DLP whoops

You can recall this post of mine about the election of a member of the DLP to the Victorian Parliament. Thus I was rather surprised to read in the Melbourne papers that the DLP's MP was prepared to back gay unions. The Age led with this:

INCREASED rights for gay couples in Victoria could be a step closer after the Democratic Labor Party said it would support measures to decrease same-sex discrimination.

In his first interview since entering the Victorian Parliament, Peter Kavanagh, the DLP's first Victorian MP in almost 50 years, told The Age he would push for gay couples to have their relationships recognised and be given the same property and inheritance rights as heterosexuals.

And the Herald Sun this:

AUSTRALIA'S first DLP Member of Parliament in 50 years, Victoria's Peter Kavanagh, would support law changes allowing gay people to register their relationships.
The shock announcement -- designed to dispel the notion that the DLP is ultra-conservative -- comes as Mr Kavanagh begins finding his feet in Victoria's Upper House, where he holds a share of the balance of power.

"I'm not anti-gay, particularly," the 47-year-old former barrister and schoolteacher said, "provided we retain a special place for traditional marriage . . . if it is necessary to change the law to avoid exploitation in a gay relationship, or to help with superannuation or to end unfair discrimination, then I would support it."

The DLP was quick to try and get the point straight and within a coupel of hours I had received a copy of the DLP's media release... three times. It starts off with:

The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) is outraged and has moved immediately to issue a clear and definite statement on the party’s stand against legislating for same sex unions, following erroneous reports today that Peter Kavanagh, the party’s newly elected Member of the Victorian Legislative Council had expressed support for civil unions and the registration of same sex relationships.

The reports arising from a press interview given by Mr Kavanagh yesterday are completely misleading and have misrepresented the DLP position, according to a party spokesman.

Party secretary, John Mulholland, said, “DLP members have reacted to the reports believing they were intended to damage support for the DLP. It is not easy for our members to see this as anything less than deliberate, given the extent of erroneous reporting and the anti-DLP tone of earlier press comment on the party’s success in the State election”.

John Mulholland has blamed journalists responsible for the reports, for “twisting Mr Kavanagh’s words” to maximise the “shock value” they have been able to generate in the media. He said “it looks very much like it was intended to leave the public confused about where the DLP stands”.

Mr Mulholland said:
“The DLP does not support the legal recognition, in any form whatever, of the (same sex) relationships referred to in these reports”.

“The DLP recognises that where injustices to individuals in these relationships occur, just as they occur to individuals in any other kind of relationship they may warrant legislative attention, for example, in regard to property and inheritance rights”.

“But this is merely to recognise the individual rights of the persons involved in same sex relationships, wherever the injustices or inequities occur”.

“It is by no means to give any form of legal standing or recognition to their relationships per se. The DLP and the broad membership of the party are emphatic on this distinction”.

Guess the guy is new to politics... remember Barnaby Joyce and his first week or two?

The Holy Family

I know, it's not yet the feast the Nativity of Our Blessed Lord let alone the Holy Family but I'm doing a bit of a plug here for a fantastic brochure put our by the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family (Melbourne).

Go to their website here and download and read the brochure on the Holy Family. It's actually very good and worth reading.

This is the blurb I got sent:

"The John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family has produced a brochure to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. It has been written by a lecturer at the Institute with a view to explaining the origins of this feast and to offer some reflections from the contemporary theology of the Holy Family. So often the only thoughts people have on the Holy Family are of pastel holy cards from childhood. In this reflection we have tried to offer something a little more substantial."

Holy Smoke

You either love them or hate them. The Irish... they are damn Catholic yet don't understand sometimes...how is this story from CathNews today?

Irish MP and medical practitioner, Dr Jim McDaid, has again lit a firestorm of debate over his warning of the potential danger for altar servers breathing incense smoke at church services.

Reporting on the comments of Dr McDaid, who first raised his concern for incense smoke in 2003, Dr W Gifford-Jones of Canada Free Press says there are unknown health problems associated with the Christian tradition of lighting candles and burning incense during Masses.

"Here you have quite a thick billowing type of smoke. Sometimes you see children with this instrument which is down normally around their ankles, and the smoke keeps coming up", Dr McDaid, who is a Minister of State for Ireland, was quoted as saying.

Dr Gifford-Jones says "it takes a brave man to criticise current traditions and clerics who have confirmed ideas about the burning of incense".

In another story, the Canada Free Press also warns that care of children is especially necessary at Christmas.

The journal cites the case of a two-year old boy with a history of recurrent right-sided pneumonia since 10 months of age whose bouts of lung infection started a few months after his first Christmas.

Initially, doctors detected nothing abnormal after examining the lungs with a stethoscope, and the boy was otherwise healthy. But x-ray continually revealed a right-sided pneumonia.

