Attorney Daniel Shea in an email to myself back in 2003:
Paul:
"That's Mystici Corporis, Pope Pius XII speaking in an Encyclical which teaching is to be taken seriously but is NOT ex cathedra. You seem to be blinded by the ability of Ratzinger and Co. to engage in an international conspiracy to obstruct justice. Crime is crime no matter how much watered silk you wrap it in. You're right about one thing though, Mystici Corporis and Immortale Dei are now driving this train and Vatican II isnt worth the paper its written on."
Dan Shea.
Anti-Catholic for District Attorney?
Attorney Daniel J. Shea, who has referred to the Catholic Church as "a criminal institution," announces bid for District Attorney position:Attorney Daniel J. Shea, an attorney who represented clergy abuse victims within the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts and who has referred to the Catholic Church as "a criminal institution," while asserting that "Ratzinger and Co" have engaged in an "international conspiracy to obstruct justice," has announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination to the position of District Attorney for the Middle District, which encompasses Worcester County/Central Massachusetts. On one occasion, attorney Shea wrote me an email in which he said that the Church, "..is a criminal institution and those who contribute to it any longer are aiding and abetting this criminal conduct called obstruction of justice." On another occasion, he asserted that I "..seem to be blinded by the ability of Ratzinger and Co. to engage in an international conspiracy to obstruct justice."Please take the time to read my two articles on attorney Daniel J. Shea, the links to which are below. Note how attorney Shea has been involved with the transgender movement. Attorney Shea's anti-Catholic remarks are a cause for serious concern. Do we really want to see this man elected to the District Attorney's Office of the Middle District? How will Catholics fare under Daniel Shea as a District Attorney? Will Catholics be able to receive justice from a man who has said that Catholics who contribute to the Catholic Church are "aiding and abetting" a "criminal institution"?What do you think?
The articles:
http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2005/06/attorney-daniel-shea-and-co-liberal.html
http://lasalettejourney.blogspot.com/2005/06/attorney-daniel-shea-and-co-liberal_23.html
Read Attorney Shea's letter to the Honorable Michael J. Sullivan and expressing his interpretation of Crimen Sollicitationes:
Daniel J. Shea, P.C.1928 WEST BELL STREET, HOUSTON, TX 77019-4814(713) 942-7500 (713) 942-7507 FACSIMILE
djs7500@aol.com
DANIEL JOSEPH SHEA__________________ ALSO ADMITTED IN MASSACHUSETTS July 28, 2003
Hon. Michael J. Sullivan Facsimile: (617) 748-3974
United States Attorney
And U.S. Mail, First Class
District of Massachusetts
1 Courthouse Way,
Suite 9200
Boston, MA 02210-3011
RE: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, A Corporation Sole
Dear Mr. Sullivan:
Reference is made to a hand-delivered letter of even date to you from Mr. Carmen L. Durso. That letter transmits to you a copy of a 1962 Vatican document "On the Manner of Proceeding in Cases of Solicitation," a/k/a "Crimen Sollicitationes."A word first on provenance and authentication.
Crimen Sollicitationes first appears in a footnote to a letter from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dated May 18, 2002, "To All Bishops of the Catholic Church . . . Concerning Very Grave Sins Which are Reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." I have in my possession the official Latin texts of both these documents.
The Ratzinger letter was brought to the attention of the Massachusetts Attorney General by letter of March 1, 2002. A copy of that letter and its attachments is hereby provided. Since March 1, 2002, I have conducted a search for Crimen Sollicitationes and until two weeks ago, had been unable to find it. Major Thomas Doyle, a catholic chaplain in Germany, was able to unearth it and send me both the Latin original, and the English translation you have in your possession.
Father Doyle is the co-author of the so-called Doyle-Mouton Report which apprized the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) of the criminal implications of this coverup in 1985 with the warning that catholic judges and lawyers would no longer shield them from the consequences of their behavior in this matter. I sent a copy of Crimen Sollicitationes to Massachusetts Attorney General Reilly by letter of July 28, 2003. That letter contains a brief "commentary" on Crimen, forbidden in its preface with the warning: "This text is to be diligently stored in the secret archives of the Curia as strictly confidential. Nor is it to be added to with any commentaries." That letter is also hereby provided Hon. Michael J. Sullivan July 28, 2003 Page Two____________________As you can glean from my correspondence with Mr. Reilly, I have been involved in the Ratzinger-Bank of New England nexus for some time. Consequently, I am less inclined to characterize the A.G.'s report as "regrettable," as does Mr. Durso.
First of all, I find the Reilly Report legally unacceptable to the extent that it names the "target" as the "Archdiocese of Boston." That is a canonical term. The target institution is "Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, A Corporation Sole" as Mr. Durso correctly indicates. Significantly, the Bank of New England jurisprudence, cited by Mr. Durso, has never been applied to a special, legislatively created, corporation sole. That unique corporate form has been a legislative privilege extended to the Archbishop of Boston that allows him to operate as a de facto monarch.
I believe the Reilly Report intentionally sidesteps the implications of Bank of New England's collective knowledge doctrine to this de facto monarch. The Report (page 1) states, "The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has been a duly registered corporation, formed under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts General Laws, for religious purposes since 1897." That is incorrect. This chapter shall apply to all corporations whenever established, except so far as such application may be inconsistent with provisions still in force of any special acts of incorporation, enacted before March eleventh, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, and not subject to amendment, alteration or repeal by the general court, or with provisions of any special acts of incorporation enacted after October first, nineteen hundred and seventy-one.
Mass. Gen. L. ch. 180 § 1.The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, A Corporation Sole is, thus, not incorporated under Chapter 180, but is a noted exception to it. Otherwise, the "Archdiocese of Boston" would be subject to the requirements for officers and directors, articles of incorporation, and other legal safeguards that Chapter 180 otherwise provides.The next instance of issue-avoidance in the Reilly Report is found on page 22 therein. "The evidence gathered during the course of the Attorney General's sixteen month investigation, does not provide a basis for bringing criminal charges against the Archdiocese or its senior managers." Id. (emphasis added). At this point in the report, the reader would expect that there would be separate treatment of criminal charges against the "Archdiocese" under Bank of New England, and criminal charges against any individuals. Instead, the report continues, The investigation did not produce evidence that senior Archdiocese managers encouraged priests to abuse children, intended that priests would abuse children, intended to obstruct justice by helping abusive priests avoid arrest or punishment, Hon. Michael J. Sullivan July 28, 2003 Page Three____________________interfered with the testimony or role of a witness in a judicial proceeding, or entered into unlawful agreements. Nor is there evidence that the Archdiocese benefitted by priests sexually abusing children. Id. Thus ends any reference to criminal charges against the corporate entity, however mis-characterized. Turning, however, to the criminal conduct of the individuals involved, I fail to see how such evidentiary conclusions can be reached in light of the Ratzinger letter (in the AG's possession since March 1, 2002), Crimen Sollicitationes, and the fact that in one case, there was "some evidence" of sexual molestation of a minor by the RCAB himself, i.e., Humberto S. Medeiros.
