Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 336

Zmirak on Forgiveness

John Zmirak writes about turning the other cheek here in his usual rambunctious and erudite style. John and I have developed a partnership in crime. He's working for Crossroads publishing and likes my book Adventures in Orthodoxy so much that he wants to re-publish it with the new title The Quest for the Creed along with it's sequel (which is almost done) called The Romance of Religion. There is a third book in the alliteratively entitled trilogy called The Triumph of the Trinity. However, this third book demands a certain amount of research rather than me flying by the seat of my theological pants, so I doubt if it will get written since it sounds like hard work.



I would encourage other authors to submit their manuscripts to John at Crossroads, but you have to have a genuinely weird name to get published by them. 'Zmirak' and 'Longenecker' are definitely memorable, but I think 'John' is probably a bit dull. If asked for a more interesting first name Zmirak would probably come up with something classical like 'Septimus' or 'Xavier', but to I think it should be something authentically American and tacky like my own. Maybe he could be called 'Trey' or 'Bryce'.

Anchoress Rants

Elizabeth Scalia (The Anchoress) rants here about President Obama...don't forget to duck. Meanwhile, over here Eric Margolis hasn't got much good to say about the war in Afghanistan. Singing in harmony, Mark Shea posts a pro-Ron Paul video criticizing our military occupation of other countries.

The Gospel According to Gecko

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I am a priest, not an economist, so I can't comment on bull and bear markets, mortgage rates or international finance, but I still have the solution to our economic woes. It bumps back to G.K.Chesterton's famous letter to The Times in reply to the question, "What's wrong with the world." He wrote, "Dear Sir, I am. Yours sincerely, G.K.Chesterton."



The economic disaster we are now facing is the fault of individuals--not governments. Put very simply, individual people are lazy, greedy, thieves. This applies to politicians, bankers, stock brokers, financiers, CEOs of multi national companies and it also applies the underclass--the homeless, the indigent and the destitute--and everyone in between.



The default setting in our modern, American lifestyle is one of unquestioned consumeristic materialism. Along with this goes an unquestioned level of aggression, ambition and greed. Everyone gasps at Gordon Gecko's famous line, "Greed is good." Everyone gasps, and then goes on and lives by the Gospel according to Gecko. We "go for gold" and grasp at every trinket and goody we can possibly grab unto ourselves. It's disgusting.



The religious people are the ones who smell the worst in all this. We say we love God more than money, but we sure do hang on to those dollars for dear life!



The answer is there in the gospel for Mass today. "Oh you Pharisees!Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you."




This hit me right between the eyes. I really don't think I had seen this gospel passage before. Jesus says very clearly, "If you want to avoid hypocrisy. If you want to avoid be a holier than thou religious person. Give alms."



This is the solution to all the economic woes of the world: Generosity. What if we were to live generously instead of graspingly? What if all of us were to live with open hands not fists? What if were all to care for others and freely give as we have freely received? The greed of fat cats would disappear. The greed of the dependent classes would evaporate. Debts would be paid, people would live simply. Protests would be un-necessary. Violence would diminish. Wars would end.



Thank God that we have the example of so many generous people who light the way. While I inveigh against the greed and lack of concern for the poor, I also see all around me ordinary people who really are generous, and who really do live with open hearts. They're my favorite people.



For they have learned the secrets of living and they are truly blessed.

A Modest Proposal

The country is increasingly in the grip of discontented protesters who lament the present economic conditions. Capitalism, they claim, has failed us. Year by year those who are already obscenely rich get even richer while the poor become poorer and the middle class shrinks down into poverty. It cannot be denied that capitalism, as it is now practiced, creates huge social problems. The rich live in their gated communities cut off from the needs of the poor, the unemployed, the destitute.



But is socialism the answer? I think not.  Shall the government take from the rich and give to the poor? The only people that benefits are the rich because they must give up some of their wealth, and that must be a good thing. The poor do not benefit because they are given hand outs--and that is demeaning. It encourages indigence, low self esteem, dependence and lack of aspiration. A hand out is not a gift. It is a booby prize.



