so long

i have another post in the 'pipeline' [december 2nd], other than that the postings may be over. i have spent too much time on this. i have started another internet journal. i expect, if i continue on that, to have a smaller frequency of postings. i would rather not write on the church, or politics.

there is the old truism, in the form of a joke, what is the difference between a democrat, and a republican? a democrat believes in democracy, a republican is the opposite of that. just remember, for God's sake, never vote republican, well you can if we are talking about another country, in which 'republican' has a different meaning. yet, in another country, under different names, but with the same ideas, you still have ugly catastrophe, conferre a norwegian teabagger.

Why Saul Alinsky is loathed

The germ of this essay was the recent fixation the repukes, and other tinfoil teabaggers have concerning Saul Alinsky*1909, 1972†. It has to have been recent, probably not before the presidential candidacy of Obama*1961[do the math], and probably not well known in those circles until well after the inauguration. The formation of the teabaggers came at this time.

Alinsky was a sociologist of the Chicago School. He studied the organising of John L. Lewis of the miner’s union, and the C.I.O.. He grew up as a religious jew. He worried that his folks wanted him to be a rabbi. Alinsky became an agnostic, but he maintained, “Whenever anyone asks me my religion, I always say—and always will say— Jewish.”

Alinsky had several distinguished catholic friends. There were leftists who called him a catholic dupe. Alinsky believed in community organising. Alinsky was a member of the non-socialist ‘left’. This concept is unfathomable to the idjits, i have referred to earlier.

After a little study, i have come to the conclusion, that, the only rationale [other than defamation of individuals, primarily a legitimate President] they have is an intense fear about community organising, itself, so that poverty and powerlessness does NOT decrease. Somewhere along the line some fascist propagandist came to the notice of a media mouthfoamer, or two, and that created this hatred for Alinsky. It was picked up by their mindless minions, and when you hear one parrot, you have heard them all [i may be exaggerating, but not by much].

The Diocese of Davenport, Iowa, [and later with some other Davenport institutions] has given a Pacem in Terris Freedom Award. Pacem in Terris was the name of an encyclical of John XXIII, its subtitle is, On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty. It was his last, but the first one addressed to “all men of good will”. Its first recipient was the murdered president John Kennedy (1964). Alinsky was awarded the prise in 1969 because he “taught people how to organize and to act together in promoting justice in society”. Other recipients included M.L. King (1965), Mother Teresa (1976), Joseph Bernardin (1985), Desmond Tutu (1987), César Chávez (1992), Lech Wałęsa (2001).

It is doubtful many of his detractors read him. Some say he loved Lucifer. Okay, this is crazy bullshit. Then i heard, an intelligent man say Alinsky had Lucifer as his hero. Then it hit me. John Milton made Lucifer(Satan) an hero. Now, Milton was a puritan, he was with Oliver Cromwell. Milton was anti-catholic, but this made him think he was a real christian. Milton wrote the book length poem, “Paradise Lost”, in which Satan is the hero. Now, christian teaching has the sin of pride causing the fall of Lucifer. This rebellion makes Satan heroic [read the poem, or see this].

Now, i argued with a young english teacher, who had been raised catholic. I argued that Judas was the first protestant [in refusing to believe in the Sacrament]. Luther followed in Lucifer’s footfalls [Luther in breaking unity, and acting on his egoism] in the primacy of will. This upset him, and he said that i just misused Milton to attack the Reformation. So i figured, Alinsky had to make some sort of luciferian rebel image; and from this the repukes created their misleading canard.

In the book, Rules for Radicals, before the table of contents there is quoted, Rabbi Hillel, Thomas Paine [no surprise], and Alinsky. Alinsky makes an acknowledgement that Lucifer was the first radical, and this is [of course] exactly in the Miltonian mode; not unlike John Steinbeck using a passage from that poem to title his book about an agricultural strike, “In Dubious Battle” (1936). Alinsky quotes from the Book of Job‡, a few pages later, at the very beginning of the book proper, on page 3; but a repuke might not get that far. He already has more than enough to damn Alinsky.
______________________
‡“The life of man upon earth is a warfare...”—Job vii. 1 [Douay Rheims 1609, or Douay Rheims Challoner 1750]. This was the newest english catholic version until 1936 when the Westminster Version was completed. Now for the Church in England and Wales — the Jerusalem Bible (1966), for the Church in the US — New American Bible (1970) are used liturgically. Whether Alinsky quoted for the choice of words, or not, i don’t know, but he didn’t use a jewish, or protestant translation; he used the ancient catholic one, which was the only really readily available one in his time.

Guest Submission III: A story of Daniel

One Sunday morning at the St Casimir weekly prayer vigil a little five year old boy named Daniel Fleszar asked,“Why do we stand outside? Why don't we go inside the church to pray?” . I replied the church is closed and locked. Daniel then said, “Who did this?”. I said,“Our bishop”. Daniel replied, “This is bad, you tell him to open it!”.

As the words of this small child were relayed to his father, Wojtek, he too stated,“Daniel has asked me this many times. He sees this is wrong, just what do I tell him?”.

