groups to take part in the protests.

Have those bells ever sounded to protest abortion, the secular government's encroachment on the liberty of Christians, the persecution of Christians in the Middle East? Nope, because those are Christian issues - only Christians are concerned about such things. Apparently there are no Christians amongst the Montreal, the Quebecois clergy.

In the history of the Christianity never has there been a time when the Church has benefited from following the causes of the day. It only prospered when it sets out on its own hard path.

I see that the SCCB has lost a few followers. Thetheologyofdad has too. I don't know why. I don't write for others - only for myself and Christ. I write exactly what I think is true and right, whether people want to 'follow' it or not. I say this as a preface to my strong words:

Unless there is something greatly off in what Mr. Swan has reported, my disappointment, nay, disgust with Catholic Montreal & Catholic Quebec as a whole has reached a new high.

It's all in the word 'protest.'

Happy Lenin's birthday everyone.

Ottawa

I used to wonder why the Holy See chose to 'waste' such a great man like Archbishop Prendergast on a 'little' diocese like Ottawa. Sure, the Federal Government is there, yadda, yadda... but the significant see is Toronto, isn't it?

Well, with all the stuff that goes on in that city, surely we should doubt no longer why he is there. Like the latest,  the return of the'gay pride' thingy being hosted by one of the parishes there. For the story on last year's see LifeSite.

Ottawa is not all sunshine and roses... or should I say tulips? Nor is at all Life Chain and other great Catholic gatherings. Ottawa witnesses the celebration of Canadian Catholicism, but it also witnesses its undermining. But where Ottawa goes, the Nation goes. Thus, where Archbishop Prendergast goes, we will all follow...

____________

Anything interesting going on in your diocese? Please let us know...

Adding Cardus

The best thing that has happened to journalism in Canada this year was the invention of the SCCB, of course. Second-best - Convivium, published by Cardus.

I discovered that they have a blog, so I just added it. Cardus and Convivium have associated with them two great Canadian Catholics - Peter Stockland and Fr. de Souza, among others. I am sure it will make for some really great reading.

If I had $30 I'd subscribe to it. If you have $30, why don't you?

Not very Professional of Me, but...

Ha ha!

and

It's about time!

as Kitchener-Waterloo Traditional Catholic points out. Great job, Cardinal Levada!

Some Posts of Note

Witness for Church and Pope asks about 5% dissenters and 95% dissenters.

If you are in or near Kitchener on the 28th, lend support to the pro-family rights in education movement, as John of Jonah in the Heart of Nineveh tells us.

Fr. MacDonald talks about the denial of communion - something on which most of us need to read up.

Mike Landry writes about suffering and the flu. God bless your family! SCCB readers, please say a prayer for them.

Edmund Lo, S.J., talks about Bl. Kateri, as do Sacrosancta and Archbishop Prendergast (mais, en francais).

Sex-selective abortions in Canada. Ignore that one, MSM and femos - women's best friend, ya right! Read here. Thanks, Suzanne and Fr. Moyle.

Homily Of Archbishop Prendergast at the Reception of Our New Brethren

You can read his wonderful homily at The Journey of a Bishop, or listen to it here. I especially appreciate his reference to St. Cyprian who was certainly the Doctor of Christian Unity.

Women and Careers

Once again, Sarah of The Feminine Gift writes a wonderful piece.

It contrasts well with what I've been getting hammered over on LifeSite.

We Like...

The Dumb Old Housewives, Mrs. Pinkerton and Mrs Beazly. Perhaps some time soon they will tell us why they like Flannery O'Connor so much? Hint hint.

On the theme of great women...

I don't know, Deborah Gyapong, about bishops and bloggers working together. Is that to turn us into propaganda instruments? Bloggers answer to no one but their own consciences, don't they? I'm being provocative here in case anyone wants to weigh-in.

I see Mrs. Pinkerton and I are on the same wave-length.

Who else wants to have a meeting in Toronto or Ottawa? I was thinking about a full-fledged conference in about a year...

Christy's Recommendation

Christy at Fountains of Home reviews a book that seems right up the alley of several women I know. Any book that features two women I greatly admire - Simcha Fisher and Jennifer Fulwiler - as well as eight others, is probably a good one.

Question: who will write the Canadian version?

My Friend, Deborah!

