MetaFilter posts tagged with catholic

Making it easier to swim the Tiber

Bulgaroktonos — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:52:47 -0800

The Vatican announced today that it would create a new structure that would allow former Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church while preserving elements of Anglican spirituality and liturgy. The decision has been met hostilty by some Anglicans. Archbishop of Cantebury Rowan Williams's reaction, however, was more circumspect.

Isn't the Schism Overdue?

tizzie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:24:40 -0800

How do you reward a Catholic sister for nearly 40 years of service to the cause of peace and justice? If you’re the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, you tell her to shut up. Sr. Louise Akers said she held a “very cordial” private meeting with Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk on Aug. 10 in which he asked her to retract her support for women’s ordination. “It’s not that I won’t do it — I can’t do it,” Akers said. “It would be a lie.” Sister Louise has the support of over 63% of U.S. Catholics who support women's ordination. Catholic bloggers are “…. wondering and thinking in my own conscience that there has to be a better way. In the long run I believe an action like this does far more harm than it does good.” Or not: “It's also distressing that so many women who came of age while feminism was expanding, can't understand that equality does not necessarily mean that everyone should be exactly the same. God created us differently and his plans for us are different.” And commenters: "Sister Louise should rejoice. In another age, they would have burned her at the stake." Carol Egner, a Cincinnati gynecologist and volunteer at Our Lady of Lourdes parish, wrote a letter to the editor in support of Sr. Louise. When her pastor read the letter, he asked her to write another that either renounced her position or made clear that she “yields to the wisdom of the church.” When she refused, she was told she could no longer teach her Old Testament class for sixth-graders at her parish. "The letter wasn't as much about women being priests as Sister Louise being silenced," says Egner, a lifelong Catholic. "Would I like to see women have an equal role in the church? I would. But now I think the issue is about being able to discuss it."

The seeming nonsensicalness of this incredible universe

l33tpolicywonk — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:50:13 -0800

"Workmanlike" astronomy: The Vatican Observatory, among the oldest astronomical centers in the world, brings a team of Jesuits to the papal summer residence. Its scientists play a large part in the church's efforts to reconcile faith with reason. [Previously.] George V. Coyne, SJ, former director of the observatory, writes:

The universe as we know it today through science is one way to derive analogical knowledge of God. For those who believe modern science does say something to us about God, it provides a challenge, an enriching challenge, to traditional beliefs about God. God in his infinite freedom continuously creates a world which reflects that freedom at all levels of the evolutionary process to greater and greater complexity. God lets the world be what it will be in its continuous evolution. He does not intervene, but rather allows, participates, loves. Is such thinking adequate to preserve the special character attributed by religious thought to the emergence not only of life but also of spirit, while avoiding a crude creationism? Only a protracted dialogue will tell.

The speech may have ruffled some cardinal feathers.

Medieval and early modern liturgical books

thomas j wise — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:26:13 -0800

Graduel à l'usage de Saint-Dié digitizes a French gradual (choir music for the Mass) created in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. For more information about what's what, see the handy definitions offered by the British Library or Celebrating the Liturgy's Books. A number of other beautiful liturgical manuscripts are now online. (Note: many sites are in French or German.)

Leaves from various liturgical books
Le Graduel de Bellelay (c. 12th century)
Graduel de St. Katharinenthal (14th c.; three images)
Sherborne Missal
Missale Manuscripta Bruges (15th century)
Book of Gregorian Chant (c. 16th century)
Gradual (c. 16th century)
Missale Lugdunense (16th century)
Spanish antiphoner (16th century)
Codices Electronici Sangallenses digitizes liturgical and other books from the Abbey Library of St. Gallen.
For a growing archive of medieval polyphonic manuscripts, visit the Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music (go to "search" and click on the "images only" box; full-sized view requires registration).

Pope 2.0

HumanComplex — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:13:38 -0800

The Pope is now on Facebook.

AIDS Prevention Strategies in Africa

Roach — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:32:52 -0800

According to Senior Harvard AIDS Prevention Researcher Dr. Edward Green, condoms not only are not helping to prevent the AIDS crisis, but are actually making the problem worse.