In addition, I can direct you to at least four places in the deposition testimony of Bernard F. Law where, in light of the Ratzinger letter and Crimen, there is "some evidence" of perjury. Finally, I find it unacceptable that in a report of this importance, appropriate legal distinctions between "no evidence," "some evidence," "preponderance of evidence," and the like are not maintained. I trust that unlike Mr. Reilly, you will not be so unprofessional as to fail, at the very least, to acknowledge receipt of this letter.
Very truly yours,
Daniel J. Shea
Mass. B.B.O. No. 652896
cc: Mr. Carmen L. Durso, w/o encl.Facsimile: (617) 426-7972
Attorney Shea provided me with this copy as part of an exchange of emails we had back in 2003.
Paul
Friday, August 04, 2006
Domine Deus Omnipotens Rex Regum
O Lord God Almighty, King of Kings
Domine Deus Omnipotens, Rex regum et Dominus dominantium, in cuius manu omnis victoria consistit et omne bellum conteritur, concede mihi ut tua manus cor meum corroboret ut in virtute tua in manibus viribusque meis bene pugnare viriliterque agere valeam ut inimici mei in conspectu meo cadent et corruant sicut corruit Golias ante faciem pueri tui David, et sicut populus Pharaonis coram Moysi in mare rubro, et sicut Philistini coram populo Israel cecidi1 sunt, et Amalech coram Moysi et Chananei coram Iesu corruerunt, sic cadant inimici mei sub pedibus meis, et per viam unam conveniant adversum me et per septem fugiant a me; et conteret Deus arma eorum et confringet framea eorum, et liquescent in conspectu meo sicut cera a facie ignis ut sciant omnes populi terrae quia invocatum est nomen Domini nostri Iesu Christi super me et magnificetur nomen tuum Domine, in adversariis meis, Domine Deus Israel.
O LORD God Almighty, King of kings, Lord of rulers, in whose hand all victory rests and all war is destroyed, grant me that Thy hand may strengthen my heart so I may fight well and act courageously so my enemies may fall before my sight. May they fall as did Goliath fall before Thy servant David, as did the people of the Pharaoh in the Red Sea before Moses, as did the Philistines before the people of Israel, as did Amalech before Moses, and as did the Canaanites before Joshua, so may my enemies fall beneath my feet. May all who come against me be dispersed and God destroy their weapons and shatter their swords. They will melt in my sight as wax in the face of fire so all the peoples of the earth will know that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ has been invoked over me. May Thy Name, O Lord, be made great over my adversaries, O Lord, God of Israel.
O Lord God Almighty, King of Kings
Domine Deus Omnipotens, Rex regum et Dominus dominantium, in cuius manu omnis victoria consistit et omne bellum conteritur, concede mihi ut tua manus cor meum corroboret ut in virtute tua in manibus viribusque meis bene pugnare viriliterque agere valeam ut inimici mei in conspectu meo cadent et corruant sicut corruit Golias ante faciem pueri tui David, et sicut populus Pharaonis coram Moysi in mare rubro, et sicut Philistini coram populo Israel cecidi1 sunt, et Amalech coram Moysi et Chananei coram Iesu corruerunt, sic cadant inimici mei sub pedibus meis, et per viam unam conveniant adversum me et per septem fugiant a me; et conteret Deus arma eorum et confringet framea eorum, et liquescent in conspectu meo sicut cera a facie ignis ut sciant omnes populi terrae quia invocatum est nomen Domini nostri Iesu Christi super me et magnificetur nomen tuum Domine, in adversariis meis, Domine Deus Israel.
O LORD God Almighty, King of kings, Lord of rulers, in whose hand all victory rests and all war is destroyed, grant me that Thy hand may strengthen my heart so I may fight well and act courageously so my enemies may fall before my sight. May they fall as did Goliath fall before Thy servant David, as did the people of the Pharaoh in the Red Sea before Moses, as did the Philistines before the people of Israel, as did Amalech before Moses, and as did the Canaanites before Joshua, so may my enemies fall beneath my feet. May all who come against me be dispersed and God destroy their weapons and shatter their swords. They will melt in my sight as wax in the face of fire so all the peoples of the earth will know that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ has been invoked over me. May Thy Name, O Lord, be made great over my adversaries, O Lord, God of Israel.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
State Representative Fran Wendelboe from New Hampton appeals to Rome
The State Rep is appealing a decision by the Manchester Diocese to merge St. Agnes Church with two other parishes.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
A Double Standard
Catholic League Statement:
July 31, 2006
MEL’S ENEMIES LACK FORGIVENESS
Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented today on the furor over the comments Mel Gibson allegedly made after his arrest for drunk driving Friday morning:
“What Mel Gibson apparently said is indefensible. The remark attributed to him, ‘The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,’ is anti-Semitic and irresponsible. Fortunately, he has apologized for his bigoted outburst. Unfortunately, his apology is being rejected by some who should know better. To wit: Abraham Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League, has branded Gibson’s apology ‘unremorseful and insufficient.’ Moreover, Foxman concludes that it shows what a ‘sham’ it is for Gibson to portray himself as the ‘tolerant, loving person’ who made ‘The Passion of the Christ.’
“We have quite a file on Ted Turner at the Catholic League. Unlike Foxman, I have accepted every apology Turner has ever made for his anti-Catholic outbursts, all of which were made while he was sober. Indeed, I even went so far as to say that ‘no one in his right mind’ would ever put Ted Turner ‘in the same camp with a Klansman or an inveterate bigot.’ More recently, when radio shock-jocks Opie and Anthony apologized for their orchestrated anti-Catholic stunt in St. Patrick’s Cathedral a few years back, I not only accepted their apology, I was the first guest on their new CBS radio show and welcomed their return.
“But Mel’s enemies will never cut him a break. Their real goal is to discredit ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ and that is why their propaganda machine is in full gear. Never mind that Mel has said that ‘Anti-Semitism is not only contrary to my personal beliefs, it is also contrary to the core message of my movie.’ How ironic it is to note that the core message of his film—forgiveness—is sorely lacking in his critics.
“In 2003, Roman Polanski, the convicted child rapist, received a standing ovation when he won an Oscar for ‘The Pianist.’ Nice to know what really offends Hollywood.”