I suppose it's big news when the news-bringer becomes the news. I mentioned yesterday about Deborah Gyapong's post re. the entrance of some Traditional Anglicans into full communion with St. Peter. What I did not mention is that she is one of them. And we can mark this great event with the listing of her new blog on our SCCB blog roll. So, welcome Deborah's Foolishness to the World - and our prayers are with you on Sunday!

Missing the Obvious

It just occurred to me, in light of my praise of Brian Lilley a few moments ago, to check to see if the great Michael Coren has a blog. He does. Here it is. Now it is on the roll.

Shame on all of you for forgetting about him too!

Blog Reflections

First of all, happy Easter, ya'll. He is risen!

One of my favourite blogs these days is Lilley's Pad, of Brian Lilley, who works for Sun Media. Check it out if you haven't already.

He is risen... so why the potty mouths? I'm exaggerating, but the blog roll does include a few instances of PG 13 language. What's up?

Amber-Faith of Catholic Chapter House has a great post on the "Titanic phenomenon," as it is beginning to be called - LifeSite is also carrying something along the same line.

Mark Mallett offers this positive perspective on life in Christ.

And, after having Easter dinner with my family, Sarah of The Feminine Gift feels inspired to write about responsible parenthood. Yikes. I'll read carefully. Just kidding... it was the blog's 'spiritual director,' Fr. Voisin, guest-posting!

A few days back, Deborah Gyapong carried some excerpts from a great article on Cardinal Ouellet's job here.

Keep the Canadian Anglicans who are entering into full communion with Rome this coming Sunday in your prayers! Deborah talks about it here.

It's All About Word Choice

'Bishops' Rally in Support of D & P - writes journalist Michael Swan here. Yet the Saskatchewan Bishops + Bishop Fabbro + Bishop Rivest equals about 10% of Canadian Bishops at most. Perhaps the title should read "Fewer than 10% of Bishops Rally in Support of D & P"? That would be less manipulative and would undermine, I think, the point the author is trying to make. I teach my students to notice stuff like this. The danger of knowledge.

John of Jonah in the Heart of Nineveh records 'Education' Minister's, Glen Murray's, words, "You're not allowed to do that anymore" - i.e., to say that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. My question: Why not? Did God change his mind or something? Or does Minister Murray suppose that people derive their right to think and to say things from the Government of Ontario? His choice of words is humorous. What is he, eight years old?

Just a reminder: don't ever let anyone ever tell you what you cannot say. Freedom evaporates when we let it.

"Is that a human being?" asks Julie of Concerned for Life. What's in a name?

Are you used to 'consubstantial' yet in the re-translated Creed at mass? You know, people have suffered and died for that word. It is the finest word of all: homoousion (consubstantial is the Latin equivalent.)

Two Different Worlds

Two stories permit us to juxtapose the two completely dissimilar sides of 'Christianity' in Canada.

One the one hand, Gyapong's story re. the creation of a new Life and Family page on the CCCB website. See it here.

On the other hand, Michael Swan's story re. Elizabeth May's opinion on 'eco-theism.' See it here.

A question. Why do I suppose that they are completely dissimilar?

May believes that the biggest problem with Canada is that it worships money most of all. The idea underlying the Life and Family page is that there are forces attacking the family. But the solution to the one - money, the environment - is the problem besetting the other: government control. The left thinks that the government can help the poor and the environment by controlling the lives of people more and more. The crisis besetting the Christian family in Canada is that it is becoming less and less free to do what it does. The forces working against the family are legal forces - governmental interference with the freedom of its Catholic citizens to live according to their convictions.

May, who is studying for the Anglican priesthood, is a part of a tradition that feels no hesitancy towards imposing strict governmental control over people's lives to bring about the things it seeks. The main enemy of the Christian family is the ever-growing legal-bureaucratic monster called the Canadian Government. To strengthen government is to wage a war against freedom, in this day, the freedom of the Christian family especially.

Is freedom more important to the Christian than certain utopian ideals?

Do you ever wonder about the existence of these two completely different versions of Christianity?

Two Things Marian

1. I got notice about this today. I don't do 'apps,' so let me know whether or not this is a worthwhile piece of information to pass on.

