Also feel free to photo caption this one.
Author: Jimmy Akin
Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."
Mystery Photo #1
Investor’s Business Daily – The Day the Earth Cooled
Tim Jones here, again.
Via National Review Online, I came across this piece at Investor’s Business Daily on the Terrifying Solar Wind Crisis I blogged about earlier, which points out that;
"…The four major agencies tracking
Earth’s temperature, including NASA’s Goddard Institute, report that
the Earth cooled 0.7 degree Celsius in 2007, the fastest decline in the
age of instrumentation, putting us back to where the Earth was in 1930.The climate is changing, but not in the direction Al Gore thinks. As
the Earth demonstrably cools under a weakening sun, a 10-state
coalition on Thursday held the nation’s first carbon allowance auction
to deal with a warming trend that may have ended a decade ago."
Global warming is over. Get back to your lives, citizens.
That being said, I do believe we ought to be as nice to the planet as we can, and that waste is still a sin.
Blog Update
Sorry for the delay in blogging of late.
The last few weeks have been incredibly hectic, in large part because I’ve been getting ready for Catholic Answers’ cruise, which starts this Wednesday. This will be a big one, and getting ready for it has taken up a huge amount of time, on top of my usual activities. So . . . that’s why things have been slow from me of late. I’m hoping to get back to regular blogging on the other side of the event.
In the meantime, I hope to send along some mystery photos from my travels. Have fun with them! (But don’t go looking on the itinerary for the event. That’d be cheating!)
I’d also like to say a very heartfelt thank you to Tim J and SDG for their efforts of late, as well as whatever they may be able to contribute to the blog in my absence.
See y’all when I get back.
As Mark Shea says before going on a trip: Beans. Noses. You know the drill.
Later!
Tolkien Speaks…
Hey, Tim Jones, here.
Tolkien summarizes my feelings on the current financial mess;
"There
they were sheltering under a hanging rock for the night, and he lay
beneath a blanket and shook from head to toe. When he peeped out in the
lightning-flashes, he saw that across the valley the stone-giants
were out and were hurling rocks at one another for a. game, and
catching them, and tossing them down into the darkness where they
smashed among the trees far below, or splintered into little bits with
a bang. […] They could hear the giants
guffawing and shouting all over the mountainsides.
[…]
"This won’t do at all!" said Thorin, "If we don’t get blown off or
drowned, or struck by lightning, we shall be picked up by some giant
and kicked sky-high for a football."(Visit Tim’s blog – Old World Swine)
Polish Theologian Faces Disciplinary Action
Oblate Fr. Waclaw Hryniewicz–one of the most noted theologians in Poland–faces disciplinary charges at the CDF.
Fr. Hryniewicz published an article in the online theology journal Open Theology titled "The Savior . . . uses many tunes."
The article was sharply critical of the CDF’s 2007 document summarizing certain aspects of the nature of the Church, which stated among other things that the Catholic Church is unique among churches and ecclesial communities as a means by which God provides grace to the world.
The secretary of the CDF, Angelo Amato, then sent him a letter insisting that he write a clarification/retraction of the original piece.
Fr. Hyrniewicz appealed to his conscience and to the fact that he is near death and refused.
He thus faces potential disciplinary action.
HERE’S A STORY FROM CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE ON THE SITUATION.
A few thoughts . . .
First, I feel bad for the guy having this happen to him right at the end of his life.
Second, it appears that his views are in fact in conflict with Catholic teaching. HERE IS THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE THAT IS IN QUESTION. Unfortunately, it’s in Polish, but there is an abstract in English, and according to the abstract Fr. Hryniewicz claims that "the theological quarrel about ‘the best way’ to God is pointless as
the author states that Christian theology should be aware that God’s
abundance in grace cannot be comprehended by theological models or
channelled by just one form of Christianity." This would seem to be an affirmation of indifferentism, which is an error in to which those deeply involved in ecumenism can fall.
Third, Fr. Hryniewicz states, according to the CNS piece, that his prior work contain many similar sentiments but it is only now, after his piece in Open Theology, that this is coming up. This may be another indication of how the Internet is changing things. Before, it would have taken someone more effort to get the problematic material in front of the CDF. Now one only has to send them a link.
