* Fortunately, an offer to allow Anglicans the use of a Catholic church in Australia for their pretend 'ordinations' was withdrawn after an "unnamed Vatican department" complained. [Reminder: The Church has ruled that Anglican 'orders' are "absolutely null and utterly void"] Regrettably, some misguided local Catholics have "criticized the decision and apologized to the Anglicans" who had wanted to confer pretend 'orders' on (heretical) Anglican women (& men) inside a Catholic church [Note: Click here for 'Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests' | Click here for information on the necessity of being Catholic for salvation]
* Good news: A Catholic college in Iowa has received $500 cash along with an anonymous handwritten apology letter regarding a radio stolen from the teacher's lounge back in 1955. The repentant thief said he/she "regretted this foolish act ever since and have resolved many times in these past years to make restitution" and asked for forgiveness and prayers.
Refresher: "[If] the penitent has taken anything from his neighbor, he is bound to restitution. Likewise if, by word or deed he has injured his neighbor's honor or reputation, he is under an obligation of repairing the injury by procuring him some advantage or rendering him some service. Well known to all is the maxim of St. Augustine: The sin is not forgiven unless what has been taken away is restored." (Catechism of the Council of Trent)
* Here we go again: Woman sees "image of Jesus" in brownish residue on the bottom of her iron. The woman, who is separated from her husband, feels the image in the residue is a reassurance that her "life is going to be good." She hopes the supposed residue-image will "inspire others during the holidays"
* Dissent female religious at it again: One of the rebellious U.S. women religious - who, as a whole, are "almost unanimously" refusing to cooperate in the Vatican's investigation - has claimed that it has been a "challenge" to "respond to the Vatican in a way that breaks a cycle of violence." The dissident sisters find language in the Vatican questionnaire to be "violent" (oh please!), while finding their "resistant" responses to be "creative and affirming"
* Ecumenism at it again: The President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has visited the Istiqlal mosque, which was designed by a Protestant architect and is "the largest in Southeast Asia." [Now hold your cookies...] The cardinal "walked barefoot" in the mosque and claimed "It seems there is no gap between Muslims and Catholics."
* Irish citizens are "stunned, furious, and sad" over the contents of a recently released abuse report concerning the Archdiocese of Dublin. The report concluded that there was "no doubt" of a "decades-long cover-up of abusive clergy coupled with the mistreatment of survivors." It was acknowledged that "no words of apology will ever be sufficient."
Also, since the release of the report, at least one commentator has complained that a "spin" is being put on the scandal, namely that "there is an effort to implicate the 'pre-Conciliar' Catholic Church in the wrongdoings." As proof, it is noted that one of the Archbishops who was a "Vatican II skeptic" is being "unjustly dragged into the scandal." The Archbishop in question had resigned years before the period covered by the report. The commentator notes that the image of abusers that is being propagated is one of traditional clergy whereas he claims "the nightmare...of relentless mortal sin recorded in this report was committed by modern priests" who "[devastated] their church sanctuaries as badly as they devastated children's lives, abolishing all the devotions such as Benediction, the Rosary, regular confession, devotion to saints, etc. that had sustained Irish faith for centuries." In short, he claims that this "filthy abomination was a scandal of the post-Vatican II, open-windows, relevant, touchy-feely" 'post-Conciliar Church'. [Note: Some typographical errors appearing in the original quotations have been corrected herein]
* Could it be, an end to ecumenical talks? A "third phase of official dialogue" with Anglicans will reportedly take place next year and will cover "divisive issues." One report claims that this third phase of ecumenical dialogue is "likely final"
* The president of the Pontifical Council for Culture has expressed "alarm" over an "immoral trend" of former churches being used as bars & nightclubs. He called on dioceses to use "great caution" in insuring that former church buildings are not used for immoral purposes
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