Tony Hancock: 90th anniversary of the birth of a genius

On May 12th, 1924, Anthony Hancock was born: arguably the most talented post-war English comedian. Enjoy!!!

Pope Paul VI to be beatified on October 19th, 2014

Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has approved the promulgation of the decree for the cause of beatification of his predecessor Pope Paul VI. The approval was announced Saturday.

The beatification ceremony is scheduled to take place October 19, 2014, at the conclusion of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family.
The Holy Father received Cardinal Angelo Amato SDB, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on Friday afternoon, and authorized the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees :
- The miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini) , the Supreme Pontiff; born September 26, 1897 in Concesio (Italy) and died August 6, 1978 at Castel Gandolfo (Italy).

Pope Francis sends message to the National March for Life in Ottawa

Following similar messages which he sent earlier this year to the March for Life in Washington and the recent March for Life in Rome, Pope Francis has sent the following message of support for today’s National March for Life in Ottawa:

His Holiness Pope Francis is pleased to greet everyone taking part in the seventeenth National March for Life in Ottawa, and he assures them of his spiritual closeness as they give witness to the God-given dignity, beauty and value of human life. He prays that this event foster greater respect for the inviolable right to life of each person from conception to natural death and support the efforts of all who labour to ensure that this fundamental human right receives adequate legal protection. To the organizers and participants, and in particular to those who aid women in crisis pregnancies and their children, the Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the risen Lord.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Secretary of State

Cardinal Kasper evasive and ambiguous on the Brian Lehrer Show

During his recent visit to the United States, Walter Cardinal Kasper was interviewed by Brian Lehrer. On the issue of Holy Communion for the divorced and remarried, the Cardinal was evasive, pushing a new pastoral approach. 

"it depends...it depends on the personal attitude...look to the concrete situation of people"

On the issue of contraception; of the contracepting couple. 

"...how they want to do it is their their personal conscience [sic] and their personal responsibility"

Msgr. Vincent Foy: 75 Years a priest. Solemn Mass in the presence of His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins

In the presence of His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, a Solemn Mass according to the Extraordinary Form (Usus antiquior) of the 1962 Missal as promulgated by St. John XXIII will be offered in celebration of the: 

75th Anniversary of the Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood 

of the Very Reverend Monsignor Vincent Foy. 

A pastoral letter on the evils of pornography by the Bishop of Arlington

Catholics can no longer bury their heads in the sand and try to deny that the cancerous spread of pornography has not invaded their lives. In fact, its evil effects can be seen everywhere. 

Even local (seeming neo-pelagian, given their bitter fruits) parochial Catholic schools are not immune, with graduates succumbing to sexual license, perversion etc. Other graduates, in a more sedate nod to the secular culture, confine themselves to the standard vulgarity (that even a few years ago would cause shock - no more) that is so prevalent. In effect, there is no difference, no counter-cultural push from Catholics to be contrarians vis-a-vis the "pornographic culture" we face. How many parents will continue to be deceived by these fraudulent schools? 

It is against this climate of evil that the Bishop of Arlington, His Excellency Paul Loverde has issued his Pastoral Letter, "Bought with a Price: Everyman's duty to protect himself and his family from a pornographic culture". The entire letter may be read here as a pdf file. I encourage you to spread this pastoral letter far and wide. 

"That's Belfast"? ... No, that IS sacrilege: the profaning of the Sanctuary of Holy Rosary Church in Toronto

I had hoped that it would not be necessary to write - once again - about the inappropriate use of a Catholic church for a secular concert. Over the past few days, I have been informed that - once again - Holy Rosary parish in Toronto has staged an "Irish Afternoon Tea" which included a "concert" in the church. 

Though it is highly laudable to raise funds for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, surely there is another way to accomplish this without profaning the Sanctuary? In this case, simply use the parish hall. You will notice on the video link (from a concert in a previous year), the Tabernacle Door and Veil closed, implying that the Blessed Sacrament was left in the church during this concert. This years concert, my very reliable source informed me,  was replete with secular songs.

As Freyr commented a year ago: We must rely upon ordinary Catholics to preserve the sanctity of their sacred spaces. This begs the question of why there is not a hue and cry amongst parishioners when these events take place. The answer is fairly simple. Anyone who would speak out against these things in a real parish will very quickly find themselves at the centre of an extremely nasty conflict. Moreover they will be standing alone.

Yes, it would seem that such a situation exists at Holy Rosary. 

The Archdiocesan policy - which is still in force, though obviously being violated with abandon  - may be read here at Vox Cantoris. 

Just how much is the Secretariat of State and Curia undermining the Pope?

This recollection by Bishop Fellay comes from the reign of Pope Benedict; but nothing has changed. We also know that on the night before he died (?), Pope John Paul I was verbally accosted by Cardinal Baggio, when informed that he was to leave Rome.