On the other hand, he may not have gone after the CDF in the same, direct way before. That may be part of what’s happening here. According to the CNS piece, the CDF specifically criticized the disrespectful and emotional tone that Fr. Hryniewicz took in his piece. So it may not be so much a question of how the info got to the CDF but the directness with which Fr. Hryniewicz assailed the CDF that produced the response at this time.
The CNS piece seems to stress the manner in which Fr. Hryniewicz expressed himself over the fact that he apparently endorses indifferentism. In fact, the CNS peice reads like it’s his side of the story. It even includes language from the letter the CDF sent him that, at least out of context of the original letter, plays to dogmatic Vatican stereotypes.
This raises a question: Just how did this matter come to the CNS’s attention, anyway? The CDF doesn’t publish letters like this. They’re priate matters between the person in question and the CDF until some kind of formal public announcement is made–as was the case recently with Fr. Tomislav Vlasic. But I’m not seeing any indication here that this has happened. Indeed, even the Polish bishops hadn’t been told about the matter.
So I’m wondering if Fr. Hryniewicz took the initiative personally or through surrogates to make this public and get his side of the story out there pre-emptively.
Large Hadron Rap
I don’t know if you’ve been following the news about the Large Hadron Collider that finally went online last week.
For some time there has been controversy about whether it would generate mini-black holes, strangelets, or other–perhaps unimaginable–things that could do serious damage to the earth.
The majority opinion among physicists seems to be that, while they can’t 100% rule out such bad-day-for-the-planet events, the odds of any of them given our current understanding of physics is so low as to make the risk worth taking given what else the LHC might reveal.
Like what?
Well, the long-awaited Higgs boson particle, for example, or the nature of dark matter, or who knows what else.
This video explains. . . . Sorta.
Canonical Status of Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, OFM
The following is the text of a communique from the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, in whose diocese the town of Medjugorje lies. It concerns the canonical status of Fr. Tomislav Vlasic, who was billed as the "spiritual leader" of the six reported seers of Medjugorje (prior, I gather, to a falling out).
This communique appears to be in translation English (the original language text is here, though the portion from the letter of the CDF may have originally been in another language yet).
I will add a few notes on my own in blue.
What we have below is a composite document that takes the form of a communique of the bishop quoting a letter of the CDF that (it appears) then pops back into the bishop’s voice and then quotes a decree of the CDF and that then switches back into the voice of the bishop to close the communique.
In case it’s hard to follow, here’s the gist: In January the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith produced a decree imposing severe cautionary and disciplinary measures (described below). In February, this degree was given to Fr. Valsic, who utterly failed to comply with its requirements. Consequently, Fr. Vlasic has incurred the censure of interdict reserved to the Holy See that is provided for in the decree. Following this, the CDF asked the Bishop of Mostar to announce the whole matter as a warning to those who might be deceived by Fr. Vlasic or his supporters regarding his canonical status.
The CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH with its letter prot. 144/1985-27164 of 30 May 2008, has authorized me as the local Bishop of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno to inform the diocesan community of the canonical status of Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, the founder of the association “Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji – po Mariji k Isusu” – (Queen of Peace, totally Yours – Through Mary to Jesus).
The letter signed by the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Angelo Amato, states the following:
“Within the context of the phenomenon Medjugorje, this Dicastery is studying the case of Father Tomislav VLASIC OFM, originally from that region and the founder of the association ‘Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji – po Mariji k Isusu’.
On 25 January 2008, through a properly issued Decree, this Dicastery imposed severe cautionary and disciplinary measures on Fr. Vlasic.
The non-groundless news that reached this Congregation reveals that the religious priest in question did not respond, even partially, to the demands of ecclesiastical obedience required by the very delicate situation he finds himself in, justifying himself by citing his zealous activity in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno and surrounding territories, in initiating religious activities, buildings, etc.
