Saturday, June 28, 2003
A U.S. PEACEKEEPING FORCE THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE U.N. has been proposed by Donald Rumsfeld: The United States would train and lead an international police force, bypassing traditional peacekeeping bodies such as the United Nations and NATO, under a proposal by the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld.The plan, involving thousands of Americans permanently assigned to peacekeeping, would also be a major reversal by the Bush Administration, which has strongly opposed tying up its troops in such operations."I am interested in the idea of our leading, or contributing to in some way, a cadre of people in the world who would like to participate in peacekeeping or peacemaking," Mr Rumsfeld told defence industry leaders in Washington last week. "I think that it would be a good thing if our country provided some leadership for training of other countries' citizens who would like to participate in peacekeeping ... so that we have a ready cadre of people who are trained and equipped and organised and have communications that they can work with each other." Would this open the possibility that our peacekeeping forces could one day oppose the U.N. peacekeeping forces? CarrieTomko@aol.com
A VERSION OF THE PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL that I've never seen before was sent to me by a friend. Has anyone else seen it? Does anyone have a copy of the Raccolta from 1930? Quote: Pope Leo XIII�s Original Exorcism Prayer to St. Michael Pope Leo XIII�s original Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel is prophetic. Composed over 100 years ago, and then suppressed due to its startling content, Pope Leo XIII�s original Prayer to St. Michael is one of the most interesting and controversial prayers relating to the present situation in which the true Catholic Church finds itself. On September 25, 1888, following his morning Mass, Pope Leo XIII became traumatized to the point that he collapsed. Those in attendance thought that he was dead. After coming to consciousness, the Pope described a frightful conversation that he had heard coming from near the tabernacle. The conversation consisted of two voices � voices which Pope Leo XIII clearly understood to be the voices of Jesus Christ and the devil. The devil boasted that he could destroy the Church, if he were granted 75 years to carry out his plan (or 100 years, according to some accounts). The devil also asked permission for �a greater influence over those who will give themselves to my service.� To the devil�s requests, Our Lord reportedly replied: �you will be given the time and the power.� Shaken deeply by what he had heard, Pope Leo XIII composed the following original Prayer to St. Michael (which is also a prophecy) and ordered it to be recited after all Low Masses as a protection for the Church against the attacks from Hell. The Original Prayer was taken from The Raccolta, 1930, Benzinger Bros., pp. 314-315. The Raccolta is an imprimatured collection of the official and indulgenced prayers of the Catholic Church. (Holy Family Monastery 4425 Schneider Rd., Fillmore, NY 14735, (800)275-1126 or (585)567-4433) The Prayer: O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, spirits of evil. Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of his Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity. These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered. Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and Patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root of David. Let thy mercies be upon us, O Lord. As we have hoped in thee. O Lord, hear my prayer. And let my cry come unto thee. Let us pray. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon thy holy name, and as suppliants we implore thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen CarrieTomko@aol.com
ANOTHER CRITIC OF HARRY POTTER Author Berit Kjos joined the crowd waiting for the midnight release of the newest Harry Potter novel. She experesses her concern for the children whose spirituality is in formation with these words: My concern grew over the next two days as I read the 870 pages. In their fifth year of occult training, Harry and his friends were more sophisticated in their understanding of the dark arts and far more rebellious toward authorities. Even their relationships with each other seemed darker and more fragile. One of J. K. Rowling's favorite verbs seems to be snarl (as in "'About time!' Harry snarled", p. 43), a phrase she repeated again and again. Lying and rule-breaking had become the norm and, most of the time, the young wizards and witches got away with it.While some readers will see the anger, rage, swearing and cruel jinxes as nothing more than "fun" and fantasy, this immersion into angry and hateful environments will surely strengthen the notion that rage, rudeness and rebellion are cool as well as okay. It doesn't help that millions of children around the world are encouraged to feed their minds with images such as this: "Harry longed to bite the man. . . but he must master the impulse. He had more important work to do. But the man was stirring. . . Harry saw his vibrant, blurred outline towering above him, saw a wand withdrawn from a belt. . . . He had no choice. . . . He reared high from the floor and struck once, twice, three times, plunging his fangs deeply into the man�s flesh, feeling his ribs splinter beneath his jaws, feeling the warm gush of blood. . . The man was yelling in pain. . . then he fell silent. . . . He slumped backward against the wall... . Blood was splattering onto the floor.... His forehead hurt terribly." (p. 463) No, Harry hasn't morphed into a werewolf. Instead, he illustrates an occult principle called bilocation. While his physical