Eventually an X-ray and CT scan showed a round mass in the lower portion of the boy's right lung that surgery showed to be a small branch of an evergreen Christmas tree that the child had swallowed.

"So keep an eye on toddlers who have a tendency to taste and swallow objects this
Christmas," the Free Press warns.

I recall seeing something a couple of years ago where a priest in Ireland banned incense becuase of health concerns. Compare that with the 'good old days' when Dominicanus celebrated Mass at St. Lawrence's Church Nth. Adelaide! Back int he days when a server and I used to go through two packets of charcols a week - that was excessive but...we were young. We used to joke about our addiction to Prinknash and thought about taking up smoking it in a pipe!

Australian Wins the Ashes

I'm trying to be gracious by extending my condolences to my friends and colleagues at the Recusant Cricket Club at the loss of something so close to them - the Ashes. But what a game! Australia and the England bowled out very cheaply in the first two days before Australia put bat to ball on Day 3 with Hussey, Clarke and Hayden making some decent scores before Gilchrist cimply finised them off. Adam Gilchrist, the Australian wicket-keeper scored the second fasted century in Test cricket off only 57 balls!!! Gilchrist hadn't made a decent test score for sometime and needed to regain some form. What a way to do it!

Monty Panesar bowled superbly on a pitch that, unusally for Perth was first a spinners' wicket then flattened to be a batsman's paradise. England's effort in the 4th innings was remarkable too.

And thankgoodness an Australian cricket ground finally let in the trumpeter! Meanwhile debate surrounds the urn remaining in Australia - even the one that Ponting is holding is a replica.

Shane Warne's wicket total now stands at 699, fittingly leaving him to take his 700th wicket in front of his home crowd in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Prayers and thoughts are with Ashley Giles as he heads back to the UK to be with his sick wife who has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Putting Christ back into Christmas

If there is one thing you do today it is watching this video of the Christmas Linebacker. Another one via Roman Miscellany. I loved it so much I left the text of the post big.

The DLP and Victoria

Well I said I'd try and write a post on the DLP and the Victoria election so here you go (written in between watching the 3rd Test - Warne has just got Bell out caught on 87, the devil's number of cricket!)

The victory of the Democratic Labor Party's Peter Kavanagh in the Upper House last week and the effort of party chief John Mulholland who lost on recount to the ALP was a blast form the past for many. The DLP has not had a MP in a Parliament in Australia for nearly 30 years and no-on in the Victorian Parliament since the 1950s.

The DLP of today is not the DLP of yester year with BA Santamaria as it's brain child but there are many links to the past. Gerard McManus's article in the Herald Sun is worth a read. In summary for the overseas readers, the DLP split from the Australian Labor Party in the 1950s over the ALP's support for Communists in the Trade Union movement. It was largely a Catholic Party and the brain child of BA Santamaria and his movements. The 'Movement', as it became known, has support from Archbishop Daniel Mannix in Melbourne but was not liked by the bishops of Sydney and after some lobbying Rome, Santamaria was forced to drop the Catholic tag and set up the National Civic Council.

Both Mulholland and Kavanagh are good guys and deserve some support. For a day it looked like the DLP would hold the balance of power in the Upper House along with the Greens and Nationals meaning a with the Nationals there was a decent conservative bloc. However the DLP lost a seat on recount to the ALP and the Greens picked up one a the ALPs so a net gain to the government of zero still leaving them without a majority but with a greater Greens presence.

Crikey.com had this to say:

Who would have thunk it! Fifty-one years after it last one a seat in Victoria’s Parliament, the DLP appears to have picked up two places in the new Legislative Council on less than 2% of the primary votes.

Bob Santamaria must be lecturing God and St Peter on politics today, pots are calling kettles black with left wing nutter and new Green MP Greg Barber complaining about the election of a "right-wing nutter"; meanwhile, the psephologists are studying the power of preferences.

But if the DLP’s back, who will it draw to its flag. It’s cousins in the NCC have been stacked by the La Rouchists. Will they move on Santa’s Helpers in the DLP – or will the right wing bruvvers ride to the rescue.

Take the Shoppies, for example. Sunday trading has done wonders for their membership, but Joe de Bruyn keeps urging us to remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Will his union be the first lot to reaffiliate with the new resurgent DLP?

The split never really happened in South Australia, but the Speaker of the state parliament, Jack Snelling, is a grouper through and through. Labor has a healthy majority there, but still has the state’s sole National and a country conservative independent in the ministry. A speaker from the DLP would only add to the colour.

Think about it. There may be some real benefits for Labor MPs to join the DLP. Think of the Family First preferences to begin with.

So who else should shift their affiliations? We’re not just talking Labor members here. What about Tony Abbott? Johnno Johnston would weep tears of joy.

and this:

The Democratic Labor Party (DLP), pronounced dead by most observers 30 years ago, has stirred from the grave this week and on provisional results has won two seats in the Victorian Legislative Council. (There will be recounts, and there are some apparent anomalies; for a full discussion see the comments at the Poll Bludger site.)

