Mother has gone to God. And on Easter Sunday! May the Lord grant her eternal rest.
Mother Angelica was one of those extraordinary charismatic figures who light up the Church and the world at certain times in history. Full of faith and determination such figures understand that they have been given a task and they dedicate themselves completely to fulfilling that task for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. In her work Mother was zealous, wise and even mischievous in a good sense. She made firm friends and inspired millions, she also made enemies and some powerful ones too. Yet with humble trust, a forceful God-centred confidence and wit she carried on. In every battle she abandoned herself to God and she won. Her life was spent serving the Church and no suffering, no sacrifice was too great for her. She marvelled at the wonder of God, immersed herself in the Word of God and rejoiced in the presence of God. She has left us all an extraordinary legacy.
On a personal level I know I should be sad, but today I experience a sense of joy. I truly believe we now have another Saint in heaven, and my first reaction is to pray to her. Of course the Church makes such decisions, but privately I am convinced she will be a powerful patron for all of us in these difficult times. That she died on Easter Sunday is, to my mind, of great significance. May she now share in the beatific vision and intercede for all of us.
Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord, and through her intercession bless the Network and our EWTN family. You have taken our Mother from us, now in your mercy glorify her and give her back to us as our heavenly intercessor and protector.
Mother, thank you for your life of dedicated service, watch over us.
A couple of pieces for you this evening. First an article on Pope Francis and the media on the Aleteia blog. According to Russell Shaw the media are actually quite accurate in reporting what Pope Francis says, some simplification aside, it seems, they are not missing the point. Shaw tells us that we in the Church are in for an exciting ride. I just hope the heart can take it!
Secondly, the CDF has issued a document on the matter of divorced and remarried Catholics, essentially reiterating the Church's position (Catholic Herald reports here). The document can be downloaded here. It seems the Prefect of CDF, Archbishop Muller, is attempting to stave off undue expectation that Pope Francis will change the Church's teaching on who can receive the Eucharist. Archbishop Muller points out that "An objectively false appeal to mercy...runs the risk of trivialising the image of God, by implying that God cannot do other than forgive". “The mystery of God" he continues, "includes not only his mercy but also his holiness and his justice. If one were to suppress these characteristics of God and refuse to take sin seriously, ultimately it would not even be possible to bring God’s mercy to man.” This is an important point: the mercy of God is deep but not limitless - there is a limit and that limit is that line drawn in the sand by lack of repentance - a limit set, not by God, but by those who refuse to repent. As I said before, Pope Francis, like every other Pope, even Peter, is only the Pope, he cannot change the moral law. The Holy Father, in his humility, knows that all too well even if many of his new-found supporters do not.
I also note with interest what Archbishop Muller says about the Orthodox Church's approach to divorce and remarriage. He writes that “This practice cannot be reconciled with God’s will, as expressed unambiguously in Jesus’ sayings about the indissolubility of marriage”. For a very good and clear article on this issue I would recommend Jimmy Aiken's most recent post.
All that said, the Church and her shepherds must continue to show love and compassion to those who find themselves in irregular unions and include them as much as possible in the life of the Church even if full sacramental and administrative inclusion is not possible. For one thing greater resources and time should be given to marriage tribunals. In the US, I believe, bishops and diocesan curiae are quite efficient in this area, but in other parts of the Church, including Ireland this pastoral work does not have the priority, funding or staffing it needs.
And finally, hearty congratulations to Michael Warsaw and Doug Keck of EWTN who have been promoted. Michael has been appointed Chairman of the Network's board, and Doug is now President; worthy appointments. May the Lord bless them in their work, they can be sure of the Network's support and good wishes.
I will be on duty for EWTN at the Eucharistic Congress for the next week, juggling parish work and recording down at the RDS. I will not have much time to myself, so I will not be blogging for a week. Please keep our work in your prayers. Thank you.
You can follow our coverage on EWTN at the following sites:
Congratulations and best wishes to Mother Angelica and her sons the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, who celebrate the 25th anniversary of their foundation. The friars, founded by Mother on the 2nd May 1987 - feast of St Athanasius, the Doctor of Orthodoxy, serve EWTN, while conducting various other ministries living the charism of their spiritual mother, Mother Angelica.
Let's remember them in our prayers as they put themselves in the service of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, and his Church. May the Lord make them prophetic through what they say, how they live and who they are.