body was asleep at Hogwarts, a part of his soul/spirit was far away -- inside Voldemort -- acting out this murderous assault.... Actions in the dream world correspond perfectly to actual changes in the real world. So while the sleeping Harry -- in his mind -- saw and shared in the brutal act, the distant victim was bitten, torn and left to die. In that nightmarish scene, Voldemort, an evil wizard with the cravings of a vampire, had turned himself into a snake (occultists call it transmutation). And since Harry was psychically linked to this dark, powerful wizard, he participated in the attack as if he were actually inside the snake -- as if his spirit had possessed the serpent. Harry felt Voldemort's hatred and shared his thirst for blood. To guard against such disturbing intrusions into his mind, Harry must learn occlumency, "the magical defense of the mind against external penetration." It's "an obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one," says Professor Snape. (p. 519)Don't dismiss it as "just fantasy!" It's an actual formula for defense against psychic attacks in the real world of high-level occult orders. And the key to success is a basic principle behind all occult training. Snape said it well: "Clear your mind and let go of all emotion." Love, hate, delight, disgust ... these can be manipulated by a powerful opponent. Therefore all feelings must be purged.... Marysia [a Thelemite-the name of followers of Aleister Crowley's O.T.O.] must be pleased with the Order of the Phoenix, for it offers many of the key lessons she longs to learn. Showing the progressive stages of magical training, it provides a tantalizing simulation of the intense program that shapes chosen initiates for leadership in actual occult orders. CarrieTomko@aol.com
Friday, June 27, 2003
DEAL HUDSON'S E-LETTER TODAY REFLECTS THE CONCERNS Justin raised in a comment about the Supreme Court's action in striking down sodomy laws: Is Lawrence Worse Than Roe? CRISIS Magazine - e-Letter June 27, 2003 ********************************************** Dear Friend, I know I just sent you an e-letter yesterday, but this can't afford to wait until next week. There has been a lot of lot of talk since yesterday's Supreme Court decision in the case of Lawrence v. Texas, a dispute over Texas' law making sodomy illegal. The Supreme Court overturned that law by a vote of 6 to 3, saying that such laws "demean the lives of homosexual persons" and infringe upon their right to privacy. Let me tell you right now: Lawrence is a devastating decision, worse than most people think -- and for reasons that haven't fully dawned on them yet. I have to admit, the implications of this decision hadn't occurred to me yet, either, but after talking to my friend Professor Robert George of Princeton this morning, I can say that this is without question the most damaging decision handed down by the courts since Roe v. Wade -- one that will have even more far-reaching effects than its predecessor. George is a political philosopher and a very smart guy. He pointed out a few things about the decision that I hadn't noticed. And because this decision is so huge, I wanted to make sure that I passed on his concerns to you. Believe me, this is vitally important. First, a little background history. As you may already know, Roe v. Wade based its decision to make abortion legal upon a woman's right to privacy, which the court found in the 14th amendment in the Constitution. The problem is, the 14th amendment doesn't give a person a right to privacy. What the 14th amendment REALLY guarantees is that no state "shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of the law." You won't find a right to privacy here or in any other part of the Constitution. The 14th amendment only protects rights by due process, meaning that they can't be taken from you except by formal procedures in accordance with established law. In other words, you can't be executed (deprived of life), jailed (deprived of liberty), or fined (deprived of property) without the government going through the proper procedure of arresting you, giving you a fair trial, and so on. So what does this have to do with a right to privacy? Absolutely nothing. And yet this is what the Roe decision is based on. Legal scholars, both conservative and liberal alike, have denounced this faulty reasoning that they call "substantive due process." It's really a contradiction in terms: Instead of simply guaranteeing that you will receive certain treatment by the law, the law has been stretched to mean that you will also be guaranteed a certain RESULT. What began in Roe has now come to fruition in Lawrence: A certain privileged class of actions is being protected from legal restriction by the Supreme Court. First abortion, now sodomy -- what will be next? Euthanasia? It's up to the people to vote into effect certain laws through their legislature. It's the only fair way of guaranteeing that what the people want becomes the law of the land, rather than what a few justices on the Supreme Court want. But this, George explained to me, is what happened in Roe v. Wade. The justices forced their hand to produce a certain outcome. Since then, the Supreme Court has avoided using the tricky (and completely false) "substantive due process" rationale in deciding cases. That is, until now. The six justices who voted to repeal the sodomy law yesterday did so because they said the law produced an unfair outcome -- unfair because it discriminates against homosexuals. But the law was enacted according to the rules of due process -- the people supported it, the state legislature wrote it, and the governor signed it. There is nothing unfair about the process it underwent in becoming law. If people today feel that the law is unfair or outdated, they