Capitalism has failed and Socialism has failed. Allow me therefore to make a modest proposal and suggest that we return to the much misunderstood system of slavery. Slavery, as the basis for an economic system, has much to recommend it. Instead of a large, centralized, overblown and expensive bureaucracy, each landowner would raise his own army to defend his land. His standing army would also double as his work force. Slavery would keep the price of labor very low--which would help our country compete globally, and the principle of social welfare is built in very neatly because the landowner (let us call him Lord of the Manor) has a financial interest in the health, welfare, education (and I may add--discipline) of his workforce.



Should we adopt slavery instantly the unemployed would have jobs. The destitute would be housed. The hungry fed and the poor looked after. The unruly would be disciplined. The indigent put to work, the freeloaders encouraged by the homely words of Scripture, "He who would not work--neither should he eat."



We would, admittedly, sacrifice the principle of 'individual freedom', but this is a highly over rated quality, and one which was virtually unheard of until modern times. Indeed, one could argue that 'individual freedom' has not existed in our own society anyway since the invention of the television.



And will we really sacrifice 'freedom'? Think of the freedom the slave enjoys. Freedom from worry about where the next meal will come from. Freedom from paying a mortgage or rent. Freedom from crippling credit card debt. Freedom from making decisions about his future. Freedom from the stress of choosing his own mate. Freedom from the troubles of deciding what he is going to do all day. Freedom from the worries of personal security because they will be locked safely into their homes each evening. Think of the carefree life of the slave--working in our great factories and farms:



Each day they rise to the bright promise of a day full of rewarding work with a congenial group of colleagues of their own background and education. Walking home together arm in arm after a productive day, they will be welcomed by their wives and children for a simple meal. Perhaps after sundown they will all gather at the Lord of the Manor's home for songs and entertainment and S'mores around the campfire before wandering home tired but happy to collapse into their beds for a satisfying night's sleep before rising for another day.



The benefits for the landowners are also manifold. They do not need the government to take their money to feed the poor. They will be involved in this joyful duty themselves. Not only will they feed and house the poor, but because the poor live on their land and in their housing they, and their family will know the poor and care for them as members of their extended clan. No need for large government to build schools. The landowners will educate the children of the poor. No need for large government to build expensive armies or pay for the police. Each landowner will defend his own property with his standing army, operate his own justice system should the slaves misbehave (whipping and hanging may at times be necessary evils) and he will not need any of the 'services' provided by a central government.



In order to bring about this happy state of affairs I am interested to hear from all people who would like to join a new experimental community in South Carolina. I have secured the use of an old cotton plantation complete with a mansion which is in need of repair and some delightful slave cottages with the hooks still in the walls where chains may be attached. I will be Lord of the Manor and am looking for physically fit, unemployed people who would like to be the first slaves. In order to encourage volunteers I have set aside the sum of $20,000.00 to purchase some lead slaves. I am looking for bright, enthusiastic children of the middle class. Parents who cannot afford college for their children may be very interested in taking up this lucrative offer. Not only will they get paid for their children, but I can guarantee that each young slave will not only receive free room and board, but will also receive full training in a trade or profession free of charge.

The Vicar on Power and Glory

Guest blogger, The Rev'd Humphrey Blytherington is Vicar of St Hilda's, Little Snoring with All Saints, Great Snoring. He is a graduate of Plymouth University. He completed his studies for the ministry at Latimer Hall, Durham. He is married to Daphne and enjoys home brewing, model railroading and is an avid member of the Great Snoring Morris Dancers.

Funny you should mention that vicar who can't change a light bulb. Just this morning Daphne was climbing up a ladder in the Vicarage kitchen to change a bulb while I was enjoying a second cup of tea, and she slipped and came crashing down and nearly knocked me off my chair. Mefistofele let out a yelp and scampered, and my cup of tea went flying. 




Luckily, as you all know, Daphne is pretty well padded and she didn't do much more than bounce a little. Nevertheless she wasn't too happy, and yours truly ended up in the doghouse for not being more of a help. When things get like that in the Vicarage I think it's always wise to retire to my study and work on my sermon a bit if you catch my meaning.



