My history exam was okay on Wednesday afternoon. We had a choice of six essay questions and had to answer two. The first I chose was nearly identical to my tutorial paper and element of which i used in my major essay so that was fantastic but the second was rather hard and I struggled to form much of a piece. It was about definitions and I know them well but couldn't drag out mch of a piece and found myself finished after two pages - hardly an essay.

One exam to go... I have a week to learn (as opposed to revise) the course -- Embedded Computer Systems. I'm terrible at programming so am aiming strictly for a pass. I've also signed up for my final year honours project - Design and Build a Hybrid Solar Car. Should be a massive challenge but very interesting.

And then it's a summer of work and cricket! (Not neccessarily in that order of priority!)

Latin on the charts

My mate the Latin scholar sent me this one and it got me thinking. The post below is from Amazon.com when he was searching. (You can click to make larger). Anyway, it shows that Cassell's Latin Dictionary: Latin-English, English-Latin (Hardcover) is number#6750 in the rankings.
Now that is high! Something tells me that it might be because a huge number of priests are buying up and refreshing themselves...!!!

Catholic MP an IVF Father

I mentioned in this post about Senator Stephen Conroy's abstention from the embryonic stem cell vote. His abstention was made all the more notable by this story which broke the evening before.

BY ONE measure, Labor senator Stephen Conroy would seem an unlikely candidate for an ethically controversial path to fatherhood.

A practising Catholic, he has been labelled "the altar boy" by Liberals from across the chamber. He underlined his socially conservative credentials this year by voting against the abortion drug RU486 in a conscience vote.

But when it came to having his own child, the Victorian senator best known as a right-wing factional headkicker took anything but a conservative course.

Yesterday, his first child, Isabella Conroy, entered the world courtesy of her surrogate mother.

Isabella is a gift to her ecstatic parents, Senator Conroy and his wife, Paula Benson, from two altruistic women: a surrogate mum and an egg donor, both of whom have chosen to remain anonymous.
More...

There is, I expect, another story brewing out of Victoria. I have word that a woman MP in Victoria has publically announced her support for changes to the abortion laws (negative changes) in that state... this woman is a 'Special Minister of the Eucharist' at her local Catholic Parish.

Update: CathNews' story worth a read with comments from Card. Pell and Arch. Hart.

Update: Card. Pell's comments in The Age - Cardinal fears for Conroy baby's future

Update: Conroy may have to flee law

News News News

The vote has just been cast in the Senate about Theraputic Cloning of Embryonic Stem Cells and we lost 34-32. One single measly vote. It has only just this minute happened and we are yet to know exactly who voted which way. I'll keep you posted tonight.

Update: This is how the Third Reading vote stands:Notable absences are Fiona Nash (proponent of this years RU486 Bill and National Party) and Stephen Conroy (against RU486 and one of the headkickers of the Labor Right in Victoria)

The bill will now go to the House of Representaives later this week or next week. Numbers there are, as always, hard to tell.

Update: For those who want a bit more background visit Cloning.org.au and Make a Stand also has some info. Sorry I can't give more. I really should calm down a bit, relax and get some sleep right now before my exam tomorrow which I haven't really done much revision for.

It just ain't cricket

I got this image this morning from a now retired Polish cricket umpire

Saddan Hussein to Hang

Breaking News...

Saddam sentenced to death

Ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of crimes against humanity in ordering the deaths of 148 Shiite villagers.

Visibly trembling, Saddam cried: "Long live Iraq. Long live the Iraqi people. God is greater than the occupier."

Four guards took him away with his hands held behind him after the sentence was read.

The court hearing began early this evening in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone.

Saddam former vice-president, Taha Yassin Ramadan, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 148 killings while Saddam's half-brother, Barzan al-Tikriti, was also sentenced to death.

Three Baath party officials also charged with the killings were sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Only one of the defendants, Baath Party official Mohammed Azzawi al-Ali, was cleared of any involvement.

People condemned to death in Iraq are hanged if they are civilians or go before a firing squad if they are members of the armed forces.

Saddam, who was sentenced to death by hanging, had earlier said he would rather face a firing squad.

"Remember that Saddam was a soldier and that therefore, if he is condemned to death, he should be shot and not hanged," he said on July 26, speaking of himself in the third person during his trial in Baghdad. More...

I've been quick of the mark and interested to know your thoughts... so I created a new poll.

Should Saddam Hussein hang?