can vote to repeal it just as they voted to enact it, and THAT would be a fair process. But for the COURT to say that the law produced an unfair outcome takes this power from the people and puts it in the hands of nine Supreme Court justices. This was certainly never the intention of the 14th amendment. Nevertheless, that's what the Supreme Court did. And not only that -- in his statement for the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy made his decision so broad that ANY case that comes before the court in the future could appeal to "substantive due process" to dispense with the law and get the outcome they want. And that is what's really scary about this decision. With Roe, the decision applied only to abortion rights. But with Lawrence, the door has been opened for other kinds of sexual behavior to be exempted from restrictive legislation as well. For example, if a case comes before the Supreme Court arguing in favor of incest, according to the Lawrence decision, there's no reason why incest should be outlawed. The court no longer has any principled basis for upholding laws that prohibit incest, bigamy, bestiality, you name it. So what does this mean for the future? Well, think about this: Because Texas' sodomy law has been struck down, all the remaining states with sodomy laws will have to dispense with them as well. And what about homosexual marriage? The Massachusetts legislature is considering that issue right now. If they decide in favor of it, any homosexual marriage contracted in Massachusetts has to be acknowledged in every other state. With sodomy laws still in place, this wouldn't have been the case. No state is forced to accept contracts from another state that go against their own laws and policies. But now that the sodomy laws will be removed, no state has a legal defense against homosexual marriage. They'll all fall like dominoes. The LAST HOPE for defeating homosexual marriage lies in a Constitutional amendment that explicitly defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The Alliance for Marriage, headed up by Matt Daniels, is leading the way in calling for the Federal Marriage Amendment to do just that. If the Supreme Court finds the amendment unconstitutional -- which, thanks to Lawrence, they now claim the right to do -- then we're sunk. The homosexual agenda will have won the day. And this is why it's absolutely CRUCIAL that Catholics, Evangelicals, and all social conservatives in America band together NOW to stop them. There has been infighting among the groups in the past -- some think the Federal Marriage Amendment is too strong, others think it isn't strong enough -- but we have to put those differences aside and make the best we can with what we have. CRISIS ran an article on just this problem in our July/August issue last year, "Can Same-Sex Marriage Be Stopped?", encouraging people to take note of the slow change that is already beginning. With Lawrence decided, we can't spare another minute. Visit the Alliance's Website, www.allianceformarriage.org, to find out more about how you can help. I hate to end on such a grim note before the weekend, but I wanted to get this out to you as quickly as I could. The sooner we understand the danger that marriage in America is in, the sooner we can act to save it. Til next time, Deal ************************************************************** To subscribe to the FREE CRISIS Magazine e-Letter, and get the latest news, views, and responses to current issues, send an e-mail to e-letter@crisismagazine.com and write "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. ************************************************************** To learn more about CRISIS Magazine, visit http://www.crisismagazine.com/subscribe.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- CarrieTomko@aol.com
ARCHBISHIP MARCEL GERVAIS OF OTTAWA has issued a statement to the priests of his diocese. "In the Catholic Church, an attempted marriage of two of the same sex would not be recognized and the person officiating would be suspended from their sacred duties," Gervais said. Is this a line in the sand? CarrieTomko@aol.com
ATOMIZATION OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM proceeds apace with these comments from Fr. Falsini, a Vatican Council II expert who objects to permission for the Rite of St. Pius V to be used. I particularly noted this statement: Fr. Falsini sustains that the legitimate Roman rite �is only one, the traditional rite revised and renewed by the Second Vatican Council reform. If the preceding rite, called the rite of St. Pius V, has the same value as the present Roman rite we would be in an unheard of situation which no one could allow. We have the right and duty to forcefully object to these irresponsible statements�. It seems that Fr. Falsini has no problem with multiple rites in the various Eastern Churches, or even multiple rites within one of the Churches, since he does not criticize the fact that they have them. But the Tridentine he cannot tolerate, and is willing to make this public condemnation of it. What is it about the Tridentine that prompts such strong statements of disapproval? You can't disrespect the Tridentine while claiming to respect the N.O. Built as it is upon the model of the Tridentine, the N.O. falls to ruin if its foundation is destroyed. Are we seeing a form of chaos magick at work here? Do me justice, O. God, and fight my fight against a faithless people; from the deceitful and impious man rescue me. For you, O God, are my strength. CarrieTomko@aol.com