The old folk saying, paraphrasing the Book of Psalms from the Old Testament is, “Out of the mouths of babes comes wisdom.” If one thinks about it, adults can learn much from the innocence of children, that is if we listen to them. Children are often quite direct, and speak out the obvious truth, catching adults off-guard.

At a well attended Polish picnic, last Saturday, people were approaching this writer to inquire about the investigation of our bishop, Richard Lennon. The consensus was that our bishop needs to be removed. People were hungry for information. They wanted specifically to know who sent Bishop John Smith. They didn't believe that Bishop Lennon asked for an investigation.

On Saturday, July 16, Bishop Emeritus John Smith of Trenton, New Jersey, flew out of Cleveland after conducting interviews with members (both laity and clergy) of the Cleveland Diocese. From July 11 through July 15, the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma (originally St Stanislaus Kostka Novitiate) saw visitors who were eager to relate personal experiences regarding their parishes' closings, and how the Ordinary of the Cleveland Diocese conducted himself.

Interviewees gave statements and evidence of parish finances, campus facilities, church programs, and correspondence with the chancery. They were also asked about dealings with Bishop Lennon, his demeanor, and his leadership.

Fifteen parishes have appeals in Rome, however we know of only five who came to Parma to speak with Smith; all five (SS. Casimir, Emeric, James, Patrick, Wendelin) have street prayer vigils. It is unknown whether any other parishes, opened or closed, spoke with Bishop Smith. Bishop Emeritus Anthony Pilla would not confirm his meeting with Smith.

Greater Clevelanders are anxiously awaiting the results of Bishop Smith's visitation. In the meantime, an avalanche of correspondence is arriving in Trenton, New Jersey.

Even little Daniel will send a note to Bishop Smith. Of course his father, Wojtek, will do the writing for him. Daniel's parents were married at St. Casimir's. Daniel was baptised at St. Casimir's; and it is hoped that one day both, Daniel, and his baby sister, will make their First Communion there.

— Joseph Feckanin

concerning Smith's visitation

Cleveland's Plain Dealer has a very accurate story in Sunday's paper about the visitation. It was available on-line Saturday evening. Five of the first seven reader replies were knee jerk defenders of lennonism, that apparently cannot normally process any fact or observation they disapprove of; like Fox viewers viewing non-Fox reports. One extreme right wing crank throws in a non-sequitar complaining about George Soros (a capitalist who gives money to non-fascists and anti-fascists, and is therefore, a common bogeyman of american fascists). One obsequious idiot refers to Lennon with the abbreviation 'H.E', which is 'His Eminence', the official address of a cardinal. The self-appointed church policeman promoted the tyrant.

As some may know an apostolic visitation (investigation) occurred in Cleveland. A Monsignor Rossi, and a retired Bishop from Trenton, New Jersey came the week of the 11th to Ohio. They had several meetings at the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma (the former St. Stanislaus Kostka Novitiate). Single representatives of at least five parishes (and Bp. Pilla, and several priests) spoke with Bp. John M. Smith. Perhaps, the voice of the laity may register. Those five parishes all had a street vigil outside their closed churches. St. Wendelin's vigil is in 'suspension', but SS. Casimir, Patrick, Emeric and James are continuous. One question Smith gave to the parishioners suggests he is trying to establish whether Lennon stands in the state of odium populi.

His address is:
The Most Reverend John M. Smith
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Trenton
701 Lawrenceville Road
Trenton, New Jersey 08648

Ozymandias

“So let it be written; so let it be done.”

Ozymandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said:“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

—a sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1818

Since the poem is getting close to two hundred years old, i don’t expect Coca Cola, Disney, or Rupert Murdoch holds the copyright. I include the sonnet complete.

And who is Ozymandias? A greek historian from Sicily, Diodoros Sikeliotes (Siculus), who lived slightly more than a generation before Jesus used a greek form of one of the names of faro Ramses II, Usermaatre Setepenre. Ramses II, is widely believed, faro in Exodus. He reigned for two generations centered in the 13th century before Christ. Yul Brynner in the movie. Brynner caught the fearsome arrogance well.

Ramses II makes the paper every once in a while (a, b). He like Louis XIV had such a long reign, that, he outlived several heirs. Louis (the Sun King) Quatorze reigned 72 years and was succeeded by a great grandson. Ramses reigned 66 years and was succeeded by his 13th son, the then elderly Merneptah.

Damnatio memoriae, complete condemnation and eradication from memory, was shown in the movie,‘Ten Commandments’, where faro (Yul’s father) Set(h)i said,

“Let the name of Moses be stricken from every book and tablet, stricken from all pylons and obelisks, stricken from every monument of Egypt. Let the name of Moses be unheard and unspoken, erased from the memory of men for all time.”

Now, archæological record shows Ramses II had monuments defaced from the Amarna (a monotheistic period) age of Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV). The latin phrase came from the time the senate, or the emperor so hated a predecessor they attempted to erase him from memory. George Orwell (Eric Blair) showed this in ‘1984’, Winston Smith's job was the continual revision of history; occasionally someone fell into the memory hole, and was scrubbed from history. This was a reference to how things were done frequently under stalinism.