Strictly speaking, this is not the old DLP that split from Labor in the 1950s under the influence of Bob Santamaria's Movement (later the National Civic Council). That party was wound up in 1978, but a group of Victorian dissidents led by John Mulholland carried on under the old name.

The old DLP was conservative and rigidly anti-communist, but it was still within the political mainstream. It held seats in the Senate until 1974, and in its heartland of Victoria its vote peaked in 1961 at just under 17% (with which it won no seats).

In the 1970s and 80s, after Santamaria pulled the plug on the DLP, NCC members (often called "Groupers", after the ALP Industrial Groups) with any taste for mainstream politics moved into other parties. The NCC-controlled unions were readmitted to the ALP in the mid-80s, and their leaders have gone on to play a major role in cementing right-wing control of the Victorian ALP.

They are also found in the Liberal and National parties: two of the new Liberal upper house members are commonly identified as Groupers.

But the Groupers had a third string to their bow; in addition to influencing the major parties, they were able to funnel their preferences to the surviving DLP, which under Mulholland had become an ever-narrower anti-gay and anti-choice brigade.

It was the best of all possible worlds, combining the advantages of mainstream politics and single issue pressure group.

Now they seem to have hit the jackpot: Labor preferences give the DLP a seat in Western Victoria ahead of the Greens, and Liberal preferences elect Mulholland in Northern Metropolitan ahead of the ALP's Nazih El Asmar.

In one sense, democracy is well served by denying the government control of the upper house. But the way in which it occurs threatens to make Victorian politics hostage to the extreme right.

The Greens' Greg Barber is not an unbiased source, but he hit the nail on the head this morning:

I think Labor has again, like with Family First, elected a right-wing nutter to the Parliament. If I was a Labor voter living in Geelong or Ballarat or Portland, I'd be absolutely furious because their vote was taken off them and sent off to a place where they never imagined it was going.

Gaudete Sunday

It's that time of year when the Rose vestments are dusted and brought out for the First Sunday this (Liturgical) year. They will have to wait until Laudete Sunday to be worn again. I'm looking forward to it as the chior tends to put an effort into this particular day.

The New Liturgical Movement has a simply awesome post on Rose vs. Pink vestments citing the following examples. I think you may be able to guess which one I prefer...

Pater Noster in Greek and Aramaic

I was Googling (the verb to Google) around and found a site with the Pater Noster in a number of languages (thanks to Wikipedia).

Here it is in Greek:

Πάτερ ἡμῶν, ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου,
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου,
γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τής γής.
Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον.
Καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν,
ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν.
Καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν,
ἀλλὰ ρυσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ του πονηρου.

Aramaic:

Avoen de-bisj-maïa
Nit ka-dasj sjim-moech
Tih-thih mal-khoetoe
Neh weh sev-ja-noech
Ai-tsjana de-bisj-maïa
Ap bar-a
Hah lan lach-ma de soenka-nan jo-mana
Osjok-lan cho-been:
ai-tsjana de-ap chnan sjvakkan le-cha-ja-ween
Ola ta-elan le nisjoena:
Il la passan min biesja
Mit-thil de-di-loech hai mal-khoeta
oe-chela oe tisj-booch-ta
Le-alam al-mien
Amien

And of course, just for a bit of a reminder, in Latin:

Pater noster, qui es in caelis
Sanctificetur nomen tuum;
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua
Sicut in caelo et in terra
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie.
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
Sed libera nos a malo.
Amen.

I was dissapointed that I couldn't find it quickly in Gaelic.

Update: Thanks to Jovan-Marya Weismiller, T.O.Carm. in the comments, in Gaelic.

Ár nAthair, atá ar neamh, go naomhaítear t'ainm, go dtaga do ríocht, go ndeintear do thoil ar an dtalamh mar a deintear ar neamh. Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dhúinn inniu, agus maith dhúinn ár gcionta mar a mhaithimíd do chách, agus ná lig sinn i gcathú, ach saor sinn ó olc.

My thoughts on Kevin

Kevin Rudd was in Adelaide yesterday and apparently met my sister and grandmother in a shopping centre. Anyway, what are my thoughts on Kevin? (Kevin Rudd is the new Leader of the Opposition (Labor Party) here in Australia). You can recall that I like to call him Kevin ‘I’m a Christian too’ Rudd because he likes to remind everyone that Tony Abbott isn’t the only strong Christian in Federal Parliament. This is true but it’s the manner that Rudd does it that amuses me.

Kevin was raised a Catholic but is now a practicing Anglican along with his wife and children. Mostly he’s a good guy on ethical and moral issues but lacks grounding like many of those that were educated or instructed by Jesuits. One day he is calling himself and old-fashioned Christian Socialist and the next day he is running round saying that the ALP would drop its socialist doctrines.

