The following are some recent news highlights...
* Muslim tourists in a converted cathedral in Cordoba who refused to halt praying injured two security officers when they were asked to stop or leave the cathedral. Two men were arrested for the violence that was reportedly conducted in "an organized fashion", and an "anonymous local police source" indicated that one of the men arrested was carrying a knife. Muslim prayer is banned at the cathedral, a former mosque that was converted in the 13th century.
* A supposed 'leading Catholic conservative' has penned an article for the Wall Street Journal titled "The Catholic Church's Catastrophe." The piece agues that the Church should "thank" the media, claiming the press "has been the best friend of the Catholic Church on this issue [of the abuse scandals]. Let me repeat that: The press has been the best friend of the Catholic Church on the scandals." The author claims that the press "exposed the story and made the church face it." Commentary: Does the author also consider Judas a "best friend"? Our redemption is linked with his betrayal of Christ, yet the resulting good effects (for us) do not make the betrayer's treatment of Our Lord deserving of our praise - far from it. Of course, a comparison between the scandalous events in recent Church history and our sinless Lord is deficient, but nevertheless, who "thanks" and considers a "best friend" those who relentlessly attack the Church, especially when it is so often done out of hatred or ill will? A hostile enemy is not a best friend - even if we may sometimes better ourselves as a result of their criticism.
* Catholics in the Philippians have once again nailed themselves to crosses on Good Friday "to remember Jesus Christ's suffering and death." The practice has been rejected by the Church, which has instead called the participants to engage in "repentance and self-renewal."
* At it again: A recent Catholic News Service article covering Pope Benedict included the (deliberately misleading?) comment that "the pope's removal of restrictions on use of the Tridentine rite, the Latin-language liturgy that predates the Second Vatican Council, was a major concession to traditionalists and part of a push toward an agreement with the breakaway Society of St. Pius X." The bishops' news service has previously been criticized over error & bias. Commentary: How exactly does admitting the truth that the ancient Mass was never abrogated and removing illicit restrictions constitute "a major concession to traditionalists"? Truthfulness & justice are now "major concessions"? [Related: The Traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass vs. the New (Novus Ordo) Mass]
* A RI man has been arraigned for larceny in connection with an alleged 'fundraising scam' involving a Catholic school in Worcester. The school reportedly paid the suspect, thought to be a professional fundraiser, $370K for efforts to raise funds to expand the school. The donor funds didn't materialize, leaving the school with heavy construction debts.
[4/2]
Posts
