Bishop takes an Hyacinth

Saturday, the 19th of September, as mild and splendid a late summer day, that one can have, Saint Hyacinth had their ending mass. It is difficult to speak kindly of the local ordinary. Richard Lennon came to Cleveland, Ohio, to suppress [close] parishes. He as auxiliary did the same in troubled Boston. This was not his first such closure and seizure in town. It has already come routine. To use a simile, he is like an imported gunslinger. He has nasty tasks to do, and he takes count. Many are the notches he is cutting. He is a tall man, it is not unusual for him to be the tallest in a crowd. In general his public speech is neither loud, nor plentiful. He is determined to use the full force of his office.

An hour before mass, two uniformed city policeman sat on the last bench in church, while less than a dozen congregants, prayed and sat before them. They would later go in the parking lot. They would talk to the arriving bishop, a half hour before mass. Lennon rides in a black Infiniti. Four men stand in the street across the church entrance, one holds a Betsy Ross flag, another holds the papal flag, two others hold signs: “CATHOLIC ETHNIC CLEANSING” read one sign, “SAVE OUR PARISH” read the other. Three black teens walk on the sidewalk between. The girl says to the boys, “Dey want to keep dere cherch open”.

The neighborhood can hardly be thought of as doing better without this parish, than with it. The church is very close to an interstate terminus. Cleveland has suffered from the mortgage crisis, Ohio especially, did not regulate these matters. With the other economic hardships, this has further weakened neighborhoods. Nearby is a disreputable scrapyard, that has made the press several times, once for a large explosion. Many factories are shut, but one with stamping presses has gone from 40 hours a week to 24 hours a day. Many houses have been broken into. Others have been boarded up. Occasionally a particularly, brutal crime is noticed by the media.

The church, itself, has modest grandeur. It is wonderfully tidy. It has character. It is sacred space on a comfortable scale. The baptistry alcove shares a slavonic [polish], marian presence. The stations of the cross are stained leaded glass, illuminated from behind. A porcelain crock dispenses holy water. There is no shabbiness.

To use an euphemism, the neighborhood has been in ‘transition’. Immediately about the parish, it does not look too bad. The old school/church has gone too seed, shrubbery grows in the gutters. A son of the parish, John Krol became the cardinal archbishop of Philadelphia. Most of the parish has always been working class polish. The future does not appear promising to residents to-day.

Now, the weekly collection has had a threshold of a thousand dollars. The parish has been run by a deacon. The priest, connected with the cathedral, has come only to celebrate mass. This scenario is why this parish was suppressed so easily. Every parish is not required to have a resident priest, but those in Cleveland shall (it seems).

The scene will be repeated. Lennon will show up, preside over the liturgy, take the parish. Monday morning it will be physically seized. It may be possible* to take three in a weekend. The last closure date is to be 30 June 2010. Saint Emeric, Imre in magyar [hungarian], Amerigo [America] in italian, is scheduled for that day. They are still protesting to Rome, as are about a dozen others.

Reasons given are demographic and financial. Clergy is in short supply. Saint Emeric has gotten their pastor from the old country. He is not incardinated in Cleveland. Other parishes have missionary order priests serving. Some parishes are physically and financially healthy. There are such demographic and economic issues, but there is no one to one correspondence. Ethnic, urban parishes are taking a huge hit. Perhaps, certain pastors are not favored. Some of this deplorable outcome is to pay for past scandals. It is not pleasant. Parishes are held in trust and are created to be perpetual.
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*It will happen this weekend, St. Hedwig (polish), Akron on Saturday, September 26; and in Lorain, St. Stanislaus (polish), and St. Ladislaus (hungarian) on Sunday, the 27th. The diocese covers eight counties, with the cities of Akron, Lorain, Elyria also hit hard, but with less media coverage. The eastern european nationality parishes are heavily targeted.

Existentialism of literary characters

A man's life in toto, or a man's œuvre, or even one man's moment provides for his remembered essence. Most lives are spent over many years. These lives are filled with the biological functionings of existence, which are not unique and of particular interest [only] to the biologist defining his subject. The number of accumulated years concerned with eating and sleeping, we can gloss over by ignoring. The existentialist questions of meaningfulness remain. Most lives are spent in quiet, ignominious desperation.