I think Rudd is truly a centrist but I’m not sure whether he will, in his nerdiness, gain the vote of 50% +1 of voters in 50% +1 of electorates. I don’t think Julia Gillard will help matters either. Now there is a Red if there was one. The way she looks and speaks is not Australian which is another problem Rudd will encounter – his accent isn’t typical Australian.

Let’s hope Howard wins again, this time with a greater number of Catholic/Christian MPs at his side.

Third Test

I have just posted a wow of a pic at the RCC. Just a friendly reminder of the Second Test for our English friends.

Day 1 in Perth was very interesting. Australia were bowled out for 244 with Panesar taking 5 wickets and Harmison regaining some form with 4. But at stumps England are 2/51. So not a bad day to be a spectator - nearly 300 runs and 12 wickets.

If it weren't for the cricket and work I would write a little on the DLP's victory in the Victorian election. Maybe Saturday, so watch for it. I've also been working on a bit of ACSA business which is finally getting somewhere with a few recent donations and a few letters sent out to bishops etc.

Scottish Sems

Last time I tried to post this it failed so here goes...

You can see below of pic of some Scotish seminarians wearing blue! I thought it was a tad odd so thought it was worth a post (thanks to Fr Nicholas Schofield who will be added to the blog roll when I next update).

You can also see they are doing what seminarians should do best... looking after the booze!

Waiting on news on Classical Rite

Fr. Ephraem has two posts worth reading - one and two - and this one from Rorate Caeli. Effectively the Ecclesia Dei Comission is meeting to discuss the 'liberation' of the Classical Rite.

Christmas Hymns/Carols

We sang O Come O Come Emmanual as a recessional hymn for the second sunday in a row and no doubt we will be singin it next week too but I got me thinking - what is my favourite Christmas Hymn/Carol? And why? I'm really not sure.

I love Rorate Caeli during Advent and I am a bit of a fan of Gaudete and Puer Natus in Bethleham but not sure what would top my list.

What top's your list and why?

Midnight Mass

It was made official today that there would be a Mass in the Tridentine Rite in Adelaide at midnight this Christmas. I'm looking forward to it as I've actually never been to one in the Classical Rite as there hasn't been a 'public' Mass allowed.

I wonder what the chior will choose and what the turn-out will be like?

Unfortunately we aren't lucky enough to manage a dawn Mass... maybe next year.

Worthy Links

Christopher Pearson has an amusing piece in The Australian today about Julia Gillard, the ALP's new Deputy Leader - Finding a job for Julia.

CNA has also published an awesome piece on Arch. Chaput - Denver Archbishop decries trend of discounting believers in political life.

OP Salve Regina

You can watch/listen to the Dominican version of the Salve Regina on YouTube here. I simply love this version and it's much more monastic in character.

ramblings

Sheesh. Have I missed a bit of news lately or what! Cloning is now legal in Australia. There was some thought that an ammendment prohibiting the use of aborted foetuses would get up and then force the bill back to the Senate but that was not to be. I'm appalled at those 'Catholic' politicians who stood up and announced their Catholicism before supporting the Bill. Well done to John Howard and Kevin Rudd (the new ALP leader) for speaking against the bill.

Now that's a topic I've barely looked at either. The Labor leadership - the new dream team of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. And Pauline Hanson formerly of One Nation is back and goign to run for Parliament again. This time not against Aboriginals but against Muslims. Gosh she is a nutter. Maybe she is just short of money again.

Then there was the great win by the Aussie cricket team on Tuesday. Taking 9 English wickets before tea then scoring 168 in a small amount of over to win the test with only 2 overs to spare. Just sensational and undoubtedly the bext win by the Aussies at Adelaide. The most exciting loss being when Australia lost by one run to the West Indies in a dubious decision by the umpire to give Craig McDermott out, caught behind.

Hopefully I ave time and motivation to write on these things this coming week.

Personal Update

Happy New Liturgical Year. The blog has been dead quite for a few days. Why? The Test Cricket is in Adelaide! For a detailed analysis of the match please visit my post at the Recusant Cricket Club. This will simply be a personal account.

I got to the ground with my Polish Cricket Umpire mate just before the gates opened at 8.00am to rush with the crowd to get a decent seat in the members. Problem was that a couple of thousand others had the same idea – match starts at 11am… Anyway, we managed to get a couple of decent seats near the back of the Edwin Smith Stand at about a 30-40 degree angle from the line of the
pitch. We reserved a couple of seats next to us and just sat there for 3 hours waiting for play to start. (We had two newspapers to it wasn’t too bad).