From the promoter:

I wanted to bring to your attention a new mobile app called iMary. The app features an extensive database of all 83 Marian shrines found across Canada including interactive maps and contact info for each shrine. The app also includes a detailed history of Mary’s life, a comprehensive list of devotions and prayers, a virtual rosary, and a thorough list of feast days for each month. I have attached a media advisory and a photo of the app, and here is the link to the Facebook group and the iTunes store where the app can be purchased.

iMary Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/pages/iMary/235432836536304

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/ilady-productions-inc./id501067852

We are pleased to be able to provide you with a free promo code to allow you to download the iMaryiPhone app. Also, here is a link with instructions on how to redeem your code. This code will expire Monday, April 2, 2012.

Promo code: F74F9EN3TR6J

Instructions: http://www.innerfence.com/howto/redeem-free-promo-code-for-iphone-app-from-iphone-or-itunes


2. A little while back the same promoter sent me notification of a a documentary on Our Lady. I have not gotten around to checking it out yet myself, but here are the links anyway. Let me know what you think:

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJjxjJWjWQY

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/342684259117498/

A Few More Blogs

Special thanks again to Alan of The Sheepcat who has told me about a few more blogs.

I'd like to offer, among these, a hearty welcome to Fr. Stuart MacDonald, who is a canonist from Niagara Falls. He blogs at Musings of a Canonist. I know he'll be able to teach us a great deal. It's nice to finally add a canonist to the SCCB. The U.S. has a few good canon law blogs. Now we do too!

Canonists are a generally very secretive group. Or private? Or confidential? Bishops are too when you ask them about canon law and the goings on of chanceries. Thanks for breaking the wall of silence, Fr. MacDonald!

A Particularly Attractive Blog

A new-comer to the SCCB, check out How's and Why's.

If we were to give out awards for most attractive blog, this'd be short-listed.

Where is beauty in Canadian Catholic blogging? Let us know.

And speaking of beauty, Tess interviews a fashion designer sensitive to modesty at The Feminine Gift.

The End of D & P is Near

Good thing.

I think the writing's on the wall.

Fr. de Souza has this to say at the Catholic Register, in his post entitled, Is D & P Worth Donating to? You Decide:

It’s a prudential judgment about whether a particular organization is an effective means of carrying out the corporal works of mercy, advancing the cause of liberty and justice, and contributing to the common good. As a commentator, I have given my judgment in light of recent controversies. The pastors of the Church have a different collective judgment. I wish I shared that view, but honesty — and the written record — requires me to say that I do not.

What LifeSite began a few years ago, perhaps the Canadian Government has itself determined with its funding cut. Politics makes for strange bedfellows, indeed. LifeSite and the Canadian Government cooperating!

I'm beginning to reinterpret Archbishop Smith's now (in)famous 'trust us.' Maybe it's (now) open to Cardinal Collins' two-year call for thorough reform? It's clear that Archbishop's Smith's future - his legacy - as president of the CCCB is now tied to the fate of D & P. It's either the D & P staff or His Grace. There will be a fall.
______________________________


A few days ago at the same site, Fr. Paul Hansen presented 'the other side.' It's the seeming-obliviousness-to-the-issue-at-hand side. Yes, it's good to care for the poor in the Third World - who doubts that? Can't we do it without promoting the grave intrinsic evil of killing unborn babies? Certainly. So, to write about how sad it is for Canada to lose it's John XXIII vision by cutting back on the money going to D & P is just silly. John XXIII was no fan of abortion. Are we to believe that the Church's position on abortion was something John Paul II came up with? Selective memory maybe?

The good Father writes:

As Development and Peace now finds itself in a dramatic reassessment, will it continue to be committed to working ecumenically for justice here in Canada and globally?

It is time for people of faith to examine our own lives and support those efforts that work for the betterment of society. It’s time we questioned an economy based on greed, self-interest and idolatry.

To do all this, we need Development and Peace. It is our vocation as Christians to be connected to the poor, the weak, the stranger, the widow, the orphan. If government is no longer on our side in this, we need to learn to stand up now for who we are meant to be, who every Catholic was baptized to be.

To hell with the unborn, I guess, cuz I don't see them listed there?

I love the insinuation that if anything at all changes with D & P (like the termination of certain people's employment) that will mean that it cannot possibly serve justice "here in Canada and globally." Actual Catholics couldn't possibly be interested in justice, could they?

I got an idea - why not use the money cut-back as the excuse for why D & P needs to get rid of the anti-Catholic staff that has just become such a source of embarrassment to the bishops? I bet I'm not the first to think of that. Pink slips to come.