THE POPE HAS ADDRESSED ECUMENISM AND DIALOGUE AGAIN in his statement to a group of bishops from India. "Intimately related to the Church's efforts for evangelization is a true and profound respect for culture," he added. "Culture is the space within which the human person comes face to face with the Gospel. Always respectful of differing cultures, the Church seeks to engage her brothers and sisters of other religions in order to foster a relationship of openness and dialogue." Culture is never devoid of faith. It is the faith held by a people which enables them to form a culture, and that faith defines the culture that is formed. How, then, does one respect the culture with a profound respect while proclaiming Christ the King? Does our respect for culture include respect for the god or gods which inhabit and formulates that culture? How does one do this without violating the First Commandment? Masonic philosophy indicates we do this by referring to God or gods as "The Grand Architect of the Universe." Masonic philosophy is very much in tune with this Pope's ecumenical spirit. All 870 pages of Morals and Dogma are permeated with a discussion of the vast variety of religions that have enjoyed tenure on the face of this earth. Pike talks proudly of the ability of the Masonic lodge to gather people of many religions into one meeting space where all gods are welcome and no gods are discussed. God the Father told us that He is a jealous God and wants to call us out of the worship of false Gods. Saying that today is not PC. It would appear that it is no longer PC in the Roman Catholic Church either. Unity in diversity equals universalism. If that is what the Pope is preaching, and it appears that he is, though he still gives lip service to avoiding indifferentism; how does he reconcile it with Traditional Catholicism? By preaching the need to avoid syncretism/indifferentism along with preaching Unity in Diversity and holding Assisi conferences? The contradictions are impossible to reconcile, making his teaching to us enigmatic at best. CarrieTomko@aol.com
Thursday, June 26, 2003
I see that sodomy laws have just been struck down by the Supreme Court. How long will it take before Catholic doctrine is declared discriminatory and thus illegal? CarrieTomko@aol.com
RETURNING TO THE TOPIC OF MASONIC SYMBOLISM in Catholic Churches... In addition to the previously indicated circular pattern found in round churches, round platforms for altars, and round seating arrangements, another pattern that has begun to appear is the checkerboard. Black and white check, referred to as the "Masonic pavement" or "Mosaic pavement" in Freemasonry, is a basic symbol of the Craft as explained in this Grand Lodge of British Columbia website: In many of our Lodge Halls, for example, 8th & Granville, Marpole, and Kamloops, there is nothing on the flooring that indicates the requirements of the First Degree Lodge, i.e. Masonic pavement and indented skirting that surrounds the pavement. This can be found in the First Degree lecture on page 42 of the Canadian work and similar wording can be found in the Senior Warden's First Degree lecture on page 47 of the Ancient Work. Why the flooring of these Lodge Halls is missing the Mosaic pavement or the indented skirting is not for me to speculate. I know in my Lodge hall in Richmond both these two items are there and in the Langford Lodge hall on Vancouver Island there is an actual Mosaic pavement, and in the newly refurbished Kerrisdale Lodge there is a wonderful carpet with Mosaic pavement and also the four tassels. The Masonic pavement is also described in this "Test of a True Mason" paper by this Past Grand Orator: Let us, at this juncture, listen, listen carefully and attentively, to a portion of one of the great orations of the late Most Wor. Bro. Rafael Palma, our Grand Master in 1920. He said: "Human life could not be better symbolized than by the Masonic pavement which covers the floor of our Temples and is emblematic of how checkered our existence is with good and evil, grief and joy, suffering and happines. The pavement is included in the symbolism on George Washington's Masonic apron. And it is featured here on the floor of Forfar Masonic Lodge. Theosophist C. W. Leadbeater describes the checkered pavement in his book titled The Hidden Life in Freemasonry, Wheaton, IL: The Theosophical Publishing House, First Edition 1926, seventh reprint 1998, in the chapter titled "The Fittings of the Lodge" p. 74-75: The mosaic pavement is the beautiful floor, which is composed of squares alternately black and white, and is explained in the Craft ritual as the diversity of objects which decorate and ornament creation, the animate as well as the inanimate parts thereof. Its alternate squares, however, symbolize not only the mingling of living and material things in the world, but even more the intermingling of spirit and matter, or life and matter, everywhere. Leadbeater, a 33 deg. Mason and a bishop in the Theosophical Liberal Catholic Church, was a contemporary of Annie Besant who assumed the leadership of the Theosophical Society after H. P. Blavatsky. Besant wrote the Foreward for Leadbeater's book and helped found Co-Masonry, which is a breakaway branch of Grand Orient Freemasonry according to their American Website. Leadbeater's book cited above has a foldout picture in the front of a furnished Masonic lodge which has a checkered floor. Turning to renovated Catholic churches and cathedrals, the checkered pavement can be seen in this picture of St. James Cathedral. It's visible in the first renovation of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. In Detroit, the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament has a good example of a checkered floor in both the front and south apse, and also in the sanctuary. Click the pictures for a larger view. In Columbus, Ohio St. Joseph's Cathedral has a good example of the checkered pavement in three paintings on the front wall behind the altar. Originally the altar was located against