Tridentine Community News - Detroit Catholic Features OCLMA Pontifical Mass and Confirmations; Deacon Mike McKale at OSLMA; World's Largest Catholic Parish in Dubai; Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"
Tridentine Community News by Alex Begin (February 24, 2019):

February 24, 2019 – Sexagésima Sunday

Detroit Catholic Features OCLMA Pontifical Mass and Confirmations

The Oakland County Latin Mass Association has had a noteworthy two weeks. First, on Sunday, February 10, because the Academy of the Sacred Heart Chapel was needed by the school that day, the OCLMA’s Mass was relocated temporarily to Old St. Mary’s Church. That also happened to be the day when Auxiliary Bishop Donald Hanchon was to celebrate a Pontifical Low Mass and confer the Sacrament of Confirmation to members of the OCLMA. Old St. Mary’s graciously welcomed the OCLMA and granted the prime time slot of 10:00 AM for this Mass.

The Detroit Catholic was on hand, as this was the first Sunday Mass to have been offered in the Extraordinary Form at Old St. Mary’s in almost 50 years. The Detroit Catholic is the on-line successor to the now-discontinued Michigan Catholic newspaper. The Detroit Catholic publishes local, national, and global news stories and offers a no-charge e-mail subscription for daily news. On Monday, February 11, the Detroit Catholic’s lead story was “Extraordinary times: Old St. Mary's hosts Tridentine Sunday Mass, traditional form Confirmations”, available here:

On Friday, February 15, this same article was featured in the Clergy News e-mail broadcast sent out by the Archdiocese. Clearly substantial progress has been made over the past 15 years, from the TLM being a subject best not discussed in public to having it be considered worthy to be the lead story of the week. We are grateful to the staffers who thought to create such an uplifting report.

Detroit Catholic photographer Paul Duda also published an album of beautiful shots of the church and ceremonies here:


Deacon Mike McKale at OCLMA

Last Sunday, February 17, Deacon Mike McKale served as Deacon for a Solemn High Mass for the first time at the OCLMA/Academy. Deacon McKale for many years served as Director of the Permanent Diaconate program for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He is presently assigned to Holy Name Parish in Birmingham. We welcome Deacon McKale’s interest in the Traditional Mass and hope to see him at future Solemn High Masses in our region.

World’s Largest Catholic Parish in Dubai

On Saturday, February 9, Catholic Professor of Theology and speaker Dr. Edward Sri published on Facebook photos of a visit he made to the largest Catholic parish in the world, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With 500,000 parishioners, the parish “has dispensation from Vatican to do Sunday obligation Masses all day Friday & Saturday. 10 Masses each day from 6 am to 9 pm on weekend, with thousands of people each Mass inside the church and outside watching on multiple Jumbotrons.” This is, of course, the Ordinary Form. Not exactly the best environment for prayer, and certainly a reason to give thanks for the numerous opportunities we have to assist at the Traditional Latin Mass in more…comfortable…circumstances here in metro Detroit and Windsor.


Tridentine Masses This Coming Week

• Tue. 02/26 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Holy Name of Mary, Windsor (Feria)
• Fri. 03/01 7:00 PM: High Mass at Old St. Mary’s (Votive Mass for the Defense of the Church) – Celebrant: Fr. Joe Tuskiewicz. Choir will sing Missa O Quam Gloriósum by Tomás Luis de Victoria. Devotions to the Sacred Heart before Mass. Reception in the parish hall afterwards.
• Sat. 03/02 8:30 AM: Low Mass at Miles Christi (Saturday of Our Lady)

[Comments? Please e-mail tridnews@detroitlatinmass.org. Previous columns are available at http://www.detroitlatinmass.org. This edition of Tridentine Community News, with minor editions, is from the St. Albertus (Detroit), Academy of the Sacred Heart (Bloomfield Hills), and St. Alphonsus and Holy Name of Mary Churches (Windsor) bulletin inserts for February 24, 2019. Hat tip to Alex Begin, author of the column.]

World organizations declare ISIS slaughter in the Mideast "genocide"

Among those condemning ISIS massacres of Christians and others a "genocide" are listed:

• The International Association of Genocide Scholars
• 60 Parliamentarians from the United Kingdom
• 200+ Members of Congress
• Pope Francis
• EU Parliament
• Genocide Watch
• USCIRF

Check out the following websites:

• "Statement of Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson on State Department's Genocide Declaration" (Knights of Columbus, March 17, 2016).
• "StopTheChristianGenocide.org" (Sponsored by In Defense of Christians and Knights of Columbus).
• "There is only one word for what is happening: genocide" (Knights of Columbus, March 10, 2016).

