Category Archive

Anyways, today we celebrate the 232nd anniversary of American independence.  Have a beer or a GnT, smoke a cig, and spend time with friends and near ones.  But don’t forget what made our nation possible, and what allows it to continue in being.  

I am attaching some prayers on this occasion.

2006 Renewal of Consecration of the United States of America to the Immaculate Conception by U.S. Episcopate

Most holy trinity: Our father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your spouse; God the son, who chose Mary as your mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most holy trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners – on all who are in need.

Mary, immaculate virgin, our mother, patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and immaculate heart. O’ sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesized by Simeon save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O’ sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your son in the depths of your heart be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

Prayer in Honor of the Immaculate Conception

I leave you all with a little picture of Independence Day back home in New York City, which is where I was born and raised.  It brings back some pleasant childhood memories of summer.

God Bless America.

MR. JPM

If you are a citizen of the United States of America and consider yourself a “monarchist,” you may want to stop reading.  Or continue reading, I don’t care.  I am going to set the record straight.  If you’re somewhere in between either of our shining seas, getting fat off of that land, and you have the nerve to talk about “Commonwealth,” this, and “restoration,” that, and everything else in between, then you have no business being here.  Countless men and women have given their hopes, dreams, hearts, and very lives in the service and defense of this nation.  They are the reason we can own land, practice any religion (yep, even the fake ones!) without fear of persecution or certainty of taxation, move about freely, and otherwise not have to bow down to another human being who’s blood is no more special than yours or mine.  Absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy, it makes no difference to me (although I realize that the former is essentially extinct).  It is ludicrous to think that one human being is somehow qualified, entitled, or intended to rule a nation simply because his or her mommy or daddy had some inherited wealth, so to speak, that some great-great-great-great-etc.-ancestor gobbled up years ago, and kept on handing it down so they didn’t have to do any actual work and leave government to the people.  Some even turn blind to reason, abandoning themselves to some antiquarian, romantic notion that somehow God, Himself, has selected them, by way of their family, to rule some  people.  Frankly, that’s nothing other than a seven-dollar six-pack of crap, and it reeks in such a way that new mulch on a humid, August day in Washington, DC could be mistaken for an orange grove.  This is the land of the free, not ruled, and it was made so by scores of the brave, nurtured by this, their home.  Get out of here and be ruled where we can’t hear you or be subjected to your blogs, unfortunately supported by supporters of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  I don’t quite know why that is, but I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who’d have some form of smarmy comeback.  Ooooh, FIB is scared.  My Glock17 is shaking in its holster.

God bless America!

This brings me to a less lengthy bit regarding the recent decision on the right to keep and bear firearms handed down yesterday by the Supreme Court.  When I was driving around midday I was listening to WAMU, the NPR station in Washington, DC, and was listening to a press event of some sort where DC mayor, Adrian Fenty, was responding to the Court’s decision.  He spouted off some crap to the effect of, we’re all saddened by this, or concerned, or something of that ilk, and blah blah blah we’re going to take measures to see that we “respect the Court’s authority,” but not really.  I don’t mind registering weapons — if you’re a good citizen, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.  But nothing more than that.  A pistol ban is ridiculous in a place where the people who have them are acquiring them outside of the law to begin with.

Ultimately, as much as I dislike the liberals — all of them, cheese-eating pax-Christi pacifists, comrades of “hope” in 2008, all of them, at least they’re not a bunch of poncing twits who brazenly defy the country that has given them everything and look to a figurehead who can only give them what the blood of generosity, courage, and honor had been shed to preserve them from.

God bless America!

MR. JPM

Well, FIB America, there we have it.  George Carlin, a comedian loved by pagans everywhere, has passed on.  FIB marks Carlin’s death with this post, although we are not inclined to sadness that he will no longer be performing.

NYTimes Article

MR. JPM

Like many of his co-religionists, Bishop Richard Williamson, leader* of the English-speaking section of the Society of St. Pius X, is a certifiable nut-case in addition to being a total fraud. Here is a man, an excommunicate who pretends at being a Catholic bishop, who has told us, among other things, that women generally shouldn’t get college educations and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a rich treasury of historical fact. Now, in the embedded video he preaches that 9/11 was an inside job, and as proof cites a conspiracy theorist website.

h/t: Mark Shea.

I hope this man and his followers remain outside of the Church for as long as they continue to darken authentic Catholicism with the black lights of perverted history and theology.

