Ratzinger Proposal

At Eirenikon a post entitled Are the Ratzinger Proposal and Zoghby Initiative Dead? prompted my response which I have cross posted.

I think that Dr. Barstad has confused several issues in his paper, “Are the Ratzinger Proposal and Zoghby, etc.” I will try to explain how I believe he has misunderstood the fundamental nature of the proposal.

With a few notable exceptions, each of the Eastern Catholic Churches has Eastern or Oriental Orthodox origins. To claim that only now after Vatican II these Churches can begin to think of themselves as “Orthodox-in-communion-with-Rome” instead of mere “Eastern rites within the Roman Catholic Church” has it backwards. One of the chief complaints of Eastern Catholics over time and today is that they have felt like outsiders within the Catholic Church. Eastern Catholics have felt like the foster children living in a foster home rather than feeling like brothers and sisters. Being perceived as “Orthodox-in-communion-with-Rome” reinforces the fact that Eastern Catholics are somehow outsiders and perhaps not to be trusted. This is certainly not the goal of the Second Vatican Council.

Moreover, to claim that this identity as “Orthodox-in-communion-with-Rome” is an enticing one to Oriental and Eastern Orthodox is also false. Many Eastern Christians distrust the motives of present Eastern Catholic ecumenism because of the historical circumstances that surrounded many Eastern reunions with Rome.  Catholic missionaries, political intrigues and war were some of the heavy-handed tactics used in the past to accomplish corporate reunion. These hard tactics of the past have created harsh memories that cause some Eastern Christians to mistrust the soft diplomatic tactics of the modern age. Furthermore, Eastern Christians can see that their Eastern Catholic counterparts are different. They are not just the same as “Orthodox-in-communion-with-Rome.” Eastern law, customs, liturgy, doctrine, theology and history have all changed with Roman communion. Some changed to a greater, others to a lesser extent. The merits and reasons for change weren’t always good. However, to claim that no change shall be required seems duplicitous and causes more mistrust.

At the heart of the matter, Barstad appears to fundamentally misunderstand the Ratzinger proposal, in my opinion. The proposal is not an attempt to recreate the doctrinal landscape of the 1^st millennium. Barstad rightly laments that this is an impossibility. Rather, the proposal is an attempt to strip away the practical requirements of modern communion and recreate the orthopraxy of the 1^st age of the Church. The proposal seeks to eliminate the law and structures of the modern era and return to a form of communion based upon the episcopal fraternal embrace. This is precisely why, in my opinion, Pope Benedict XVI eliminated the title “Patriarch of the West” from Roman usage.  Not only was the title only used in Rome in recent times but also its usage creates an entirely new and imperial structure from which to manage Rome’s relationship with the Eastern Christian Churches. Rather, Benedict was deliberately choosing to return to the simple episcopal structure of his role as Bishop of Rome that is decidedly more biblical and historical.

Such a return to simple structures is difficult for Rome. Modern and liberal notions of the “efficiency” of bureaucracy have transformed the Vatican into a labyrinthine maze of often competing structures that constrict progress to the slowest crawl. The eradication of structure in favor of persons is perhaps Benedicts greatest challenge. Nobody knows the measure of the task better, however.

I find it interesting that the Melkite response to the proposal was what the proposal imagined. Orthopraxy requires orthodoxy, however. Antiochian response to the Melkite proposal was decidedly cool. A slow approach was prescribed. As interesting to me was the manner in which the response was crafted by both Antiochian and Roman institutions. Modern bone crushing bureaucracies began to come alive in order to bring “context and balance” to the bold Melkite proposal. Pontifical and Patriarchal Congregations Commissions, Consulters and Boards sprang into action to halt the “hasty” Melkite action.

Dependency on bureaucracy for fraternal communion between Eastern and Roman Churches is exactly what the Ratzinger and Melkite proposals wish to avoid. Only when these modern structures are eliminated will, in my opinion, real progress toward reunion be made.

Twilight Moms

Amazing Border Collies

Mass Ritual Slaughter of Livestock

A few days ago Best Buy was wishing everybody a happy Thanksgiving and a happy Eid Al-Adha. Never heard of Eid Al-Adha? Neither had I. Turns out it is the annual ritual mass slaughter of livestock celebrated by observant Muslims. Eid Al-Adha means the Feast of Sacrifice in Arabic. In external form It is like the Hindu Feast explained below in an article from The Guardian UK. The Feast of Sacrifice  takes place at the same time as the Hindu Feast of Slaughter. Muslims claim their mass slaughter of livestock is in imitation of Abraham's sacrifice of the ram. Muslims claim their mass slaughter of animals is in sacrifice to the deity Gadhimai.

