a voice from the rustbelt

Paul pot

2012-01-24T12:01:00.002-05:00

Ron Paul says, "...prohibition of anything doesn't work. The only thing we should prohibit is violence."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHS6tk0IBdQ&feature=player_embedded

part I: utilitarian
part II: peacenik

I do not respect libertarianism, it is mere license of self-interest [a Christian can not be a libertarian]. The second sentence might suggest that Paul sees some deficiencies in that programme. It is also possible, that, he just stumbled into the right.

Yes, there are several social justice issues concerning black market dope. Yes on the demand side punishments, but on the supply side too. There is a criminalisation of society. The drug bandit lords cheapen life through violence focused, sporadic, and demonically gleeful. There is blood on the dope.

Here in America, it is apparent in the courts and prisons, too much time and money is spent on this. Enforcement is weighted on the urban, non-white poor. As with everything here, the richer, and more socially respected the class, and ethnic markers of the user and/or suspect are, the less of the weight of the system comes down on him. The burden of guilt is not weighed on the same scale. The police and the courts have taken the power given to them, and expanded upon them, and in direct proportion have reduced freedoms of the citizenry.

Much of the drugs are imported. In the 1970s, the herbicide, paraquat, was sprayed in Mexico by the US on marijuana fields. Paraquat is toxic to people, and a fear developed in potential users of marijuana of smoking this added chemical. Domestic cultivation avoided this dread. Agricultural, and horticultural study and experimentation produced stronger dope.

The smuggled dope trade, cocaine and marijuana prominently, has recovered in Mexico, Columbia and other countries. The bandits have escalated in their criminality and power, becoming murderous terrorists. With their dope profits, they can buy American arms and ammunition, which they use freely. They have become more fearsome. They have destabilised governments. There is a growing death count.

Émigré Latinos involved in drug gangs, in the United States, have returned to their homelands as more dangerous individuals. The criminal brutality they have engaged in, they employ back home.

Of course, with different drugs of choice, there are different pathologies, different levels desperation and their corresponding ravages to the user, and society. Morphine and the opiates derived from the opium poppy are a great cash crop in Afghanistan. That money buys many deaths too. A jonesing addict in America may commit any number of crimes to procure his fix. Not every manufacturer is a careful chemist.

Those pushing for legalisation are interested in their recreation, not agrarian peace abroad, or urban stability at home. That joyful puff of smoke the enthusiast inhales, or the powder one snorts may have caused someone's torturous death, while enriching a monster. A moral dope imbiber would abstain from these blood products. The person who would see this in this light is quite rare.

Now, the black market is a free market; unless one considers economic justice. The United States enjoys free market dope. Such dope legalised, is governable, therefore regulated. Such a market would decrease prices, murders, crimes, terrorism, corruption, and other injustices and tragedies. It would increase legal employment (outside the arms industry), and taxation in the US. It would be beneficial for peace abroad. The world caters to the American market in these commodities, as in others.

Those wanting legalisation are interested in their convenience. They want to be free in using (some in marketing) these products. It should be remembered, that these products once were unrestricted, and therefore legal. Their re-legalisation, even for the selfish reasons [there are medicinal usages for marijuana, at least], will be an exercise in justice.

Hypocrisy, thy name is Republican

2012-01-17T15:47:00.015-05:00

What an ugly group the Republican party is. Glancing at just a few of the stories to-day, is to see who they are:

Georgia lawmaker [Kip Smith] who sponsored welfare drug testing bill arrested for DUI. See here, and here.

Punish the poor [hint the Negroes], assume their depravity, have them tested for morality, sobriety...and maybe we will give them some of OUR money.

But we ignore that, because they are so 100% pro-life. See, here. Well, that is the candidate's wife, so that is not an appropriate attack.

Then there is the amiability of the rank and file:
GOP debate audience boos Romney’s Mexican heritage

The audience later booed again when Williams asked if former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had “belittled the poor and racial minorities” by declaring that black Americans should demand jobs, not foodstamps.
Audiences at other GOP debates have booed a gay soldier, cheered the death penalty and cheered child labor.

Also they booed Ron Paul.

One writer writes:

Cranky old Ron Paul was still at it and the audience booed him when he said he wanted to apply the golden rule to foreign policy: "Don't do to other nations what we don't want them to do to us." One might think people in South Carolina wouldn't boo a principle Jesus espoused, but one would be wrong. If Paul would stop talking about foreign policy and just hone in on his economic views, he might be a serious candidate, but he won't so he isn't.

Remember, yesterday's 'debate' was held on Martin L. King Day. Here is a clip on this question:

How Fox News would have covered MLK

Of course that is speculation, but its probability is very much assured. This is one day's hand dipping through the scum on top of the pond. What is undeniable about the Republican party is the absolute meanness, of it. We all know, they ARE the party of wealth. We have seen Gingrich, Perry and others told to shut up in criticising Romney's capitalism. The party does not want anyone of their boys sounding like a democrat. The party has no problem with their members sounding like racists, xenophobes, hate mongers, blood thirsty militarists, and heartless, vicious bastards. They allow all those statements, and deny their meaning.

Diocese is overseeing maintenance

2012-01-15T21:20:00.005-05:00

The parish of St. Casimir, Cleveland, met again [as they have for more than an hundred years] for Sunday services. They have been in street exile, now into the third year.

SUMMARY OF CLOSED PARISH CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
Parish: St. Casimir Parish, Cleveland
Status: Since the time of the closing, the parish’s cash and religious items are being held in custody. The Diocese is overseeing any incidental operations or maintenance issues at the closed facilities. The closing of the parish is under appeal to the Vatican. No disposition or other activities will occur until the appeal has been completely addressed by the Vatican.

The diocese has their money "in custody". The diocese had some one plough the driveway between church, hall, and school. They had to open the gate, but a path was cleared to remove an inch of snow. As in their full and complete transparent statement [quoted above in its entirety], they are diligently "overseeing any incidental operations or maintenance issues at the closed facilities".
One of the Casimiri shovels the worship site before the weekly service. This is not overseen by the diocese.
Now, this is a Polish parish. It is after Epiphany. They are looking at their sheets for the next Christmas carol to sing. Much of the Church stops caroling on Epiphany, general American society stops on Christmas Day; but the spiritually enthusiastic can stretch it to Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday), and this why the colors of Mardi Gras are: gold, purple and green. The colors of the gifts of the Magi (the Three King) gold--gold, frankincense--purple, and myrrh--green.

What happens when the money doesn't come

2012-01-14T15:36:00.004-05:00

Saint Patrick's in Thompson of Geauga County experienced something interesting. Often, what is interesting is not good. This Saint Patrick's was the first Catholic parish in the county. Now Lennon, had not closed a parish in five of the eight remaining counties in the diocese. So, most residents of Geauga, and the other four counties, were aloof and disinterested. Well, Lennon temporarily shut down the parish.

The parish pre-dates the War for Union. Priests came the cathedral, or Ashtabula, or Painesville to say an occasional Mass. People gathered in homes for services. The parish was established in 1853, and its first church built in 1854 [slightly confusing, St.Patrick in Ohio City (now Cleveland) also began at this time]. Over several years, it changed status between a mission church of St. Mary, Painesville, and as independent parish, and a mission church of St. Mary, Chardon.

We must know that Richard Lennon is a tyrant of an autocrat, and enjoys collecting money. In co-ordination with the rummage sales of parishes, there is a further shakedown campaign. This capital campaign is being brought about in stages. Lennon will be in Rome at the beginning of February to present himself. What kind of present will he give?

Back to the far corner of Geauga. The pastor was not pushing the campaign. Beyond that, he refused to furnish phone numbers of possible donors. He has been removed from the parish, officially 5 December 2011. For a time, no Masses were said at St. Patrick's. People were free to go elsewhere. Now, the Chardon pastor will administrate the Thompson unit. Yes, Lennon is ruthless.

oo---ooo---oo---ooo---oo---ooo---oo---ooo---oo

Now, to give Lennon some positive credit: there has been instances, in which, the bishop has been enforcing celibacy on some of those whom take a vow of celibacy. Lennon will not release the names of past perverts, but he is attempting to squelch certain sordid affairs. Some priests, on their days off, do foul things. Some priests have not been staying overnight in the rectories. They have been told to do so. Still, there are those who have not straightened up; and should not have been ordained, or even allowed in seminary.

Diocesan flimflam

2012-01-12T01:56:00.006-05:00

Lennon, Tayek, Gulick talk of full transparency that will end all questions and conversation concerning parish closures. I wanted to respond since the degree of interest in detail, and knowledge of the subject appeared scant, and was coupled by temerity in voicing inquisitiveness. We have to remember in Cleveland, television 'investigative reporters' are sent to the East Side to discover how much snow sits upon the roads, and highways in a winter remarkably devoid of snow.

The venue of the 'news conference' was St. Hedwig's, Lakewood. It took place Monday the Ninth. Now, that parish Lennon forced into extinction. They had more than a million dollars in the bank, this was not mentioned. It should have been.

The programme was similar to an auto show, in which automobile executives and spokesmen prattle on, and the reporters politely, and cheerfully present the same statements as reports to their audiences. I wondered what to entitle this wee essay. I had considered: Misdirection; or Disinformation Continues; or Here is my statement, now shut up and go home. Then a few minutes ago, the word, 'flimflam', arrived and presented itself in my thoughts.

Och, it was promised for January, and it did come in January, but with less than a day's notice of time and place. The coloring of the scene was quite artful, as was some hair dye. The church has been repurposed into a museum, and the school adjacent to a cosmetic enterprise. The deeds to the properties include restrictions, as they admit; one restriction they did not furnish in their statements, was a prohibition of using the church for Catholic services.

In Holy Russia the bolševiki repurposed many a church. Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg became a Museum of Religion and Atheism. That was a better fate than Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow which was exploded.

Lennon has tightly circumscribed the universe of areas of discussion, and then presents some of that; and that is supposed to be complete? Lennon wants it to be called closed. In the first week of February he is to give a report on all his Cleveland doings in Rome to Benedict and the curia. Things are not so tidy.

"To some extent, you can be very sad about it, but the utilities have to be paid". What an interesting sentence. He allows for painful emotion, to a degree, but that is trumped by a supposed water bill, and a gas bill, and an electric bill. It is dismissive, and dishonest. Plenty of parishes had no outstanding bills, and were closed. Those who had outstanding debt, had debt to the diocese in the form of past assessments [many formerly forgiven]. 'Assessment' is the euphemism for those taxes the bishop requires of parishes. Cleveland has the highest rate of bishop's taxation on the continent. The parishes are not in debt, the diocese is.

A statement was produced that none of this money from parish property sales goes to pay for scandal settlements. Complete piffle. It is shifting of funds. The diocese collects income in many forms. This fire sale of parish goods brings money. Other avenues produce cash. So, the money that is paid for scandal comes from the other avenues, and this money then replenishes some of the diminished kitty. While it maybe true in a casuistic sense, it is not really true.

James Gulick, financial officer, says a true statement and applies it for something else. "Parish money is just that - parish money". What he does not say, is that the bishop's office gets to play with it. "You'll see in our report that once the debts and expenses of the closed parishes are addressed, the money left over is reinvested in existing parishes".

Lennon says, “We are committed to having strong parishes. We are committed to good stewardship of our resources and we are transparent in what we are doing with the assets and the sales of the parishes that have closed”. This is also the fellow that used to talk about 'vibrant' parishes, and could not define vibrant. The transparency is not there.

Here is the transparency given of one parish; and of the 52 files for 53 parishes made public, 27 are of similar length and transparency:

SUMMARY OF CLOSED PARISH CASH RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS

Parish: St. Lawrence Parish, Cleveland

Status: St. Lawrence Parish was a personal parish serving the Catholic Slovenian community in Cleveland prior to its closing. Since the time of closing, the parish’s cash is being held in custody. The Diocese is overseeing any incidental operating or maintenance issues at the closed facilities. The parish property is presently listed for sale and a full accounting of the finances will be published following the sale.

Now, on this site http://www.ccdsales.org/index.php St. Lawrence is not listed*. I do not know when, if ever, a real estate sign was on the property. I do know 12 windows had the ransom paid (c. $25,000) by another parish, that many of the parishioners, sometimes, attend. A check for c. $550,000 was given to the bishop's office when the congregation was evicted. There, i have given more information than Lennon, and the press have on one parish; and i have details of more parishes.

The diocese is paying maintenance on the parish properties, and deducts that from the amount collected. If the parish was open, those diocesan payments would be zero. There are too few figures, and they are not all applicable to listed reasons, and listed reasons are not applicable to reality.

Lennon says (often), "I closed my own parish back in Boston, and it was the church that my grandfather built, where I made my first communion, where I buried my parents, where I said my first mass". Well, that may all be true. He made that decision, not the parishioners here. If he is fine with it, that is one matter; the parishioners here are not fine with the closures here, and that is another matter.

The numbers are too few. There were 231 parishes when Lennon came. There is far less than 231 pages presented. It was admitted 14 parishes have appeals pending with Rome. A list was not given. Reading the documents, 13 were apparent. One reporter states 54 church closures were accounted for (the press, and the chancery never made that high number before — there were 58 parishes closed): 26 sold, 14 for sale, 14 on appeal; but one on appeal (St. Martha was open as Blessed Trinity, which was one of his 5 examples of successful transitions in his 8 minute speech) was not closed. Reading the files, 13 are of them were for sale. On page 1, of a 4 page handout available at many weekend Masses, there was a picture of Lennon with the repurposed doors of St. Catharine's (the church was demolished late September). St. Catharine's did not have a file. The Community of St. Malachi had no real estate, nor file. Still the numbers of parishes closed is not transparent, certainly not consistent!

The exercise that was Monday's 'press conference' was staged to 'show' everything is fine here, now get along there is nothing to see. The bishops of Ohio, and Michigan will report to Rome February 1st. They will be there for their first ad limina visit to see Pope Benedict XVI. These are supposed to be quinquennial reports of each diocese to the Holy See. Benedict has been pope since 2005, this is his first time seeing American bishops for this. The last time Ohio bishops went was in 2004. Ad limina apostolorum is to the threshold of the apostles. The bishops come to pray at the tombs of Peter, and Paul. They come to meet, and explain, and present to the current Pope the state of the local dioceses.

While Lennon was destroying parishes that were created to be perpetual, and this point is the point, and it is not publicly spoken, he was trying to simultaneously raise capital. That drive was delayed, and delayed, and the goal was reduced.

We have seen a ruthless drive to exercise power, and gather money. We have seen little public accountability. We have seen anyone critical of this maligned, or sent away. We have seen terrible pastorship at the episcopal level. We have seen few questions answered. We have seen all this denied.

Lennon was asked about the criticism he received, he says, he believes some of it was "unfair". He defends himself with they "don't have the information that I do have". He could tell us, we have asked; but that would be sort of like 'transparency'. Perhaps, he is just self-pitying. He does realise the source of his flock's displeasure, they have "very strong, religious feelings about what they lost". Finally, a recognition of reality. Still there are things he doesn't see about Lorain, Summit, and Cuyahoga counties of Ohio — Geography. He showed in this well rehearsed farce in answering a question, which he, in part repeated bits of his stump sermon of Eviction, but with an inability to recognise the country we come from is called the Mid(dle) West.
_____________________________
*In the print copy of Tuesday's Cleveland Plain Dealer, there is a note, that there is a sale pending on St. Lawrence, and on the vacant lot where St. Andrew Svorad had recently been [E.51 and Superior].

Write your Nuncio

2012-01-11T12:29:00.003-05:00

The bishops of Ohio and Michigan will report to Rome February 1st. This includes Cleveland's. It may benefit the Faithful for some letters to be read in Rome before that day. We all must know, that, Monday's 'press conference' was staged to 'show' everything is fine here, now get along there is nothing to see.

The papal nuncio is the Vatican's ambassador to a country. It seems, the Vatican (Rome, and the papal bureaucracy) prefers letters to be sent to the nuncio, and he will forward them in a diplomatic pouch. Some could write a letter to him, or send letter(s) to (a) curia chief(s) in another envelope to him. You may send the same message in open envelopes to different recipients, within the outer envelope to the nuncio.

Apostolic Nuncio
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano
The Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC. 20008

Other individuals that might be the addressees inside this outer envelope are:

#1
Benedict XVI
(contact Benedict through his Secretary of State: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Ask that Bertone please bring this matter to the attention of the Pope)

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
00120 Vatican City State
Europe

#2
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect
Congregation for Bishops
Palazzo della Congregazioni
00193 Roma, Piazza Pio, 10

#3
Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Prefect
Congregation for the Clergy
Palazzo delle Congregazioni
00193 Roma, Piazza Pio XII, 3

#4
Cardinal William J. Levada. Prefect
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Piazza del Uffizio II
00193 Rome, Italy

#5
Cardinal Raymond L. Burke
Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura
Palazzo della Cancelleria
00186 Roma, Piaza della Cancelleria, 1

Diocesan document dump

2012-01-08T23:11:00.009-05:00

To-day (Sunday), it was announced by some of the local press, that there will be an event at the closed Saint Hedwig's of Lakewood to-morrow at 10.30 a.m.. Hedwig's is now a museum. The diocese will make a presentation of a financial report concerning the disposition of certain parish properties.

At some time perhaps, to-day, perhaps earlier? documents were available on the diocesan website. The diocesan document dump admits to 14 parishes appealing. In reading several different pages, 13 were to be ascertained. In addition to those parish churches closed, St. Martha's Akron is under appeal, it is currently open as part of one of the two mergers Lennon has named 'Blessed Trinity'. This is interesting, Lennon in speaking 7 September 2010, at the parish hall of St. Martha, repeatedly mentioned "fourteen parishes" appealing. Never did he intimate, that, he was speaking at one.

St. Adalbert Parish, Cleveland
St. Barbara Parish, Cleveland
St. Casimir Parish, Cleveland
St. Emeric Parish, Cleveland
St. James Parish, Lakewood

St. John the Baptist Parish, Akron
St. Margaret Mary Parish, South Euclid
St. Martha Parish, Akron
St. Mary Parish, Akron
St. Mary, Lorain *

St. Mary Parish, Bedford
St. Patrick Parish (West Park), Cleveland
St. Peter Parish, Cleveland
St. Wendelin Parish, Cleveland

Still no confirmation of the 14^th parish. St. Martha is 'merged' with Christ the King, Croat. Its campus is the 'new' parish's site, and its church is open.
____________________________________
*Postscriptum: the 14th parish is St. Mary, Lorain. The 'parish file' has not been included by the diocese on their webpage. It was printed in, at least, the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Tuesday the 10^th. I was late in seeing a paper copy. St. Mary, Lorain 'merged' with Holy Trinity. Its campus is the 'new' parish's site, and its church is open. This was information that the Diocese has refused to give, until after this post was on-line (before this postscript).

a presidential political assessment

2012-01-04T17:30:00.016-05:00

The current situation, confirmed by yesterday's preliminary round of voting set me to analyse. First, if you are pro-Republican party--do not read this. It will disturb you, and have you hurl invective towards me. [an aside: very few read my essays, some who may enjoy some of these essays in the past, get very upset with my writing on party politics; so, again you may be offended] Now, the Republican party, and its most fervent followers, are not a normal political party. They are both crazy, and fascist. They have passed the point of sanity into madness.

gwbjr was wretched. No Republican mentions his name now [he who must not be named]. Somehow, President Obama succeeded President Clinton without an interval. Well, in legal elections anyhow. The presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 were stolen. Instead, of being remorseful of the absolutely wretched usurpation, the Republicans were incensed that the Democrats won handily in 2008.

President Barack Obama was a Democratic winner, and incidentally not a pure Caucasian. The Republican subversion campaign began immediately. Election day 2010 it was very successful. By January 2011, parts of the country were experiencing 'buyer's remorse'. The malevolent clown car circus, which the Republican party has become, was not phased. They were outdoing each other in crazy.

Romney is the Republican nominee for their party in 2012. This was apparent in 2008. For a time, it was possible to conceive a Palin nomination. After her nomination for Vice-President, and the fanatical reception she enjoyed, that, quickly overshadowed the top half of the ticket (John McCain), it seemed it was a two candidate race. But she decided to be an half term governor, and only on occasion came out to display herself. She was not going to run in 2012, or perhaps ever. Romney clinched. The coronation will not come early.

The Republican party is not a conservative party. Republicans complain that Romney is not 'conservative'. They have changed the meaning. 'Conservative' is now a form of insanity.