Every day is holy and special

filthy light thief — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:43:42 -0800

Looking for a reason to celebrate today, or just a reason to skip out on your obligations? You could look through Religious seasonal days of celebration and holy days , check if today is covered by Holiday for Every Day yet, or keep things simple and rely on a Calendar of the Saints like the Catholic feast days or Greek Saints Days from the Orthodox Ministry Access Calendar. If you like to be more traditional, you could go with the Medievalist's On-line Calendar of Saints, which only lists people recognized as saints in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Or, if you feel lucky, check for special Google logos (designed by Dennis Hwang). For instance, today is the first day of Spring, and the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Bishop Richard Williamson in his own words

McGuillicuddy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:27:08 -0800

Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of The Society of Saint Pius X, has been making news since his excommunication was lifted by Pope Benedict XVI in January. On January 21, 2009, in a nearly six minute interview Williamson told a television news program in Sweden that "I believe that history is strongly against, is hugely against, six million Jews having been gassed in gas chamber as a deliberate policy" during the Holocaust. In 2001, the bishop wrote "That girls should not be in universities flows from the nature of universities and from the nature of girls: true universities are for ideas, ideas are not for true girls, so true universities are not for true girls." The Vatican is now repudiating the Holocaust denials. And Bishop Williamson has claimed he will reconsider the issue of Nazi gas chambers by reading the book of a former Holocaust doubter.

Rev. Neuhaus, RIP

parmanparman — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:04:37 -0800

Rev. Richard John Neuhaus is dead. The founder and editor of the Catholic journal First Things, (I am a subscriber), and an inveterate gossip.

Open wide the doors for Christ

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:57:27 -0800

Pope Benedict XVI, speaking at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Rome, which was badly damaged by Allied bombing in July 1943, again praised Pius XII, a pope seen by Jewish leaders and other critics as having turned a blind eye to the Holocaust, and who is nonetheless on his way towards beatification, a step towards sainthood. The Vatican contends that Pius XII worked behind the scenes to help many escape the Holocaust, although many Catholics question the beatification.

The Paulists

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:28:49 -0800

150 years ago, Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, a Catholic priest looking for a way to convert more North Americans, founded the Paulist Fathers. From the start, they took a mass communications approach to proselytizing, from the magazine the Catholic World in 1865 to the website Busted Halo. At the same time, they are also decidedly ecumenical and have a history of disagreeing with Rome, sometimes to the ire of other Catholics.

The Alien is my Brother

Snyder — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:04:40 -0800

Vatican's chief astronomer states that belief in alien life does not conradict faith in God. Fr. José Gabriel Funes, a Jesuit preist and chief astronomer for the Vatican, stated in an interview in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's official newspaper, that, "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation." Fr. Funes goes on to speculate that aliens might be free from original sin, as well as stating the Bible "is not a science book," and that the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. (The original article in Italian.) Coincidentally, the UK's Ministry of Defence just released it's previously classified UFO files.

Tu es Petrus

resurrexit — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:28:36 -0800

After breaking the ice with his video message to all Americans, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Washington, D.C. this afternoon for the initial part of his first Papal visit to the United States of America. Watch it all live. Popes traveling abroad rely largely on planning by the local dioceses they visit, which has proven unworkable at times for Pope Benedict's new Master of Ceremonies. (Because you just never know what the locals have planned for you to wear.) His visit to Washington includes plans for a visit to the White House; an interfaith gathering; a meeting with the bishops of the United States; an address to the presidents of Catholic colleges and universities at the Pope's own university, Catholic U., in what some are heralding as the key moment during B16's visit; and Mass at the new Washington Nationals baseball stadium. (There seems to be a fairly long tradition of popes--each pope is "Sovereign Ruler of the Vatican City State," after all--meeting with presidents.) His New York schedule includes plans to address the United Nations; meet with Jewish leaders at a NY synagogue; celebrate Mass with local priests, deacons and religious; meet with children with disabilities (video); participate in a rally with youth--who've designed a skate board for the pope--and seminarians; visit Ground Zero, where he will read a prayer for all the souls who perished on 9/11; and celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium. Oh, and Papa Ratzinger will also be turning a spry 81 tomorrow. He returns to the Vatican on April 20, presumably to play with his cats.