WAC

*Anyone who wants to dispute this as being factually incorrect can take their comments somewhere else. Yes, Williamson is not the superior of the SSPX, but he is most certainly its de facto leader in the English speaking world.

So this isn’t exactly news, but while scoping out my favorite new website, Hulu, I stumbled upon this clip from The Colbert Report.  It’s pretty damn funny.  I feel bad for Cookie Monster.  Cookie Monster was one of my favorite Sesame Street muppets when I was a wee’ child — he was so wacky, so full of vim and vigor, all sbout cookies.  Now, certain Americains a la rive gauche have thought it appropriate to further Sesame Street’s Red Elmo Propaganda, by turning Cookie Monster into a pansy.  I mean, COME ON!  What would have happened to Zeppelin and the Stones think if Robert Plant quit the groupies, and if Keith Richards did one less narcotic?  Their music would suck, and no one would seek them out on iTunes.  In any case, I bring you Stephen Colbert’s coverage of how our nation’s youth are being led astray to the EUSR.  

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight…here.

MR. JPM

Two reasons why Denver, CO sucks:

1) Their Godless newspaper Rocky Mountain News is attempting to put a positive spin on meter maids, also known as parking Nazis, or as I like to call them, any cuss word of choice.

2) The City of Denver is making it incredibly hard for pro-Life groups to assemble during the 2008 Democrat Extravaganza.  Even more disgusting are the comments readers have attached to the articles.  This pagan propaganda also brought to you by the Rocky Mountain News.

So, yeah, Denver — don’t go there, ever; it’s Kunming, USA. 

Can you hear me, Denver, or shall I turn it up for you?

MR. JPM

At least that’s what the NYC DOS has been forced to call it, even though taking away the trash we take out is their job.  Apparently some man’s dog was taken up into a street cleaner, and now he plans on contacting the Humane Society and hiring a lawyer.  Good job, New York Dog Man! Way to go in valuing mindless canine life more than a human being’s.  I’ll bet you didn’t even have a pooper scooper to clean up little boopsie’s mess.  Well, I’ve got news for you, buddy, the NYC Department of Sanitation scooped the poop for you.

News coverage provided by the BBC.

MR. JPM

*Disclaimer:  FIB does not dislike animals belonging to the genus, Canis.

The following post was originally posted last week when I thought it was Father’s Day and my father alerted me to the fact that it was just a regular Sunday. So, in honor of fathers everywhere, FIB now brings you our salute to fathers, with a stale, old post.

LAST WEEK’s WEEKEND REWIND INTRODUCTION

As I am in a course of study leading to a line of work where you are pretty much expected not to sleep, eat healthily, exercise, date, or otherwise have a life, I have no problem posting on the weekends, because while maintaining a blog is not something essential (such as meeting a deadline), it is a leisure activity, some form of hobby, and as such lends itself to one’s spare time. Nevertheless, so as not to break completely with the custom established on FIB, I present to you a post originally dated 15 March 2008, for the purpose of honoring fathers on Fathers’ Day, both seasoned veterans and rookies alike, all on one magical baseball team…which happens to be the 1955 Dodgers.

MR. JPM

FEAST OF FATHERHOOD: SAINT JOSEPH

O blessed Saint Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, we pray and beseech thee to offer to God the Father His divine Son, bathed in blood on the Cross for sinners, and through the thrice-holy Name of Jesus, obtain for us from the Eternal Father the favor we implore. (Name your request.)
Appease the Divine anger so justly inflamed by our crimes, beg of Jesus mercy for thy children. Amid the splendors of eternity, forget not the sorrows of those who suffer, those who pray, those who weep; stay the Almighty arm which smites us, that by thy prayers and those of thy most holy spouse, the Heart of Jesus may be moved to pity and to pardon.

Amen.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Things are getting very chummy b/w the President and His Holiness, and the Italian rumor mill is grinding away.

Remember, Bush has a few Catholic relatives on his brother’s side (including his brother.)

wac

Today’s Washington Post published a story reporting on how residents of South Carolina may soon have “I Believe”-themed license plates for their motor vehicles.  You can read all the details here.  Until we have to listen to more of your whining, take that, ACLU!  And as far as the American Jewish Congress goes, come on, it’s the same God — we all like the 15…TEN!!! Ten Commandments!

