Month: February 2019
Throwing a Jackal to the Wolves
Some Catholics are celebrating the unprecedented laicization of Cardinal Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. Apparently they missed that McCarrick’s top proteges have ALL been elevated by Pope Francis to the most prominent positions: Blase Cupich as Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago and Francis’ favorite in the US, Donald Wuerl as Apostolic Administrator of Washington, DC, and just this week, Kevin Ferrell as Carmelengo. It’s almost as if Francis is trying to make a point.
P.S. McCarrick is still a Priest and Bishop. Laicization doesn’t take that away (you can’t ‘undo’ sacraments). He simply has no more clerical rights and privileges.
A Rule for Parents
About that Blackmail…
Three weeks ago I posted an article about how I was being blackmailed and how I advised others to deal with it.
Today I saw that the richest man in the world was being blackmailed:
Something unusual happened to me yesterday. Actually, for me it wasn’t just unusual — it was a first. I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse. Or at least that’s what the top people at the National Enquirer thought. I’m glad they thought that, because it emboldened them to put it all in writing. Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I’ve decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten.
I don’t pretend that Mr. Bezos is one of the 11 people who read this blog, but I must say that it appears his strategy is precisely the same that I recommended, viz,:
- Confront your fear and accept the possible/likely consequences
- Involve legal counsel
- Involve law enforcement (if appropriate)
- Go public fast
It seems Mr. Bezos may have made some terrible personal choices and stands to lose tens of billions of dollars for it, but at least he didn’t respond like a coward when threatened. As he wrote, “If in my position I can’t stand up to this kind of extortion, how many people can?”
This is what’s known as ‘Courage in a crisis’.… Read the rest
Listen to This Beautiful Recessional Hymn
I was honored to be present for the solemn pontifical Mass for the feast of Candlemas at Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary on February 2nd, and the end of the nearly four-hour liturgy had a nice surprise. Listen!