Albert Camus writes of the absurd man. He, a member of the resistance to the germans, when and where a bad moment could lead to extinction of one's life, still smoked many a cigarette in boredom. The boulder Sisyphus pushes up the hill, rolls back down, and Sisyphus pushes it back up again.

Dino Buzzati writes Il deserto dei Tartari, a parable in undefined time and place, of a life wasted in a desert desolation. Where men wait with anticipatory desperation for fictional marauders, for generations. Men unfamiliar with the geography and the adversary. Time continues its progress, youth fades into old age, dreams of significance turn to the tedium of regulation and habit. Life's destiny is monotony. Buzzati puts this in a forgotten, frontier fort; it was his milanese newspaper office.

Camus and Buzzati are not part of american popular culture. Charles Schulz is, his character Charlie Brown and his troupe are. Charlie Brown is the existential being. He dreams of success, he tries again and again. He is an exemplar of perseverance and fortitude, and many have empathised with that, for they too, strive but do not succeed.

The writer and his creation are not the same, even though, the product is embued with the character of the draftsman. The hero is a fictional construct with a tailored existence. The writer is mired as a plodding actor in a life he cannot control, for he cannot create his own existence.

Now, at least two generations of americans are familiar with Schulz. The suffering Charlie Brown represents the autobiographical anguish Charles Schulz felt. The rich imaginative, play life of the dog, Snoopy exercises the desires of fame, glory and action that he [we] did not experience. Schroeder diligently, and enthralled, at the piano is the artisan in productivity. Schroeder on occasion becomes furious over insulting interruption. Linus is the gentle, inquisitive soul of wonder and belief. The near circle of females are (mostly) cruel, selfish harpies [the girls from the other side of town, Peppermint Patty and Marcie are a comic duo of bumbling humanity].

Recently, Robert Short, a presbyterian minister, died. In the 1960s he evaluated Schulz's universe into a post-war reformed protestant orthodoxy. Since then a generation has passed, and Schulz's religious perspective did not remain static, and Short's onerous and oppressive calvinism is inadequate to satisfy and give justice. A lot of Schulz's work is the art of humor, and as humor it is a set form meant to entertain, and as a perspective on reality--not doctrinaire propaganda. As a finalised creation it becomes, in part, a metaphor for the audience to interpret.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Now, on most Sundays, the Mass has three Bible readings, plus the psalm. To-day’s first reading was an oration from the Suffering Servant of Isaias. He has been unjustly and brutally treated, yet he stands unbowed and challenges any adversary to compare to him for judgment. He knows, he is right, and any opponent is not his equal. He also knows, God is with him.

...I have not rebelled,
have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
...I am not disgraced;
...I shall not be put to shame.
...if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let that man confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?—Isaias l.5-9a (abbreviated)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, ”
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say,
“You have faith and I have works.”
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
—James ii.14-18. NAB

The second reading destroys Martin Luther [and the protestant heresy*], and in his [their] own terms. The self proclaimed theological claim of rightness and superiority against catholicism is — justification [salvation] by faith alone, with a corollary that ‘works’ are meaningless. Luther also claimed only Scripture could change his mind, ‘sola scriptura’; and by that rationale his programme is demolished. Protestant theology stands on feet of clay.

The Gospel reading, from Mark viii, has Peter recognising that Jesus is the Christ [Messias], and then refers back to Isaias, in that of the suffering Jesus would undergo. Wavering, fearful but perceptive [Simon] Peter can see the true importance of Jesus.
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*To some this is a minor point to start a schism an heresy—faith not works, instead of faith and works. For faith does not exclude good works. The false dichotomy of faith OR works is partially a non-sequitar, and a straw man argument.

President Obama attempts to be heard

Look, Barack Obama is the legal, legitimate president de facto and dejure. There had not been one since the last day of William Clinton's tenure. In that interval great harm was done to the nation and the world.

The vociferous, mouthfoaming Republicans have made ridiculous attacks on the president's talk to schoolchildren. They claim it would be partisan [work, study, achieve], a claim they did not make against GHW Bush or Ronnie Reagan, whom proceeded to spin his political tale. No, the Republicans do not want the mantle of the presidency, to be seen by students, associated with Mr. Obama. Obama has too much gravitas, especially compared to the fraud he succeeded, the comparison is just too great.

