Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[Baltimore Sun]

The Roman Catholic Church has told a disputed visionary to stop disseminating within the Archdiocese of Baltimore messages she purportedly receives from the Virgin Mary.

Gianna Sullivan complied yesterday by suspending her monthly appearances at aFrederick County conference center. Sullivan, of Fairfield, Pa., also pledged not to disseminate messages in written, spoken or electronic form within the jurisdiction of the archdiocese, as requested by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien.

O’Brien’s injunction, which was distributed to churchgoers last weekend, marked an escalation of the church’s efforts to silence Sullivan, who was banned in 2000 from delivering her messages during weekly appearances at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Emmitsburg.

Read more here.

[From me]

I doubt she is hearing anything but who cares what Mary says anyway?  Now hearing from Jesus would be a different story but Mary? Was she perfect? Why Mary?

What do you think?

[BBC]

Pope Benedict XVI has opened a synod of more than 200 cardinals and bishops from around the world to examine the modern lack of interest in the Bible.

The Pope lamented what he called the harmful and destructive influence of some forms of modern culture. This, he said, had decided that God was dead, and man was the sole architect of his destiny and master of creation. The synod is an advisory body of the Roman Catholic Church, which meets once every three years.

Growing indifference to religion, particularly in Europe, is a source of concern to the Pope.

He visited France last month, and was clearly referring to that country when he pointed out in his homily that nations once rich in the Christian faith and in vocations for the priesthood seem to be losing their Christian identity.

To mark the opening of the synod, Italian state television will be broadcasting a marathon reading of the whole Bible for the next six days and nights.

Read more here.

[From me]

I would agree that there is a decline people reading in Scripture.  But that is ironic coming from the church that didn’t even want their own people to have a Bible. But I don’t think blaming the “CULTURE” is wise.  As Andy Crouch said at Catalyst last week–quit complaining about Culture and change it.

What do you think?

[Twin Cities.com]

Green Bay’s new Catholic bishop livened his installation ceremony by breaking into song during his sermon with parts of a couple country songs—including one called “Drop Kick Me, Jesus.” Bishop David Ricken, former bishop of Cheyenne, Wyo., first told the assembled church leaders, family members and others from the Green Bay and Cheyenne dioceses about traveling to his Cheyenne assignment after being ordained a bishop.

Read more here.

[From me]

As long as he doesn’t break out in a Terry Bradshaw song or The Super Bowl Shuffle.

[Courier Journal]

Fourteen-year-old Michael Ryan may attend St. Xavier High School, despite the objections of his atheist father, an Oldham County family court judge has ruled.

In a decision made public today, Judge Tim Feeley said he was persuaded that it is in Michael’s best interest to attend St. X, in part because that’s where he wants to go. 

Michael’s parents are divorced, and his mother, Susan Bisig, wanted him to go to the Catholic high school in Louisville.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I think the key line is it is where the boy wants to go.  Good for the judge.

What do you think?

[Time]

Interfaith dialogue has become an important exercise in finding the right words to overcome both extreme violence and ordinary misunderstanding. True progress, however, is best measured in deeds. The inauguration last week of Qatar’s first Christian church — a small Catholic chapel bearing neither bells nor visible crosses — has been hailed as a welcome step forward in relations between Catholicism and Islam. But an even more dramatic development is under discussion just across the border: The Vatican has confirmed that it is negotiating for permission to build the first church in Saudi Arabia.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I wonder if this means evangelical churches can go in there legally?

What do you think?

[From me]