I, as a democrat, am not satisfied with Barack Obama. He is what used to be a moderate Republican of the 1950s. The day after he was elected, the teabagger movement began. Those teabaggers old enough had been John Birchers. John Birchers were in this way 'conservative', they thought the moderate Republican president, Dwight David Eisenhower, was a communist.

As we have seen, the Republican contenders for the presidency are: Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, and several non-Romney 'conservatives'. Jon Huntsman is roughly what a 'conservative' used to be before Reagan. Ron Paul will never be chosen as the Republican nominee for his sane ideas (marijuana legalisation, anti-war beliefs, smaller military and international involvement, and anti-Zionist positions).

So, we have Romney (who will agree to any position verbally, and perhaps otherwise) who wants to be president, and the clown car. Donald Trump, and Herman Cain have already fallen out of the car.

Here are last nights results (unofficial):

Iowa Republican Caucus -- County level
(1st of 4 levels for 25 delegates National Convention)

Name	Votes	%
Mitt Romney	30,015	24.55%
Rick Santorum	30,007	24.54%
Ron Paul	26,219	21.45%
Newt Gingrich	16,251	13.29%
Rick Perry	12,604	10.31%
Michelle Bachmann	6,073	4.97%
Jon Huntsman	745	0.61%
No preference	135	0.11%
Other	117	0.10%
Herman Cain_______ Buddy Roemer	58 31	0.05%_ 0.03%

Romney comes eight (8) votes* ahead of the latest leading non-Romney (Santorum). [I am only slightly surprised, that, a recount was not demanded.] Rick Santorum was the last remaining non-Romney candidate. Ron Paul is a close third. The remaining non-Romneys are big losers, and 'Newtie' is extremely angry. Gingrich may stay in the race just to spite Romney. Obama wins both party caucuses in Iowa. Barack Obama went to sleep last night, after saying, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus."

After some cogitation, upon the domestic political scene, i am satisfied with some answers, so that, i can propose a two-part question: In November 2020, the Democratic incumbent will have a candidate from what chief anti-Democratic party as the main opponent for the presidency?

In the history of the United States there has always been the Democratic Party of Jefferson, whatever name it has at the time. Almost always there is an anti-Democratic party, sometimes two. There has been the Tories, Federalists, National Republicans, Whigs, Know-Nothings, Republicans.

The tendency over several elections is he who is second for an open Republican nomination in year x, is the nominee in x + 4. The current Republican party and its contenders will lead to:

in 2012 Obama defeating Romney, Ron Paul may also lead a ticket but not the Republican;
in 2016 the usual Republican nominee formula probably becomes meaningless, because that individual is unelectable;
in 2016 Democrat somebody beats Republican somebody;
if the Republican party does not split by 2016, it may by 2020 if it has not achieved sanity.
in 2020 the Democratic incumbent will face competition from a main anti-Democratic party, which will be named __________ [TBA].

___________________________

*In 2008 Romney had six (6) more votes @ 30,021 for 25.19% and second place. Perhaps, overall Republican enthusiasm is less than described.
Postscriptum: 19 January 2012. Certified totals, show Santorum in first place. Republican party bosses, do not wish to change Romney's rank, call it a tie.

Rick Santorum – Final total: 29,839
Mitt Romney – Final total: 29,805

...and there were twelve

2012-01-02T00:01:00.004-05:00

Do you notice anything novel of the stained glass senestre? The figure is viewed from behind, only his head is turned a wee bit. In his hand is a full purse of coin. Further down, at his feet, is a serpent.

This is not the only window in the room. There are other glass portraits. There are those of Joseph the Carpenter, Peter the Janitor, and Andrew the Fisherman. The room is the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at St. Gregory's, South Euclid, Ohio. The other windows in the room are of John, James the Less, and Saint Jude.

This room is quiet. Jesus resides in the tabernacle in the room. He does not demand silence. Mass can be said in the room, but mostly the people who come are silent, and would be upset with those whom are not.

Catholics are given to all sorts of iconic reminders. The visual representation lends one to center the mind, and in prayer, and in contemplation it is helpful to many.

There is a second room with seven other windows. Six more of 'the Twelve' and Mary, Virgin Mother of Jesus, and spouse of Joseph.

And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles): Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, And Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor. — Luke vi. 13-16.

Now, Jesus in choosing these particular men from his disciples [Latin: discipulus, one who learns, from discere, to learn], those students, for Jesus was a teacher, a rabbi, were to become teachers, emissaries, and leaders. They were the first bishops.

Matthew ends his list of the twelve [x.4b]: "and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him." When Mark [iii. 19] lists the twelve, he concludes "And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him." John [vi. 71-72] writes, Jesus answered them: Have not I chosen you twelve; and one of you is a devil? Now he meant Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for this same was about to betray him, whereas he was one of the twelve.

It is consistent. There are the twelve. Judas Iscariot is always clearly named as one of the twelve. He is always identified as a betrayer, a traitor. Jesus chose Judas Iscariot as one of his original bishops. We have always had bad bishops, and not just a little bad.

and the glass has identification, Judas Iscariot
what thoughts come to mind when this is glanced upon?

Christmas lexicon: opłatek

2012-01-01T20:53:00.009-05:00

To-day's word is 'opłatek', plural opłatki. Opłatki are Christmas wafers. Some centuries ago, when Poland was large, larger in area than any European state, the custom began inside the family at the Christmas Eve table. It has crossed the ocean sea, and entered the streets of America.Some few years ago, the Cleveland diocese had many more parishes. One of those parishes that have been wrecked, and cast to the street, has maintained an integrity of community. Saint Casimir comes together as an unit of Jesus Christ, every week before noon Sunday. On the first day of 2012, on the warmest part of the day 50°F (10°C), the Casimiri broke opłatki. It was their third year to do so on East 82^nd Street.
They battled the cellophane. One fellow had scissors, the plastic wrap had been roughly undone a second earlier. The wafers are oblong, and the size of an envelope. It is not unusual to find one mailed with a Christmas card. Eucharistic wafers are much smaller, and round, but of the same manufacture. They are usually embossed with an holy scene.
The wafers were snapped, shards and shrapnel fell to the pavement. If they fall, since they only simulate the True Eucharist, the birds can have them.
The joy of communal fellowship was fully manifest. Hugs, handshakes, and good wishes made a full round of the participants.
First they prayed, then they broke the opłatki, then they sang carols and koledy. A multi-fold sheet of bi-lingual lyrics they searched in the breeze for the next number.
The usual conclusion was singing national hymns. The last notes sung were, 'God Bless America'.

Is totalitarianism acceptable in the episcopacy?

2011-12-21T18:48:00.008-05:00

♙♙♙♙♙♙♙♙♝♙♙♙♙♙♙♙♙

We see on the internet, the following quotation (or its variants) employed by the über-pious, acting as church police, to end any discussion concerning disagreement with a bishop:

“Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic Church. It is not lawful to baptize or give communion without the consent of the bishop. On the other hand, whatever has his approval is pleasing to God.” — Saint Ignatius of Antioch *c. 35, 108†

Now, what they universally do not do, is to tell you that this is neither a canonical statement, nor the only word!

Now, the Epistles of Saint Paul are canonical. Saint Paul listed requirements for the office of bishop:

A FAITHFUL saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity. But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? Not a neophyte: lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. — 1 Timothy iii.1-7

For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre: but given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent, embracing that faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine, and to convince the gainsayers. — Titus i.7-9

Now, after St. Paul and St. Ignatius there are other saints who had opinions:

“No one who is unwanted should be made a bishop; the desire and consent of the clergy and the people and the order is required.” — Saint Celestine I (pope 422-432)

“The one who is to be head over all should be elected by all.” — Saint Leo the Great (pope 440-461)

“It is essential to exclude all those unwanted and unasked for, if the people are not to be crossed and end by despising or hating their bishop. If they cannot have the candidate they desire, the people may all turn away from religion unduly.” — Saint Leo the Great

“I do not think there are many among Bishops that will be saved, but many more that perish: and the reason is, that it is an affair that requires a great mind.” — Saint John Chrysostom * c. 349, 409†

“The road to Hell is paved with the bones of priests and monks, and the skulls of bishops are the lamp posts that light the path.” — (often attributed) Saint John Chrysostom (may be a restating of previous line?)

“When there is an imminent danger for the Faith, Prelates must be questioned, even publicly, by their subjects.” — Saint Thomas Aquinas *1225, 1274†

Now, getting back to Ignatius, when taken as an absolute (as it is when quoted), he is wrong. The first ecumenical council of the church was at Nicaea in 325. Many bishops there were Arian heretics. The Arians, were non-trinitarian Christians. The council confirmed the Trinity, and a Trinitarian formula for baptism. The Catholic Church recognises baptism by this formula only, and it doe not have to be a Catholic baptism. A Lutheran baptism counts. Mormons are not trinitarian [and it goes beyond that], their baptisms do not count as valid for trinitarian Christians.

Now, the Arians continued for centuries. The Arians did not stop activity after the Nicene Council. If one follows this extremist interpretation of Ignatius, then all trinitarian (Catholics) Christians living in Arian led dioceses were schismatic? heretical? renegades? rebels? unfaithful? Or were they faithful Catholics living under the jurisdiction of a heretical bishop?

Over the centuries bishops were appointed, or elected in various ways, and by various electors. Nepotism and simony were amongst the methods. Bishops have been removed from office.

Getting back to the titular question of this essay: Is totalitarianism acceptable in the episcopacy? It depends who you are: for a democrat the answer is, “No”; for a fascist the answer is, “Yes”.

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Did Nixon not teach us?

2011-12-20T12:49:00.002-05:00

A very old lesson for the learning:

Those in power will lie, and use fear to control us.

Once upon a time...

2011-12-19T01:00:00.003-05:00

Bruno Bettleheim's book, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales, came out in 1976. A fascinating, freudian view of Grimm's (and others) collected fairy tales. The child can interpret these tales as life lessons. The book proved quite popular in college amongst several departments of students, quite soon after its release.

There is a mythic oral tradition that took centuries to find print. Many of these folk tales took an interested scholar to collect. Throughout european nations, and other cultures, similar stories existed.

Now, the typical english language formula that begins such tales is, 'Once upon a time...'. Some of these tales are illustrative of a certain lesson, others are open to exploration (psychic or otherwise). Some are scary. That fear is of meaning too, and to the child, perhaps, a different one.

ABC television has put on a programme, 'Once upon a time', in which it connects several such stories. Unfortunately, some of the people did a previous programme, Lost [a show i did not view], which played the viewer. A writer constructs his own universe, an untrustworthy one contradicts himself, and confuses his audience. I like the idea of the fairy tale universe, but not one that cheats, tricks and fools the audience. I read there is some carryover from Buffy, the vampire slayer. That is more encouraging. Buffy was quite good until it went beyond its carrying capacity. This new series suggests three years of episodes.

The two main protagonists are Snow White and her Stepmother, in the old land of enchantment; and in the new* it is Snow's daughter. The Stepmother [aka Evil Queen] launches a 'dark curse' that sends everyone to Maine [home of Stephen King]. This 'curse' is fascinating. It is mechanically created? and not by incantation? and its possession was twice transferred. Here it is nebulous [i caught the show in passing, and not in a full and careful viewing].

All the narrative, i am typing, may not be accurate. There is a demonic Rumpelstiltskin who may be the creator. The story presents the Evil Queen as the only one with memory. She is Regina the mayor in the new cursed land. She is a murderer in both. Why bother with a new world? Until Snow's daughter appears in town, the town is in stasis with only the boy, Henry, realising the story, and that is because he has read an illustrated book [who wrote the book?].

So far, the show is working well [for the most part]. I hope they don't mess it up.

The nature of the/a curse is a point of conjecture. Curse exists in both, verb and noun. The recitation of words to do harm, or evil; and the harm/evil itself. This condition is supernatural, or beyond that which the physical world allows, therefore, it is magic. The words are physical agents. Now children can accept magic, because they do not comprehend nature well enough; but we, also, live in a society that encourages magical thinking. That is both stupid, and dangerous. See the Republican Party.

A fictive world can make logical sense, and be artistically successful if it holds respect for the truth, which then applied would be internal consistency following logic. Creating an alternative reality, and accepting, and forcing it on others, as true is dangerous and has been evil.

Fairy tales can teach us truth. Magical thinking does not.
________________________________
*Snow White: Where are we going?
Evil Queen: Somewhere horrible. Absolutely horrible.

and on a side note: Lana Parrilla is a very attractive evil

Guest Submission V: St. James, Christmas Eve

2011-12-17T22:58:00.004-05:00

The Friends of St. James, Inc. will hold a candle lit prayer service on Christmas Eve from 9:00 to 9:30pm on the steps of St. James, at the corner of Granger and Detroit, in Lakewood. The prayer service will include the singing of traditional Christmas Carols, reading of the Nativity Gospel, and praying for the positive outcome of our Vatican Appeal. Through prayer we keep alive the hope that the St. James community will once again worship inside our beloved church. All are welcome to attend.

St. James, Lakewood, O. 24 December 2010.

Rome is the last Hope

2011-12-17T22:12:00.003-05:00

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Cleveland has had his way. He has steamrolled opposition. He has had many allies. The establishment sticks together. But he has had other allies: ignorance, apathy, and cowardice. With these assembled allies, he has had employed a disinformation campaign. When anything disproves the false propaganda, the chancery and its dupes howl.

Of course, Catholicism in Ohio is a minority, but it holds the plurality. But being a minority, it is not of primary interest to the majority. The majority does not see how it particularly interests them. Also, our society has a short attention span. People get weary of a subject (unless they are part of the establishment, or wish to be, and then they never relent). American society, as a whole, supports victors (morality, ethics, equity are not operative factors).

Silence benefits the powerful, and the aggressor. Ignorance, apathy, and cowardice create the silence.

Throughout Dick Lennon's reign, people have clung to tradition, and looked to Rome for redemption. Rome has waited. Rome has investigated. Rome continues to wait.

For those subject to lennonism, those in five of eight counties were not struck with suppressions. Suburban parishes with wealthy members were not touched. Apathy triumphs.

Staff, clergy, and parishioners have been intimidated. They have been programmed in the campaign of mendacity. This is an effective marriage of cowardice, and ignorance.

There are still people that stand against the tyrant, they are few. Others pray in private.

Resistance to lennonism exists, but it is not always popular. Weariness in the public, and ignorance of Catholics combines successfully with apathy. Loyalty and obedience to one man is not faith, it is a cult of personality.

Christmas is coming very soon. Many who have been effected by lennonism cannot get into a 'Christmas mood'.

Rome can remove the problem. But to what degree? Lennon has not shown that he respects any power, tradition, views other than his own.

WE WAIT FOR ROME.

war ends, and the public ...

2011-12-15T12:01:00.001-05:00

To-day, 15 December 2011, the Second U.S. Iraqui War ends. That was george w. bush jr's war.

Dispatch from Lennongrad, Ohio

2011-12-13T22:06:00.016-05:00

Michaelmas, 29 September 2010.

In battered Cleveland there is a conflict between the mitre and the people. Cleveland has experienced the diminishment of fortunes that many once industrial towns have endured in America. It has touched more than the economy, it has touched the spirit and soul. One of the venues is the Catholic church. Catholicism is the faith of many of the ethnic groups that make up the cities of Cleveland, Akron, Lorain, Euclid, Lakewood and Elyria. It is also the faith of those in Parma, the other large city in the area, although it also has a high percentage of Byzantine and Orthodox, but Parma’s Roman rite churches have both large collections and mixed ethnicities, and has not been visited by episcopal mandated closures. People had expected a reduction of parishes to some degree. The degree and distribution of the casualties was beyond what was expected. When the list was made public on 14 March 2009 there was anger, surprise and sadness. Some surrendered right away, others still have not. It became immediately apparent that the majority of the parishes were nationality parishes. A false criteria was given for public consumption, and largely accepted unquestionedly. The author and enforcer of the programme was the new Bishop of Cleveland, formerly auxiliary of Boston and the responsible agent of that diocese’s reductions, Richard Gerard Lennon. He is the arrogant villain in this story. There is no way in respecting justice, that he is not.

Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh.—Matthew xviii.7.

Several issues have emerged within Cleveland over this. One is whether this is an ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the diocese. Throughout English speaking America there has been an episcopal animus against nationality parishes, and non-Roman rituals. Often these bishops were Irish in nationality. The point being, they had lost their original language, and used the language of their occupiers in the old country. In the new country, they spoke that same language the establishment spoke, and not that of the other émigrés, and they eventually became the dominant portion of Catholics within the country.

The chancery has bristled upon this accusation, partly because the term was introduced by the Milosevic regime of Jugoslav Serbia as an euphemism for genocide; but here is used for extinction of ethnicity and its culture within the diocese. Of course this is the case by statistics, e.g. Hungarian parishes fall from seven to one, Slovak parishes from seven to zero, with one church surviving as a territorial parish. Other Eastern European nations (Polish, Croat, Slovene, Lithuanian, Czech) were also greatly reduced [African-American parishes were also hit; German parishes were not much recognised as such; Irish parishes are almost accepted as standard; Italian parishes were spared, except for one oratory (chapel); Hispanic congregations were growing]. It was presented, and suggested, that these churches were closed because they were in financial difficulties. They were not (often they were closed because they were financially healthy), though many people still believe they were. Later it was denied that finances were reasons of closure. The first story is still remembered. The media did little to question this, at first they were stenographers. More importantly, those reasons so readily accepted by the US public, are clothed in financial terms, and are not theological.

Beyond that, there is the question of rights. Does a bishop have the right to be a tyrannical autocrat? or is he limited? Does a parish have rights that a bishop must respect? Does the laity have rights vis-a-vis the bishop? The Church does have canon law that may shed light on this. How is it interpreted? Lennon is not a canonist, though he claims to be an expert. He has advocated an interpretation that allows him maximum authority, and disregards limitation. Under civil law of Ohio, the bishop is the trustee of several trusts (parishes). The members of each trust are both the grantor and beneficiary of the trust. What good does it to them that their trust is extinguished and dispersed?

Some accept and defend the bishop’s will, and are crossed at, and with, rebellious opinion. Some will not tolerate to hear contrary evidence. This is a form of extreme clericalism, that is absolutely servile, yet combative. “You must obey, and not criticise, the bishop, because he is the bishop” is not a convincing argument. “You are not going to win against the bishop”, is not comforting either, but is at least rational. And of course, there are are degrees of acceptance, and apathy between.

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In pluribus unum, reads the scroll on the hemispheric edge of the apse above the sanctuary of St. Emeric (Imre) on the near west side of Cleveland, Ohio. St. Emeric was the latest parish suppressed (forcibly closed) by Richard Lennon, the bishop of Cleveland. Perhaps its last official day of existence was the last day (30 June) of the fiscal year. The similar E pluribus unum, out of many one, is the motto of the United States of America. In the Catholic church it signifies that from many nations, there is one faith. The ultimate source of the naming of the new world is St. Imre. Imre is a national saint of the Hungarians (Magyars), the italianate form is ‘Amerigo’, and as many readers will recognise that is the christian name of the explorer and mapmaker, Amerigo Vespucci, and after him were the new lands named.

Now, there is drama in that little description, but without narrative background--one does not recognise it. Catholicism is a communal religion. In a logical extension, all the world can be seen as one parish. That parish has the same beliefs, and worships the same God, Jesus Whom is our Brother. We, who, come from everywhere, and from diverse cultures, and speaking diverse languages are in union. We are not in conflict in our diversities, we are together in our communalities. We exist, or should exist, in our surface differences; those surface differences do not detract from the whole, they add depth and texture. Now, such a vision could ideally be said of the United States of America. That scroll was meant to address God and country. Anyone entering that church, if he looked up, front and center saw it.

The last hours of that church were interesting. The morning Mass was said by Fr. Sandor Siklodi. He was the priest of the parish for the last twenty-five years. His bishop is in Timişoara in Romania, or as the parish members say, ‘Transylvania’; there is a sizable Magyar minority in that province. After that day, Fr. Siklodi was forbidden the exercise of his priestly faculties within the Cleveland diocese by Cleveland’s bishop. There had been scheduled a ‘Mass of Eviction’ at 4 p.m. The bishop was notified that no one at the parish was willing to participate as a principle in such a service. That would be the second parish to refuse participation. St. Peter’s was the first. St. Peter's was the oldest surviving parish in the city itself, other than the cathedral. They have since continued their parish outside the bishop's approval and reach. The bishop, Richard Lennon, being a very jealous man in regards to his privileges and prerogatives, and also sensitive to a slight, cancelled both ‘final’ Masses.