Kiera M. McCaffrey
Director of Communications
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10123
212-371-3191
212-371-3394 (fax)
Email: cl@catholicleague.org
Paul
July 31, 2006
MEL’S ENEMIES LACK FORGIVENESS
Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented today on the furor over the comments Mel Gibson allegedly made after his arrest for drunk driving Friday morning:
“What Mel Gibson apparently said is indefensible. The remark attributed to him, ‘The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,’ is anti-Semitic and irresponsible. Fortunately, he has apologized for his bigoted outburst. Unfortunately, his apology is being rejected by some who should know better. To wit: Abraham Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League, has branded Gibson’s apology ‘unremorseful and insufficient.’ Moreover, Foxman concludes that it shows what a ‘sham’ it is for Gibson to portray himself as the ‘tolerant, loving person’ who made ‘The Passion of the Christ.’
“We have quite a file on Ted Turner at the Catholic League. Unlike Foxman, I have accepted every apology Turner has ever made for his anti-Catholic outbursts, all of which were made while he was sober. Indeed, I even went so far as to say that ‘no one in his right mind’ would ever put Ted Turner ‘in the same camp with a Klansman or an inveterate bigot.’ More recently, when radio shock-jocks Opie and Anthony apologized for their orchestrated anti-Catholic stunt in St. Patrick’s Cathedral a few years back, I not only accepted their apology, I was the first guest on their new CBS radio show and welcomed their return.
“But Mel’s enemies will never cut him a break. Their real goal is to discredit ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ and that is why their propaganda machine is in full gear. Never mind that Mel has said that ‘Anti-Semitism is not only contrary to my personal beliefs, it is also contrary to the core message of my movie.’ How ironic it is to note that the core message of his film—forgiveness—is sorely lacking in his critics.
“In 2003, Roman Polanski, the convicted child rapist, received a standing ovation when he won an Oscar for ‘The Pianist.’ Nice to know what really offends Hollywood.”
Kiera M. McCaffrey
Director of Communications
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10123
212-371-3191
212-371-3394 (fax)
Email: cl@catholicleague.org
Paul
FutureChurch
Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich:
I had another vision of the great tribulation. It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy which could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping. But others, and the lukewarm among them, readily did what was demanded. It was as if people were splitting into two camps. "I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with ideas that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great, strange, and extravagant Church. Everyone was to be admitted in it in order to be united and have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, sects of every description. Such was to be the new Church ... But God had other designs. "
"I saw again the strange big church that was being built there in Rome. There was nothing holy in it. I saw this just as I saw a movement led by Ecclesiastics to which contributed angels, saints, and other Christians. But there in the strange big church all the work was being done mechanically according to set rules and formulae. Everything was being done according to human reason ...I saw all sorts of people, things, doctrines, and opinions. There was something proud, presumptuous, and violent about it, and they seemed very successful. I di not see a single Angel nor a single saint helping in the work. But far away in the background, I saw the seat of the cruel people armed with spears, and I saw a laughing figure which said: " Do build it as solid as you can; we will pull it to the ground."
"I saw again the new and odd-looking church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it ... People were kneading bread in the crypt below ... but it would not rise, nor did they receive the body of our Lord, but only bread. Those who were in error, through no fault of their own, and who piously and ardently longed for the Body of Jesus were spiritually consoled, but not by their communion. Then my Guide (Jesus) said: "This is Babel." "I saw deplorable things: they were gambling, drinking, and talking in church; they were also courting women. All sorts of abominations were perpetrated there. Priests allowed everything and said Mass with much irreverence. I saw that few of them were still godly... All these things caused me much distress. "
DEVOUT CATHOLICS AND CLERGY BEING OPPRESSED:
"Then I saw an apparition of the Mother of God, and she said that the tribulation would be very great. She added that people must pray fervently with outstretched arms, be it only long enough to say three Our Fathers. This was the way her Son prayed for them on the Cross. They must rise at twelve at night, and pray in this manner; and they must keep coming to the Church. They must pray above all for the Church of Darkness to leave Rome... These were all good and devout people, and they did not know where help and guidance should be sought. There were no traitors and enemies among them, yet they were afraid of one another... "
"I saw more martyrs, not now but in the future ... I saw the secret sect relentlessly undermining the great Church. Near them I saw a horrible beast coming up from the sea. All over the world, good and devout people, especially the clergy, were harassed, oppressed, and put into prison ... "
"Whole Catholic communities were being oppressed, harassed, confined, and deprived of their freedom. I saw many churches closed down, great miseries everywhere, wars and bloodshed. A wild and ignorant mob took violent action. But it did not last long... "
I had another vision of the great tribulation. It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy which could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping. But others, and the lukewarm among them, readily did what was demanded. It was as if people were splitting into two camps. "I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with ideas that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great, strange, and extravagant Church. Everyone was to be admitted in it in order to be united and have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, sects of every description. Such was to be the new Church ... But God had other designs. "
"I saw again the strange big church that was being built there in Rome. There was nothing holy in it. I saw this just as I saw a movement led by Ecclesiastics to which contributed angels, saints, and other Christians. But there in the strange big church all the work was being done mechanically according to set rules and formulae. Everything was being done according to human reason ...I saw all sorts of people, things, doctrines, and opinions. There was something proud, presumptuous, and violent about it, and they seemed very successful. I di not see a single Angel nor a single saint helping in the work. But far away in the background, I saw the seat of the cruel people armed with spears, and I saw a laughing figure which said: " Do build it as solid as you can; we will pull it to the ground."
"I saw again the new and odd-looking church which they were trying to build. There was nothing holy about it ... People were kneading bread in the crypt below ... but it would not rise, nor did they receive the body of our Lord, but only bread. Those who were in error, through no fault of their own, and who piously and ardently longed for the Body of Jesus were spiritually consoled, but not by their communion. Then my Guide (Jesus) said: "This is Babel." "I saw deplorable things: they were gambling, drinking, and talking in church; they were also courting women. All sorts of abominations were perpetrated there. Priests allowed everything and said Mass with much irreverence. I saw that few of them were still godly... All these things caused me much distress. "
DEVOUT CATHOLICS AND CLERGY BEING OPPRESSED:
"Then I saw an apparition of the Mother of God, and she said that the tribulation would be very great. She added that people must pray fervently with outstretched arms, be it only long enough to say three Our Fathers. This was the way her Son prayed for them on the Cross. They must rise at twelve at night, and pray in this manner; and they must keep coming to the Church. They must pray above all for the Church of Darkness to leave Rome... These were all good and devout people, and they did not know where help and guidance should be sought. There were no traitors and enemies among them, yet they were afraid of one another... "
"I saw more martyrs, not now but in the future ... I saw the secret sect relentlessly undermining the great Church. Near them I saw a horrible beast coming up from the sea. All over the world, good and devout people, especially the clergy, were harassed, oppressed, and put into prison ... "
"Whole Catholic communities were being oppressed, harassed, confined, and deprived of their freedom. I saw many churches closed down, great miseries everywhere, wars and bloodshed. A wild and ignorant mob took violent action. But it did not last long... "
Monday, July 31, 2006
God assigns angels to do many things on earth. They are ministering spirits sent to serve those who believe (Hebrews 1:14)
I have had many mystical experiences throughout my life. One of the earliest of these occurred when I was just five years old. My father was still active duty Air Force and we lived on Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts.
