Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, May 24, 2010,
In :
Humour
I was very surprised to see this story in the Manchester Guardian:
A media lynch mob is bent on destroying Pope
Fresh reports about the Pope's past just don't add up. But facts matter little in an issue that has become so politicised.
Oh wait, I misread.
Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, April 4, 2010,
In :
Humour
During his homily and urbi et orbe address on Easter Sunday and blessing of his new Popemobile, Pope Benedict XVI failed to condemn the recent spate of ATM thefts that have plagued border counties; he also failed to condemn the torture of frogs by small boys, genocide, adultery, fornication and any programme George Jones or Pat Kenny hosts; he also failed to mention child abuse.
Commentators have concluded that he supports all of these crimes and doesn't take the issue seriously.
A Vatican sp...
Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Friday, April 2, 2010,
In :
Church
I thought for the times that are in it I would publish a sermon on priesthood. It was preached last night at the Mass of the Lord's Supper, 1 April 2010, at St Mary's Church, Drogheda, by Rev. John Hogan, Father Director of the Fraternity of St Genesius. I know that many people in the congregation, myself included, were very moved by his words.
Exodus 12: 1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; John 13:1-15
The Year of the Priest
One of the most beautiful books I have read was the Venerable Pope John...
Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, March 28, 2010,
In :
Culture
 From our Sports Correspondent, Noah Little: "Roy Keane has never been a good footballer; he's been mediocre throughout his career. Ironically he won 7 Premier League Medals, 4 FA Cups, a Champions Leage, a Scottish Premier League, a Scottish Cup, 66 full caps for the Republic of Ireland and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2000."
You see what I did there? I made an unsubstantiated assertion then followed it with some facts which entirely contradict ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Thursday, March 25, 2010,
In :
Church
 The lasting legacy of Bishop Josephy DuffyI've just been upstairs cleaning up my four year old's vomit - I wonder was she reading the Irish Catholic. Sometimes you think you can't be any more shocked by the scandals and then you get a little more. Front page of tomorrow's Irish Catholic has headline "Irish Church is crying out for reform - Bishop". Oh, says I to myself, I wonder who this can be. Well, well. Joe Duffy of Clogher, apparently has discovered a conscience and some insight half a min... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, March 23, 2010,
In :
Church
 Well in the midst of all the fatuous coverage of the Pope's Letter, bemoaning his failure to do this or say that, the odd journalist has actually read the letter and realised that it is a damning indictment of the Irish episcopal conference - from a red tops point of view it's all a bit too subtle but from a red hat point of view it couldn't be blunter. The bishops' leadership, in a range of areas which contributed to this fiasco, has been deplorable, in education, in vocations, in seminarie... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, March 23, 2010,
In :
Church
 Well, it's like a Kylie Minogue theme party in Irish ecclesiastical these days as every bishop does his best to spin the Pope's Letter in the best possible taste. As people know, I'm fond of a good analogy and I did enjoy Bishop Donal McKeown's attempts to liken Cardinal Brady to a recovering alcoholic. I'm sure the Cardinal appreciates the words of support: “Obfuscation, making excuses, blaming the system, saying we were there but we weren’t really part of it is no way forward," he said. ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, March 23, 2010,
In :
Church
Just on the off chance you haven't actually read the Pope's Letter to Ireland (which could easily happen since many churches didn't make it available at the weekend) you can read it here. If you manage nothing else, do pray the prayer below:
Prayer for the Church in Ireland
God of our fathers,
renew us in the faith which is our life and salvation,
the hope which promises forgiveness and interior renewal,
the charity which purifies and opens our hearts
to love you, and in you, each of our broth... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Saturday, March 20, 2010,
In :
Affairs
 Pope Benedict's long awaited letter to Ireland was published today. The Pope pledged to sell off the contents of the Vatican Museums, the Michelangelo Pieto and the Coliseum and give the money to survivors. He also agreed to end the tradition of clerical celibacy and to allow the ordination of women. After that he proceeded to St Peter's Square where he poured petrol over himself and set himself alight. Andrew Madden, speaking on behalf of One Million in the hand and Four Million in the Bank, c... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, October 21, 2009,
In :
Church
While rejoicing with most (i.e. not liberal) other Catholics at the surprise news that the Holy Father has once again caught people off guard by doing something new to restore something old, it did occur to me that while Rowan Williams must be seething on the one hand that this has been done, a clear slap in the face to the modernist form of ecumenism in which we all water down our beliefs until they are all the same, on the other hand part of him must be thinking, "great, a chance to dump th... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, October 18, 2009,
In :
Church
 American Papist had this photograph on his funny photos section - he was concentrating on the rubbish art bit and how the Pope has to endure such stuff. For me the funnier bit is the tiny little man who seems to have just emerged from the white box on the right. Hat tip to Caroline. I had similar thoughts when I saw the Pope examining piece of a meteorite recently. I could his brain thinking "how long am I supposed to stare profoundly at this piece of crap?". It was exactly the same look the... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Saturday, May 23, 2009,
In :
Church
 The Irish Catholic (Michael Kelly) has launced a campaign to have Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican, declared a Righteous Gentile. There's nothing much wrong with this, except maybe that I think he was already declared one - the Irish Examiner says the tree was planted in 2003. But apart from that, I think in principle Catholics should have nothing to do with the whole procedure until at a minimum they stop attacking Pope Pius XII. And really until they declare ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, May 18, 2009,
In :
Affairs
 Obama silent on the rape and murder of two black children in Soweto. Obama silent on the relegation of West Bromwich Albion. Obama silent on the suspension of a teacher accused of abuse in Tallahassee public school. Presumably we can conclude from this silence that Obama supports rape, murder, Liverpool FC and abuse in Tallahassee. No, you say, that would be entirely illogical. Try googling "Pope silent Obama invitation" and you will get some four thousand news articles, for example this one. T... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, May 13, 2009,
In :
Church
"Joseph Ratzinger depends a great deal upon other people for emotional support and he has a large "family" of friends that care about him and treat him as kin. The women in The Pope's life are particularly important to him, and his relationships with them powerfully influence his sense of security and happiness. Pope Benedict XVI may be overly dependent and unsure of himself without a close partner.
