A NEW PERSPECTIVE FROM CATHNEWS?

It is with great pleasure that on behalf of Church Resources, which brings you CathNews, Christine Hogan announced that the tripe already peddled five-days a week at Cathnews is being expanded...

The first addition in eleven years is to be called CathNews Perspectives and alleges a "more in-depth, feature-driven coverage of how Australia’s – and the world’s – media are covering Catholics, issues of interest to Catholics, and to the Church herself".

So how is CathNews Perspectives soooo different from the mostly morning edition of CathNews? The timing of its delivery for one as it will be delivered to your in-boxes every Friday afternoon, and it will include reflections by our Bishops and Archbishops (the usual suspects one imagines... Robinson, Power and the like).

Hogan says of the recent survey of its readership, "it became evident that while CathNews was widely loved and appreciated, there is also among our Subscribers an appetite for deep, rich, nourishing and sustaining stories". It seems a lot of readers thought the stories a little one sided... curious!

But worry not, Perspectives will still be managed by the winning combination of the two Michaels... Visontay (former senior editor for that Fairfax flagship the Sydney Morning Herald) and 'Blogwatcher' Mullins (the Eureka Street Editor)! In their experienced hands, the freaky Friday edition will "bring you backgrounders to the big stories of the week, putting the flurry of daily news stories into perspective for you"

Code for more lefty aCatholic apologetics crap?

FR FESTER... DOPPELGANGER?

Could it be that aCatholic clergy sentiment is not the only thing to fester?

SO LONG, FAREWELL AND THANKS FOR THE FISH!

The Fairfax Press reports that at least a dozen Australian priests have indicated they will refuse to use the new translation of the Roman Missal when it comes into effect later this year.

Leading looney liberal John Crothers, a Sydney priest, reportedly said he could not in good conscience use the text, believing it to contradict the 1960s Vatican Council's spirit of "aggiornamento".

Crothers told Fairfax "it's part of my philosophy that you've got to change and grow and develop" but not where he disagrees with the change it seems!
The chairman of the National Council of Priests, Ian McGinnity told Fairfax at least a dozen of its 1600 members had allegedly indicated they would not use the new English translation. It seems the 'expert translators' among them are "very concerned that the language, the idiom, might perhaps estrange more Catholics from participation in the Eucharist" McGinnity said.

Asked what sanctions a local bishop could invoke upon defiant priests, McGinnity said: "I really don't know. I suppose he could suspend a bloke. But given the [priest] shortage, it's unlikely."

Pope Benedict has spoken of a smaller, more faithful Church as perhaps the model of the Church for these perilous times, not unlike the early Church in its intense solidarity.

Perhaps the unlikely has become the imperitive!

OH RITE... NOW I GET IT!

A pilgrim writes... "If I hear one more pun on Rite/Right associated with the new translation, I'll kill a kitten:

It seems our visitor was referring to a recent article in the Melbourne Archdiocese's journal Kairos reporting that more than 120 people attended the recent ‘Getting it Rite’ seminar, which focused on the changes being introduced to the Mass by the implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

But killing a kitten?

That's just not rite!

+DIONYSIUS DOPPELGANGER?

Perhaps pilgrims might enjoy proposing creative captions for this fine snapshot...

ANY TWO WILL DO FOR MAD MORON MAGUIRE...

Father Bob Maguire lacks any real shock value these days so it was unsurprising to hear him bang on about how he would marry a couple of homosexuals - but not in a church.

The ignorant attention tart Maguire said he realised Catholic leaders would not want a gay marriage held inside a church but it was his duty to help people in need, including homosexuals.

Seems he is having trouble discerning between desire and need but then what's new. It was his 'desire' to stay on in active ministry even though the Archbishop had discerned there was no need!

Oh well not long to go now... roll on 2012!

ACATHOLIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS REAL!

Over at aCatholica Bill Farrelly, a retired Sydney Morning Herald journalist has asked the question, is the Eucharist real, by which it seems he hoped to question an issue which lies at the heart of Catholic faith.

Thankfully brief, the complex question of faith which caused Aquinas to engage deeply receives the ususal superficial treatment of most things in that place but I feel well placed to offer a definitive answer to the lost who turn up there...

If a glass of wine and a loaf of bread is your usual treatment of the Sacred Mystery then likely all you have in the end is a glass of wine and some bread... it's no mystery!

NAVEL GAZING OR JUST OUT OF IDEAS?

If it's navel gazing +Walker is promoting... perhaps this might be a direction in which he might focus the faithful:

PELL'S SOUTH BRISBANE?

Militant homosexual and aCatholic group Acceptance will hold its annual event (a trivia night and dinner dance), in the crypt of an inner Sydney Catholic Church tonight to raise money for their float in the forthcoming Sydney Mardis Gras parade. Unbelieveable it seems... but check it out gentle pilgrim!

There are also details for a Mass to be held prior to the Mardis Gras... here!

These events happen with the full knowledge and consent of the parish priest Fr Peter Maher. In his blog which is also enlightening, he boasts of informing the local Ordinary:

5. The parish is theologically inviting – emphasising God’s love and inclusion. Preaching connects the readings to all aspects of life – religious, spiritual, family, Church, social, political and psychological.