At four o’clock there was a rally held outside the church. The church sits on a cul-de-sac, created by the parking lot for the West Side Market. There were speakers on the steps of the church, and a crowd on the grass and pavement. There were no police. Richard Lennon retains the employment of many police, uniformed and not, during his closures. During the rally, the bell of the church tolled. The bell had on it, the name of the first bishop of Cleveland, Louis Amadeus Rappe in appreciation from Cleveland's only French parish, that had some history with the beginning of St. Emeric’s. The bell tolled 56 [there were 58 parishes closed, there was still an uncertainty in the count] times, for 56 of the churches Lennon had closed in the diocese. The number is somewhat nebulous. The diocese does not include the churches closed under Lennon’s tenure before the spring of 2009, yet they do count consolidations from 2002 before Lennon’s arrival. The chancery has maintained an inconsistency in virtually every statement concerning parish reductions. This is not inscrutability, but misleading casuistry at best; at worst constant lying. During the tolling tally an aeroplane dragged a sign with script, JESUS IS LORD - VIVA HUNGARIANS.

At five o’clock, the last service was held in the church, a Litany of Benediction and Exposition of the Sacrament was held. Some two hundred Hungarians and friends shared and participated in the solemn service. Afterwards in the parish basement and social hall people gathered for food and conversation.

The crowds left, but not everyone. A few stayed the night. When contractors came, to change the locks, the next morning at 9 a.m., they found the doors barricaded from within. A series of phone calls were made. Supporters of the sit-in occupation, and a few opponents came to the cul-de-sac. The press was there too. In the afternoon the Cleveland police came. The first was the commander of the Second District. He was to negotiate with the occupying faithful, and act as an agent of the presumptive landlord, Richard Lennon. There were six people still inside. Their legal counsel, Santiago ‘Charlie’ Feliciano Jr., would be there to. Mr. Feliciano had been, for many years, the legal counsel for the diocese.

Cmdr. Keith Sulzer had spoken to people outside the church before entering. The police would consider ramming the door down, this was suggested to them by Bishop Richard Lennon. After stating the case, and praying together, the group surrendered the church. They exited one of the front doors carrying the national standards of Hungary and the United States. There was a minor scuffle over the flags. One woman against the protestors wanted possession, she was shooed away.

This did not end the activities of the parish. It has to be noted, that much of the parish is of the generation of ’56. In 1956, many Hungarians rose against the Soviets and were crushed, and some went into exile. Through this they have a camaraderie of resistance to oppression. They share a cohesion amongst themselves and a stand-offishness towards others. Throughout the period of eminent suppression, there had been, and is currently, an appeal pending with the Vatican to rescind that attempted suppression. There are fourteen parishes in the diocese with current appeals. In other dioceses churches kept operating during appeals. Not so in Cleveland.

Richard Lennon is not a man of magnanimous or conciliatory gestures. For two parishes he delayed making a final decision of suppression upon conditions. That was done only after extra-ordinary, and immediate community appeal for St. Colman, and St. Ignatius of Antioch. St. Colman was to be ‘merged’ with St. Stephen. Father Robert Begin is pastor of St. Colman’s. He was arrested for spilling blood in Dow Chemical office in Washington D.C. in 1970. He dismissed F. Lee Bailey as counsel, Bailey was not moral enough. He was denied priestly faculties, residence, and salary for two years for saying an unauthorised Mass in Cleveland’s cathedral. His brother, Daniel, is also a priest in the diocese. Fr. Dan had his two pre-dominately African-American parishes (Epiphany and St. Cecilia) suppressed. He is trying to keep a community going through a programme called ‘Scattered Seeds’. An uncle had been a bishop. Fr. Bob has a law degree. Father Begin is not timid.

All pastors received a letter by Saturday afternoon on 14 March 2009. The 17th of March is St. Patrick’s Day. It is a big deal in Cleveland. St. Colman’s is the Irish cathedral. It is patterned after Rome’s cathedral, St. John Lateran. Many west side Irish convene there for Mass or company before the big parade. Colman’s sits over a thousand on the floor, there is also a choir loft, that is without a massive pipe organ. As beautiful as Colman’s is, it is missing bells in its steeples and that grand organ. The Irish of the time loved white marble, and it is there in abundance. On the 17th people filled the church and were on the steps, and sidewalks. A bass drummer, and bagpipers led a procession of twenty priests into Colman’s. Father Bob acted as cheerleader, and before the Mass started berated the decision to keep Stephen’s open and to close Colman’s, in direct opposition to the cluster committee’s recommendation. Petitions were passed throughout the crowd. Lennon received much mail. Now Lennon is Irish, but he bristles at it. It was an inopportune time to announce Colman’s demise. Either he is obtuse, or he really wants to be a prick.

Practically every possible Democratic officeholder in the area showed up on the steps of St. Ignatius of Antioch to show their support. St. Ignatius is another extra-ordinary beautiful church. Both Colman and Ignatius are very busy with social programmes. What Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount some people actually do in the neighborhood.

SS. Ignatius, Colman and Stephen are now open. All three are now under probation. A major condition is coughing up money. St. Stephen’s had about $500,000 in forgiven debt, unforgiven. They had a fundraising campaign, mostly through alumni, and coughed up over $300,000. Architecturally all three are gems. Along a short stretch of I-90/Route 2 West you can see the lighted towers of each. They are quite visible in the daytime. Ignatius has a campanile, Colman twin domed steeples, and the 19th century Stephen’s thick sandstone bell steeple conceals its complete south German interior. It is a national historic landmark, St. Colman’s missed the status by a signature not provided by a previous bishop (Hickey).

St. Emeric has replaced the convening of their Hungarian language Sunday Mass inside the church, with an outside prayer vigil at 9.45 a.m. There are five parishes doing this now. The first was St. Casimir on 15 November 2009. Once [sometimes twice] a month there is a Magyar Mass at Colman’s. St. Stephen’s was at one time courting St. Emeric’s to use Stephen’s facilities and to join St. Stephen’s. St. Emeric’s hosted Hungarian Boy Scouts, a dance troupe, and a language school. This fell through.

In Cleveland, the bishop disperses flocks from within the enclosures of their churches and on into the streets. On All Hallow’s Eve 2009, Richard Lennon told a small crowd of attempted ‘vigilers’ at St. John the Baptist (Slovak), in Akron, that as of 15 April 2006, that, he was the Bishop of Cleveland and the owner of all church property from that point, and they represented no one, so there is the door and there is the police. There is some question whether the State of Ohio will see him as the steward of the parishes’ property or as the owner of the property. The Attorney General’s office has been investigating.

oooo-----oooo-----oooo---------oooo-----oooo---------oooo-----oooo----oooo

It was common for Catholics in America, as it had been in the old country, to refer to their neighborhoods (villages) by the parish. Many would have found this a familiar story, “I was born by St. Joseph’s, we then moved to Holy Trinity. My brother got a house by St. Pat's. I got married at Holy Family...”. In Cleveland, about St. Hyacinth the neighborhood was called Jackowa, the neighborhood about St. Barbara was Barbarowa. This is the way Catholics spoke. It was very easy to say and to understand. Others may find it a different manner of thought and speech, for Catholics it was natural.

Now, the Poles have a history of rebelliousness. Under the Hitlerian occupation they rose up. In the Nazi camps Poles were shot most often trying to escape. Under the czar they rose up. The 1863 Rebellion, they had a slogan, ‘In the Name of God, For Our Freedom and Yours’. When the dominoes of communism fell in 1989, the Poles had been fighting through Solidarity for ten years. On 8 November 1917 Vladimir Ilich Lenin took Russia.

On 8 November 2009 Richard Gerard Lennon took St. Casimir. It is strange accident of similarity, that opponents of the current lennonist regime in Cleveland have pointed to, and the press does not mention. Some maintain that the diocese of Cleveland has become Lennongrad. Just as St. Petersburg had become Leningrad, St. Petersburg eventually came back, so the hope of Cleveland to become Cleveland lives.

On the East Side, near Lake Erie, there are the streets Pulaski, Sowinski and Kosciusko, there is the boarded, shut and chained Saint Casimir. Its last day open was memorable. All over America, St. Casimir is either a Lithuanian or a Polish parish. He is a shared royal saint of both nations. In Cleveland Saint Casimir was a Polish parish for over a century, then there were two for a few days, then one was forcibly closed.

Saint George was a Lithuanian parish, a few blocks from Saint Casimir. It was closed 18 October 2009. On the 25th the remaining Lithuanian parish, further east near the lake shore, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), was renamed as the merged parish of Saint Casimir. Here several strains of politics collide. The northeastern part of Cleveland is Collinwood. Collinwood had four open parishes. Lennon mandated one to be closed. The councilman, Michael Polensek, fiercely vocally defended those parishes in unpleasant heated private conversations with Bishop Lennon. In no other case did a ‘merged’ parish come from without a ‘cluster group’ of Lennon's creation. In no other case did two parishes of the same ethnicity combine. In no other case did a ‘cluster group’ not have a parish close when at least one was mandated for closure. If it is not apparent, Lennon is not in the habit of relenting, or backtracking, or making conciliations. In Freudian terms, he is quite anal. Lennon had reports that Saint Casimir really did not want to be suppressed. They had appealed to Rome. The pastor, Monsignor Leo Talesz, who was in his nineties was not amenable to retirement or closure. Lennon renamed the parish, the church was and still is OLPH, Casimir as a provocation.

On 8 November there was an early morning English Mass, and then a very large Polish Mass celebrated by Fr. Jan Wachala from Poland. He would not be allowed to function as a priest in the diocese thereafter. There were veteran commemorations, and a teen age violinist at that Mass followed by an outdoor Eucharistic Procession. Outside there was a large crowd of sympathisers and protestors and cops.

Then came the Mass of Eviction. Msgr. Telesz was ordered to participate, he had repeatedly said he wouldn’t, and advised the same to the parishioners. ‘Wladek’ a 96 year altar boy pulled the power to Lennon’s microphone. After the Gospel reading, Lennon was to deliver his oft repeated, boring and false sermon on eviction. A Polish version of Casablanca occurred. Television stations WJW and WEWS had filmed it. WEWS never broadcast their footage, or even referred to the disruption. Firstly, many Poles walked out of the church, and some people from outside walked in to see what happened.

In the Hollywood film, Casablanca, the French sang their national civil hymn, the Marsellaise of 1795 to drown out the Germans. The Poles sang their national civil hymn, Dabrowski’s Mazurek of 1797 to drown out Lennon. People were singing and crying at the same time. Someone brought in the recorded instrumental music. Polish religious hymns were sung. Lennon was aghast. After this event, Lennon increased the amount of police required at other churches he dispossessed. Lennon is paranoid. He has been reported, by many, as wearing a bullet proof shirt to these events, so far not even a rotten tomato has been launched. In the end Lennon left the church 90 minutes after the Mass began, as is his wont. A most impressive departure, occurred the next month at Holy Trinity (Lorain). Mass was at 9 a.m., at 10.30 the bells rang, garage doors opened, cars came out, police cruisers had been waiting in queue and began to move. Lennon’s escape vehicle was in the lot behind the church, and exited from the other drive. A less elaborate ruse was used at Casimir’s. Lennon is a creature of habit. The Germans closed Rick’s Place. Lennon closed Casimir’s. The Polish anthem begins, “Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła [Poland will not perish]”. The parish met the next week on the street.

For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.—Matthew xviii. 20.

That first street vigil was in Polish, two weeks later it was over an hundred people and bi-lingual. Dr. Michael Klymiuk had a dream where the Polish Madonna told him, “Do not leave me alone”. These vigils are sessions of prayers, hymns, news and fellowship. First they were of Polish immigrants from the parish. Then they were of both Polish immigrants and American born parishioners. Then they were of Catholics who believed such a parish should continue. They have met every week without fail, and weather is no impediment.

Poland is dedicated to Mary. Saint Casimir’s is dedicated to Mary. The Poles have been steadfast and tenacious. Nation, patriotism and religion are tightly fused with honor, propriety and pride, not unlike many other people.

“If I forget about them, Thou, O God in heaven, forget about me.” — Adam Mickiewicz. 1832. Forefathers' Eve (Dziady) III. 1. i.

The romantic poet, Mickiewicz, also identified Poland with the suffering Christ. He was not alone in this thought. In Lent, in addition to the Stations of the Cross, the Poles have Gorzkie Żale [Bitter Lamentations] which are hymns and meditations of lamentation. In wayside shrines there often sits a suffering Christ, Chrystus Frasobliwy.

Saint Casimir’s is the Solidarity church in Cleveland. One of the builders of the monument from the slain workers of the Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk, Poland of 1980 is a member of the parish. He was part of the crew who built a replica of the monument for St. Casimir’s, it was spirited out before the church’s dispossession.

There are regulars to this religious service. The two prayer leaders are Wojciech ‘Wojtek’ Fleszar and Joseph Feckanin. Four sisters nee Kowalewski, Teresa who often drives in from Toledo, Jadwiga, Maria and Krystyna. Their brother, Wladyslaw ‘Wally’ lives in Akron. Colleen O’Shaughnessy drives in from the west suburbs, often with different members of her family. Mrs. O’Shaughnessy somehow became aware of the situation, and started coming. She has never been inside the church.

Krystyna and Colleen have lobbied Cleveland City Hall every Monday that council has been in session. On the 20th September they got 16 of 17 council members present to sign a petition disapproving of Lennon’s mistreatment of Saint Casimir’s. Two were out of town, and the council president, Martin Sweeney refused. Earlier Krystyna Moreno got the Lt. Governor, who is running for senator, Lee Fisher to sign at St. John Cantius’ parish festival.

Their earlier lobbying produced a rally on the steps of City Hall in May. Several councilmen, and protesting Catholics of other parishes, spoke that evening. Councilman Mrs. Dona Brady, who had similar conversations as did Polensek with Lennon, had gotten a reprieve for St. Ignatius spoke as did the protestors of lennonism. The three sisters who still live Cleveland, now do not often attend Mass. Many people in the diocese have been discouraged in the exercise of their faith because of lennonism.

The three Kowalewski sisters who still live Cleveland, now do not often attend Mass. Many people in the diocese have been discouraged in the exercise of their faith because of lennonism. One of the components of lennonist pastorship is a disinterest in people's discouragement and abandonment. In one of the rare public candid moments of his episcopate, he told the parishioners of the Hungarian parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Akron, “Let them go.”

What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray?—Matthew xviii. 12.

Joseph Feckanin is American born, but maintains a fierce and deep identification with his Slavonic background. His mother was fully Polish, his father, Rusyn and Slovak. He still has relatives he visits in Poland. He has had family in this country, that, have gone to Byzantine, Orthodox and National Catholic churches because of previous heavy handed Roman-rite bishops. The first bishop of St. Paul, Minnesota, John Ireland pushed many Greek-rite [the older term for Byzantine] Catholics away. He was the chief of the Americanist bishops, and an oddity of that time, a Republican. Similar attitudes created the schismatic Polish National Catholic Church to begin in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1897. Joseph being Rusyn, whom are Byzantine, it is not a great travel to leave to one of these other churches. His faith has grown stronger in opposition to Lennon. He attends the Polish language Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary, which he fears will be on a second round of reductions.

Of the five parishes (Casimir, Patrick, James, Emeric, Wendelin) who are continuing in street worship, the Casimiri are the most developed. Every week they have a portable setting along the fence that separates the sidewalk from the church. The Adamczewski family has produced banners, including a 8' x 12' canvas with a photo of the church's high altar. Other icons and signs and flags, always flags--Polish, US, and other nations appear, and then taken down. They wear white and red armbands, which have a few meanings. White and red are the Polish national colors, similar armbands showed up during the uprising against Hitler, they are the colors of the Divine Mercy of Jesus, symbolising the water and blood that streamed from his side. Divine Mercy is the patron of the street vigiling, Divine Mercy later became the Patron of the first inter-parish group, Endangered Catholics, to protest Lennon’s five year plan, mostly of closures. The chancery has made no attempt to recognise these street Catholics.

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Lennon considers his every move final. He is the supreme autocrat. As in pharonic Egypt, he is the only citizen. In Hobbesian thought, he is the Leviathan.

There are people in Cleveland who are beyond dismayed with Lennon’s actions. They believe what they have always been taught, and understood about the faith. A parish is supposed to be perpetual, they are not disposable, they are not franchises that are to be dealt with as in American capitalism outlets. Many people remarked that the communists did not so eagerly and quickly and deliberately close churches. These people see Lennon’s actions as contrary the Will of God, and an affront to Him. They also see it as a betrayal to the people who built these parishes.

“...Lord, I know that thou art a hard man, thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.”—Matthew xxv. 24.

Catholic ethics has always taught, that there is proper authority, and improper authority. Some things are within some jurisdiction, and others are not. The first rule in Catholic ethics is, that the ends never justify the means.

Lennon has some grand scheme of his reconfiguration of the diocese. He has not fully detailed it to the public. He often contradicts those particulars that he does give. Consistency in word is not his forte. His word is good only as long as the breath of the word still hangs in the room.

Parishes are meant to be perpetual. The parishes were not built by the diocese, or the bishops; they were built by the parishioners. Grandfathers built them for their grandchildren. They were not meant to be temporary. They are not meant to be distributed geographically as are gasoline stations, and grocery stores. These suppressions and ‘mergers’ were done with brutal mendacity. Lennon had a private five year plan for Cleveland after he arrived in 2006 from Boston, where he had engineered their closures. Lennon is akin to the ‘hard man’ in the parable that reapest where he had not sown.

He has a public relations man, Robert Tayek, that has no difficulty issuing lies [serial and ridiculous] and ‘spun’ statements. Tayek has earned himself two nicknames ‘Baghdad Bob’ and ‘Bull**** Bob’. The criteria for reductions are not theological, they are those of American capitalist business management. Tayek says that 46% of parishes were in debt. The figure of 46% is of less than dubious value. There was nothing approaching a correlation between closure and indebtedness. The source of this indebtedness was back assessments (bishop’s tax), of which Cleveland has the highest on the continent: 16½ % for parishes without schools, 11½% for parishes with schools. Some parishes had no assessments collected for years, and past assessments forgiven. When Lennon came to town all these debts became due. The attitude was, “debt was debt”.

Another plausible, but false, criterion is a presumed ‘priest shortage’. In 1847, the diocese was the northern half of Ohio. It had 33 parishes and 17 priests, some of whom English was not their native language, and that was true of the bishop. So parishes can exist, and did exist without resident priests. Another perspective can posit that the US in the 1950’s and 1960’s had a priest surplus.

After some local parish closings non diocesan priests were denied exercise of faculties and/or asked to leave — one Lithuanian Jesuit, one Hungarian priest, one Polish priest, and the Sanguinists (Precious Blood). The further recruiting of non-European priests was ended. Earlier, priests not in favor were reassigned, or retired. Favorability was based on Lennon’s biases. A pacifist Jesuit priest, who had a deaf ministry was sent away. A priest with Parkinson’s was forced to retire. The pattern he created in Boston, he brought to Cleveland. Later it was even denied that the issue of priests was a factor.

Truly, the few public statements issued concerning decisions made had little to do with reality. Parishes were closed in the diocese of Cleveland for quick money, and to eliminate nationality parishes in a form of ethnic cleansing.

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Now, St. Peter’s was in a cluster with the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The cathedral is the church that houses the bishop’s chair (the cathedra). The other parish was the Shrine of the Conversion of St. Paul, which is the church bought from the Anglicans, during the last Depression, to be the church of the Franciscan cloistered sisters. Lennon would allow only one of the three to remain a parish. The Shrine would remain a shrine and the Sisters’ chapel, but not a parish. Lennon maintains that no results were pre-determined. Out of this cluster only one parish would survive. The reader can guess.

St. Peter’s was listed always as a German parish, it does not consider itself a nationality parish now. Under the pastorship of Father Robert Marrone it was a nationally recognised parish. The parish had increased its membership and finances greatly. It had, and has, an admirable education and outreach programme. From its membership has come leadership to the two inter-parish opposition groups to Lennon, the aforementioned Endangered Catholics, and Code Purple.

