David Ancell / Thursday, May 20, 2004 / Comments(0)
It seems that pro-life issues are taking up a lot of my blog time lately. Then again, they are a very worthy cause. Bishop Sheridan of Colorado Springs is not backing down from his stance that pro-aborts cannot receive Communion. Although someone has threatened to cancel a $100,000 pledge, his spokesperson has stated that the Church is not about money. I second this. I’d rather see the Church lose all of their facilities and have to meet in people’s homes than have the Church fail to proclaim the truth.
Unfortunately, one of his own priests has spoken publicly against him. The priest was so eager to comment that he did so before he had bothered to read the entire letter. This priest should be removed as a pastor and immediately sent to a monastery to do penance and learn the faith.
Now that I’ve written about the good and the bad, the ugly is no less than John Kerry’s statements on assisted suicide. The fact that he calls it anything less than gravely evil further shows that he is not really Catholic. I pray that he repents before he dies. Otherwise., he will be very surprised to learn that God isn’t impressed with his “separation of Church and State” mentality.
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David Ancell / Tuesday, May 18, 2004 / Comments(0)
In case you haven’t heard, Moveable Type is going commercial. They have completely revised their licensing starting with version 3. There is still going to be a free version available, but it limits the number of blogs you can have, and it limits the number of users to one.
Will I upgrade? I do not know. The software does almost anything I want now. I regret that I never got around to sending a donation, and that may be a reason for me to buy it. This is truly excellent software, and the authors do deserve more support that they have received from me in the past. However, the user limits on licensing may cause a future problem.
At one time, Spiritual Pyromania was powered by Moveable Type. I switched it to something that I wrote because I wanted to integrate it with the web site’s password-protected area more closely. This prevented my members who worked on the blog from having to remember two passwords.
If I were to be able to get enough interest, revive the blog, and decide that I needed to use blog software, I would not buy Moveable Type under its current limit of five users for the $100 license. The Frassati Society has no money and will not make any money from our website. I can’t even use PayPal donations because there is no place to send them.
The web site runs off my web account from a directory mapped to a different URL. I would not want to run into a situation where I had to buy a license for the number of users I had. I can just imagine myself telling a member “Sorry, I can’t let you blog because I don’t have enough licenses.” or “I have to buy a license for you before I can let you on.” Given the time I had getting people to post to that blog, I am not about to refuse someone who can make a valuable contribution.
Of course, it may not be an issue. I shut that blog down in February, and I will not likely revive it unless a few members request that I do so and promise to support it. If I do, however, I won’t be able to use version 3 of Moveable Type. So, as much as I would like to support the authors (who, by one report, are fellow Catholics – correct me if I’m wrong), this is a potential impediment to my doing so. I’d have felt better if I had donated earlier.
I have disallowed comments on this post because I don’t want to hear any garbage from people who have a problem paying for software in general. People who work need to get paid for it. I am not criticizing them for charging for Moveable Type. They are well within their rights to do so.
The authors have also asked for feedback here.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Tuesday, May 18, 2004 / Comments(0)
Previously I had read that the Girl Scouts had used Planned Parenthood to provide sex education, now I see that the Bishop of Austin, TX has had to issue an order stopping the scouts affiliated with the Church from associating with Planned Parenthood. Troops who fail to do so will be banned from using parish or diocesean facilities and from stating that they are associated with the diocese. The bishop has questioned whether the diocese will be able to continue to have a relationship with the Girl Scouts.
This is sad that the bishop has to do this. I do admire his ability to do it. I’m sure he will face a lot of backlash from ignorant, angry parents if he has to drop the Girl Scouts altogether, but I hope that he will have the courage to do it if needed. The bishop clearly recognizes his duty in this case to protect his flock from the poison of Planned Non-Parenthood.
Ironically, Planned Parenthood’s program is called “Nobody’s Fool.” What a crock!! Anyone who buys into their garbage is a darn fool.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, May 16, 2004 / Comments(0)
I learned last week that Louisiana lawmakers are proposing a ban on low-slung jeans. Specifically, the proposed law states that:
It shall be unlawful for any person to appear in public wearing his pants below his waist and thereby exposing his skin or intimate clothing.
Not surprisingly, an ACLU director was interviewed, and he opposes this law, saying:
It infringes on young people’s freedom of expression and their privacy rights. The zone of privacy they have and the right to be left alone.
Privacy? These people are in a public place. Dude, you can’t do things in public and claim a right to privacy. By the way, which part of the Bill of Rights says that people have the “right to be left alone?”
Furthermore, what about my “right to be left alone?” Why should I be forced to look at this indecent exposure? I hope they pass this law.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, May 16, 2004 / Comments(0)
In my parish, and I’m guessing many others, there are a number of second collections for various causes throughout the year. They seem to come up with little warning (other than a bulletin announcement) and few specific details on what the money is being used for. I’ve even seen the collection plate passed during one Mass with absolutely no explanation.