Michael Warsaw, President of EWTN, has written an article for the New York Times, outlining the Network's objections to Barack Obama's HHS Mandate. I'm quoting it in full:
CONTRACEPTION, AGAINST CONSCIENCE
Michael Warsaw
THIRTY years ago, a cloistered nun named Mother Angelica Rizzo started a small television station in her garage to spread the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Since then the station, EWTN, has grown into one of the largest Catholic media networks in the world, but we haven’t strayed from our values. And we won’t — even though our commitment has landed us in the cross hairs of the Obama administration.
EWTN cannot comply with the recent mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services requiring the insurance plans of all employers, with the exception of some houses of worship, to cover the contraceptives and sterilization procedures approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These include emergency contraceptives like Plan B and Ella that can destroy human embryos — an act that we consider a violation of church teaching that all life is a sacred gift that begins at conception.
Earlier this month, in response to widespread opposition to the mandate, the president announced an “accommodation” for some religious organizations — like, potentially, EWTN — that would shift the responsibility for the coverage from the employer to the employer’s insurance carrier. But this would do nothing to solve the problem. First, EWTN self-insures, so we are the insurer. Second, even if we had an outside insurer, we would still be in the untenable position of facilitating access to drugs that go against our beliefs. And if we refused to comply with the directive, we could be hit with annual fines starting at around $600,000.
The administration’s supporters say that by opposing the rule, religious employers like EWTN are guilty of trying to coerce our employees and impose our values on them. But we are simply choosing not to participate in the use of these drugs. Our 350 employees, many of whom are not Catholic, freely choose to work here and can purchase and use contraception if they want to. They are aware of the values we practice, and I hear regularly from Catholic and non-Catholic employees alike how much they love working for an organization that is defined by its Catholic beliefs — beliefs that we think result in a better workplace and more expansive benefits over all.
Instead, it is the government — which does not accept EWTN’s religious choice and can punish that choice by imposing fines — that is coercing us. But under the Constitution and federal religious liberties law, we cannot be forced to give up our beliefs as the price of participation in the public square. That is why the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has filed a lawsuit on our behalf seeking to overturn this illegal mandate.
But religious liberty isn’t even the only thing at risk; the mandate also threatens the financial viability of any organization that disagrees with the administration’s politics. They could be forced to stop offering health insurance and be saddled with fines, which are immense competitive disadvantages. They’ll have to take money away from their core missions to pay fines. They’ll lose employees who can’t afford to work for employers who offer no health insurance. They’ll lose donors who are scared off by the penalties.
The end result: organizations that agree with the administration or are willing to compromise their beliefs will thrive. Organizations that don’t will shrink or die.
Businesses will suffer, too. The mandate’s effect will be most visible on not-for-profits like EWTN. But small businesses owned by men and women of faith, which have been given no protection whatsoever in the administration’s accommodation, will also take a hit. While some charities might be able to weather the storm thanks to donations or strong endowments, these small businesses almost certainly won’t.
Mother Angelica didn’t create EWTN to be a weak Catholic voice. Our donors send us money to spread Catholic teachings, not to subvert them. The mandate makes it impossible for us to live up to that core mission, giving us the choice of either compromising our beliefs or being crushed by fines. That ultimatum is unfair, unconstitutional and repugnant — which is why we have no choice but to fight it in court.
The fines to be imposed by the Obama administration remind me of the fines the English monarch imposed on Catholics who refused to attend Protestant services following the Reformation. The idea was to either force them into the Protestant ecclesial community or impoverish them. Because of this many English Catholics capitulated in order not to starve to death. Seems to me that this mandate seeks to do the same thing.
Another piece of news: it seems the Holy Father will make his final decision with regard to the Society of St Pius X before the summer. I see from Traditionalist websites that they are expecting him to bring them back into the full life of the Church. To be honest I cannot see that happening. Despite their claims of being obedient to the Pope and faithful, they have not budged one inch and still reject Vatican II. In their eyes, it seems to be, all of us are Modernists. We will leave it to the Holy Father, but I think there are few options open, one of them being the declaration of a formal schism.