We had a few beers throughout the day and hung around after play for a while out the back enjoying the atmosphere. Saturday morning we got to the ground at 7.30am to have a crack at getting some prized seats in the Bradman Strand. We managed some seat right behind the bowler’s arm where you can see the turn off the pitch. Only problem was that it is in the sun from about 12.30pm – 4pm and I got badly burnt. I blame the Civil Engineers and Architects…

I took it very easy on Saturday with the drinking and left when play ended. I made it to play late on the 3^rd Day due to Mass which was celebrated by Fr. Michael McCaffrey FSSP who was visiting from Canberra before he moves to Sydney.

So I didn’t get a seat and spent much of the day out the back watching play on the big screens. We watched a bit from time to time and even spent the last half hour of play on the famous Adelaide Oval Hill in the middle of the Barmy Army.

Today I had a University Council meeting all day but will be at the match again tomorrow to see the end of one of the least exciting matches played in Adelaide in the last 10 years. The first pic is the view from just left of where we were in the Bradman Stand. The second is an action shot and the third is among the Barmy Army.

Controversy and the Cathedral

This is something I've known about for sometime and I saw the plans when I visited Sydney last in September. But I refrained (I don't know why!) from posting anything on this to avoid conflict and possible controversy. But The New Liturgical Movement and then CathNews have let the cat out of the bag so I'll make a couple of comments.

But first some tracking. I saw the post on TNLM on Tuesday evening - Liturgical Thunder from Down Under - and made a simple comment. I refrained from posting that night fearing that someone might mention it on my trip to Sydney and I will be seeing the Cardinal there. Anyway, I got a great shock when I saw this story on CathNews of all places. Man that service has improved! It's reached a whole new level. I'm impressed that the editors read TNLM and possibly other great blogs. This was followed by a mass of comments at TMNL original posts and a second post.A venerable priest noted to me today that the ghastly Pelican Ambo (above) is a play on Pell's name. Below is the proposed new altar design.Maybe ACSA should launch a campaign to stop it...???

Cricket and WYD

I was asked today whether I was going to the cricket starting Friday – Is the Pope in Turkey?

Yes I’m going. Hopefully everyday except most of Monday which I have a University meeting after lunch at the National Wine Centre. What should I do – Day 4 of the Test Match or free lunch and drinks at the Wine Centre?

I went to a WYD thingy tonight. I didn’t really know what to expect when I arrived but it was a bit unusual. I probably thought it was a Q&A forum with suggestion but it turned into a kinda early stages of forming working committees for the events in Adelaide in the lead up.

Anyway, it was pretty bad except that I met LYL from Purcell’s Chicken Voluntary!!! And there were a couple of other worthwhile people. The problem was it was just disorganised and there were a couple of mad ladies on my table – ‘WYD should be about the Indigenous and social justice’ – What about Our Blessed Lord??!!!

Suggestions included a Mass by the River Torrens... I refrained form suggesting that it would be great only if it were ad orientem. Maybe I should have stacked the meeting and hence the committees!

Pro-cloning activists hide nasty truth

The cloning vote is expected in the House of Reps this week. How is this for a story from News Limited? Maybe some MPs may reconsider their vote. I hope so, but am not holding my breath.

Pro-cloning activists hide nasty truth

A FINAL vote about human cloning is looming as the debate begins in the House of Representatives this week.

Hidden among the promises of cures and hype about a biotech boom is the assumption that thousands of women will merrily undergo hazardous egg harvesting procedures to hand over their eggs to the cloners.

Foreshadowing an egg shortage, Loane Skene, the acting chairwoman of the Lockhart committee, has suggested that eggs could be removed from women after their death and used to produce cloned embryos for research. Dead women would be raw material for cloning research and become mothers to embryos, to be exploited in turn, in the name of research, scientific kudos and corporate profit.

If that doesn't already take the yuk factor to a new level, it's now emerging that senator Kay Patterson, the sponsor of the cloning bill, wants researchers to be able to help themselves to eggs from dead female fetuses as well.

During the Senate committee inquiry into cloning, Ms Patterson was asked what the public would think of her Bill's proposal to allow the harvesting of eggs from aborted female fetuses to make embryos for research. She wouldn't answer.

Likewise, when confronted with this question on ABC radio, the Australian Stem Cell Centre's Stephen Livesey was evasive: "That's sort of science fiction. I think we should stick to the facts." Mr Livesey was told the Bill's provision to create embryos using the immature eggs of aborted female fetuses had been confirmed by former members of the Lockhart committee. "Misrepresentation," he claimed.

It's time we faced the facts. Although Ms Patterson, Mr Livesey and other pro-cloning activists don't want to admit it, the Bill passed in the Senate by one vote would turn aborted female fetuses into the mothers of embryos that themselves would be destroyed in research. The Bill allows scientists to "create human embryos using precursor cells from a human embryo or a human fetus, and use such embryos". As defined in the existing legislation "precursor cell means a cell that has the potential to develop into a human egg (ovum) or human sperm".