St. Peter’s too, did not want to close. They refused to have a Mass of Eviction. The inclusion of the gun toting entourage required by the bishop was especially galling to the pastor and congregation. They held their last Mass in a packed church on Easter morning. They continued to meet at rented space at Cleveland State University. They would not disperse. They reconvened, and had their inaugural Mass in rented space, in an old electric car factory, on 15 August. They were warned by Lennon not to do this. They have been having standing room only of over three hundred. Two thirds of their previously registered parishioners are registered there now. Lennon, through his spokesman Bob Tayek, has been described as wanting to speak to them. He has not.

In the Sunday issue of the establishment’s local daily, Cleveland Plain Dealer, letters were published concerning the local bishop, Richard Lennon, and Saint Peter’s after the Mass of Reunion. One of the writers was a local Methodist clergyman of note, Kenneth Chalker, who has since written Rome. We have reached the point where the local bishop is embarrassing us in front of the neighbours, so to speak. Rome has to shake its head from side to side on this one. Lennon has caused great division and damage, and he is unrelenting.

He is akin to Lewis Carroll’s Humpty Dumpty, the White Queen and the Queen of Hearts, and we are Alice. Words do not have their normal meaning, but mean precisely as Humpty has them mean at the moment. Alice is exasperated with the White Queen’s speech: “The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday -- but never jam to-day.” When Lennon says ‘unity’ he means ‘servile and absolute obedience’. When he says ‘vibrant’, even he has no definition. And for every aggravation the Queen of Hearts cries for maximum punishment, “Off with her head.”

Ex-communication has been rarely called for in recent centuries. The parish (as we have been told so many times, is not a building) just began meeting elsewhere. To ex-communicate Catholics participating in a valid Mass is ridiculous. It is swinging a twenty pound sledge at a tack, in this supposed offense here. It is this sort of disproportionate response that led to the ‘retirement’ of Scranton’s bishop, Joseph Martino for ‘health reasons’. It is the function of a priest to say Mass. Mass can be celebrated anywhere and has been: on ship; on the battlefield; in a house, hidden in the basement away from the gaze of anti-Catholic governments; in the forest away from Elizabethan priest catchers. The Liturgy of the 15th was no heretical, or invalid act. It was a Mass of Reunion, of a parish that was continuing their existence. To suggest it is worthy to be ex-communicated for is absurd.

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On a dreich evening, 27 September, there was marked the year anniversary of the eviction and suppression of St. Stanislaus in Lorain. Everyone thought the weather matched the mood. At 6.30 p.m. a dozen plus, mostly seniors, gathered on the front steps of the boarded church. Some press was their to photograph and interview. One of their number, Todd Settie, wearing a jacket with a 6621 union logo (it is to remembered the area was quite unionised at one time, and that unionisation brings representational democratic tendencies) read a statement about the harshness of the closings to parishioners and the unkindness of the bishop. It was immigrants who suffered, and lovingly built these churches. The closing of them brings pain and division. Other people had the same stories, as did others from parish after parish. They wander. They are deeply grieved, how could it be that the freedom of America leads to closed churches, while the despotism of communism allowed churches to remain open. An attractive, petite, television reporter had come there, and later she stood in front of St. Colman for a live ‘feed’. Colman's pastor, Robert Begin had written to papal pro nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, again. This time he highlighted the points that the non-Catholic clergy have noticed the grave episcopal shortcomings, and how parishioners would have Rome find a place for Lennon in that city, and that they were losing confidence in the Vatican.

Some at St. Stan’s held lighted candles.. They prayed a Prayer of Christian Unity, and the Our Father, and sang Serdeczna Matko. After the reporters left another ten came, recent Polish immigrants. They thought it was to be at 7 p.m. They sang a longer version of the same Marian hymn, and some more. They mourned. They would have their church back, but not one thought seriously that would be.

On the 24th it was reported, that, the nearby Hungarian church campus of St. Ladislaus was sold for about $200,000. That was four buildings. A few years before the rectory was remodeled at more than twice that, and the church's exterior spruced up for about half that. Another Hungarian parish in nearby Elyria was recently sold for $145,300, and now a drum set sits underneath the apse where the altar had been. St. Stanislaus was advertised for sale before it closed, something months later ‘Baghdad’ Bob Tayek, the bishop’s public relations man, said never happens. It too is asking less than the remodel it had undergone. The bishop wants quick money, and closed nationality parishes. The Depression era prices are just another insult. Lennon wants many millions in a capital campaign that has been delayed more than once, and still is unannounced. His will is of one wavelength. The attitude of the people of the diocese is another. This does not matter to Richard Lennon, he has no interest in music.

Under canon law each parish is a juridic person. In actuality, each parish has a personality. Several are of outstanding merit, and have contributed much. A man with sentiment would notice that.

Several closed parishes gave many of their children to the Church. One of the standard criticisms for those who defend the closures are, “How many vocations came from them?”. St. Hyacinth (Cleveland, suppressed) gave the Church, John Cardinal Krol. St. Robert’s [Euclid, closed through ‘merger’, buildings and 7.6 acres on Lake Shore Blvd. was sold to the city for $674,000. That sale came a little too quick, similarly St. Lawrence *(Cleveland) was reportedly sold less than three months after suppression and not publicly listed.] gave the Church, the El Salvadoran Martyr, Dorothy (Sr. Laurentine) Kazel. Lennon ordained two priests this year. He does not inspire vocations.

From all that Richard has done, and continues to do, many regard the diocese as Lennongrad. In Holy Russia, Lenin and Stalin closed churches, old women prayed outside those closed churches. In the time of Gorbachev, old women prayed outside closed churches. They were not the same old women. Closed churches in Russia have re-opened. Leningrad has become St. Petersburg again.
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*postscriptum: The disposition of the real estate is still not public. Many items were ransomed by St. Mary’s in Collinwood.

Matka Boska Częstochowska

2011-12-12T23:00:00.000-05:00

Now, the most famous icon in the land of the Poles, and in the hearts of Poles is the Black Madonna of Częstochowa (Czarna Madonna, Matka Boska Częstochowska) is the Polish Madonna. There are perhaps 500 mediæval black madonnas (some are statues), this is the most famous and important one. It is the only notable one in Poland. It has an hymn. In recent years, odd academics have tried to explain black madonnas. This one has nothing to do with that gibberish. Its hue is only a visual characteristic. It is an icon of deep depth of feeling to many about the world.
A window in the church of St. Stanislaus, Cleveland, Ohio has a window of the icon. Many Polish churches do. This window has several scenes depicting the history of the icon.
Legend has St. Luke the Apostle (and painter) painting the icon on the cedar table top of the Holy Family. It is a Byzantine icon, Hodegetria (One Who Shows the Way). One scene blends into another. Right below the table is a particularly gruesome Hussite marauder. In his left hand he carries off ecclesial booty [now the window is episcopal..eh..ecclesial booty], and in the right he carrier a war axe, which has a skull and crossbones inscribed upon it.
The Duke of Opole (in Polish Silesia), Władysław Opolczyk, brought the icon to Częstochowa in 1382 and gave it to Jasna Góra Pauline Monastery, which became Poland's premier shrine.
Its most storied moment was the incidence when the icon received facial scars. Hussites raided and pillaged the Pauline monastery in 1430 during a frequent Spanilé jízdy ('graceful ride'). The Hussites were Bohemian Czechs of two parties, the more extreme were the Taborites. The Hussite Wars ran from 1419 to 1434, with many Hussite victories against Germans, and papal loyalists. Much of east central Europe became involved. A frequent event was iconoclasm, and the destruction of monasteries. In March of 1430 Joan of Arc wrote an angry letter to the Hussites condemning their actions. A soldier stabbed the image at Jasna Góra twice, and he was dramatically prevented a third strike. Several attempts were made to 'repair' the icon, the scars reappeared. The icon was in encaustic (pigment suspended in beeswax), and not familiar to the artisans of the area.
King John II Casimir Vasa (he had been a Jesuit and a cardinal) crowned Our Lady of Częstochowa, as Queen of Poland in 1656. This was after the Swedes had occupied the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Deluge (Potok). The Siege of Jasna Góra (November 1655 to January 1656) held back the Swedes, and sparked a successful resistance.

Saint Gregory the Theologian Byzantine Lakewood

2011-12-11T19:30:00.002-05:00

cornerstone in English, other face in Slavonic

window of the Resurrection with Roman soldier in adoration

pews, iconostasis, chandeliers, wall and ceiling murals

chandelier with lower level 12 double sided icons, and upper level 4 double sided icons

Three sisters of the Monastery of Christ the Bridegroom. Burton, Ohio

Last Eucharist

Saint Gregory began in Birdtown of Lakewood on the the corner of Quail and Thrush, back in 1905. A wooden church was constructed in 1906. A permanent priest came in 1922. The present brick church was built in 1925, the interior redone in 1955. A school and hall building was finished in 1962. The church was remodeled inside and out in a more Byzantine fashion in 1980. Domes replaced a steeple, communion rail was taken out, and the iconostasis put in, as was the great chandelier. In the last few years the congregation became small.

The day was sunny, and cold. The sky was devoid of white clouds, a smoggy haze was visible in the distance; while in it the color was not apparent, but driving over the freeway and viewing forward without the obstruction of buildings the nicotine colored smog was visible above the horizon. It was a sad day.

To-day this church and parish, within the Eparchy of Parma of the Ruthenians celebrated their last Divine Liturgy. Bishop John Kudrick came, and delivered the homily. Still a parish is to be perpetual. The homily skirted this. Other congregations about the area have also closed. Some of the same reasons were given as others were given before, and unlike the Latin Diocese of Cleveland, some of them actually applied.

The Liturgy was in English, while some of the sung ordinary was in Old Church Slavonic. In the Byzantine Liturgy, the laity is more involved. The chanting is sweet, elegant, sad, joyful, exuberant, and majestic. This Advent much of the English speaking world has been introduced to a new translation. Some of the 'changes' are similar to the Byzantine standard (I believe...of all things visible and invisible...one in essence...and was incarnate ...).

As people were exiting, a woman passing by inquired of the church. I told her it was the closing service. She started talking about cats. I tend not to listen about the subject. She was living nearby, and a woman had lived there before her was feeding the cats that came about the church for 13 or 14 years, two now elderly cats still. She worried about their shelter and care.

A priest of my acquaintance stopped, and greeted me talking of the discomforting weather. "Yes it is cold, but the sun is keeping the snow away, and it is easy to drive through [the absence of it]."

Another woman, was talking to herself as she walked along the sidewalk, not thinking anyone was hearing (or listening). "What am I going to do, now that the church is closed? Where am I going to go."

Murals of St. Nicholas (Croat)

2011-12-10T23:00:00.002-05:00

The first Croat parish in America is St. Nicholas in Millvale (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania. In 1921 a new church was built after a fire. Ten years later the new pastor, Fr. Albert Zagar, wanted the bare walls painted. The painter of some twenty murals was Maxo Vanka *1889, 1963† believed by some to be the bastard son of the once heir apparent (Rudolf Habsburg) to the Austrian emperor. Vanka grew up in rural Croatia, and enlisted in the Belgian Red Cross. The pastor, Fr. Albert Zagar had met Vanka, who arrived in America in 1934.

Some of the paintings, such as the four evangelists, and Francis of Assisi cause no surprise. Some do. A first set of paintings, Vanka did in eight weeks in 1937. A second set in 1941, some of which were very anti-Hitlerian, anti-fascist, anti-war. Vanka told the Pittsburgh Press, "Hitler says march in, take all, go into Czechoslovakia, into Poland, into all countries. There is no justice today."

Under the choir loft there are these twin murals. Vanka had been a pacifist before the Great War. He saw the fighting and killing as evil, and the deaths very shattering to the community of people. With the same empathy, he saw greed as its equal.

Maxo Vanka. The Croatian Mother Raises Her Son for War. 1937. Pittsburgh.
The communal weeping of the women is like those of the Three Maries at the Cross.
Maxo Vanka. The Immigrant Mother Raises Her Son for Industry. 1937. Pittsburgh.

a reflection of a Johnstown mining disaster that killed 112 in 1902
sometimes called, 'The Madonna of the Monongahela'

Several of the paintings contrast idyllic, organic, Croat, peasant society with the exploited and harsh life of the immigrant in industrial America. Over the high altar is Mary, the Mother of God, in Croat national dress. There are pair of Croat community religious life, in the old country, and the new.

In a Crucifixion scene, Jesus is bayoneted by a soldier in WW I uniform. In another scene Mary snaps a bayonet from one soldier's rifle. This is a Catholic social realism of sorrow.

Maxo Vanka. The Croatian Family. 1941. Pittsburgh.
Maxo Vanka. The Capitalist. 1941. Pittsburgh.

The tempera fresco extends downwards, at the sides, around a doorway as its companion mural. What is not seen in the foto‡ is a beggar with his hand out, and being ignored. The painting is a modern retelling of the parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus. Vanka recognised the social divide in America, the liveried servant is a negro, and so is Lazarus the beggar (not in this foto), who is accompanied by a dog also waiting for scraps to trickle down.

Above is a disdaining angel. To the right is a skeletal hand carrying hell-fire. The Capitalist (Dives, the rich man) is Pittsburgh's Andrew Mellon *1855, 1937†. Now, Andrew Mellon was a banker, and owner of several industrial firms. He 'earned' money the old fashioned way, he inherited his father's bank. Before that his father set him up in business. Mellon's wealth increased.

He was Secretary of the Treasury under Harding, Coolidge and Hoover, almost eleven years until Congress (Wright Patman) looked to impeach him in January 1932. He resigned the next month, and was made ambassador to Britain. He later was involved in the failed 'Banker's Plot' to overthrow Franklin Roosevelt.

After World War I, the US had a government debt. 'The Mellon Plan' reduced taxes on the very rich, yet still increased revenue; and cut government spending. In that time, only Henry Ford and John Rockefeller were richer than Andrew Mellon. Much of the Mellon Plan was 'trickle down economics' that led to the Great Depression. In 1935 began the 'Mellon Tax Trial', which ended after Mellon's death.

'The Capitalist', Andrew Mellon, the Trickle down theorist on a 1955 3¢ stamp

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‡usually i supply my fotos, none of these fotos are mine

noto bene: there is currently a restoration effort to conserve the murals which suffered water damage after the heavy rains of two former hurricane storms that washed over Pittsburgh

Lennon's Second Five Year Plan Begins

2011-12-10T12:43:00.014-05:00

Polish Constitution Parade 2011

It has recently been announced that the Franciscans are leaving St. Stanislaus in Newburgh, Cleveland, Ohio. First one chapter, and then another served at St. Stan's. The current pastor is to be removed [in days] from the diocese, and the other Franciscans will be out 1 July 2012 [1 July 2010 was the day Lennon's first wave of parish evictions ended with the police removing parishioners from St. Emeric's]. The new order starts on 1 July [a new fiscal year].

altar with Franciscan saints

The weekend Masses of 4 December included in the bulletin a two sided (a,b) page insert. Oddly, they are both dated 1 December. Logic would dictate the Provincial's letter would have to have come first, but if it did, then the second letter should not have had a repeated historical error. Franciscan Father John Puodziunas recollects the Wisconsin friars came in 1989 [they had taken over from the St. Louis friars] to St. Stanislaus. Lennon has them coming in 1906.

Lennon's letter shows he doesn't know (or probably care) about the parish's history. Franciscans have been there since 1906, but these have been there since 1989 only. It appears Lennon doesn't make the distinction, or bothered to ask.

Many believe there is something beyond the 'official story' at St. Stanislaus. After Mass, Michael Surufka repeatedly said Lennon was not the cause of departure.

The Newburgh neighborhood (renamed for promotion as 'Slavic Village') of Cleveland, Lennon split into two 'clusters':

St. Stanislaus (Polish), Our Lady of Lourdes (Czech, and now Latin American), St. Hyacinth (Polish), [and additionally well outside the neighborhood] St. Casimir (Polish)
Sacred Heart (Polish), Immaculate Heart (Polish), Holy Name (territorial), St. Lawrence (Slovene), St. John Nepomucene (Czech).

He closed St. Hyacinth, St. Casimir, Sacred Heart and St. Lawrence (the last three, at least, with sizable cash reserves).

What now with St. Stanislaus? Certainly, Lennon is trying to have greater control over that parish. Now recently, in 2006, the church had become a shrine [and co-cathedral]. That was done before the arrival of lennonism. They attempted for basilica status, but only one basilica for any saint in the country. Springfield, Massachusetts has the basilica for St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr. St. Stan's has also been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.

in national costume around Karol Józef Wojtyła, abp. Krakow's mitre

Lennon's hands are tied, in regards to closing St. Stan's. He still can strike. He wants to de-Polonise. He is sending the Franciscans away. After July, how many priests will there be there? Will any priest there be able to speak Polish?

Lennon has had a repeated pattern of removing non-diocesan priests. Lennon has had a repeated pattern of removing multi-lingual priests. Of the nine parishes in the two clusters above, there were five Polish parishes; two are open now.

interior of St. Stanislaus, Cleveland. Epiphany 2011

Lennon cannot close St. Stanislaus. He can make it rough for them. He has meddled in much mischief already, e.g. the St. Stan's Dads Club has been eliminated. Lennon can eliminate the other Polish parish (Immaculate Heart of Mary), very near by. Immaculate Heart of Mary has a newly incardinated immigrant Polish priest. For this bishop all priests are pawns.

In Lennon's first five year plan, Immaculate Heart stayed open [in part to pay off past due bishop's taxes (assessments)]. Lennon might merge (close) Immaculate Heart into St. Stan's, which would become responsible for the 'debt' in his second five year plan.

Holy Name, and Our Lady of Lourdes have been recently sent two new pastors. Their assignments appear to be to keep the parishes open. What of St. John Nepomucene? Perhaps, too few details have emerged.

Guest Submission IV: St. Barbara

2011-12-07T19:57:00.004-05:00

The feast day of St. Barbara was celebrated this past Sunday, December 4th on the steps and sidewalk of the locked St. Barbara's Church. Closed on Mother's Day (May 9th) 2010, by Bishop Richard Lennon, the church has stood silent awaiting the return of its parishioners. The parishioners of St. Barbara's had filed an appeal with the Vatican to override the bishop's actions, thus stopping the diocese from selling off the church and the rest of the patrimony.

In the interim, the exiled parishioners have anxiously awaited a decision from Rome; only to hear that their appeal has been given still another extension (March of 2012). Scattered from their Polish founded parish (1905), they have kept in touch with each other, and prayed for a miracle.

As the attendees arrived on this second Sunday in Advent for this St Barbara's Day celebration, they were greeted with a slight rain, which they jokingly said, as the umbrellas popped open, was a blessing from above for refusing to abandon their parish. As they decorated the fence adjacent to the church with a banner stating "We Trust In Jesus", and hung advent wreaths on the church, they noticed that certain thieves had paid a visit to their beloved church. The air conditioning units were stolen, and the aluminium flag pole was hacked off at its base! "How sad", one woman remarked, "even the scrappers were benefiting from all these church closings."

The assembled were all welcomed, and thanked for coming. They prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet for their dear St. Barbara's community, and the numerous Catholic Parishes that were wrongfully closed under the guise of the "Vibrant Parish Plan." Michael Minich, the grandson of founders of the parish and one of the organizers of the vigil stated, "Bishop Pilla started Vibrant Parish with the promise not to close any churches and Bishop Lennon ended it with betrayal and closings."

A straw poll counted in attendance representatives from ten parishes. A 'rep' came from Congressman Kucinich's office. Cars driving across the Harvard-Denison Bridge, and those exiting the I-76 freeway ramp slowed down, rolled down their windows, and expressed support for the gathering. As they sang, a TV cameraman showed up and captured the event to present on the late news. Bolstered by the fact that the outside world was interested in their plight, as displaced Catholics, they kept on singing until the rain stopped for a short period of time. At the conclusion, they left the steps of St Barbara hoping to return to open doors as it was meant to be.

The words on the back of a St. Barbara holy card given to all to commemorate the celebration expressed the sentiments and meaning of the day. It read as follows:

Always in our hearts and minds
The church, our home and mother

The keys to Peter chosen to build
This sacred place like no other

Built in faith and firm in hope
Our Rock, our Lord, our Brother

This was the renewal, the feast day of St. Barbara, celebrated on the steps of this, their closed, but not forgotten church.

