Free Republic

I have to start this post with a loud groan. Ya see, I'm a little biased because I, like a lot of people, don't like clowns. I'm not scared of them. I just have a severe dislike for them. What's to like? They wear ill-fitting clothes, get a kick out of annoying people and constantly invade personal space. Sorry, but when I see a clown, I don't think about holy things. Instead, my mind is flooded with thoughts of Pennywise, John Wayne Gacy and I.C.P. No thanks. They all give me the creeps. So, while the subject of "Christian clowning"...

Sometimes... you just gotta laugh at how good life can be. Thank God for dogs. (Great pic at the link)

As we've talked about before, Catholic comes from a Greek word which means "universal," "complete" or "of the whole." As in "spread throughout the whole entire world" - just as Christ intended. Need proof? Well, lets think, for just a minute, about the Church's calendar for today. Just today. On the modern calendar, today is the memorial of St. Andrew Kim and Paul Chong and companions. These were some of the most important leaders and martyrs for the Catholic Faith in Korea.  But that's not all. Today is also for the feast day for over a dozen other lesser-known...

In a relentless effort to find a silver lining in the dark cloud that passes (in some aging circles) for "relevance", we here at Southern-fried Catholicism hang our heads low and , once again, highlight some ridiculously low points in Christian art, architecture and culture. We hope you enjoy these forehead smackingly sad examples of Christians trying their darndest to be "with it." Today, we present to you the Top Five Worst Christian Puppet Ideas. Ever.

The topic for this week's session of Good Cheer is "praying in college." Praying regularly is something that we have to plan for and work into our busy schedules. We can always help each other out with suggestions and tips on praying. So, how do you pray? Where do you pray? What are your favorite prayers? What are your tips for praying with a busy schedule? Leave your answers in the comments. Feel free to do so anonymously.

When it comes to Christian art and culture, it's sometimes embarrassing to admit how far we've drifted over these past few decades from our age-old emphasis on "timelessness" and "organic development." Nevertheless, in an effort to find the silver lining in the dark cloud that passes (in some aging circles) for "relevance", we here at Southern-fried Catholicism hang our heads low and would like to take this opportunity to highlight some ridiculously low points in Christian art, architecture and culture in a new series we're calling "Christian Cheese." We hope you enjoy forehead smackingly sad examples of Christians trying their...

WHEATON, Ill. — Theological conservatives upset by the liberal views of the Episcopal Church are forming a rival denomination. The new Anglican Church in North America will include four Episcopal dioceses that recently split from the U.S. church, along with breakaway Anglican parishes from Canada. The announcement Wednesday in Wheaton, Ill., comes after decades of debate over what Episcopalians should believe about issues ranging from salvation to sexuality. Tensions erupted in 2003 when Episcopalians consecrated the first openly gay bishop. The world Anglican Communion is a fellowship of churches with roots in the Church of England. The Episcopal Church is...

Bishop congratulates president-elect By Bishop Joseph N. Latino As Bishop of the Diocese of Jackson, I offer my sincere congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama. Through our democratic process, our country has chosen him to lead our nation in a world filled with uncertainty and strife, but it is also a world full of hope for a better future for our children. President-elect Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of our country at a time when we as a nation are facing dangerous and trying times. Loss of jobs for many; increasing cost of living; nation and world experiencing disastrous economic...

"In five cities around the country, 25 Roman Catholics were recently asked about what they hope to hear from Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the United States. They spoke about their concerns for their church, both locally and globally."

November 19, 2007 Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairmen of the non-partisan, non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates ("CPD" or "the Commission") today announced dates, sites and formats of three presidential and one vice presidential debates for the 2008 general election. The dates and sites are: First presidential debate: Friday, September 26 University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS Vice presidential debate: Thursday, October 2 Washington University in St. Louis, MO Second presidential debate: Tuesday, October 7 Belmont University, Nashville, TN Third presidential debate: Wednesday, October 15 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY The two backup sites are Centre College in...

The University of Mississippi has been selected to host the first CPD presidential debate, according to an anonymous (but definitely reliable) university official. Just thought y'all may like to know early. Has anyone heard of any other definite site selections? The "official" announcement by the CPD is slated for some time today.

The number of women who became priests in the Church of England outnumbered men last year for the first time since the church began ordaining women. ... In a separate [but, dare I say, related?] set of statistics, the Church confirmed provisional figures from January showing average Sunday attendances fell below a million for the first time in 2005 to 988,000.

Laity empowered by a supposed priest shortage. The argument is flawed. The proportion of priests to people has detiorated a bit in the last forty years but nothing like as much as the proponents of lay involvement would have you believe.

Do we really want to go back? Dear Editor Lex Grandi, Lex Credendi. “Have you ‘heard’ Mass lately?” In recent months I have seen reports of a move in the church to make the Mass of Pope Pius V (Tridentine Mass) more available to the laity. This would include returning to the Mass being “said” by the priest with his back to the people. A recent article on this subject in the Tupelo paper, the Daily Journal, quoted one lay woman who attends this Mass describe the priest as the pilot and the laity as passengers. She said she would...

It seems Rocco has released commentary and lots of quotes re: THE Motu Propio. If anyone knows more and/or can point us in the direction of the full text, it'd be great.

"A man tried to jump into Pope Benedict XVI's uncovered popemobile as the pontiff began his general audience Wednesday in St. Peter's Square and was wrestled to the ground by security officers. The pope was not hurt and didn't even appear to notice that the man had jumped over the protective barricade in the square and toward the white popemobile as it drove by with the pope waving to the audience."

"A bill that would have given college students and employees the right to carry handguns on campus died with nary a shot being fired in the General Assembly." "Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. 'I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus.'" Ouch. Here's a link to the full story: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-50658

The keynote speaker was Rev. Jacqueline Luck, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson. The title of her presentation was “Without Vision the People Will Perish.” .... “Mississippi is the most dangerous place in the United States for women and children,” she said, “...How can we not commit to do what we can?” .... In closing the celebration, Bishop Latino told the audience that in order to be a visionary, one has to see what others can not, or refuse to see.

The keynote speaker was Rev. Jacqueline Luck, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson. The title of her presentation was “Without Vision the People Will Perish.” .... “Mississippi is the most dangerous place in the United States for women and children,” she said, “...How can we not commit to do what we can?” .... In closing the celebration, Bishop Latino told the audience that in order to be a visionary, one has to see what others can not, or refuse to see.