A priest who has been in prison since 1994 for abuse may soon be a free man after new revelations appear to expose his accuser. Fr Gordan McRae, who blogs from his prison cell, was convicted of abusing Thomas Grover. However, Mr Grover's history is far from pristine, and it seems new witnesses have come forward to say that he admitted to them he was never abused by Fr MacRae, among other evidence being presented by the priest's lawyers. It is being claimed that Mr Grover fabricated the accusations to get money out of the Church - it wouldn't be the first time.
If Fr MacRae is innocent, it will be one of the most serious miscarriages of justice in American history. After twenty years in prison, he will be due a huge settlement in compensation - which he should get. Mr Grover should also face charges: while we as Christians must forgive, we must also ensure that we do not lead people into sin - to let accusers off scott free gives them the idea that people can make false accusations against innocent Catholics and get away with it even if they are found out: there is no charity in that. Anyway, we shall watch this one with interest.
And finally, some good news. At the Mass to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the death of their founder, the leaders of Communion and Liberation have formally petitioned the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Scola, to open a Diocesan Informative Enquiry into the life, virtues and reputation of sanctity of Mgr Luigi Guissani with a view to opening the Cause for his beatification and canonisation.
Mgr Giussani has left the Church an enormous legacy not only through founding and guiding one of the most influential new movements in the Church, but also through his writings and personal holiness. We pray that the Cause, once opened, will proceed quickly to a successful conclusion. In spite of all the difficulties the Church is facing in these times, God has given us magnificent holy men and women who serve as bright and inspiring lights to console and guide us. Deo gratias!
Mgr Giussani with Blessed John Paul II, and his tomb in Milan
Shame on me! I forgot to mention that EWTN is taking a legal case against the US government with regard to the HHS mandate. I'm sure you already know about it, but just a quick post to give you the links so you can read all about it. So as you keep the Network between the gas and the electricity, please also keep it in your prayers and as they challenge Obama's swipe at religious liberty.
Speaking with a lawyer friend of mine last evening, he said that such challenges will probably be successful: given that the mandate is a direct breach of the US Constitution, the Supreme Court will probably finish off the mandate. From his lips to God's ears!
UPDATE: Thomas Peters over at American Papist is on one of his compiling lists missions again, this time noting the number of bishops who have responded to Obama's HHS mandate, and now the institutions who are taking action, considering action or have issued statements defying the mandate.
Of the 29 Catholic organisations (so far), three have initiated legal proceedings against the US government - our own EWTN, Priests for Life and Belmont Abbey College. Another is presently looking into the possibility of legal action: Ave Maria University in Florida. Of the 9 other religious, non Catholic, groups and denominations (so far), one has initiated legal action against the government, Colorado Christian University. Among these we find Christians of various traditions and Jews, all opposed to what is not a Catholic issue, but one of freedom of religion.
For your information, here is the list (as of posting - it is sure to grow):
The Catholic Institutions:
•1. EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) – filed lawsuit
•2. Belmont Abbey College – filed lawsuit
•3. University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN – issued statement to press
•4. Christendom College in Front Royal, VA – issued statement
•5. Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL – considering legal options, “will not comply”
•6-9: Aquinas College in Nashville, TN (joined by three other Dominican schools) – issued statement
•10. University of Dallas in Dallas, TX – issued statement
•11. Priests for Life in Staten Island, NY – filed lawsuit
•12. Nashville Dominican Sisters in Nashville, TN – issued statement
•13. Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD – issued statement
•14. Benedictine College in Atchison, KS – issued statement
•15. The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC – issued statement to the press
•16. Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities - issued statement
•17. Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA - issued statement
•18. Knights of Columbus - issued statement
•19. Catholic Medical Association - issued statement
•20. Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in Merrimack, NH - issued statement
•21. Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio - issued statement
•22. Holy Cross College in Indiana - issued statement to press
•23. Sisters of Mercy - issued statement
•24. Wyoming Catholic College in Lander, WY - issued statement
•25. Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist - issued statement
•26. Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH – issued statement
•27. New Hampshire Catholic Charities – issued statement
•28. Saint Anselm College – issued statement
The Non-Catholic Institutions/Denominations:
•1. Colorado Christian University (nondenominational) - filed lawsuit
•2. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod – issued statement
•3. National Association of Evangelical Protestants – issued statement
•4. Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – issued statement
•5. Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops – issued statement
•6. Anglican Church in North America – issued statement
•7. Reformed Theological Seminary – issued statement
•8. American Life League – issued statement
•9. Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission – issued statement
Well, we are back in Ireland after a very fruitful time in the US. Our next series of Forgotten Heritage: Europe and Her Saints, is going into post-production. Our producer, Brian Martin, will supervise the editing. I am not sure when the completed series will finally air on EWTN, it could be later this year in the Autumn, or later again, in the Spring: we shall see.