One summer afternoon, my sister - who is ten years my senior - was pushing me on a swing not far from where we lived. It was a beautiful day and we were both laughing as she pushed me higher and still higher. Neither of us was aware of a protruding screw which was situated on the bar which ran across the top of the swingset.
My sister pushed harder and harder and I rose higher and higher. And then it happened. My head came in contact with the screw which tore across the left side of my forehead and left a gash which would later require 18 stitches.
Anyone who has ever suffered a cut to the head knows how serious it can be. I was quickly covered in blood and my sister was screaming and crying for help. My mother heard all the commotion and came running. I was covered in blood. My father had taken the family car to work and my mother, who also began to cry and scream for help, felt helpless. Our next door neighbor was home and witnesed all the commotion but never came out to help. Although her car was in the driveway, she didn't want to get any blood on her upholstery.
And so, I began to bleed to death. There was no one around to help us. My mother cried out again. It was at this time that an old beatup car pulled up to the curb next to where my mother was holding me in her arms. Three teenage males, each of them with long hair, jumped out of the car and asked my mother if she needed some help. They opened a car door as my mother leaped into the back seat with me in her arms and my sister right behind her. These three young men all appeared to be in their teens. Highschool age. They were unconcerned about blood soiling their car and reassured my mother as they drove us to the Base Hospital. Later my mother would say that these young men were unusually calm for teenagers and that their words filled her with peace.
As we pulled up to the hospital, one of the young men opened the car door to the back seat and my mother jumped out and ran inside with my sister right behind her. Medical personnel had noticed the car pull up to the emergency room entrance at a high rate of speed and met my mother just inside the door.
As a team of physicians and nurses grabbed me and ran into an operating room, my mother and sister were told to wait in the lobby. As they turned back to the emergency room entrance, they both noticed that the car with the three boys had simply disappeared without making a sound. They thought this odd since the car had made a good deal of noise as it carried us to the hospital. And they had only looked away for a brief instant.
Where had the car gone? And who were the three boys with long hair? They were highschool age but my sister (who attended the Base highschool) had never seen them before. In fact, not one of the boys at her highschool had hair that long. Had they simply been civilians visiting the Base? This was not possible. Every car entering Otis needed to have a military registration sticker in order to gain entry to the base. Unless one was active duty or reserve military and had a military ID. But these three boys had long hair which ruled out that possibility.
And why had these three boys appeared out of nowhere in a residential section of the Base? Why were they there?
My mother knew. For it was right after she had cried out to God for help that three strangers materialized from thin air. And just as soon as they had accomplished their task, they were gone.
I thank the Lord Jesus and my guardian angels for saving my life. And while I will always wonder why the Good God sent three that day, I'm just glad He did.
Paul
I have had many mystical experiences throughout my life. One of the earliest of these occurred when I was just five years old. My father was still active duty Air Force and we lived on Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts.
One summer afternoon, my sister - who is ten years my senior - was pushing me on a swing not far from where we lived. It was a beautiful day and we were both laughing as she pushed me higher and still higher. Neither of us was aware of a protruding screw which was situated on the bar which ran across the top of the swingset.
My sister pushed harder and harder and I rose higher and higher. And then it happened. My head came in contact with the screw which tore across the left side of my forehead and left a gash which would later require 18 stitches.
Anyone who has ever suffered a cut to the head knows how serious it can be. I was quickly covered in blood and my sister was screaming and crying for help. My mother heard all the commotion and came running. I was covered in blood. My father had taken the family car to work and my mother, who also began to cry and scream for help, felt helpless. Our next door neighbor was home and witnesed all the commotion but never came out to help. Although her car was in the driveway, she didn't want to get any blood on her upholstery.
And so, I began to bleed to death. There was no one around to help us. My mother cried out again. It was at this time that an old beatup car pulled up to the curb next to where my mother was holding me in her arms. Three teenage males, each of them with long hair, jumped out of the car and asked my mother if she needed some help. They opened a car door as my mother leaped into the back seat with me in her arms and my sister right behind her. These three young men all appeared to be in their teens. Highschool age. They were unconcerned about blood soiling their car and reassured my mother as they drove us to the Base Hospital. Later my mother would say that these young men were unusually calm for teenagers and that their words filled her with peace.
As we pulled up to the hospital, one of the young men opened the car door to the back seat and my mother jumped out and ran inside with my sister right behind her. Medical personnel had noticed the car pull up to the emergency room entrance at a high rate of speed and met my mother just inside the door.
As a team of physicians and nurses grabbed me and ran into an operating room, my mother and sister were told to wait in the lobby. As they turned back to the emergency room entrance, they both noticed that the car with the three boys had simply disappeared without making a sound. They thought this odd since the car had made a good deal of noise as it carried us to the hospital. And they had only looked away for a brief instant.
Where had the car gone? And who were the three boys with long hair? They were highschool age but my sister (who attended the Base highschool) had never seen them before. In fact, not one of the boys at her highschool had hair that long. Had they simply been civilians visiting the Base? This was not possible. Every car entering Otis needed to have a military registration sticker in order to gain entry to the base. Unless one was active duty or reserve military and had a military ID. But these three boys had long hair which ruled out that possibility.
And why had these three boys appeared out of nowhere in a residential section of the Base? Why were they there?
My mother knew. For it was right after she had cried out to God for help that three strangers materialized from thin air. And just as soon as they had accomplished their task, they were gone.
I thank the Lord Jesus and my guardian angels for saving my life. And while I will always wonder why the Good God sent three that day, I'm just glad He did.
Paul
A handful of radical feminists declare themselves ready for excommunication
Excommunication latae sententiae.
Paul
Defined:
Excommunication can take two different forms. A ferendae sententiae excommunication comes after a formal canonical trial, and is often a matter of public record. A latae sententiae excommunication is incurred automatically, under the terms of the Code of Canon Law, as the punishment for certain offenses. In the case of a latae sententiae excommunication, there is no requirement for formal trial or announcement; in fact, the individual brings the punishment upon himself.
Paul
Defined:
Excommunication can take two different forms. A ferendae sententiae excommunication comes after a formal canonical trial, and is often a matter of public record. A latae sententiae excommunication is incurred automatically, under the terms of the Code of Canon Law, as the punishment for certain offenses. In the case of a latae sententiae excommunication, there is no requirement for formal trial or announcement; in fact, the individual brings the punishment upon himself.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
NH: 4 Catholic churches have new pastors
According to the article, "The assignments, several of which have already taken place, come as the diocese tries to spread a declining number of priests among the parishes in New Hampshire."
