tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84218132024-03-23T14:09:02.747-04:00Friary NotesFr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.comBlogger488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1151887773531000142006-07-02T20:46:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:55.219-04:00The Future of Europe?While Pope Benedict hopes and prays for a resurgence of Christianity in Europe, the <a href="http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060702/NEWS07/607020575/1009">naysayers</a> instead say that the future is either a dominant Muslim population or secularism. Neither is particularly good for the fate of Catholics since either would require the denial of the truths of the faith. However, if Catholics do not wake up to the need to evangelize once again, they have no one to blame but themselves for empty churches or worse - more things like <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5139408.stm">this</a>.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1151380414891552532006-06-26T23:48:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:52.546-04:00When "respecting religious freedom" means "Catholics, shut up!"The <a href="http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=68259">Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry</a> is exercising their freedom of speech by telling the Catholic Church to stop exercising their freedom of speech. Apparently, for certain "leading religious denominations" religious freedom means not seeking to influence public policy. This, of course seems, somewhat hypocritical as this is precisely what the "Religious Coalition" seeks to do. Might I suggest that the "Religious Coalition" learn importance of diversity and the evils of religious bigotry.<br /><br />Update: The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry has two Catholic priests among the signers of its declaration in support of <a href="http://www.rcfm.org/declaration/signers.html">"gay marriage"</a> -<br /><br />Rev. Dr. Richard Rasi - a Melkite priest<br />Fr. Robert E. Nee - a Roman Catholic Priest<br /><br />Update 2:Rev. Dr. Richard Rasi passed away from cancer last year. May perpetual light shine upon him.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1150886192139286862006-06-21T06:29:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:52.186-04:00From the "she turned me into a newt" files<a href="http://www.totalcatholic.com/universe/index.php?news_id=1201&start=0&category_id=&parent_id=0&arcyear=&arcmonth=">St. Michael's University</a> in Scotland has decided to permit Pagan/Wiccan activities at the Catholic institution.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Now pagan or wiccans as they prefer to be called, will be allowed to use campus buildings and outdoor space for festivals, providing they do not utter incantations or spells that might harm others. Nor may not raise spirits or to call up dark forces, and ritual nudity is strictly forbidden.</span><br /><br />Well, I think that pretty much has it covered [well except for the non-ritual nudity and the fact that they are acting contrary to the message of Christianity makes it inherently harmful to others.]<br /><br />I wonder where they will put the wicker man?Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1150765735683133142006-06-19T21:04:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:51.827-04:00Soon we will make our move...The <a href="http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060619005866&newsLang=en">California Catholic Conference</a> is predicting that in 20 years, 60% of California will be Catholic. Most of that increase will not be from immigration from Central and South America, but from natural increases. But the increase coming from immigration will certainly affect the way that the Catholic Church in California sees itself. I also would not be surprised to see similar forecasts for other states in the Southwestern United States.<br /><br />But it also means that the Church must place all new efforts in catechesis and promoting vocations. Because if the spiritual needs of these new Catholics are not met, they will look elsewhere.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1150765412158406492006-06-19T21:01:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:51.479-04:00No word on whether it will offer BingoThe <a href="http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article.cfm?contentID=159175">Ukrainian Catholic Church</a> is condemning a plan to build a casino next to its cathedral in Kiev. The Church authorities are offended and urging that a school be built in its place.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1150765149209945832006-06-19T20:55:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:51.121-04:00Where's Common Ground when you need them?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20060615/capt.8ffc788a604f4eff99552b12cc5c87a2.catholic_bishops_mass_carf107.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=cY8tBpsZ.UNvPxPvHggP2g--"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20060615/capt.8ffc788a604f4eff99552b12cc5c87a2.catholic_bishops_mass_carf107.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=cY8tBpsZ.UNvPxPvHggP2g--" alt="" border="0" /></a>When members of the Women's Ordination Conference and members of Restore the Sacred meet....<br /><br />You can be sure that things are going to get <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060615/480/8ffc788a604f4eff99552b12cc5c87a2">interesting</a>.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1149514424320439802006-06-05T09:28:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:50.808-04:00Priest dies while praying<a href="http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-06-01_1016882.html">Jesuit Father Claudio Rossi</a>, vice-rector at Rome University, fell to his death in a chapel while praying with his mother. Apparently, the chapel was built over a well, into which Fr. Rossi fell.<br /><br />May God have mercy upon him.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1149514067547884762006-06-05T09:15:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:50.439-04:00Belly Button Exposure"God knew what your navel looked like even before you were born, so there is no need to expose it in church."<br /><br />So says a sign at the Catholic Church of <a href="http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2006-06-05T123004Z_01_L05702089_RTRUKOC_0_US-ITALY-NAVEL.xml">Cinisello Balsamo</a>.<br /><br />Trying to encourage modesty in Church, much less in the rest of society, continues to be a probem. The article notes that the priest of Cinisello Balsamo can't afford to hire guards to ensure that the inappropriately dressed don't try to enter the Church. I can remember when I took a visit to Russia - they didn't need guards, they relied on the older women to act as a brute squad should someone showing a bit too much seek to enter the church.<br /><br />For my part, we priests could certainly use some more homilies on the importance of modesty as well.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1149475288382759442006-06-04T22:36:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:50.055-04:00Another reason for priestly celibacyFrom <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-communion4jun04,1,2719615.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california">Bishop Peter Hickman</a> of the Ecumenical Catholic Church - composed mostly of former Roman Catholics -<br /><br />"Marriage promotes growth," says Hickman, 50, who has fathered five children, been married three times and divorced twice. "People who've never been married have a hard time knowing themselves."<br /><br />I can only hope that in his third marriage he has experienced some growth and finally knows who he is.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1149475009722589382006-06-04T22:30:00.000-04:002006-10-28T21:56:49.665-04:00Back again, hopefully for a bit longer this timeIt has been so long since I last posted, even after I posted that I would be posting more often. The main reason for the end of posting was that I just became totally overwhelmed with my new priestly duties and a full teaching load at the university. I decided that I couldn't keep this blog up and do the podcasting over at Catholic:Under The Hood, so I decided to go with the podcast.<br /><br />I also found myself getting a bit frustrated a bit with the blog. There is a lot that goes on out there that just gets on my nerves. On the one hand I want to talk about it, on the other hand I find that it can sometimes just get me angrier. I was wondering if I wasn't just making this blog into a list of personal complaints. So, having taken a very extended break, I'm going to mention things here that I probably won't talk about over at the podcast. Some of the things will still be issues that get my dander up, but I hope that is not all that will be here.<br /><br />To those who are still periodically checking this blog out, thanks for hanging with me. God bless you.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1141229045360446922006-03-01T10:58:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:49.180-04:00Ash Wednesday through the eyes of childrenThere is a neat article from the <a href="http://www.chronicle-tribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS01/603010307/1002">Marion Chronicle Tribune</a> about an Ash Wednesday service for elementary children which involved the children bring palm leaves which they had in their homes from the previous year's Palm Sunday to turn into the ashes that would be put on their foreheads for this year's Ash Wednesday.<br /><br />My favorite question -<br /><br />"Do you think it will burn our heads tomorrow when they put it on us?"<br /><br />Yes, indeed, may these ashes burn with a holy fire that burns away our sins.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1141228643952780512006-03-01T10:53:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:48.863-04:00Priest in England attacked<a href="http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=16756048&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=teenage-yobs-throw-brick-at-priest-as-he-delivers-communion-name_page.html">Youths</a> threw a brick at a Sri Lankan priest in England who was delivering Communion to the sick and called him a "Paki".<br /><br />Fr. Anton Fernandopoulle does not think the attacks are racially motivated. But, I wonder whether the use of the slur "Paki" might indicate that they thought he was Muslim - even though he does wear a priest collar.<br /><br />Let me add this to my list of things and people to pray for.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1141228359295373132006-03-01T10:46:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:48.358-04:00Pope drops a titleThe Holy Father no longer counts "Patriarch of the West" among his <a href="http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-03-01_981469.html">official titles</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"He is simply Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Province, Sovereign of Vatican City and Servant of the Servants of God."</span><br /><br />Some speculate that the reason for the drop was to establish better relations with the Orthodox and to end a contrast between East and West. Others say that the drop may hurt relations with the Orthodox who might interpret the move as a claim to be Patriarch over the East and West.