Friday, February 22, 2008


The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It has come to my attention that St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Boise will be implementing liturgical dance in some of their Masses. I refuse to comment other than to urge us, once again, to pray for our priests and bishops. H/T to Dominican Idaho

Diane at te Deum Laudamus has an excellent post on the Rise in Contemplative, Monastic, Cloistered Vocations. Do yourself a favor and make this part of your Lenten reading.

“For the last forty years, we have seen a decline in Mass attendance, in the sacraments - most especially confession. In some quarters, baptized Catholics are electing not to have their babies baptized and do not encourage Confirmation. Within the Church there are disoriented theologians who are constantly trying to get the Church to follow the world.” Excerpt from Diane at te Deum Laudamus.

And, finally - Why we should sterilise teenage girls ... temporarily at least, (you'll have to scroll up for start of article) from Daily Mail in the UK. To quote my friend Jennifer who sent me this. "How sick is this?"

19 comments:

uncle jim said...

can not link to the UK article on teen girls

Adrienne said...

Ooooops! All fixed.

Adrienne said...

Thanks, Uncle Jim! You're the best!

Tom in Vegas said...

Has anyone ever met face to face someone who believes it's quite appropriate to dance during the liturgy? I’ve never met someone like that in MY LIFE! (Thank God).

Say, that's not a picture of you is it? LOL! I'm kidding! Although it would be a compliment to bear the image of such a cute little pup. Tell us more!! (name, breed, etc.)

Unknown said...

Well aren't they just on the cutting edge of the 1970s!

What are they going to do next, invent pet rocks, or invent leisure suits?

God love 'em... some people just don't get it. sigh.

As for the article. Where are ticked off feminists when you actually NEED them?

Adrienne said...

That would be Elle. She's a Critter with attitude. A puppy mill "Yorkie" - in her dreams. Someone definitly left the cage doors open.

http://adriennescatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2007/10/catholic-dog.html

I will just have to do a post on the whole family.

Brilliant husband (convert), cradle Catholic Elle, the other converts: Angela (also known as The Queen), Erica

http://adriennescatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2007/11/ericas-story.html

and Sophie, the gentle one.

As to your other question I, too, have never met anyone who likes most any of the trash that is being foisted on so many parishes.

Don't get me started. I really work hard to keep my snarkiness under wraps. Not healthy for myself or anyone else. Us drunks have to cleave to the Serenity Prayer. That's what Tony is for.

....and, we just signed up for the basic Netflix so we decided to watch The Sopranos from the beginning. We don't have cable so we have never seem the last 3 or so seasons. Watch out world!!

Adrienne said...

Simple Sinner, Everything is at least 10-20 years behind here in podunk Idaho. It will take a few more years to hit North Idaho. So far, other than a soft rock band at 10:30 Mass, our pastor has resisted most of the nonsense.

Jane said...

Yes,I read that article. I couldn't figure out what was more disturbing: the article itself or the large number of people who found it totally acceptable. Thanks for visiting me! Come back any time!

Adrienne said...

Jaimie - I was waiting to see if anyone else would notice that. I found the comments to be extremely shocking.

irene said...

Seems like almost everyone is missing the point(s). The proposal, of course, is hyperbole.

The author ticks off many accurate observations. But they all go back to one simple observation -- in the past 100 years, we have changed all the contingencies with our technology.

What was teen life like 100 years ago? It didn't exist.

(1) Fertility did not occur until much later. Even though children routinely engaged in "sex play", no one got pregnant.

(2) At the age when they did become fertile, it was customary for the women to marry, settle down, and be a "housewife".

(3) At about the same age, the males quit school and went to work, as an apprentice or what not. When their income was sufficient to support a wife, they married (usually a younger woman), and reproduction began.

(4) Couples had as many children as their biology would allow. This was a necessity due to infant mortality and the need to have children to augment the family income and to support the parents when they became disabled (usually early).

(5) The average life span was in the 40's. No need to even think about supporting people in their 90's.

We changed all the contingencies with our high-tech medicine. Fertile 7 and 8 year olds are not uncommon. And no one can get a worthwhile job without and extended education. So now we have a period between fertility and the late 20's that we have come to call "adolescence". And throughout this 20-year span, people are subjected to the (irresistable) reproductive drive in a social system that denies them adequate income.

What did you expect to happen? Sure, Catholic teaching says no sex outside of marriage. But what percentage of any population, no matter how well-raised and devout, is going to be able to resist for 20 years?

If you want to change the outcome, then you must change the contingencies. Enforced and prolonged sterility may be an outrageous proposal, but what alternative are you the reader willing to put into place?

Adrienne said...

Irene - I completely agree that our contingencies have changed. However, we live in a society now that has placed sex at the center and suggested that to do without will cause great harm.

It is a powerful drive but so is food and lots of other stuff. The part of the article that addresses young girls and not more "mature" young women at say the age of 21 and up is what I find disturbing.

This article assumes that girls at 8 or 9 will be having sex. That has never been appropriate in our culture.

Sex is a gift from God and should be taught as such and treated as such. What young women do when they reach the age of majority is going to be their decision. What little girls do is up to their parents. Forcing dangerous drugs into bodies that are still growing is sick and dangerous.

Melody K said...

In the article about teenage girls, I assume they are talking about Norplant or Depo-Provera; or some version of these. I know some young women who wish they had never heard of these hormonal contraceptives; their bodies are messed up big time. We think we can fool around with Mother Nature and there will be no consequences. Wrong!

Tc said...

The article almost reminds me of a favorite short story of mine by Jonathan Swift: A Modest Proposal.

If only it were satire, too.

gemoftheocean said...

Sex at 8 or 9? When I was that age I literally didn't know about it.

When I did know at 11....my thought was "My parents did WHAT? Certainly not mom!" [And I bet most people, at least when I was growing up had that same reaction.]

That people had normal sex was enough of a revelation to me at that age. And now they want to teach kindergarteners about homosexuality. Spare us!

Karen

gemoftheocean said...

Oh, and about that liturgical dance business....look: I like Fred and Ginger and Mickey and Judy better than most people. I'd have slapped them had they done it during Mass.

Be VERY vocal about this. In my own experience, people are too damn nice about these things...not wanting to "offend." Well, damn it, this sort of abuse offends me...and they're willing to offend me, by going and doing something which has been said is NOT to be done. COMPLAIN before they start, and if they DO persist in doing this, I recommend WALKING OUT of any Mass where they do this. SIT RIGHT UP FRONT. and just get up and leave when the horsebleep starts. If you smoke, light up a cigarette right there in church and stand up and say "I'm outta here." If enough people follow suit, this crap will stop.

Unknown said...

SAVED BY GRACE:
Over 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell.

I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis (Family of Origin & EMDR), up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staffs were very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 2004, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little.

I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.”

I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically.


He's a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life to day - after a childhood spent in orphanages. God loves me so much. Fear, pain & guilt are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you (Luke 8: 16-17).

I, MICKY, AM THE HOLY ONE OF GOD.

Anonymous said...

School teachers are to blame for liturgical dance. I bet my bottom dollar that a majority of those women in your post photo are teachers at 'catholic' schools.
Protestants!

Joe of St. Thérèse said...

The Religious (Not So) Education Congress has reached Iadho?

Adrienne said...

Hi Joe - thanks for visiting. Yes, some of the oddities of Mahony's world have crept into Idaho. North Idaho is still fairly normal.

What is going on in CA (as well as some other places) is a cause for prayer. I try not to get upset about something "I cannot change" and just try to make a difference in my part of the world.

Things are getting better - little by little.