Excommunication, Canon Law and Pensions
A Catholic laywoman who regularly forwards me little tidbits from time to time emailed me this morning with the following item. Seems that a Catholic priest, who is interested in the Jean Marchant case, left a comment at the Magisterial Fidelity Blog asking, "Has anyone inquired [as to] whether the Archdiocese is going to give the excommunicated woman [Marchant, who was recently 'ordained"] her pension? Priests don't get their pensions when they are excommunicated."
Another individual (who prefers to remain anonymous), wrote: "Stealing someone's pension strikes me as being one of the worst and most disgusting forms of theft. If this woman is, in fact, entitled to a pension, I'm guessing that the Archdiocese could not legally withhold it from her because of excommunication."
"Anonymous" would be guessing wrong though. Here's what Canon Law has to say about excommunications and expiatory penalties:
"Can. 1312 §1 The penal sanctions in the Church are:
1° medicinal penalties or censures, which are listed in cann. 1331-1333;
2° expiatory penalties, mentioned in can. 1336; §2 The law may determine other expiatory penalties which deprive a member of Christ's faithful of some spiritual or temporal good, and are consistent with the Church's supernatural purpose. §3 Use is also made of penal remedies and penances: the former primarily to prevent offences, the latter rather to substitute for or to augment a penalty."
One such "temporal good" is an individual's pension.
There is something else troubling about the comment left by "anonymous." And it is this: There doesn't appear to be any concern on this individual's part regarding a much more "disgusting form of theft." And here I'm referring to the theft of authentic Catholic doctrine. The People of God have a right to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity. In his Encyclical Letter Veritatis Splendor, Pope John Paul II makes specific mention of "the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity" and insists that this right "must always be respected."(No. 113).
It doesn't surprise me that "anonymous" would be more concerned over the prospect of Jean Marchant possibly losing her pension than about "the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity." After all, as Jesus told us so clearly, the pagans are more concerned about the things of this world than the things of heaven.
Paul
Another individual (who prefers to remain anonymous), wrote: "Stealing someone's pension strikes me as being one of the worst and most disgusting forms of theft. If this woman is, in fact, entitled to a pension, I'm guessing that the Archdiocese could not legally withhold it from her because of excommunication."
"Anonymous" would be guessing wrong though. Here's what Canon Law has to say about excommunications and expiatory penalties:
"Can. 1312 §1 The penal sanctions in the Church are:
1° medicinal penalties or censures, which are listed in cann. 1331-1333;
2° expiatory penalties, mentioned in can. 1336; §2 The law may determine other expiatory penalties which deprive a member of Christ's faithful of some spiritual or temporal good, and are consistent with the Church's supernatural purpose. §3 Use is also made of penal remedies and penances: the former primarily to prevent offences, the latter rather to substitute for or to augment a penalty."
One such "temporal good" is an individual's pension.
There is something else troubling about the comment left by "anonymous." And it is this: There doesn't appear to be any concern on this individual's part regarding a much more "disgusting form of theft." And here I'm referring to the theft of authentic Catholic doctrine. The People of God have a right to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity. In his Encyclical Letter Veritatis Splendor, Pope John Paul II makes specific mention of "the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity" and insists that this right "must always be respected."(No. 113).
It doesn't surprise me that "anonymous" would be more concerned over the prospect of Jean Marchant possibly losing her pension than about "the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity." After all, as Jesus told us so clearly, the pagans are more concerned about the things of this world than the things of heaven.
Paul
Friday, July 28, 2006
More on CORPUS
As previously mentioned, James F. David (one of the staff members of the Evensong retreat facility where Jean Marchant and her husband will be conducting a retreat next April), belongs to CORPUS. At its website, CORPUS has this statement: "For the past thirty-one years, CORPUS has been a primary voice for inclusivity in the priesthood...The universal call to follow Jesus and to be ministers of the Gospel must be recognized, minus blanket ordination bariers that are based on marital status, gender or sexual orientation."
The dissent group asks the following question at its site: "Are you a non-celibate person called to ordination as a Roman Catholic priest? CORPUS wants to hear from you." Source: http://www.corpus.org/page.cfm?Web_ID=588
A universal call to be ordained ministers? Hardly. The following is from the La Salette Journey archives:
Before entering into any state of life, a divine vocation is necessary. This because without such a vocation, it is difficult if not impossible to fulfil the obligations which pertain to that state and to obtain salvation. This is particularly true for the ministerial priesthood or any other ecclesiastical state. After all, it was Our Lord Who said: "He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
Consequently, the man who takes holy orders without a call from God is convicted of theft in taking by force a dignity which God has not called him to and does not desire to bestow upon him. This is the teaching of Saint Paul:
"Neither doth any man take the honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. So Christ also did not glorify Himself that He might be made a high priest; but he that said unto Him: Thou art My Son; this day I have begotten Thee." (Hebrews 5:4,5).
It matters not then how learned or prudent or holy a man may be. No man may place himself into the holy sanctuary unless he is first called and introduced to the same by Almighty God. Jesus Our Lord was certainly the most learned and holy among all men, full of grace and truth (John 1:14), the Son of Man in Whom were (and are) hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). And yet, Jesus required a divine call to assume the dignity of the priesthood.
This is the teaching of the Council of Trent. That the Church regards the man who assumes the priesthood without a vocation not as a minister but as a robber:
"Decernit sancta Synodus eos qui ea (ministeria) propria temeritate sibi sumunt, omnes, non Ecclesiae ministros, sed fures et latrones per ostium non ingressos habendos esse" (Session 23, cap. 4).
Those who seize the priesthood without a vocation may labor and toil exhaustively. But their labors will profit them very little before God. In fact, the very works which would be considered of much merit when performed by others will deserve chastisement for such souls. Because such men are not in conformity with the divine will, not having a vocation to the state of life which they have usurped, the Lord Jesus will not accept their toils:
"I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will not receive a gift of your hand" (Malachi 1:10).
Not only will God refuse the gifts of their hand, He will punish the works of the minister who has entered the sanctuary without being called; without a vocation:
"What stranger soever cometh to it (the Tabernacle) shall be slain." (Numbers 1:51).
In his Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Pope John Paul II said that, "in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful." (No. 4).
This teaching is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful. Therefore, no one may reject this definitive teaching and remain in communion with the Church. And yet, many who profess to be Catholic do. A priest who belongs to the La Salette community in Enfield, New Hampshire was heard to say that he believes there is "wiggle room" on this subject.
That's not fidelity to Magisterial teaching people. That's a rejection of what Pope John Paul II so clearly taught. Pray for this priest and all those who reject the Church's definitive teaching.