Since Fr. Vlasic has fallen into a censure of interdict latae sententiae reserved to this Dicastery, I kindly ask Your Excellency, for the good of the faithful, to inform the community of the canonical status of Fr. Vlasic and at the same time to report on the situation in question…”.
*****
This regards the fact that the same Congregation of the Holy See applied ecclesiastical sanctions against Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić, through a Decree of the Congregation (prot. 144/1985) of 25 January 2008, signed by Cardinal William Levada, Prefect, and by Archbishop Angelo Amato, Secretary of the Congregation along with the “Concordat cum originali” of 30 January 2008, verified by Msgr. John Kennedy, Official of the Congregation [that’s a certification that a reproduction or translation of a document accords with the original].
The Decree was handed over to Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić in the General Curia of the OFM in Rome on 16 February 2008 and the notification was co-signed by the Minister General of the Franciscan Minor Order, Father José R. Carballo, the Ordinary of Fr. Vlašić.
The Decree of the Congregation mentions that Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, a cleric of the Franciscan Minor Order – the founder of the association ‘Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji – po Mariji k Isusu’ and who is involved in the “phenomenon Medjugorje” – has been reported to the Congregation “for the diffusion of dubious doctrine, manipulation of consciences, suspected mysticism [this is an odd phrasing; I wonder if it should be "suspect mysticism," since mysticism itself is not inherently problematic–JA], disobedience towards legitimately issued orders and charges contra sextum” ["against the sixth"–i.e., against the Sixth Commandment, meaning charges of a sexual nature; this may one of the reasons the CDF was handling this case, since it has charge of certain cases involving priests violating the Sixth Commandment].
Having studied the case, the Congregation during its special Congress decreed the following sanctions against Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlasic:
“1. Mandatory residence in one of the houses of the Order in the region of Lombardy (Italy) to be determined by the Minister General of the Order and to be realized within thirty days from the time of the legitimate notification of this decree;
2. All contacts with the “Kraljice Mira…” community and with its members are prohibited;
3. Any actions involving juridical contracts and administrative organizations, whether canonical or civil, effected without the written permission ad actum ["to the act"–i.e., Vlasic must get permission for each individual act] of the Minister General of the Order and under his responsibility are prohibited;
4. A mandatory course of theological-spiritual formation, with a final evaluation along with a prior recognitio ["approval"–i.e., approval of the course of formation] of this Congregation, and a solemn professio fidei ["profession of faith"–i.e., Fr. Vlasic must make a profession of faith after his approved course of formation and final evaluation];
5. The following are also prohibited: activities involving the ‘care of souls’, preaching, public appearances, while the faculty to hear confessions is also revoked up until the conclusion of the terms described in the previous number, barring an evaluation of the case.
An additional sanction of a latae sententiae ["automatic"] interdict (can. 1332) reserved to the Apostolic See is adjoined in the case of the violation of the mandatory residence (n. 1) and the other prohibited acts mentioned in n. 3 and n. 5. [I.e., if Fr. Vlasic violates provisions 1, 3, or 5 then he is subject to an automatic interdict and the interdict can only be lifted by the Holy See; see canon 1332 on the effects of interdict.]
Fr. Vlasic is forewarned that in the case of stubbornness a juridical penal process will begin with the aim of still harsher sanctions, not excluding dismissal [i.e., from the clerical state, which would be forced laicization in this case], having in mind the suspicion of heresy and schism, as well as scandalous acts contra sextum, aggravated by mystical motivations.
Fr. Vlasic remains under the direct jurisdiction of the Minister General of the Order of Minor Franciscans, who shall see to his vigilance through the local Superior or another Delegate”.
*****
All the priests, religious and faithful in the Dioceses of Mostar-Duvno and Trebnje-Mrkan, as well as all those concerned “in the pertinent territories”, are hereby informed on the current canonical status of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić.
With the sentiments of my highest consideration,
+ Ratko Perić, Bishop
Fr. Ante Luburić, Chancellor
ORIGINAL TEXT ON THE BISHOP’S WEB SITE.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FROM THE BISHOP’S SITE ON FR. VLASIC.
Tigh-Roslin ’08
Many observers were impressed by Col. Saul Tigh’s selection of Laura Roslin as his running mate in the upcoming election.
