More Reflections

On the Reflections   (of Christ in the Church)

     What would Christ find amusing if he were to return today? What would he find off putting and hideously out of step with his heart? Is the Church an Affair of His Heart or wed to various idolotries?
Having no priest marry has designed budget implications- no other family members to provide for, pay college for (they could go to Jesuit ones for free maybe), buy cars for, or feed or house. So magnificent church buildings through the ages have been constructed in Europe with towering stained glass and magnificent frescos and statuary and artisans, architects and building tradesmen were paid instead of family budgets. The poor need art, declared Priest Robert Barron in his 'catholicism' series. No disputing that this is some fine art.
   But in Europe lots of those cathedrals stand as tourist attractions, some paid for and maintained by the state without any active sustaining congregations because what was left wasn't the heart of Jesus in some cases, but a magnificent building. Some even now charge admission in italy.

What good is a glorious building if no worship is going on inside? What good is a building to God if God left the building?

The church has thrown babies out with its holy water. The church has thrown the baby Jesus out in some cases.

    It is a scandal and a sin that there are vast huge monestaries in parts of europe inhabited by a handful of clanking aged religious or monks when there are hurricane refugees in tents in Haiti or 40,000 Syrian refugees living in dismal tents in Turkey or even a few thousand poor in tent cities in Arizona, America.

     Jesus' whole message was Love your Neighbor as yourself as a manifestation of Loving God. That is the summation of ALL the law and ALL the prophets. That includes ALL Canon Law. Would the Pope or any Cardinal  live in a Tent?

"In Politics, it can be lethal to be too right too early"-Mitt Romney
In Religion it can be worse. Trust Me.

The controversy that won't die

Until they face it honestly, biblically and intelligently.


   The married priesthood option. There is a contingent of people who think they are doing the Lord's work by ridiculing, demonizing, demeaning, shunning, harassing, and abasing people who believe that Roman Catholic Priests should be given the same "right" to marry that Saint Paul said was a right "don't I have a RIGHT to travel with a wife like all the apostles?" which he declined,  and as Byzantine, Eastern Rite, Orthodox and all Protestants have.   Indeed Saint Peter on whom the church was founded had a wife, Jesus knew as much because he cured her mother--St. Peter's mother- in law.  As it flatly says in scripture that it is a commandment that any Bishop be married to one wife (not NONE or three) it is a fair assumption that Peter was given the keys precisely because he was a good married family guy.


This is a little like the Dominican Inquisition in which people thought mass slaughter of Jews was the Lord's work. The meanest most vicious people you ever want to run into hold the clerical celibacy close to them like someone were suggesting something immoral by proposing that they be given free will to decide if they want to marry.

Click HERE for

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/us/married-roman-catholic-priests-are-testing-a-tradition.html?pagewanted=all


    When I posted that article on facebook I got a like from someone who wanted to be a priest but was torn because he also wanted to be a father and husband to one wife- like the bible says is a qualification to being a Bishop. These are good people who don't get to be priests because the pull is strong in both directions. In my lifetime I know about ten guys like this.  Its possibly a God given call in both directions. I am not God but they think so. The Roman Church excludes that, so my friend would have to be Episcopalian to answer his dual call or settle for Deacon. And guess what- an Episcopalian Priest with a family can after all become a Roman one with full conjugal rights to have a wife, and naturally bear children.  None of that is inconsistent with the priesthood in the protestant world. Neither was it inconsistent in Jesus' world. Its not a rule Jesus established and for the first 1,000 years of Christendom it wasn't the law in the catholic church either. When you remind people of this they think you are somehow trying to subvert the Spirit rather than strengthen it.

     The odd thing is the ignorant virulent older catholic women who ferociously hold to the myth of this non optional lifetime celibacy as virtue such that that somehow suggesting that this is the biblical norm is immoral or worse crazy talk from a demented mind. Even Catholic Melkite priests in the Middle East, closer to the biblical cultural norm are allowed to be married.

     The head shrinking job on congregations in the West is really a mind-F. Staggering the scriptural ignorance that some of the adherents display and general lack of cultural appreciation for the other half of Christendom. Do they really think that Jesus needs the continent sperm of a male priest to transubstantiate himself through the priest?  Who do they think would develop such a wierd theological fiction when JPII said celibacy is not ontologically necessary for the priesthood.

   But for these ladies don't confuse them with theology. They like the pray, pay and obey model when they can call upon a priest as their favorite pet for favors and keep them tied to their purse strings.
The vilification of the people who want reform is the real scandal. Like my friend who settles for people calling him "brother" until he can figure out whether he wants a wife or a job as a priest.

For the rest of the ladies who lunch- get a life honey, really.
   

   

   

FRENCH FAIR FESTIVAL

AND PARISIEN STYLE FLEA MARKET--

The Funnest Fair for Families is at the French Parish House in Friendship Heights.

