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By Ben Trovato on May 19th, 2009 | Category: Defending LifeDear Fr Jenkins
I read your eulogy of President Obama with interest, particularly your justification for inviting and honouring a man so at odds with Catholic thinking. You are reported* as saying, inter alia:
“As the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council wrote in their pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes: “Respect and love ought to be extended also to those who think or act differently than we do in social, political and even religious matters. In fact, the more deeply we come to understand their ways of thinking through such courtesy and love, the more easily will we be able to enter into dialogue with them.”
I would like to point out that I ‘think or act differently than [you] do in social, political and even religious matters,‘ For example, I would not have chosen to honour anyone with President Obama’s record and intentions with regard to the unborn, and I would have listened to the bishops and faithful who urged second thoughts on the invitation…
Therefore I would appreciate the opportunity to enter into dialogue with you, address your students en masse, and receive an honorary degree. I am not as rich or famous as President Obama, but am sure that you will exercise a preferential option for the poor, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.
For the record, I have a lovely English accent and would have many instructive things to say to you and your students.
Your etc
Ben Trovato
* Thanks to Laurence at That the bones you have crushed may thrill for the transcript.
(Cross-posted from Countercultural Father)
By Ben Trovato on March 27th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
We have four new children in our family.
We spiritually adopted four children conceived on the feast of the Annunciation, and due to be born on Christmas day, but who are at risk of being aborted.
We do not know who or where these unborn children are, but we will pray for them every day from now to Christmas. Anna initiated this with the pro-Life group she has established in the parish, and Ant, Bernie and I have all joined and adopted a child each.
You could do the same. The idea was Bishop Fulton Sheen’s and there’s a www site explaining the details.
(Cross-posted from my blog)
By Ben Trovato on January 3rd, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
Poor old bishop Kieran Conry (in the UK) has recently made a bit of a twit of himself (in an article in a UK Catholic Paper – the Catholic Herald, discussed on almost every British Catholic blog – eg Holy Smoke, Hermeneutic of Continuity). For example, he advises against frequent confession, and minimises the importance and authority of Humanae Vitae.
He has fallen victim to what I call the listing barque syndrome.
Some years ago (1950s) it seemed that the barque of Peter (aka The Catholic Church) was leaning a little too far to the right. The Second Vatican Council suggested a few minor and moderate changes to stabilise the ship, but the main message was steady as you are. However, a few of the watch leaders over-reacted and rushed to the left, calling everybody to follow them. The crew, being largely obedient types, followed suit, with the inevitable result that the boat lurched to the left.
Some observant souls noticed this, and rushed to the right to counter the list; unfortunately, some went too far and fell off altogether (eg into sedevacantism). Seeing this, the watch leaders leaned further to the left, not noticing the thousands of souls behind them falling off to the left.
And every time anyone suggests that there is a problem, they say ‘Look, we can’t go back to the right, look what happens!’ pointing at the unfortunate few who fall off the barque that side.
And thousands continue to fall off behind them on the left.
And bishop Conry is still telling us that regular confession is a bad thing because (conceivably) in the 1950s some people went out of habit… And of course adherence to the traditional Mass is very dangerous; whereas altar girls, innumerable extraordinary minsters, liturgical dance and so on are necessary correctives to the
By Ben Trovato on November 14th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized
We had an odd experience after a recent parents’ evening at school. I thought it had been fairly positive: Bernie needed to keep working to secure good grades (A), work harder to secure top grades (A*), and risk dropping a grade (to B) if she eases off. Bernie thought they were saying she’d get top grades(A*) in almost everything (provided she works hard), and my wife Anna thought they were saying she’d get Bs in everything unless she works hard…
Has anyone else had a similar experience after a parents’ evening, leaving you all with such different understandings?
By Ben Trovato on October 21st, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized
Sign the livechastely pledge and demonstrate that chastity is not just for our daughters…
http://promise.livesimply.org.uk/LiveChastely
By Ben Trovato on August 29th, 2008 | Category: MiscellaneousI thought you might be interested in this…
http://ccfather.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-research-links-cycle-helmets-with.html
BT
By Ben Trovato on July 29th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized
Fr Z. (at What Does The Prayer Really Say) publishes and comments on a a good leader from the New York Times on Humanae Vitae: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/07/nyt-john-l-allens-op-ed-on-humanae-vitae/
Ben
By Ben Trovato on July 25th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized
The recent post on parenting and the pastoral rule reminded me of a great book on educating children in the virtues: Character Building by David Isaacs. The blurb on Amazon says:
With the family under fire as never before, even faithful Catholic parents often don’t know where to turn for trustworthy guidance about childrearing. That’s why this book is so urgently needed. David Isaacs, an experienced parent and teacher, gives you practical direction on how to teach children of all ages the human virtues: generosity, fortitude, optimism, perseverance, orderliness, responsibility, respect for others, sincerity, modesty, moderation, flexibility, loyalty, industriousness, patience, justice, obedience, prudence, audacity, humility, simplicity, friendship, understanding, and patriotism. Contains questions for self-assessment and teaching tips for each virtue.
I’ve certainly found it very good – was wondering if others had come across it?
Ben Trovato
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