—Joseph Feckanin

Saint Nicholas of Myra

2011-12-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

on Mount Mela, Altindere (Torrent of Gold) Valley, is the Holy Monastery of Panagia Soumela

In what was the province of Pontus, and later Trebizond, and now Trabzon, on the south shore of the Black Sea in eastern Anatolia, there is a monastery founded in 386 on a stony mountain. The people there were Pontic Greeks, until the Turks deported the population in 1923. In the 14th century many frescoes wee painted on the stone walls of church and chapel. One is of the Council of Nicaea (325). The Turks have, in the last few years, had it as a tourist site. On Dormition (Aug. 15, 2010) the Turks allowed the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the first time since expulsion. In the lower left of the Nicene fresco is the episode of St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra striking the heretic prelate of Alexandria, Arius. Arius was presenting his case, and Nicholas could not stand to hear any more. Nicholas struck/slapped/punched/hit Arius upon the face. Nicholas breached episcopal etiquette by this. He was removed from council and jailed. This is where the miraculous takes a turn. A vision of Mary appeared to several bishops and defended Nicholas. Nicholas was restored to office.

Arius believed that "there was [a time] when he (the Son) was not." When the council began 22 bishops were supportive of Arianism. The council created the first uniform creed of the church, which stated the Son was consubstantial with the Father. This did not end Arianism. Emperor Constantine called the council for clarity. Constantine was baptised on his deathbed (337) by an Arian bishop. His son Constantius II created and appointed a great many Arian bishops. Emperors and kings, and their bishops promoted Arianism for several centuries. Not until c. 800 was the heresy put away, well until late in the second generation of Protestantism.

One of the greatly beloved saints of the Universal Church did not permit his fellow bishops and prelates to advance false theology; and they wanted to punish him severely, but Heaven held for him and not for them. This moment of righteous anger is not what most remember of Good Saint Nick. He is primarily remembered for his charity, and defense of the poor, and wrongly accused.

Serbian fresco of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

Saint Barbara, Cleveland

2011-12-04T19:37:00.001-05:00

The neighborhood around St. Barbara, Cleveland is called by the Polish people 'Barbarowa'. To-day was their feast day.

To-day, Sunday at 3 o'clock outside Saint Barbara's closed church on 1505 Denison, in Cleveland, at the end of an exit ramp of Jennings' Freeway [I-176], there met some of Saint Barbara's Parish on their patronal Feast Day (4 December, Saint Barbara's Day). It rained before people fully assembled. It rained throughout the sidewalk service and celebration. They came, they stayed, they sang, they prayed [Chaplet of Divine Mercy], they were a parish engaging in communal life.
Some stories persist, even when they are suppressed. As many of you surely know, there has been an orchestrated, and largely successful campaign by the chancery of the Roman-rite Catholic Diocese in Cleveland of "get along, there is nothing to see here". We all know, this is the same lie police forces give to chase people away from assembling. Something is to be seen. All of the laity will not disperse by a lennonist ukase.
The ruthless, and ongoing consolidation of episcopal power and the reduction of the laity and parish life is not over. There are some who, often very timidly but still, resist. There is a handful of evicted parishes that still meet. They meet outside (of the campus they were evicted from). The whole world can see them. This is evidence that a few do publicly continue their communal religious identity.

These Catholics met as a Christian community for the world to see. Amongst other things, they prayed for the recovery and return of their church. Yes, for Rome to reverse Lennon's injustice towards them.

Some had not been to the site since eviction. Many had not sen each other since. They renewed their acquaintances. They noticed the air conditioning units were stolen, the aluminum flag pole was cut off at the base. Scrap salvagers are profiting from the parish's eviction too.

interviewing parishioners Christine Dziedzina and Michael Minich

Channel WJW-8 sent a cameraman. He came at 4 o'clock. The people continued to sing, another seven songs or so. They sang in English, they sang in Polish. Part of the repertoire was borrowed from the Casimiri, the exiled parishioners of another Polish parish, whom have met every week since their eviction (more than two years ago).

Representatives of some ten diocesan churches [opened and closed] came. A representative from Congressman Dennis Kucinich's staff came representing him and sending his support and feelings of solidarity. No one has ever openly came from the bishop's office to any such prayer event to share in the Christian commonweal.

Two different people had cards printed. Both used the same picture.

Four Martyrs of December 2nd

2011-12-02T00:01:00.005-05:00

I placed this photoscan here several months before in anticipation of an essay. I respect the martyrs, they gave everything. Those who martyred them, not just the catspaws, take everything. For those of us that love justice, we live in continual sadness. In everything, it seems the worst triumph in work, business, government, church, and in life. I can not surrender, i may leave the field, but never surrender. Resistance is our right and duty. Some may petition God. God does what He wants to do.

top left: Cleveland Lay Mission Team Member Jean Donovan
top right: Ita Ford
lower left: Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke
lower right: Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel

notice for Saint Barbara's

2011-11-30T00:33:00.004-05:00

West 15th and Denison, next to I-176 (Jennings Freeway)

Saint Barbara's Parish in Cleveland, Ohio will join outside their closed church building on St. Barbara's Day, Sunday 4 December at 3 p.m. and meet as a parish community.

Ticker in the window

2011-11-29T01:18:00.006-05:00

Cleveland's Anglican Cathedral (Trinity) is far more impressive than the Catholic one. It is built in English Perpendicular Gothic style. It was built from 1901 to 1907. Collinwood High, when it was still in Collinwood, and called South High (1906-10) was built in this style (in the 1920s it was greatly expanded).

center floor plaque

When John D.[Rockefeller] left for New York City, the richest man in Ohio became Samuel Mather *1851, 1931†. His family controlled the shipping of iron ore on the Great Lakes. They expanded horizontally: lake freighter shipping, iron and coal mining, steel mills, lumber, land, electrical utilities. The big holding is Cleveland-Cliffs.

Humour is where you find it
left lower corner of left lancet west window in the narthex

Trinity Anglican looks like late, mediæval [Plantagenet, Lancaster, York] England. They have a window from mediæval England, and one from mediæval Belgium. They have some from earlier Cleveland Anglican churches, and, of course, from the XXᵗʰ century. Whether this was done as a recognition, or as a poke, i don't know.

Father Mathew's Temperance Society & the AOH

2011-11-28T19:30:00.001-05:00

a pane from Holy Name, Cleveland, O.; its twin reads: "The gift of the"

The Holy Name community began in 1854 in Newburgh [later annexed]. The parish began in 1859. The present church was built in the 1880s.

The Discalced Carmelites, John Of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila share a long, double lancet window on the nave wall. Some of the windows have the name of the donors. 'F.M.Temperance. Society.' gave the Carmelite windows. Fr. Theobald Mathew joined in 1838, the Cork Total Abstinence Society. People would 'make the Pledge' before a priest, sign a book, receive a medal/coin.

I promise to abstain from all intoxicating drinks except used medicinally and by order of a medical man and to discountenance the cause and practice of intemperance.

This was successful, in that, half the adult population of Ireland made that, or similar, pledge. Father Mathew came to America, and from July 1849 to December 1851 promoted the cause. He was given the use of NYC's City Hall. He was admitted to both Houses of Congress, and the White House. He was celebrated in Protestant America (as long as he would keep his mouth shut on the subject of the abolition of slavery). Mathew spoke against 'secret societies'.

In the 1830s, the time before the Great Hunger, in Ireland the Catholic Irish were under great duress from Protestant landlords, and the British government. The AOH and the Molly Maguires relieved some of that, and they came over to the United States. Labor unions were illegal in the US. The Molly Maguires were considered a 'secret society'. They were infiltrated by the private police thugs of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

One pair of windows was given by the A.O.H. (The Ancient Order of Hibernians), which is an Irish Catholic fraternal and protective organisation. In Pennsylvania, they were allied with the Molly Maguires of the anthracite coal fields. The AOH in the US began in 1836 in New York City, but at the time these windows were created, national offices were in Pittsburgh.

The A.O.H. made a gift of a St. Patrick, and St. Cecilia window. This pane is beneath Cecilia.

Newburgh had steel mills, and Cleveland had docks that unloaded the ore. Bishop Richard Gilmour had to know the AOH. To-day, they are mostly noted for sponsorship of the St. Patrick parade.

The two sets of the windows are directly opposite each other.

Something wrong in Kansas

2011-11-27T22:00:00.002-05:00

This may not be exact, but it has been my experience in observation. School administrators (principals) have been known to be farcical, but rigid tyrants. For all practical purposes the Republican party in the United States are fascists.

Sam Brownback was once a US Senator, that wanted to be president. He supported extreme Zionist views [total expulsion of Palestinians from Palestine], supported extreme measures [including wiretaps] of the oxymoronic 'Patriot Act', and chemical weapons. He self-identified himself as 'a compassionate conservative'.

Now, 'twitter' is a revival of telegrams by a new technology. Most 'tweets' are thoroughly unimportant, they are essentially telegrams by idiots for other idiots. Now, there are a serious of teen age novels and films about an idiot chick, a werewolf, and a vampire. Apparently, this is typical grist for the new telegraph mill, but the girl decided to insult Lord Brownback.

To quote the Wichita Eagle:

A Kansas teenager is in trouble after mocking Gov. Sam Brownback during a mock legislative assembly for high school students.
Emma Sullivan, a senior at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, was in Topeka on Monday as part of Kansas Youth in Government, a program for students interested in politics and government. ... On Tuesday, Sullivan was called to her principal’s office and told that the tweet had been flagged by someone on Brownback’s staff...

Brownback has his staff do a little 'Patriot Act' work on an 18 year old high school Democrat. Her principal, Karl Krawitz, is pressuring, demanding the girl grovel in writing to all sorts of pooh-bahs.

I have to wonder, if she had criticised a Democrat, would the principal be so upset? Would a Democratic staffer gone after a high school kid? Even so, neither the principal, the governor, or any apparatchik working for the governor have any respect for the First Amendment, or Freedom of Conscience.

Unfortunately, as the country is to-day, there are many in this country that agree with going after the girl. I may be partisan, but there is a certain petty vindictiveness that is owned by the Republican party. Richard Nixon was famous for his enemies list, and there are few Republicans to-day kinder than Nixon.

militarised sadists

2011-11-21T22:00:00.008-05:00

One lesson needs to observed for people's safety: people, such as the Occupy America activists, need to wear helmets and goggles. It may be a silly and unnecessary uniform. As an uniform, it would signify the absurdity of the situation.* There are motorcycle helmets, and football helmets with visors. Military veterans have worn helmets in combat. Of course, construction helmets are usually worthless.

At University of California Davis on Friday, 18 November a group of students were sitting on a cement walk in silence. A militarised stormtrooper, employed as campus police, unloaded an aerosol can of industrial grade oleoresin capsicum. Lieutenant John Pike pepper sprayed seated and still protestors, spraying the pepper juice in a motion one uses when spraying weed killer across a long crack of cement, slow deliberate, and coming back with a second coat. This spray is concentrated in potency about ten times [or more] of habanero peppers. The Chemical Weapons Convention forbids it for military use.

Of course, this is not the only instance currently of cruel, unnecessary, gratuitous, viciousness of police. It was just photographed and filmed. Certainly, without the film [and even with it] they would lie about the interaction. It is what police and their supporters do.

Note, how this is covered on television, radio and in print. What words will be used? How much a threat the students were? How endangered were the police? How violent was the crowd? Here you have seen a photograph. Videos are available. What if none were? How plausible would the authorities version be? Damn lucky, the cameramen were not roughed up and their cameras smashed, or confiscated.

Locale after locale, the cops are dressed like 21st century gestapo stormtroopers. Nationally, they have co-ordinated their strategies and tactics.
_____________________________________
*laws might be enacted to prohibit the wearing of such helmets away from playing fields, and riding

comparing the anti-democrats

2011-11-21T21:00:00.007-05:00

any checked box should be a disqualification for office
(revised 12. 23. 2011, Cain has excused himself earlier, Romney's increasing mendacity, heavier scrutiny on Paul and Gingrich) This is beyond a clown car. If this candidate coterie for command is characteristic of the collective, then wow...just wow...un#...@believable. And, then there is Donald Trump, and Sarah Palin.

Michele Bachmann
☑ crazier than a shit house rat [hell, crazier than a knot of rats]
☑ self announced torture enthusiast

Herman Cain
☑ crazy as a shit house rat
☑ self announced torture enthusiast
☑ fraudulent piousness in life as Baptist minister

Newt Gingrich [see footnote]
☑ well known past scandals
☑ insufferable arrogance
☑ intolerable academic/logical fallacies, falsities and fraudulencies

Jon Huntsman
☐

Ron Paul
☑ at times crazy [past racism, Ayn Randism]

Rick Perry
☑ crazy as a shit house rat
☑ has not understood the War for Union [1861-65]
☑ self announced torture enthusiast

Mitt Romney
☑ corporations are people
☑ lying, as opposed to 'flip flopping', and pandering
☑ has been running for presidency continuously since 1999 Salt Lake Org. Comm. for 2002 Olympics

Rick Santorum
☑ crazy as a shit house rat
☑ self announced torture enthusiast
======================================
positive positions [that will hurt their nomination chances]
against torture: Huntsman, Paul
favors peace initiatives: Paul
seemingly sane: Huntsman
______________________________________________
Postscriptum 7 December 2011: Yes, addition to Newt Gingrich. The first commenter suggested, "You can add 'crazier than a shit house rat' to Newt Gingrich, now." Gingrich will say preposterous things for momentary gains. This idjit was an academic? Well, Fathead to-day said he would appoint John Bolton as Secretary of State. Now this is STUPID, and illegal (that certainly doesn't bother either of them).
U. S. Code TITLE 18. PART I . CHAPTER 29.
§ 599. Promise of appointment by candidate
"Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
Newt Gingrich ☑ crazier than a shit house rat

Newt being Gingrich

2011-11-21T19:53:00.006-05:00

'Newt' Gingrich is the poster boy for insufferable arrogance. In his narcissistic delusions he assumes to be an intellectual. He taught college history before being a congressman from the northern suburbs of Atlanta. He was in Congress for twenty years, the last four as Speaker. He was the chief author of the Contract on America. During his control of Congress, he was reprimanded and fined on an ethics charge.

Before becoming speaker he was minority whip, succeeding Dick Cheney and followed by Tom Delay. These absolutely loathsome men have poisoned America, and Cheney the world. Their cutthroat ambition and lack of scruples have produced the current national politics.

Gingrich was successful in much of his desires. His obnoxiousness was recognised by much of America. A coup was attempted amongst Republicans to have him leave the speakership in 1997. It failed. After a poor showing nationally for their party in 1998, and facing another coup, he left Congress.

He is currently running for President. When he was in power, he challenged Bill Clinton repeatedly, including orchestrating an impeachment. He wanted the presidency then. It is no surprise to see him running now. The interval between then and now has surprised some people. He used the time to accumulate money. Time was needed to have people forget his odiousness.

Also in the meantime, his party has become ever increasingly fascist. The establishment candidate, and heir to the candidacy, Mitt Romney is not viscerally acceptable to this constituency. A series of challengers have come out of the demonic clown car to vie for the crown. Each one upon scrutiny has faded back in the pack. Gingrich is the one now. As a democrat, and as a Democrat, this would be great. Let these two stay at the top. Normal America just will not vote for Gingrich. His condescension will not be acceptable. This is not a warm, demonstrative man.

Further his scandals, which have ended by marrying his successive partner in adultery does not play well. Though representing Georgia, he is not quite a southerner. Politically, converting to Catholicism is a way to lose votes in most Republican friendly districts and states.

Now our anti-hero to fully demonstrate how conceited, haughty, overbearing, pretentious, overbearing, and scornful he is to the point of stupidity is this statement he made about the democracy activists against Wall Street, in a church in Des Moines, "Go get a job right after you take a bath."* Those who protest the establishment are all dirty and jobless. That's a ridiculous blanket statement. He also suggests that the jobless have no first amendment rights. He also suggests that those that work, also have no first amendment rights. All those that do not rule, should work, and say nothing. That is the society we need—that of masters and slaves. Some should point out that the proletariat masses can still vote. Why would they show agreement with him by voting for him? That is why Republicans are so keen in reducing the electorate.

On a similar note, on Friday past, at Harvard, his magnificence said child labor laws "are truly stupid". Start working menial jobs, for menial pay as soon as possible. While Newtie gets thousands dollars to make asinine speeches, and even more money writing asinine books, that stroke the rich, and beat the poor. These cruel, idiot Republicans all want the economic world to function like the views of Ebeneezer Scrooge before he made acquaintance with his ghostly visitors.
__________________________________
*In that Republicans never learn anything, they also never forget. This was something that would have been said when in the late 60s, and early 70s people were protesting the Viet Nam War and other causes, and the country had full employment and jobs were readily available. Those who rule America now, made sure they did not go to war then, and registered unemployment is 10% and employers want you to jump through hoops.

Late night Friday television

2011-11-19T01:00:00.002-05:00

ABC had a story on an egg factory, Sparboe Farms, that supplies McDonald’s Egg McMuffin®. It is not the first instance of the public seeing the conditions of industrial farming. Mercy for Animals had someone film undercover on site. Brian Ross was then escorted by a company spokesman for a tour. The spokesman said the tour was to show the “truth”. Apparently, uncomplimentary video evidence is not the “truth”. I have come across this before, “truth” is that which the established power says it is.

I remember the last such corporate egg factory sandwich i had. It was from Burger King at Cleveland Hopkins aeroport last century. I puked it up in a barrel in the parking garage, if i remember exactly, seconds after ingestion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

David Letterman had Herman Cain on Friday’s show. He pointed out that Cain was less than honest about not being a Washington insider, since he was president of a restaurant association headquartered in Washington. Cain said he was not a lobbyist, that he hired lobbyists. Cain reminded Letterman that he had a degree in mathematics and that being a mathematician, the vast majority [he said 95%] of his life was outside of Washington. Letterman also ridiculed nine-nine-nine as another version of trickle down. Cain mentioned there was 200 countries and he could not list them. Letterman asked Cain how many pizza toppings he had. Cain said nine, but did not list them. Cain likes numbers, but is deficient in arithmetic logic.

Letterman, went a little out of the way, to point out some of the ridiculous things from Cain's campaign. The smoking campaign manager commercial, chief amongst them. David then wouldn't let up on the sex scandal accusations. Actually, Letterman was aggressive. He believes that Cain should not seriously be considered. It was not a soft interview, but a good one.

Letterman was fair in his scrutiny, and did service to the electorate. Really, it was better than those done by 'newsmen'. Letterman covered several topics, and though not being shook off, he did not belabor. Cain has just recently requested, and received Secret Service protection. Candidates need to be protected against questions.

Buy Nothing Day

2011-11-18T22:00:00.003-05:00

Turkey Day is the 4ᵗʰ Thursday of November. Cold Turkey Day is the 3ʳᵈ Thursday of November. At least part of Turkey Day is consumption of food, festive food, and perhaps over abundance. The term 'cold turkey' applies to the immediate, and complete cessation of some indulgence or activity. Health organisations have sponsored, and promoted stop smoking campaigns with Cold Turkey Day.

The day after Turkey Day (Thanksgiving) has been called by the retail, and advertising industry 'Black Friday', meaning profitable Friday. In recent years, certain retailers have opened up their stores earlier than normal on that day. Some are opening up at midnight, immediately when the day begins. This means their employees must be there before 'Black Friday'. They are beginning their shifts on the holiday, Thanksgiving Thursday.

Now, Anthony Hardwick of Omaha, Nebraska works for one such store. He noticed the obvious and began an online petition asking for the store to open at 5 a.m. He is trying to change the mind of the CEO of Target department stores to 'allow' employees to spend the holiday with their families.

What are these days? Thanksgiving is an exercise in 'americanism' a forced blending of religion and patriotism. It is one of the few holidays acknowledged in the US. Every country (Scotland is a close second) has more holidays than the US. It is part of american culture, the blending of calvinism and capitalism. Both frowned on holidays, those days when people feasted and didn't work.

The day after was an off day by accident for many. Many came to work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but had the Thursday off, and also the weekend. Friday was isolated, and it became convenient to many to take Friday off. Well, that day was then convenient for shopping, and at that point the escalation began.

Television (and other) 'news' have story, after story, after story highlighting, intensely covering, encouraging shopping and spending. Millions of hours of free advertising posing as journalism: reporters acting as advertising shills, drummers, and whores, cheerleading unnecessary, and often conspicuous, consumption all to promote the commercialisation of american society. The golden calves of Mammon are very fat in the US, but these worshipping devotees do not remember that seven ill favoured, and lean kine once ate seven beautiful, and fleshy kine.