The Arlington school district of Texas refused the public viewing, they are scheduling to bus children to see george bushjr and Republican businessmen. They will not admit the irony or the double standard. No matter how often or blatant the hypocrisy, they never seem to see it. They continue to yell that they are victimised. They never acknowledge any transgressions.

I am involved in a parish, which is in turmoil, it is divided between conservative Republicans and insane Republicans. The insane ones use the same tactics as the Obama haters and other mouthfoaming hypocritical zealots. They are a party of pharisees.

To-night the president will speak on the three traditional broadcast stations. He is blacklisted on the propaganda network owned by Rupert Murdock.

Labor Day

To-day's holiday is not given the proper due it deserves in this country. I live in a rather large television market. Labor Day activities, real labor day stuff is often totally ignored, even a parade with the governor and congressmen. Organised 'fests' to sell food and beer get air time. Commerce over labor. There is an 'air show' in town, which in good part is a military recruiting event gets mention. Corporate media does not want to highlight labor! They have aided the rich to degrade labor, even in the eyes of those whom labor.

Suppressing Saint Procop’s

Saint Procop is the patron of a formerly Czech (Bohemian) parish on the near west side of Cleveland, Ohio. He was alive a thousand years ago, and was an abbot. The nations coming to America, often gave names to their parishes after national saints. The Czechs often have churches of St. Wenceslaus, and St. John Nepomucene (Nepomuk). Procop was the first Czech canonised, but less well known. His calendraic day is the 4th of July. This Sunday, upcoming, Bishop Lennon will preside over the last mass, and the suppression of the parish will formally begin. Sunday, last, some of the parishioners gathered for ‘class pictures’, supra—are some beginning to assemble. The day before the last wedding took place in the church. Its sacramental records are ending.

The parish began some years after the failed war of southern secession. The cornerstone of the present, Byzantine-Romanesque structure was masoned in 1899. The parish demographics and economy mirrored that of the city. In 1962, the dome and two spires were removed. Now, with the further ravages of the statistics, and as a fall out of scandal, parishes are being suppressed, which is the canonical term for ‘forcibly closed’.

In addition to the nostalgic memories of all those who have fond recollections of their past, and their family’s, the parish aided the greater community. A weekly meal for the indigent and others has been moved to Saint Augustine’s, which has been very noted for feeding the hungry. An AA programme has been moved to an UCC church. It is a sad end for a parish, an entity meant to be perpetual.

Cash to car dealers

Yesterday, the BBC reported on the american “cash for clunkers” programme, they had to translate ‘clunkers’ to ‘bangers’; I would say ‘beaters’. The programme was quite popular, so popular that, it has emptied the kitty set aside for it. A local television station (WKYC-3) has run a story with a stilted bias, a bias that is absurd. It purposely gives the impression, that it has been a hardship for the car dealers. The poor businessmen are breathlessly waiting for its end on Monday. This is our ‘liberal media’ in action. Quite often local ‘news’ stories are shills gratis, at other times they are disinformation propaganda.

Really, the whole thing has been a government dole to the owners of car dealerships! Business has been slow. Car salesman have been long, and loudly, whining about the dearth of customers. This has brought them in.

NO car dealer was forced to use the programme, they voluntarily did so. The money has been presented as a gift to the customer; it does not go to the customer, it goes to the dealer, and most certainly, the dealer will use it to his rhetorical and financial interest. The price of the vehicle, with the government incentive, will be higher than without the programme. No, the car dealer has not given a largess to the customer. No, the car dealer has not been cheated by the federal government.

Some car dealers have complained they have not received the government money, yet. It has been a short time, and how quick was your satisfaction in dealing with car dealerships. How often has your pay come immediately?

Remember, most car salesman are Republicans. This was a government gift to car dealers. A Republican candidate for US Senate, from Ohio, is Tom Ganley, a very successful car dealer. I do not know if he engaged in this programme. Perhaps, he could inform us, during the campaign, of his involvement, and whether he approved of such big government interference in the market. Perhaps, he can give a consistent answer in regards to how government benefits him.
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postscriptum: On 24 August, WEWS-5 ran a story featuring a Ganley dealership, which did participate.

Investigate this!