the front wall. When the cathedral was renovated, the altar was moved forward, and the baldachino constructed over it. The cathedral is lovely and contains many traditional elements. Yet there are three disturbing paintings on the front wall. Here is a picture of the cathedral renovation showing the new altar and a blank wall behind it, and one showing the wall with the three paintings completed. Notice the checkered floor in the three paintings. Masonry dates from long before Vatican II. Since Grand Orient Masonry comes from France, I was not surprised to find the checkered pattern in St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. Merely a curiosity? Or is there a Catholic explanation for this symbolism? The checkered pattern is so striking that it is impossible to miss where it is employed. It literally jumps out at you and draws your eyes into it. It plays an important part in the transmission of Masonic philosophy, and did even in the days when George Washington was wearing his Masonic apron, long before some of our cathedrals were built. Masonic philosophy is transmitted largely symbolically. Catholic theology, too, relies heavily on symbols. I find it odd that both are using the same symbols, since the philosophy/theology being presented are opposing views. CarrieTomko@aol.com
CARDINAL KASPER MAKES HEADLINES AGAIN at Zenit. He preached at an ecumenical Methodist celebration of the birth of John Wesley. The cardinal began with the words "Brothers, Sisters, Friends," and relayed the Pope's blessing, saying "the unity of the Church is in his heart." Cardinal Kasper highlighted the dialogue that has been under way for 36 years between Catholics and Methodists, "our ecumenical partners," the ANSA news agency quoted him saying. He also pointed out aspects of Wesley's testimony that are valid today, such as "attention to the poor" and "proclamation of the Gospel of hope." I think it's reasonable to assume that the Vatican knew, when Cardinal Kasper was appointed to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, what his opinions were and what his policy was likely to be. Thus, it would seem that he reflects Vatican attitudes. Which would seem to be syncretistic, traveling under the banner of ecumenism. CarrieTomko@aol.com
YOU HAVEN'T HACKED INTO THE VATICAN WEBSITE, HAVE YOU? Well, somebody from America has tried to. In fact several somebodies have. But the Vatican experts have defended the site successfully against some 10,000 viruses a month. They must have the help of Gabriel and Raphael to accomplish that! CarrieTomko@aol.com
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
MARK SHEA WANTS TO GIVE THIS GUY the benefit of a doubt. In his blog he says: Now, that takes discernment. So, for example, when I see the work of this guy, I have to ask "Is he trying to present the gospel in terms accessible to Hindu culture, or is he trying to bend the gospel to fit Hindu culture?" I don't know enough about this guy's work or Hindu culture to know. But I'd be interested to find out more. Lidless Eyes in Action types aren't interested. If it doesn't look like 1956 Cleveland it can only be gay. Meanwhile, of course, the Syncretism R Us crowd will rejoice at the same hasty assumption. I can't get the comments to come up in his blog tonight. Probably some glitch with my computer. So I'm posting my comment here. Um, Mark, perhaps you should take a look at this page which seems to be his other personna: And this pagewhich indicates he also teaches another type of dance. It says: From Barbozafrancis on Thu Oct 10 00:26:24 2002: Notify I am based in Edison, NJ. I give regular prayer dances on Hindu and Christian Themes. I also conduct classes in Bharata Natyam in NJ and NY. Interested parties may contact me. E-mail: francisbarboza@hotmail.com www.drbarboza.com Tel: (732) 906-5721 Dr.Francis Barboza. And this page which describes Bharata Natym, the other type of dance which he teaches, where you will find: Mrs. Kalanidhi Narayanan, a Bharata Natyam teacher explained, 'the sex in the life is like food and sleep, without which there is no life. If you consider sex is sacred, it is sacred. But if you think it is sin, it is sin. It depends on your out look.' She pointed out several poses and gestures in the Bharata Natyam that explicitly and implicitly point to 'Rati Sukha Saaram,' (the essence of the pleasure of sexual intercourse) in the love affair of Radha-Krishna, where the sexual union of Radha and Krishna is at a philosophical level the union between the God and the devotee, while at a physical level simply sex. What you see depends on your mental status and outlook. Lidless Eye Carrie
THE TABERNACLE AT ST. JAMES CATHEDRAL, SEATTLE This is a tabernacle? To me it looks like someone's burning building nightmare cast in gold. CarrieTomko@aol.com
THE WORK OF RENOVATION AT HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL and the reason why so many Catholics are upset when renovation comes to their diocese or parish is evident at this website. Look at the before and after pictures of the altar. (You have to scroll down quite far to see them.) Even though there is no Masonic symbolism represented in any of the pictures, I was particularly struck by the contrast between the beauty of the old altar and the plainness of the new one. When did altar cloths become colored and patterned? CarrieTomko@aol.com
