The SSPX and Bishop Williamson

A furor has been created with the lifting of the excommunications of the four bishops consecrated in 1988. While the official anger is targeted at the bishops of the SSPX themselves, there is no doubt that the true anger is at Bishop Williamson's remarks regarding the Holocaust.

First, I found his remarks to be, at best, imprudent. Two reasons why they were imprudent: 1) he gave his interview, I believe, in a country that frowns upon Holocaust denial 2) his remarks, without any evidence, tried to put a hole in a historically proven event.

While I find his opinions regarding the Holocaust and 9/11 distasteful, remember that he wasn't excommunicated because of radical political or historical views; he was excommunicated because he was part of illicit episcopal ordinations back in 1988. Likewise, the lifting of the excommunications have nothing to do with his personal views either.

There are those attacking Pope Benedict XVI for lifting the excommunications. I find these attacks ironic. On the one hand, they tend to criticize the SSPX for holding to pre-Vatican II practices regarding the Mass and the Sacraments, implying that the SSPX think they know better than the Pope. On the other hand, by villifying the Holy Father, these same critics think THEY know better than the Pope.

This is not a time for smug condescension or arrogant outrage, but a time for reconciliation. The critics of the Pope and the SSPX need to stop acting the like the big brother of the Prodigal Son and start acting more like the father.

National Catholic Reporter...

should be renamed National Catholic Distorter, given their slant on Catholic news and comments by readers.

Their slogan should read: We distort, you decide.

Christmas Carols

With less than a week to go until Christmas, we'll see, or rather hear more Christmas songs over the radio.

But at Mass, there is a problem I have noticed and it only pertains to one song: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." In either the third verse, the lyrics read: "born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth." However, in the "hymnal" (to use the word lightly), the words have been changed to read: "born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth." If it helps, the music book is published by OCP (says a lot right there).

Why the need to alter good hymns to include a PC agenda? Is there nothing that won't be changed to suit PC agendas?

"More women leades needed in Vatican says Cherie Blair"

More women leaders needed at the Vatican, says Cherie Blair

There are many things wrong in her claims, too many to list here.

She claims she follows church teachings, yet has no problem supporting contraception, despite the Church's teachings on birth control.

She also tries to justify her urging for more women leaders at the Vatican by saying there are more women in Parliament. So what? The Catholic Church and the British Parliament aren't the same.

She also claims that many positions at the Vatican don't require priestly ordinations. Even if she was correct, that would still be problematic as it would energize those pushing for women ordination, which isn't possible.