The age of faros is gone. History still records the existence of the past, contrary to the desire of some revisionists. Getting back to Shelley, ‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’. You can see these words coming from Brynner.

Ozymandias/Ramses is gone 3000 years, the statue is a ruin. It was believed that existence continued of the person in his monuments. The drama of erasure was great. Shelley alludes to the sands of time that cover the interval of passage. One can contemplate the legacy of any personage, and wonder of his importance, and his own. Life and reputation are transitory.

Hot days and politics

It is hot in the Middle West. Crops are drying to death in the fields of the South. Cleveland's high for July 21 was 1952's 97°F. It was matched to-day, other spots in Ohio reached 100°, to-day. The last time it was hotter than to-day was in 1995.

Some time ago [February 2010], in the nation's capital, the overbearing, obnoxious idiot senator from Oklahoma played up the igloo, his daughter's family built, in mocking derision. It must be remembered that his, Jim Inhofe's, campaign money has come from oil and gas interests, and electrical utilities. That is how things are played.

The media is not making any comparison of to-day's weather to 'global warming' or 'climate change'. No Democrat is trying to make a point on it. When we got cold, or snowy days in winter even people in the coffee shop cracked a joke about it.

Over this sort of stuff, i came to the conclusion, that, Catholic Republicans are Republicans first. We, a group had gathered for a talk on a religious topic, a traditionalist Catholic presentation. One fellow there, of my acquaintance, had spoken of his admiration of the Repukes and the worst president ever, gwbjr. Ok, i expected that; then he went on the anti-climate change wagon. He would not count it plausible that that was propaganda by economic interests. That was the first time i saw the issues linked: extreme climate scepticism, and the Republican party. Suggesting the tobacco companies didn't 'believe' that smoking was related to cancer, did not register with him. Learning, reason, education loses to personal political belief, and the bank accounts grow — all hail Mammon.

No, we were there to talk about the existence of evil in the world, the four last things, and so on. There are doctrines that Christians, and especially Catholics believe in: the Virgin Birth, the Immaculate Conception, the Fall of Adam, the Resurrection of the Body, the Trinity. No, we are not all required to believe every mouthfoamer on the radio and television, and to have us vote for a fascist plutocracy; a castigation of all earnest, and respectable, history and science so that, it can be replaced by economic and political propaganda — is not in the bargain. Inconvenient truths, and documented facts are not to be jettisoned for bullshit. If you wish to believe bullshit that is fed to you by a devious schemer, that is one thing; to expect me to believe it is something else, or you could just watch Fox.

Blessing of the chariots

July 20 is St. Elias (Elijah) Day. Elias was the Old Testament prophet that lived in the time of Achab and Jezabel. The eastern churches celebrate the day more often than the western. Here in, Brooklyn, Ohio there is a Melkite parish of St. Elias.

outdoor mosaic Elias fed by a raven. St. Elias. Brooklyn, Ohio.

There are a number of episodes with Elias. Perhaps, the chariot story is the favorite. One prise winning film was entitled, "Chariots of Fire", it was not about Elias, but he was the inspiration. The closed appealing church of St. James, Lakewood has a fine painted mural of Elias in his chariot.

And as they went on, walking and talking together, behold a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven. — IV Kings ii. 11.
 
The eastern churches would have you know that St. Elias the Prophet was the Second Forerunner of Christ. Many times, the eastern title is lengthier, more poetic, more mystical.

Some parishes bless modern day chariots (automobiles) on St. Elias, or the vigil, or for Sunday. The blessing will allude to the Scriptural quotation above, and sometimes the ethiopian eunuch who was reading in a chariot and met Philip the Apostle. A very tangential thing is to-day is the anniversary of the first moon landing. Here at St. John the Baptist, Byzantine Cathedral, Parma one drives up for the blessing prayer, smoke and a sprinkle. Windows are to be open. Ancient chariots were open topped. It is a quick drive through. Of course, the engine does not have to be running, and a procession could move from one car to another. This is a sacramental without a set form. Still it is a good thing, it is an organic growth in ministering to the community.

some 'fair and balanced' on lennonism

To-day in Cleveland's daily there appeared a letter in defense of lennonism. The writer* was a senior partner in a big law firm [i need be careful that i am not sued, but for a big time lawyer he presents a weak case: ad hominem arguments, and false premises]. The law firm has had a business relationship with the diocese. The writer sits on boards and committees of the diocese, and of the bishop's. Of course, this was not noted. It is not the first he, and other people with connections to the bishop, to have had letters printed in support of lennonism. This is part of a dis-information campaign.

Part of the programme is to attack anyone who criticises lennonism. Another part is to give unsubstantiated, and broad generalities [without corroborating factual details] of support of lennonism. Remember, when the Plain Dealer has someone saying positive things about Richard Lennon, there is a good probability there is a dependent relationship to Richard Lennon and the diocese he controls.