NEW TENSIONS BETWEEN ROME AND THE U.S. according to Delia Gallagher at Inside the Vatican The latest, dramatic sign of tension between the world's greatest temporal power and its leading moral authority comes in a blistering editorial blasting US policy in Iraq published today in a key Italian Catholic journal known to represent the Vatican's viewpoint. The editorial in the Jesuit journal "Civilta Cattolica" contains the strongest condemnation yet of American intervention in Iraq, accusing the US of �wanting� a war and warning the Americans their actions will inevitably encourage more terrorism. The editorial, which, like all "Civilta Cattolica" editorials, was "vetted" by the Vatican's Secretariat of State prior to publication, says the Iraq war �is a wound and a humiliation for the entire Islamic world that, sooner or later, could be revenged through terrorist acts.� According to the editorial, the US has undermined the authority of the United Nations and by �affirming the principle of a �preventive� war� has sent world order �to pieces.� CarrieTomko@aol.com
CHRISTIAN ORDER, A ROMAN CATHOLIC PUBLICATION FROM THE UK, has an article up at their website titled "The Makings of Modern Society ~ Marx, Mammon, Molech and Masonry." The article, by Peter Grace, discusses the impact on western civ. of these four influences. The majority of the article, though, is devoted to discussing the last one. The article mentions false ecumenism, saying: "False ecumenism, which is perhaps the most deleterious of the false belief-systems undermining the doctrines and practice of the Roman Catholic Church, is part of the Masonic belief system." It indicates that the R.C.I.A. course promotes: "Masonic ideas injected into the official course of instruction for catechumens." What I found to be most insightful in the article is the 6-point description of the way that our society has changed. Citing a book by Nesta H. Webster titled Secret Societies, it says: "The other signs of Satan's attack on men mentioned by Nesta Webster, such as the attack on art and the reign of ugliness and disorder in self-expression, are all present in modern society. Here also there has been an escalation since 1960. There are six main areas of development since 1924: - The corruption of the young, e.g., drink and drugs. - The corruption of the media, particularly T.V., with its sex, violence and horror. - The corruption of music, the worst of which is Satanic. - The corruption of the graphic arts (painting, sculpture, etc.) and drama. - Feminism, which has assumed a dominant role in society. - The further corruption of reason and the predominance of feeling, at its worst as introduced into the educational system. Emphasis, however, remains on the Satanic assault on life. That includes, of course, the life of the soul, the supernatural life, and here Satan is at his most menacing. The remarkable thing about Webster's commentary is that it was written almost eighty years ago, yet it reflects perfectly the present state of our society, necessarily omitting those features which have developed in the intervening period of time. The most serious item she considers is the winning over of the Christian Intelligentsia. That Revolution, and we now suffer the tragic situation of having the Church divided into Roman Catholic and Newchurch, the latter based on the heretical teachings of the Modernist Intelligentsia, which ideas have been steadily injected into Christian thought, increasingly since about the middle of the 18th century, now permeating the life of the Church right down to parish level." CarrieTomko@aol.com
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
BLACK HEADED CARDINAL Does anyone out there in blogland have a black headed cardinal coming to a sunflower feeder? We have one here in northeast Ohio. It's been coming for a couple of weeks. The head is jet black, but the body is a normal cardinal's body, though it does seem slightly larger. It eats sunflower seeds and none of the other birds are afraid of it. I've never seen one like it before. The head looks a bit like a vulture's. The other cardinals look normal. Here is a picture of one that looks similar to it. CarrieTomko@aol.com
ROUND CATHOLIC CHURCHES which have appeared since Vatican II, according to Dennis L. Cuddy in the quote from The Daily Catholic cited below, "resemble circular churches of the Knights Templar who, in the early 14th Century, were found to be plotting against the Catholic Church and the thrones of Europe. The last Templar Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay, was executed for this by King Philip IV of France. DeMolay became the name of the Masonic teen organization." There is a Templar church in London, Temple Church which is round and has a number of effigies of knights in the floor. Here is another picture of it. A new Church for St. Mary's Catholic Community is an example of a round Catholic church. In addition to that the seating arrangement in many renovated churches is laid out in a circular pattern. Altars are positioned in the center of these patterns, frequently situated on a circular platform. The circular pattern appears quite frequently in modern church architecture. There is even a church with an altar within a labyrinth. Today a labyrinth is a new age/mystery school construction coming from the Veriditas Project at the S.F. Grace (Episcopal) Cathedral, though formerly it was a method of Christian "pilgrimmage". How strange it was, then, to discover the Wiccan practice of casting the circle or casting the corners as the beginning of their ceremonies. A circle is circumscribed on the floor. One circle provides an area of safety within the circle. Three circles provide the maximum safety. Once the circle has been drawn, a prayer is said in each of the four directions or corners, and a candle or pentacle is placed there. Here is another renovated cathedral, St. James in Seattle, Washington. There are three circles surrounding the altar, and seating is arranged to surround the altar as well. Coincidence? Symbolical? If so, of what? Notice also that the remodeled cathedral has a checkered floor. More about that later. ECUSA also is beginning to use