Mark P. Shea's Blog, page 1257

I Love Everything Fr. Robert Barron Does

This is going to be epic. And they are actually broadcasting it on public TV!

Pray for the success of this series. There's never been anything like it and it is, I think, the most significant Catholic mass media outreach in American history.

Rick Perry Makes Absolute Bare Minimum Token Prolife Gesture!!!

So far, so good. He's against abortion, like all other GOP candidates who hope to win the base. Big whoop.

Doesn't seem too choked up about killing people though. Indeed, he's not even interested in saving a man's life when there's good evidence he's innocent. I think I will refrain from voting for a man who butchers innocent men in order to appear tough on crime, even when the man being butchered was not a criminal and Perry had a clear chance to save him but declined. I have this notion that people who are actually prolife don't enthusiastically kill even *one* innocent person.

Who ya gonna call?

Fr. Dwight Longenecker remarks on the curious way people instinctively turn to the Catholic Church when they need an exorcist.

Ever-Vigilant....

Against the sins of joy, hope, and love, Tradition in Action continues to expose the horrors of joyful, happy, Christ-filled young people who are not bitter, wizened prunes of resentment and cold rage like themselves.

Online Reactionary Catholics: the single greatest enemies of the Extraordinary Form and the Benedictine reforms on Planet Earth. Why they imagine any sane person would wish to join such a poisonous, joyless, loveless subculture as theirs is a complete mystery to me. Indeed, I sometimes fancy they are deliberately trying to make sure as few as possible are saved.

If I didn't know actually Traditionalists in real life who were not joyful, happy, contented Catholics with magnetically joyous families I would not touch Traditionalism with a barge pole. Its online manifestation needs a serious overhaul.

As 12 million people starve to death in Africa...

our media train their laser-like focus on the stories and issues that really matter!

Happy News!

Chesterton is now being done well onstage according to Kevin O'Brien, who oughtta know.

Prayer Request

Reclaim the Rainbow writes:

Could you please post a request for prayers for the integrity of the Catholic school system in Toronto. The school board meets this evening (7:00 to probably 11:00 Eastern) to vote on amendments to its Equity and Inclusive Education Policy. These amendments are designed to ensure that "equity" and "inclusion" are interpreted consistently with Catholic teaching.
--
Reclaim the Rainbow - Toronto

"Reclaim the Rainbow – Toronto is a policy group of Toronto Catholics who have experience of SSA, same-sex attraction, either in themselves or among their loved ones, and who are loyal to the Magisterium. Its membership partly overlaps with Courage Toronto (established in 1986) and EnCourage Toronto (which will soon be active); however, as a policy group it is separate from them and will continue to be. Courage and EnCourage maintain their own purpose, which is for pastoral and peer support. They are the only Church-approved apostolates dealing with SSA."

Father, hear our prayer that the Board does the right thing through Christ our Lord. Mother Mary, pray for them!

The indomitable, witty and chivalrous John C. Wright

on Impuritanism:

The old Puritans did not want anyone, anywhere, to be outside the reach of their command, for fear anyone would have abnormal or unchaste sexual passions.

The new Puritans do not want anyone, anywhere, to be outside of the reach of their command for fear anyone would have the normal and chaste sexual passions, or, worse, a healthy dislike of the abnormal, perverse and unhealthy, or to teach their children likewise. Let us call them the Impuritans.

Since I was the butt of one of these craven Two-Minute-Hate intimidation sessions not long ago, I would urge any reader of mine of good will to go to the defense of Miss Trasancos.

Weird Coincidences

While I was having lunch with a guy who looked exactly like Steve Ray, Steve Ray was--at the very same moment--having lunch with a guy who looked just like me. Via the miracle of Photoshop we have overlaid the images of our two luncheons to achieve the effect of making it look like we were actually having lunch with each other. Technology is amazing.

Catholic Writers to Enjoy Special Spiritual Retreat

Lansing, MI: In collaboration with FAITH Catholic Publishing and Communications, The Catholic Writers Guild, will sponsor Your Word is My Delight, a Catholic writers' retreat, Oct 5-9, 2011. Come and delight in God's word and sacrament, and pray in a beautiful and serene retreat setting.

The retreat's key presenter is Pat Gohn, Catholic columnist, podcaster and catechist. Other presenters are Father Charles E. Irvin, David Krajewski, Father David Rosenberg and Father Larry Delaney.

Writers will enjoy five spiritually-enriching days of daily Mass, adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation and many hours of writing time. Talks will explore how God speaks to and encourages writers through Scripture, papal writings and other topics in order to promote faith-filled writing.

Opportunities for networking also will be offered through an informal "book bash and social hour" Wednesday evening and Faith Catholic's one-on-one "pitch sessions" that give writers the chance to sell their current writing projects.

Cost for the four-day retreat is $450, which includes meals and accommodations. Deadline for registration is Sept 28. A nonrefundable deposit of $45 is required at registration.
• To view a schedule of events, click here.
• To download a brochure, click here.
• To register for the retreat click here.

Now you know!