MR. JPM

Well, this is exclusive not in the way that we’re the first to post on this topic, but FIB was able to snap some photos that others wish they had. FIB’s SOP is BYOB: Bring Your Own Boo-Yah!

I apologize for the photos requiring rotation.  Time doesn’t grow on trees.

MR. JPM

Well, FIB readers, it appears I jumped the gun on the weekend rewind post.  I called my father to wish him a happy father’s day, and he told me that I was a week early.  Well, at least for once I’m a step ahead of everyone else.  Savor it, because tomorrow it’s back to the same ol’.

The time has come to change gears here at FIB. Old Mr. WAC has been bogged down in work and family life, and has to take a step back from the blog, at least for a little while.

That’s why I’m announcing my summer vacation from the blog. My good friend Mr. JPM will take over with the day-to-day, and will support the high journalistic standards of FIB while bringing a fresh prespective to the blog.

Don’t worry, personality cultists, this is only temporary (at least for now . . .) I’ll be back in the Fall, and I’ll drop in here from time to time in the meantime.

Enjoy!

wac

I was watching Independence Day last night, and I started watching it a second time while I was eating a sandwich for lunch.  I was really struck by how awesome it is.  I mean, think about it — Bill “I was in Spaceballs and While You Were Sleeping” Pullman, Will Smith, Judd “I put the ‘oy’ in ‘goyim’” Hirsch, uh…umm…Jeff…hm…Goldblum, Robert Loggia as the crusty old Marine officer, Vivica “yowza” Fox and Dat-I mean, Brent Spiner.  Holy smokes, that’s one heck of a cast!  And did i mention that Margaret Colin is apparently a co-chair of Feminists for Life?  Way to be a bad-ass and stick it to Godless Hollywood! 

In other Friday Fugitive Thinking, tuna salad is really good.  Today was the first time in years I haven’t had a tuna sandwich courtesy of the dining hall.  This was homemade, man, old skool, like my father used to do it up.  Take that, Aramark!

Tuna:  it’s good for you and good for Friday.

Steer clear, Big Tuna, head for open waters

MR. JPM

Today (yesterday, thanks to wordpress.com rounding up on the day) marks the tenth anniversary of the murder of Phil Hartman by his wife.  Hartman was a gifted and talented performer, known for his writing, acting, voice work, and above all, Saturday Night Live, where he served up laughs with distinction, from “Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey,” to Bill Clinton, Frank Sinatra, and “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.”

…Warlords…

Poor relic hunter Sam White was killed at his Virginia home by a 140-year-old unexploded shell that he was trying to restore.

To give you an idea of how powerful the burst was, the authorities found a chunk of shrapnel in the wall of a house 1/4 of a mile away.

wac

This devotion comes to us from South of the Border (La Mano Mas Ponderosa), where Catholic imagery is awesomely colorful, literal, and evocative.

O Powerful Hand of God! I place my Christian soul before you, and in my despair and anguish, beseech you to aid me with your almighty power. At your feet I place the devotion of my sorrowful heart that I might be delivered from my suffering. May the loving kindness of your power help me and give me strength and wisdom to live in peace and happiness. (Here present your petitions).

Amen

WAC

Editor’s Note:  I have given Mr. JPM’s fine post a new surtitle, in order to make it more clear.  What follows is a remarkable account of meeting the Pope, serving as his vimp, and then receiving a lecture on the importance of serving the liturgy from Msgr. Marini.  And, on the joys of spending the proceeds from a papal commission on a new handgun.  Enjoy!)

Although the above post title may seem a tad unorthodox, and may possibly raise the eyebrows of FIB’s author, I assure you all that it is both meet and just.  Why?  Heh, well, that was seriously the only thing racing through my brain all day Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Mr. WAC has requested that I put up a little post on my experience serving Solemn Vespers for the Holy Father.  I actually was half-way through one a few moments ago, but I did something stupid and lost it, so let’s just say I got annoyed, and here I am starting over.

The general order of things is that all Altar servers had to be at the Basilica NLT 1500h and proceed to vest.  Once vested, we were to remain in the Crypt sacristy in a state of readiness for Monsignor Guido Marini, Master of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.  A while later, Monsignor Marini enters, accompanied by two other Monsignori, and started checking to make sure everything was ready for the Holy Father, including the BNSIC’s servers.