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHFYwp6FW-U&feature=youtu.be
a parishioner of the last parish (St. Emeric) closed under lennonism speaks. He also has several more segments filmed on the evening of 30 June 2011. He has a table of segments:
http://www.youtube.com/user/jjuhasz1#g/c/B8F416AE957B2D98

Also, a young film documentarian has a film posted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD9ntcuTTPk
Some of this footage will be used in an upcoming documentary looking at the growing number of closed churches.
______________________
*postcriptum I 5.45pm 19 July: In a few recent communications, i have been told that i should give the writer's name [Patrick F. McCartan], and his parish [St. Joan of Arc, Chagrin Falls], and his residence [it is not in Cleveland, not in Cuyahoga County, but in Geauga], he is identified as being from Cleveland. His business office is on East 9th and Lakeside. It is doubtful that he resides in the nearby Holiday Inn, or the cathedral rectory.

*postcriptum II 5.43 p.m. 21 July:
http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2011/07/bishop_lennons_prudence.html
Bishop Lennon's prudence
Published: Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 4:01 AM Updated: Thursday, July 21, 2011, 12:08 PM

This letter, and its replies were absent from the internet for sometime. The individual who edits letters to the editor was surprised, and perplexed at its absence. Apparently, she did not think it possible. Someone wanted to comment on McCartan's letter. It is back on line now. It has four (4) replies, all in disagreement.

bene note: the local daily, is the Cleveland Plain Dealer, it is called the peedee, one or two words, by many.
*postcriptum III 24 July: McCartan's letter has 6 replies on line. Sunday 24 July he has four separate letters replying: a, b, c, d.

Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rupert?

"Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rico?" is the last line in the 1931 movie Little Caesar. It came from Edgar G. Robinson's character, Caesar Rico Bandello. Warner Brothers had several gangster films, with several fine actors, Bogart, Cagney, Raft, and Robinson.

Rupert Murdoch is a multi-continental, fascist, press lord. He deals in slime, and is very successful. Don Henley had a song, Dirty Laundry. That was about the Murdoch style in 'news'.

He doesn't believe in taxes, or paying union wages. He likes dictatorships, especially China's, but he has hidden money in Cuba and elsewhere. He really likes money. Perhaps, the only loss he suffered was the huge divorce settlement he paid for screwing around on his second wife.

He pushed for the second Iraqui war. His crap publication, Weekly Standard, hired several of that war's propagandists. Perhaps, his most successful propaganda tool is Fox News [sic], where every conceivable Republican candidate has been hired, except Romney. He came to american citizenship, in order, to buy such american television stations.

Right now, only Murdoch's empire in jolly olde England is in trouble. His business methods were not different elsewhere. Not every one follows foreign news, but the story is still growing in England. Murdoch has the Republican party to protect him in the US.

Rico was a fictional criminal, who had a high opinion of himself, and could not accept his defeat. Robinson had some charisma, Murdoch—no. Little Caesar lasted a little more than an hour. Murdoch inherited one australian paper from his father in 1952. He is a geezer now, it has been a long show. "Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rupert?"

Quijote in blue

Pablo Picasso. Don Quijote y Sancho Panza. 1955.

El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha.
In Paris, in August of 1955, there appeared in a weekly journal a drawing by Pablo Picasso. Now, Paris was the cultural capital of the world; Picasso the most celebrated artist of his time; Cervantes' Quijote the world's first novel (romance), and arguably still the greatest. Now, that drawing appeared in a shade of grey; it has been near universally reprinted in black and white. Last year in Tblisi, Georgia, there was discovered the original painted sketch, and it was in a blue green, and faded black (not supra which is a weakly computer manipulated from the black and white icon). Does a bit of color change matter? It was to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Quijote's appearance.
But what does Quijote mean to us? And who is us? Quijote and Cervantes were Spaniards, i am not, and if you are reading this in english, probably not you either. Now, that i am not a young man, Quijote is even more dear. Quijote has gone mad and pursues his illusions. Quijote wants to be the perfect christian. He takes as a model the role of the knight. Spain is the power of the world. The time of knights and chivalry are gone. The spaniards conquered the world, and spread the Gospel, but not in a gracious manner.

Quijote is an old haggard man (bordering on fifty), with a pure soul. The complete book, if it were to fall on your foot, would hurt. One does not have to read far, before one is brought to tears. ... Youth is gone. Now in these four hundred years, our average life spans have increased. Still, youth is gone. Try to get hired at this age. We have a clause, ignored, in our contract, that, says a shop must have a certain percentage of men above this age. Unions have suffered in this country, even beyond the current malaise, we have seen management growing too onerous, and we have had poor leadership that has easily compromised the men for ease of relationship.

Now, our hero was an hidalgo (gentry, minor nobility, fijo d'algo, son of something). He identified as a gentleman of the blood, hidalgo de sangre, though impoverished. He saw himself as the redresser of wrongs. Love and justice were one in him. Others saw him as a crazy fool, and treated him this way. That is the poignancy. He ought to know better, but he suffers honourably. Did not Jesus suffer? Quijote had read the medæval romances and used them as manuals. He was bound to do right, no matter the outcome. A canny man would not.

Getting back to the Picasso drawing, see how large Quijote is. He dwarfs the windmill that defeats him. His loyal companion also is under scaled. The stature of Quijote in the print suggest his importance. His steed, Rocinante, is flesh bare. His armour is rusty and ridiculous. His bearing is as magnificent as he can muster.