[Hat tip to P. Borealis]

Antonio Socci: "Let's look [the martyrs] in the face"

How can the Church waste time with pseudo-questions, such as "communion for 'remarried' divorceed", when scores of Christians are being slaughtered every single day?


Antonio Socci,"'The Heroism of the Christian Martyrs' - Let's look at them in the face" (RC, February 19, 2015)

THE POPE SHOULD HAVE THE 300 CHRISTIANS AND THEIR BISHOP IN TRIPOLI EVACUATED TO SAVE THEM FROM BEING SLAUGHTERED

We need to look at those 21 young Christians in the face. Rather than deny Christ they underwent martyrdom in Libya and before having their throat cut by ISIS - in reading their lips (which was done) – they were continuously pronouncing the name of Jesus. Like the martyrs of old.

THE NAME OF JESUS

Their Bishop says: “That name whispered at the last instant was akin to the sealing of their martyrdom.” Coptic Christians are strong people, tempered by 1400 centuries of Islamic persecutions. They are heirs to that St. Athanasius of Alessandria, who saved the true Catholic Faith from the Arian heresy, held by most of the bishops [at that time]. They are tough Christians, not like the spineless, tepid-Catholics we are here in the West.

Here’s what real strength is: it’s not what hates and kills the defenseless (even children) and crucifies those who have a different faith, rapes the women - waving a black flag, faces hidden.

The real strength is the one of the defenseless who accept even martyrdom rather than deny their own dignity - that is to say, their faith - giving witness to the wonders of “ the Beautiful Love” as an ancient definition of the Son of God names Him.

Read more >>

Rethinking Islamic policy, both by Muslims and by the Church?

As reported recently by Raymond Ibrahim in "Egypt’s Sisi Slams Islamism, Calls for ‘Religious Revolution’" (FPM, January 5, 2015): "Speaking before Al-Azhar and the Awqaf Ministry on New Year’s Day, 2015, and in connection to Prophet Muhammad’s upcoming birthday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a vocal supporter for a renewed vision of Islam, made what must be his most forceful and impassioned plea to date on the subject." I hope he is not assassinated for it. It was a courageous speech. I have never seen such a prominent leader of a Muslim country take so bold an initiative:


By the same token, William Kilpatrick argues about what is needed in the Church: "Needed: A New Church Policy toward Islam [Pt. 1]" (Crisis, January 28, 2015). Here he offers a critique of current Church policy, and, at the end of his article, promises a sequel in which he will suggest a viable alternative.

[Hat tip to E. Echeverria]

In Defense of Christians: Six patriarchs of Middle East gather in DC

 

September 8, 2014, Monday — Six Patriarchs

 

Six of the patriarchs of the Christian Churches of the Middle East will be, for the first time ever, gathered together in the United States for the next three days. They will be meeting in Washington D.C. starting tomorrow.

 

This is important because the presence of the Christian community in the entire Middle East is now threatened, with hundreds of thousands fleeing the region, and thousands killed by the radical Islamic fighters of "ISIS" ("The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria").

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

Washington Summit to Call Attention to Plight of Christians in the Middle East

 

Historic Gathering Will Feature Patriarchs from Middle East, Lawmakers and International Human Rights Activists

 

Washington – The deteriorating situation facing millions of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East will be the focus of a bipartisan and ecumenical conference in the nation's capital.

 

The three-day event sponsored by In Defense of Christians (IDC) will feature speakers from all over the globe.

 

The IDC Summit for Middle East Christians, whose theme is “Protecting and Preserving Christianity, Where It All Began”, will be the first occasion in history where six Christian Patriarchs from the Middle East will gather together in the United States.

 

IDC President Toufic Baaklini said, “For too long, Westerners have stood by, silent or unaware, while Christians and other groups in the Middle East have endured discrimination, persecution, and religious cleansing. Today, as the Islamic State continues its genocidal campaign against Christians in Iraq and Syria, the globe is finally awakening to their plight. IDC exists to give voice to these voiceless people. In this hour of their greatest peril, they are in desperate need of support. We must act now.”