There are kiddies games, face painting, and a huge flea market, french language books. silent auction, and fantastic French foods.

    Its the best event of the season- SEPTEMBER 30th- all afternoon.
Official flier is below and you can see some photos from last year's event on the Gallery section of their webpage HERE


  Plan on coming with the whole family this year.

WHERE? Corner of  41st and Garrison Streets, NW, Washington, DC
                 Friendship Heights. Just a few blocks from the Friendship Heights Metro,
                       (right behind Fox Studios.)

WHEN?  Noon to 4:00ish Afternoon, September 30, 2012

HOW MUCH?  Tickets may be purchased at the place individually or in bundles for various games, food, etc... it's really reasonable and really fun.  Just come, you will see, you can buy as little or much as you want (French wines at a bargain also)

Pray for Haitians

The Right Reverend Al Green

Rocked the House at Wolftrap last night.

     Hope he is on the Convention lineup.  Great Opening For Obama.

Tastes of Tuscany

Right in DC.

   My new favorite restaurant is woman owned. Women's ownership rocks. Especially when teamed with a new celebrity chef who is bona fide Italian  from Tuscany with recipes that are traditional and expressively italian at the same time. i Ricchi is on 19th Street between M and N, NW. The owner who is attractive enough to be the next food channel star has had a long tradition cooking Tuscan from her italian mother in law and lived in italy for a few decades before owning her own DC eatery.

    Just for starters try the new Tuscan chef's hors d'oevres of dates covered in goat cheese drizzled in honey, or salmon mouse crustini or homemade mozzarella on basil, tomato and drizzled with olive oil.
Tuesdays tend to be half priced for females dining. You have to try it. The ambiance is decidedly italian country freshness, elegant and tasteful. No one paid me to say this- it's one of the happiest hours in the Dupont area.

click to see the new Master Chef!

but james

There is but one God, one Faith, One Camp.

    The first campers think the purity teaching is in the second camp.  The second campers think their love of neighbor is also in camp one.

What do you make of Carville's analysis below-you constitutional scholars?

What happened to purple statehood?

Tikkun reprints a Jesuit's amusing Anti-Social Gospel

Message- they title it 'What if Jesus Was a Republican'-
 
Social Justice would look like this:

The Lazy Paralytic
1. When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at his home. 2. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  4. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5. When Jesus saw this he grew angry, “Why did you wreck my roof?  Do you have any idea how much that cost to install?  Do you know how many tables and chairs I had to make in my carpentry shop to pay for that roof?  The reeds alone cost five talents.  I had them carted in from Bethany.”  6. The disciples had never seen Jesus so angry about his possessions.  He continued, “This house is my life.  And the roof is the best part.”  The disciples fell silent.   7. “It’s bad enough that you trash my private property, now you want me to heal you?” said Jesus, “And did you not see the stone walls around this house?”  “Yes,” said the man’s friends.  “Are these not the stone walls common to the towns and villages of Galilee?”  8. “No,” Jesus answered.  “This is a gated community.  How did you get in?”  The man’s friends grew silent.  9. Then Jesus turned and said to the paralytic, “Besides, can’t you take care of your own health problems?  I’m sure that your family can care for you, or maybe the synagogue can help out.”  10. “No, Lord,” answered the man’s friends.  “There is no one.  His injuries are too severe.  To whom else can we go?”  11. “Well, not me,” said Jesus.  “What would happen if I provided access to free health care for everyone?  That would mean that people would not only get lazy and entitled, but they would take advantage of the system.  12. Besides, look at me: I’m healthy. And you know why?  Because I worked hard for my money, and took care of myself.”  The paralyzed man then grew sad and he addressed Jesus.  “But I did work, Lord,” said the paralytic.  “Until an accident rendered me paralyzed.”  “Yes,” said the man’s friends. “He worked very hard.”  13. “Well,” said Jesus, “That’s just part of life, isn’t it?”  “Then what am I to do, Lord?” said the paralytic.  “I don’t know.  Why don’t you sell your mat?”  14. All in the crowd then grew sad.  “Actually, you know what you can do?” said Jesus. “You can reimburse me for my roof.  Or I’ll sue you.” And all were amazed.  15. “We have never seen anything like this,” said the crowd.
The Very Poorly Prepared Crowd
1. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve apostles came to Jesus and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” 2 But Jesus said to them, “Why not give them something to eat?” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.”  3 For there were about five thousand men. And Jesus said to his disciples, “You know what?  You’re right.  Don’t waste your time and shekels.  It would be positively immoral for you to spend any of your hard-earned money for these people.  They knew full well that they were coming to a deserted place, and should have relied on themselves and brought more food.  As far as I’m concerned, it’s every five thousand men for themselves.”  4. The disciples were astonished by this teaching.  “But Lord,” said Thomas.  “The crowd will surely go hungry.”  Jesus was amazed at his hard-headedness.  “That’s not my problem, Thomas.  Better that their stomachs are empty than they become overly dependent on someone in authority to provide loaves and fishes for them on a regular basis.  Where will it end?  Will I have to feed them everyday?”  “No, Lord,” said Thomas, “Just today.  When they are without food.  After they have eaten their fill, they will be healthy, and so better able to listen to your word and learn from you.”  Jesus was grieved at Thomas’s answer.  Jesus answered, “It is written: There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”  So taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and took one loaf and one fish for himself, and gave the rest to the twelve, based on their previously agreed-upon contractual per diem.  But he distributed none to the crowd, because they needed to be taught a lesson.  So Jesus ate and he was satisfied.  The disciples somewhat less so.  “Delicious,” said Jesus.  What was left over was gathered up and saved for Jesus, should he grow hungry in a few hours.  The very poorly prepared crowd soon dispersed.
The Rich and Therefore Blessed Young Man
1. As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to him and knelt before him, and asked, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  2. And Jesus said to him, “What have you done so far?” 3. And he said to Him, “Well I was born into a wealthy family, got into a good school in Galilee because my parents donated a few thousand talents for a building with a nice reed roof, and now I have a high-paying job in the Roman treasury managing risk.” 4. Looking at him, Jesus felt an admiration for him, and said to him, “Blessed are you!  For you are not far from being independently wealthy.” And the man was happy.  Then Jesus said, “But there is one thing you lack: A bigger house in a gated community in Tiberias. Buy that and you will have a treasure indeed.  And make sure you get a stone countertop for the kitchen.  Those are really nice.”  The disciples were amazed.  5. Peter asked him, “Lord, shouldn’t he sell all his possessions and give it to the poor?” Jesus grew angry.  “Get behind me, Satan!  He has earned it!”  Peter protested: “Lord,” he said, “Did this man not have an unjust advantage?  What about those who are not born into wealthy families, or who do not have the benefit of a good education, or who, despite all their toil, live in the poorer areas of Galilee, like Nazareth, your own home town?”  6. “Well,” said Jesus, “first of all, that’s why I left Nazareth.  There were too many poor people always asking me for charity.  They were as numerous as the stars in the sky, and they annoyed me.  Second, once people start spending again, like this rich young man, the Galilean economy will inevitably rebound, and eventually some of it will trickle down to the poor.  Blessed are the patient!  But giving the money away, especially if he can’t write it off, is a big fat waste.”  The disciples’ amazement knew no bounds.  “But Lord,” they said, “what about the passages in both the Law and the Prophets that tell us to care for widows and orphans, for the poor, for the sick, for the refugee?  What about the many passages in the Scriptures about justice?” 7. “Those are just metaphors,” said Jesus.  “Don’t take everything so literally.”
SOURCE
James Martin, SJ/America Magazine

Thank you to Tikkun for reprinting. Thank you James Martin, SJ Jesuit for the wit and wisdom.