Quijote is an existential hero. He knows he is a character in a book, but beyond that; doing good in a cruel world, has what value for us? How are we to act? What is the price of wisdom and discernment? Gustave Doré. Don Quichotte et Sancho Panza. 1863. The previous iconic Quijote.

less cold storage

See: a couple of photos, the morning of July 14 of the remaining concrete and 'rebar' (reinforcing steel) of the Cold Storage Building from Abbey Road, and W. 14th Cleveland, O., notice the water tank has tumbled away. I posted a photo on the 5th of July with the water tank, perhaps before it was posted on that day, it was already gone. Between the hulk and the barricade and fence is a huge nest of twisted rebar.
Notice the remnants of a sign for a Chicago kosher sausage butcher who distributed from the closed food terminal. They were one of the many merchants at the Columbian Exposition of 1893.

Cleveland's Cathedral on a day of investigation

The First Reading for to-day's Mass was Moses and the Burning Bush. The Gospel was very short, Matthew xi. 25-7. The presiding priest (Bp. Lennon) read the Gospel. His homily was on the first reading.

If the Gospel was longer, and finished the last three verses of the chapter, this would have been read: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." --NAB

How in contrast was that Jesus towards the laborers as to the presider? People were outside complaining, and protesting the heavy yoke, and uncomfortable burden of the last five years of lennonism. They hoped they might get some relief from the investigation of Lennon, by the retired bishop of Trenton, John Smith. Some signs were there thanking Rome, and Bishop Smith.
Some of these people who held signs, had been inside the church for Mass. Subtracting their number from the pews, and adding to the number who remained outside, the resultant figure was greater. When the size of Mass attendance at the cathedral is compared to an average attending a daily Mass at many of the closed parishes, it is unimpressive.
After Mass some joined in a circle praying the Rosary.

Rome moves forward on investigation of Cleveland's bishop

A very odd announcement came from the Cleveland chancery, this morning:

“While I am confident that I am faithfully handling the responsibilities entrusted to me, I personally made this request earlier this year because a number of persons have written to Rome expressing their concerns about my leadership of the Diocese. This visit will be an opportunity to gather extensive information on all aspects of the activities of the Diocese and will allow for an objective assessment of my leadership. I ask for prayers that this process will support the vibrancy and vitality of our Diocese going forward.” -- Richard Lennon

Timing. The diocese sends out an e-mail Thursday evening with news. This wasn't in it. Announcements are made at Sunday's Mass. This wasn't, but first thing Monday morning? No, Lennon would not be bragging about this, and the story could have further episodes during the week. No, this timing is very inconvenient for Lennon.

Lennon did not ask for an investigation.* He is above all law in his mind. It is implausible that such an executive calls to his superiors to examine him. This was forced upon him. Lennon is infuriated when he is criticised, and bombastically berates those whom attempt to. It is inconceivable that the above statement is truthful. It must be remembered, how very recently, Lennon's spokesman, Tayek, dismissed the report in the Italian paper, La Stampa, concerning an apostolic visit.

It seems to be a drama unfolding. Use the metaphor of your choice, dominoes are dropping. A retired bishop, John Smith, is the apostolic visitor. It is unusual to publicly announce an investigation with parishioners to speak. Rome wants Lennon out, but it is highly unusual they would publicly embarrass Lennon. They would not have had to, if he got the hint the first time.
________________________________________
Postscriptum: 14 July 2011. I have had people share their opinions with me. There are other perspectives to the evidence that is publicly available. Some people think there is going to be a face saving 'compromise' wherein a couple of parishes, or churches, or even one will be reopened; and that is it. Some people think this is the second visitation, and Smith is a man acceptable to Lennon for a re-evaluation. Some think the interviewees to be seen by Bishop Smith are those acceptable to Bishop Lennon.

Of course, these possibilities are within the sphere of probability. Logic still goads me to follow the argument on timing. Smith is in town on Monday, and the press release is made on Monday (after the fact). It comes after the one year anniversary of the last closing.

The questions are: will Rome discipline a bishop against his will? They have. Will Rome dismiss a bishop? They have. Will they do something of that nature towards this one? It remains to be seen. If they do not, it has been a farce.

*I have been told by one person who believes Lennon did ask, for this second visitation. He believes it is a very clever and realpolitik move of base cynicism.

Art Deco Cleveland

One of the angels at the base of the copper paneled octagon and flèche of the 'oil can'. Such angels were common motifs in the 1920s and '30s. One of several angels (1924) between the arches of the nave of St. John (Kanty) Cantius, Cleveland. Leo Friedlander was a New York sculptor. His work in Cleveland was the outside building sculpture on the Oil Can Church. To the right side of the main entrance there is Veronika, holding the cloth containing the image of Jesus during his via crucis. She is part a greek karyatid, part a vestal virgin but stylized geometrically, and stream lined. Her face is similar to the figures of the Lorain-Carnegie pylons.

several of the guardian heads in studio/plant June 19, 1932

Similar in style were the 'Guardians of Traffic' on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge pylons.   Henry Hering was the sculptor. Workmen at Ohio Cut Stone did the labor. The architectural firm was the same as the Oil Can Church. Frank Walker was the architect that worked with Hering. Romanised assyrian genii, with wrap around wings, that guarded the cities and palaces were given mercury helmets, bookended the four pylons. The 43' pylons were cut from local, Berea, sandstone. The bridge was opened in 1932 after more than a decade of carping, and delays. This is the most monumental display of Cleveland deco. Of course, this project would have easily fit into Mussolini's Italy. In the interwar period there were many archælogical digs in the Middle-East. Egyptian discoveries caught a greater share of public, and design interest, but not exclusively. Artists blended, and chose elements from several ancient lands for part of art deco creation.