By this time, all of the US bishops were seated, so we were led through our functions with all of them present.  Once we had our assignments and had gone over the movements of the liturgy, we went back to the sacristy to await the Holy Father’s arrival.  A small TV was placed in the sacristy so we could monitor the pope’s progress, from the USCCB up 4th St NE, onto the CUA campus and Basilica grounds, up the East portal and so on.  Once the Holy Father made his way to the Upper Sacristy we formed a large semicircle in which to greet him, following Fr. Holcomb’s prior instructions, grouped by associations: from the Archdiocese of Washington,  Msgr. Barry and Fr. Mark Knestout (brothers) and the archbishop’s secretary, from the BNSIC, our dear priests Fr. Holcomb, Fr. Weston, and Fr. Lebrun, OMI, a bunch of people from the USCCS, and then the BNSIC’s deacons, a deacon from the TC and Br. Pius, OP, from the DHS, both to be ordained to the presbyterate pretty darn soon, and, of course, the servers.

I can’t say whether or not people were expectingthe Holy Father to greet us one by one, but I can say with certainty that we had a plan A and a plan B, consisting of left-knee genuflection and damn-near profound bowing, respectively.  And so, the elevator opened, out steps Monsignor Rossi and the Monsignori from the Holy See, and all of a sudden we see this kindly-looking old man arrayed in various vesture of brilliant white, his countenance one telling of such deep-seated joy in Christ and love of His Church, such that not even the most gifted artist could capture it.  He started making his way greeting each of us, with Monsignor Rossi introducing us.  By the time it was perfectly clear that the only way the Holy Father could get to the guy after me was to stop at me, Monsignor Rossi introduces me (more or less): JP Mikolajczyk, he designed the altar for the Mass tomorrow.  HOLY SMOKES!!! WOW!!!  WOW!!!  His Holiness in reply, Ah, zhank you.

There’s really no tactful way to say “you’re welcome” to that, so my existing smile was appropriate, I hope.

WOW!!!

I certainly was not expecting that detail from Monsignor Rossi,  but sweet wandering Moses, he just up and said it.  Props, Monsignor.

After the Holy Father greeted us, he proceeded to vest and we got in our places.  Vespers, itself, was a very beautiful liturgy.  So many times I’ve served Mass in the crypt, usually you’re seated to the left or right of the celebrant.  This time?  Just behind the Vicar of Christ.  Several times I’ve had vimp duty.  This time?  Keeping an eye on the ferula (that’s right, not a crozier) used by Pope John XXIII of Blessed Memory.  How many times I’ve joined the Dominicans or Marians for Vespers, this time praying those familiar psalms and canticles with the Vicar of Christ physically present with us.

After the recessional the servers stood off to the left after the prosit, and waited for the Holy Father to exit and make his address to the bishops.  As he passed us, hands candled or folded, he simply turned to us and said, zhank you!

What a wonderful man to shepherd Christ’s flock and safeguard the deposit of faith from those who would destroy it.

After the Holy Father left, we all headed up to the Great Upper Church to watch his address.  On the way up, we still had cassocks on, including those of us who aren’t seminarians, and I felt as if hundreds of years of prayer and politeness were getting the better of me, because there were a bunch of cops and firearms lining the stairway, and all I could think to myself was in the voice of a cloistered nun let out for a little bit (you all know what I’m talking about), oh.  oh my.  look at these weapons.  oh dear.  oh my, as I hopped up the stairs.  This coming from the guy who used his half of the design competition winnings on a Glock 17, adding to an existing Ruger.

One final thing I’d like to mention happened before the Vespers.  It’s something that I hope I remember for a long time.  After the rehearsal and before he had to attend to other checklists, Monsignor Marini gave us a short spiritual conference which Monsignor Anglophone translated for us.  He spoke to us about what it means to serve at the Altar of God.  Obviously this centered on serving for the Holy Father.  He told us he understands we were a little nervous, and that it’s okay.  It is important for us to know our functions in the liturgical movements and to execute them well, but he exhorted us to above all, pray.  Monsignor told us to always remember that whenever we are serving, we are first and foremost engaging in the Church’s worship of God.  Our specific roles in the liturgical movements can and do help the faithful who are present in fostering  a reverent, solemn, prayerful atmosphere in which to praise God, and the best way we can do that, is to pray — pray with the Holy Father today, pray with the bishops and priests we serve for throughout the year.  

Ultimately, the most effective altar server is the one who prays.