More...

Personal Update

Miss Monification has been demanding to know why I have been so busy as to not have a proper post since Friday.

Well, I’m back working full-time for the summer. I’m working at ASC information about which you can find here. It’s busy and the working hours mean I tend to get up at 6am to leave by 6.40am and I tend to get hame after 5.15pm. (Pretty bad for little old Adelaide.)

Saturday I went on a wine tour of the MaClaren Vale with the Adelaide Young Liberals. I’ve actually never been on a wine tour before and it was loads of fun. A mate and I decided to treat the Liberals to a few hymns on the way home: Help of Christians – J .P. McAuley and Faith of Our Fathers along with a few Irish ballads

The whole family except for my 18yr old sister were also away for the past 7 days staying at Coffin Bay near Pt Lincoln. They got home today. I just helped with 3 loads of washing! Guess the house won’t be as quiet again for another year…

An up coming event is the Society Ball in Sydney. It’s hosted by the Sydney University Catholic Chaplaincy and I’m going top look into booking plane flights to come over. Cardinal George Pell & Bishop Julian Porteous will be in attendance and will launch the Universities World Youth Day Campaign during the night. I’m definitely not one for dancing but would be good for me to be there. Guess I can always hide with some beers in the corner with a few mates…

Only three sleeps now until the Adelaide Ashes Test Match!

Links

Fr. Tim has a piece about rumours that Cherie Blair is set to becom a Vatican advisor.

Fr. Nicholas has a pic of the Pope enjoying a few beers on the patio.

And Against the Grain anticipates the Pope's visit to Turkey.

Friday Funny

Scene: New York City, man is going to jump off the building. Up rushes good Irish cop. Cop yells up to the man "Don't jump! Think of your father"

Man replies "Haven't got a father; I'm going to jump."

The copy goes through a list of relatives, mother, brothers, sister, etc. Each time man says "haven't got one; going to jump."

Desperate the cop yells up "Don't jump! Think of the Blessed Virgin"

Man replies "Who is that?"

Cop yells "Jump, Protestant! You're blocking traffic!"

Pious, Devout, Religious, Reverent. What other words are there to describe you? According to my Sydney sources, 'Devout' is the 'in' word at the moment.

Religious Vilification gone mad!

Australian readers will recall the uproar over Victoria's Racial and Religious Vilification Act which was introduced in the recent Labor term in office. SA was all but about to introduce laws as strict as these but the goverment bailed to public and internal pressure and removed the more controversial clauses.

However, Victoria's legislation has prompted a new case, raised by the pro-life group, Endeavour Forum. The question arisies over whether telling Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott to keep his rosaries off a women's ovaries freedom of speech or religious vilification?

Mrs Babette Francis of Endeavour Forum claims T-shirts bearing the words "Mr Abbott, keep your rosaries off my ovaries" vilify Catholics and incite violence. The Greens Senator Kerry Nettle wore such a T-Shirt in Parliament at the time of the debate over RU486.

The YWCA, (yes, the one and same Christian organisation!) which makes the T-shirts, fought yesterday to have her legal action struck out, arguing it fails to meet the strict parameters of the Racial and Religious Vilification Act.

Read the full story from the Herald Sun here.

Birthday Meme

I was 'tagged' by Fr. Tim for this one...Instructions are:

1. Go to Wikipedia
2. In the search box, type your birth month and day but not the year.
3. List three events that happened on your birthday
4. List two important birthdays and one death
5. One holiday or observance (if any)

Three events

• 1328 - Antipope Nicholas V, a claimant to the papacy, is consecrated in Rome by the Bishop of Venice. (Quite relevant considering Fr. Tim's antipope theme at the moment!)
• 1982 - During a procession outside the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, security guards overpower Juan Fernandez Krohn before he can attack Pope John Paul II with a bayonet. Krohn, an ultraconservative Spanish priest opposed to the Vatican II reforms, decided that the Pope must be killed for being an "agent of Moscow."
• 1881 - In North Africa, Tunisia becomes a French protectorate.

Two birthdays

• 1820 - Florence Nightingale, English nurse (d. 1910)
• 1907 - Katharine Hepburn, American actress (d. 2003)

One death (Well, I've put two. Check out the small gap in years too!)

• 1003 - Pope Silvester II
• 1012 - Pope Sergius IV

One holiday or observance

• International Nurses Day

Okay, I tag Utter Muttering, The New Crusade and Joee Blogs.

In trouble... again?

Et Clamor Meus Ad Te Veniat has a bit of a scoop. Apparently Arch. Bathersby has be called to Rome... watch this space.

Two links

The first is a Joke about the Pope in Alaska.

And the second is not to be missed. It's another installment at Dappled Photos - photos of Canons in clerical dress.

Preview for the First Test

My preview for the Ashes First Test in Brisbane starting on Thursday has been published over at the Recusant Cricket Club.

Done deal

Seems Pro-Multis (for many) is a done deal. See CWN for more information.

Although "for many" is the literal translation of the Latin phrase, the translations currently in use render the phrase as "for all." Equivalent translations (für alle; por todos; per tutti) are in use in several other languages.

Cardinal Francis Arinze (bio - news), the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, has written to the heads of world's episcopal conferences, informing them of the Vatican decision. For the countries where a change in translation will be required, the cardinal's letter directs the bishops to prepare for the introduction of a new translation of the phrase in approved liturgical texts "in the next one or two years."

So we'll be seeing quite a bit more of this:

Anti-popes

Fr. Tim has an amusing post on anti-popes at The Hermeneutic of Continuity. He adds to the list two modern anti-popes elected in 1998 and 1990 respectively. There is even and Australian link.

Also, if you have a blog of your own and link to me (and you post on a regular basis) please let me know and I'll add you to my sidebar.

My books

People that know we well know already that I'm not the greatest of readers. I used to be. In primary school I would be reading constantly but all that changed. Now I rarely read fiction at all, in fact I probably haven't read a novel for years. That said, I do read a bit of history and politics. The first picture below shows my booksefh in my room. This is a shap-shot of my personal collection of books (plus some in a box in the shed) but I'm not as mad as my old man who has masses of shelves.

I do house my favourites elsewhere - just above my desk for easy access. Besides the Dictionary and Thesarus these include:

• The Constitution of Australia - signed by John Howard
• The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite - Fortescue and O'Connell
• Against the Tide - BA Santamaria (his autobiography)
• The Howard Factor
• The Cube and the Cathedral - George Weigel
• The Early Papacy - Adrian Fortescue
• Farewell to Cricket - Don Bradman
• The Prince - Machiavelli
• The Courage to be Catholic - George Weigel
• What were the Crusades - Jonathon Riley-Smith
• What We Can't Not Know - Budziszewski
• Latham and Abbott - Michael Duffy
• Ill-Starred Captains Flinders and Baudin - Anthony J. Brown.
• The Fall of Constantinople 1453
• The Great Disruption - Francis Fukuyama

Letters to a Young Catholic (George Weigel) and my Missale Romanorum are on my bedside table

An afternoon at the Adelaide Oval

Ah the joys of finishing exams. Rather than tidy my room of catch up on filing or bills I decided to head down to the Adelaide Oval for the second day of the 3-day game between South Australia and England (cricket). A full report will no doubt appear on the Recusant Cricket Club but I thought I'd share a couple of pics with you immediately.

The view from the members' pavillion looking across the oval. The players are coming off for tea.

Looking toward the famour scoreboard with St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral in the background.

Uni for the year is finally over. I'm really not sure how I went in my exams but it's the furthest thing on my mind right now!

I have a million-and-one things to do now too. I have to catch up on alot of ACSA business which includes beginning to start fundraising and hopefully meet our target of $20-25,000 before next July.

We are also struggling with a location. We would very much like to go to Canberra for the National Conference but can't find accomodation there. It seems none of the residential colleges 'kick-out' their students for the mid-year break as many others do. This has also put us in the awkward situation where we can't tell His Grace Archbishop Chaput where we will be hosting him. He has agreed to come and be our major guest speaker - I must contact him this week too.

The cloning bill before Parliament is also rumoured to be due to be debated in the House of Representatives from next Thursday.

Gay parishes

The Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish at Pride 2006... oh dear!From their website:

Most Holy Redeemer Parish, located at 100 Diamond Street (at 18th Street) has existed as the Roman Catholic religious center of the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco since 1900. Located just 2 blocks from the heart of the historic Castro district, the parish reflects the diversity and excitement of the surrounding neighborhood.

MHR prides itself in being an inclusive Catholic community -- embracing all people of good faith -- Catholics as well as those people interested in learning about the Catholic experience -- regardless of their background, gender, race, social status or sexual orientation.

Mission Statement

Most Holy Redeemer Parish is a Christian Community in the Roman Catholic tradition. The parish draws people from isolation to community, from searching to awakening, from indifference to concern, from selfishness to meaningful service, from fear in the midst of adversity to faith and hope in God.

The community of Most Holy Redeemer shares God's compassionate love with all people. The parish offers a spiritual home to all: senior citizens and youth; single people and families; those who are straight, gay and lesbian; the healthy and the sick, particularly persons with HIV disease.

As a parish community, we celebrate God's loving presence in our lives. In worship and sacrament, especially the Eucharist, we are nurtured and challenged to extend God's kingdom of justice, truth, love and peace by growing in the spirit of Jesus, the Most Holy Redeemer.

Roman Catholic tradition...?

Why wasn't I in Victoria last night?