Since getting back, parish duties and other things have kept me busy, so I did not get time to blog. The jet lag is still hanging around, and so, as I am wide awake at this point in time (2.30 am), rather than face lying in bed, I am saying a few prayers and writing this post. St Josemaria Escriva, it is said, slept little towards the end of his life, so he put the night hours to good use, so I am in good company.
As I scan the Internet to catch up on news I sense things have changed a great deal in the last couple of weeks. For one thing, in Ireland, the government is on the run with regard to the closure of the Irish embassy to the Holy See. As Labour TD's (members of parliament) stand square behind the decision like good socialists, there is war in the ranks of Fine Gael as the backbenchers heap their displeasure on the Taoiseach and his socialist buddy in Foreign Affairs. May they continue to do so and may the pressure force a u-turn. One Fine Gael back bencher, so incensed at the Taoiseach, even took out his rosary beads in defiance: good on you, sir, wield that spiritual weapon with all your might! Meanwhile, a former ambassador to the United States has come out and criticised the decision to close the embassy.
I also see things are getting bad in the US with regard to President Obama's HHS mandate. As you all know by now, the White House offered a "compromise" which in reality was not one at all and offered no progress on the issue. Then an alarming statement emerged from the Obama administration: the matter is closed - we will offer no more, the Catholics are just going to have to accept it and shut up (welcome to the Gulag!). As Sr Carol Keehan and Fr John Jenkins returned to worshipping at the Obama shrine, saved from their misery by the "compromise", the National Catholic Reporter has come out and attacked the Bishops for their stance.
This is disgraceful. For years the NCR has operated under the title Catholic, after this I think it is time for them to conform to canon law and desist from using the title Catholic which can only be used for those organisations and institutions that conform to Catholic faith, morals and practice. The NCR clearly does not subscribe to any of these and should now do the honest thing and rename itself. And perhaps John Allen should move - he is too clear, honest and fair a journalist to be numbered among those who consistently attack, undermine and misrepresent the Catholic faith.
We must pray for the bishops of the US: they are right in taking the stance they have taken - they are defending the Catholic faith as Christ has given it to us and refusing to change it in order to satisfy the anti-life agenda of the Obama administration and the permissiveness of guilty Catholics who want the Church to confirm their infidelity by embracing it herself. Sadly, I hear, many Catholics in the US (and elsewhere) support Obama's tyrannical move, and it is likely they will vote for him in the next election. Well, we leave them to the judgement of God and pray for their conversion.
However, this is a time, dear friends in the US, to embrace the virtue of fortitude. As my moral theology professor and dear friend, Fr Vincent Twomey taught us: this is the virtue we must practice even when all seems lost. We must still act, resist and remain true even if we fall in the battle. Twinned with hope, with this virtue, our hearts see beyond the battle, beyond the war, to the victory that has already been won, and it is in the light of that victory, that Catholics and believers of every faith in the US must stand up to Obama. Keep telling him: NO, NO, NO! We will not submit: we will not violate our consciences.
If necessary, it may be time for civil disobedience and yes, even for prison. Our good friend, Fr Benedict Groeschel, renowned, respected and holy, has spent time in prison for his witness to the right to life: many more may face a similar fate in the months to come: embrace it. Think of St Peter and St Paul in their chains and remember you are in noble company.
The greatest irony of all is that Obama is contravening the US Constitution and no one in Congress seems prepared to challenge him. Nixon and Clinton were impeached for minor offences in comparison - tapping phones (Democrats' phones, Father, that is a mortal sin!!), or immoral behaviour. Obama is breaching the very Constitution he swore to uphold: he should be impeached and thrown out of office. Why is no one willing to do this? It is most interesting: if you ever go to Washington, near the Capitol building is the Newseum - a museum dedicated to news, and on the facade of the building, which the US President passes every time he goes to the Capitol building, are the words of the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of religion. Seems Obama may need to write this out a few hundred times in his copybook.
