I heard great things about this event last year. I'm glad it's coming back! If you've never had the gift of meeting organizer Maggie Albo, she's an amazing Catholic woman who does ritual and prayer in an inspiring way. So save the date!

Here's the press release:
On Sunday, July 22, 2007, 4PM
Women and Men of the Spokane area will again join to share Prayer,Music, Liturgical Dance, Surprising stories as we Celebrate of the Feast of Mary of Magdala

St Mary’s Church, 304 S Adams Rd., in Spokane Valley.

We celebrate the strength, the courage and the holiness of women in Scripture.
Who was the “Apostle to the Apostles” and why is she still important in the year 2007?
Who are the women who have shaped our faith but whose stories we never hear?

If you have questions or are interested in helping with music, dance or in any other way for this event, please call Maggie Albo at 928-8009 or e-mail at m_albo@yahoo.com

As regular blog readers know, I've long been fascinated with Virgin Mary sighting stories. When my dad was a child in Syracuse, N.Y., a neighbor lady's Mary statue allegedly "cried." As an adult, Dad still recounted the story with awe. Anyway, the latest is the spotting of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a piece of watermelon sliced open by a woman in Arizona.

An NBC affiliate reported it. Read and see photo here.

From a recent editorial in National Catholic Reporter:

When a contemporary group of pilgrims visited the archeological sites around Rome last March in search of evidence that women held high office and real liturgical status in the primitive church, they found what all good historians find -- the raw material for plausible interpretation. A second-century fresco depicting seven women at table with cups of wine and seven baskets of bread. A eucharistic banquet with women priests? A ninth-century church mosaic of a female with the word episcopa over her head. A woman bishop? Truth is in the eye of the beholder. If evidence for “herstory” -- female authority in the church -- is there looking back at us from the mosaics, frescoes, burial inscriptions and ancient texts, the truth of it has seldom registered with our male-run church. History’s winners have chosen to ignore it.

From a story by Robin Stringer at Bloomberg.com:

Pope Benedict XVI changed the process for electing a pope, reviving the requirement for a two-thirds majority among the conclave of cardinals.
The pope's decision returns the Roman Catholic church to the traditional rules for choosing a leader that were altered in 1996 by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, Vatican radio said today.

(Associated Press photo)

The New York Times had an interesting article Sunday on the Voice of the Faithful group that became active and powerful during the height of the sex-abuse crisis. Now that the worst appears to be over (we can only hope!) the group is trying to redefine its mission.

BOSTON, June 23 — Voice of the Faithful, the lay group formed in response to the sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church, is calling for the Vatican to review the requirement that priests be celibate, saying the policy may have played a role in the scandal.
The position represents a shift in the approach of the organization, which has avoided raising such controversial issues. It comes as Voice of the Faithful faces a budget deficit from a drop-off in large donations and finds itself at a crossroads in direction.

The Roman Catholic religious sisters I know (they don't like to be called nuns) sometimes complain to me because the sisters at Mount St. Michaels get their photos in the newspaper so much. The Mount St. Michaels group are a breakaway sect. They have rejected Vatican II reforms and don't recognize Pope Benedict as pope.

The sisters complain, too, because they said that the Mount St. Michaels nuns feed into the stereotype about religious life that is hopelessly outdated. Most of the sisters I know well in Spokane are involved in social justice work. They wear jeans and live in small community houses or aparments of their own and they run shelters and programs for women and children.

I explained that the Mount St. Michaels' nuns get photographed because their habits are so colorful and probably because they fit that 1950s nun stereotype that especially non-Catholics hold.

The sisters had their photos in today's paper, but not for the usual reasons. Seems there's some turmoil up in Mount St. Michaels. Some of the sisters apparently have broken away and are considering joining the Spokane Diocese.

The story is complicated and filled with Catholic stuff that is hard to understand. Kudos to our religion writer Virginia de Leon for explaining it all so well in her story today.

About a dozen of the roughly 50 nuns in the order moved out of the convent earlier this month. Three more sisters are preparing to leave by the end of the week.

Their departure was caused by theological differences, according to those familiar with the situation. A Traditionalist Catholic community also known as CMRI for "Congregatio Mariae Reginae Immaculatae," the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen believes in the papacy but does not recognize Benedict XVI as the true pope. It also doesn't adhere to the changes established more than 40 years ago by the Second Vatican Council. That means that at Mount St. Michael's, only the traditional Latin Mass is offered.
About two years ago – prompted perhaps by the election of a conservative pope in Rome – some of the nuns began to rethink the way they dealt with the changes of Vatican II, said Sister Dominica. The convent was never at war, she explained; the sisters simply agreed to disagree about the papacy and other issues.
"Everybody was doing their best to respect each other," she said.