In the words of Ronnie Reagan, a good time was had by all.  It was both unreal, and yet very, very real.  You can’t believe that you’re a few feet behind the Vicar of Christ, but yet it actually is happening.  Incredible.

An amazing blessing.  A tremendous gift. 

I got a fever, and the only cure is more Pope!

WAC

When the Pope celebrates mass tomorrow at Nationals’ Stadium, he will do so on an altar my buddies Ryan and J.P. designed and built.  They included in their design a spot in the wooden altar in which to insert an altar stone or “portable altar” (which contains the relics of martyrs and is the traditional, though no longer obligatory, place upon which to celebrate mass in the Latin rite.)  The Archdiocese, according to my buddies, has secured the  portable altar stone used by America’s first bishop, John Carrol, for use in the papal altar.

Glory!

WAC

While my wife and daughter are standing outside the National Shrine, daddy, with his bad back and distaste for crowds, is sitting in his Rosslyn apartment and watching the proceedings live on News Channel 8.

Some notes:

1. My man, J.P., papal altar designer (whom some of you branded a Modernist), is serving as Vimp of the Pastoral Staff.

2. My man, Lloyd, the only man allowed to touch the $75K, custom made censor, is acting as thurifer.

3. Most importantly, my man, Msgr. Charles Pope, (who married us,) is the clerical color commentary. He is taking the opportunity to preach the Gospel, which he (as always) does very well.

While she got to see him in the flesh, I am kind of sorry my wife is missing the TV coverage

Other liturgical stuff:

• His Holiness is wearing a restored pontifical cope, over 100 years old, that was restored by the Shrine sister sacristans.  It features a number of French saints and blessed, including Joan of Arc and Charlemagne (!).
• The Altar features the now famous Benedictine configuration (six candles and a Crucifix right on the mensa.)
• The Choir is bowing at each Gloria.

Also, some really neat polyphony.

WAC

Baby-Job-Ecclesiastical Whatzits

Life has been good to me this March.

So, in honor of our abundant blessings and good feelings, let’s have some ridiculously happy music from the hairy fellows of the Electric Light Orchestra:

WAC

. . . . it’s going to take me a while to fix the blogroll, so bear with me.

WAC

I’m sick, so I am trying to avoid the baby.  Given the dimensions and layout of the apartment, this makes for difficult blogging.

Please stand by . . . I have a rather big announcement to make later today which WILL shock you.

WAC

I was getting over a hernia during the summer and fall of 2007, and this blog arose out of that misery as an outlet for the thoughts of a mind trapped in a body trapped in my grandmother’s attic. I had originally intended to use the blog as a way of criticizing the radical traditionalist loons who are so abundantly manifest on the Web and who, for the most part, spread their filthy lies without the burden of critical exposure. I am neither forgiving enough to let them have a pass, nor naive enough to let crazies go about being crazy and think that no harm can come of it. Also, the radicals are easy targets, and showing them up is an easy task (thus the name of this blog), and that serves my swelled ego.

I had no problem, at first, putting my name to what I wrote. My mother always told me that a gentlemen should never write anything to which he would not append his name, and so far, I don’t think I have. The only problem is that, after a few months, and to my great shock, people actually started reading the blog. And I’m not just talking about my friends and family. If you googled my name (it’s not a common name,) ten pages of the former incarnation of this blog came up in the search. And while this itself was not a problem, I began to wonder “What if a potential employer decided to do a background search on the internet, found my blog, didn’t like my religious views, and denied my application as a result?”

So, that is why we are all here now, rather than at that old blog. That means that I will have to contact the folks on my blogroll with the URL update. Also, it means that the articles on the old blog have been transfered here, and that all of your old linky-links are now broken. (It’s easy to fix, just replace the old name of the blog with “likeshooting.” in the HTML. It furthermore means that this blog will languish in the search engines’ sandboxes for a few weeks. I think I’ll live.

While I will scrub my name off of this blog in due time, I don’t suppose it will be hard for anyone to figure out who I really am if he were to try hard enough. But, for the sake of informality (an and the aforementioned reasons), let’s keep my name on the Q.T., and simply refer to me by my signature:

WAC

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The strife is o’er, the battle done,
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions hath dispersed:
let shout of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The three sad days are quickly sped,
he rises glorious from the dead:
all glory to our risen Head!
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
He closed the yawning gates of hell,
the bars from heaven’s high portals fell;
let hymns of praise his triumphs tell!
Alleluia!