Some good news. I have not blogged on the Ordinariates for a while. But, as you know, the US Ordinariate is up and running, and the Australian is about to begin. The US Ordinariate already has a church, meanwhile, Mgr Newton and the members of the English Ordinariate are still waiting to be given a church and headquarters: why the long wait? Some have suggested that the English bishops are dragging their heels because they want to kill the Ordinariate, despite being "encouraged" by Pope Benedict in person when he visited the UK. I hope that is not their strategy. This development is clearly the work of God, and if bishops are standing in the way of that work, they had better watch out: it is not wise to try and stop God when he has his heart set on a project.
Okay, this is getting negative again: change subject (still wide awake!!).
I had a wonderful encounter this weekend: I interviewed Fr Paul Francis Spencer, CP, for EWTN's series Catholic Lives. Fr Paul Francis flew over to Dublin from Edinburgh for the interview. He is the author of the definitive biography of St Charles of Mount Argus, the Irish Padre Pio, To Heal The Broken Hearted. It was a most wonderful encounter. Apart from his deep knowledge and understanding of St Charles, and his profound love of the Saint, Fr Paul Francis is holy man himself and I was deeply touched by my meeting him. I was thrilled to be asked to interview him: I had read his book many times and love it (well worth getting, see here for details), so I was full of questions and keen to hear more about St Charles. Fr Paul Francis has also written books about his founder, St Paul of the Cross, and is the Vice-Postulator for the Cause of the Servant of God, Sister Elizabeth Prout.
Sad news: Whitney Houston died after both a glittering and difficult life. She faced many of the struggles musicians and actors face all the time. Please spare a thought for her and for her family in this tragic time. It is tragedies like these which remind us why the Fraternity of St Genesius exists. If you have been touched and saddened by her death, then make a resolution to pray for the many others who find themselves in similiar situations, and then join our Fraternity as a means of assisting them spiritually.
I am also saddened by the death of David Kelly - one of Ireland's most distinguished and wonderful actors. He was famous for his role as the cowboy builder O'Reilly in Fawlty Towers, in scenes which are pure classic. He was a star of many movies and television programmes most recently the grandfather in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and as a wiley villager in Waking Ned, which is another comedy classic.
David was a gentleman, and a man of faith. I remember meeting him once in Gatwick airport: we got talking about St Genesius and I gave him some prayer cards and leaflets. He was thrilled to hear about the Fraternity and encouraged us in our work, telling us that it was important to have people praying for those in the arts. He knew all about St Genesius and prayed to him. May St Genesius now take him to the Lord.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
And to entertain you: that wonderful scene from Fawlty Towers: "Lick a paint...lick a paint". And after that.....bed!
Well, EWTN Live with Fr Mitch Pacwa went well this evening. I am afraid I had to go it alone, Fr Owen was not feeling too well today, so after a heavy schedule, he was too ill go on the live show, so he took to his bed, where he is now as I write. Say a prayer that he'll be ok for tomorrow.
Fr Mitch was an absolute gentleman and was very gracious on the show. He is a wonderful man and priest: wise, prayerful, witty, a fount of knowledge, and friendly: a true son of St Ignatius. We have been having dinner with him for the last few days and he has kept us both informed and entertained.
The show went live this evening: 8pm US Eastern, 7pm US Central and 1am Ireland and UK. It will be repeated on the Ireland/UK channel later on Thursday, at 8pm. If you miss it, you can watch it on EWTN Live's page on the website: it'll be up in a couple of days, I think.
My abiding memory of the show will be that of pickled herrings! Watch it and find out why.
Now, to finish some prep for tomorrow, and then bed. Do not be surprised if the blog goes silent at any stage - we are finding things hard going, so blogging may have to take a rest.
We have had a very long day today: I'm quite tired and still have some stuff to look over for tomorrow's recording sessions. We started the season, so the worst is over: we are into it. The members of production team are very professional and helpful, so we are being well looked after. Our producer is happy with today's work, so that's good. The staff in the dining room are wonderful: lovely Rosie who has fed us every time we come here is as happy and genteel as ever. There is a new chef, Hernandez, and boy he is good: we won't starve.
The new season is called Forgotten Heritage: Europe and Her Saints. We start with the six patrons of Europe, and then devote ten other programmes to notable European Saints. Not all the important ones are there: in order to ensure that most areas of human life are represented we had to leave some out. We hope viewers will find the new season interesting.