a circular altar. It is a topic for discussion at their convention this summer. Reconciliation of viewpoints and community comes through worship and reflection as well as legislation. A first for convention will be a circular altar, a step that liturgical officer the Rev. Clayton Morris says springs from the morning Bible studies around tables. "It is a natural step, going from round-table discussions to a round altar." The altar also picks up on a symbol of native American spirituality, the Sacred Circle, and honors the host diocese of Minnesota that ordained the first Native American Episcopal priest, Enmegahbowh (pronounced En-ma-gah-bow). Native spirituality. Hmmm. Inculturation? Well, but this native spirituality is neither Christian nor typical of western culture, so borrowing this symbol for the mainstream in North America is problematic. It is mainstream spirituality for WICCA in America, however. So it becomes, for the vast majority, a matter of borrowing the Wiccan symbol but not bringing the Wiccans along with it. In essence that makes it a Pagan symbol within a Christian ritual. CarrieTomko@aol.com
BRUSSELS LEGISLATES DEMAND FOR EUTHANASIA in all hospitals--even the Catholic ones. 13 June 2003 BRUSSELS � The right to euthanasia must exist in all hospitals, negotiators forming Belgium's new government said Friday in a move to counter opposition by some Catholic hospitals that have allegedly refused to permit assisted suicide on their premises. CarrieTomko@aol.com
THANKS FOR SHARING, CDL. KASPER May They All Be One? But how? 24/05/2003 A Vision of Christian Unity for the Next Generation A speech given by Cardinal Walter Kasper from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor's website. CarrieTomko@aol.com
Monday, June 23, 2003
FROM THE DAILY CATHOLIC comes this story about Freemasonry in the Catholic Church, written by Dr. Dennis L. Cuddy. Cuddy is noted for his research on the New World Order. After the Second Vatican Council In the 1960s, increasing numbers of new Catholic churches were circular in design, characterized by some as resembling "theater-in-the-round." What they also resemble are the circular churches of the Knights Templar who, in the early 14th Century, were found to be plotting against the Catholic Church and the thrones of Europe. The last Templar Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay, was executed for this by King Philip IV of France. DeMolay became the name of the Masonic teen organization. ��� After the Second Vatican Council, many older churches were also remodeled, including Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, NC. It used to have a beautiful interior, but the altar was torn out, and the tabernacle placed off to the side. Where the tabernacle used to be was placed the bishop's chair. The placement looks similar to the setting for the Worshipful Master's chair in a Masonic Lodge. The only thing missing from the remodeled Cathedral seemed to be a higher back to the chair, a canopy over the chair, three steps up to the level on which the chair was placed, and a candle at either end of the table/altar. However, the Cathedral has been remodeled again about two years ago, and there is now a very high-backed chair, which has a canopy over it and two steps up to the level on which the chair is located, plus a candle on either side of the altar [the Masons also have an additional candle somewhat removed from and to the side of the table/altar]. ��� In the latest renovation, there were also stars on a blue background placed on the ceiling. In all of the Catholic churches around the world, such a ceiling has been rather rare. However, in The Deadly Deception: Freemasonry Exposed . . . by One of Its Top Leaders, by Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney, one reads, regarding the Temple of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite: "The ceiling is dark blue, with lights set into it to give the appearance of stars." ��� One might reflect at this point upon Alice A. Bailey's statement in The Rays and the Initiations that "The Sin of the Roman Catholic Church is its effort to dictate to people what they should think------theologically and politically." In Glamour: A World Problem she referred to "the New World religion now on its way to externalizing" and said that "The only ritual which is still regarded as of value to the human family as a whole------particular to the advanced person------is the Masonic Ritual." By "the advanced person," Bailey was referring to advanced New Agers, because she was perhaps the leading occultist of the first half of the 20th Century, and her works were first published by Lucifer Publishing. There is a lot more in the article. Alice Bailey really was published by Lucifer Publishing Company. I was able to obtain a copy of her book Initiation, Human and Solar through interlibrary load from Brigham Young University. It was a First Edition, copyright 1922, and attributed to "Lucifer Publishing Co., 135 Broadway, New York City. This is the same Alice A. Bailey whose teachings are the core of World Goodwill and New Group of World Servers. Note the URL for this website is "lucistrust." Bailey was a Theosophist who followed the teaching of H. P. Blavatsky. The Alchemical website called The Hermetic Observatory has this to say of Alice Bailey: One of the "seeds" to be nurtured by the NGWS [New Group of World Servers] during this transition period is the Science and Art of Right Observation. In the Alice A. Bailey's books this seed group is named the Group of Trained Observers and its mission is stated thus: "Later, when the new civilization is nearing appearance, these groups will have in them two key persons or points of energy through which the forces of Hermes and the will of the Christ will be focused, and through which They will be enabled to work. When this takes place the task of dissipating world glamour will be much more rapid than it is today. In the meantime groups of disciples can 'NURTURE and CONCEAL,' thus protecting from trouble the germ or seed of the new Aquarian culture and civilization along this particular line of FREEDOM." The Externalisation of the Hierarchy, p.39 [This book is Alice Bailey's.] I've already blogged pictures showing the similarities between new and remodeled Catholic churches and Masonic Lodges. I have more which I'll blog as time allows. CarrieTomko@aol.com