(Christopher Anderson photo/The Spokesman-Review)

The Vatican on Tuesday issued a "Ten Commandments" for motorists...warning drivers against the sins of road rage, abuse of alcohol or even simple rudeness.
The unusual document from the Vatican's office for migrants and itinerant people also warned that automobiles can be "an occasion of sin" – particularly when used to make a dangerous passing maneuver or when used by prostitutes and their clients.
Cardinal Renato Martino, who heads the office, told a news conference the Vatican felt it necessary to address the pastoral needs of motorists because driving has become such a big part of contemporary life.
He cited World Health Organization statistics that said an estimated 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes each year and as many as 50 million are injured. From the Associated Press.

As a cradle Catholic, some reactions to these Ten Commandments for motorists.

1) Signs-of-the-Times reaction. Even though it seems bizarre to non-Catholics, the Vatican comments on many, many things. Part of the practice of being aware of the "signs of the times" -- as it's called in theology speak -- and how contemporary life intersects with issues of spirituality. The point made about traffic accidents worlwide is very true.

2) Diversion-tactic reaction. I'm wondering if next week the Vatican will issue some Draconian edict that will get the head-shaking started by progressive Catholics. (One of the last big ones came when gay people were called intrinsically disordered and gay seminarians were banned).

3) They don't-have-a-clue reaction. The Vatican folks can become out of touch with common folks. I wonder if anyone who read the document warned them of the spoofs, the comedy routines and the political cartoons that will follow this announcement.

What's your reaction?
(This post is being "simublogged" on our editorial board's Matter of Opinion blog, so post your reactions there.)

(AP photo)

From today's letters pages, these two very different views:

As a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Spokane, I was deeply humbled by the outpouring of support for victims of sexual abuse, for Bishop Skylstad, for the Catholic community and for our larger Spokane community which was detailed in the two articles by Virginia De Leon (June 15).
So many people have been deeply hurt and embarrassed by this scandal in our Catholic Church. Thank you to all of the ministers and their congregations for this positive example of a way to begin the healing process, so very necessary for all of us.
Patricia Garvin

Actions speak louder than words. That thought occurred as I read about Bishop Skylstad teaching ministers how to face the scandal brought about because of the way the Catholic hierarchy dealt with child molestation by its priests.
Now that the hierarchy has escaped its responsibility by means of the scam called bankruptcy where the facts were concealed from the public and the victims' claims were whittled down to what the Church said it could afford, the bishop has refused to reveal the priests named by claimants. It seems the hierarchy once again controls the situation by having the right to determine if they were "credibly accused." Why is money to be paid them if that was not decided in the bankruptcy proceedings?
The charade will never end because they have had centuries of training to "protect the institution." They will never protect children to the same extent or they would have turned them in to law enforcement authorities so they would today be registered sex offenders. If sincere, they would want the names revealed so those with whom they come into contact could know their proclivities with children. What a shame!
Don Brockett

I often get asked why The Spokesman-Review, and this blog, seem to focus so much on only the most negative news about the Catholic Church.

On the other hand, non-Catholics sometimes quiz me how I can stay in a church that seems so corrupt.

I don't have really articulate answers to either line of inquiry. But I do say that, despite its many problems, the church has much to offer in terms of litury, ritual and the profound writings of Catholics past and present.

My editorial board colleague Jamie Tobias Neely wrote her column Sunday about a profound experience she had at Seattle University's baccalaureate Mass recently. She captured some of the mystery and deeper truths that can become apparent in church services in any faith tradition.

Here's an excerpt, but treat yourself today and read the whole thing. It was the best read in the newspaper Sunday, in my humble opinion.

"After more than half a century of attending school graduations, and listening to paler versions of these messages, it took this rainy, out-of-sync Saturday to remind me of the richness of the religious tradition of baccalaureate.

"Here I heard words that not only inspired, but transformed the uncertainty that surrounds a college graduate's future into a sense of reassurance, strength and hope."

From Virginia de Leon's story this morning:

"Although it's not the regular vestment for Lutheran clergy, Bishop Martin Wells often wears a clerical collar.

"The collar — frequently worn by Catholic and Episcopal priests — makes the church more public wherever he goes, said the leader of the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It also makes him more approachable, he said, and invites people to enter into conversation.

"These days, the clerical collar has become a way for Wells to show solidarity with Catholic priests, as well as with other members of the Roman Catholic Church. "It's a way of sharing a burden a little bit," he said.

"As the Catholic Diocese of Spokane emerges from a sex abuse crisis that had forced it into bankruptcy, Wells and other religious leaders throughout the region have offered pastoral care and support to Catholic leaders, parishioners and especially to victims of sexual abuse."