Beer spill blocks major highway

Dominicanus

Many readers are probably waiting on information about the health of Dominicanus. I exchanged a few SMS today and he is out of hospital following the operation. His toes are straight and he'll be walking on crutches or the like soon. He is also on far less pain killers than when we last spoke over the weekend.

More Marini

This pic and caption come from the archives of Shouts in the Piazza.

"No, Piero, in liturgy our focus isn't out there on them...it's on Him."

My CV has been in the Vatican for months now... still haven't had a reply...

House keeping

Plenty of welcome rain last night in a time where we are experiencing the worst drought in 1000 years - actually the Premier got the WRONG but you get the picture. Our lawn at home, which of course gets plenty of wear, will be grateful for it.

I found out this afternoon that my local council bid wasn't sucessful. Nevermind. Just about all the candidates standing for re-election throughout the entire council got up again except the Mayor. No regrets about throwing my hat in the ring.

In fact, maybe it's a blessing I didn't get elected. Even though I'm in exam mode for 2006 I've been deciding on and organising my Final Year Project for Mech Eng next year. I've chosen, and was chosen for, the Design and Build of a Hybrid Solar Car. Now this will be challenging and will be completed by a group of 10 of us Mech Eng along with 4-6 Elec Eng. This is the whole project form start to finish which includes raising money and sponsorships etc. It's expected that we each put in over 20 hours per week for less units on our academic record than a 3rd year Arts subject! Anyway, I'm looking forward to another challenge in my life.

Exam is Thursday morning so hopefully more regular postings will resume then.

11/11

Today is Remembrance Day in Australia.

Remembrance Day is the day we remember those who have died in war. At 11am on 11 November we pause to remember the sacrifice of those men and women who have died or suffered in wars and conflicts and all those who have served during the past 100 years.

On the 11th November 1918 the Germans and their allies accepted the Armistace offered to them which ended World War I. Over 60,000 Australians were killed out of ther 350,000 that served overseas.

You can find out more here including the significance of the poppy.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

WYD leaders

ZENIT has an article from Australia about the WYD08 Leaders Course. It is for 18-30 year olds and will be 3 months long with 'live-in' arrangements. To me this is all well and good but 3 months full-time? They are going to miss out on most of the awesome leaders who can't afford that time off work or study. I wonder who came up with the idea? Sure it's great in theory but who in their right mind wants to do a 3 month course in leadership of youth from March to June? Leadership isn't something you can really teach. It's something that an individual grasps or has instinctively.

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...

Father Fortescue

This is the first in the series of things I wanted to draw your attention to earlier but had no time.

It’s a piece from the Cornell Society for a Good Time and is Some Fun with Fortescue. It’s a long post but simply awesome and very very funny.

Fr. Adrian Fortescue was “the greatest authority on the liturgy of the Roman Rite the English speaking world has ever known” (Michael Davies). Born in 1874 and died in 1923.

He remarks in his famous The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite:

As a general rule, except in the case of processions and funerals (when an indefinite number of clergy, supposed to be the choir, stand around the hearse holding lighted candles), not more servers should attend than those really needed, who have some office to perform. It does not add to the dignity of a rite that a crowd of useless boys stand about the sanctuary doing nothing. Nor is it in accordance with the tradition of the Roman rite to add useless ornamental attendance. The servers needed for the ceremonies are sufficient to form the procession.

The Cornell Society points the reader to this photo of a Novus Ordo with excessive altar boys just kneeling there.
It also appears that Fr. Fortescue write his famous work (which every MC should own!) for a measly 300 pounds!

I’m a fan of one or two servers at Low Mass but not necessarily a minimalist for Missa Canata’s or Solemn High Mass. But I am practical. I’m not in favour of having boys vested on the sanctuary just to stand there but I do believe in six torches if you can over four, two or none. Every boy on the sanctuary should have a role to play, if not, he should be in the pews.

Besides The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite (I have only just retrieved my 1962 version from Daniel) I have also read Fr. Fortescue’s The Early Papacy. It too is great read and outlines the arguments for papal infallibility up to the Synod of Chalcedon in 451.

This blog has been silent for a few days so while I’m taking a quick break from study I’ll give an update.

Letterboxing went pretty well and thankyou to those friends and family that helped out. I estimate that all bar about 800 houses were done before ballot papers came out. I had hoped to get to all, but have just simply run out of time and the campaign couldn’t have come at a worse week for me. It’s unfortunate but I hope some of them vote for me anyway.

The nanosatellite design project has been handed in. The report was 108 pages and the total pages was about 180 once appendices had been added. Massive!

Now I really just have to concentrate on my Robot Design Project which is due on Friday. It’s the software for it and I’m really terrible at programming. Hopefully we can scrape though.

Then it’s SWOT VAC and exams…

Hopefully some time on the weekend I'll post a couple of awesome items I've seen recently.