Today’s collection was for the Catholic Communications Campaign. I’ve read the information on what the money was used for, but who really gets this money. Can we find out exactly what was sponsored and when? Why are we giving to some campaign and not to a ministry of an individual parish or diocese? These same questions can be applied to any of these collections.
I’d also like to know what merits a second collection in a parish. For example, I’ve never seen a second collection taken for the support of Catholic Answers or EWTN. While I have seen a second collection taken up for Catholic University of America, I’ve never seen one taken up for places like Franciscan University of Steubenville (except for when I was on their campus), Ave Maria University, or Christendom College. I’ve never even seen one taken up for our local Christian Brothers University (which isn’t getting a dime from me until they demonstrate that they have their act straight).
Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind giving money to worthy causes, but they must be just that – worthy. There was once a time in which I assumed that anything that my parish collected money for must be a good cause. Sadly, I can only wish that I could have that kind of trust in my parish or diocese. I want to support causes that help the truly needy with not only their physical needs, but also with their need for the authentic truth of the Catholic Church. Does anyone have any idea what is done with this money?
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Sunday, May 16, 2004 / Comments(0)
We are fortunate in my parish to have our diocese’s most recently-ordained priest serving in our parish. We need to fill our churches with people just like him. Today, he told us the following “shocking” facts in his homily.
There was probably more to this, but this is all I can remember for now. I appreciate a priest willing to tell the truth, which, in this case, consisted of reminding us that there is a such thing as truth.
UPDATE: The good priest also explained that, while such issues as the death penalty and the war complicate things, there is a hierarchy of truths.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Saturday, May 15, 2004 / Comments(0)
Finally, we are seeing some bishops stand up and say that politicians who are pro-abortion must to receive the Holy Eucharist. Bishop Sheridan of Colorado Springs even went so far as to say that the citizens who voted for the politicians must not receive. All of these are applaudable.
Sadly, the bishops are not standing in unison as they should be on this. Cardinal George has, to the best of my knowledge, determined that he would not refuse the Eucharist to pro-aborts who presented themselves. Cardinal McCarrick has chosen to entrust this issue to a task force (WARNING: the file is a 700 K PDF of the newspaper of my home diocese) that will, per page 11 of that newspaper, not be expected to finish its work until after the November elections. Forgive me if I sound cynical, but I really think that 1) this task force will be seriously stacked in favor of the pro-aborts and 2) burying the issue in this task force is a convenient way to avoid confronting an issue to which the resolution should be really, really obvious. As a side note, check out that confusing article in the same link (look to the right of the file) by Fr. Brian Jordan, OFM, who makes the error of assuming all positions and statements by members of the hierarchy are equally binding and are of equal gravity.
While many politicians have thumbed their nose at the statements made by bishops. there has been a report that Gov. McGreevey of New Jersey would refrain from Communion and that Sen. Kenny of the state’s senate would leave the Church entirely. On the one hand, if they refuse to repent of support of moral evils, this is the honest thing to do. You cannot pretend to be Catholic while actively and publicly advocating moral evil. However, there is more to the story than refraining from Communion.
If one is unable to receive the Eucharist, then one is separated, in one way or another, from Christ and his Church. Dying in this state results in eternal damnation. These politicians need to refrain from receiving the Eucharist until they repent, but they really need to repent. Their souls are in danger. No bishop can just say “There! I took care of those derelicts!” He must continue to urge them to repentance, witholding the Eucharist until repentance to avoid desecration of the Body and Blood of Christ.
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David Ancell / Thursday, May 13, 2004 / Comments(0)
I don’t know why, but my wireless connection seems a lot faster lately. Maybe the spyware blocker got some of the crud out. I guess it’s another small thing to thank God for.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Thursday, May 13, 2004 / Comments(0)
Add Bishop Wenski of Orlando to the “Bishops with backbone” list. I must admit that his attempt at humor is worse than most of my jokes, and I thought that the title was a creation of the media intended to make fun of him. However, it would be little more than petty snobbery to make a big deal out of this. He has issued a great pro-life statement, and I’m thankful that he’s doing it.
This is better than “Jesus is my homeboy.” If I see this, I don’t know if it is meant to be a sign of love for Jesus or someone making fun of him. I tend to think that, whether intentionally or not, it is the latter.
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David Ancell / Thursday, May 13, 2004 / Comments(0)
The building in the previous post is indeed a Catholic Church. I’m not going to name it. It is a place that I have been to many times. I must admit that I am jealous of their daily confession schedule and their great confessors, and I do recommend supporting their ministry. I just wish that they would take up a collection for a better-looking church. I would glady contribute to their ministry. I would also gladly help send their music minister to learn some hymns to sing as an alternative to the OCP garbage that no one was singing.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized