John C. Wright on interpretation.
Interviewers frequently ask me how my conversion to Catholicism has influenced my writing. I tell them that writing the books is still pretty much the same, but that, now the I am Catholic, I am not allowed to interpret my own books, nor read them in English, but must have my books interpreted by the magisterium, based on the findings of a general council.
(On the other hand, if I had been a Protestant, I would have been able to interpret my own books howsoever the Spirit led me: but anything I said aloud and did not write down, things I said in interviews and stuff, I could not use.)
I agreed right away, of course, thinking that by the ‘magisterium’ they meant the sinister baddies from Pullman’s GOLDEN COMPASS, who send out Jesuit ninja to kill people and stuff. I could not wait to perform my first intercission on some bratty girl or gypsy streetrat! But no, it was just some dumb teaching authority.
And all it teaches is the love and forgiveness fluffy-nuffy stuff that is so opposed to my cold and savage Romulan nature. What a letdown.
And here I thought the pope was going to be Darkseid seeking the Anti-Life Equation, and he turns out to be this nice old scholarly man of the cloth who does not approve of war, torture, sodomy or aborticide.
No interviewer has ever asked my what it is like being the chief of sinners, however. No one asks me why the Church is so beautiful, like a bride adorned for her wedding, or so frightening as a sharp and shining sword whose scabbard has been tossed away. In other words, they ask me about my religion, but not about my faith, if you see my meaning.
Father Powell, OP with 10 short points. Here is a sample:
9). The Catholic Church owes no one a revision of her doctrine or dogma. She didn’t change to save most of Europe from becoming Protestant, why would you imagine that she would change just to get you in one of her parishes?
Father Dwight Longenecker relates a story about a scene suggestion made to Mel Gibson for the Passion of the Christ. The scene added was one of my favorite parts of the movie.
Catholic Fire tagged me with what she called the Fat Chance
"If you should pass from our presence, what picture of you shall we use for your saint’s card, should you be so elevated, and of what do you want to be patroness?"
Well a picture of me in a Jester’s cap would be just fine. Surely I would want to be the patron saint of Catholic parody blogs. In fact I will even provide the quick prayer.
Curt Jester, Curt Jester
Please come down
I need a pun
Come up with one.
Christine at Confessions of a Hot Carmel Sundae tagged me with the Arte yPico meme. Don’t know what to make of this meme with the odd picture and that links back to what I guess is a Spanish Language blog. But thanks Christine for thinking of my blog in relation to "creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language."
I haven’t specified other blogs in this meme since I pretty much let memes die like chain letters. Though I would be interested in comment box replies on whay you would want t be the patron saint of.
In other news Fr. Powell, O.P. is back blogging on a semi-regular basis again..
John Paul the Great Catholic University now has a faculty blog with posts from people like Michael Barber. Considering the focus of business, media, and faith of the university this will make for an interesting blog.
Creative Minority Reports does a nice catch when it notices that ABC News was using “pro-life” when it came to Democrats and “anti-abortion” in other cases. He writes a good letter to ABC News on the subject with examples included.
Jesuit John has joined the Catholic Illustrator’s Guild blog.
Here is one heck of a homily that occurred last Sunday about Humanae Vitae.
The thing about Planned Parenthood is you wonder when they are going to hit the bottom of the slippery slope. Dawn Eden reports on a rather creepy spokesman.
Fr. Dwight Longenecker interviews Anne Rice in a very interesting interview.