Dear Friends,

This Good Friday, as we remember how Our Lord’s heart was opened after death so that every drop of his Most Precious Blood could flow out for poor sinners, I ask you to consider the broken hearts of our Christian brethren in the Holy Land today. Lack of employment and dismal educational prospects are forcing the young Christians to leave their families and their homes in search of opportunities elsewhere. Today, a multitude of such shattered families tend to their broken hearts, as the old seek out companionship, the sick try to find help, and economic orphans wonder why daddy won’t come home.

But there is hope. The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land is working to keep Christian families together, through education, work training, and social services. I hope you will consider a donation to the Foundation this Good Friday in support of their crucial work. God will favor your generosity.

Yours in the Suffering Christ;

Mr. WAC

After a fashion, that is.

Elvis sings “Miracle of the Rosary”, cut together with religious imagery and footage of the king singing “How Great Thou Art”.

For all of his rockstar stupidity, Elvis, like all real Southern men, loved Jesus, his mama, and America, in that order. His actions bespoke a certain selfish narcissism, it is true, but the circumstances surrounding how he came to record this song show, I think, the heart of the man.

Just as he was keen to give away Cadillacs to parents with dying children, Elvis would sometimes record songs for the benefit of the dying. It seems that, in this case, there was a Catholic relation of one of Elvis’ friends who loved his gospel work and wished only to hear him sing the praises of Our Lady before she passed on to meet Her. Elvis obliged, and sings with convincing emotion. The production is pretty swell, too. The recording is hard to lay hands on, though, so this version is not the best.

Overall, I think that it is a good tribute, considering the man was a baptist.

Enjoy.

WAC

From Russia.

A women, 100 cats, and the will to keep and feed them.

WAC

The Eighth Wonder of the World, which has done a great deal to destroy millennia of Chinese Culture, may end up destroying China. 

From the blog Status of the Chinese People.

Chinese state media report that experts say the country could face a catastrophe if it fails to quickly resolve environmental problems caused by the massive Three Gorges Dam.

Government-run news outlets Wednesday said experts are concerned by flooding and erosion on hillsides along the Yangtze River around the dam.

The reports note the concerns of Wang Xiaofeng, the head of the office in charge of constructing the dam. He is quoted as saying China can not win by achieving economic prosperity at the cost of the environment.

He said the hydro-electric project has caused conflicts over land shortages and environmental degradation caused by irrational development.

The Chinese government has hailed the Three Gorges Dam as its greatest engineering project since the Great Wall.

It has said the project is a source of clean power and a solution to devastating flooding on the Yangtze River.

Human rights and environmental activists have long condemned the $22 billion dam, because of its negative effects on people and the environment.

The construction and flooding behind the dam has forced nearly one-and-a-half million people to leave their homes.

WAC

Leon Suprenant, President of Catholics United for the Faith discusses his intellectual conversion from “I am personally pro-life, but” to a full supporter of the Church’s teaching on life issues.

From CUFBlog:

When I returned to Jesus Christ and His Church in 1984, it wasn’t as though a decade of unchecked sinful habits and behaviors fell by the wayside. I had to struggle mightily to replace vice with virtue. The struggle continues to this day. After all, “denying myself” and “turning the other cheek” don’t come naturally.

I also had to convert on intellectual matters. I was fresh out of law school and something of a constitutional law scholar, having sharpened my legal teeth on Roe v. Wade jurisprudence. That year, Mario Cuomo, the poster child of “I’m personally opposed but” politics, captured my imagination with a stirring keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

So, when I first came back to the Church, I brought my pro-choice ideology with me. Of course I was “personally opposed”–so much so that even then I would have gladly adopted a child rather than see him or her aborted. But I wasn’t where I needed to be in terms of fully accepting the Church’s coherent pro-life ethic. It took a year of prayer, study, and conversations with godly friends before I realized that I needed to repent and do penance for my dissident views.    

Read the rest here.

WAC

Since the MP came out, many have struggled with the nomenclature for the derestricted mass of the Missal of John XXIII.

The Pope, emphasizing the unified nature of the Latin Rite, refers to the “Extraordinary Form” in Summorum Pontificum.

But 40 years of English-speaking convention has saddled the Mass with the moniker “Tridentine Rite”

Now, a blogger is trying to figure out what convention will call the old mass.