Then later this afternoon Lavinia dropped by the vicarage. She's organized a petition for the Yanks who are doing some sort of sit in protest in New York City. Apparently she wants to get the whole thing off the ground here in the City. Says the bankers are all evil and greedy. I didn't like to point out that her own salary comes from the church commissioners being pretty clever operators on the stock market. Daphne always ducks for cover when Lavinia knocks on the door. Not a pretty scene when those two get together I can tell you!  told Lav that signing petitions for unhappy Americans wasn't really my thing, but I wished her all the best and sent her off with a jar of Daphne's blackberry jam.



Do you know lads, while she was there Lavinia asked me to join a union for clergy? Why I never! She mentioned this fellow who can't even change a light bulb for fear of falling foul of the planning officer, and that he ought to join the union, and Lavinia said there were many more injustices for the clergy, and that the Bishop was planning cutbacks and redundancies and how did I know if I wasn't one of the ones for the chop? I mean to say, it is all rather disturbing isn't it? The troublesome thing is that Lavinia had a knowing look in her eye. She gave me a little wink and said, "It's men just your age Humph who are ripe for early retirement."



I must say, it put the wind up me. It's true enough the bishop wouldn't grant me the freehold of the parish. I'm only priest in charge and I suppose he can let me go if he wants. The bishop wouldn't turf me out now would he? Mustn't think about it. I've done nothing wrong, and I'm feeling rather annoyed at Lavinia for planting the seed of doubt in my mind. Still--all this talk of consolidating parishes and so forth? It's a bit worrying I must say.



So I discussed it with Daphne later over a cup of tea and a slice of Marjorie Huffington-Post's Victoria Sponge. Daphne gave me that gimlet stare she has over her cup of Earl Grey and said, "What do you expect Humph. You're a Protestant minister, and they've always been able to be hired and fired."



I think she's being a bit harsh to tell you the truth. What's that? Oh yes, she went on at some length about her church. I mustn't bore you with it lads, just a lot of palaver about how the Catholic bishop would never sack anyone. She said Catholic priests either end up in a nursing home or in jail, but they're never fired. She told me about Fr. Giles heading off to the ordinariate thingy that the Pope has set up and says he's about as happy as she's ever seen a priest.



Best to put it all out of one's mind. I must say between Lavinia and Daphne I have got my hands full. All the more refreshing to come down here of an evening and have a half pint of shandy, a packet of crisps and a game of darts.

What the People Want

Our new church at Our Lady of the Rosary is traditional in design, and it is known that my own tastes tend to the traditional. Therefore, there is an assumption amongst some Catholics that this is 'Fr Longenecker's Church.' OK. I'm delighted with the church design and I think we have the chance to do something beautiful for God.



However, I was also very lucky in finding a building committee already in place, who had been working on their ideas and plans for ten years. They had already had the architects in. They had consulted with the people of the parish and come up with a basic design and floor plan that was essentially Romanesque. One of the things they made clear in their very first meeting with me is that they did NOT want a big, round, fan shaped auditorium of a church.



They wanted a traditional church. Straight up and down with a high altar. I was the one who stressed that with large transepts we would be able to bring as many people as possible as close as possible to the altar in order to adapt to the proper and true spirit of the second Vatican Council and the demands of modern Catholic worship.



Nevertheless it is still assumed that Fr Longenecker is imposing his style of church on everyone. So we did some surveys and found that the vast majority of people in our congregation actually like the church design and still want a traditional Catholic Church. Furthermore, when I show the design to the young people at the high school and to the children they are all wowed by it as well and want a traditional design.