 

Baaklini stated: “To this end, IDC is hosting a historic global Summit for Middle East Christians, September 9-11, in Washington, D.C.

 

This summit will empower the Middle Eastern Christian Diaspora and energize the American people to stand in solidarity the ancient Christian communities of the Middle East. Their survival is vital to stability in the region, and their ability to flourish in their countries of origin has national security implications for the United States.”

 

Summit attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Members of Congress and their staff, policy makers, diplomats, human rights activists, and religious leaders. Speakers include:

 

* Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Rai;

* Syriac Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II;

* Archbishop of Washington Donald Cardinal Wuerl;

* Leonardo Cardinal Sandri of the Vatican’s Prefect of the Congregation for

Oriental Churches;

* Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX);

* Senator Debbie Stabenow (R-MI);

* Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA);

* Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL);

* Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL);

* Dr. James Zogby; and

* Nina Shea, Director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom.

 

*****

In Defense of Christians (IDC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to the preservation and protection of Christians in the Middle East.

 

www.indefenseofchristians.org
www.idcsummit.org

2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 325, Washington, D.C. 20006

 

CONTACT: Joseph Cella

 

tel. 703-286-9677

 

joseph@indefenseofchristians.org

[Hat tip to S.F.] 

The "striking clarity and uncompromising straight-forwardness" of the Pope

Boniface, "The Great Pius X" (Unam Sanctam Catholicam, August 20, 2014), uncompromising even when, by today's standards, doubtless "incomprehensible," not to mention controversial.

[Hat tip to JM]

Wow.

Maureen Mullarkey, "Francis in Wonderland" (First Things, May 30, 2014):

The papacy is swaddled in sycophancy in the best of times. Add to that the exultant adulation induced by celebrity culture. It is a heady mix that can beguile a decent man into a grandiose conception of himself that blinds him to the limits of his office. And encourages conceit in his own sympathies.

Francis’ excursion into Middle East politics illustrated the danger of a pope assuming office as a saint-in-waiting. His incautious behavior ought to have received more scrutiny from the Catholic press than it did. Instead, the amen chorus crooned about peace, prayer, and fraternal dialogue, as if fine words pull the sting from the scorpion’s tail.

And so it goes on. Read more >>

Related: Maureen Mullarkey, "Misuse of Prayer" (First Things, May 19, 2014).

[Hat tip to JM]

What's the value of something like this?

"Hundreds attend interreligious prayer for peace in Denver" (CNA, August 19, 2014):

Denver, Colo., Aug 13, 2014 / 05:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- An estimated 900 people of the three Abrahamic religions packed the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver Monday night for an interreligious prayer service for those suffering in the Middle East.

Fr. Andre Mahanna, director Maronite eparchy's interfaith office, opened the service, explaining that the danger of persecution reaches beyond the members of those particular minority groups.

“(The violence) is against all people who believe in God, in culture, in civilization, and in the common good,” he said. “It is against the honest faith that humans are good beings, that what God created … (is) something good.”

Fr. Mahanna then asked all those in attendance to clap their hands as a gesture of solidarity in peace and against the gruesome murders and tortures of recent weeks in the Middle East.

“Let us clap our hands to make a statement … that the sound of our hands joined together in prayer and in true human love are way stronger and more effective and way more powerful than the sounds of the bombs (ISIS) are using to kill every human being on earth, starting in the Middle East.”

Intercessions were then led by religious leaders representing various religions, including Catholic and Orthodox Churches from the Middle East; Protestant and Catholic representatives from Western Christianity; rabbis; and sheikhs and imams.

Following the intercessions were readings from the religions' three holy texts - the Quran, the Pentateuch, and the Gospel - and an address from Archbishop Aquila, who said the test of a true religion is whether it promotes both love of God and of neighbor.

Read more >>

[Hat tip to L.S.]

"Religion of Peace" Rebels in Syria Force Christian to profess Islam, then behead him

ADVISORY: DO NOT WATCH THIS AND EXPECT TO BE UNAFFECTED. THIS IS OBSCENE. THIS IS REAL.

Here is a transcript from ChurchMilitant.TV, which carried this story in its August 6, 2014, news broadcast:

A Christian man in Syria recently had his head viciously hacked off by Islamic militants after being forced to deny his faith and salute Mohammed as the "messenger of God."

The incident was caught on video for the world to see and broadcast this morning as a warning everyone like him.

