North of the Shire

There has been a lot said about the Catholic part of Ted Kennedy’s legacy, if in fact there really is one. His consistent support of abortion and related issues puts his Catholicism in doubt regardless of his personal devotion in private life.

But the discussion brought to mind a more general consideration that we all need to be aware of, namely our public Catholic identity. I cringed the other day while standing in a check-out line, (I won’t name the store) when the young man running the cash (about 35 give or take) was trying to be funny. He carried on and started out funny enough, in a rough sort of way but became downright crude and embarrassing particularly for the women in the line when he made a very nasty and rude comment about his “ex-wife.”

When I got to the head of the line I noticed that he was wearing a large, probably 2.5 to 3 inches, crucifix around his neck. For some of those people in the line it is quite possible that he was the only self-identifying Catholic they had met that day. I was sad, ashamed, and just wishing to be anywhere else. It is not the first time I have experienced such a thing, and as always, I am not sure whether I should have called him on it. He wasn’t speaking to me but was speaking loudly enough that his conversation was public.

It did make me think about myself, and my own conduct, and I asked the question whether I have brought shame on the name of Christ. It is a good thing to regularly examine ourselves, I think. I did the only thing that I could think of doing for the man. I prayed for him that he will come to a more repentent and reverant attitude and bring honour to Christ instead of shame.

There is something that really bugs me whenever the liturgical discussion comes to the fore. The latest I heard this was yesterday on the Across the Nation show with Bob Dunning on the Catholic Channel on Sirius. I don’t wish to pick on Bob Dunning because he is just one example of an understanding that is all too common. Besides that, he’s a nice guy, and does a good job as a broadcaster/host in the talk format on the Catholic Channel. While I don’t always agree with his opinions on issues, he usually has a balanced presentation and a wide range of guests.

Having said that, Continue Reading »

To give credit where it is due I first heard this story on Al Kresta’s program on EWTN radio this afternoon. Continue Reading »

Here’s the headline;

‘Monogamous’ Gays Can Serve in ELCA
Largest Lutheran Denomination in U.S. Split on Divisive Issue

From the Washington Post articlehere is an interesting quote;

“We live today with an understanding of homosexuality that did not exist in Jesus’ time and culture,” Tim Mumm, a lay delegate from Wisconsin and supporter of Lutherans Concerned, an gay-rights organization, said during the debate. “We are responding to something that the writers of Scripture could not have understood.”

Does this then mean that for at least the part of the ELCA Sola Scriptura has been dropped?

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.
28 Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

So what does he mean by this? Continue Reading »

Another golden oldie, still relevant.

This is a post that I made at Whippleshire two years ago and stands the test of the passage of that time. For some reason, today it seems rather poignant, so I will repeat it here in its entirety; Continue Reading »

This is from a couple of years ago upon the announcement of the Motu Proprio regarding the “Extraordinary Form” of the Mass. I love this one;