The Pope has intense desires and feelings and his personal relationships are deeply emotiona... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, May 13, 2009,
In :
Church
I worry about the Jews and the smouldering anti-Semitism that is always ready to ignite and which we must guard against, even if we feel provoked. This comment piece from Israel on the Pope's speech at the holocaust memorial was typical of many, begrudging, wanting the Pope to abase himself in some way and accept a personal or corporate responsibility for what happened which he could not, in truth, do. He wrote:
However, you thought otherwise. You thought that visiting Yad Vashem is enough... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, May 12, 2009,
In :
Church
 What have the Pope's Mass in Jerusalem and tonight's semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in common. Apart from the lurid costumes, the dreadful flat singing. Did you see the beginning of the papal Mass? There was a dreadful introduction, a long speech of welcome by the Latin Patriarch, full of ridiculous political propoganda. I have checked my General Instruction on the Roman Missal thoroughly and there is no provision in the rubrics for someone welcoming the celebrant. Meanwhile Lom... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, May 12, 2009,
In :
Church
 You know what, I wish the Pope could just tell people to naff off, grow up, calm down and anything else that ends in a preposition. At Tel Aviv airport he refers to the six million Jews killed in Holocaust. Later he says "millions" and they are down on him like a ton of bricks. He says "killed" instead of "murdered". He doesn't blame Christianity for the Nazis, though previously he has referred to the Church's role in anti-Semitism, as has John Paul the Great. He doesn't mention his own ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, May 12, 2009,
In :
Church
 The year is 2012, the newsreader has just announced the death of Nelson Mandela, tributes begin to flood in from around the world - man of peace, saviour of South Africa, uniter of black and white, friend of the poor. The year is 2022, a small budget movie appears called The Prisoner - it's about a man arrested in an African country for terrorism. It shows a man who breaks while in prison, he buys his release by agreeing to renounce violence. He is a sort of Uncle Tom character. He becomes ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, May 10, 2009,
In :
Church
 I have been scanning the internet for two days trying to find a photo like this after my wife spotted him at the airport line-up in Jordan. No I don't mean the Holy Father, but Monsignor Michael Crotty, Cloyne's finest, the number two of the Nunciature in Iraq. Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Friday, May 8, 2009,
In :
Church
The Friday Competition - try and find a news service covering the Holy Father's trip to the Near East that doesn't mention his 2006 Regensberg speech which "outraged" Muslims or the recent lifting of the excommunication of Bishop Williamson which "outraged" some Jews just recovering from their "outrage" over the possible beatification of Pope Pius XII and the "outrage" at the restoration of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Here's one you can have for free. It provides a d...
Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, April 29, 2009,
In :
Church
 A little more on the Pope's visit to the earth quake zone. I really like this photo because, for those of us who drive on the left as God intended (started in Rome by the Pope for the Holy Year of 1300) before Napoleon made everyone drive on the right, it looks like the Pope is driving himself which is vaguely amusing for those who are easily amused I suppose. Also wanted to post the prayer the Pope said for victims which I think is lovely and could be used by anyone who has experienced a dea... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, April 29, 2009,
In :
Church
 Did you see the Holy Father's visit to Abruzzo - Times and Sky News had some good coverage. I was intrigued by his decision to leave his original papal pallium - the giant one - at the tomb of St Cellistine, as a mark of solidarity with the people affected by the quake. Or perhaps St Vincent de Paul didn't want it - cos as the Pope discovered, it's far too big. We need some fat archbishops again, well fat and tall, not Cardinal O Fiach style - who could carry it off. Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, April 27, 2009,
In :
Church
 Found this interesting photography of Pope John Paul the Great from the 1950s. Of course what's most interesting is that you can see clearly his brown scapular. Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Thursday, April 9, 2009,
In :
Church
 Someone close to the Holy Father has forwarded this online declaration to me as a simple and practical way to show our support for the Pope, who continues to be attacked by his enemies, domesic and foreign so to speak. Just click on the link above, fill in your details and your name will be forwarded in due course to the Holy Father. I'm sure it will gladden his heart. Do you remember that scene in Mr Smith Goes to Washington where James Stewart has been talking in the Senate chamber for t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Thursday, March 26, 2009,
In :
Church
You're probably all heartily sick of condoms at this stage - but do read Kevin Myers piece on Wednesday in the Irish Independent. It is rather good. Some favourite bits for those too lazy to follow links:
Who would bePope Benedict? The poor German has merely to say "good morning", and the liberal tabloids are shrieking: "Thousands dead in Sudan; famine across the world; ecological disaster everywhere -- and Hitler Youth Pontiff thinks it's A GOOD MORNING!"