<br /><br />Personally, I don't know how this will be picked up or whether most people will know the difference. I just wonder, "Holy Father, since you won't be using that title anymore, do mind if I pick it up?"Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1141184506009515292006-02-28T22:40:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:47.926-04:00New podcast up!New podcasts are popping up all over at <a href="http://www.catholicunderthehood.com">Catholic:Under the Hood</a> where I talk about Lenten podcasts and the "A" word as well as over at <a href="http://www.isidorescorner.com/theosis">Theosis</a>.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1141015162671970292006-02-26T23:36:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:47.466-04:00Getting ready for LentWell, I have not thought about what I will give up for Lent, since everything I would like to give up I kinda sorta gotta do for work, ministry, or fun. Perhaps I'll give up trying to think about something to give up....Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1140877958753633572006-02-25T09:28:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:47.090-04:00Once again - Don't Mess With NunsPart 1 - <a href="http://www.wpxi.com/news/7407470/detail.html">Nun</a> doesn't let armed robbery stop her from evangelization. Be sure to watch the accompanying video.<br /><br />Part 2 - <a href="http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,102453,00.html">Buddhist nuns</a> try to promote vocations through less than appropriate means. Note to self - telling people to join the TORs or else their relatives will die is <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> the right way to get new members.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1140836774766715342006-02-24T21:59:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:46.749-04:00Happy Birthday Haleigh!I have posted a couple of times about the tragedy of <a href="http://www.masslive.com/hampfrank/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1140771003149970.xml&coll=1">Haleigh Poutre</a> who was beaten into a coma by her adoptive mother and her boyfriend, who was nearly removed from life support by the government of Massachusettes. She turned 12 today - in a hospital - alone.<br /><br />Haleigh's birth mother who left her long ago has now re-entered Haleigh's life and has voiced great anger over the hospital's refusal to allow her to visit. Why she couldn't have been this concerned when Haleigh's aunt was abusing her, I don't know. Still, better late than never.<br /><br />Happy Birthday, HaleighFr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1140713577650781012006-02-23T11:45:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:44.002-04:00On the state of Jesuit EducationRockhurst University, a Jesuit university in Kansas City, is in the process of looking for a new president. Here are their candidates according to e-mails sent out:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Richard H. Owens, Ph.D., professor of history, West Liberty State College, West Liberty, W.V.: Dr. Owens earned a B.A. in history from Manhattan College, an M.A. in U.S. history from Old Dominion University and a Ph.D. in U.S. diplomacy from the University of Maryland. Dr. Owens served as president of West Liberty State College from 2001 to 2005 and as president of Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, from 1996 to 2001.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ronald A. Slepitza, Ph.D., vice president for student development and special counsel to the president for strategic planning, Xavier University: Dr. Slepitza earned a B.A. in psychology from St. Vincent's College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in counseling and student personnel administration from the University of Maryland. Prior to joining Xavier, Dr. Slepitza served as associate vice president for student services at Creighton University.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S. Fr. Curran is associate vice president for university relations and assistant to the president at Regis University, Denver. Fr. Curran is an ordained Roman Catholic priest and is a member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, known as the Salesian order. He earned a B.A. in politics from DeSales University, an M.A. in theology from DeSales School of Theology, an M.A. in liberal studies, public policy and government from Georgetown University, a J.D. from the Catholic University of America and an M.B.A. from St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia. Before joining Regis, Fr. Curran served as founder and executive director of Nativity Preparatory School in Wilmington, Del.; president of Salesianum School in Wilmington; and president of Northeast Catholic High School for Boys, Philadelphia.<br /></span><br /><br />Not one is a Jesuit and one of the candidates doesn't appear to have any connections at all to Jesuit education. Is this another sign that the Jesuits are having trouble finding qualified members of their order to run their universities? Apparently it is -<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The search garnered 60 applications. Nine were chosen as candidates, and two of them were Jesuits.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“We all knew going in that there is a limited list of Jesuits available,” said Thomas McCullough, president of the Rockhurst board of trustees.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">According to the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, there often is not a Jesuit available who has the experience to lead a college.