Now, this makes me wonder, what do the Catholic laity really want, and what have they wanted for the last fifty years? Did anyone ever really want the teepees, circus tents and just landed flying saucers that have passed for Catholic Churches? Did the laity really want those churches, or were they imposed by well meaning priests and architects and liturgical experts all fired up with 'full participation in the Mass'? Were the Catholic people ever really in favor of the modernist buildings or were they forced upon them? Were they made to endure sessions of 'education' about liturgy which was really Fr. Folkmass foisting his groovy ideas on them? Were they really in favor of the radical 'renovations' that their beloved old churches were subjected to? Did they really want to replace the marble flooring with carpet, tear out the reredos and install a fiberglass drop ceiling? Just askin'.



My suspicions are probably not too far off the mark, and it is all the more ironic since the Catholic radicals were all big on 'empowering the laity' and 'listening to the voice of the people.' I had an experience recently with one such priest, who simply would not believe me when I said that survey after survey had shown that the vast majority of our people wanted to build a traditionally styled church. He insisted that I had manipulated the survey to my own advantage. He insisted that I was cleverly manipulating everyone into my way of thinking and that if they really had a 'true voice' they would have chosen something more at home on the set of Star Trek.

From the Combox

"The altar is situated in such a way for Mass to be celebrated either way."




What a shame. Will this Conciliar nonsense ever end?




While the business about the good, the true, and the beautiful is quite fashionable among Conciliarists, the hard truth is that truth is often quite ugly and brutal, the good is often hidden in ugliness, and the beautiful isn't always true or good. Let's grow up. Let's abandon this kind of wretched sentimentality.

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The above was contributed to my combox for the post picturing the interior of our new church at Our Lady of the Rosary parish. I'm not sure quite what to make of it because I'm not certain of all the seemingly inside loaded language. What, for instance, is a 'Conciliarist'? I am assuming that this is traddy slang for a person who thinks the Second Vatican Council is okay. Also, the writer seems to think it is 'nonsense' to even consider that Mass might be celebrated facing the people.





So I have attempted a translation of the above into language we can all understand--see if I've got it right:




What a shame that these people who pretend to be Catholics insist on foisting innovations like Mass in the vernacular and celebrating facing the people on all us real Catholics who know that such things are Protestant heresies infiltrating our liturgy.




These 'neo-con' Catholics are all gushy and girly about this 'beauty' thing. I am really mad that one of them is building a church that is traditional and beautiful. How dare he steal that from us. Doesn't he know that beautiful and traditional Catholicism is ours! It belongs to us traditionalists. He can't have it. Therefore, if he has it must be wrong after all.  I must make him see that 'beauty' is just a load of sentimental nonsense too. Truth is often ugly and brutal like me. 




Let's get rid of this sickening 'beauty' stuff and make our religion just as sour, negative, pessimistic, nasty and bitter as I am.

ABC faces Protests in Africa

This report from the Daily Telegraph tells how the Archbishop of Canterbury has entered a storm of violent protest in Zimbabwe. It seems that an African Anglican bishop who doesn't like the Church of England's stance on homosexuality has started pulling churches out of the Anglican Communion and has been assisted by soldiers of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe (who happens to be Catholic).



The soldiers are forcing Anglicans loyal to Canterbury out of their churches and a spokesman for Mugabe says of the planned meeting with Rowan Williams, "We want this man of God to explain to us how homosexuality is good for us."



Of course no one can support violence and intimidation and Robert Mugabe is just about as nasty as a dictator can get, but the larger issues for the Anglican Communion are fascinating. Its a messy business, and we have to admire Rowan Williams for having the guts to wade into the fray at all. It would have been a lot easier for him to stay home at Lambeth Palace sipping tea and bemoaning the problems.



The larger issues are disastrous for the Anglican Communion. Elitist Anglicans in the USA and UK are faced now with the backlash of their decision to embrace homosexualism. The vast majority of Anglicans in the world are now in the developing world--especially Africa, and for the most part they are offended and disgusted by homosexuality, and they don't mind saying so. They're amazed and shocked by the way the Episcopalians and Anglicans continue to endorse and promote the gay agenda despite all their appeals for them to do otherwise.



