I'm Moving

Yeah, I know I already told you about my move to Garretson, but I am also moving my blog to a new location.  This has been something I have been meaning to do for some time because my current blog home does not have any way to moderate the comments, and there are some nasty people out there who love to post all sort of filth, especially on a priests blog. Hopefull this will be much better.

The new blog can be found at www.whitearoundthecollar.blogspot.com.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Bishop Tobin's RSVP

From Bishop Tobin's article in the Rhode Island Catholic:

I probably would have written this article anyhow, so distressed was I. But then I received an invitation to attend a fundraising luncheon for presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, and that absolutely confirmed my decision.

The fundraiser is scheduled for Providence next week. For $500, I could attend a reception with the former New York City Mayor. For $1,500 I could attend a reception with a photo-op.

The first thought that came to my mind is that I’m not charging enough for my Confirmation photos!

Nevertheless, and more to the point, I have no idea why I received an invitation to Giuliani’s fundraiser. I don’t know the mayor; I’ve never met him. I try to avoid partisan politics. Heck, I’m not even a Republican. But most of all, I would never support a candidate who supports legalized abortion.

Rudy’s public proclamations on abortion are pathetic and confusing. Even worse, they’re hypocritical.

[...]

Photography During the Sacred Liturgy

One of the most common questions I get before any sort of Liturgy is "Father, is it alright if I take pictures?"  In most cases I have no problems, but once in a while a photographer gets out of hand or parents get a little too camera happy at times where it seems inapproprate.

So, for those of you who want some guidelines on when and how to take pictures during the Liturgy here you go.  Jeff Geerling, a seminarian for the Archdioces of St. Louis has written a little article on the topic.  Here is a jem of a quote from the article, but do read the whole thing...it's not that long.

"Basically, it comes down to this: liturgies are set up for the worship of God. They are not set up for picture-taking. You should respect other people who are present and worshipping; if you're distracting them, you're not respecting them. But, more importantly, at liturgies in a Catholic church, you need to show respect to Jesus, who is present in the Eucharist and in the tabernacle. He is present so you can worship Him; not so you can get a really good picture of Him! How would you like it if someone you invited to your party came, took a bunch of pictures of you, and never said a word to you, then left? Pretty disrespectful!

The first purpose for a liturgy is the worship - make sure you have that covered! You don't need twenty pictures of your nephew's baptism to remember it forever. It would be better to experience the baptism firsthand, and maybe just take one meaningful picture, or get a picture from someone else to remember the event by."

The article can be found by clicking here.

The Public Ruminations of One Domenico Bettinelli

Let me be clear right up front. This is not a rumor. I have no special or inside knowledge. I’m just ruminating...

In recent history, the secretary’s [ for the Congregation for Catholic Education] position has been held by a member of a religious order who has experience in Catholic education. I got to thinking about potential candidates for the post, and I realized that Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, is available on the bench.

Now, I’ve heard it said more than once that if offered a bishop’s office, Fr. Fessio would refuse once, twice, and even three times. But consider that he is a longtime student of the Holy Father and has long experience in academia, going back to the founding of the Ignatius Institute at University of San Francisco.

It wouldn’t surprise me.

Again, I have heard no rumors. I’m just thinking in public.

It sounds logical to me, but it would be a rather bold move on the part of Pope Benedict, especially considering the "arch-conservative" [whatever the heck that means] label that has been bestowed upon Fr. Fessio...but one never knows what the Holy Spirit has in mind.