The Public Debate- A Call for Civility

The public debate--Like the bulletspray of a machine gun We all need to pray for peace, hard. Especially in this election season where different views take on the lack of civility of a barroom brawl or four year olds bickering over the same toy, tugging and pulling until it breaks. Civility, civility, civility. Cardinals like McCarrick have called for it over and over again. There was a shooting at the Family Research Council. Who would want to shoot them-those nice family guys. Turns out someone's switch was flipped and they tried to go postal on the nice family guys getting as far as their security guard. Violence is what happens when people's discourse takes on a bulls eye -lets win and get them at all costs -mentality. I am reminded again of the bravest of Congressional souls who battled back from a shot to the head in Arizona after some disgruntled nut job felt his only solution was going postal in a parking lot. One prominent Republican politician was cited as having bulls eyes on various politicians on her website with a 'lock and load' bravado- as if that display of machismo was either necessary or cute for a woman politician. Disgusting. There are guys so out there they can actually speak about 'legitimate rape' in distinguishing why there should be no rape exception to abortion. Even Ann Coulter finds that stunningly ignorant. And they wonder why Democrats think there might be a 'war on women' sub-textually going on. Other name calling, like 'unpatriotic' or 'treasonous' (pick any title of a Coulter book) becomes slanderously uncivil and gives the reader in their minds justification for escalated verbal violence, to counter the hate-filed rhetoric of the other side. The downside of free speech guarantees is that vilest of verbal vomit can pass as political discourse. Next week the conventions take off. And the sarcasm and smirking mockery will escalate to an art form as the lowest common denominator of bile and vile epithets short of four letter words will be flung with bravado about the other side- unless we all pledge to rise above it. We are all Americans trying to find the best way forward for all, not just a privileged few. Not just the few who have been blessed and don't want to share, not just the few who look down on those less blessed- but ALL. There are some stark realities that the body politic has to grasp about each other. Romney is not a common man for the common man and he is a Mormon Bishop who finances hundreds of millions of dollars of mormon enterprises with the TAX DEDUCTIONS in contributions he generates. Deal with it. He apparently has found an ally in the segment of society that lives off Tax Deductions in religious contributions so a prominent Cardinal is giving a blessing and prayer at the Republican Convention. They agree on the 'religious liberty' of not having to pay for things the rest of the country thinks are beneficial to public health. By labeling it 'religious liberty' everyone who disagrees must not like God. There go the Republicans again trying to be the 'God Party.' They are against abortion, even in 'legitimate rape' situations, hence the other side must all be 'baby killers.' Nevermind that their running mate Ryan has been assailed by Jesuits far and wide for constructing a budget deemed directly harmful to the poor counter to scriptural mandates to take care of them. He's Catholic- lets see if we can recapture the lost Catholic vote Biden took. Lets see if we can also get loose canons and diaharrea mouths like Trump to call our Vice President names. Like any religious zealots, people who think they are on God's side feel free to blast the infidels into oblivion with verbal bombast, ridicule and contempt disguised as patriotism. Practical nuanced arguments are overtaken with arrogance and disdain by people wholly ignorant of the natural repercussions of their reckless actions. People feel justified in labeling people lowlifes and spreading slander to not have to hear their arguments. It becomes all about who controls the purse, whose money will flow where, who gets the power of wealth of the giant budget called the national treasury and who can order around the Joint Chiefs of Staff in foreign lands. The Conventions are a circus and there are the freak acts. This next week a cautioning is due: Keep the rhetoric civil, respectful, about issues, no bulls eyes, no ridicule snottiness, no inciting a riot. Republicans are widely predicted to lose, and if they win its by stealing another election (something they are expert at) so remember who you are going to have to answer to later.

The Greatest of Men

Are the Humblest of Men

     It was once said to Socrates, reported the Carmelite Friar, that he is the humblest of all men. To which Socrates replied- then there are no humble men.

   Which might be the epitomy of humility. God hates pride-was the sermon, one that a few Cardinals might note.

  Without the snark allow me to cite to someone I believe one of the humblest of  men, and thus greatest of men I have met in my lifetime.

---Roland Celette.

  Who is he really, this guy feted now by the Washington Post and socialites from here to New York with portfolios to rank Soros? (they wish) He has been a discrete Washington fixture for a decade. And now, just as he is leaving everyone is taking sad notice and begging him to stay in some fashion or capacity. I expect someone to just give him a penthouse in New York just to have him around soon.

   Roland is a guy who you might think 'ordinary' to look at- like Jesus was reported to be. He was a classical scholar and professor in Paris, from a humble simple family in Clermont, France, a rather rural agrarian part of the country which he calls the "Pittsburgh of France." It has what we might call 'midwestern charm' and aversion to open displays of oppulence.

  And here Roland, the classical scholar found himself in Washington, DC, catering to the desires of four French Ambassadors fighting the anti-francophone vibe that flung from Midland Texas like a cow patty tossing carnival to 'in  your face' poor Chirac who was all along totally correct. Iraq was a fiasco. A dumb nightmare that we are still paying for in treasure and limbs.

   Roland is an educator who taught Peace through culture. More than that he taught kindness, acceptance, love and grace- of a kind that is uniquely french. I truly believe it is uniquely French. I attribute it to the fact that the Blessed Mother must have lived there or at least really and truly Mary Magdalene whose love of Jesus the saints know better than the scripture.

     Roland for a decade made the French Embassy in Washington as sort of oasis of special tender peace and kindness. After movies he treated to wine and cheese receptions. He kissed both cheeks with a hearty 'thank you so much for coming' as if you were Royalty or at least the Secretary of State (or something far more deserving of his double cheeked kissing than a little Washington lawyer.)

  He loves kids- and created a EuroKids festival - something that is the highlight of the year for a lot of people now in DC.  He brought us French movies before most French people saw them with their Directors and cast.

    I can't say enough how much Roland enriched the lives of Washingtonians.
I am just a "tres petite avocate"- and he treated me to events at the Embassy residence with their embroidered tapestried walls and golden orchestra chairs as if I was Madame La President de La Republic.

    The man who so humbles himself and treats every soul he sees as Royalty is a great  humble man. A sincere Prince of a man.  A giant of a man not just because he towers over 6 feet. Roland is French Royalty- a Treasure. And much of Washington is crying over their Chardonnay to see him go.

   I hope and trust he is not long for our shores again and wish him godspeed in his journey to visit with his parents and for the next chapter which I hope somehow includes his "tres petite avocate."