Yes, he was a tyrant and a killerNo, because it will make the situation in Iraq worseNo, because the death penalty is wrong

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Exam was okay. Thanks all. I struggled with it and really don't have much of an idea what the result will be. I'm also lucky I had an afternoon exam as the morning exam was postponed an hour into the exam as the pavillion it's held in had to be evacuated due to a fire alarm! Poor students. I think it means they will have to re-sit it again in early December.

Anyway, I shouldn't be thinking about that now, rather concentrating on my next exam which is on Wednesday - Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide in 20th Century Europe. We have to answer two essay questions out of six in the two hours. I know three of the case studies well so I should be able to pull through this one which will be my last assessment for my B.A. (majoring in History).

I have to work all day Tuesday so I apologise in advance if I don't post anything before then.

I have my first exam tomorrow - on Dynamics & Control II - so there won't be any posts until tomorrow afternoon.

-Aaron

Recusant Cricket Club

This is a blog I've been visiting for some time nowand it's called the Recusant Cricket Club. The picture below pretty much sums it up. It's run by Catholics but not just about Catholicism, rather they like to discuss all sorts of topics (except football).
So pay them a visit - they'll be up on my sidebar soon. (Lovely pull-shot from the skipper!)

All Souls Day

Like the Feast of All Saints, I’m sure most of you get the gist of the meaning of the date and commemoration of all the faithful departed. Today all priests may celebrate three masses. If only one is said it is the First Mass and the First Mass is the one celebrated if it is to be sung regardless of it is actually the first mass of the day. As the readings are all different, I’ve decided to post simply the Dies Irae (the Sequence) which is attributed to a 13th Century Franciscan, Thomas de Celano.

1 Dies iræ! dies illa
Solvet sæclum in favilla
Teste David cum Sibylla!

2 Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando judex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!

3 Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulcra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.

4 Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.

5 Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.

6 Judex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.

7 Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit securus?

8 Rex tremendæ majestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me, fons pietatis.

9 Recordare, Jesu pie,
quod sum causa tuæ viæ:
ne me perdas illa die.

10 Quærens me, sedisti lassus:
redemisti Crucem passus:
tantus labor non sit cassus.

11 Juste judex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis
ante diem rationis.

12 Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
culpa rubet vultus meus:
supplicanti parce, Deus.

13 Qui Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.

14 Preces meæ non sunt dignæ:
sed tu bonus fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.

15 Inter oves locum præsta,
et ab hædis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextra.

16 Confutatis maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis:
voca me cum benedictis.

17 Oro supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis:
gere curam mei finis.

18 Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus:

19 pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.

Why did I post the Latin when I normally post a good English translation? Because I didn't have the time to type it out and I couldn't find a really good translation online in a short time. I reckon I found three or four different translations in the short time I searched. Anyway, it's better in the original.

Note to self: must also listen to Mozart's Requiem today.

Write to B16

I'm sure you are all emailing your local members of Parliament about theraputic cloning right now, but while you're at it, why not email the Holy Father?

The NLM had an idea at the suggestion of a bishop close to the Pope himself. Email B16 to tell him how much you are looking forward to a relaxation of the rules regarding the Tridentine Rite. Apparently the Holy Father keep tab of the number of letters regarding certain issues and this is a way to counter the French bishops' pleas.

Write to:
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
00120 Via del Pellegrino
Citta del Vaticano

Or email:
benedictxvi@vatican.va

Of course you don't have to write to him only on this issue. Tell him it's your birthday too!

Rudd, Tony, Fr. Frank...

As expected Kevin Rudd came out firing yesterday at his book launch - Fr. Frank Brennan's Acting on Conscience. (See yesterday's post for some background.)

Hmmm... Fr. Frank Brennan. What can I say? The picture below shows him in a tie and jacket and I don't think he knows what a Roman Collar is.

From left: Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott and Fr. Frank Brennan (from The Age)

and then there is this photo...

Fr. Frank Brennan celebrating Mass (thanks to CathCon)

Links:
The Age's story: Mick factor makes for a warmer world
The Australian's version
How CathNews saw it
Fr. Frank Brennan's speech

Feast of All Saints

Introit: Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival-day in honour of all the Saints: at whose solemnity the angels rejoice, and give praise to the Son of God. Ps. Rejoice in the Lord, ye just; praise becometh the upright.

Gradual: Ps. 33. 10, 11. Fear the Lord, all ye His saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him v. But they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

Alleluia: Matt. 11. 28. Alleluia, alleluia. V Come to Me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Alleluia.

Postcommunion: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the faithful people may always rejoice in paying reverence to all Thy saints, and may they be helped by their unceasing prayers.