Adbusters began in Vancouver in 1989. They are a social activist organisation that questions and challenges the economic establishment. They were the boys who started Occupy Wall Street. They also promoted Buy Nothing Day, which has been the day after Thanksgiving* since 1997 [it began September 1992 in Méjico].

These activists also encourage public theatre activism. During the first summer of the cheneybushjr régime the first zombie walk took place. These zombie events were in conjunction with the showing of zombie films. Romero's second zombie film, Dawn of the Dead [1978], was shot at a shopping center fifteen miles east of Pittsburgh. Zombie walks have become popular there. This Hallowe'en zombie costumes were extra-ordinarily popular. Well, walking around sluggishly, mindlessly, relentlessly in order to feed on human flesh is an apt metaphor for american consumerism and cut throat capitalism.
___________________
*Thanksgiving Day in Canada is Columbus Day (2^nd October Monday). Buy Nothing Day is set for the US, but the day is also marked in other countries.

two things

2011-11-17T01:02:00.011-05:00

www.SANCTUScampaign.org

This will bring you onto a site to sign petitions. This particular petition was written by Elizabeth Kucinich, it is entitled:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday, 16 November, on the Rita Cosby radio show from WOR 710 AM, NYC a guest on one of the half hours was Joseph Feckanin of St. Casimir, Cleveland. Rita interviewed Joseph about the church closures in the diocese of Cleveland.

Joseph was on at 6.30-7.00 pm during live streaming. She was polite, sympathetic, and encouraging to Feckanin. The interview went quickly. Feckanin told a few points, relayed an endearing story of Cleveland's Sacred Heart Parish. He spoke on the nastiness that was the clustering process of parish elimination. He mentioned Lennon's shakedown of parishes for money.

Cosby did not understand that there was not an economic necessity in closures. She has been conditioned in accepting that without thinking.

UPDATE: The interview can be heard at this link. Let it 'load' silently, and then beginning about 18.30 (minutes and seconds) the interview begins. Start listening at that point.

the american bishops' plan

2011-11-14T13:42:00.005-05:00

Blessed Pope John XXIII (r. 1958-63) convened an Ecumenical Council in 1962. Now, by an ecumenical council it is meant that the whole of Christendom is represented, the entirety of the inhabited world. Vatican I (1869-70) was incomplete and remained in suspension, being interrupted by the Franco-Prussian War, and the Wars for the Unification of Italy. Vatican II (1962-65) has not been digested yet.

Part of Vatican II entailed an increased role for the laity. Over the last generation, the parliament of American bishops have fought a war of reaction over this. Now, for the United States, in recent years the most visible occurrence of events in the American Catholic Church-Roman rite have been the sex scandals.

Instead of implementing the spirit of Vatican II, or the continuation of an organic, or a traditional Catholicism, the bishopry has instituted their own programme. It must be remembered, that at one time, and for most of US history, the Catholic Church was NOT a part of the establishment. It is now, locally and nationally.

The bishops have adopted an american business model for religion. The salvation of souls has been salvaged for the pursuit of power and profit. The parish is the model that Christ described [For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.—Matthew xviii. 20.]. In the Canon law of the church, a parish is a 'juridic person perpetual by its nature', which needs three persons to be formed, and can continue with one [see here]. The american bishops have corporately decided an implementation of the televangelists' mega-church model, combined not with the Gospels of Matthew and Co., but the gospels of Wall Street, Madison Avenue, and Harvard Yard, along with a monarchical tyranny as management style.

Cleveland is just a prime example. First we have the tyrant [Richard Lennon] as bishop. He has hired a firm and its model for the current shakedown campaign, ‘Rooted in Faith Capital Campaign’. The same Madison Avenue-Catholic Division campaign had been used in several dioceses previously.

Previously, Lennon used the 'Vibrant Parish Campaign' to eviscerate the diocese. Other dioceses, too, have used that terminology for a shakedown, and/or reduction of parishes. It is advertising jargon to disguise power and monetary grabs.

Canon law* allows creation of parishes for any purpose. In the US people have come from around the world, and have always requested these parishes. Many bishops have done so reluctantly, in the past, but allowed for their formation. Now, they are trying to eliminate them in entirety. Lennon, in Cleveland, has trod this path vehemently, and with venom.

In the current crucible of time, we here, have seen Vatican II and the traditional desires of the laity abandoned, and replaced by a consolidation of episcopal power. The episcopacy covered up grave moral scandal, which since has become public. The eruption of this corruption has turned out to be expensive. In an attempt at a twofold solution, they have been creative in capital accumulation, and increased their authority by centralisation. This centralisation has been achieved at the destruction of parishes, and the alienation of parishioners, while robbing them of property and funds, and then demanding more funds from the survivors. The laity has not been served, but betrayed.
___________________
Canon 518 As a general rule a parish is to be territorial, that is, one which includes all the Christian faithful of a certain territory. When it is expedient, however, personal parishes are to be established determined by reason of the rite, language, or nationality of the Christian faithful of some territory, or even for some other reason.

11/11/11

2011-11-11T11:11:00.002-05:00

On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month of 1918, the Armistice (cessation of the use of arms and ordinance) on the Western Front took effect. Men did die in action that day. An estimate of 11,000 casualties, that day, is given by the historian Joseph Persico. French military records recorded French deaths that day as happening on the tenth. Who wants to be told their son died on the last day of the war?

That day was also St. Martin's, the Roman soldier who declared before Worms, "I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight." Many of the French thought he intervened.

Erich Maria Remarque wrote the novel, Im Westen nichts Neues (All Quiet on the Western Front). The hero, Paul Bäumer, dies in October 1918. Many people are now introduced to that war, by that book. The book has been occasionally banned. There are no combat veterans of that war left alive.

Pride and Perversion over Propriety

2011-11-10T12:33:00.008-05:00

Does this sound familiar?

"He chose loyalty to the football fraternity over protection of small children. " — Bill Livingston

Very few football schools have academic success rates approaching a perfect one hundred percent. The sports journalists and commercial marketeers like to point out the excellence of those handful of programmes. Over the years, i have seen many televised broadcasts feature prominently a handful of schools again, and again: all the military service academies, Duke, Stanford, Notre Dame, and yes Penn State.

Paterno made his teams successful. His defensive coach Gerald Arthur "Jerry" Sandusky played and started for Paterno from 1963 to 1965. From 1966, and then continuously from 1969 to 1999. Many thought he would succeed Paterno, but Paterno would not retire.

Sandusky turned out to be a sexual predator, who raped pre-pubescent boys. As a predator he needs prey. As so many he used a mask of benevolence, respect and authority to gain access to flesh. We have seen similar modes of operation in charity work. The Boy Scouts, the Churches and others have tried to cover this up, because their 'reputation' is of more importance than their activities.

Father Bruce Ritter received national fame for Covenant House begun in 1972. They took in runaway youth who ended up on the lower east side of Manhattan (NYC). They expanded. Now they are in 15 US cities, and 6 others in 5 North American countries. I remember Ritter on 60 Minutes. Reagan in 1984 mentioned him in the State of the Union address. Edwin Meese put him on the Attorney General's commission on pornography, the next year. Then in December 1989 the sordid story broke, and there were more accusing sexual partners and victims. Ritter resigned from the charity he founded in February 1990.

Sandusky started a charity, The Second Mile, in 1977 as a group foster home for 'troubled boys' in Penn State's college town of State College. The charity has expanded beyond that. Senator Rick Santorum gave him an award in 2002.

Just recently, the news has broken, and there is a pile left to go through (ugly details of great crime and perversion are coming). Local people and institutions knew for years: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, State College Police Department, County District Attorney's Office. Sandusky was free (until now). The head coach, Joseph Paterno was told by an eyewitness of the raping of a ten year old boy, by Sandusky in the showers of the Lasch Football Building in March 2002.

Now in very short time Paterno and the college president have been fired. Last night many campus students had a spontaneous riot in support of Paterno. They attacked a television news truck, of course. Attack the messenger of your shame.

In 390 in Thessalonica, the governor and military commander Butheric arrested a great charioteer. The athlete was very popular in the city. The charioteer was also a rapist of boys. He was jailed for attempted sodomite rape. The sports fanatics rose up and killed Butheric and other Goth generals, and mutilated their corpses.

What do we value as a society? Do unnamed, unimportant victims matter?
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Postscriptum: in 1988 Joe Paterno gave a speech at the Republican Presidential Convention for his buddy, ghwbush. I lost all respect for the man. But that is besides the point.
Postscriptum 12 November: Paterno is lawyering up with the same criminal defense specialist his buddy, ghwbush, used for Iran-contra, J. Sedgwick Sollers.

Two Years on the Streets

2011-11-06T14:36:00.006-05:00

After two full years after a Mass of Eviction they still come. Not one Sunday has been unobserved. The Casimiri pray, sing, celebrate and invite everyone. They have been put out because of one man, their abusive bishop, Richard Lennon. Lennon was likened to the bad shepherd in Ezechiel, and the hard man in the parable of the talents in Matthew.

The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand. — Ezechiel xxxiv. 4.

But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed. —Matthew xxv. 24.

They also said Canon 1741§3 [odium populi] applied and should be invoked, for Lennon had earned hatred from the people, which "will not cease in a brief time"; and therefore, should be removed. The parishioners asked for his resignation.

some 125+ people came brother and sister leave a bouquet at a statue of Our Lady

State Representative Bill Patmon came to support and pray with the Casimiri

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This was not the only second anniversary of eviction. Last Sunday, St. John the Baptist, Akron noted theirs. Also, to-day a few folk from St. Margaret of Hungary's met at Calvary Cemetery Cleveland by their war memorial of war dead parishioner servicemen.

2nd year of vigils holy cards

2011-11-04T14:48:00.002-04:00

Sunday will be two years since the Mass of Eviction presided over by Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland. Before that Mass, the parish had an Eucharistic Procession and the parish was dedicated to St. Mary, Our Lady of Częstochowa. In the Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra there is the national icon of Mary, Ikona Matki Boskiej z Jasnej Góry w Częstochowie zwana Czarną Madonną. Since then The Divine Mercy of Jesus has been the Patron to reopen the Parish, and all the other suppressed and closed parishes and churches of the Cleveland diocese. These cards are meant to be remembrances of the event.

Even the ruins are beautiful

2011-11-01T16:00:00.004-04:00

In 1933 the Rusyns, living near E.93 and Orleans, in the Newburgh section of Cleveland, Ohio built their second parish church of St. Joseph Greek Catholic (Byzantine). In less than fifty years they had moved to the suburbs, and having services at Brecksville High School until their third church was built. On the next street, in a line, exact east is the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Which was a Slovak Roman-rite Church. The Slovaks and Rusyns are hard to distinguish from each other.

The second St. Joseph's church was sold to Greater Zion Hill Baptist. Fortunately, they were not iconophobes and left the murals. Unfortunately, they could not keep up the building it has been vacant for several years. The former school building is now Greater Tabernacle Church.
This part of the apse mural, faded but intact, shows Moses on the left; John the Baptist on the right; the Holy Spirit on top; and Joseph, Jesus, and Mary in the center; several angels. Not shown, is God the Father; the center axis portrays the Three Persons of the Trinity. Also not shown, are large holes in the ceiling revealing the wire mesh holding the plaster.

the floor of the nave is gone

Melchisedech the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, said: Blessed be Abram

Saint Stephen Protomartyr

A faded SS. Cyril and Methodius, Equals to the Apostles

One of several seraphs (six winged angel)

Moses Cleaveland stands in and occupies

2011-10-29T00:01:00.003-04:00

16 October 2011

The Occupy movement began on Manhattan's Wall Street. It first came to Cleveland on the 6th of October. An initial camp out was broken up by the cops. A city councilman, Brian Cummins, got the representatives of the '99%' a two week permit to occupy a sidewalk. They had peaceful demonstrations throughout the Square, and next to City Hall around the Free Stamp sculpture. They have been joined by others (unionists and college students).

Cleaveland given sign and flag

The surveyor (note the tool in the crook of the arm) Moses Cleaveland did the initial layout for a town, in what had been Connecticut's Western Reserve, on July 22, 1796. This bronze statue on a cylindrical pedestal was made in 1888 by J C Hamilton. This summer, the statue was temporarily renamed for a German for the filming of the movie,"The Avengers". Public Square became a beer garden in Stuttgart.

The Occupiers have had their forums about the Tom Johnson statue, for Johnson is still a symbol of good government. They have also met in the Old Stone Church on the Square.

On the night of 21 October the Occupy sit-in was removed by police, at the expiration of the permit. Eleven were arrested calmly, and not particularly rough. The police see themselves as being screwed by the governor, John Kasich, over allied issues, and are not so gung ho to rough up protestors whom are upset with the system, and those that control it.

The Occupy movement has reached Europe. Here in America, it has finally made the television media interested in real social and economic problems, instead of the propaganda campaigns of the moneyed interests and their shills.

They allowed Moses to keep the flag.

Mitre a pumpkin

2011-10-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

no, non uno zucchetto, una grande zucca

Busy Corner

2011-10-24T16:33:00.007-04:00

Stone for Morgan Waters [the 'g' was inserted]. His house was the parish's home in its early years. He died in 1875, his wife, Catharine Brooks, died in the parish's first year, 1848.

St. Patrick's is an old parish in terms of the Cleveland diocese. It is only a few months younger than the diocese. Cleveland had one church, St. Mary's on-the-Flats. Some farmers in Rockport Township asked the just created first bishop of Cleveland, Louis Amadeus Rappe, for a parish. The parish had its first Mass on St. Patrick's Day 1848 [it was a Sunday that year] inside Morgan Waters' home. About once a month a priest would come to Waters' home. In 1854 the first church was dedicated on land donated by a parish family. In 1897-98 the new church was built. The old church was torn down, and the parish graveyard expanded to those grounds.

The church's congregation was evicted 30 May 2009. The parish is appealing its closure to Rome. Richard Lennon, the bishop, wants it merged with Ascension, and Annunciation, at Ascension's campus. St. Patrick's began with about 40 families, in 2009 they had about 1,100 families. On Sunday, the 30th of May 2010, the parish had its last Mass in that graveyard which had been the site of the first church building.

As time passes some events do happen. Cleveland expanded across the Cuyahoga, annexing one village, and neighborhood after another. West Park formed in 1900 from the township. St. Patrick's received a resident pastor in 1910. Horse wagons were replaced by motor cars, and street cars. West Park became a part of Cleveland in 1923. The church was expanded in the early 1950s.

St. Patrick West Park Cleveland, Ohio at Rocky River Drive & Puritas Avenue

The intersection became that of two two busy city streets. The cemetery is just a sidewalk's width from the street, and a short chain link fence is the border there. On July 20th a driver ran through the fence dislodging, and damaging some grave stones. Since the, a section of the low fence has been replaced; and the stones gathered together. Perhaps, in November they will be set in place (and duplicates? of some damaged ones).

stones gathered together

Patrick's Prayer circle

2011-10-23T23:55:00.004-04:00

Some people found the shade on the steps of St. Patrick West Park 'chilly'. A prayer circle took place before St. Patrick in the garden.

Ohio voting

2011-10-21T18:00:00.004-04:00

Now, if you are fair minded individual let us pose this: now, suppose you are a Republican, your party cries about government waste. Now, you should be aware they want two primaries next year. Why would this be 'hypocritical'? Two primaries cost more than one. But, here is a thing — hypocrisy is a core requirement.

Some counties were sending out applications for absentee voting automatically. The brand new Republican Secretary of State, Jon Husted, forbade this. Well, that would save money, and reduce voting.

Now, Republicans do not want all people voting. They have invented the non-existent threat of 'voter fraud'. They solve this straw man falsity with voter suppression. They have done this in state after state. All this costs money, and it is wasted to solve a non-existent problem, but it does reduce voting. It is a new form of poll tax, which is unconstitutional (yes, more hypocrisy, but we are talking about Republicans).

Now, the real danger is Republicans controlling the elections. The fraud comes in the counting of votes. Republicans cannot be trusted in the counting of votes (you must remember Florida in 2000, and Ohio in 2004; which gave us eight years of the cheney/bushjr régime). An allied problem is gerrymandering, the drawing of districts in odd ways so to greatly favor certain candidates. The Republicans are against democratic government. The voice of the people mean nothing, what counts is gaining control of government. Two primaries here will be confusing, and will discourage some from voting — mission accomplished.

When Republicans control government, they are ruthless. Kasich and the State House are against worker rights, and wish to remove all of them. Ohio allows (for the time being, anyway) for the public (quite often it is business interests) to propose state ballot issues. In this case, Issue 2 concerns the passed Senate Bill 5. A 'No' vote will negate that law.

Now, as they constantly prove themselves, they are hypocrites. In one commercial they have a 'teacher' say he is for the passage "and not believe everything you here". What he doesn't tell you is, that, he is a Republican county chairman. In another commercial they take a woman's statement and present it as in their favor. She is not in favor. The Republicans say it is their first amendment right to take her words, and use them as they wish. Compare this to what Republicans say about property rights.

Now they are running a commercial claiming "excessive wages and benefits" of "government employees make 43% more than the rest of us". Sounds what Republicans would generally call 'class warfare'. Of course, they do not complain against those that make 10,000% more than the rest of us.

Not only are they mean-spirited hypocrites, but the self-contradictions of supposed 'principles' they violate should disqualify them from receiving the votes from honest, and rational voters. They do have a 'faithful core' that overlook these sorts of things, but then again blind men are not interested in the paint jobs of jalopies.
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Postscriptum: 25 October 2011. Now they are running a new commercial complaining that government workers get better pay, benefits, and conditions than "us". Okay, does that apply to the top 1% of us? Of course not, the same people who paid for the campaign, and support Kasich and his ilk, would try to scare "us" about that sort of "class warfare". Consistency is just not their thing.

I was looking for a job when I got this one

2011-10-19T22:26:00.005-04:00

“I was looking for a job when I got this one”, is a comment some of us have made upon separation, or anticipated, or hypothetical, separation from a job. For some it is a posing of a devil-may-care bravado, because the job, particularly this job, is not central to my existence, or worth.

Now, with the bastard, fascist, capitalism we have now...it is not comfortably done. Can one go to a next job quickly [or at all]? Are we free to drop out, and not suffer because of it? Poor economic times reduce freedom.

Some few of us, used to rate 'fun factors'. Each job can be placed on a scale, each job has a fun factor. There are people who increase the fun factor on a job. Men would not stay on a job when the fun factor was too low. Such concepts reside in the minds of dinosaurs.

We have become wormy, maggoty. Of course, there were always such pukes, but few of them were allowed to thrive. Now, the milieu encourages it. When we were religious, avarice was a sin. Group solidarity and mores prevented much. But, America has made capitalism a religion where the devotees are sinless.

Some of these comments, i make historically, some societal, and some particular. Now in history, many postulate turning points. Thomas Carlyle spoke of 'great men'. Franklin Roosevelt was such a man, acceptable to Carlyle, and to Tacitus. Roosevelt, and the C.I.O., and the A.F.of L. allowed America a better compensated working class [which many call 'the middle class', it is not, we still have to acknowledge its use that way]. This is when America became America for most Americans. Then the apostate, Ronald Reagan came along.

The Republicans always hated Mr. Roosevelt, and tried to undo the things he did for America and Americans. Nixon would employ dirty tricks and do anything to get power, but much of his programmes were not a repeal. But then came along the reaganistas. Reagan in his first year attacked labor, and labor has not recovered. Reagan had been an union president, before he was a politician; but he colluded with General Electric. Reagan killed the Air Traffic Controller Union [PATCO] in 1981. Since then, in America strikes only occur in base ball. Unions have become weakened considerably, and corrupted. They have become the opposite of militant, yet the Repukes want their abolition.

Corporate greed got a green light. The 1987 movie 'Wall Street' had the character Gordon Gekko rhapsodise Greed. Since then Wall Street gave us the conditions of pre-Roosevelt America [with the addition of a continuously shrinking unionised work force], and a second depression. The movement Reagan had started, has gotten so extreme, Reagan would not be accepted in it now.

America has allowed this to happen. Now for a month a spontaneous movement, which began in Manhattan, Occupy Wall Street has caught the media's attention. It spread, first to large cities in America, and this week to Europe. Most of these people are young and schooled with a desire for some sort of idealism, and not politically affiliated, or corporately affiliated. In all those things, they are most unlike the Teabaggers. They adopted the epithet, 'We are the 99%'. They have occupied public space in a modern tented Hooverville. They were organically formed, and grew. They are largely self-policing. They realise in the larger picture that a real power holding elite [not just the literate, whom have been accused by the propagandists of that elite] have contempt for America, and control it. They are advocating for democracy, economic democracy.