There is no falsehood that you c... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, March 25, 2009,
In :
Church
Funny how prescient I can be. You will recall yesterday how I suggested the liberals would like to have advised the Pope over condoms - don't answer questions and if you do, evade. Well tomorrow's Irish Catholic will have an editorial on the Pope. Not alone will it use the standard secular prism of "Pope in crisis" but it will convey that dodgy, cowardly advice. I quote:
"A good media adviser would have told him not to address this issue on th eflight to Africa, but to address it while in ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, March 25, 2009,
In :
Church
 I see that Prof. Vincent Twomey has entered the fray in defence of the Pope. I almost missed the story because of all the other articles and letters in defence from the bishops. I exagerate a little. Well, a lot. Perhaps they're remembering him in their prayers. -------------- I happy feast day to you all. We're having a "Big Mass" tonight in St Mary's Drogheda to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first Mass in St Mary's. And tea afterwards in the Wendy Parish Centre. You know the way a T... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, March 23, 2009,
In :
Church
 The Holy Father, as always, rises over the (I was going to say "pymies" but perhaps not appropriate) low comments of those who attack him and continues delivering the message of hope, which is Jesus Christ (and not Obama as some would wish). This, I thought, was a rather fine snippet to young people on commitment: After encouraging his young audience not to be "afraid to make definitive decisions", the Pope added: "You do not lack generosity - that I know! But the idea of risking a lifelong com... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, March 18, 2009,
In :
Church
 You know it's time to do some laundry when you're wearing the free socks you got on an aeroplane five years ago. Doubt the Pope had that problem on his flight to Africa. He does seem to have caused some confusion by letting the cat out of the bag again and revealing his Catholic side. One suspects that most journalists had their stories written some time ago and merely had to say, "well your Holiness, still against condoms then?" It really is too pathetic for words. Meanwhile in the parish o... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, March 17, 2009,
In :
Church
 It's funny the way news can pass you by. I was rather surprised to discover the Pope is heading for Africa tomorrow, well today actually. I can remember lots of talk about going to the Holy Land, but nothing at all about Africa. Have I just missed it? I don't think so - I think it speaks volumes about the way Africa is covered by all sections of the Press - and also about the way the Pope is covered. This should be a major story, given that he rarely travels, but it's not. He'll be in Cam... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Friday, March 13, 2009,
In :
Humour
 If you're looking for some light entertainment and a way to meet new people, here's a fun new game I've discovered. You see someone wearing a Liverpool FC top (or scarf, hat, coat whatever); you stop them and say "excuse me, do you know you're wearing a Liverpool top?". They usually reply "what?" in some shape or form - depending on where you are - it may include an explitive. You then reply "I thought perhaps it was a mistake". Usually best to move off quickly at this point, although many... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Thursday, March 12, 2009,
In :
Church
 A better translation is available from Chiesa and it is worth a read. As always with Pope Benedict, you get something deeper and richer beyond the presenting issue, in this case the excommunications. He looks at the openness of the Church as teacher (and remember, this is the Pope who had dinner with Hans Kung despite all the unpleasant things Kung has said about him), and you can see the pastoral concern he has for the faithful in the SSPX. But of course, I enjoy also the bits where he doesn'... Continue reading ...
Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, March 10, 2009,
In :
Humour
So the Holy Father is on a pastoral visitation to the Holy Land. The first day he's at the Wailing Wall, kneeling. A child asks him what he's doing. "I'm praying for peace between the Jews and the Arabs". "And who are you talking to?" asked the child. "To God the Father" replied the Pope.
The next day the Pope is back at the Wailing Wall again. "What are you doing?" asks another child. "I'm praying for peace in Sudan". "And who are you talking to?" asked the child. "To God the Son" re...
Continue reading ...
|
About Me + Disclaimer + Email + How to Comment
| Christopher Mc Camley |
| Drogheda, Ireland |
Catholic, Carmelite, Husband, Father, Reader of all sorts of books, Writer of occasional letters, Viewer of lots of TV and movies, Lover of tea, Hater of coffee. Anything I write is my own opionion and is not intended to represent the views of any organisation with which I have a connection. You can email me at "blog at live.ie" (replace the "at" with @). Don't be shy. To comment, click on the title of post. You have to include a name and email but fake ones work fine. Make sure there's an @ in the email.
|
|