Paul
The dissent group asks the following question at its site: "Are you a non-celibate person called to ordination as a Roman Catholic priest? CORPUS wants to hear from you." Source: http://www.corpus.org/page.cfm?Web_ID=588
A universal call to be ordained ministers? Hardly. The following is from the La Salette Journey archives:
Before entering into any state of life, a divine vocation is necessary. This because without such a vocation, it is difficult if not impossible to fulfil the obligations which pertain to that state and to obtain salvation. This is particularly true for the ministerial priesthood or any other ecclesiastical state. After all, it was Our Lord Who said: "He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
Consequently, the man who takes holy orders without a call from God is convicted of theft in taking by force a dignity which God has not called him to and does not desire to bestow upon him. This is the teaching of Saint Paul:
"Neither doth any man take the honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. So Christ also did not glorify Himself that He might be made a high priest; but he that said unto Him: Thou art My Son; this day I have begotten Thee." (Hebrews 5:4,5).
It matters not then how learned or prudent or holy a man may be. No man may place himself into the holy sanctuary unless he is first called and introduced to the same by Almighty God. Jesus Our Lord was certainly the most learned and holy among all men, full of grace and truth (John 1:14), the Son of Man in Whom were (and are) hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). And yet, Jesus required a divine call to assume the dignity of the priesthood.
This is the teaching of the Council of Trent. That the Church regards the man who assumes the priesthood without a vocation not as a minister but as a robber:
"Decernit sancta Synodus eos qui ea (ministeria) propria temeritate sibi sumunt, omnes, non Ecclesiae ministros, sed fures et latrones per ostium non ingressos habendos esse" (Session 23, cap. 4).
Those who seize the priesthood without a vocation may labor and toil exhaustively. But their labors will profit them very little before God. In fact, the very works which would be considered of much merit when performed by others will deserve chastisement for such souls. Because such men are not in conformity with the divine will, not having a vocation to the state of life which they have usurped, the Lord Jesus will not accept their toils:
"I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will not receive a gift of your hand" (Malachi 1:10).
Not only will God refuse the gifts of their hand, He will punish the works of the minister who has entered the sanctuary without being called; without a vocation:
"What stranger soever cometh to it (the Tabernacle) shall be slain." (Numbers 1:51).
In his Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Pope John Paul II said that, "in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful." (No. 4).
This teaching is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful. Therefore, no one may reject this definitive teaching and remain in communion with the Church. And yet, many who profess to be Catholic do. A priest who belongs to the La Salette community in Enfield, New Hampshire was heard to say that he believes there is "wiggle room" on this subject.
That's not fidelity to Magisterial teaching people. That's a rejection of what Pope John Paul II so clearly taught. Pray for this priest and all those who reject the Church's definitive teaching.
Paul
Ephesians 5: 1-14:
So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
Archdiocesan official quits, saying she was ordained
Let's all pray that the Archdiocese of Boston will now take measures to shut down the Evensong retreat facility and other such retreat centers and organizations which actively work to undermine the Church's Magisterial teaching.
Ms. Marchant belongs to "Roman Catholic Womenpriests," a dissent organization which maintains a website here: http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
At this website, there is this little gem of a statement:
MYTH: These ordinations as women priests are not recognized or valid.
TRUTH: The group "RC Womenpriests" receives its authority from Roman Catholic bishops who stand in full Apostolic Succession. These bishops bestowed sacramentally valid ordinations on the women listed above. All the documents pertaining to these ordinations have been attested and notarized. All minutes of the ordinations, including data about persons, Apostolic Succession, and rituals, together with films and photos are deposited with a Notary Public.
Again, the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that:
"Since the sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament of the apostolic ministry, it is for the bishops as the successors of the apostles to hand on the "gift of the Spirit," the "apostolic line." Validly ordained bishops, i.e., those who are in the line of apostolic succession, validly confer the three degrees of the sacrament of Holy Orders." (CCC, 1576).
VI. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?
"Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination." The Lord Jesus chose men (ver) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible." (CCC, 1577).
Here we see a radical rejection of Christ's teaching through the Magisterium of His Church. These "womenpriests," who have succumbed to pride and who have given the devil free reign in their lives, are in dire need of prayer.
Paul
Ms. Marchant belongs to "Roman Catholic Womenpriests," a dissent organization which maintains a website here: http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/
At this website, there is this little gem of a statement:
MYTH: These ordinations as women priests are not recognized or valid.
TRUTH: The group "RC Womenpriests" receives its authority from Roman Catholic bishops who stand in full Apostolic Succession. These bishops bestowed sacramentally valid ordinations on the women listed above. All the documents pertaining to these ordinations have been attested and notarized. All minutes of the ordinations, including data about persons, Apostolic Succession, and rituals, together with films and photos are deposited with a Notary Public.
Again, the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that:
"Since the sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament of the apostolic ministry, it is for the bishops as the successors of the apostles to hand on the "gift of the Spirit," the "apostolic line." Validly ordained bishops, i.e., those who are in the line of apostolic succession, validly confer the three degrees of the sacrament of Holy Orders." (CCC, 1576).
VI. Who Can Receive This Sacrament?
"Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination." The Lord Jesus chose men (ver) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible." (CCC, 1577).
Here we see a radical rejection of Christ's teaching through the Magisterium of His Church. These "womenpriests," who have succumbed to pride and who have given the devil free reign in their lives, are in dire need of prayer.
Paul
Thursday, July 27, 2006
New Hampshire Right to Life Event
On October 29th, New Hampshire Right to Life will be having a dinner in Bedford with Mr. Jim Sedlak, a vociferous opponent of Planned Parenthood, as the featured speaker. There will be other activities as well. For more info contact New Hampshire Right to Life at:
P.O. Box 421
Merrimack, NH 03054
(603) 626-7950
http://www.nhrtl.org
P.O. Box 421
Merrimack, NH 03054
(603) 626-7950
http://www.nhrtl.org
Strange goings on in the Archdiocese of Boston
Jean Marchant, Director of the Office of Health Care Ministry for the Archdiocese of Boston, has supposedly been "ordained" by a schismatic clergyman in Canada: http://carolmckinley.blogspot.com/2006/07/cat-seems-out-of-bag.html
Jean Trainor Marchant and her husband Ron Hindelang, Ph.D, Chaplain at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, are both involved with the Evensong Retreat Facility, a hotbed for dissidents and New Agers of all stripes within the Catholic Church.
In fact, they will be conducting a retreat at Evensong in April of 2007 entitled "Daring to Hope":
DARING TO HOPE
Directors: Rev. Ron Hindelang, S.T.L., Ph.D. & Rev. Jean Marchant, M.Div, D.Min.
