The moral of the story is that we are seeing "The high tide and the turn" in Chestertonian terms.

The good news is that most of the deviance and abuses in the Chursh today, whether liturgical or in church governance, simply cannot withstand the light of day.

Expose it (whatever "it" may be in a givern situation)and it will wilt and implode.

Resist and they will give way on the first bounce.

As Cardinal George said in Commnweal back in 1999, Liberal Pseudo-Catholicism is an exhausted project.

But it is the laity who must lead. and are leading, the Resistance and the Restoration.

Example: in my own Parish, it was the Knights of Columbus which restored First Friday devotions. The good Pastor did not take the initiatve, but neither did he resist (nor did the nagging yammering nuns on his staff try or succeed in doing so). He shows up, lifts the Montrance and our guys do the rest: chanting (in Latin, of course) Rosary and Holy Hour - once again, meditation for the working man.

Leaderless restoration - do it in small bite-sized steps:
- Benediction this month,
- Ring the sanctus bell starting 2 months later,
- Slip in the "Missa de Agelis" Gloria in January.
- In Canada, organize a petition rejecting the teaching authority of those religious orders who signed the attached act of apostasy as published on their website:

http://www.crc-canada.org/bd/fic...eaute/ 284_2.pdf

Just do it.

Vival Jesu

And remember: nothing cleanses and refreshes like the light of day.
Fenwik | 10.31.06 - 11:29 am | #

Fen- just like eating an elephant. One bite at a time. Bravo peeps in this worthy cause.
Gerard E. | 10.31.06 - 11:53 am | #

One bite at a time.

Yep. I sometimes hear the highway-speeder argument. "But officer, all these other cars were going 85 and 90, why are you pulling me over for going 80?" In effect saying if you are not going to respond to every abuse, it's unfair to respond to any one of them.

And fenwick is right about them giving way on the first bounce. It's like bullies--they depend on intimidation and/or complicit silence from bystanders. When challenged they fold faster than Superman on laundry day.
Scott W. | 10.31.06 - 11:59 am | #

Turn on the lights--the cockroaches run
ignorant redneck | 10.31.06 - 2:01 pm | #

That "sinite parvulos" part is really creepy.
thomas tucker | 10.31.06 - 3:38 pm | #

Unfortunately there is no official indication that the event has actually been cancelled, beyond what the archdiocese is telling concerned callers. The archdiocesan bureaucracy has gone into some lockdown mode, where no calls can get through. The parish is not answering either.

It ain't over, so keep up pressure.
Anonymous (Sorry, but on this | Homepage | 10.31.06 - 5:44 pm | #

Quite true. The "Sisters" are still selling tickets. It appears they have not yet been informed.
Anonymous | 10.31.06 - 6:34 pm | #

UPDATE FROM "SISTERS"

As of 12:00 noon today (October 31, 2006) the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were informed that we could no longer rent Ellard Hall by the Parish Council President, Nick Andrade. This was both a shock and a surprise as we have worked very closely with Most Holy Redeemer Church to provide fundraising services for both the Church and other beneficiaries.



At this time, Revival Bingo is on hold. We are currently looking for a new space and hope to have Revival Bingo in a new loving home by January or February of 2007. All electronic tickets purchased through Brown Paper Tickets will be credited to your debit or credit card by calling Brown Paper Tickets at (800) 838-3006 anytime after 2:00 PM on Wednesday November 1, 2007. Any tickets purchased at All American Boy may be returned to the store and your money returned as of Wednesday November 1, 2006 after 12:00 PM. If you wish to still donate your ticket proceeds to AIDS Emergency Fund or Positive Resource Center , you may choose to not call Brown Paper Tickets or return your ticket to All American Boy.



At this time, we do not have any information to why we lost our lease. We ask that you be fair and kind to members of the Church and hold no hard feelings to their congregation. We want to thank you for your support and look forward to bringing back Bingo as soon as possible for both the players and the revenue it generates for our beneficiaries.



Our official statement regarding this unexpected cancellation of our lease as follows:



“The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are stunned and deeply saddened by the abrupt cancellation by the Archdiocese of San Francisco of their charitable monthly Bingo fund raising event. First and foremost, we want to apologize to the organizations that depend on our support, including the AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF), and the Positive Resource Center . Both of these worthy organizations were to be the recipients of this week’s proceeds, however due to today’s decision of the Archdiocese it is no longer possible. Upcoming events were also to benefit SFPD Pride Foundation, UCSF AIDS Health Project, Saint James Infirmary, and Tenderloin Tessies Holiday Feed.



The primary mission of The Sisters is involvement in and support of the local community, whose ability to serve their constituency is dependent on contributions of charitable groups such as the Sisters. Without the thousands of dollars raised by the consistently sold out monthly bingo event, their services may be cut at a time when charitable giving is more critical than ever.



The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence believe that our commitment to giving is in alignment with the philosophy of the archdiocese, which represents a cross-section of the San Francisco population. It is unfortunate and extremely disappointing that this appears not to be the case, and that our shared values cannot overcome our lifestyle issues. “



Blessings,

Sr. Barbi Mitzvah
Anonymous | 10.31.06 - 11:39 pm | #

The response, of course, should be for the parish to have a large fun fundraiser that does not glorify sin in the meantime.
thomas tucker | 11.01.06 - 10:42 am | #

Sin kills; it's not just a "lifestyle issue." Asking the Church to turn the other way would be like asking PETA to look the other way if some rich benefactors came to one of their fundraisers wearing fur.
Judy M. | 11.01.06 - 11:21 am | #

no way
anan | 11.07.06 - 9:54 am | #

yes
anan | 11.07.06 - 7:17 pm | #