The video that was posted on YouTube with translated captions. The helpless Christian man is surrounded by armed militants wearing masks, and he is heard reciting as instructed "There is no God but God, and I testify that Mohammed is the messenger of God."

"Religion of Peace"??? I'm speechless.

Related:


"Iraqi Christian Refugees call upon the Vatican and the West "Come, Pope in the Vatican!" "America, fix it." "Where are you?"" (RC, August 8, 2014)

Mordecai, the Middle East, and cheese steak hoagies

ANDRÉE SEU PETERSON, "Allotted boundaries" (World, August 9, 2014):

The cheese steak hoagie I had for dinner makes me wonder why I eat well while people in Burundi, where my brother preached, have beans and cabbage every day. The torching of Christian churches in Syria and Iraq makes me wonder why I get to sit in safety here in Pennsylvania. God is no respecter of persons and He loves all His children, so why does He treat us differently?

The question sparked a mental chain reaction through the Bible. First stop, 2,500 years ago in a secret communiqué from a man at the king’s gate to the chamber of Queen Esther: “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

I like the combination of the “Who knows” and the unabashed Godward speculation. Mordecai was too humble to say so, but if Esther came to the kingdom for such a time as this, then Mordecai came to the kingdom for such a time as this too. The one who lights the fire under Esther is surely as strategically placed as Esther.

Is it only Esther—and a few key people like Moses and David and Jesus—whom God has had born in the precise century and precise location He desires? The New Testament shows it is not: “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him” (Acts 17:26-27).

So then God sets the times and dwelling places of all men, not just some “important” men. Not only so, but He discloses the reason: to enhance the possibility of each individual to “seek God” and “perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.” Consider the height and depth and length and breadth of the kindness of God! “Not wishing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9), He goes to much trouble to maximize each person’s likelihood to come to Him for salvation.

Back to my cheese steak hoagie question, and the harassing of believers in the Middle East vis-à-vis this writer’s comfort in America. To borrow Mordecai’s phrase, “Who knows” whether God foreknew which individuals would be able to handle persecution without renouncing the faith, and which individuals would buckle if they were pushed too hard? And who knows whether He carefully measured out our sufferings, with tailor-made trials for each believer, “if necessary” (1 Peter 1:6), according to His promise not to let us be tempted beyond our ability (1 Corinthians 10:13)?

Is this not gracious to both—to the one, affording the opportunity for martyrdom and a martyr’s reward (“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life,” Hebrews 11:35); to the other, affording a heaven he might have lost if he had not kept the faith to the end (Hebrews 2:6)?

"It's over: genocide has been accomplished"

RC reports:

For two thousand years, our dearest brethren saw it all from Mosul: Romanized Greeks, Hellenized Persians, Hellenized Romans from all origins later called "Byzantines", Armenians, Arabs from the desert with a religion of the sword, Egyptians, Crusaders, Mongols, Turks, French and British, "Independence"... Then the clumsiest Empire in history, an Empire unwanted by most voters, unwarranted by the Republic's own Constitution, led by bellicose hawks motivated by God knows what, justifying their actions on untruths, arrived, upsetting a balance that was not the best, but was best of all possible outcomes. Two Vicars of Christ had cried their hearts out in vain warning of the grave danger of an intervention, of the, "extremisms that could stem from it."

Things were never the same.

For years, we have been warning that support for terrorists in neighboring Syria would surely end badly. But even we could not imagine that it would end so badly so fast and over such a vast area. And yet, the insane Empire-builders are still handing billions and billions, and hundreds of millions of dollars to "moderate" terrorists! Where's the outrage? Have you contacted your congressman, senator, president, MP, prime-minister expressing your outrage, begging this madness to stop?

This evening, our brethren the Syrian (Syriac) Catholics and Chaldean Catholics, who worship in the language of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and all other Christians are gone from Mosul. There may be some hidden in various places, but all public signs of their presence are gone. The seat of the Syrian Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul was completely burned down by the terrorist "Islamic State" this very evening, July 18, 2014, several converging reports seem to confirm.**

After two thousand years, it is finished. It's over.*** Who will pay for the lasting damage lying Western politicians created by starting a process that would lead to what not even the first Islamic rulers, thirteen centuries ago, ever did, the obliteration of Christian life and populations? "Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time," says the Lord. His judgment over this generation and their rulers will be overwhelming and frightful.