Pope Benedict XVI hits NYC

These Premises Are Alarmed — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:29:44 -0800

The most challenging scenario(video) of communion distribution in the upper deck of Yankee Stadium. See the Pope on 5th Avenue or vote for your favorite papal skateboard design. Other activities. Itinerary. Security. Via.

Two popes, two

omegar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:35:12 -0800

"Ratzinger is an Evolutionist, which by definition makes one an athiest", is one of the reasons that this website, in which the "true" catholic faith (different [?] from the other catholic faith) is promoted, gives as to claiming Benedict XVI isn't the true pope. And to make their point they have elected a "real" pope themselves: Pope Pius XIII His real name? Lucian Pulvermacher (wikipedia) (previously) But, How can they elect a pope when they have one in the Vatican? you ask? Well, according to the FAQ, which is a tad outdated: "John Paul II is NOT the Pope and never was. Neither were the 3 other imposters, John XXIII, Paul VI or John Paul I." Of course, having two popes isn't news at all for the catholic church. There have been antipopes (wikipedia), a second pope unrecognized by the Vatican, intermitently for almost 1900 years now. Once there were even three popes at the same time, couresy of the Western Schism (wikipedia). (via)

Majerus v Burke

ozomatli — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:57:08 -0800

Rick Majerus has always been a bit controversial, but this has been a bad month. The details of the lawsuit mentioned in the article are here

Future Patron Saint of Abu Ghraib

micketymoc — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:21:55 -0800

On October 28, the Pope will beatify (certify as Blessed) several martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, among them Gabino Olaso Zabala. Only thing is, Zabala is known to have participated in the torture of a fellow priest. Disturbingly, some Catholics are rallying behind a man who never publicly regretted his abusive past.

Catholic Church goes green

stbalbach — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 08:53:55 -0800

The Catholic Church is traditionally not seen as a progressive institution, but when it comes to global warming, Vatican City is aiming to become the worlds first fully carbon-neutral state, and the Pope is expected to use his first address to the United Nations next April to deliver a powerful warning over climate change in a move to adopt protection of the environment as a "moral" cause for the Catholic Church and its billion-strong following.

Vatican's New "Rock" Opera

sluglicker — Sat, 19 May 2007 13:00:54 -0800

Dante's The Divine Comedy (trailer/text) has inspired an opera by the Vatican's music administrator, the choirmaster of St John Lateran, Monsignor Marco Frisina. The premiere is scheduled for fall of 2007. Although traditional orchestral music predominates, Monsignor Frisina says that he is using punk, rock and jazz to represent the Devil because its "violent and rebellious tones help create a hellish atmosphere" (The Clash, Straight To Hell YouTube).

Jesus Christ!

kyleg — Sun, 13 May 2007 00:28:25 -0800

Jesus of Nazareth - a theological biography by Pope Benedict

Father Drinan dead at 86

Bulgaroktonos — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:51:38 -0800

Rev. Robert F. Drinan, first priest to be a voting member of Congress died Sunday He was 86. In his time, Father Drinan was a priest, law professor and human rights advocate. He was also controversial.

it's been agreed that results of the debate are to be binding on all religious and nonreligious people.

ibmcginty — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:19:44 -0800

Sam Harris, an atheist, and Andrew Sullivan, a Catholic, debate whether moderate religion makes any sense. Harris: "Religious moderation is the result of not taking scripture all that seriously." Sullivan: "Blogger, please."

lessthanthree Ricky!

thirteenkiller — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:37:21 -0800

St. Patrick's Catholic parish of Iowa City had a lovely old church until last year on Holy Thursday when the building was destroyed by a tornado. The church ruins were demolished yesterday. Here is the heart-wrenching (and related!) saga of Ricky the Flying Raccoon.

Dona eis requiem. Latin mass to return?

SansPoint — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:31:20 -0800

Pope Benedict XVI wants to bring back the latin mass. This could be the start of a return to the old Catholic traditionalism and the undoing of Vatican II.

Life & Liturgy Artifacts

tellurian — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 05:36:39 -0800

A collection of American Catholic paraphernalia, including mysterious (for me, a non-Catholic) objects like; aspergills, clappers and Sick call sets. There are also more rosaries, medals and pins than you can shake a stick at.