So what's a nice, intellectual liberal, white Anglican bishop to do? They have tried telling the African Anglicans that they are ignorant and "One day when they understand the subtleties of human sexuality they too will accept homosexuality....blah blah blah" and the Anglican Africans reply, "Please don't patronize us. We too have PhDs from Harvard Divinity School and Cambridge and Oxford. It sounds like you are talking down to us 'darkies'. Please keep your colonialist superior opinions to yourself. In fact, when you talk to us like this you are being racist."



Whew! How dare they suggest that a nice, well educated, liberal white Anglican be racist!! It's impossible!! Then the liberals dig the hole deeper and throw stones at the Africans by saying, "These people are all bigamists. Who are they to tell us how to behave in the bedroom?" To which the Africans say, "When you come to understand the subtleties of our our African culture and how very often a man must take more than one wife to look after women who would otherwise be destitute you will be more accepting..."



So the Anglican intelligentsia have been hoisted on their own petard. They've disregarded the advice of the vast majority of Christians, disregarded sacred Scripture, disregarded Judeo Christian morality of the last four thousand years, disregarded the vast majority of people worldwide from their own denomination, and where are they going to turn? They can't turn their back (as it were) on the homosexuals or face a firestorm, yet if they continue their quest to turn the Anglican Church into a feminist-homosexualist sect they will not only lose the Africans, but lose them in what might be a violent and nasty confrontation.



No wonder poor old Rowan Williams wants to retire early.

Why Catholics Should Build Beautiful Churches

Designer: Andrew Gould - Interior: Matthew Alderman - Architect of Record: Christian LeBlanc

This is the proposed interior of our new church at OurLady of the Rosary parish in Greenville, South Carolina.





Why should Catholics build beautiful churches? First, because beauty is eternal and the Catholic faith is ever ancient and ever new. God's love is eternal and the Catholic faith will last until the end of time. Something that is beautiful improves with age, and so with the Catholic faith, and therefore a beautiful Catholic church speaks of the antiquity and permanence of the faith it proclaims.




Secondly Beauty is attractive. It draws you in. It is an experience. I know a young priest who was raised a Baptist and went into a beautiful Catholic Church when he was fifteen years old. He immediately knelt and knew he was not only going to be a Catholic, but that he was supposed to be a Catholic priest. Beauty in a Catholic Church is something 'crazy' for God in a brutal utilitarian age. But that beauty speaks of the attraction of God himself and it helps to draw us into his presence.




Thirdly, Beauty is Truth and Truth Beauty. That's all you need to know. We comprehend verbal expressions of Truth with our mind, but we apprehend beauty with our heart. The heart has reasons that the mind knows nothing of, and it is beauty which unlocks the secret chambers of the heart. Beauty is the language of worship. Beauty is the language of the soul, and how can our religion penetrate to the  heart of our soul unless it is beautiful? How can the liturgy be celebrated beautifully in a church that is harsh, utilitarian, nasty and cheap?




I hope if you like what you see in the beautiful design of our church, that you will get excited with us and do what you can to help us build this church. One thing you can do is to help give the project publicity. Talk it up and help us do something beautiful for God. Go here to visit the parish website dedicated to the new church. Learn more about it and pass it on.

The New OLR

Designer: Andrew Gould - Watercolor: Matthew Alderman - Architect of Record: Christian LeBlanc

I can finally go public with the stunning watercolors by Matthew Alderman of the design by Andrew Gould of the new Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Architect of record is Greenville Catholic architect Christian LeBlanc.



There will be more on this blog and on our OLR Facebook page, as well as running updates on our parish webpage dedicated to the new church. On the parish page you'll find articles I've written on sacred architecture, a link to ParishPay to make a donation, and as the project develops, more information on the church, the theory behind it and what we are hoping to accomplish.



What I would ask you to do, if you are a reader, is to help give this project the public awareness that we need. After all the moaning and groaning about how modern Catholic Churches are 'ugly as sin'. Here we have a chance to 'do something beautiful for God.'



Help us spread the news. Link to our webpage. Talk this up in your blogs and chat rooms. Discuss it among your friends, copy and paste the images and send them to others. If you can--go to the parish website and make a donation!