In Mosul, genocide* has been accomplished. Where's the outrage? There's no more outrage, just silence - cut by sounds of blades, gunshots, bombs, and the muezzin's loud calls to prayer.

For further details read more >>


Related: Sign of Genocide (RC, July 19, 2014).

Syria: pray for our Christian brethren

"Let us pray for those who will lose most in any intervention, the weakest link in the Middle East: Christians."


"[A]s in the Balkan interventions of the early 20th century, it is clear that there is an interest of some Powers to pursue an armed intervention in an area where multiple, complex and deeply historical interests are at stake, it is absolutely clear that it cannot end well, and it will almost certainly end with results that are opposed to the core interests of those same Powers. It is like witnessing a car crash and not being able to do anything."

Source: New Catholic (Rorate Caeli, August 27, 2013).

Atrocities against Syrian Christians

A Chaldean Catholic in our community sent this email:

"POOR CHRISTIANS.....
"UNFORTUNATELY OUR WESTERN MEDIAS NEVER MENTION THE SUFFERING OF THE CHRISTIANS IN SYRIA ... WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION. PLEASE SEND THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES"

"Atrocities that the Muslim terrorists are committing in Syria. We have too help the Syrians and especially the Christians who are being slaughtered by these atrociously wicked terrorists. My heart is crying for what is taking place in Syria and unfortunately instead of the West taking action they sit idle and allow Syria to disintegrate and the Syrians be butchered."

Please pray for our Syrian brothers and sisters in Christ. Just as the Western media turned a blind eye to the slaughter of Chaldean Catholics in Iraq, so they are ignoring the plight of Syrian Catholics and other Christians caught up in the horrors of the civil war in Syria.

There is not the least indication that our government is concerned. The Western media is largely indifferent. These Syrian Christians have almost nothing to help them but the communion of the saints, the unity of the Church triumphant with the saints-in-the-making of the Church militant. Your prayers count. So please stop and say a prayer for them now, asking St. Michael in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ to bind the satanic hosts unleashed upon their country.

[Hat tip to N. Yousif]

How Obama's "New Realism" backfired in Iran

Mark Steyn, "The 'New Realism'" (NRO, June 17, 2009).

[Hat tip to T.K.]

Christopher Blosser debutes in First Things

Christopher Blosser has been invited to become a regular contributor to the First Things blog, "First Thoughts."

His most recent contribution is entitled "Books, printed and virtual" (First Thoughts, June 13, 2009), a reflection on the difference between traditional printed books and books now being offered in electronic format, as in Amazon's Kindle application. While recognizing certain benefits of the latter, I agree with him in preferring traditional books, not only because of their tactile virtues, but because you can mark them up in the margins and make them your own. Would you trade a personally marked up copy of a book for an unmarked new one?

He debuted earlier this week with a controversial post entitled, "Obama, Benedict, and Islam" (First Thoughts, June 8, 2009), comparing certain features of President Obama's recent Cairo speech with statements made by Pope Benedict XVI during his tour of the Middle East. The piece is certainly provocative, though it hardly represents the general tenor of Christopher's posts, which have been consistently critical of the recent drift of Obama's statements and policies generally.

Anyone curious about Christopher's perspective on Obama may wish to consult his blog, Catholics In The Public Square. Those curious about his views on Islam, may wish to consult his posts: "Pope Benedict, Islam and the Prospect of Reform" (Against the Grain, April 23, 2007); "Readings in Islam: 'Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition'" (Against the Grain, July 2, 2007); and "George Weigel's 'Faith, Reason & The War against Jihadism' (Part 1)" (Against the Grain, January 8, 2008).

Where are the sunshine Jewish Patriots who voted for Obama now?

In the face of this: "Iran general says could stop Israel in 'one strike'" (Breibart.com, May 24, 2009), the Obama administration appears, amidst a complacent world, to be signing a warrant for "The Death of Israel" (Newsmax.com, May 24, 2009). Dick Morris & Eileen McGann write:

From Caroline Glick, deputy editor and op-ed writer for the Jerusalem Post, comes alarming news. An expert on Arab-Israeli relations with excellent sources deep inside Netanyahu's government, she reports that CIA chief Leon Panetta recently took time out from his day job (feuding with Nancy Pelosi) to travel to Israel to "read the riot act" to the government warning against an attack on Iran.