Nine members of the permanent opposition, of the US Senate, have objected to an investigation of torture. In December 2007 nine Republicans voted for torture:

-Wayne Allard - Colorado
-Christopher Bond - Missouri
-Tom Coburn - Oklahoma
-Thad Cochran - Mississippi
-John Cornyn - Texas
-James Inhofe - Oklahoma
-Pat Roberts - Kansas
-Jeff Sessions - Alabama
-Ted Stevens - Alaska

When the new attorney general was in the process of confirmation, Cornyn delayed the process, because he objected to the possibility that the Justice Department might consider torture a criminal offense. Eric Holder has now seen much evidence and is heavily considering to proceed.

Now nine senators are objecting:

-Christopher ‘Kit’ Bond - Missouri
-Richard Burr - North Carolina
-Saxby Chambliss - Georgia
-Tom Coburn - Oklahoma
-John Cornyn - Texas
-Chuck Grassley - Iowa
-Orrin Hatch - Utah
-John Kyl - Arizona
-Jeff Sessions - Alabama

The overlap is four: Bond, Coburn, Cornyn, Sessions.

Now this is the party that spent millions upon millions hounding in worthless investigations, a twice legally elected president, up to a failed trial after impeachment over a tawdry sexual peccadillo. A special prosecutor is needed for Republicans to cripple, or remove, a democratic administration, but for international crimes against humanity not so much? Who in America holds the scales of Justice?

Why are Cheney and Rove not imprisoned?

David Letterman’s show said, concisely, that Cheney is one big tub of evil. It is almost impossible for one to come up with an individual in the history of this country, whom has lied so shamelessly and continuously as Dick Cheney. If Cheney does not end up in Hell, then Hell is a very empty place.

Cheney, the war profiteer, the proponent of torture, the enemy of civil rights, the manipulator, the worshipper of Mammon and Mars, the enemy of mankind is unbowed. He is said to be writing a memoir to advance his agenda. Will the Justice Department read it? He has incriminated himself already, and the law, and the press, and the nation are uninterested.

Karl Rove, the architect of georgebushjr’s régime, thoroughly politicised the ‘Justice Department’. Congressman John Conyers has released papers, in the thousands, proving Rove’s machinations. Rove has the same spirit of remorseless mendacity as Cheney. He has refused subpœnas. He has laughed off accountability.

It has been announced that Tom Delay will be a ‘contestant’ on a television dance programme. He has skipped away from several prosecutions, why not waltz and jig to the music in primetime. James Trafficant, former congressman from Youngstown, O., is to be released after eight years in prison over a few thousand dollars of tax fraud. Are not the vivid, scarlet crimes of the Republican hegemony far greater transgressions against the nation, and world, than petty corruption?

Town hall charade

Insurance companies make money denying medical care. The uninsured may pay quadruple for the same service as does the insurance carrier for the same claim. Of all the western industrial democracies, the United States lags at the bottom for health care, as much else that is good, but number one for income disparity and military spending. The United States is not a caring country, but a vicious country.

Some people are carping on the possible cost and taxes, they did not carp about the greater cost of the iraqui war. These naysayers on health care are showing an inconsistency.

These (mostly) angry, middle-aged, white people, some with misspelled signs overlap with those whom hate both, Barack Obama and the Democracy. They intersect with the birth fraud crowd, the gun nuts, the teabagging racists and the audience of the lunatic mouthfoamers. They have threatened violence. They have equated a legally and popularly elected president with nazism, Hitler, socialism, and communism. When the bushevik régime did enact fascist tactics, they decried critics as 'bushbashers'. And now they have been joined with Larouche supporters, whom are another sort of crazy, that I can not fathom. Some have been plants of the Republican party, and the moneyed interests. This is the angry ersatz crowd. They have not come to listen, learn, inquire nd debate, but to yell and rant.

The cretinous senator from South Carolina, Jim DeMint showed the rationale of motivation, "If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him". The proposed legislation is addressing a long standing problem. The minority party is hell-bent on sabotage and obstruction, and has not attempted anything in good will, nor for the commonweal. Grassley, of Iowa, is supposed to be part of a bi-partisan committee on the legislation, yet he is making absurd statements against it. He says Senator Edward Kennedy would not get care under the health care proposal, since he is aged with terminal cancer. Other than this being completely false, Kennedy is a rich man from a rich family--no such situation would ever apply. Perhaps, Grassley is exhibiting a nasty form of senility. And of course, Sarah Palin is agitating rubbish to the dolts of hatred.