 
A wrap around angel is on the gravestone of Francis Prentiss (†1937) in Lake View Cemetery. His widow, Elisabeth Severance Allen Prentiss, was a benefactor to the Cleveland Art Museum. Severance Hall's [concert hall] pediment sculpture is by Hering; it is more Beaux-Arts than deco. Her father was a partner of John D. Rockefeller; she and her family had more than ample wealth to be acknowledged in giving away a portion of excess.

Squirrel approved

an explanatory aside

For those who have read this journal for some time, can see i am fiercely both a democrat, and a catholic. My catholicism is of an ancient peasant sort, not appreciative towards innovation and usurpation from bishop-tyrants. My theology teachers are Francis of Assisi, Oscar Romero, and Thomas Aquinas; not Milton Friedman, Herbert Spencer and Thomas Hobbes.

I did not intend these posts to have a majority topic. It has turned out that they have.

Accidentally, i came across an individual's musings in this journal form of photographs and essays. She, in her journal, touched me poignantly. Such personal public self revelation, i am most uncomfortable with. In a few posts, i felt i knew more about her than any of my current acquaintances. She is a good person of excellent humour. Some of what she confessed, i would feel uncomfortable saying in the confessional. No great sins or crimes, but painful episodes of life visible to anyone with internet access—my, my; no, no.

Some sweet posts about companion animals had no threshold of too much privacy sacrificed, but they were safe. Some family, and personal life anecdotes i could only share with the closest of friends. She did so with the on-line world, the veil of anonymity was sheer, indeed.

She only alludes to religion and politics, well, i go way far. Those topics, i believe, are proper for public exposition; and especially necessary, when the powers that be are successful and wrong (or worse).

The logic of the rebel is to want to serve justice so as not to add to the injustice of the human condition, to insist on plain language so as not to increase the universal falsehood, and to wager, in spite of human misery, for happiness. — Albert Camus, The Rebel

With Aquinas, i see Truth as part of a triad, that is reflective of the Trinity; with Solzhenitsyn*, i see falsehood as violence. Well, those who support the status quo, and the comfortable, are not happy with such comments; as Plato is quoted,"They deem him their worst enemy who tells them the truth.".

Years ago, i was upset with the inanities, falsities, and arrogance of George Will. Well, the cartoonish dolts that speak for the repukes now, well I have not shifted. I could not call myself a 'liberal' then, in part of certain social causes I can not support, and the classical anglo liberal was a capitalist; and capitalism is against God. The lunacy of those that call themselves 'conservatives' and more rightly are 'fascists', make me, now, comfortable with the designation of 'liberal'.

But these on-line journals, that are too often called 'blogs', a word that grates on the ear, are oftentimes on lighter issues. Sometimes, i speak on the images painted on glass, or on the meaning of a folkie lyric. I have presented many photographs, especially on this, a voice from the rustbelt, from my small camera. I would have liked to do more on flora and fauna. Well, i have spent way too many hours typing, and have not gotten the joy my unknown friend did on hers. God bless her, and ease her issues. I am still fervent and quizzical, but not at ease.
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* Near the end of Solzhenitsyn's Nobel speech: Let us not forget that violence does not and cannot flourish by itself; it is inevitably intertwined with LYING. ...Whoever has once announced violence as his METHOD must inexorably choose lying as his PRINCIPLE. ...usually it demands of its victims only allegiance to the lie, only complicity in the lie.

Hard times for fascist press lord?

I do not know if the fall of Faux news has begun. Fox, as they call themselves, is part of the international, billionaire, press lord Rupert Murdoch's empire. Glenn Beck has exited the building. In London a real scandal and crime may catch the public's attention.

News of the World is a once a week tabloid that is issued on Sundays in Britain. This is a rubbish paper one finds at the grocery, or drugstore shopping line. Murdoch has one in the US, Star. Rubbish, though it is, only the Times of India prints a larger issue in the english language, but Great Britain has a population of 61 million, India has 1,155 million. With those profits, and circulation (he owns other major papers, and television throughout the english speaking world and beyond) Murdoch has more power than W. R. Hearst (the model for Citizen Kane) ever had. Though Hearst was successful in having the US start a war against tottering Spain.

Murdoch, the good conservative catholic with two divorces, combats what he calls a 'liberal bias'. As a young man he inherited his father's papers in Australia, and moved to conquer Britain, and then the US. Of course he does well with sleazy papers, including New York Post. He also buys prestigious papers (London Times, Wall Street Journal), and reduces their quality.