COLF Seminar on the Family

The Catholic Organization for Life and the Family held its annual Seminar on the Family on Thursday and Friday in Ottawa. Although I will treat of it more fully soon on thetheologyofdad, I will just mention here that a special treat for the attendees was meeting Msgr. Lepine, Archbishop-elect of Montreal. What a nice man! And to think, just half year ago he was a parish priest. He had lots of time and interest for talking to boring people like me. (I passed him my card with the SCCB address scrawled on it.)

It was quite gratifying to see the half-dozen or so bishops there, not to mention priests, religious and laypeople from across the country - from Halifax to Prince George! So, a suggestion, mark this conference in your planners for next year.

* Update: Archbishop Prendergast has some pictures of the Seminar at The Journey of a Bishop.

News

* Various members of the Society are blogging about Montreal's new bishop. A priest hand-picked by Cardinal Ouellet can only be a good thing! If you know any more about him than is being currently circulated, please chime in here. (I love the official photo that's being circulated. lol. Commercial perfect.)

* An invite extended by Socon or Bust to SCCB members for a get-together on May 24th, after the Michael Voris event. Hope I can make it!

* Veritas Liberabit on Heidegger and technology.

* Interesting: "Plan Parenthood's 10 Most Feared Enemies of 2012 List" on Concerned for Life. How does one get on that list? Something to think about. A few days ago Brian Lilly posted about being on CBC's. Same thing.

* Finally, The Busy Catholic tells us about the most promising development against the total de-Christianization of the Canadian public forum, Convivium, edited by one of my living heroes - Fr. Raymond de Souza.

Free Speech: A Canadian and Catholic Necessity

We might not all agree on the value of free speech, and those who do might not do so for the same reasons.

True liberalism, which is so much at the heart of the Canadian Parliamentary Democratic system, is something Catholics should promote, even if it isn't the best of all possible political arrangements. It is the best given that we are who we are: sinful, profoundly, irredeemably.

True liberals believe that freedom is good because people are good. I believe freedom is good because people are bad. According to my reasoning, the best way to offer resistance to the worst of us: Putin, homosexualists, abortionists, is to limit their power. We do this by giving no group carte blanche immunity from criticism and debate.

People try shut others up all the time. Fr Gravel is trying to shut up his critics - i.e. LifeSiteNews. In this matter we - all of us, whether Christian or just plain Canadian - need to stand with them against this enemy of freedom.

Check out LifeSite's long awaited statement vs. Fr. Gravel here.

And check out a great link provided by the Dumb Old Housewives on Mark Steyn, precisely on this subject of free speech.

Ephesians 5

Excellent for Lent for the wives out there: Sarah of The Feminine Gift.

It's great when a woman is courageous enough to deal with a topic so many priest won't touch...

Something Beautiful for God

Welcome to our newest artist-blogger, Sallie, who blogs at salliesArt.

She joins two other impressive artists, The TiPSI Mom and With My Cup of Tea.

St. Luke pray for them!

What's a Conservative?

Read Socon or Bust's powerful critique of Msgr. Charles Pope, who is an otherwise excellent commentator. I wish I could side with the Monsignor. I guess I'm a conservative.

The Holiest Church in Canada

About twice a year I come to Toronto with the family, to spend some time with my brother's family. It's always a treat to attend mass at their parish - Holy Cross.

It would be difficult to make the case for it being the Country's most beautiful church, but I will argue for it being one of the Country's holiest.






The people always amaze me. The pastors too. I have a soft spot for Filipinos, I got to say, and that has a great deal to do with the people of this parish, of which they seem to compose about ninety percent.

How do you judge holiness from the outside? I don't know. There is something about the way they sing and participate in mass, about the way they speak to each other and conduct themselves. Holiness does radiate, I'm convinced, I only hesitate about my ability to perceive it.

I'm sure we can all think of just plain bad masses we've been to, for one reason or another. But let's talk about the good ones. Shrines and religious houses aside, in your opinion, what is the holiest parish church in Canada?

Versus Hitlers, Near and Far

A great post by Everyday for Life Canada on the Declaration of Barmen.

If there's one thing that's lacking in the world today it's courage. Imagine trying to boss around the great Protestant theologian, Karl Barth? Wish we had more like him today! Edifying.

