Tag Archives: Catholic

Mission Creep

When I attended the United for Peace and Justice anti-war rally in Pittsburgh at the beginning of ’03, I was annoyed and frustrated by the horrendous mission creep there. I was there to stop what I felt was an unjust war (we can argue that point later) and intrusive laws that threatened liberty in the name of patriotism and national security, not support abortion on demand. One minute I was cheering an anti-war speaker and the next I was listening to a feminazi rail on about a woman’s right to end a life choose.

It seems that Catholic Peace Fellowship has had similar experiences with UFPJ and wants no more. They’ve severed ties over UFPJ’s participation in the "March for Women’s Lives" and I can’t blame them.

"United for Peace and Justice is a coalition of more than 800 local and national groups throughout the United States who have joined together to oppose our government’s policy of permanent warfare and empire-building."

And that has what to do with abortion?!? I like what CPF said about this.

"No one has the right to choose life or death for another; to assume such power has always been recognized as the ultimate form of oppression"

….

"Nowhere in [UFPJ’s statement of purpose, the Unity Statement] is there mention of ‘reproductive rights’ or the ‘freedom’ to choose to kill."

By the way, these are the same yahoos who demand no barriers/pens, free water, free transportation, and monetary compensation for their march at the GOP convention.

Otay, Buckwheat

Here’s another about celiac disease and wheat hosts. The last time I blogged about this, it was just one
little girl
. This is about a whole facility mass producing wheat-free hosts without permission. Again I ask,
at what level of truth does the insistence on wheat stand? Was the Eucharist improperly confected at thousands of masses? Was the sacrament valid?

A Study in Contrasts

I always find it fascinating how different news outlets cover the same story. As
an example, here are four stories, two from Reuters and two from AP. Notice the
distinct differences in tone and presentation.

Frail Pope Struggles Through Lourdes Mass (Reuters)
Pope Struggles Through Lourdes Sermon, Needs Water (Reuters)
Frail Pope Celebrates Mass at Lourdes (AP)
Pilgrims Crowd Field for Mass With Pope (AP)

The Wrong Stuff

8-year-old’s first Holy Communion invalidated by Church
By JOHN CURRAN, The Associated Press

BRIELLE, N.J. – An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot consume wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained none, violating Catholic doctrine.

(Thanks, Fark)

Redemptionis Sacramentum, paragraph 48:

“[48.] The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition.123 It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament.124 It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools.125


123 Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 924 S2; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 320.
124 Cf. S. Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction, Dominus Salvator noster, 26 March 1929, n. 1: AAS 21 (1929) pp. 631-642, here p. 632.
125 Cf. ibidem, n. II: AAS 21 (1929) p. 635.

What do you folks think about this? Is the exclusive use of wheat dogmatic, doctrinal, of ordinary tradition (habit, as opposed to Sacred Tradition), or merely intended to preclude the use of unworthy materials?

Walk of Life

My buddy, Erin, participated
in Crossroads
this summer and will be at their rally
in Washington, DC
this weekend. She’s told me some interesting stories about
her experiences. She’s promised me an essay that I can post here. I look forward
to reading it and sharing it with my readers. 🙂

[Erin goes by edey when she comments. – Funky]