His paper, News of the World, has been caught intercepting the messages, not just of celebrities and politicians, but of grieving relatives of the murdered, and military dead. The hot issue is over a kidnapped girl, who was later found dead. His people manipulated the story, by erasing phone calls, to give false hope that the child, Milly Dowler, would be alive. Is it reasonable to believe that this is the only rotten apple in Murdoch's barrel?

He is ending the operation of that paper as an independent publication. If Fox television is ever investigated, what would be found?

Fascist slave labor

I knew with Reagan, every accomplishment that benefited the common man from Mr. Roosevelt's New Deal was under attack. That does not stop me from being angry when one further step towards fascism is taken.

Last November a crop of Republican [fascist] governors rode the absolute crest of an anti-democratic wave. It is hard to choose the biggest jerk tyrant of that lot. The goofball that may be the chief miscreant is Wisconsin's entrant, Scott Walker. Walker rammed through the removal of collective bargaining for state workers, which includes over riding work that could only be done by unionised workers.

He is promoting prison labor to take unionised government jobs. Employing slave, chained labor to increase the ranks of the unemployed. Granted, this is a minor step now, it is the direction it leads to.

St. Methodius

Saint Methodius preaching the Gospel, detail. Our Lady of Lourdes (Bohemian-Czech). Cleveland, O.

The brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal to the Apostles, the Apostles to the Slavs, i have mentioned before (a, b, c, d picture only, e). In the latin calendar of the saints from 1887-1969, this was their day. Depending on the calendar, and the nation, and the rite, and whether descent is from Rome or Constantinople, the brothers are celebrated on 14 February, 9 March, 11 May (Julian), 24 May, 5 July, 7 July or since they are who they are, any date is fine.

They were both born in Thessalonica to a senatorial family. The father was geek, and their mother slavonic, probably. Cyril, formerly Constantine the Theologian, became a monk and died in Rome. Methodius was eventually an archbishop, and died in Nitra (Slovakia) on 6 April 885.

They went to a dozen nations, sent by the greek Patriarch, and endorsed by the roman Pope. They were successful everywhere. They suffered from german envy, and hegemony by the german political, and clerical rulers.

They made the slavs literate, and christian. They adapted the greek alphabet for slavonic speakers. The earliest scripts were glagolithic, and now cyrillic. They translated the Gospels, and the Mass into the old slavonic, which is called church slavonic.

When slavs migrated from the old continents, to the new continents, they often named their churches and parishes after the brothers. Here in the Cleveland diocese, there were three such parishes. Two have been suppressed (Barberton Slovak, Lorain Slovene), one has been renamed (Lakewood Slovak) by Lennon the Destroyer of Parishes.

Lennon, Resign

To-day, Wednesday, 6 July 2011, outside St. John's Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio a protest and street conference took place. Every Wednesday after 4 p.m. there is one. To-day under two dozen came. A new banner was unveiled, 'Lennon, Resign Now'.

A couple of representatives of the Cleveland Teachers' Union (Local 279) came too. One was their Political Action Director, Michele Pomerantz. They, along with Santiago Feliciano, former counsel for the Diocese of Cleveland, spoke about the fate of former school buildings of parishes.

Under, the previous bishop (Anthony Pilla), and under the present (Richard Lennon) there is a special relationship with the charter school magnate David Brennan. Brennan has benefited from sweetheart deals for his substandard instructional services. Brennan has benefited from low rents, and low prices for recent churches,schools and other parish properties bought. Brennan has also lobbied successfully [with Republicans] in Columbus to get the legislation he wants. He began this in the time of Voinovich's governorship to create the first 'charter schools' in Ohio.

Brennan wants increased profits. He also wants freedom from regulations, and greater control over labor. Brennan wins, with help from bishops and Republicans, while parishioners, pupils and their parents, teachers, and taxpayers lose. He practices a cronyist social darwinism where he is top predator.

What further disturbed the Catholic protestors was Brennan's influence in the parish closings. Especially, with the current ordinary there is a distinct preferential option for the wealthy and well connected. The Lennon-Brennan relationship is irksome.

Protestors carried signs, some reading:

Save our Churches
Pray for a Healthy Diocese
Lennon & Brennan Collusion

People or Profits
Twin Schemers ! Lennon & Brennan Privatise the Catholic Church
+ Lennon & Brennan ~ An Unholy Alliance
Lennon & Brennan Joined at the Wallet
Sacrificing Education for Profits
Diocese of Lennon: Selling Churches Protecting Pedophiles

A teacher is interviewed for a television station. It is unknown if the piece made any airing.

the Oil Can windows

This a church visible from several points. This view is from East Boulevard on a hazy day. The pie window is visible. This church has been called the 'Holy Oil Can', it is currently University Circle United Methodist. It was built just days before the Cold Storage Building [1926-8 v. '28-9].

Tuesday, i stopped for the first time to enter the Oil Can Church in University Circle, Cleveland. It is sort of reminiscent of the Mont Saint-Michel on a tidal island in Normandy, but more of a giant Oil Can (gallican gothic meets art deco gotham).

