New Pope must save Church from waning influence: Cardinal
Fresco ~ Michelangelo's Last Judgment (Sistine Chapel)
New Pope must save Church from waning influence: Cardinal
The new Pope must save the Catholic Church from waning influence amid the evils of modern society - and may well be an Italian - says Cardinal George Pell, one of the 117 men who will elect a new pontiff next month, reports The Sunday Telegraph.
In an exclusive interview, Cardinal Pell said the vote was "enormously important for the Church".
"If we go under, we surrender to the tides that are breaking up families, decreasing the birth rate, the challenges of alcoholism and drugs and pornography. If we collapse or we wobble disastrously, it won't be for the good of the western world at all," he said.
Cardinal Pell will fly to Rome on Friday, where he will meet other cardinals before being secluded inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to choose a replacement for the retiring Pope Benedict.
There are factions - Cardinal …

Words fail us: Priests respond to the new Missal a year later
Photo ~ Why liberal liturgists dislike the new translation
Words fail us: Priests respond to the new Missal a year later
There was plenty of chatter in the pews when the new Roman Missal landed in parishes last November, as Catholics fretted about the at times awkward or confusing responses that would replace their old familiar prayers.
But the challenges parishioners faced in adapting to the new translations were nothing compared to what was in store for the men on the other side of the altar.
“I still find it very difficult to say the prayers and, because of the stumbling, Mass is less prayerful,” says Father Adrian Fischer of Monroe, Louisiana. “I would go back to the other translation in a minute.”
Fischer is not alone. His feelings are shared by many of the more than 1,200 priests who responded to our survey, designed specifically to gauge how the clergy have handled the transition.
Most seemed to relish the opportunity …

Cardinal says spirit of Vatican II has been betrayed
Cardinal Burke says indiscipline crept in.
Abandonment of internal church discipline over the past half century has undermined the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, said the American cardinal who heads the Vatican’s supreme court.
“This antinomianism embedded in civil society has unfortunately infected post-council ecclesial life,” he said.
“Excitement following the council, linked to the establishment of a new church which teaches freedom and love, has strongly encouraged an attitude of indifference toward church discipline, if not even hostility,” he said. “The reforms of ecclesial life which were hoped for by the council fathers were, therefore, in a certain sense, hindered if not betrayed.”
....ignorance or deliberate neglect of canon law in the years since Vatican II had “reaped gravely harmful fruits in the church,” contributing to the clerical sex abuse scandal, abuses of the liturgy, “vacuous and confused, if not erroneous …

Vatican slams anti-Muslim provocations, cites pope's positive example in Lebanon
The head of the Vatican Press Office condemns the "unjustified offense and provocations against the sensibilities" of Muslims caused by a movie mocking Muhammad. Such actions "nourish tension and hatred, unleashing unacceptable violence." In Lebanon, Benedict XVI wants to build coexistence among believers. A meeting in Beirut's Museum Square is held to welcome the pope.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - A "Profound respect for the beliefs, texts, outstanding figures and symbols of the various religions is" needed "for the peaceful coexistence of peoples," which is what Benedict XVI wants to do with his visit to Lebanon this week-end, said Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican Press Office director, in response to the violence caused by a second rate US movie that mocks Muhammad.
In reaction to the latter, a group of armed men attacked the US consulate in Benghazi killing the US ambassador, Christopher Stevens, and three of …

Cardinal Dolan Says Events In Libya, Egypt Show Urgent Need For Respect For All Religions
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), reacted to the September 11 death of U.S. ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens and members of the embassy staff.
"Yesterday's events in Libya and Egypt point to what is at stake. We need to be respectful of other religious traditions at the same time that we unequivocally proclaim that violence in the name of religion is wrong," said Cardinal Dolan.
The full text of Cardinal Dolan's address, other addresses, speaker bios and video of that event will be available at: iprcua.com/…/international-r…. . .

Notre Dame’s Fr. Jenkins Promises “A Fresh Look” at LGBT Issues
Photo ~ Obama and Fr. Jenkins
Notre Dame’s Fr. Jenkins Promises “A Fresh Look” at LGBT Issues
In an interview with the student newspaper, the president of the University of Notre Dame, Father John Jenkins, spoke at length of the university’s decision to not add sexual discrimination to its nondiscrimination clause.
But he cryptically added that it’s time for the university to take “a fresh look” at issues relating to LGBT students.
The decision to not alter the university’s nondiscrimination clause was announced at the end of the last semester and sparked a number of protests including a student led vigil, a number of professors speaking out, and over 100 faculty on campus signing a public letter urging the administration to change its mind.
Fr. Jenkins told The Observer that Notre Dame doesn’t discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation but said that if Notre Dame were to alter its nondiscrimination clause it could …

Milwaukee to close, consolidate over 100 parishes
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki is preparing the archdiocese for 2020, particularly as to how the spiritual needs of the Catholic community will best be served.
"Parishes and Pastoral Leadership 2020," approved and issued by Archbishop Listecki Aug. 8, notes "three principal factors" that will have an impact on parishes during the next decade:
• From 2010 to 2020, the number of priest retirements will exceed ordinations, resulting in a projected 40 percent reduction in the number of priests serving in parish ministry.
• The costs of operating parishes and funding ministries are escalating rapidly and parishes can gain economies of scale by collaborating with other parishes.
• The one mission of the church, shared by all parishes, can be carried out more effectively by combining efforts and sharing resources.
There are 203 parishes in the archdiocese. By 2020, there will be 100 parishes and clusters.
Link