Where does courage come from? Faith. It comes from allegiance to that power higher than the state. Faith coupled with a truly gifted ability to reason - again, that Barth had - makes one truly impressive. To the contrary are ideologues - people whose faith lies in finite things, to which they irrationally ascribe infinite value.

Faith is the ability to die alone, poor, and misunderstood. This is something Barth had. Fear of these things is what keeps Christians in Canada from developing a Culture of Life.

Where are his Canadian disciples? Seriously. I studied with some really nice Protestants in Toronto. But, even despite the fact that I spent my childhood as a Protestant, I don't get them. Aren't they just a bunch of completely secularized liberals with a few drifting conservatives mixed in. (Intended to be provocative.) Give me Barthians, give me Barthians by the bowl full!

Is there a Middle Ground Any More?

I think the 'new media' of the Internet has contributed to putting a finer edge on things. Discourse and exchange has sped up greatly for those interested in it. If the SCCB can contribute to this in some way - and I do think it has an important contribution to make in days ahead - this will be through the creation of a more open forum than that previously made available through heavily editor-controlled 'news' sources.

Socon or Bust got me thinking about this. The whole Winnepeg Statement thing has been allowed to persist because accountability was an almost impossible dream. If the LifeSite expose of D & P has taught us one thing it is that there is a whole new landscape for the waging of ideological wars. This will likely make the inevitable decline of the 'Spirit of Vatican II Age' even swifter than mere attrition through retirement - not just in the episcopacy, but in the media too.

A question: How do we wage this war more effectively?

A hint: note that in his speech to the American Bishops B XVI did not mention the evil of 'homosexual marriage' by itself. Even the popular media was able to pass on the fact that the Holy Father also mentioned pre-marital sex. Did you note the anti-Catholic add carried in the New York Times today, mentioned by Where the Rubber Hits the Road (make sure you read the National Post article he links to as well!)? I'll ask, how would you respond to this nonsense? Are you able to respond to it in a way that is true and effective? This advertisement from the 'Freedom from Religion Foundation' is the sort of extremism that makes most people uncomfortable. Thus we have an opportunity to appear sane by contrast. Did this not appear in the Vatican's response to yesterday's cyber-attack? If the American bishops are able to tow a steady line that will also make Obama appear as the tireless radical he really is.

Christians are still a mighty force in this country. Perhaps we'll be pushed too far some day and then the whole entente cordiale between real Christianity and the political parties will collapse (it is starting to fracture with the Democrats in the U.S. and the Liberal Party in Canada).

I hate politics but it's hard to ignore. My only advice at this point: seasoned arguments. Why do we believe what we do?

There isn't a middle ground anymore, but it is very important to maintain sanity, polish and intelligence.

How is Your Diocese Sharing Lent?

I was really pleased to read in a letter from His Excellency this Sunday that our Bishop Michael Mulhall of Pembroke seems to have completely cut off Development and Peace this Lent. I have not been following all this stuff too closely, but he seems to have been pretty consistent with this over the last few years. (Correct me if I am wrong!) His strong stance should come as no surprise, I suppose, as he is one of the 'slices of meat' in the middle of the Central Ontario episcopal focaccia bun of Cardinal Collins and Archbishop Prendergast, both of whom have taken very strong positions vis a vis D & P.

My question is, how is your diocese living the Gospel of Life this Lent with respect to its distribution of the faithful's money?

(I'll understand if you folks from Edmonton don't want to participate...)

More on Conduct Amidst Accusations

What Are We Waiting For carries on the discussion we've begun on the matter of Sylvia's Site with some very good observations.

Pics from Arch. Prendergast

Check out His Grace's pictures at St. Anne de Beaupre here.

My favourite one:

Notre Dame du Cap

Special thanks to Bonnie at Practicing Mammal for supplying this picture of the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap, Trois Riviere, Quebec.

What to do with Sylvia?

Those of you who read Deborah's Gyapong's article on the SCCB have been 'introduced' to the subject of my trepidation regarding Sylvia's Site.

Initially I hesitated whether to list it or not. It took a few weeks for me to move. Finally I added it. It has been on for a few weeks now. Today I finally got what might not be correctly characterized as a 'complaint', but rather as a 'concern', a 'misgiving'. The person who made his/her concern noted is someone that I know to be virtuous and a lover of the Church. I trust the opinion of people like this. His/her main concern is that of libel, 'misdirection,' swaying public opinion unjustifiably. That's a big thing. I live and work in a small town, at a small school. Reputation is everything. One stray, unmeasured word can do so much damage. This I know.