I was impressed, by the small scenes of the windows. The large windows, as in several local protestant temples of architectural distinction in the area, wish to be imitative of the cathedrals in Chartres, Canterbury, and some other grand mediæval wonders. The trouble with that is they overwhelm. They sit too high, and have too much. One needs an hour, and a pair of binoculars, for each. They are impressive, and even magnificent, but lack directiveness, and warmth; too many scenes on too slender a light.

In the narthex, between the nave doors, and the outside main doors, there are beautiful small windows that one can take in. There is a double methodist window of John Wesley, and Francis Asbury. And there are the catholic windows. First century saints of the initial generation are often found.
Now, Lazarus of Bethany, had two sisters Mary and Martha. In the narthex they have two separate lancet windows. The upper portion, of each, has the standing sister; the lower has the sister with Jesus. Martha was the dutiful housekeeper, Mary was the admiring audience.
There was a double lancet window, each with two scenes, as the Mary and Martha windows, of Francis of Assisi and Girolamo Savonarola. Francis is often the only saint after the first century that makes an appearance in a protestant church. In the top he is in the company of a trio of birdies, and a squirrel — no surprise. The bottom scene is not that well known of an episode. During the Fifth Crusade (1219), Francis at Damietta, a port on the Nile, crossed the line to speak with the Sultan of Egypt, Malik al-Kamil, nephew of Saladin. Francis wanted to convert him, the Sultan was amused. Francis was courting martyrdom, the sultan was impressed with his sincerity, presence, and fool-hardiness. How many people know this story, and recognise that window.
Il falò delle vanità martedì grasso. The most famous bonfire of the vanities (all the items that may aid in an occasion of sin) took place in Florence on the day before Lent in 1497. Savonarola was a Dominican. Dominicans were a preaching order. In 1494 the French invaded Florence. The ruling family, the Medicis were driven away, and Savonarola declared a christian republic. He was a strict moralist, he did not advocate new theology, but a rigid adherence to faith and morals. His chief target was the corrupt current pope, Rodrigo Borgia, Alexander VI. Borgia would win the battle.
There is a chapel with a rose window, or in this case — a pie window, having six wedges. Each wedge is a parable, and notation of the first line of chapter and verse is given. One is of the rich man and poor Lazarus. English protestants had traditionaly called this one Dives and Lazarus, using 'Dives' as a proper name. By the window detail, and the Scripture, we see the rich man (dives) in purple at table; and we see Lazarus, without food being licked by a dog. It is a beautiful, and illustrative window [the blue is solid, it lightened up in this exposure].

Homo quidam erat dives, qui induebátur púrpura et bysso, et epulabátur quotídie spléndide. — Luke xvi. 19

There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. — Luke xvi. 19-21.

Cold Storage Building is Shrinking

June 14, 2011. West bound I-90, the highway that goes from Boston to Seattle.

June 26, 2011. East bound I-90

July 2, 2011 from the Detroit Superior Bridge

July 2nd. Ground level Abbey Road

To-day, 5 July. East bound I-90

I drove around to-day and photographed. I could have done 'worthwhile' things. So, i drove to University Circle, East Cleveland, West Collinwood, and then to Edgewater. I got home, and one of the television stations was showing the clean up at Edgewater Park for Independence Day weekend.

Well, to-morrow is supposed to bring traffic changes about the Innerbelt Bridge. ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation), well it could be Oregon, or Oklahoma, 'tain't, 'tis Ohio. Of those three Indian (if we were in Canada, Ontario of the First Nations' people) states, 'tis Ohio — land of the pumpkin colored barrels. It is their most expensive project yet. Their description may be accurate, still confusing.

The Cold Storage Building is coming down. I guess it went up in 1927 and '28 as blocky as can be. People had real ice boxes then. Food was kept cold there before it went out to stores and restaurants. Ships and trains brought stuff in, and out. The Van Swearingens were building the Terminal Tower [1926-30, and then the second tallest building in the world, only the Woolworth Bldg. N.Y. City was taller] and Union Train station, and the old food markets were torn down. Electric was still new. In a solid concrete and cork insulated building electric icing systems were used. After electrification reached all homes, the need of the terminal (its other name, Distribution Terminal Warehouse) was less needed. It made ice that was used on lake ships, and for butchers to prepare meat on site.

For some years it stood empty, right next to the bridge and used for advertising, and otherwise ignorable. The last advertisement was white washed, and it looked better. It was not to safe to implode the building, the bridge has structural problems. An explosion three feet away of nine floors of concrete cubicles, penthouses, and a water tank is not a good idea. The bridge needs replacing, it is under watch, traffic has been reduced. Some people remember the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Pawlenty was governor, and is running for President. Would a bridge disaster in Cleveland propel a Kasich candidacy again? Better they take their time.

Not unlike St. Michael's, the building can be seen from many spots. Now, that pieces are missing, it is more noticeable; before when it was a dust, dun, khaki, grey block, not for years. If you enter from Abbey/West 14th, behind Annunciation Greek Orthodox, it is dead front ahead. Now, when it went up it was a tall building for any city. In 1928 there were few nine storeys. The last few years it was an ugly billboard.