Fr. Z has asked for blogs to link to this poll in order to obtain richer results.

Go Vote!

WAC

 . . . that there is no Fourth Secret. 

From  Zenit:   

No More Fatima Secrets, Says Cardinal
Book Quotes Sister Lucia

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- There is no fourth secret of Fatima and the third secret in its entirety has already been revealed, says Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

This was confirmed Friday at the official presentation of Cardinal Bertone’s book, “L’Ultima Veggente di Fatima,” (The Last Fatima Visionary). The Pope’s secretary of state wrote the book, released in Italian last May, with the collaboration of journalist Guiseppe De Carli.

(. . .)

During the presentation, Archbishop Loris Capovilla, Pope John XXIII’s private secretary, said that there is no fourth secret. He is the only living witness who was present when John XXIII opened and read the third secret in 1959 at Castel Gandolfo.

The 91-year-old prelate said: “It never even entered my mind that there could be a fourth secret. No one ever said such a thing to me nor did I ever claim any such thing.”

(continued)

Meanwhile, noted Fatimaolator Fr. Gruber continues to build castles in the sky.  You would think that the Pope’s word is good enough, especially when it concerns something that has to do with the Pope exclusively. 

 WAC 

A 45-minute drive to the south from my hometown in, Kentucky will bring you to Martin County, across the Tug Fork from Logan County, WV.  I was back home for a few days and picked up a local paper to read the following story, one of the most disturbing things I have ever heard from.  

Dateline: Logan, WV 

From The Inez, KY Mountain Citizen:

 One person was arraigned Monday and two were scheduled for arraignment yesterday in the kidnapping, rape and torture of a Kanawah County woman who was discovered Sept. 8 at a home on Big Creek near Chapmanville, W.Va.

The trio are part of a group of six people-all white-accused of various charges in the imprisonment of Megan Williams, 20, an African American. It is alleged that Williams was raped, sexually assaulted, beaten, stabbed, forced to eat rat and dog feces and drink from a toilet, and lick blood during a near month-long period at a mobile home shared by Frankie Brewster, 49, and her son Bobby Brewster, 24.

Last week it was reported Williams was missing from her home one week. This was updated yesterday after investigators determined she had been at the home nearly a month.

Others charged are a mother and daughter, Karen Burton, 46, and Alisha Burton, 22, both of Chapmanville, Danny J. Combs, 20, of Harts Creek, and George A. Messer, 27, of Chapmanville.

(. . .)

In the initial complaint it is alleged that Bobby Brester threatened to kill Williams if she left the home, forced her to eat dog and rat feces, lick up blood and drink water from a toilet.

Frankie Brester is accused of forcing the victim to “lick her toes, [genitalia] and [other unpublishable area]” and that when the police arrived, Mrs. Brewster told her to stay inside or she would kill her.

Karen Burton is alleged to have pulled and cut the victim’s hair, choked her with a cable, and cut the victim’s ankle with a knife while saying to her, “This is what we do to [racial epithet] around here.” Her daughter, Alisha, is alleged to have pulled out the hair of the victim, choked her and cut her with a knife.

Messer is alleged to have poured hot water over Williams while she was being sexually assaulted by another person.

A rally was held at a church in Cora near Logan to show support for the victim . . ..

( . . ..)

  I think maybe Jesse and Al are in Louisiana right now because they are race baiters.  Blacks are being tortured and raped in West Virginia, but Hurricane Katrina happened in Louisiana, so there is more political capital to be raised in Louisiana right now.  Reverend Sirs, if you are serious about bringing racist acts to light, come to Logan County and do your thing.  Otherwise, I suppose you will keep after the strawmen.

WAC 

P.S.-Two things.  First, the local NAACP has been visible in Logan County in connection with this case.  Second, what happened in Jena was really bad, racist, and dumb.  But it is nothing compared to what went on in Logan County.

In 2002, they said they wouldn’t.

Now they say they probably will.

Yawn.

Good for the Pittsburghers who still beleive in God.

But Yawn for the church in general.

The ECUSA has been on autodestruct mode for years. We have watched multiple reallignments and schisms in the ECUSA over the last 50 years due to decisions about race and women’s ordination, but after this one, I wouldn’t expect to see any more. The gay clergy issue is the last mire of realativeism into which the church can sink, after which what is left of the ECUSA will be irrelevant, shrinking, liberal Unitarianism. I doubt that we shall recognize the ECUSA in ffifty years.

