Canonist Ed Peters looks at the footnotes of the 1917 Code of Canon Law and deciphers them using the movie Plan 9 from Outer Space as the Rosetta Stone to decipher them in Dr. Ed’s solaranite-powered guide to the footnotes of the 1917 Code
Plan 9 from Outer Space premiered in 1959.
John XXIII announced the revision of the Pio-Benedictine Code in 1959.
Coincidence?
Who knew Canon lawyers could be so much fun.
I received an email from Mike and Diana Silva who have started up a Catholic sacred music internet broadcast.
Sacred choral music in the Catholic tradition. Gregorian chant, polyphony and other music growing out of the Western and Eastern traditions of faith. Commercial-free!
Yes not only is it commercial free it is 100 percent Haugen and Daas free also.
You can listen to it at www.choraltreasure.org and www.live365.com/stations/vocideltesoro
Today being the feast day of Saint Nicholas I was thinking about how cool it would be to go to the Mall dressed as this 4th century saint. To sit on the chair normally reserved for that cheap-imitator Santa (talk about identity theft), but to also take on some of his traditions. When children tell you what they want you could rebuke them for their materialism and to urge them to pray for the salvation of themselves and others and that they should work on a virtue that they lack. Remind that that while ole St. Nicholas doesn’t actually keep a list of those who are naughty and nice there is a Lamb’s Book of Life that they do want to get listed in. That if they do not obtain this they will get more than a lump of coal, but a eternal fire no doubt heated by more than just one lump of coal. Of course getting forcibly escorted out by Mall security as you left a trail of crying children might not be such a good idea.
Another thing is that the idea of a bishop promising gifts to children who sit on his lap must surely violate the Dallas norms and the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
OMAHA, Neb. – Craig Turczynski traveled from Texas to find ways to help infertile women that do not conflict with his religious beliefs. Cherie LeFevre came from St. Louis to learn how to treat her OB-GYN patients in obedience to her Catholicism. Amie Holmes flew from Ohio so she could practice medicine in conformity with church teachings when she graduates from medical school.
On a journey that would blend the aura of a pilgrimage with the ambiance of a medical seminar, the three arrived at an unassuming three-story red-brick building on a quiet side street in this Missouri River city.
Their destination was the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction, which has become perhaps the most prominent women’s health center serving Catholics and other doctors, medical students and patients who object for religious reasons to in vitro fertilization, contraceptives and other aspects of modern reproductive medicine.
“We have built a new women’s health science,” said Thomas Hilgers, who runs the institute. “Our system works cooperatively with the natural fertility cycle and enables doctors to treat women and married couples, especially Catholic married couples, in a way that allows them to live out their faith.”
Hilgers and his supporters say the approach, called “natural procreative technology,” can address a spectrum of women’s health issues, including family planning, premenstrual syndrome, postpartum depression and infertility, without the use of birth control pills, sterilization, abortion or in vitro fertilization. Instead, Hilgers said, he uses diagnostics, hormones and surgery to identify and treat underlying causes of reproductive ailments that other doctors often miss.
Although the institute is not formally affiliated with the church, Hilgers’ work is endorsed by groups such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Medical Association.
But many mainstream authorities question Hilgers’ assertions that his techniques are equal or even superior to standard therapies. They worry that women are being misled and given unproven, ineffective treatments, denying them the best available care.
“This is anti-science,” said Anita Nelson, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California at Los Angeles. “I respect people’s personal values. But I am deeply concerned that they are giving treatments and making claims that are not scientifically proven as safe and effective.”
These articles never seem to mention the conflict of interest for those who attack the work of Dr. Hilger. The lucrative IVF business does not exactly like a method more effective in many cases and devoid of the majority of medical expenses that IVF entails.
“Combining medicine and religion is dangerous,” said the Rev. Carlton Veazey, president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. “This tendency is creeping into our health care system.”
Well then I guess this "Rev" should shut up then about medical issues.
Inspired by Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae, which condemned artificial birth control, Hilgers began by helping to develop, with colleagues at nearby Creighton University, a natural family planning method called the Creighton Model, which involves meticulously charting a woman’s monthly cycle.
But Hilgers goes beyond simply offering an alternative form of birth control.
An obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive surgeon who trained at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Hilgers said he combines the charting system with intensive hormonal and ultrasound studies for better diagnoses. He said he can then restore fertility and treat other ailments through individually tailored therapies, such as targeted hormones and surgical techniques he developed for conditions including blocked fallopian tubes, pelvic adhesions and endometriosis.
“We can look at a woman’s cycles in ways that others simply can’t,” Hilgers said during an interview in his office, surrounded by images of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II. “We work cooperatively with a woman’s cycle rather than suppressing it or destroying it. Many women come to us after years of being frustrated by the treatment they received elsewhere.”
That was the case for Cami Carlson, 33, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who came to the institute after five years of futile efforts to become pregnant with the help of her OB-GYN and a fertility specialist. Because Carlson is Catholic, in vitro fertilization was out of the question.
“Life is God’s to create,” Carlson said, echoing the sentiment of half a dozen other women from around the United States and Mexico interviewed while being treated at the clinic. “It’s a huge sense of peace knowing that we’re going about things in a morally sound manner.”
The institute, which is attracting more than 700 new patients a year, melds modern medical facilities with the philosophy and symbols of Catholicism. The waiting room greets patients with a bust of the Madonna and Child and an illuminated stained-glass crucifix. Bulletin boards titled “Miracle Baby Hall of Fame” are filled with snapshots of children.
Although most of the patients are Catholic, Hilgers accepts anyone. He said they are drawn by his holistic approach, attentive care and superior outcomes.
“Mainstream gynecology and reproductive medicine take a Band-Aid approach. Our success rates tend to be much, much better,” Hilgers said.
