Tag Archives: Pennsylvania

More Flip-Flops Than a Fish on Land

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…or John Kerry

I’ve heard several people claim that Arlen Specter must have changed his position
on the FMA, based solely on his cloture vote. I’ve heard this from outraged homosexuals
as well jubilant conservatives. I think both have been duped.

Specter knew darn well that the motion to vote on the amendment would fail to get
the 60 necessary votes. His “Yea” for the cloture vote was an attempt
to win back conservative voters. The primary against Toomey was too close for Specter’s
comfort. By voting yes in the cloture, he appeared to want to stop liberal filibustering
and to change his stance on the FMA. Since there’s was a snowball’s chance of it
passing, he could safely lend the appearance of support. Now he can fool both liberal
and conservative supporters. To the left he says, “I wouldn’t have voted for
the amendment.” To the right he says, “See? I voted yes in the cloture!”
Specter’s name should be Janus.

Catholic Radio in Pittsburgh

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My buddy Russ wanted people to know about this.

I’ve talked to some of you about this and know others are regular listeners to Catholic
Answers, the radio show on from 6-7pm on WPIT 730 and WZUM 1590. Just want to give
a heads up that Catholic Answers, after next month, may no longer be able to continue
its broadcasting on WPIT. WPIT is the stronger of the two signals, extending far
beyond Pittsburgh and not as subject to weather conditions as is WZUM. It is also
on a Protestant station, which is why I think it is a great asset to Pittsburgh.
Many non-Catholics come across the program and have the opportunity to learn about
the Faith. My family in Maryland and other friends around the country don’t have
the good fortune of having any Catholic broadcasts on the radio.

Unfortunately, Catholic Answers has to pay for that time slot and will not be able
to support it without more help from Pittsburgh listeners. I know what a wonderful
help the program has been to me in understanding the apologetic arguments for the
Faith and for the uplifting support that it gives to those of us wanting to really
live it fully. The good news is they only need 100 people or so to become Radio
Club members, which involves a monthly donation, to continue broadcasting. If you
happen to be in a situation where you can make a sacrificial offering or know folks
that are, please check out the Radio Club at http://www.catholic.com/radio/benefits.asp
(Please mention WPIT as your station). And please pray for that ministry, it’s kicked
off a lot of new Catholic stations and programs around the country. It’d be great
to someday have a Catholic station for every Protestant station on the dial. Also,
if you haven’t seen the Forums at www.catholic.com they are pretty interesting,
lots of good discussions going on.

Missing the Point

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This individual is not
happy with lay response to Redemptionis
Sacramentum.

Just as I feared, some parishioners have downloaded the document from the internet
and are using it as the basis for a campaign of �priest policing�. No matter how
devout and well intentioned the priest, the slightest perceived violation of any
precept in Redemptionis Sacramentum results in a stern �please-rectify-immediately-or-else�
letter. These condemnations are totally devoid of the spirit of charity called for
by the document.

Of course, these same people do not affirm priests for their diligent observance
of those practices that are encouraged in the document. I cannot begin to understand
what motivates those who go to Mass with the sole intent, not of praying, but of
finding fault. Surely, that is a much more grave abuse of the eucharist than the
relatively minor matters about which they complain. Is it any wonder that there
is a vocations crisis?

I can’t speak for others, but I don’t go to Mass for the sole purpose of finding
a bone or two to pick with the presiding priest or the parish. Usually I go to masses
offered by the Fathers
of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. However, when I’ve visited my parents in
Levittown, my future in-laws in Erie, and my fiance in Tulsa, I’ve run into some
rather obvious abuses.

I wanted to be charitable and assume the document hadn’t “sunk in” yet.
As time passed, it seemed far more likely it was just ignored. I’ve seen glass vessels,
an army of eucharistic ministers (9!), and clutter (i.e. decorations and offering
baskets) in front of the alter, among other abuses. These are simple matters to
attend to and not doing so shows blatant disregard and disrespect for Church authority.

Continue reading →

Local Unrest

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The fight over Communion has taken on local significance for me.

Protesters urge bishop to deny communion to pro-abortion legislators
Thursday, June 17, 2004
By Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"A dozen people picketed the Downtown headquarters of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh yesterday, calling on Bishop Donald Wuerl to deny communion to Catholic legislators who support legal abortion."

A Blog is Born!

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I’d like to welcome Father Michael Darcy to the blogosphere. He’s a member of the
Oratorian Community of Saint Philip Neri and is a campus minister at the Ryan Catholic
Newman Center at the University of Pittsburgh. He’s an orthodox priest and a cool
guy. Check out his blog.

St. Philip’s
Square