The world's biggest animal sacrifice began in Nepal today with the killing of the first of more than 250,000 animals as part of a Hindu festival in the village of Bariyapur, near the border with India.

The event, which happens every five years, began with the decapitation of thousands of buffalo, killed in honour of Gadhimai, a Hindu goddess of power.

With up to a million worshippers on the roads near the festival grounds, this year's fair seems more popular than ever, despite vocal protests from animals rights groups who have called for it to be banned. "It is the traditional way, " explained 45-year old Manoj Shah, a Nepali driver who has been attending the event since he was six, "If we want anything, and we come here with an offering to the goddess, within five years all our dreams will be fulfilled." .

Crowds thronged the roads and camped out in the open, wrapped in blankets against the cool mist. The festivities included a ferris wheel, fortune-telling robots and stalls broadcasting music and offering tea and sugary snacks.

As dawn broke, the fair officially opened with the sacrifice of two rats, two pigeons, a pig, a lamb and a rooster in the main temple, to cheers of "Long live Gadhimai" from spectators pushing against each other for a better view.

In the main event, 250 appointed residents with traditional kukri knives began their task of decapitating more than 10,000 buffalo in a dusty enclosure guarded by high walls and armed police.

Frightened calves galloped around in vain as the men, wearing red bandanas and armbands, pursued them and chopped off their heads. Banned from entering the animal pen, hundreds of visitors scrambled up the three-metre walls to catch a glimpse of the carnage.

The dead beasts will be sold to companies who will profit from the sale of the meat, bones and hide. Organisers will funnel the proceeds into development of the area, including the temple upkeep.

On the eve of the event, protesters made a final plea to organisers by cracking open coconuts in a nearby temple as a symbolic sacrifice. "It is cruel and inhumane. We've always been a superstitious country, but I don't think sacrifice has to be part of the Hindu religion," said the protest organiser, Pramada Shah.

The campaign has the support of the French actor Brigitte Bardot, who has petitioned the Nepalese prime minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, about the issue. But the government, which donated £36,500 to the event, has shown no sign of discontinuing the centuries-old tradition. An attempt by the previous government to cut the budget for animal sacrifice provoked street protests.

Chandan Dev Chaudhary, a Hindu priest, said he was pleased with the festival's high turnout and insisted tradition had to be kept. "The goddess needs blood," he said. "Then that person can make his wishes come true."

New Favorite Song

On the Brightside

nevershoutnever. (silent night video) | MySpace Music Videos

Zhu Zhu Shortage!

Thanks to Grandma Pat my kids won't have to experience this problem!

Why Such Acts of Terror?

For the last couple of years I have been undertaken an in depth study of the history and teachings of Islam. My purpose was to better understand the events of 9/11/01. I have just completed my study of the Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 volumes) and the Sahih Al-Bukari (9 volumes). The Tafsir Ibn Kathir is the most popular and authoritative commentary and explanation of the Quran. The Sahih Al-Bukari is the most popular and authoritative collection of the oral teachings of Mohammed the Prophet of Islam and is regarded to be the most “authentic book” after the Quran. These collections are available in English translation from Darussalam and Amazon.

I must say that I was completely unprepared for what I encountered in these books. The teachings contained in these books were disturbing in the extreme. Lessons about which weapons are best to use in Jihad and how best to dispatch an enemy were alongside teachings concerning the degree to which it is best to beat your wives. The deity of Islam is unlike any description of God that I have ever encountered as a Christian. I do not recognize the deity of Islam presented in these books as the God that I know. In my opinion, anyone who studies these books with religious devotion would eventually become a radical terrorist. Such a conclusion would be inescapable.

I have been asked to provide examples of these disturbing teachings by friends who have either seen these books in my library or have seen me study them. I will provide such examples in the coming days. There are hundreds of them. I will provide only a few. It is not my intention to turn my blog into a dedicated presentation of these works and teachings. Others can do that and have.

In honor of those who have died as a result of Islamic terrorism, those who died on 9/11/01 and those who died recently at Ft. Hood and have asked why and in an effort to inform friends and family of why Muslims engage in such terrible acts in the name of their religion I have quoted a Surah from the Quran along with its commentary. Read it for yourself. Then ask why.

Quran Surah 9:111

Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah’s cause, so they kill and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Quran. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.

Allah has purchased the Souls and Wealth of the Mujahidin in Return for Paradise.

