Defending the 12th century since the 14th; blogging since the 21st.

Catholicism, Conservatism, the Middle Ages, Opera, and Historical and Literary Objets d'Art blogged by a suburban dad who teaches law and writes stuff.


"Very fun." -- J. Bottum, Editor, FIRST THINGS

"Too modest" -- Elinor Dashwood

"Perhaps the wisest man on the Web" -- Henry Dieterich

"Hat tip: me (but really Cacciaguida)" -- Diana Feygin, Editor, THE YALE FREE PRESS

"You are my sire. You give me confidence to speak. You raise my heart so high that I am no more I." -- Dante

"Fabulous!"-- Warlock D.J. Prod of Didsbury

Who was Cacciaguida? See Dante's PARADISO, Cantos XV, XVI, & XVII.


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"Right Wins a Battle": Up in NY's far-north 23rd Congressional District, left vacant by long-time pro-life Republican James McHugh's agreement to become Secretary of the Army, and where local Republicans chose left-0f-Obama state Senator Dede Scozzafava as the GOP candidate to fill the seat in a special election next week, some dramatic news: it appears that Scozzafava has now dropped out, leaving the way clear for regular Republican voters to support Doug Hoffman, who was already mounting a strong campaign on the Conservative Party line.
posted by Cacciaguida at 9:40 PM

 


Cardinal Peter Turkson, Bishop of Ghana


Phil Lawler says "Cardinal Turkson: one to watch." In the good sense, that is. (I mean, Cardinal Kasper is "one to watch" too -- with a listening device and a butterfly net.) And John Allen says "Ghanaian cardinal destined to be an ecclesiastical star."

God grant Pope Benedict many years -- fifteen more wouldn't be too much to ask -- but a Next Pope is gonna happen sometime, and it may as well be a dynamically orthodox African! (And no, Arinze is way too old, and besides, while he was for counter-reforming the O.F., I don't get the impression he ever gave two hoots about the E.F.)
posted by Cacciaguida at 5:04 PM

 
An American Eastern Orthodox writer objects to the current Ecumenical Patriarch's equivocal stance on abortion. "Equivocal" is the charitable way to put it; "pro-choice" might be more accurate.
posted by Cacciaguida at 3:21 PM

 

see more Epic Fails
posted by Cacciaguida at 9:36 PM

 
Vatican in Bold Bid to Attract Anglicans!

Ignatius Insight explains the "personal ordinariate" concept. Apparently this will be "like the military vicariates" (and therefore not -- in case anyone was wondering -- the second personal prelature).

Commentary: Fr. Dwight Longenecker (ex-Ang); Damien Thompson, of The Daily Telegraph: Pope Opens Gates of Rome to Disaffected Anglicans; The Times (London): Anglican clergy in London and Yorkshire queuing up. John Allen catches Cardinal Kasper saying, pre-announcement, "We are not fishing in the Anglican lake." Nice being in the loop, isn't it, Friendly Ghost? The "bishop" of something called ANiC (Anglican Network in Canada; no, I haven't heard of it either) says: "I need not become a Roman Catholic to be a Catholic Christian. As an Anglican, I am a Catholic Christian." And I'm a tree; have fun. Fr. Z. posts, and comments on, the estimable ex-Anglican Fr. Rutler's commentary.

Robert Moynihan, fellow Yale grad student and indefatigable Inside the Vatican editor, explains it all, tempting your appetite with:

Rome is hoping to reunite with all those elements of the Anglican Church which still feel a deep connection with Rome and with the Catholic faith -- and is willing to take considerable pains to make those Anglicans feel comfortable when they "come over to Rome."

That is what is happening.

And quite a few people don't want that to happen....

And finally, an editorial page writer in Kansas City:

Seems as though it may be just as likely that the move to pack the Catholic church with even more conservatives just might send more liberal members of the flock looking for the nearest Episcopal sanctuary.

Ya think?
posted by Cacciaguida at 5:40 PM

 
Latest SSPX non-news: iPope still iNtransigent. I still say the Holy Father is way too patient with these people (though obviously some of the fruits of the effort have been worthwhile, Summorum Pontificium-wise). Wake me whenever.
posted by Cacciaguida at 9:02 PM

 
CAIR (you know who they are) placing interns to spy in Hill offices?
posted by Cacciaguida at 8:54 PM

 
Notre Dame student-activity fund dispenses $$ for students to participate in DC gay rights march. "They haven't always been supportive of us in the past, but we're thrilled."
posted by Cacciaguida at 5:58 PM

 
Phantom sequel? I'm not optimistic. Please, Lord L.W., prove me wrong. (And please, Your Majesty, ixnay these life peerages for figures from the entertainment world: knighthoods are quite enough, and "Sir Andrew" was much more fitting that "Lord Lloyd Webber.")
posted by Cacciaguida at 11:23 AM