Admittedly, this is bigger that a few parishes jumping off. I predict that, after this round of defections, we will have seen the last of schisim within the Episcopal Church.

WAC

The ceiling of the Chapel of the Ascension at Walsingham, England, showing an Apostles’-eye view of the titular event.

Picture thanks to The Shrine of the Holy Whapping.

Western Pennsylvania has a lot of abandoned, converted, and sold churches.  They were built during the boom years and, with the ecconomic crunch and shifting demographics, these stately (and sometimes ugly-modern) temples are closing and being sold. I want to comment of some of them.   We will begin with the most perfectly abandoned church I’ve come across, St. Michael.  

I passed by Elizabeth on my way to work in Pittsburgh this morning, and I stopped by to find the local church in hopes that, some morning, I might make it to mass.

High above the Monongahelia flats sits (stands? rises? looms?) St. Michael and its school.  The building brick buildign was delapidated, the statue of St. Michael comming apart in sheets of agragate.  I parked alongside  and peered in through the glass “Welcoming Doors” (ugh) to see the place.

What I saw was the most perfectly weird thing I have yet seen in terms of “abandoned” churches.  The interior had obviously not been used in some time.  The fallen plaster and raised flooring were indicative of severe water damage, and the cobwebs and dust showed disuse.  The really weird thing, though, is that, in spite of being shuttered and barred, with the county’s “padlocks” (here in the form of those plastic ties) on the doors, the church was set up for mass.

The statues, candles, altar linens, altar mic, missal and stand, tabernacle and veil, and even the music issues in the pews, though rotten, were all there.  I started thinking about those last man on earth scenarios. It was like the congregation had left after mass one sunday, the church was locked, and then they were all killed by aliens or a super virus and here I was, the blithe wanderer, happening upon the strange scene and left to wonder what happened.

I started to wonder how long it had been since the church was locked.  It looked like it had been years.  I started to think to myself  “It couldn’t have been that long!  It must have been some kind of really bad flooding that did all this!  But, on top of a bluff?”  I tried to look for solid clues.  All of the candles had bent, due, I suppoesed, to temperature changes and gravity, meaning that the damage must have been left to stand for some time.  Near the door, but bent at an odd angle, was a paschle candle.  I figured if I could get the date off of it, I would know when this sad time capsule had been sealed.  It was bend over and away, and all I could pick up was a 1 above and 8, meaning 198-.

The church had been left as it was the day it closed for about twenty years?!?!?

I went over the school (which was open, oddly) to get some answers.  It turns out I was wrong.  The church had been closed for exactly twenty years!  It was condemed by the county in 1987 and was shuttered by the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  It had not, according to the lady at the school, been used in that time, and she did not know why the church’s accoucherments were left to rot.

Curious (and a little upset) I called the pastor.  He said that he did not know precisley why the church had been condemed, and that leaving the furnishings in the church was a question for the Diocese, as they were now the sole custodians of the property.

I am going to ask the Diocese why a church full of holy statues, blessed pictures and candles, etc., is being left to rot with its contents.  I am also going to get some

Traditio has been online since 1994.  It was run by an anonymous “priest” at first, who has since identified himself and brought on a fellow “priest.” 

These two “priests” spend most of their time commenting on things the Pope has done.  They write their entries one subject-per-day, and following this formula has forced them to forward post over a week ahead of time. In fact, their kabuki-like technique has made their website both quaint in its appearance and unreadable in its format.

But what makes it most unreadable is the “Fathers’” style.  They have gone from standard doggerel to unhinged jargon, making reference to “new pope” Ratzinger and “Novus Ordo Mess” (how clever, tee-hee!) every single time. But that’s not all; there are dozens of impolite, crude, and downright stupid neologisms that prove both the unchristianity and foolishness of the authors. In short, it makes it impossible to read OR take seriously.

What’s more, the “Fathers” like to lie.  They started with half-truths and obnoxious takings out of context, and have recently devolved into publishing damned, bold faced lies.  Lies suit both their agenda and the tastes of their cultist reader base. 

Speaking of lies, the “Fathers” are not even priests.  They were ordained, they say, by someone with valid orders, but cannot prove it, and will not offer proof. 

I will post the fruit of the loons at a later time, and you can see for yourself.

WAC