April 20, 21, & 22, 2007
Begins at 7pm Friday, ends with Lunch on Sunday
Do you sometimes find yourself thinking "it's hopeless?" Does it sometimes feel like your life is "in a rut?" Ar eyou weighed down by all that's happening in the church? Does God sometimes seem far away? If you answer "Yes!" to any of the above, then this retreat is for you! Imagine for a moment how your life might be different = you've already sown the first see of hope! Come and germinate your seeds of hope with us this Spring. Participants will explore experiences of the loss and regaining of hope through biblical reflections on hope and hopelessness, input from the presenters, personal reflections and prayerful rituals. Join us in germinating your seeds of hope!
Fee: $260 per person
Commuter Rates Available
Evensong is staffed by "Rev" Marie S. David, M.Ed, who is described as a "Reiki Master" and "an ordained priest in good standing in the Community of Roman Catholic Womanpriests." And by James F. David, M.Div, who is described as "a member of CORPUS, an association for an inclusive priesthood, the International Council of Community Churches, and Call To Action." According to the Evensong website, Jim "resigned from the Roman Catholic clerical order in 1993 to continue his work for church renewal outside of the official structure." Source: http://www.evensongretreat.com/About%20staff.html
This pretty much speaks for itself.
Paul
Jean Trainor Marchant and her husband Ron Hindelang, Ph.D, Chaplain at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, are both involved with the Evensong Retreat Facility, a hotbed for dissidents and New Agers of all stripes within the Catholic Church.
In fact, they will be conducting a retreat at Evensong in April of 2007 entitled "Daring to Hope":
DARING TO HOPE
Directors: Rev. Ron Hindelang, S.T.L., Ph.D. & Rev. Jean Marchant, M.Div, D.Min.
April 20, 21, & 22, 2007
Begins at 7pm Friday, ends with Lunch on Sunday
Do you sometimes find yourself thinking "it's hopeless?" Does it sometimes feel like your life is "in a rut?" Ar eyou weighed down by all that's happening in the church? Does God sometimes seem far away? If you answer "Yes!" to any of the above, then this retreat is for you! Imagine for a moment how your life might be different = you've already sown the first see of hope! Come and germinate your seeds of hope with us this Spring. Participants will explore experiences of the loss and regaining of hope through biblical reflections on hope and hopelessness, input from the presenters, personal reflections and prayerful rituals. Join us in germinating your seeds of hope!
Fee: $260 per person
Commuter Rates Available
Evensong is staffed by "Rev" Marie S. David, M.Ed, who is described as a "Reiki Master" and "an ordained priest in good standing in the Community of Roman Catholic Womanpriests." And by James F. David, M.Div, who is described as "a member of CORPUS, an association for an inclusive priesthood, the International Council of Community Churches, and Call To Action." According to the Evensong website, Jim "resigned from the Roman Catholic clerical order in 1993 to continue his work for church renewal outside of the official structure." Source: http://www.evensongretreat.com/About%20staff.html
This pretty much speaks for itself.
Paul
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Christ the King: An Outdated Idea?
In his Encyclical Letter Quas Primas, Pope Pius XI wrote:
"In the first Encyclical Letter which We addressed at the beginning of Our Pontificate to the Bishops of the universal Church, We referred to the chief causes of the difficulties under which mankind was laboring. And We remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ; and that We promised to do as far as lay in Our power. In the Kingdom of Christ, that is, it seemed to Us that peace could not be more effectually restored nor fixed upon a firmer basis than through the restoration of the Empire of Our Lord. We were led in the meantime to indulge the hope of a brighter future at the sight of a more widespread and keener interest evinced in Christ and his Church, the one Source of Salvation, a sign that men who had formerly spurned the rule of our Redeemer and had exiled themselves from his kingdom were preparing, and even hastening, to return to the duty of obedience." (No. 1).
What of this papal teaching on the Kingship of Christ? Why is it that we hear almost nothing on this subject these days? Largely because of our modern democratic mentality. Beginning with the "Enlightenment" (although it was hardly that) and the Industrial Revolution, there was the realization that the rights and interests of a people are best furthered by self-government. This was a positive development. And as nations began to adopt more democratic models of government, the whole notion of royalty either disappeared altogether or was reduced to little more than a museum-piece whose purpose was merely to perpetuate the memory of a romanticized past.
The transition from monarchy to democracy is rightly labelled progress. This because, as any student of history knows full well, the kingship of men more often than not was an exercise in injustice, brutality and unmitigated tyranny. The reign of these merely human kings (and emperors) brings to mind the words of Lord Acton: "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." I write these words as I listen to the Iraqi Prime Minister address the United States Congress and testify to the same.
But should this fact have any implications for our approach to the whole notion of Christ as King of the universe? Obviously we cannot totally divorce our religious concepts from those of the secular sphere. If the notion of kingship is now considered obsolete with regard to our political life, then there are two alternatives which present themselves to us: either we abandon the entire concept and terminology of kingship in the religious sphere, or we must define the Kingship of Christ more precisely so that we might better distinguish this Divine Kingship from that of merely human kings and thereby present it to the world in a more appealing way.
But can we abandon the title of king which Sacred Scripture applies to Christ? Unlike presidents, prime ministers or those we simply refer to as leaders, a king reigns; he rules. And what does it mean to reign or rule? It means to direct or order members of a given society toward their proper end. In a democratic government, it is the people who have the power to rule and the president or prime minister is merely their delegated representative. Whereas in a monarchy, the king alone has the power to rule. And this not by delegation but because this power to rule is derived from his pre-eminence or excellence.
In a democratic form of government, there are three functions which are divided and which are the proper domains of three separate brances of government: the legislative, executive and judicial. But a king possesses the fullness of these powers and it is of his royal essence that he is subject to no one else in the realm with regard to these powers.
Christ has full legislative power. We see this in the New Testament as He accomplished His task of setting up the New Covenant. He has full executive power which He exercises over His Mystical Body the Church and through His Apostles. He has full judicial power, a power which will be made all the more manifest when He returns to earth:
"I saw heaven standing open; and behold, a white horse, and he who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and wages war. And his eyes are as a flame of fire, and on his head many diadems; he has a name written which no man knows except himself. And he is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. And from his mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which to smite the nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God Almighty. And he has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, 'King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19: 11-16).
Jesus is indeed our King. And yes, He rules with a rod of iron. But not as the brutal despot rules. He rules with justice and He is Faithful and True. He is the King of the Universe who defends His people against the rule of Satan, a rule which He overthrows as He destroys the kingdom of Satan on a blood-soaked Cross.
Our King is meekness itself. He defeats the powers of darkness with an iron rod which is called love. Recall that when He stood before Pilate, the Roman governor questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" (Mt 27:11). And He replied, "You say so." This statement from Jesus our King is absolute. And men of every age and place must acknowledge this truth.