Allah states that He has compensated His believing servants for their lives and wealth – if they give them up in His cause – with Paradise. This demonstrates Allah’s favor, generosity and bounty, for He has accepted the good that He already owns and bestowed, as a price from His faithful servants. Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah commented, “By Allah! Allah has purchased them and raised their worth.” Shimir bin ‘Atiyyah said, “There is not a Muslim but has on his neck a sale that he must conduct with Allah; he either fulfills its terms or dies without doing that.” He then recited this Ayah. This is why those who fight in the cause of Allah are said to have conducted the sale with Allah, meaning, accepted and fulfilled his covenant. Allah’s statement, “They fight in Allah’s cause, so they are kill and are killed.” indicates that whether they were killed or they kill the enemy or both then Paradise will be theirs.

The Two Sahihs recorded the Hadith, “Allah has made a promise to the person who goes out (to fight) in His cause; ‘And nothing compels him to do so except Jihad = in My Cause and belief in My Messengers.’ He will either be admitted to Paradise if he dies or compensated by Allah, either with a reward or booty if He returns him to the home which he departed from.”

Tafsir Ibn Kathir/Imam Abu Al-Fida Ismail Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume 4, pg 520-1, Darussalam, Riyadh 2003. ISBN 9960-892-71-9

From the book jacket of volume 4: “The Quran is the revelation of Allah’s Own Words for the guidance of His creatures. Since the Quran is the primary source of Islamic teachings, the correct understanding of the Quran is necessary for every Muslim. The Tasfir of Ibn Kathir is the most renowned and accepted explanation of the Quran in the entire world. In it one finds the best presentation of Hadiths, History, and scholarly commentary.”

Why I Go to The Box

In a recent post I complained about going to confession. A friend asked me why I go in the first place. If its really so bad why not just stop going, he said. That was a good question so here is my reply.

      1.     I’m a sinner. I really want to be a better man, however.

      2.     The bible says that only God forgives sins.  “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7

      3.     I’m a Christian so when the Bible says that Jesus forgives sins I believe it. “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Mark 2:10

      4.     I’m a Catholic so when the Bible says that Jesus gives this power to forgive sins to his ministers to exercise in his name I believe it. “He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:22-23

      5.     The bible calls this exercise of the power of absolution by the “ambassadors of Christ” the “ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

      6.     The bible says clearly to “confess your sins.” So I do. James 5:16

      7.     So when I sin, I repent and find an ambassador of Christ who exercises the ministry of reconciliation so that I can confess my sin and receive forgiveness in his name. I also like that I can get advice from this ambassador to help me be a better man.

I like going to confession: most of the time. Sometimes I have a bad experience but that doesn’t keep me from going. I remember my first confession when I was a child in the second grade. I remember that I was having a hard time trying to put all my ill deeds in order from bad to worst. I felt much better after I got everything off my chest and heard that fatherly old man behind the screen tell me that everything was all right, that I was forgiven and that I should go in peace. Today it’s much easier for me to put my confession list together. I still have that same feeling, though, when that fatherly old man behind the screen tells me that it’s all right, I’m forgiven and that I should go in peace. I always feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Hearing is believing, I guess. It keeps me coming back.

King's Fair!

Each year the Atonement Academy hosts King's Fair on the eve of the Feast of Christ the King. The kids have a blast and I enjoy the micro-brewed Blue Star beer.

Marathon Lessons

I've had some time to think about this year's San Antonio marathon. I learned several lessons:
1. VIP parking is so worth the extra $60. Walking 50 yards to your car after the race is the best.
2. A cold beer is not good right after running 26.2 miles. In fact it is really, really bad.
3. South San Antonio looks really run down.
4. The folks who were offering free Guinness beer to runners in 2 places along the route rekindled my faith in the hipness of San Antonians (which has been suffering lately).
5. The more you train the faster you get. I ran almost 15 minutes faster this year than last.
6. There are tons of port o potties at the starting line that nobody sees. Right before your race use those instead of the ones with 10,000 people in line way in the back.
7. Bring toilet tissue next year. You'll make an easy $50.
8. The post race nap is the best nap you'll ever have.
9. The $70 shoes are WAY better than the $130 ones.
10. San Antonio loves to cheer people on. Having all those people cheering for you really makes you feel good. Thanks for all the encouragement!

Thanksgiving Dinner for the Veterans

My oldest son along with his Scout friends volunteered tonight to help serve the veterans from Audie Murphy Hospital a thanksgiving dinner. The meal was prepared by the Elks in Lodge 216. The boys had a lot of fun. They look forward to helping the vets every year.

