David Ancell / Friday, December 13, 2002 / Comments(0)
Rome has spoken, and Cardinal Law’s resignation has been accepted. I am probably the last person on this planet to blog this, but blog it I have.
Perhaps others will chime in and continue to blast the Cardinal. Without trying to downplay what has happened, let us not kick him while he is down. Let us instead hope and pray that he goes on to leave a life of penance. This is not so much to punish him, but for his own salvation and for those people who have been hurt by his actions or lack thereof. Under no circumstances should we celebrate when a bishop falls in disgrace.
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David Ancell / Wednesday, December 11, 2002 / Comments(0)
Like I said, no comment, at least not from me. Readers?
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David Ancell / Wednesday, December 11, 2002 / Comments(0)
I am sure that there is no shortage of posts like this one regarding Cardinal Law.
On the other hand here is an alternate perspective.
I, for one, knoweth not what to make of the matter. I guess my first thought is that, since I have no say whatsoever in whether Cardinal Law stays or goes, it is just as well that I keep my mouth shut. As I have said before, I can see it either way. I will let those who can do so decide. They may make what turns out to be the wrong decision, maybe greviously wrong, but who among us hasn’t made decisions we regretted?
I don’t say this because I think we have an outstanding group of bishops here in the United States. I don’t think we do. I really don’t know why someone doesn’t do something about the non-proclamation of the Catholic faith that has persisted longer than I have been on this planet. Indeed, I lament that I do not have the spiritual life that I could have if good formation, helping me to live as a Christian in the world, could be found.
However, this formation hasn’t been available because of the indifference often shown to things that do not convey the Catholic faith. See below for examples:
In my home diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the newspaper of the diocesean newspaper regularly featured columns by Fr. Andrew Greeley, as well as sympathetic news stories about such things as “revisionist” scholars (e.g. do not believe in the Resurrection of Our Lord).
I remember a bishop gathering information from us while I was in college for a “pastoral letter” regarding young adult ministry. I have never seen any tangible results from that letter.
Memphis is much better than the other places I have been. However, the diocese did mandate all parishes participate in this extremely lame Disciples in Mission program that was supposed to teach us to evangelize. Not only was the program doctrinally empty, but it dodged important issues in the Scripture readings that the program covered.
What I would really like is to be able to show respect to our bishops. Whether I like them or not, they are our shepherds. One of them used to be my pastor, and I do respect him quite a bit. I have tried to avoid bishop-bashing on this blog. What good does it do anyone? The bishops ain’t gonna read it. Even if they did, how likely are they to listen to someone who cannot speak their names without the use of profanity? If they won’t listen to respectful, well-reasoned comments, then they are hard of heart.
On the other hand, some bishops are doing things that are just outrageous. I can’t condemn those who react so strongly. Many of them live right in the areas where exist the center of the problem. I am far away from the worst of it.
May I offer some final advice: Spend at least twice as much time praying for our bishops as you do slamming them. Do it either because they need the prayer, or because you know darn well that it is going to take divine intervention to get us out of this mess.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Tuesday, December 10, 2002 / Comments(0)
I don’t have much to say today, but I’ll say a couple of things:
I would like to remind everyone, including myself, to please pray for the Archdiocese of Boston and Cardinal Law. It’s easy to post blogs blasting Law or things that went on in the Archdiocese. The problems are very, very, serious (as though I needed to tell you that). I can see either side of the issue as to whether or not the Cardinal should resign. Obviously, it’s going to be hard for him to be a credible leader, and Boston really needs a credible leader. However, making him fix the problem would be a very fitting penance if he will do it. It’s best to leave this kind of thing in God’s hands and in the hands of the Holy Father.
Second, on a lighter note, don’t forget to visit Spiritual Pyromania. I’m on this blog, and the others there are my friends. Give them some nice comments to cheer them on. They are new to this, and I want to encourage them. They are people somewhere around my age (I am 27.) who are trying to live their faith.
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David Ancell / Sunday, December 08, 2002 / Comments(0)
If you haven’t read this week’s Our Sunday Visitor, go get a copy. It deals with a lot of stuff ranging from Harry Potter, the pro-aborts attacking Catholic hospitals, and the need for greater emphasis on fraternal correction and the other spiritual works of mercy.
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David Ancell / Saturday, December 07, 2002 / Comments(0)
I’m afraid I can’t do this one. I have absolutely no artistic talent, and I’m hardly ever in town. However, see this post on Spiritual Pyromania. Planned Parenthood is having a sick contest “celebrating” 30 years of Roe vs. Wade and the women who have “benefited” from the decision (The women who work for PP and who are making money, no doubt.).
Victor Lams has some posters here and here and here.
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David Ancell / Saturday, December 07, 2002 / Comments(0)
I have learned a new lesson in computers today. Although I learned the hard way, it could have been worse. The lesson is:
Never, ever, lose the disk containing your video driver. Never try to reinstall Windows without having that disk.
Today, my computer pretty much decided that it would no longer work with me, so I reformatted the hard drive. Fortunately, I was able to find my video driver. Without it, I would only be able to run Windows in 16-color mode. For those of you who have never tried it, it is really, really ugly.
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David Ancell / Thursday, December 05, 2002 / Comments(0)
Medication errors were a really hot topic when I was in residency back in 1999-2000. They still are. It’s no secret that mistakes have killed people. Here is an article on MSNBC.
A lot of this stuff could be prevented if we health-care professionals could just slow down. The prescription is often hurriedly communicated or written. I once received a prescription that didn’t even have the name of a drug on it. Many retail establishments expect the pharmacist to fill some outrageous number of prescriptions per day, all the while he/she has to deal with insurance companies that won’t cooperate and some patients whose behavioral skills are below the standards of civilization. I’m sure that nurses who administer medications have similar pressures on them.
As for the morphine overdose mentioned in the article, it could have been prevented if the doctor had prescribed Lomotil or Immodium instead of “opium tincture, camphorated.”
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David Ancell / Thursday, December 05, 2002 / Comments(0)
When reading, news like this, it is easy to get angry and scoff at the Archdiocese of Boston. Please, please, please don’t forget to pray for them. Pray for Cardinal Law regardless of what you think of him. Pray for the people to stand firm in faith.
I’ve seen news suggesting that the Archdiocese may consider bankruptcy. I dread the thought of what precedent it could set.
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David Ancell / Tuesday, December 03, 2002 / Comments(0)
Take a look at the HMS blog. Go down the right-hand side of the page, and you will see a spot for links. It says they are “coming soon.” Hmmmm . . . . this blog has been going longer than mine has, but I do have links. As a matter of fact, so does the new Frassati Society blog. I wonder how long “soon” is for them.
P.S. Don’t take this post too seriously.
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