</span>[<a href="http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/13902117.htm">source</a>]Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1140713015525028402006-02-23T11:38:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:43.630-04:00DePaul University where Academic Freedom only goes so farRecently, there has been some controversy over the establishment of a <a href="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11436220/site/newsweek/">Queer Studies</a> on the grounds that, being a university, there should be academic freedom. As the Director of the new program states,<br /><br />"Institutions of higher learning, even if they are Catholic, aren't spokespeople for the Vatican," he says. "Like any university, there should be room for free inquiry."<br /><br />On the other hand, a conservative group at DePaul was not permitted such freedom when it chose to host an "Affirmative Action Bakesale" to question <a href="http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/6804.html">Affirmative Action</a>.<br /><br />My question is why allow one and not the other, if your goal is the promotion of "free inquiry". On the otherhand, if your goal is something different - at least be open about what it is.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1140712600588039532006-02-23T11:30:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:43.317-04:00Yahoo, Muslims, Catholics and JewsRecently <a href="http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=71540&cat_id=643">Yahoo!</a> was forced to change a policy which prohibited any e-mail address that included the letters "allah". Ostensibly this was to prevent insulting Muslims, but e-mail address including Jesus or priest or Jew were allowed, even in contexts that would be offensive.<br /><br />Because of news attention on the fact that even those whose last names was Callahan would be banned, Yahoo has since lifted the ban.<br /><br />My advice, leave Yahoo! and use a different e-mail system.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1140712211736392932006-02-23T11:18:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:43.034-04:00ACLU vs Tom MonaghanThere is an interesting discussion over at <a href="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11499702/">MSNBC</a> about whether Tom Monaghan should/does have the right to establish a town with laws based upon Catholic moral principals such as forbidding access to pornography or contraception and still obtain federal funds.<br /><br />I'm not sure about the legal issues and while Catholic schools and universities don't have to provide either on their campuses in order to receive federal funds, it is likely different with cities. On the other hand, I can't imagine anyone interested in those things chosing to live in/visit a town governed by conservative Catholics in order to obtain them.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1140711478205684522006-02-23T11:16:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:42.445-04:00Returning to postingMy goodness, it's been a while since I last posted. Things have been really busy with teaching and the continuing work with Catholic:Under The Hood. Mea culpa. I am really going to strive to get at least one posting a day from here on out.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1139884591090774822006-02-13T21:22:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:42.047-04:00I'm sorry, but I don't see the connection<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184735,00.html">Fox News</a> is reporting the reactions to a cartoon drawn by Tom Toles and the cartoons of Muhammed that appeared in the Denmark papers and making these reactions essentially the same - they clearly are not.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But reactions in the last month, both to a cartoon by The Washington Post's Tom Toles and through a violent global response to 12 depictions of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, appear to have raised the stakes for those making their paychecks on the drawing board.</span><br /><br />Yes, raised the stakes, let's see how this works -Cartoonists in Denmark publish cartoons and<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Riots erupted in at least a dozen countries and have lasted for two weeks. U.S. officials said they believed extremists, including the governments of Iran and Syria, helped fan the flames of discontent.</span><br /><br />A Catholic Priest in Turkey was murdered, death threats have been issued against the cartoonists and for most of the people in Europe.<br /><br />Tom Toles publishes a cartoon in The Washington Post and this is the response -<br /><br />The Joint Chief of Staffs showed their outrage by - I can barely believe it - they wrote a letter.<br /><br />Yes, a real show of equivalence.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1139772494018604672006-02-12T14:24:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:41.724-04:00Think you know nuns?More nun news - this time it's a <a href="http://www.gregbruns.com/images/fridaypage/021006_sisterwendy.wmv">video</a> of a nun driving a monster truck.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8421813.post-1139684686273982102006-02-11T14:03:00.000-05:002006-10-28T21:56:41.447-04:00The secrets of the Vatican interview<a href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1158238,00.html">Time</a> magazine offers a humerous and interesting article about what it was like to cover the First Lady's visit to the Vatican last week. Perhaps the best comment was "Don't mess with the nuns" - see, even after 2000 years - some things don't change.Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, TORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797671864600005531noreply@blogger.com0