A Deo et Rege

Buchanan is blunt, controversial, and perceptive. These comments are no exception. Not only do I think he’s right on, but he’s incredibly funny. Contextually, he’s responding to the ravings of Andrew Sullivan. Here are the relevant parts from the April 19th episode of Scarborough Country:

SCARBOROUGH:
This is what [Andrew Sullivan] wrote recently in his blog: “Christians who are
saddened by the ascent of extremism and fundamentalism within their
faith communities have options other than passivity.  They have the
blogosphere.  Cardinal Ratzinger cannot silence us.”

Pat,
again, we have heard the charge, again and again, from moderates and
even from some conservatives, that he was the cardinal responsible for
silencing those that disagreed with Pope John Paul II. 

BUCHANAN:
Look, Joe, when you say disagreed, Cardinal Ratzinger is responsible
for maintaining the truth of doctrine and dogma by which men reach
eternal life. 

Andrew Sullivan is an open
homosexual.  He has been living in that relationship, and he wonders
why the church doesn‘t change its doctrine and dogma to accommodate
him.  It cannot.  That is the truth Christ taught.  Now, what Cardinal
Ratzinger is today is the vicar of Christ on earth.  Now, Christ wasn‘t
terribly popular to the world he came into.  He was crucified by that
world.

And today‘s world, especially this
hedonistic society we live in, materialistic, it wants the church to
accommodate to it.  And the Holy Father‘s job is not to do that.  It is
to speak truth to secular power.  And that is what he is doing.  That
is what he has done.  There could not have been a better choice.  Folks
who disagree with doctrine and dogma of the Roman Catholic Church,
there‘s lots of empty pews over in the Episcopal Church.  They can head
over there. 

(LAUGHTER)

BUCHANAN:  But this man speaks the truth. 

SCARBOROUGH:  All right. 

BUCHANAN:  Now, listen, the flock has got a good German shepherd, Joe. 

(LAUGHTER)

In keeping with some recent comments on my blog, I wanted to address some recent Anglican tradition-Catholic ecumenical developments. Kendall Harmon has posted about a possibility of an Anglican Church Being in Communion with Rome. This is an interesting development. Of course, this is not the Anglican Communion (which includes the Episcopal Church), but a "continuing" group of Anglicans who left the official Anglican structure.

It’s hard to tell if this effort will get any traction, but it could bear some fruit since the things that have killed offical Anglican-Catholic relations like women’s ordination, gay bishops, and the lack of theological cohesion won’t be a problem with this group. On the other hand, the issue of Anglican orders, married bishops, and liturgy will still have to be worked out. Nonetheless, it’s still interesting news.

My fiancee is on her way back to Australia. Damn. It really sucks to have to see the person you love for short time blocks and then have to say goodbye. Immigration has received our petition and now we just play the waiting game. I’ve learned enough patience!!

So, related to the above, you’ll probably see more blog entries and quicker responses to comments. I’ll have more time to say the least.

In other news, this Sunday I’m going to Washington DC to talk about getting a job teaching religion at a Catholic middle school. Please keep me in your prayers about this. If I get offered the job, moving to Washington would be a huge step, but teaching the Catholic Faith is what I’ve always wanted to do.