Because of the modern democratic mentality, there are many within the Church who believe that they can dissent from (reject) the authoritative teaching of Jesus our King as made known through the Magisterium of His Church. Recall what Pope John Paul II had to say about this:
"While exchanges and conflicts of opinion may constitute normal expressions of public life in a representative democracy, moral teaching certainly cannot depend simply upon respect for a process: indeed, it is in no way established by following the rules and deliberative procedures typical of a democracy. Dissent, in the form of carefully orchestrated protests and polemics carried on in the media, is opposed to ecclesial communion and to a correct understanding of the hierarchical constitution of the People of God. Opposition to the teaching of the Church's Pastors cannot be seen as a legitimate expression either of Christian freedom or of the diversity of the Spirit's gifts." (Veritatis Splendor, No. 113).
The Church is hierarchical with Christ our King as the head of His Mystical Body. And our heavenly Father has sent forth His firstborn Son to establish a kingdom for a glorious purpose: "For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for 'he subjected everything under his feet.' But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the one who subjected everything to him. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him [the Father], so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15: 22-28).
Now that's a Kingship which should appeal to anyone!
Until next time,
God love you
Paul Anthony Melanson
"In the first Encyclical Letter which We addressed at the beginning of Our Pontificate to the Bishops of the universal Church, We referred to the chief causes of the difficulties under which mankind was laboring. And We remember saying that these manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics: and we said further, that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations. Men must look for the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ; and that We promised to do as far as lay in Our power. In the Kingdom of Christ, that is, it seemed to Us that peace could not be more effectually restored nor fixed upon a firmer basis than through the restoration of the Empire of Our Lord. We were led in the meantime to indulge the hope of a brighter future at the sight of a more widespread and keener interest evinced in Christ and his Church, the one Source of Salvation, a sign that men who had formerly spurned the rule of our Redeemer and had exiled themselves from his kingdom were preparing, and even hastening, to return to the duty of obedience." (No. 1).
What of this papal teaching on the Kingship of Christ? Why is it that we hear almost nothing on this subject these days? Largely because of our modern democratic mentality. Beginning with the "Enlightenment" (although it was hardly that) and the Industrial Revolution, there was the realization that the rights and interests of a people are best furthered by self-government. This was a positive development. And as nations began to adopt more democratic models of government, the whole notion of royalty either disappeared altogether or was reduced to little more than a museum-piece whose purpose was merely to perpetuate the memory of a romanticized past.
The transition from monarchy to democracy is rightly labelled progress. This because, as any student of history knows full well, the kingship of men more often than not was an exercise in injustice, brutality and unmitigated tyranny. The reign of these merely human kings (and emperors) brings to mind the words of Lord Acton: "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." I write these words as I listen to the Iraqi Prime Minister address the United States Congress and testify to the same.
But should this fact have any implications for our approach to the whole notion of Christ as King of the universe? Obviously we cannot totally divorce our religious concepts from those of the secular sphere. If the notion of kingship is now considered obsolete with regard to our political life, then there are two alternatives which present themselves to us: either we abandon the entire concept and terminology of kingship in the religious sphere, or we must define the Kingship of Christ more precisely so that we might better distinguish this Divine Kingship from that of merely human kings and thereby present it to the world in a more appealing way.
But can we abandon the title of king which Sacred Scripture applies to Christ? Unlike presidents, prime ministers or those we simply refer to as leaders, a king reigns; he rules. And what does it mean to reign or rule? It means to direct or order members of a given society toward their proper end. In a democratic government, it is the people who have the power to rule and the president or prime minister is merely their delegated representative. Whereas in a monarchy, the king alone has the power to rule. And this not by delegation but because this power to rule is derived from his pre-eminence or excellence.
In a democratic form of government, there are three functions which are divided and which are the proper domains of three separate brances of government: the legislative, executive and judicial. But a king possesses the fullness of these powers and it is of his royal essence that he is subject to no one else in the realm with regard to these powers.
Christ has full legislative power. We see this in the New Testament as He accomplished His task of setting up the New Covenant. He has full executive power which He exercises over His Mystical Body the Church and through His Apostles. He has full judicial power, a power which will be made all the more manifest when He returns to earth:
"I saw heaven standing open; and behold, a white horse, and he who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and wages war. And his eyes are as a flame of fire, and on his head many diadems; he has a name written which no man knows except himself. And he is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. And from his mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which to smite the nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God Almighty. And he has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, 'King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19: 11-16).
Jesus is indeed our King. And yes, He rules with a rod of iron. But not as the brutal despot rules. He rules with justice and He is Faithful and True. He is the King of the Universe who defends His people against the rule of Satan, a rule which He overthrows as He destroys the kingdom of Satan on a blood-soaked Cross.
Our King is meekness itself. He defeats the powers of darkness with an iron rod which is called love. Recall that when He stood before Pilate, the Roman governor questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" (Mt 27:11). And He replied, "You say so." This statement from Jesus our King is absolute. And men of every age and place must acknowledge this truth.
Because of the modern democratic mentality, there are many within the Church who believe that they can dissent from (reject) the authoritative teaching of Jesus our King as made known through the Magisterium of His Church. Recall what Pope John Paul II had to say about this:
"While exchanges and conflicts of opinion may constitute normal expressions of public life in a representative democracy, moral teaching certainly cannot depend simply upon respect for a process: indeed, it is in no way established by following the rules and deliberative procedures typical of a democracy. Dissent, in the form of carefully orchestrated protests and polemics carried on in the media, is opposed to ecclesial communion and to a correct understanding of the hierarchical constitution of the People of God. Opposition to the teaching of the Church's Pastors cannot be seen as a legitimate expression either of Christian freedom or of the diversity of the Spirit's gifts." (Veritatis Splendor, No. 113).
The Church is hierarchical with Christ our King as the head of His Mystical Body. And our heavenly Father has sent forth His firstborn Son to establish a kingdom for a glorious purpose: "For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for 'he subjected everything under his feet.' But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the one who subjected everything to him. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him [the Father], so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15: 22-28).
Now that's a Kingship which should appeal to anyone!
Until next time,
God love you
Paul Anthony Melanson
Scripture meditation
"Humiliation followeth the proud: and glory shall uphold the humble of spirit."
"Superbum sequitur humilitas, et humilem spiritu suscipiet gloria." (Prov. 29, 23)
"Superbum sequitur humilitas, et humilem spiritu suscipiet gloria." (Prov. 29, 23)
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Vatican official: Kneeling expresses meeting Jesus in the Eucharist
Recall the priest in Florida who has been telling his parishioners that kneeling during the Consecration constitutes a "mortal sin." And pray for him. Anyone with that much hatred for reverence shown to Our Eucharistic Lord is in dire need of prayer.
Paul
Paul
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