Rumours in the Vatican and a disgrace in Canada

Rocco has anoth fabulous scoop. That the Holy Father is about to annouce the Archbishop of Sao Paolo, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, OFM, as the new Head of the Congregation for the Clergy, succeeding Cardinal Hoyos, who is now 77. The appointment would be the fifth major appointment and the fifth that B16 has appointed from outside the Curia. It is unknown at this stage whether Hoyos will continue with the Pontifical Council Ecclesia Dei which is really what people are watching at the moment!

Update: Yep! It sure happened. See Catholic News Agency's story and bio.


Something that may be dealt with swiftly is this story from LifeSite: "Pro-Choice", Pro-Gay Priest Given Permission from Bishop but not Vatican to Run for Politics. LifeSite reports that he has "the permission of his bishop to run for public office, despite a prohibition of such activity in the Church's Code of Canon Law". What's more, the priest is openly a former homosexual prostitute. "In February this year, [Fr. Raymond] Gravel joined a group of nineteen priests in issuing a letter condemning Catholic teaching on sexual purity and opposing the bishops' submissions to Parliament against the same-sex "marriage" law." Fr. Raymond had previously won The Fight Against Homophobia Award in 2004. Crikey! Let's hope and pray for some swift action or a change of conscience.

abortion & stem cells in Australia

The theraputic cloning debate is in full-swing here in Australia as we prepare for a Senate vote as early as fortnight's time. If sucessful the bill would move to the House of Representatives where there has been more support for moral and ethical causes in recent times. We'll see how it all goes I suppose.

People may be interested in this story too from The Australian today: Abortion doctor put on good behaviour bond. The doctor in question is the first to be prosecuted in 25 years in NSW and will also appeal the sentence.

Abbott v Rudd

They are at it again! It's awesome!

Last night Tony Abbott launched the new edition of The Heart of James McAuley by Peter Coleman last night in Canberra. (It's published by my mate at Connor Court). He used the speech to reminise on the days of Catholic Action in Australia - the time of BA Santamaria and McAuley. And then to have a go at Kevin "I'm a Christian too" Rudd. Reports on the speech are in most of the National broadsheets today but you can read some exerts below or the full text here.

James McAuley was all too familiar with the interaction of religion and politics. In the mid-1950s, he was drawn to the work of BA Santamaria whose commitment to Catholic Action had led to a campaign against communism in the trade union movement. In largely defeating the communist union leadership, Santamaria’s Industrial Groups became powerful enough to influence the wider Australian Labor Party and potentially to challenge its leadership.

In a 1950s version of a sitting member under preselection threat all-of-a-sudden discerning the dark hand of the “religious right”, the then-Labor leader, Dr Evatt, denounced the Groupers as conspirators trying to inflict a religious agenda on a political party. Thus began the great Labor split which entrenched the Coalition in power for another 18 years, helped to change the ALP, in Kim Beazley senior’s words, from “the cream of the working class” to “the dregs of the middle class”, and accelerated a process which has meant that the DLP is alive and well and living inside the Howard Government.

As Santamaria’s religious and political soulmate, McAuley was in the thick of argument about the legitimate place of the church in politics and about the role of church-goers in the life of a political party. McAuley’s view was that the official church should not choose between mainstream political parties in a functioning liberal democracy but that individual church members should join the political party of their choice and work within it to build a more humane society.
...
At least since the last federal election, the shadow foreign minister has been pitching to attract a “Christian vote” which he thinks is unjustifiably going to the Government. Most fully in an article in the October issue of The Monthly, Rudd has argued that the Prime Minister has deliberately manipulated Christians into voting for a profoundly un-Christian government. No doubt he'll make a similar point again tomorrow in launching Father Frank Brennan's new book, Acting on Conscience.
...
Rudd’s own religious commitment notwithstanding, along with that of the group associated with the shop assistants union, no one could accuse the contemporary Labor Party of being under religious sway, other than, perhaps, a politically correct deference to any religion but Christianity. Rudd’s shrill denunciation of religious people inside the Liberal Party is hard to reconcile with supporting a role for Christians in politics. As every Christian knows, faith does not make people perfect but it calls them to be their best selves amidst all the world’s distractions. If only for this, it is a valuable leaven in every political party, not just Rudd’s.