Cardinal Carlo Martini says Church '200 years behind'
Photo ~ Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini
Cardinal Carlo Martini says Church '200 years behind'
(Thanks to Dr. Joe for submitting this news story.)
Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini has described the Roman Catholic Church as being "200 years behind" the times.
Martini, a popular figure with liberal stances on many issues, commanded great respect from both Pope John Paul II and his successor Pope Benedict XVI.
Catholics lacked confidence in the Church, he said in the interview. "Our culture has grown old, our churches are big and empty and the church bureaucracy rises up, our religious rites and the vestments we wear are pompous."
Unless the Church adopted a more generous attitude towards divorced persons, it will lose the allegiance of future generations, the cardinal added.
The question, he said, is not whether divorced couples can receive holy communion, but how the Church can help complex family situations.
In 2008, he …

Ratzinger, Vatican II and the summer of 1962
Photo ~ The opening day of the Council
Ratzinger, Vatican II and the summer of 1962
Half a century ago, the future pope was under pressure in his role as theological consultant for the Second Vatican Council
Fifty years ago, the then 35 year old Ratzinger - who was teaching fundamental theology at Bonn University at the time - was again hard at work studying pamphlets, correcting drafts and preparing texts.
Back then, Ratzinger was faced with a big workload being given to him by the Archbishop of Cologne, Joseph Frings who had chosen him as his theological consultant for the Second Vatican Council and wanted his help in the busy final stages of the preparation for the big meeting.
Thanks to Frings, Ratzinger had access as early as the spring of 1962 to the draft documents delivered by the preparatory commissions for discussion and approval in the Council. Important historical studies by Norbert Trippen and the Jesuit Jared Wicks confirm that …

That's Very Nice (8/20/2012)
ChurchMilitantTV: Sometimes.. one little expression says it all .. so HAVE A NICE DAY!

Thanks For Trying! (8/17/2012)
ChurchMilitantTV: At first Peasant Catholics were upset that Obama had been invited to be a guest of honor at the annual Al Smith dinner. Now, their blood is starting to boil at how they're being treated by the Archdiocese of New York.

Nuns should wear the habit
Photo ~ Nuns in prayer
Nuns should wear the habit
Published February 2007
... my opinion remains that all religious sisters and nuns should wear the habit of their respective orders.
No longer should these women, who have given their lives to the service of God and the Church, be dressing like laypeople. It is time to return to the ancient practice of wearing a distinct habit - this is not fulfilled by wearing laypeople's clothing!
The habit inspires women to leave their lives and gives themselves to God. The same is true for men who are inspired by the garments worn by priests and monks.
To enter a religious order, one does not just experience a change of heart and soul, rather, there is also a change in the physical realm.
For example, many religious orders require the women to adopt a new name when they become a nun in addition to wearing the habit.
Over the past 30 years, the number of women in Catholic religious orders has decreased by around 50 percent. …

Were the Jesuits as Funny as You Thought?
Loyola Press Publisher Paul Brian Campbell, SJ, sits down with Jake Martin, SJ, a stand-up comedian and author of "What's So Funny About Faith?" published by Loyola Press. Learn more about Jake's book detailing the intersection of his faith and humor life here: www.loyolapress.com/whats-so-funny-about-faith.htm

Kindermesse am Gründonnerstag.
Pfarre Hartberg in der Diözese Graz.

More Than 1,000 Mexicans Leave Catholic Church Daily, Expert Says
Photo ~ STRIKING A CHORD Ramona Campaña was attracted to the unity and passion she saw in a Pentecostal group at a relative’s wake in 1993. A Roman Catholic, she converted soon after, and joined Ark of Salvation years later.
More Than 1,000 Mexicans Leave Catholic Church Daily, Expert Says
Published April 3, 2011
More than 1,000 Mexicans left the Catholic Church every day over the last decade, adding up to some 4 million fallen-away Catholics between 2000 and 2010, sociologist and historian Roberto Blancarte told Efe.
Blancarte, one of the nation’s outstanding specialists on religious subjects, said that one of the main conclusions to be drawn from the 2010 census is that Mexico is no longer a predominantly Catholic country and has become a nation of religious pluralism.
According to figures from the census taken last year, out of a total 112 million Mexicans, 92.9 million are Catholics, 14.1 million belong to Protestant …

Cardinal George Apologizes to Gays
Photo ~ Cardinal Francis George answers questions from the press before visiting the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago on Dec. 25, 2011. (Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune)
Cardinal George apologizes for remarks comparing gay rights movement to KKK
'I was speaking out of fear that I have for the church's liberty,' says head of Chicago Archdiocese
Chicago's Cardinal Francis George apologized Friday for remarks aired on Christmas Day comparing the gay pride parade to the Ku Klux Klan.
"I am truly sorry for the hurt my remarks have caused," George said in an interview with the Tribune.
"Particularly because we all have friends or family members who are gay and lesbian. This has evidently wounded a good number of people. I have family members myself who are gay and lesbian, so it's part of our lives. So I'm sorry for the hurt."
Chris Pett, president of Dignity Chicago, an independent ministry for gay, lesbian and …