10. The Baptism policy is very welcoming and accepting and the preparation program is flexible and simple. We invite all families who have celebrated baptism over the past 12 years to our Christmas children’s Mass with great success. Some join us more regularly because of this simple invitation by mail or email.

11. A Mass specifically inclusive of same-sex attracted Catholics, their families, friends and supporters every Friday night has significantly increased numbers on weekend Masses. Some people who have come to the Friday Mass are now members of the Parish Council, acolytes, readers, cleaners and willing to help with various parish activities.

Maher's blog also boasts a submission to the Bishop's Commission for Pastoral Life advocating the development of pastoral letter on affirming the place of Catholics identifying as same sex attracted in our Church.

Maher has a touch O the Blarney and clearly hopes to pass his activities off as akin to Courage or Encourage. But engaging the Bathersby manoeuvre, Cardinal Pell has seemingly, despite the protests of some restless young individuals in the archdiocese, turned a blind eye to the situation and relied on the assurances of Maher that the activities are ordered to Church teaching and the canonical purpose of the parish buildings.

Sound a lot like South Brisbane??

MARRIED THREE TIMES, WHAT WOULD PARKES HAVE MADE OF GAY MARRIAGE?

Sir Henry Parkes is known in Australian history as the Father of Federation, following his famous 1889 Tenterfield speech. He is considered one of the great men in forming Australia into the country it is today. He was also married three times... so you might get to wondering which side of the debate he might be on when it comes to the question of extending marriage to individuals of the same sex.

That aside, more than 1500 people have signed the Australian Christian Lobby’s petition supporting marriage between a man and a woman since late Friday afternoon. The petition was established in response to Green’s MP Adam Brandt’s motion last year for parliamentarians to gather constituents’ views on same-sex marriage.

While in 2008 the Rudd Labor Government moved to provide certain equalities in Commonwealth Law for lesbians and homosexuals purporting to be in stable relations which allegedly mimicked marriage, the debate for same-sex marriage has been dominated by extreme gay activists who seek to label Christian views as backward and irrelevant, homophobic and even bigoted.

It's time for the Mums and Dads of middle Australia to stand up for the institution of marriage. Canberra needs to be reminded that the Marriage Act, as it stands, represents one of the finest traditions for the future of our nation. This isn't about playing families gentle pilgrim, and the future cannot and should not be cast aside for the less than 1% of the population who are the unhappy fruit of their parents loins!

Sign the petition or e-mail your local MP and Senator to let them know their views.

DEVENY... STAND UP PHILOSOPHER?

Catherine Deveny has carved out a living villifying Christians, their values and beliefs and so it's not surprising that she used a recent appearance on Q&A to promote her special brand of BS...

CATHERINE DEVENY: I'm against the flood levy. I think the revenue to be raised to rebuilt Queensland should come from taking the tax exempt status off religion. That is $30 billion right there and I think that's only fair seeing as though that God created the floods because Julia - well, you know, he did. He did and because Julia Gillard is an atheist and Bob Brown is a proud, gay, out man.

Poor sad little girl... neither a philosopher nor an artist but can she whine!!!

MORE POISON FROM GREENS 'TOXIC WASTE' FAEHRMANN!

The recently maligned Bishop Fisher, of Parramatta, pontificated to members of the legal profession yesterday that "state-sanctioned killing" undermined the legitimacy of the state and its criminal law.

Challenging the fraternity to resist efforts to legalise voluntary euthanasia Bishop Fisher, a former lawyer, said proposed euthanasia legislation was "the killing of those who suffer by those who are comfortable, of the vulnerable by the powerful, of the sick by those professed to heal them."

But NSW Greens MP, Cate Faehrmann, criticised Fisher's remarks, saying it was an example of an "out-of-touch commentator driven by out-of-touch ideology."

The NSW Greens intend to introduce a private member's bill in support of legalising euthanasia after the election in March and Faehrmann insists her bill is about enabling a person who has a terminal illness, whose pain and suffering cannot be alleviated by palliative care and who is of sound mind, to voluntarily request medically-assisted suicide or death.

But can people with terminal illnesses suffering accute pain be of sound mind?

Faehrmann says her bill includes other safeguards:

• the patient has to be 18 years of age (because children dont get terminal illnesses?)
• the patient has to be assessed by two medical practitioners (because doctors frequently disagree?)
• one of the two practioners has to be an expert in the terminal illness (because that esures a balanced debate?) 

For Faehrmann the bill is about rights and choices and the Greens believe this is a fundamental right.

In September 2010 Faehrmann was nominated by the Greens to replace Lee Rhiannon who resigned to contest a seat in the Federal Senate. Therefore Faehrmann was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council not elected and will not face election by the people until 2015! She is also a board member of the allegedly non party-political organisation - GetUp! where the issue ranks fourth among proposed future causes...

Oh did I mention Faehrmann's bill is a rehash of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill introduced into the same parliament by Greens member, Ian Cohen, and defeated by a large majority, 26 votes to nine, in a ballot on 21 March, 2002!!!

Helped into parliament and not even capable of an original thought. Talk about a toxic waste!