Now, on the one hand, I'm not directly responsible for what any of you write, really. I'm not talking about the law of man; I'm talking about the law of God - what really matters. On the other hand, as I was also quoted as saying in Gyapong's article something like: I am a theologian for you, more or less. My status implies responsibilities. I know it does. I know I have responsibilities at least equal to all of yours. Would you knowingly propagate falsehoods, heresy? I wouldn't. Do I have a duty to expose every error? Of course not.

I think at this point my feeling is this: let's keep talking about it. I am all ears.

I have read some of Sylvia's postings fairly closely. The key issue here is the presumption of guilt. I don't think she actually presumes guilt. I think she sometimes gives the impression of guilt, but an impression is not an out and out statement. Further, I don't think Sylvia makes the reader aware that there are all sorts of legal and ecclesiastical 'middle grounds' between innocence and pedophilia. I actually know of some people who exist in that middle ground. I have no doubt that pedophilia is a virtually incurable destructive disease of the mind, but pedophilia is not the only reason why a priest would ever be moved. I have been very closely connected to two priest who have had to move. One was absolutely falsely accused of misconduct by a disturbed woman. His bishop moved him to another parish for sake of his sanity. I tend to think the other was truthfully accused, but I have absolutely no proof of it.

Here's a little known fact: when I was a young man, somewhere between 18 and 21, a priest put his hand on my leg when I was sitting next to him in the context of spiritual direction. It was above the knee, but not very far above it. What was this? Yes, it made me uncomfortable, and it was at least a venial sin of imprudence, but was it more than that? Should I have phoned the bishop? In hindsight I am thinking that I should have. But making a call to a bishop is not the same as posting on a public blog.

Maybe I am biased: I know a lot of victims of abuse and more than a few young men and priests with some sexual dysfunction. I have a great deal of compassion for people who suffer honestly, but very little for those who sin egregiously and hide in the shadows, preying on the weak and innocent. It yet bothers me that when a priest is accused of a crime there is a presumption of guilt today and his story makes the front page, but for everyone else it is the back pages of the paper. Does Sylvia do this? I am thinking not. But again, I am all ears.

I suppose we owe her a fair reading too, a reading under the presumption of innocence.

My Brother, The Pope

This is also very exciting and extremely noteworthy. I hope someone does a good review post on it. It was Witness that got me on to this in the first place. Next Autumn I am hoping to offer a course on Pope Benedict at OLSWA, and will definitely want to include this book amongst the assigned readings.

Treasures of the Church

This is really neat. Thanks, to the Sheepcat for the notification.

Please visit their website to learn more about their relics and see below for their schedule.

http://www.treasuresofthechurch.com/






 Friday March 2 at 7:30 pm
St. Joseph the Worker Church
191 Wade Gate
Thornhill, Ontario   L4J 5Y4
(905) 660-1253

Sunday March 4 at 5:00 pm
St. Elias Ukrainian Catholic Church
10193 Heritage Road
Brampton, Ontario   L7A 0A1
(905) 846-9494

Monday March 5 at 7:00 pm
St Patrick's Church
5633 Highway #7
Markham, Ontario  L3P 1B6
(905) 294-5955

***********************

Monday March 19 at 7:00 pm
St. Maximilian Kolbe Church
5801 Kanan Rd.
 Westlake Village, California   91362
(818) 991-3915

Tuesday March 20 at 7:00 pm
 St. Paschal Baylon Church
 155 E. Janss Rd
 Thousand Oaks, California   91360
(805) 496-0222

Western Canadian Catholic Home School Conference

This is a significant yearly event. You should definitely check it out. Their website is here.

Maybe they'll invite me to give a talk next year ;-)

Western Canadian Catholic
Home School Conference

 March 16 - 17, 2012

Providence Renewal Centre
3005 - 119 Street
Edmonton, AB

Guest Speaker:  Andrew Pudewa

A Reminder of the Place of Bloggers in the Church

One of our community sent me this link to a story on that Vatican-sponsored meeting of bloggers last year. Read it here. If they ever have a meeting of this sort again, I hope one of us is included, because I am not sure any of us were. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) Thanks, Sarah, for the reminder.