McAuley identified four elites which had provided morale and integrity to Australian society: a transplanted Anglican ascendancy, non-conformists with a “deep impress of moral earnestness”, a Catholic community with a “definite profile of values and loyalties”, and a “disciplined movement of humanist-rationalists” anxious to show that “moral uprightness was enhanced rather than diminished by separating it from religious entanglements”. The fact that at least some Christians in public life are no longer apologetic about the faith of the west suggests that McAuley’s pessimism about the survival of these elites was not entirely justified.

School Chaplains

One of the biggest news items for today (and yesterday arvo) was the Federal Government’s announcement of funding for school Chaplains. There are a couple of links for you below. It would be up to the school community to decide who the chaplains would be and of what faith, but an idea that was touted is that a number of schools get together and have one of each. (*side comment: I raised this with the old man this afternoon. He cut me short and said, “Fantastic. That means everyone can get to a Tridentine Rite priest, a Novus Ordo priest and a Ukrainian Rite priest for advice!” I think he missed the point...)

I think it’s generally a good idea to get some kind of religion back into schools as long as it’s not highjacked by the Left or the Uniting Church (I’m sure I heard spokeswomen for them against it on the grounds of perceived discrimination against Muslims and others). Crikey, some people are worried about relations with Church and State! Huh? Don't they understand...This kind of ignorance really annoys me.

The Australian Catholic Students Association put out a media release on it early this afternoon and I was interview on JJJ Radio at about 5.30pm. I think it went okay and must have as an angry woman called the station afterwards saying that her sons were ‘pagan’ and she didn’t want them discriminated against!! We’ll see what happens tomorrow with the story.

Chaplains plan safe from extremists
Howard Defends Chaplain Scheme Proposal
Carr Condemns School Chaplains

Update: CathNews' piece. Pell cautiously welcomes school chaplains plan

A personal update

Gee, last week was tough. I didn’t get a good night sleep due to being just rushed off my feet with assignments. Goodness knows how long I spent on a computer in CATS (the engineering suites at uni). I got just about all of them done just in time and slept well Friday night!!

I was successfully elected once again to the University Council. One election down, one to go!!

Now I just need to prepare for three exams: Dynamics and Control II on Saturday 4th, History exam on Wed 8th and then Embedded Computer Systems on Thursday 16th. I have nice gaps between them all, which is just fantastic.

The countdown begins until the end of exams. In the meantime I also have to decide on a Final Year project for next year. The list came out on Friday but I have absolutely no idea what I want to work on and none stand out at all.

Then it's summer... which means cricket and THE ASHES!!!

Update: I spoke with Fr. Ephraem from Dominicanus yesterday. He is still in hospital and had something done to his foot earlier. He is, however, in good spirits and passing the time reading cathing up on The Spectator, The Bulletin and other such magazines.

Spend Time in Silence, Pope Tells Students

Spend Time in Silence, Pope Tells Students
Opens Academic Year of Pontifical Universities

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 24, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI counseled students of the pontifical universities in Rome to spend time in silence and contemplation, so as not to fall prey to the "inflation" of words.

The Holy Father said this on Monday afternoon to the university students who had gathered for the annual Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica to open the academic year.

Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, presided over the Mass.

Pope John Paul II initiated the annual gathering of university students in the Vatican.

Benedict XVI told the students: "In-depth reflection on Christian truths and the study of theology or other religious disciplines presuppose an education in silence and contemplation, as it is necessary to be able to listen with the heart to God who speaks.

"Only if they proceed from the silence of contemplation can our words have a certain value and usefulness and not fall into the inflation of the world's speeches which seek the consensus of public opinion.

"Therefore, whoever studies in an ecclesiastical institution must be disposed to obedience and truth, and cultivate a certain asceticism of thought and word."

The Pontiff added: "This asceticism is based on loving familiarity with the word of God."

"Pray: 'Lord, teach us to pray and also to think, to write and to speak,' as these faculties are intimately connected among themselves," the Pope said.

Benedict XVI told the students that "apostolate will be fruitful if you nourish your personal relationship with him, tending toward holiness and having as sole objective of your existence the realization of the kingdom of God."

Cardinal Grocholewski told the students to never lose sight of God, "source of our talents," which enrich us if we do not accumulate them for ourselves, but orient them to serving the community.

Some 15,000 priests, seminarians, men and women religious and lay people from all over the world study in the pontifical universities.
--------

Wise words. As a student it is hard at many times throughout the year to find time to just spend in silence and I'm probably on the worst end of that scale. A visit to the local church (the Cathedral is my closest) during a break from uni can be very helpful and refreshing.

Benedictine nuns?

Catholic Church Conservation has a number of pics of Benedictine nuns playing dress-ups.

Here is a taste for you...