Upcoming Cleveland Diocesan events

2011-10-16T16:30:00.000-04:00

The Church is made up of all its members. The Cleveland diocese is made up of 8 counties. The church and the diocese is not one individual, even though he has a special hat, and likes to flash his ring. These events are not in parish bulletins, but they still occur.

[3.00 p.m. Saturday, 22 October -- outside the cathedral church on East Ninth Street, Cleveland -- Marian service, including the recitation of the rosary, and songs -- sponsored by Saint Emeric's Parish -- for all evicted parishes and Christians (this took place inside the church to the fear of one priest, and the annoyance of another)]

[1.00 p.m. Saturday, 29 October -- outside the closed St. John the Baptist at 1044 Brown Street in Akron a march against the abuse of children by clergy and the episcopal coverup, and financial scandals all of which is related to the closure of 58 parishes]

11.30 a.m. Sunday, 6 November -- outside the closed St. Casimir on East 82nd there will be the 104th consecutive service since eviction, yes it has been 2 years
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

St. Casimir Church 8223 Sowinski Ave.
(Adjacent to Rockefeller Park/Ansel Road Exit off MLK Blvd.)

Parish of St. Casimir-in-Exile
Two Year Anniversary Prayer Vigil
photograph by Thomas Sullens

"NIE BOJCIE SIE", in Polish means "DO NOT BE AFRAID". These words are the famous words pronounced by the late Pope, John Paul II on his first visit to Poland as the Vicar of Christ. These words ignited a nation to throw off the chains of tyranny.

On Sunday, November 6th, outside the locked gates of St. Casimir Church, the 104th prayer vigil will be held at 11:30 AM. This date marks two years of continuous vigils held in the rain, cold, snow and heat.

We urge all to join us and show solidarity on this special day. At St. Casimir, Poles and non-Poles stand together for all Catholics who have been unjustly treated.

We vow to pray "FOR OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND YOURS". Please join us, your church may be in a second round of closures. As our beloved Karol Wojtyla inspired us in the past, let his words, "DO NOT BE AFRAID" ring out to be heard by all.

Before the Mass of Eviction [11.08.09], St. Casimir's was dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Since then, Our Lady has been Our Guide and Strength.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3.00 p.m. Sunday, 4 December -- outside the closed St. Barbara at West 14th and Denison the parish and friends will meet on St. Barbara's Day

_________________________________________________________________

there are ongoing street vigils and prayer services every Sunday

09. 45 a.m. St. Emeric -- West 22nd, next to the West Side Market
11. 30 a.m. St. Casimir -- East 82nd, by the streets with the names of Polish generals (Kosciusko, Pulaski, Sowinski) above Rockefeller Park
11. 30 a.m. St. Patrick -- Rocky River & Puritas
sporadically St. James -- Detroit & Granger
______________________________________________________________
Postscriptum: this entry has been updated a few times and released on other dates. It returns now at its original slot.

some last photos of Cleveland's Saint Catharine

2011-10-08T00:01:00.003-04:00

view from bell tower window

another arch of biblical quotation referring to Jesus is felled by demolition

watering the debris to keep down the dust

organ's wooden chambers falling

late Monday morning, 26 September 2011, demolition crew including foreman, cameraman from WKYC-3, concerned Catholics, and Cleveland city council member chatting in the parking lot of Saint Catharine's Cleveland

Concerning one sentence of lies by Robert Tayek

2011-10-07T00:01:00.005-04:00

detailing the lies
The compact, and efficient use of lies some people employ is their talent. The spokesman for the Cleveland Roman Catholic Diocese, Robert Tayek, has this ability. Note this photograph, and the lies it reveals in this one sentence:

Tayek said, "The plaques were located in an area of the church, the bell tower, which was unusable and had been closed off as unsafe for some time. ..."

Lies 1 & 2 Note: only one memorial war plaque is near, but not inside the bell tower.
Lie 3 The other tablet was on the nave wall opposite this wall, and at the time of the photograph in the heap of rubble.
Lie 4 Note: worker inside bell tower. The supposed unsafe bell tower is where a worker stands to water the dust down. The rest of the building, except the facade is rubble. The floor in front of the steeple has disappeared. Later the facade was taken down. The bell tower was, perhaps, the sturdiest and strongest part of the building. If not this worker's (see last foto) life was in danger for all the hours he stood in the bell tower.
Lie 5 Note: gray rectangles with crosses on top, on either side of the entrance way of the tower. These were where stations of the cross plaques were removed, while the war memorial tablet remained.
probable Lie 6 Note: no evidence area was closed off.photograph taken Friday 23 September 2011.

worker inside tower wetting demolition, building visible is the school

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Postscriptum: Saturday, 8 October 2011.
Later, Tayek would write this similar lie on the diocesan website:

"It was explained to reporter O’Malley that the plaques remained in the building as an oversight since no one had been inside the bell tower for some time because that portion of the structure was condemned."

After lying to the reporter, Tayek then prints a similar lie for the diocesan website; but he is complaining that the reporter wrote what he said, and then Tayek writes the statement again. He is upset that the reporter acted as a stenographer. Tayek then writes more lies. In one fashion he wishes to deny that the plaques were left in the building, that the organ was left in the building, and was subsequently destroyed, and that the building was demolished. He also libels two concerned Catholics that found the plaques, and notified him of the initial plaque. Tayek invents lies, and says the same events, did happen, and did not happen. He also defines truth as that which does not embarrass the "Church", and the "Church" for him is not all members, but only the administrators. Now, consider all the other documented lies he has invented. What exactly is his job description?

Registering to Vote

2011-10-06T00:01:00.004-04:00

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Ben Shahn. Our Friend [campaign poster]. 1944.

Ben Shahn made lithograph posters for the the CIO to encourage voting in 1946.

Those who do not wish you to vote, if you are not a person of property to-day, are Republicans. [click here to read those thoughts from the crazy congressman from Iowa] So it has been since the beginning of Hoover's and his party's creation of the Great Depression. You don't want the poor, homeless, jobless, colored, crippled, the too young, or the too old to vote; for they may vote for social justice, and an America for all Americans; which means a vote for the Democracy and its party — the Democratic.

See this story of a 96 year old woman from Tennessee, born in Georgia. A new law to stop supposed 'voter fraud', which cannot be found, has been instituted in Tennessee, as in many Republican controlled state governments. Since she had been married, and her marriage name wasn't the name on her birth certificate, she has been denied the state identification card, which is now necessary to vote. Job done — old, poor, black woman barred from voting. Multiply this by millions, and see the Republicans 'win' elections through this plan of voter suppression.

This is why Republicans do not want the voice of labor to compete with the voice of capital.
This is why Republicans do not want the voice of a generation that doesn't look like them to vote.
Another of Ben Shahn's 1946 Congress of Industrial Organizations posters.

Beatitudes and the Sons of Eli

2011-10-05T00:01:00.003-04:00

Ben Shahn. Beatitudes. 1952. Himeji, Japan.
Jesus' first sermon began:

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. — Matthew v. 1-12.

This painting visually appears to allude to :

At that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat. And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days. But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him: How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but for the priests only? Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame? But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple. And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath. — Matthew xii. 1-8.

Now, in the first of the four Books of Kings, in the greater English world the first Book of Samuel, the story of (H)Eli of S(h)ilo(h)'s sons is told in the first few chapters. Eli was the high priest, and his two sons [(H)Ophni and Phinees or Phinehas] were priests; yet they were wicked. They demanded the finest of foods, by force, from the people (ii. 13-16). They made whores of the women before the tabernacle (ii. 22). Eli knew of their behaviour, once rebuked them, but permitted their continuance.

Just before it was written:

The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he humbleth and he exalteth. He raiseth up the needy from the dust, and lifteth up the poor from the dunghill: that he may sit with princes, and hold the throne of glory. For the poles of the earth are the Lord's, and upon them he hath set the world. — I Kings (I Samuel) ii. 7-8.

Just after it was written:

And the ark of God was taken: and the two sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were slain. — iv. 11.

Ben Shahn *1898, 1969† was a Lithuanian Jew who migrated to America as a child, and as a young man became an union lithographer. Later he became a New Deal painter and photographer. He had gone to Europe as a young artist. He saw the paintings of Cimabue, Giotto and others, and attended Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. He went to other churches. So how did it come that Shahn painted the Beatitudes? He had a Jewish biblical education. The study of Jesus is not part of the curriculum, but Shahn was interested in social justice and humanitarianism. He also had Dag Hammarskjöld, Gandhi, and Edward Murrow as subjects. In the years after the Second World War, religious imagery, and continued philosophical concerns entered his work.

In Jesus' initial oratory, He gives a programme of heroic virtue in contrast to worldly misbehaviour, and crass selfishness. Beatitudes are blessings, Jesus lists eight. They go beyond the Ten Commandments. They are a positive course of action, as opposed to a negation of bad action.

The painting is a man going through a grain field (wheat, corn is a generic term for grain). It is the plucking of grain spikes we see in the tempera.

Now, in the Old Testament we have the priests, the sons of Eli, not giving food but taking by force the best of meat. They also act immorally in promiscuous hedonism. They are legitimate priests by office, but acting as wicked agents as if they were worshipping a false god. Before that is told, that, God is creator of both rich and poor. God raises the poor and the needy, the same that are addressed in the Beatitudes. The Hebrews are defeated by the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant [which contains the tablets of the Commandments] is taken, the Sons of Eli perish, as does Eli when the news reach him. Behaviour that was socially just, and socially unjust had consequences in the eyes of God, and those in the socially, economically, politically, and religiously elevated position were not immune from judgment. All men are responsible, and those who act beneficially towards others are those that please God. Rank and office are not above it all.

Our Friend Francis

2011-10-04T00:01:00.007-04:00

Fritz Eichenberg. St. Francis, Sermon to the Birds. 1952.

As we have seen christianity is not of all one sort. After Mary [she suffers abuse by some] of all the saints, the most popular christian figure, may very well be, Saint Francis of Assisi. There is no shortage of anglican, or even unitarian churches blessing animals on this day, or on the Sunday nearest the feast day of the 4th of October. Only 'evangelicals' [of a certain sort] show antipathy, or peculiar understanding of our, good Saint Francis.

Many enjoy the almost contemporary Cimabue, and Giotto paintings. Others may prefer the baroque italians — Caravaggio, Gentileschi, and Reni, or the spaniards — Murillo, El Greco [yes, i realise], Ribera, and especially, Zurbaran. The baroque Francis is without the animals, and in deep prayer.

Two 20th century artists, who worked in wood blocks, who were converts to christianity in protestant forms, did several St. Francises. Fritz Eichenberg did three for the WPA, on Roosevelt's dime. One each with the creatures of the land, air, and sea. He is in a hot air balloon, and he is in a diving suit and helmet. If one did not know, that it was a series of three, and only saw Francis with the Bible speaking to the fishes, one could surmise that the then jewish artist, mistook Francis for Anthony of Padua. In 1952 a sermon to the birds, and another with animals and a child, the sermon again in '54, in 1973 the Stigmata, and the St. Francis Prayer (1979).

Sadao Watanabe also revisited the subject of Francis and the birds several times. The gentleness, the voluntary poverty, being in communion with all nature appeals beyond certain confessional lines.

Sadao Watanabe. St. Francis Preaches to the Birds. 1994.

An earlier woodblock, was done by the catholic, Maurits Cornelis Escher in 1922. He is primarily remembered for paradoxical, and mathematical inspired drawings. In 1922 he travelled to Italy, and Spain, and turned twenty-four. As an old man, Escher had a full head of hair, his Francis looked like the aged Escher, otherwise.

Maurits Cornelis Escher. St. Francis Preaches to the Birds. 1922.

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earlier essays: 2007 , 2008

Parish life continues

2011-10-02T16:52:00.006-04:00

The pastor, Capuchin Fr. Philip, at Holy Spirit parish (Garfield Hts) at St. Timothy's church places items from St. Catharine's time capsule on St. Catharine's altar, between Sunday Masses. They will be sent to the diocesan archives.
After St. Casimir's prayer service, a television cameraman interviewed Wojciech Fleszar, the prayer leader, and then another parish member for WEWS-5.

this was a flash picture, which only illuminated the litter and retablo

At St. Michael's, Fr. Ernesto, a Peruvian priest from Youngstown celebrated Mass to a standing room crowd. They celebrated Señor de los Milagros (Our Lord of Miracles), for Our Lord of Miracles is also Our Lord of Immigrants. After Mass a litter carried by some thirty cargodores of the double retablo processes from the altar through the main aisle. The cargodores are clothed in purple mantles as penitents. They are proceeded by sahumadoras (women bearing incense burners).

almost to the narthex, it will be lowered to exit; the movement throughout is adagissimo

a dance before the outdoor marchwaiting and viewing before circuiting the block

St. Joseph's Cemetery, Cleveland

2011-10-01T14:41:00.007-04:00

St. Joseph's Cemetery is slightly older than St. John's. It is on the corner of East 79th and Woodland. The southern property lines abut railroad.
Immediately east of St. John's Cemetery is St. Joseph's. The Woodland neighborhood has fallen on hard times. Rich people do not drive by often. Not many with substantial, or any funds choose to be buried, or have their relatives deposited here. Although, a recent bishop of Erie Pennsylvania is there in a family plot. He had been a child at St. Rose and St. James parishes.

In one of these cemeteries, a fellow i once worked with found God. He was a big, strong, angry man with sensual tastes. He abused himself and others. He was capable in his trade, and a fairly bright man, and a talkative man. [He invented the word 'cohoosion'.] After a night of excessive 'partying' he awoke to find himself in a Catholic Cemetery on Woodland. This awakening changed his life. He decided to abandon his former lifestyle, as much as he could, and became religious. He admits to many failings, and he wants others to confess theirs too.
There is fashion in grave markers. Certain styles and decorations, and lettering come to the fore and then fade. One was a cylindrical stone sitting on a cradle. Some people thought of this resembling a bolster pillow, and refer to it as a 'bolster stone'. Other people who work and maintain graveyards, call them rollers. The bolster above became a roller.

“maintain all burial sites in perpetuity”

There are three* mausoleums on the property, two are of religious sisters' orders. The Sisters of Notre Dame, supra, and the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, infra. These cemeteries on Woodland suffered vandalism, and the mausoleums were invaded by vandals, and grave robbers. These buildings have been sealed, two with stone blocks, and the Notre Dame Sisters with a marker stone listing those inside the vault (†1899-1919), and those on the hillside (†1878-1918). The diocesan cemeteries brag that they, “maintain all burial sites in perpetuity”.
There is a couple of locust trees growing on the roof. The locust is a very fast colonising tree, with a deep initial and crossed roots that really anchor the plant. It is described, as an evasive species, an opportunistic plant, a weed. They grow quickly, and have gone to leaf when used as fence posts, they burn well and hot. Beneath the cross, there are leafy vines surrounding a stone with a sculpted relief of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the continued growth rate, it will cover up that decorative art.
________________________________
*I saw three to-day, i look at an old map, and it reads a fourth smaller one to the left of the Notre Dame sisters. I don't know if it is under vegetation or gone. — I revisited, it definitely is not there.

More from St. Michael's

2011-09-30T16:41:00.008-04:00

Outside the main entrance to St. Michael's on Scranton in Cleveland, there are two remaining archangels, Gabriel (who has lost his horn), and Raphael (who has retained the fish). Between the landmark pair of uneven steeples, on the gable point of the roof there is an empty pedestal. For years there had been a third archangel, Michael, 22 feet tall. Over time the statue deteriorated, and a fear that it would crash below had it removed. The head was saved and placed in the rectory garden. Saint Michael's is a beautiful and active church and parish. In the sunlight, with the electric lights out, the inside church is peaceful and very comforting. There is color and volume. The space on the perimeter surfaces in all three dimensions is full of image, and the large volume between wall, floor and ceiling gives a balance; and within this space there is calm suited to be near the presence of Jesus.Huge earthquakes hit Peru. A slave, whose name is lost to history, transported from Angola had painted a mural of Christ during His crucifixion on a wall in the poorest neighborhood in 1651. That image is called Señor de los Milagros de Nazarenas. Jesus, under that title is the patron of the city. Outside that wall converts, often slaves prayed. In 1655 earthquake, the building fell, but not the portion of the painted wall. This devotion of the poorest Peruvians became troublesome to the bishop and the government. It was ordered to be painted over and destroyed, attempts failed. Eventually a church was built around it. On the 20th of October 1687 a catastrophic earthquake hit, causing a tsunami in Japan. Most of Lima was destroyed, but not that painted wall. The 28th of October 1746 Lima, Peru was shook by another earthquake. Thousand died as thousands died during the other quakes, the painting survived. People came to that wall and began a procession, and the trembling stopped. The next year, when an oil painting copy of was mounted on a litter of Señor de los Milagros, a second painting accompanied it. It was that of the Ecuadorian Virgen de la Nube, Our Lady of the Cloud.

Every October it is borne on a silver litter by purple cloaked cargodores and taken through streets of Lima to visit churches. The processions start on the 18th. Crowds of a million are estimated in the city. Peruvians have brought this custom, with them, when they have emigrated. The first procession in the US, was in NYC 1972.

Cleveland's church of Saint Michael the Archangel joins in the observance, a little early in the month—this Sunday. It will be the tenth Cleveland procession.

a retablo of Señor de los Milagros, Our Lord of Miracles

Virgen de la Nube, Our Lady of the Cloud

Taxiarch Michael

2011-09-29T11:11:00.008-04:00

Michael the Archangel. Monastery of St. Catherine, Mt. Sinai, Egypt. 1200s

click:
http://catholicdemocratfromohio.blogspot.com/2008/09/michael-and-angelic-host.html

In the west we refer to the Michael and Gabriel as archangels. These two, amongst the Greeks are called 'ταξίαρχος (taxiarchos)', brigadiers, for they are leaders of the heavenly host.

Sáncte Míchael Archángele,
defénde nos in proélio,
cóntra nequítiam et insídias diáboli ésto præsídium.
Ímperet ílli Déus, súpplices deprecámur:
tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis,
Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos,
qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo,
divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde.
Ámen

Prayer to St. Michael
Saint Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle;
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
By the power of God, thrust into hell
Satan and all evil spirits
Who wander through the world
For the ruin of souls.
Amen.

nota bene: there is more than one english translation using equivalent word substitutes, e.g. ruin = perdition

St. John's Cemetery, Cleveland

2011-09-27T20:43:00.002-04:00

St. John's had been the cathedral's parish graveyard. It is across the street from the City of Cleveland's Woodland Cemetery. There is a speed camera on the road between them, west of E.71st.

The first resident priest, John Dillon†1836 is buried at St. John's now (he had been first buried at Erie Street Cemetery, then in the cathedral), he shares a plot and stone with a Fr. James Conlan†1875. They were both born in County Leitrim, Ireland.

In the mid-XIXth century cemeteries were created outside towns. The city limits had been at what is now called East 55th, and then Willson Avenue. In 1906 many streets were renamed, so that police, firemen, postmen and others could find addresses more easily. This was one of the many reforms of Mayor Tom Johnson. Most streets that ran north-south were given numbers and designated as 'streets', whether east or west of Public Square's Ontario Street. Many streets that run west-east are designated 'avenues'. There are anomalies from old usages. East 9th Street used to be Erie Street. That is why Erie Street Cemetery is on 9th Street.
Maher Mausoleum 1876, entrance cement blocked up. Grass freshly mowed. Small forest and pasture growing on the walls, and roof.
In a previous essay, i wrote: “It was very important, and very promoted for Catholics to be buried only in hallowed grounds, which usually meant Catholic cemeteries.” Cleveland's Catholic cemeteries are not discount operations, and over the years there has been financial irregularities in the management of funds. It also a great place to hide stuff.
_______________________________
see the following post on nearby St. Joseph's Cemetery: click

A second veterans' plaque

2011-09-25T21:44:00.015-04:00

broken plaque with once 239 veterans' names
Several people saw the television news broadcasts about the church's WWII veterans' plaque, and independently came to the site of St. Catharine's church Sunday afternoon. A 1958 graduate of St. Catharine's elementary found the second war veterans' honorary plaque (by turning a piece of wood over, which was it), that had been hanging opposite the other one. The wall which it was attached to is gone, and had fell into the rubble. About three-fourths of that plaque survived in the heap.