Also,

Welcome to His Grace, Sylvain Lavoie, O.M.I,

I added  the Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas, Manitoba, to the SCCB. I wrote him to encourage him to keep blogging. How much do you now about the Church there? For me, even to visit their archdiocesan website was to learn a great deal! Please, visit his blog - Reflections of a Northern Missionary - and their website. Even more importantly, keep His Grace in your prayers, and this for two reasons: he has some health concern and the huge process of healing that is being undertaken in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Indian Residential School Agreement.

Send him a note of encouragement! Bishops need this as much as you and I do.

We Made the News!

Deborah Gyapong writes a very interesting article on the SCCB for the BC Catholic.

Read it here.

An Event in Ottawa

Teresa Pierre from the Parents as First Educators (PAFE) in Toronto will be giving talks in Ottawa the weekend of March 3-4. 

The title of the talks is "Equity and Inclusion in Catholic Schools:  Maintaining Our Catholic Identity." 

Her talk is particularly relevant now, in light of Bill 13 (the Accepting Schools Act) which mandates Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs, and the problems the governments broader Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy poses for Catholic schools.

Saturday March 3
3:30 - 5:00 PM
Our Lady of the Visitation
5338 Bank Street South

Saturday March 3
7:30 - 9:00 PM
St. Maurice Parish
4 Perry Street at Meadowlands
(West of Merivale)

Sunday March 4
2:00 - 4:00 PM
St. Patrick's Basilica
220 Kent Street
(Between Gloucester & Nepean)

Teresa Pierre's group PAFE has an interesting Web site containing
current information:  http://www.p-first.com
The PAFE site also contains links to media reaction to the Catholic
Trustee document as well as other interesting and pertinent
information.  See also Teresa Pierre's interview with Michael Coren on
the subject:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwS_Uq-KDIQ


For any other Catholic events across the country, please email me! 

kerrcolin@hotmail.com

Some Superb Reviews from All Manner of Thing

On Medieval Scribes and their marginal cursing! - here.

The History of the Oxford English Dictionary - here.

Two Book Reviews

A fine review by Christy of Fountains of Home of a P. D. James novel.

Lenten reading? Christy doesn't exactly recommend it, anyway.

Ellen of Plot Line and Sinker makes a suggestion more along those lines.

Recent Additions, etc.

1. This has been truly a great day for the SCCB - we have had several really great adds today: some blogs of some great moms, for instance, one from Our Lady of Grace Augustinian monastery in Nova Scotia and one from St. Elias Church of the Byzantine Eparchy of Canada.

2. Regarding the post about 'liberal bloggers,' I realized that I am a liberal Catholic blogger. Pretty much any 'lefter' than me and you are no longer Catholic. Looking around for such blogs as these set me straight on the vanity of my enterprise. Yikes. Don't we always assume that we are ourselves exactly in the middle? But if we define 'Catholic' as someone who has a full and complete loyalty to the manifest teachings of the Church only - as we ought - then, of those, I am on the left. Why? Because I see value in doctrinal development - not change, of course  - but development. I could elaborate some other time at thetheologyofdad, I suppose.

3. We can (and should) rejoice with and for Cardinal Collins. However, in virtue of the fact that he is now effectively the head of the Catholic Church in Canada, we should also storm heaven for him, imploring for him God's grace for this truly - unpleasant, weighty - responsibility. No one would actually desire such a thing for himself, would he, if he truly understood what was involved? I am the last person who would presume to know his mind, yet he strikes me simply as a man ready to obey the Holy Father. Indeed, does not the very gait of the man strike you as a manifestation of gravitas, that his body too recognizes the weight that has been hoisted upon his holy shoulders? St. Patrick and St. Charles Borromeo, pray for him!

SCCB has Reached 100!

Actually 101. And the list on my computer is even longer, but it contains some that I am having technical problems with. Thanks so much to everyone who has been emailing me suggestions. I am pretty sure we can get to 200. But, of course, I think I will also start excising non-active blogs.