More ominously, Glick reports (likely from sources high up in the Israeli government) that the Obama administration has all but accepted as irreversible and unavoidable fact that Iran will soon develop nuclear weapons. She writes, "...we have learned that the [Obama] administration has made its peace with Iran's nuclear aspirations. Senior administration officials acknowledge as much in off-record briefings. It is true, they say, that Iran may exploit its future talks with the US to run down the clock before they test a nuclear weapon. But, they add, if that happens, the U.S. will simply have to live with a nuclear-armed mullocracy."

She goes on to write that the Obama administration is desperate to stop Israel from attacking Iran writing that "as far as the [Obama] administration is concerned, if Israel could just leave Iran's nuclear installations alone, Iran would behave itself."

If a suicide bomber cannot be deterred by the threat of death, can a theocracy be deterred by ... sanctions? Go see a psychiatrist.

Whatever you may think, don't get too comfortable: "Half of Israelis back immediate strike on Iran" (Breibart.com, May 24, 2009). And why? "74 percent of those questioned [in a survey published by Tel Aviv University] said they believe that new US President Barack Obama's efforts will not stop the Islamic republic from acquiring atomic weapons."

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -- George Santayana

[Hat tip to S.K.]

U.S. Pres throws Israel under the bus

Puts country on collision course with Israel. Why is this all as predictable as a Hollywood script?

[Hat tip to S.K.]

Most detailed coverage of Pope's Holy Land visit

For probably the most detailed coverage of the Pope's visit to Jordan and Israel, check out the hour-by-hour account, tracking reactions and observations from every quarter, found at http://benedictinisrael.blogspot.com/.

Craig spanks Hitchens, warmly received in Turkey

William Lane Craig debated the famous "new atheist," Christopher Hitchens, at Biola University in April. "Hitchens Debate at Biola" (Reasonable Faith Newsletter, May 2009):

The debate on April 4 was the largest ticketed event ever held at Biola University. The gymnasium where the debate was held was stunningly illuminated with a bright blue backdrop and equipped with a giant screen and packed with 4,000 people. High-definition television cables linked the gym to every other auditorium on campus. The debate was webcast live (as well as on delayed feeds) to 35 other states and even to four foreign countries! Bloggers in the gym were providing live, blow-by-blow coverage to people across the internet.

... Hitchens showed himself utterly incapable of interacting with the [philosophical] arguments in a substantive way. By his third speech he had reverted to his usual railing against God as a North Korean dictator who robs us of our freedom....

The reaction in the blogosphere was immediate and unanimous. Hitchens was uniformly denounced for his empty rhetoric and posturing and his failure to interact with the arguments. One atheist blogger summed it up: “Hitchens was rambling and incoherent, with the occasional rhetorical jab. Frankly, Craig spanked Hitchens like a foolish child.”

A little over a week later, Craig flew to Turkey where he was invited to speak, among other venues, to a closed session of the faculty and grad students of the Theology Department at the University of Ankara on "The Coherence of the Christian Doctrine of the Incarnation," and received throughout his speaking tour with amazing warmth and gratitude. After his Ankara presentation, he reports, 'one of the professors shook my hand and said with a big smile, “You are a better practitioner of kalam than our philosophers!'” ("Speaking Trip to Turkey," Reasonable Faith newsletter, May 2009).

[Hat tip to E.E.]

Benedict in Israel: a preview

"The walls of the old City of Jerusalem from Mount Zion."
A preview of the Pope's pilgrimage to the Holy Land (May 6, 2009), by a longtime contributor to the Benedict Forum, who writes:

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a life-changing experience for those who believe in Christ. Even though the sites we revere today we may not be the precise spots mentioned in the Gospels, when you visit Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and other ancient places in modern-day Israel, the presence of Jesus , Mary and Joseph, the Apostles and the disciples -as well as the "villains" in the story of our salvation-becomes palpable. Galilee and Jerusalem, especially, make indelible impressions on the heart and soul.

When I first visited Israel I had only a point and shoot 36mm film camera. On my second, I had better digital equipment. In anticipation of Pope Benedict's visit, I thought I would share with the forum some of my impressions of the places where he is scheduled to go.

A preview of Pope Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to the Holy Land - photos and impressions from Yad Vashem; The Dome of the Rock; The Western ("Wailing") Wall; The Upper Room; The Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Kidron Valley; Basilica of the Nativity, Nazareth and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.