People were coming, and going all day Sunday. Another Catherine's graduate (class of 1962) and parishioner also came interested in the plaques and the sad fate of St. Catharine's. Four other Catholic parishioners from various parishes came too, and received possession of it from the demolition company, which had salvage rights, and this they did in front of four Cleveland policemen.

The diocese abandoned the church in 2008, and recently sold the remaining real estate it was sitting on. There was plenty of time to collect and save the plaques, and for that matter -- the pipe organ. That the diocese did not do, nor allow this to be done is indicative of the disregard, and disrespect the Bishop of Cleveland and his employees show parishioners. Friday, the chancellor, and spokesman for the diocese were notified of the one plaque. There was a second one which parishioners of St. Catharine's knew about, but other Catholics did not.
Sunday evening travelling north on Fleet in Cleveland, O.
_________________________________________
Postscriptum 6.30 a.m. 28 September 2011: Sometime on Monday 26 September, after this story become public, the diocese became vindictively and mendaciously interested in this story. On Friday, a television reporter and a concerned Catholic, independently of each other, discovered the first plaque. The Catholic notified the diocese and much of the local press on Friday. The reporter had an "online report" Friday. Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday morning the television reported on this (using still photographs sent by the concerned Catholic) -- the diocese made a statement, it is a gift, we don't return gifts.

Monday morning, four concerned Catholics and the city council ward member, Ms. Mamie Mitchell spoke to the contractor, whom re-affirmed the events and promises of the day before. Two of the Catholics and Ms. Mitchell were interviewed by a television cameraman.

Tuesday morning, the city's newspaper reported that the diocesan spokesman is calling one of the several Catholics (whom retrieved the second discovered plaque from inside the rubble and received its possession from the demolition contractor, and was promised the second) a thief. He has since retained a lawyer, very well known to the diocese, since he is being pressured and publicly slandered. The slander was by Robert Tayek (the spokesman for the diocese), who manufactures ridiculous and outrageous lies continuously. He has just not been called on it, and continues to be a paid liar. Perhaps that is the real job description he has.

Ward 6 Councilman, Ms. Mamie Mitchell being interviewed by WKYC-3, in St. Catherine's parking lot.

Saint Catharine's falls

2011-09-23T17:03:00.015-04:00

Saint Catharine's property is listed, to-day [a,b], for $495,000 on the diocesan realty internet site. A parcel transferred 8 August for $200,000 to Schoolhouse Finance LLC of Columbus, O. (Arlington Virginia). St. Catharine's is being torn down. To-day is the 5th day of demolition, which began on Monday. I saw the pipe organ go down in bits. As of an hour and a half ago, the front facade and bell tower were still standing.
Part of a rank of the longest diapason flue pipes of the pipe organ are making a final descent, from the left, water flows from a hose to keep the dust down.
From behind a large pile of soil the remaining exterior is visible, behind these bricks at the moment of photographing is a large vehicle with a front loader bucket that has gnawed away the rest of the building.
On an arch, there was painted these words from John i. xlix, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God”. Within two seconds it was mostly gone.
The plaque is from the Second World War. It is entitled, "Our Boys and Girls Serve their Country". Three chaplains are listed, and then 250 of the laity. Four names are preceded by a star (died in service?).

The parish was founded in 1898 as a mission, and then daughter parish, of Holy Name. Bishop Ignatius Horstmann founded thirty parishes in his episcopacy (1892-1908). He donated a marble statue of St. Catharine to the parish. He chose the patronal name to be that of his mother's patron saint, Catharine of Alexandria. The first church building burned in 1899, three months after its dedication. For the second church the statue was given. A grander building with an upper and lower church was built during the First World War [then known as the European War]. The first Mass in the new building was said in 1917. That building is now being destroyed.

rubble and tower

The last Mass held, was one of eviction. Richard Lennon presided at the last Masses of St. Henry, and St. Catherine on 30 December 2007. They were the fifth and sixth churches he closed in Cleveland. They merged with St. Timothy's. The Catharine statue is now at Timothy's.

former italian marble altar of St. Catharine's Church, once priced by an agent of the diocese for $200,000 sans statues, St. Catharine at center

Money should only be for Republicans

2011-09-22T17:31:00.005-04:00

The gall, hypocrisy, pettiness and nastiness of Republicans knows no limits. They fight dirty. They cheat. They lie. The double standards they apply are onerously ridiculous. This is irrefragable.

Elizabeth Warren has announced her candidacy for Edward Kennedy's Senate seat, now held by an former nude male pinup. Warren is a law professor at Harvard. The Republican party wants her pay to stop. Yes, the same party that wants corporations and millionaires to not pay taxes, wants a working woman to lose her income, because she wants to run against a Republican.

Warren knows of the ways of the banksters of Wall Street. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a new government agency. Elizabeth Warren could have been its first leader. The Senate Republicans would have done anything to block that, because she would have been able, and would have done what the job required. Republicans do not want effective governance. Republicans do not believe in the concept of consumer financial protection. President Obama avoids standing up for real Democrats against Republicans oftentimes.

You can watch and hear her recently on youtube, attacking the lying, absurd, nonsense the Republicans are spewing in their orwellian 'class warfare' :

“I hear all this, you know, ‘Well, this is class warfare, this is whatever. No. There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own — nobody.

“You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police-forces and fire-forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn’t have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory — and hire someone to protect against this — because of the work the rest of us did.

“Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea. God bless — keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is, you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along.”

Chalk Fest

2011-09-18T22:04:00.007-04:00

In front of Cleveland's Art Museum was a Chalk Fest. Parents with children, young artists and people with cameras enjoyed the last weekend in summer. They were selling boxes of colored chalk. People were free to draw and color. Most people tried not to step on the pictures. Walking through the path midst distracted kids, and oblivious gawkers, and haphazard sandstone canvases was easier done by folks of nimble feet. It was an interested, and quiet crowd.
Some people imitated great works, such as Michelangelo's 'David'.
Others tried far simpler artists. You have to get your books out to see, if this is a Mondrian, or just one in the style of one.Someone liked Jan Vermeer's, 'Girl with Pearl Ear Ring'Someone liked Jan Vermeer's, 'Girl with Pearl Earring'[Het Meisje met de Parel]. Are her eyes supposed to be that big? Two fellows were working on this base ball series. I was to impatient to wait for a moment in which both could be framed without shadows and interlopers.
This sweet, young woman is in the process of creating, 'Peace, Love, and ...'.
One of several animal pictures. Several well known, and new cartoon characters were also a favorite subject. My nephew, jokingly, advised me that i might be liable for copyright infringement by Disney, Sony, or some other. All in all, these works were far better than the stuff in room 225 inside.
And the one only ironic one, which was also, the only political one in the kit-and-kaboodle.

pro patria mori

2011-09-17T21:05:00.011-04:00

To be born in one land, and to die in another. On a gravestone, it is not a novel inscribed; but in a few characters a story is limned. An historian, an antiquarian, or some sort of researcher may be able to uncover more details. One could search for relatives to interview. Often, after the passage of a certain number of years, no one knows more than the marks inscribed. Yet, those marks have some instructive value. St. John's Cemetery, Cleveland. Sargeant James Kelly. Company B, 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Wounded at Gettysburg. July 3, 1863. Born in Ireland March 3, 1836. Died July 7, 1863. May his soul rest in peace.
Kelly was an immigrant to America [when did he arrive?]. He died four days after being wounded in the most famous of that war's many, many battles — Gettysburg. The name is Irish. The stone has the clover, the Irish will have you know, is the shamrock. The stone also has a cross, and sits in a Catholic cemetery. It was very important, and very promoted for Catholics to be buried only in hallowed grounds, which usually meant Catholic cemeteries.

Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland. 7th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. War for the Union 1861-1865.

Woodland Cemetery was the City of Cleveland's most important public cemetery in the XIXth century. It opened in 1853, and was conveniently available for the war dead. Near the main entrance there are two large monuments for two regiments [23rd, 7th] of infantry. The one for the 23rd was dedicated on August 1, 1865, just a few months after the end of combat. The names of the war dead are written on all four sides, of the lower portion, of the monument. The number is almost evenly divided by those who died in action, and those that died by disease. Remember, the four horseman are war, famine, death, and pestilence.

The other [1872] is harder to read, for the engraving in the color of stone. Raised lettering is easy to read. It has four freshly restored, union painted, rifled cannons [West Point Foundry] defending it. The regiment was infantry.

That war had many names, but in Cleveland, at that time, it was called 'War for the Union'. The Republicans were successful politically. There were no Republicans in the South. To-day, things have changed. The South is full of Republicans, and no Republicans would use the term—'War for the Union'.

Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland. Alfred J. Straka. Born July 5, 1895. Died May 26, 1914 at Vera Cruz Mexico in the service of United States Navy.

I heard Woodrow Wilson's guns
I heard Maria calling
Saying, "Veracruz is dying
And Cuernavaca's falling"
—Veracruz. Warren Zevon and Jorge Calderon

That Battle of Vera Cruz took place 21-24 April 1914. The Mexicans were having a civil war. The US occupied Vera Cruz to 23 November. Twenty two American servicemen were listed as dead. This fellow, presumably, was one.
Lake View Cemetery. John S. Allen 1893-1918. Private, Company M 18th Infantry American Expeditionary Force. Died from wounds received in action Argonne France.
The Battle for the Argonne Forest was the last offensive of the War to end all wars. It began 26 September 1918. It was the largest American engagement in the war. It was the only engagement for most Americans. It was the deadliest battle that Americans ever engaged in. America does not remember this one. This was the big one. The American Expeditionary Force (an honest name), fought along side the 4th and 5th French Armies, against the German Fifth. The Allied Forces were more than twice the size of the Germans, and suffered more casualties. The Americans were of a larger population than the Germans, and this was the first of their troops. The Germans agreed to an Armistice.

The only surviving veteran of World War I is an English waitress, that signed up in 1918. She is 110 years old, Florence Beatrice Green (née Patterson, born 19 February 1901).

Bishops, bullet holes, and butts

2011-09-15T21:57:00.011-04:00

Some parishes were saved from Lennon's destruction. One that survived, and was not certain until they read the letter of 14 March '09, was Saint Michael the Archangel. Saint Michael's had some old debt then demanded by the diocese. Nearby Blessed Sacrament, St. Procop, and St. Barbara had cash reserves and were closed. Saint Michael is now debt free, money from Blessed Sacrament's patrimony was used to pay off the bishop's demands.

El Señor de los Milagros (with the Trinity; Mary, Mother of Sorrow; Mary Magdalen)

Saint Michael's had been a German parish, it is now a territorial parish with a congregation of the Americas. There are English, and Spanish language Masses offered. There is a lively sacramental and devotional life at Michael's. There is a Good Friday procession between La Sagrada Familia and Michael's stopping at Patrick's. There is an October procession of the Peruvian celebration of El Señor de los Milagros, people parade in purple. Holy Name Society is active, as are some other parish organisations.

The first pastor was Bohemian born, Joseph Koudelka. He was administrator of St. Procop, while he was a deacon. He was later pastor for more than one church simultaneously. He was sent to Europe to recruit priests for Slavonic parishes. He was the first auxiliary bishop in Cleveland. Few English speaking priests came to his ordination 1908. Later he was a bishop in Wisconsin.

Koudelka oversaw the building of Saint Michael's, he was also an artist. It is an example of high gothic revival, now blackened from years of steel mill, factory, and vehicle soot. It, once even more than now, did not have undecorated space; an art term would be 'horror vacui' or 'cenophobia'. Its complement of statues was over an hundred. This artistic busyness, in a church, is meant to be both beautiful and instructive. What is physically distinct from a great distance and many spots are the two dissimilar spires. A while back, July 2009 (after the letter) the larger spire's cross was taken down, at the insistence of a restoration contractor. The verdigris copper cross had been there for more than a century. It's wooden base suffered some rot. It has a few bullet holes. It now stands, near the center of the nave wall, near the main entrance. A replica cross is planned to replace it, when funds allow. A continuing restoration is in progress, inside and out.

exit hole

In one of the holy water founts in the narthex someone dropped a cigarette butt. It was dissolving. The doors were wide open. A beautiful church, with a welcoming congregation is open to even disturbed, and disrespectful people. There were several incidents in the past. The building has been spray painted. The neighborhood is not so comfortably hospitable. I remember, indistinctly, the sexual assault of a religious sister by a man hired for occasional work.

Path to Freedom

2011-09-14T10:56:00.005-04:00

Susan Schultz. Path to Freedom. Sandusky. 2007.

...During ten or fifteen years I had been, as it were, dragging a heavy chain which no strength of mine could break; I was not only a slave, but a slave for life. I might become a husband, a father, an aged man, but through all, from birth to death, from the cradle to the grave, I had felt myself doomed. All efforts I had previously made to secure my freedom had not only failed, but had seemed only to rivet my fetters the more firmly, and to render my escape more difficult. Baffled, entangled, and discouraged, I had at times asked myself the question, May not my condition after all be God's work, and ordered for a wise purpose, and if so, Is not submission my duty? A contest had in fact been going on in my mind for a long time, between the clear consciousness of right and the plausible make-shifts of theology and superstition. The one held me an abject slave--a prisoner for life, punished for some transgression in which I had no lot nor part; and the other counseled me to manly endeavor to secure my freedom. This contest was now ended; my chains were broken, and the victory brought me unspeakable joy.

But my gladness was short-lived, for I was not yet out of the reach and power of the slave-holders. I soon found that New York was not quite so free or so safe a refuge as I had supposed, and a sense of loneliness and insecurity again oppressed me most sadly. ...
—Frederick Douglass. My Escape from Slavery. 1881

In a small, very well landscaped, park near the Lake Erie shore in Sandusky, Ohio there is a wonderful sculpture. It is avant-gard in material, and philosophy; but is done with genuine talent. It is a well conceived historical monument. It delivers an important narrative, and is surrounded with short stone stanchions with foto etched tablets and script atop.

It is concerned with the Underground Railroad. Josiah Henson's autobiography was published in 1849. He, and his family, escaped slavery in Kentucky, and went north to Sandusky in 1830. By lake vessel he made Buffalo, and across the Niagara to freedom. Harriet Beecher Stowe takes his story into her novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Henson would return through Sandusky to help others escape slavery. Sandusky was a gate to freedom in her novel.

People to quickly want to forget, or acknowledge that slavery existed in the United States. Even in the 'free states' an ex-slave could be captured and returned to slavery. This was formalised by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Those who helped runaways were also susceptible to legal punishment. Ontario (Upper Province of Canada) was free from slavery in 1793, and would not not return slaves. Leaving the United States for Canada was a journey of freedom.
The sculpture uses 800' of chain. Its links are welded together to form the bodies. There is an invisible vertical plane (as in science fiction) that is being crossed (or entered) by the male figure. Beyond the crossing, the man's face, an arm and a knee are solid and smooth of bronze, and not iron chain.

The Casimiri remember the date

2011-09-11T17:32:00.002-04:00

a sign and candle left by the Casimiri after the street vigil

"You are amongst a cloud of witnesses"

2011-09-10T14:01:00.002-04:00

The cornerstone is in two languages, and two alphabets, and commemorates two sister faiths: Russian Orthodox, and Greek Catholics. There were few Russians in Cleveland at the end of the XIXth century, and beginning of the XXth. A Rusyn (Ruthenian) community from the eastern Austrian empire came earlier. For this the third, parish temple, the tsar of all the Russias, Nicholas II donated money (Russian Missionary Fund). It was then, the first Orthodox church in Ohio, and the members were all converts. The church was modelled after the Cathedral Church of Christ the Savior, Moscow, the church built after Napoleon left, and was later dynamited to dust by Stalin, and has been built new again. It had been modelled after Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The faith is continuous from the old countries to the new.

At the time of founding, the people wanted the parish named after St. Nicholas. Nicholas, bishop in San Francisco (Diocese of the Aleutians and North America) chose, the newly canonised, St. Theodosius of Chernigov. To-day, St. Theodosius celebrated the 100th anniversary of the church building. The parish is from 1896, but this building is only a century. Matthias, the Bishop of Chicago and the Middle West came for the Hierarchical Liturgy and celebrations.

One window in the church is that of St. Alexis Toth. Toth was a Greek Catholic priest who quarrelled with the Latin-rite archbishop of St. Paul, John Ireland. Ireland had no jurisdiction, but a great antipathy towards the eastern rites. Toth and many thousands of Greek Catholics (then also called Uniats, and now Byzantines) left Rome for Eastern Orthodoxy. Toth is the patron saint of the Middle West.

In his homily, Bishop Matthias said the pictures on the glass, those painted on the walls, and icon screen represent a cloud of witnesses. The saints are praying for you to join them in the cloud. You are more important than the building. The foundation of the church is Christ. When you take the Body and Blood of Christ from the chalice, you become a chalice, a church. Yet, the event was a fond celebration of the building. How does this compare with Cleveland's Roman rite bishop, who celebrate's neither the buildings, the art within it, or the nationalities of the people who built it, with their then laborer's wage of 10, and 12¢ an hour?

Before the Divine Liturgy, an ordination of minor orders took place. New subdeacons, readers (lectors), taper bearers were created. If one thinks the Latin Church has too much pageantry, he could not stand [and stand he must during virtually the entire service, outside the homily] the Orthodox. It is still one in beauty, and truth of the one faith, sadly separated in two portions.

reading of the Gospel
Iconostasis, and portions of walls and ceilings, the Orthodox share an aversion of empty space

After Liturgy, and veneration of the Cross, the rain had finally stopped. This allowed for a photograph to be taken outside of the assembly. Archpriest, and Dean, John Zdinak arranges the multitude in front of the photographer. Yes, this is the church in the film, The Deerhunter.

a national catholic tragedy of injustice

2011-09-08T07:29:00.006-04:00

Many, the majority, of the essays on this site have touched on the ruthless campaign to close ethnic churches in the diocese of Cleveland, Ohio. This includes the cities of Akron, Lorain and Elyria. Cleveland has suffered under a tyrannical bishop [Lennon], who may soon be going. This area has not been alone in this sort of manoeuvring, it has been from Boston, Massachusetts to Saint Paul, Minnesota. This co-ordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing has been covered in mass deception, in lies too numerous to list, and greed, and a deep contempt.

The institutions outside the church are not willing to speak up. They do not like giving another institution a 'hard time'. They are also worried of accusations of being 'anti-religious', or 'anti-catholic' being used against them. It is partly an old boy's network, cowardice, and indifference.

I have been notified, by two local people involved in saving churches, of an editorial in a Buffalo newspaper. The journal is published in the Buffalo suburb of Boston, New York, the Polish American Journal. It accurately sums up the story in this month's edition [September 2011]. It is worth reading. It is also noteworthy in the intransigence shown by their local bishop, Edward Kmiec. He is at the age of mandatory retirement, and he does not relent, or show charity. A bishop, is by definition, the chief teacher and pastor in the diocese. A pastor (shepherd) is to be concerned with all of his flock. What we get instead, is a local monarch, whom believes he is unaccountable, and rules like faro of old.

please see and read:
http://www.polamjournal.com/News/Editorial/editorial.html

Rumour of change

2011-09-06T00:01:00.004-04:00

Rumour upon rumour, we have been hearing of the eventual departure of Dickie Lennon. We were ready last autumn, but as Advent began, that hope ended. Now, we hear after this summer recess. A cover story of surgery has been floated both times.

We have had an informal visitation, and a public visitation. Rome has been given much paperwork.

Is he going? And if he does, will there be reparations? This diocese has been devastated in the effected areas of Akron, Cleveland, Elyria and Lorain. Of course, many are oblivious.

If we receive successful appeals of parishes or churches to be open, will they be allowed to do so without foot dragging or sabotage? The reign of Dick the Destroyer has been a deal of destruction. And our priest corps, with the exception of one, or two, or three at the most have not supported us in public.

The damage has been done. Will we have a good bishop, who has real pastoral concern? The entire diocese is a community, but so is EACH parish, and under canon law each parish is a person. We as people have been abused by the powers that be in the church. I have proposed that our bishop (really every bishop) should have personal integrity, pastoral concern, and a measure of humility. Really, not much different than the requirements St. Paul the Apostle set down.

Beyond Lennon, there are many bad actors within the diocese. We need them to come clean and be chastened. What of the future of the local church, and the whole church? The future is an unknown land. Good comes from good, and bad comes from bad. It is to our benefit for the good to be done. We owe it to ourselves and to God.