The Catholic Channel on Sirius satellite radio started broadcasting today. One of the weekdays shows they have is The Catholic Guy with Lino Ruli who had previously won back-to-back Emmy awards as Program Host on "Generation Cross". Lino is a pretty funny guy who once interviewed me for his radio show on Relevant Radio.
Tomorrow Dec, 5th at 5:00 PM EST I will once again be interviewed by Lino for about 20 minutes. So if you have Sirius radio tune in to Channel 159 if you are so interested. They also have a free trial to listen online.
You can check out the rest of The Catholic Channel’s lineup here which includes Ask the Cardinal with Edward Cardinal Egan.
The USCCB is now podcasting. They now have a podcast of the daily readings using the NAB. They seem to have made available all the readings for the month available at one time instead of releasing them a day ahead like you would expect. Though some people might find their method more convenient.
Of course more than a year ago there was already a podcast of the daily readings using the NAB until they ordered him to cease and desist. Brian Noe who has a great voice is still doing the daily readings at Verbum Domini using I believe the RSV version since unlike the USCCB, the National Council of Churches considered it to be fair use.
There is just something about this time of year that puts a skip in your step and a smile on your face. The whole ambience of the season really gets to you. The sound of briefcases opening to file lawsuits about Christmas songs at public schools, the clickity-crack of Nativity scenes being dragged back into storage after threats from the ACLU, the lack of the sound of bells clanging as Salvation Army personnel get the heave-ho from businesses. Who can forget the moment hesitation as store employees try to remember what the politically correct reply is this week as you enter and leave the store. The night before the Christmas wars where all through the malls not a mention of Christmas, nor Merry Christmas y’all.
When all are filled with the Christmas war spirit it is a sight to behold. Disturbance of the peace on earth and ill will towards men. The joy of arguments breaking out to trying to figure out if something is a Christmas tree or a Holiday tree. The Holiday that must not be named. The fun of coming up with non-specific winter season songs to be performed by public high school choirs. The competition involving who can out grinch other grinches just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling. The endless TV movies of an obviously inept Santa Claus that once again needs some help to save Christmas along with the other ones with the message family is important – just as long as it isn’t the Holy Family that is counted as important.
The Christmas wars enable all to be of good sneer. A time to let out the inner Scrooge. For one side to complain about Christian religious symbols being forced on them and the other to complain about the growing secularization and commercialization of Christmas. The Christmas wars provide an opportunity for everyone to be upset equally. That all sides can come together in unity with something to gripe about. It all just brings fond memories to my heart as I think about it and Christmas wars past.
My Christmas countdown JavaScript was reporting the wrong amount of days. Before Noon it was correct, but after that it was a day off. This time I have thoroughly debugged it and made it shorter than the original script.
Wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Mr Abbott, get your rosaries off my ovaries" does not amount to the religious vilification of Catholics, a Victorian tribunal has ruled.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has struck out a case brought by pro-life campaigner Babette Francis, who had sought to have the T-shirts banned.
The T-shirts were produced by the YWCA during last year’s public debate over who should control access to the RU486 abortion pill and refer to federal Health Minister Tony Abbott, a practising Catholic.
One of the T-shirts was worn in federal parliament’s upper house by Greens senator Kerry Anne Nettle.
"I do not think that the sale and distribution of T-shirts containing it (the slogan) incite hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of Mr Abbott, Mrs Francis or any other Catholic," he ruled.
I still say requesting a Catholic to keep their Rosaries off their ovaries has got to be the easiest request ever made of any of us. While I think it is a bad idea to spend time trying to ban t-shirts with contemptuous slogans in the first place it certainly seems that the slogan does indicate contempt. What in effect the slogan says is that Mr. Abbot should not be allowed to pray the Rosary to end abortion. That he should have no religious freedom to practice his beliefs.
On another note when is the YWCA going to officially change their name? Shouldn’t it be Young Women’s Pagan Association or some such name? Just what do you have to do to earn a radical feminist badge?
Last year I explained the true meaning of Advent so it thought I would repost it.
Being that this is the first Sunday of Advent I thought it might be useful to give some information about this season. Advent is a shortened form of the the word Advertisement, of course you probably already knew that. This time of year we get blasted by advertisements day and night to buy gifts and to attend sales. There are some groups that contend that Advertisement actually starts on Black Friday and that this is in fact the first day of the Celebration that merchandiser consider Good Friday. During the season of Advertisement we are suppose to be of good cheer for some amorphous reason that is never quite mentioned. Rumor has it that it all leads up to the event of some child born a while ago that takes place on Christmas Day. Who this child was is not important just that we should know that the season is all about family and buying stuff. During Advertisement people say Happy Holiday’s to each other. The reason for this is that during this time Malls decorate with lots of Holly so people have considered this to be Holly days. There are also other joyful greetings like Season Greetings and 40 percent off. People spend time in thanks that they have not yet exceeded their credit limit and they might forget that they have a Savior, but they will remember the savings. During the season of Advertisement the days are still 24 hours but are measured in shopping days instead. It is also a tradition for this season to be some what penitential. Penances such as having to park in overflow parking two miles away from the mall are common. After Christmas comes Advertisementide. This is the ad season of after Christmas sales and even more discounts. Later on in the shopping season comes the season of Lent. This is because you have to get money lent to you to pay off your shopping bills.
There are also some customs associated with Advertisement such as the Advertisement Wreath. Each week you take all of your junk mail and roll it up and tighten it with a rubber band and place it in your Advertisement Wreath. The third week it is traditional to use advertisements from red tag sales. You can also make or order a Advertisement Calendar, though most calendars come advertisements this is a special edition where you mark off shopping days so you know when to panic when you haven’t got everything on your list. So relax and have a happy Advertisement for whatever reason we are suppose to be sellebrating.