At this juncture it seems appropriate to make some preliminary conclusions about Catholic blogging in Canada:

1. Organization is almost completely absent. This is okay in one sense - it means that we do a lot of thinking for ourselves and aren't waiting around for people like Mark Shea or Thomas Peters to frame our discussions. On the other hand, are we having discussions? Yes, there are some important Canadian Catholic sites, like LifeSiteNews, and some very popular blogs, like Archbishop Prendergast's, but there is de facto no one essential portal for Catholic exchange. One site that has real potential for this is CatholicCanada, which has, for example, received a whopping 10 million + hits. Should we have one portal? In a sense no. Not even the US has this. It has a fairly healthy situation where you can name, say, a dozen very popular, relevant, informative sites, sites that do not always agree with each other, sites that can lift the discussion to a certain intellectual level. Yet you'd be hard pressed to 'need' to look elsewhere than the National Catholic Register to get a handle on American Catholic issues and events. Of the Catholic Register of this country we cannot really say the same. Why not? Two reasons: too PC whitewashy, too Toronto-centric (if you don't know, I'm originally from NS, so I notice stuff like this.)

2. Not enough 'Canadian Content.' I can't believe I just wrote that, having grown up loathing things like CBC and the CRTC's Canadian content regulations which made it possible. I should have said, "Canadian Catholic Content." Is that any better? Yes. Frankly, we look south too much. The negative in this is that we pay less attention to our own problems and blessings. Thus, we leave too much space to trivialities. Again, look to The Catholic Register (seemingly my bete noire, for some reason). Excluding Fr. de Souza and Michael Coren, why is it that we get our best Catholic analysis from people like Rex Murphy? Do we know the great American bishops and other personalities better than we know our own? Our bishops and our 'personalities' are the ones who should be 'informing' us (in the Aristotelian sense) - otherwise we will be too 'represented' by people like Justin Trudeau.

3. Canadian Catholics who blog are extremely gifted people. There should be more of you!



4. Finding Canadian Catholic blogs is not easy. Do you have any idea how much time I spend surveying blogs, trying to figure out if the writer is Catholic and Canadian?! The principal problem: absurdly vague personal profiles. I understand that you don't want to be stalked, robbed, etc., but this will not happen if you put on your blog that you live in Canada, or the US, or Mexico, or even Calgary! And, are you Catholic or what? I mean a high Anglican, Lutheran, whatever, can look pretty Catholic on the surface. Or, a Catholic who actually fills in the astrological sign portion of the Blogger profile form with 'Saggitterrius' totally throws me off. Do you not understand that Catholicism views astrology very negatively? Some people do not understand that.

Where are the Left-Wing CCBs?

I was reading from that worst paper in humanity - The National Catholic Reporter - this morning and began to wonder: why are there no liberal blogs on the SCCB list? This is a question seriously posed. I want this list to be representative. And yes, I have doctrinal parameters, but I allow things right of me on it, so I should allow things left of me on it too. Well, I do, of course. I can think of a few that would qualify as left of me. Maybe I am asking a self-refuting question. Would I actually allow very left of me on anyway?

I think I am basically wondering whether such even exist, not whether I would include them on the list. I mean crazy leftie stuff like you'd see on the NCR. Perhaps liberal = heretical. But I think conservative does too, if we define conservative as something other than orthodox; that is to say that some one's traditionalism outstrips their orthodoxy, i.e., their adhesion to the living Magisterium. Anyone who disputes the legitimacy of the acts of Popes John XXIII to Benedict XVI places himself outside of the Church; anyone who calls said acts machinations of Satan is not Catholic, whether one is speaking about these popes' positions on contraception or the vernacular mass. It is not enough to stay within the minimal bounds of what is required of obedience to the infallible statements of popes only. To hate ones father is to place oneself outside of his grace. To love the pope is to be Catholic.

All of this said, I think there should be latitude in the SCCB, mainly, again, because it forms community. Those wayward on left and on right should be encouraged to enter into the broader discussion, into the broader life of Canadian Catholicism as represented by the SCCB. Sometimes people get tunnel vision. What if I could not let Clement XIV's suppression of the Jesuits in 1773 go? Sure, it was a shameful act. Sure, it bugs me. Maybe you feel the same way about the vernacular mass, about alter girls, about contraception, or the 'wealth of the Church,' etc. I have a right to be disappointed in my father, but I always have the duty to honour him. And, in the end, who of us Canadian Catholic Bloggers is without sin, is without error?

This is a round-about way of asking you to suggest more Canadian Catholic Blogs for inclusion here, even if you think they are a little liberal.