Others found Roslin to be a lightweight compared to Tigh’s 40 years of service to the Twelve Colonies and his record as a war hero and former POW.
Originally, Roslin held only a minor post in the Colonial government which–while it showcased her genuine love for children–nevertheless was a small backdrop before an unexpected and lightning rise to executive office, which she has held for only a short time.
On the other hand, her decision to ban abortion in order to keep mankind alive, her gung-ho Cylon-hunting, and her deep religious faith will surely fire up the base.
It is less clear what the effect will be of her statement that Admiral Adama’s deeply-unpopular and protracted conflict with the Cylons is a "task that is from the gods."
Some pundits viewed her selection cynically, saying that Tigh needed to choose someone like Roslin in order to shore up his standing in the party.
Many of the party faithful have long had the feeling that the maverick Tigh was not really "one of us," in the words of fighter pilot Lt. Kara Thrace, who once faced disciplinary action for punching then-Col. Tigh in the face. "No matter what his service record has been or what he endured back on New Caprica," she said, "he never really seemed like he was one of us. There was always something that made him different."
These feelings were accentuated when Col. Tigh recently confirmed rumors that he is, in fact a Cylon, though he swears that his allegiance is to mankind.
"After they revealed that, I was thinking about sitting out this election," Lt. Thrace said. "But then he named Roslin as his running mate, and that won me back over. Personally, I’d rather have Roslin at the top of the ticket than a Cylon who says he’s on our side, but anything’s better than who the other party is putting up."
Tigh’s major party rival for the presidency is the charismatic newcomer Gaius Baltar, who despite shady dealings in the past has rocketed to popularlity and achieved almost messianic status with his enthusiastic followers.
"It’s really creepy," Laura Roslin said in a recent press conference "watching all those young women treating him like some kind of religious figure who will save us all. He actually has less experience than I do, with his background as a ‘computer organizer.’"
Concerned with the effect his relative inexperience could have on voters, Gaius Baltar had nominated as his running mate Tom Zarek, a long-term political figure from the tiny world of Sagittaron who is often perceived as a political attack dog, though with a reputation for being long-winded.
"What a snore-fest he is," Lt. Thrace said.
The effect of the vice presidential selections remains to be seen, but this year’s election has already stirred much comment.
Some have marveled at the unusual plot twists the campaign has taken, while others have noted eerie similarities to other races.
Asked for comment, Priestess Elyosha of the Mystical Majority responded, "You know what they say in politics: All of this has happened before; all of this will happen again."
(CHT: Fr. Z and the reader who e-mailed.)
Pelosi Violates Mythical Church/State Wall
(AP Photo)
Tim Jones, here.
This whole idea of a Wall of Separation between Church and State is
malarkey, especially in the way it is understood to mean "religion has
no place in government" – but let’s pretend for a moment that it really
is something
enshrined (though mysteriously not mentioned) in the Constitution.
Why is it that so many politicians gnash their teeth and wring their
hands and invoke this Wall when religious people dare to exercise any
influence on the political process (especially in an organized way) but
then can be so glib about violating the wall in the other direction?
Witness the recent spectacle of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi waxing
theological on Meet the Press, and clarifying for the audience why it
is that the Catholic Church really has had no consistent position on
abortion.
Whoa! Hold the pontificatin’, ma’am. The Church has a whole posse of
bishops and cardinals and even a Pope to handle these things, and we
don’t cotton to politicians and gub’ment lackeys taking Church Law into
their own hands. You’re outside your jurisdiction.
But this wall, in the minds of many like Ms. Pelosi, isn’t like a wall
between rooms in a house, or even a wall between two farms or two
countries. It is increasingly the wall of a prison camp or a ghetto.
The guards can come and go and do what they like, but the inmates
must be contained. So Ms. Pelosi sees nothing inconsistent in her
behavior. She was only speaking to the inmates, some of whom are
confused and in need of her wisdom and instruction.
Fortunately, some of our good bishops have begun to correct Ms. Pelosi, as the formidable Amy Welborn documents.