The Patriarch and the Schism of 1054

Michael Cerularius was the Patriarch of Constantinople during the episode in 1054 AD that is associated with the formal schism between Rome and Constantinople. A fresh understanding of this central historical figure will shed new light on an often-misunderstood period of Christian history.

In the 11^th century the Byzantine Empire recovered control over Edessa and Antioch in Syria, Georgia, Armenia, Sicily, Southern Italy and Bulgaria. Greek influence began to grow after a long period of Islamic captivity.

The future patriarch of the imperial capital Michael Cerularius was neither a scholar or highly placed in civil society. However, he had been implicated in a conspiracy against the Emperor, Michael IV, and became a monk to avoid prosecution for treason. When the Emperor later died, his widow married a friend and fellow conspirator Constantine IX Monomachus who would become the new emperor.  Cerularius now a monk and priest, was in favor at court. He became protosyncellus to Patriarch Alexius and when the Patriarch died, Cerularius was raised to the Patriarchal throne.

Cerularius, however, was no friend to the imperial throne. All four emperors to rule during his patriarchate found his activities often disruptive and even intolerable, writes JM Hussey. His activities focused on attempting to expand his influence and the position of the Imperial Church. His failed attempt to bring the Armenian Church under Byzantine his control typifies his attitude towards power and ended in bitter antagonism between the two Churches.

The issue that brought papal representatives to Constantinople was turf. Cerularius insisted on inserting Greek customs and practices such as adding yeast to Eucharistic bread, Greek fasting rules, bearded clergy, and others into Armenian and Latin churches under imperial rule. Churches that refused to conform to the Greek mandates the Byzantine Patriarch shuttered.  In protest the Pope sent letters to Cerularius and the Emperor but when the Latin churches in Constantinople were closed, three papal legates were quickly dispatched to the Imperial capital.

The Pope’s representatives were empowered with three letters from Rome, each to be used if the circumstances warranted. The first letter reproved Cerularius for overstepping his authority without questioning the validity of his authority. The second letter rebuked him and casted doubts on the validity of Cerularius’ patriarchal election and sought to strike at the heart of his authority.  The third letter was addressed to the emperor and warned of dire reprisals from Rome if the emperor failed to bring his patriarch into line.

When the legates arrived in Constantinople in April of 1054 they were warmly received by the emperor but ignored by Cerularius who was busy fostering public protests much to the chagrin of the emperor who tried to quell the protests.  The senior legate Cardinal Humbert responded to the uproar by having the papal letters translated into Greek and spread around the capital. After news of the Pope’s death reached Cerularius he refused to acknowledge the legates at all. Clearly exasperated because they had been shut out, Cardinal Humbert drafted a letter of excommunication aimed at Cerularius and his close associates which was delivered to the altar at Hagia Sophia during Saturday vespers, July 16, 1054. Cerularius quickly responded in kind, excommunicating the three legates.

After the legates left the capital, the emperor recalled them and called a council in order to discuss the matter. After the emperor learned that his patriarch had him banned from the very council he had called and realizing the popular fury that Cerularius was fomenting, the emperor sent the legates off, fearing for their safety.

Cerularius argued before the people of the capital that the Papal legates were imposters sent by political enemies of the empire. This argument served to undermine the political power of the emperor who was cast as entertaining agents of the enemy. Cerularius had grand political designs. Contemporary historian Psellus wrote that Cerularius despised the emperors and opposed all authority but his own. Indeed, Cerularius publicly rebuked emperor Isaac I Comnenus for ignoring the rights of church property. In response Isaac exiled Cerularius and called a council in order to convict his patriarch of treason, heresy and trying to supplant the emperor. Cerularius died before the council could begin deliberations. Had he survived he would have certainly been convicted. The accusations against him included the capital crimes of allowing soothsayers into Hagia Sophia as well as setting up looms in the vaults of the Great Church in order to spin imperial gold cloth for his exclusive use.

After Cerularius’ death normal relations resumed between Rome and Constantinople and continued until the sack of Constantinople in 1204. The next fifty-seven years of Venetian rule of Constantinople would permanently divide Greeks and Latins and give new meaning to the events of 1054.

For further reading: The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire, JM Hussey, 1986 Oxford University Press; Rome and the Eastern Churches, Aidan Nichols, 1992 The Liturgical Press (T&T Clark).

Where Should I Eat Algorithm

Boys Build Ramp

My oldest helped to build this huge push cart ramp this weekend from scratch. Great job!

Juan Pedro's Birthday Party