We had dinner with Fr Mitch Pacwa (always a pleasure) and he gave us some wonderful insights into a number of contemporary issues. We will be his guests on his weekly live television show on Wednesday evening (7pm US Central time), so if you have nothing else to do, switch on.
A quick surf around the net reveals some very good stories: the Council of Europe has ruled that euthanasia should remain illegal throughout Europe: that is a wonderful judgement, and it may effect the practice in Switzerland and Holland. Hopefully they will have to close shop.
According to the latest count 93 US bishops have spoken out against Obama's bill: that too is good. Will it stop Obama's plans? We shall see. For my American readers, here is a petition calling for Obama to rescind the HHS mandate.
An interesting story from Ireland: the ACP are seeking to help nuns who have been wrongly accused. This short article relates how innocent sisters are being forced to admit to abuse they never actually committed. That is no surprise - false allegations have been made about innocent parties, and unfortunately, given the current climate, it is easier for superiors to go with the allegation rather than challenge it. I have little time for the ACP, but they are right in what they are trying to do here, and they deserve credit for that. In fact, they are doing what others should have done long ago.
Fr Barron has some interesting things to say about Obama's attack on religious freedom: there are a few points worth noting as we observe the way things are going in Ireland.
Greetings to you all from Birmingham, Alabama! I know I said in my last post that the blog would go silent for a couple of weeks, and it may just yet, but imagine our surprise when we discovered we have a computer and Internet access in the EWTN guesthouse. Fr Owen suggested I continue to blog - recording the filming process - a sort of diary, but I'm not sure about that because the schedule is packed. But if I get a moment, I will blog a post, or post a blog, or whatever the correct phrase is here.
Now of course an online diary might just be fun, recording the producer's tantrums, the camera men's strike, the joys of make-up ("Wrong shade, Harvey! No thanks, I think I'll pass on the lip-gloss".), the re-recordings, the slips, the frustrations, the subsequent confessions and holy hours in reparation - all the tragedy and the underlying comedy which is TV. But, to be honest, it is much tamer than that - working with solid and good people for whom EWTN is more than a job, it is a mission. God bless them all.
We had a very long day yesterday - three flights. The Dublin to Atlanta direct is gone, so we had to fly to New York (JFK), then to Atlanta and then to Birmingham, AL: we were like zombies by the time we arrived. Thanks to numerous cups of coffee, Neurofen (I have a cold and a touch of tonsillitis) and prayer, we kept going. We almost lost our bags at one stage - or at least we thought we lost them, but all was sorted thanks to lovely lady in Atlanta, Miranda, pure southern belle! Our producer Brian and Al, one of EWTN's volunteers, collected us, and brought us to the guesthouse. We also met a new friend (Hi Chris!) as we were anxiously waiting for our luggage at baggage claim in Birmingham airport, he was travelling back to Birmingham from Illinois - a long journey for him too . So it was an interesting day.
This weekend we will continue our preparation, recording starts at 8.30am Monday morning: our producer wanted us here for a day or two before recording so we would get over the jet lag and look refreshed and good on camera. God bless his innocence - all the sleep in the world will never a beauty out of this priest! Not even the make-up man, trowel in hand, could do that. Anyway, please keep us in your prayers.
So what's happening in the world? A quick scoot around the net reveals that the bishops of the US are getting ready for battle over Obama's attack on religious liberty. I must say I am delighted. In a post on Thursday I compared Cardinal-designate Dolan to St Ambrose, well the spirit of Ambrose is reawakening all over the US as bishops are refusing to fold and are leading their flocks against Obama and his cronies - among whom are a number of high profile liberal Catholics. This battle is actually uniting orthodox and liberal Catholics, so those in Obama's administration are probably finding that their allies are deserting them - or at least I hope they are.
Bishops are now even talking about civil disobedience (see here also)! Well the spirits of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr are on the move too. If Catholics in the US actually united and faced Obama on this they will effect a change. It seems the most obvious option is to bring Obama down in the election later this year. The Catholic vote is a significant one, and now as the freedom of religion is at stake (not only for Catholics, but for others as well), it is time to put aside political differences and party politics and to unite behind one candidate who will give a guarantee that he/she will stop Obama's bill. Time for Catholics to talk to the Republican candidates. William Oddie has a very good article in the Catholic Herald.