Sunday, June 22, 2003
LEE PENN SENT THE FOLLOWING REPORT--UNBELIEVABLE! Where is his bishop? Or if he is not under the juristiction of a bishop, where is the Jesuit General? Lee writes: A Jesuit artist - a priest - has broken through traditional barriers, using his art to honor the Cosmic Christ. He has broken free of the narrowness of the Tridentine-era Church, and revels in freedom, in line with the Spirit of the Council. Visit his web site and see what is to be seen. And read about his career and intent. In his autobiography, he says: AOL link: Rev. Dennis McNally, SJ Text URL: http://www.mcnallyscorpus.com/aboutme/index.asp?id=19 He says, "I wanted to love the Lord and do His work and be His friend. But the idea of becoming a Jesuit was due to the romantic revolution that occurred in my heart with the priests and scholastics (Jesuits in training) who taught me in high school. Their dignity, intelligence, and inquisitive kindness moved me to a deep conviction that the apostles had successors, men who loved and followed Jesus like I'd wanted to since littlehood." He adds: AOL link: Rev. Dennis McNally, SJ Text URL: http://www.mcnallyscorpus.com/painting/index.asp "However, my own particular art-historical interests have taken my mind and heart into the dark reaches of Mayan, Inca, and Aztec religious history. I have also found great comfort and challenge in thinking about Buddhist teachings as manifest in Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Tibetan literature and iconographic history. I am trying to plumb the depths of the Koran." If he has not seen that the Koran is against use of human imagery, he has not gone far into the "depths of the Koran." Anyway, he might be ready to be the artist for the United Religions Initiative. His art has been exhibited recently at a Catholic university. Read a review, done in a secular paper: AOL link: STLtoday - Entertainment - Visual Arts Text URL: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/Entertainment/Visual+Arts/AE6549115828C0E886256D4500158983?OpenDocument&Headline=St.+Louis+University+Museum+of+Art+should+do+penance+for+sinfully+bad+art Quote: "The Rev. Dennis McNally makes paintings that might look familiar if you've seen the erotically suggestive sculptures of nubile young men that dot the SLU campus. One work, "The Trinity," features Christ, his mother and St. John, a revision of Catholic dogma that might skirt heresy. According to the church, the Trinity represents the three personae - the father, the son and the holy ghost - that exist within one God. It is the central concept of the Catholic faith, and it does not include Mary or John, the feminist and homoerotic implications of their inclusion notwithstanding. The other McNally work is a Crucifixion, "After Cimabue," that might be more appropriate hanging in the antechamber of a sadomasochistic dungeon than on the walls of a Jesuit museum. The Rev. McNally shows a hunky Jesus clothed in a loose and surprisingly revealing loincloth." The rest of the review is delightfully scathing, and is worth reading, too. And do not forget that the pieces in question were recently on exhibit at the St. Louis University Museum of Art - and that the school is (allegedly) Catholic. If you want to see what the Jesuit priest paints, go here: AOL link: Rev. Fr. Dennis McNally, SJ Text URL: http://www.mcnallyscorpus.com/painting/imagesofdeity.asp?PageID=Trinities The paintings titled "Jesus and Me in the Sauna," "Creativity," and "Ceilings" show what someone can do when they worship the Cosmic Christ. (In The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, Fox quotes Shiva, "creator and destroyer of things" and "lord of the dance," as saying: "The phallos is identical with me. It draws my faithful to me and therefore must be worshipped;" Fox then says, "This is Cosmic Christ language." (pp. 29-30)) This is another way of saying that those pictures are graphic. Really graphic. Catholic blogmeister Mark Shea titled the link to the images, "Jesuits: Helping Me Keep My Blog "r" Rated." That says it all. Indeed, some of the art would be perfectly suited for a leather bar in San Francisco. And why settle for porn when you can have some heresy, too? AOL link: Rev. Dennis McNally, SJ Text URL: http://www.mcnallyscorpus.com/painting/Writings.asp?ID=6&Table=Table1 See, for instance, the "Feminine Trinity" image and the associated verses: "Feminine Trinity (a post modern byzantine painting) The ancient mother of the old agreement, The mother of the prophets, Waited until her dotage for a daughter.Who, when she came of age, Became God's chosen, And by the power of the Spirit, The Mother of God.Her Son's high calling Is a cause of concern For all those who love Him, Because He might well be hurt By the consequences of His answers." There is much, much more on his site - if you can stand it. Consider: 1. All this is done by a Jesuit priest, vowed to celibacy, after Jesuit formation. Where was his conscience? 2. Where was his confessor? 3. Where was his spiritual director? 4. Where was his superior? 5. Who decided to exhibit his stuff at a Catholic university? 6. Where was his bishop? Kyrie eleison. CarrieTomko@aol.com