It is also time for Notre Dame to redeem itself and take back the Honorary Doctorate of Laws it gave to Obama a couple of years ago: here is a good excuse. I doubt if Fr Jenkins could endorse Obama's actions, seeing as the President of Notre Dame was at the March for Life this year. Time for him to rebuild bridges here, I think.
In other news, I see the spirit of Obama is moving in University College London - the Catholic chaplaincy has been told that it must now invite pro-abortion speakers to even up their pro-life talks. Time here to say "No". As one person asked, does this mean the pro-abortion clubs must now invite a pro-life speaker "to even things up" ? I doubt it - such decisions tend to go in one direction. In the world of culture, Matthew Archbald writes about some new movies coming out of Hollywood - they do not seem to be too favourable to the Catholic faith.
Anyway, that's all for now. Work awaits. I will be offering Mass at 1.30pm (Central) in the friar's chapel, so I will remember you all.
Early tomorrow morning I head off to Alabama with my friend, Fr Owen Gorman, to record a new series of Forgotten Heritage, so the blog will go silent for a couple of weeks. We have a heavy schedule ahead of us, so we ask your prayers that all will go well. I'll see you all when I get back.
I have been asked by a number of people as to when the next series of Forgotten Heritage will air. Our next series begins in the US and Canada on Sunday, February 27th and is entitled: Forgotten Heritage: Europe and Our Lady. The European channels are still showing our series on the Eucharist. If you go to EWTN's website you will get the schedule, and if you do not have the channel beaming into your TV, you can watch any of EWTN's channels anytime online, so European viewers can catch our new series before it comes here.
The new series looks at Our Lady and her importance in the spirituality and culture of Europe. Following the same format as the last series, which proved popular, we will be discussing various devotions, apparitions and devotees of Our Lady, always with a view to encouraging a renewal of devotion to the Mother of the Lord in these times.
The schedule for the new series (US and Canada):
Sundays 8pm (Pacific), 11pm (Eastern)
Tuesdays 12.30am (Pacific), 3.30am (Eastern)
Saturdays 1.30pm (Pacific), 4.30pm (Eastern)
We are scheduled to record series three, Fr Owen and myself are working on that at the moment, and series four is in the planning stages. Our first series is available on DVD, you can order it from EWTN Religious Catalog here.
To all the members of the Fraternity in the US and Canada, and my blog readers there, I wish you a happy Thanksgiving. In Ireland we have no such holiday or feast, and to be honest we could do with one. Today we rarely take time to say thanks to the Lord for what we have received. It is edifying that America, and secular America at that, still holds true to the spirit of this feast.
Last year myself and Fr Owen were over in Alabama just before Thanksgiving and we managed to attend EWTN's Thanksgiving dinner, celebrated a few days before the feast so all the staff could get to it. What a splash! Everyone brought a dish, and what good cooks the staff of EWTN are! It was all there - the turkey, the various vegetable dishes and yes, my favourite, pumpkin pie! We don't get pumpkin pie in Ireland, but I had always wanted to try it. When spending time in New York as a seminarian, the lovely ladies of Holy Child Parish got wind of my curiosity, and somehow managed to make one. Ah.....joy! Like an angel crying on your tongue, as Fr Owen would say. Since then I convinced our housekeeper in Drogheda, Anne, to have a go at making a pie, and wow, she made a good one! She also makes a mean Sacher Torte - better than the original. Now that I am in Rathkenny though, such delights are gone (for the moment anyway!). Penance, you see, penance!
Of course Thanksgiving is more than pumpkin pie, lest you think I have turned into Homer Simpson; it is about giving to God what is his due. Now I do not know who American atheists thank on this day, but for us believers we recognise that all good things come to us as gift, as unmerited, generous gift from our Creator, and the greatest gift of all is our redemption - the sacrifice Christ made for us to restore us and offer us salvation. We give God thanks for that, and the greatest expression of that thanks is cooperation with his grace.
I see there is an American custom where the President of the US reprieves a turkey at Thanksgiving: President Obama was pictured on Irish TV granting pardon to this year's lucky bird - very nice. But it would be even nicer if he reprieved the millions of American children who will die in abortion clinics during his presidency, and he adopted a pro-life stance. Today, Thanksgiving day, perhaps pray for him and for all anti-life legislators that they may be converted and the gift of life that has been given to them they will see fit to respect it in others.