National Catholic Reporter's John Allen blogged last week from the Catholic Theological Society of America convention in Los Angeles.

Fascinating stuff. Catch it all here.

The "Bishops culture" drew a lot of discussion at the convention.

Allen writes:

If the unfinished business of the sexual abuse crisis in Roman Catholicism had to be expressed in one word, a theologian and a canon lawyer agreed today, it would be “accountability.”

Christopher Ruddy of St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota, said that the underlying issue of the crisis is “the distance generated by clericalism, which treats the clergy as a separate and superior class, virtually unanswerable to the laity."

From our Web site:

The preliminary hearing for a former school counselor and Catholic priest charged with sexual abuse has been postponed.

Louis Ladenburger, 70, was scheduled to appear before a Bonner County judge this afternoon for a preliminary hearing. Ladenburger is charged with molesting two teen-age boys he counseled at Elk Mountain Academy, a private behavioral school for teens in Clark Fork, Idaho.
The mental health therapist was fired after a student came forward with allegations of abuse

Click here for June 5 story with more details.

From Karen Dorn Steele's story today:

"A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has denied a Spokesman-Review request for access to records detailing millions of dollars in upcoming payouts from a trust to victims of priest sexual abuse in the Spokane Catholic Diocese, saying the claimants were promised confidentiality before agreeing to a legal settlement this spring.

"The battle over public access was argued Monday by lawyers for The Spokesman-Review, the diocese and various committees of people claiming sexual abuse. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams denied the newspaper's request in an oral ruling on Tuesday.

"The Spokesman-Review, in a motion filed in April, sought release of the sealed proofs of claims filed and details of payouts to victims, who will be paid from the special trust established in the diocese's recent bankruptcy settlement. The newspaper, which has a policy of not naming victims of sexual abuse, asked for copies of claims in which names of victims had been edited out, or redacted.

Read it all.

Many, many Web sites are abuzz with the final episode of HBO's Sopranos. I loved the scene where Tony's sidekick Paulie tells him he once had a vision of the Virgin Mary appearing at the mob-owned strip club, the Bada Bing.

Tony tells Paulie he wishes he would have told him sooner because they could have made some money off the people who might have flocked to see Mary appear at the strip bar.

Paulie thinks Tony is making fun, but Tony had the total look of someone raised in Catholic Culture. We grew up with Mary vision stories, begining, for most of us, the Fatima story.

Our Lady of Guadalupe in which Mary appeared to a peasant in 1531 in what later became Mexico.

The Mary visions from popular culture -- cheese sandwiches and sides of refrigerators -- don't have the same gravitas as these other Mary stories. But Tony got it, right away. Just another subtle charm of the Sopranos, now swimming with the fishes in reruns.

The Archdiocese of Portland released 30 previously secret documents Wednesday detailing sexual abuse of boys by priests, according to the Associated Press.

"They included psychological evaluations, allegations by victims and some candid detail of what went on between some priests and their young parishioners over several years. The documents make clear that church officials had been aware of abuse problems for years and refused to acknowledge them."

The secret papers revealed the pattern of grooming boys by several priests. It's sickening to read, but it's good that it's out in the open now.

Read the whole story.

From Thomas J. Reese, Senior Fellow, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University.

"This Saturday, President Bush will meet with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican. Historically, lame-duck presidents do a lot of international traveling during their last two years in office. Since they can’t get anything done at home, they try to build their legacy through trips abroad. If nothing else, it provides lots of photos for their presidential library. Bush’s problem is that there are few countries he can visit without stirring up major protests. Visiting the Pope is a safe bet because the citizens of the Vatican (some 800 of them) will not protest.

"The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, told the Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire that the pope and the president would discuss the Middle East, Latin America and “the great ethical and social questions that regard the peoples of the world.”

"The cardinal noted that “The United States is a great country and the current president has particularly distinguished himself in regard to some positive initiatives in defense of life from conception.”

"On the other hand, he pointed to some “problems,” especially the Iraq war, which both John Paul II and then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger opposed. In his Easter message this year, Pope Benedict bemoaned the fact that “nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees.” Cardinal Bertone expressed special concern about Iraqi Catholics, half of whom have fled the country since the U.S. invasion."

Although on Iraq Benedict could legitimately tell the president, “We told you so,” he will be too polite to say so. The Vatican wants the U.S. to withdraw in a way that does not leave the region in chaos.

Bush hopes to avoid talking about Iraq and to focus on abortion. The Vatican and the Bush Administration see eye to eye in their opposition to international funding of abortion through U.S. aid programs or though the United Nations. But someone in the Vatican ought to ask Bush why there have been more abortions during his administration than there were during the Clinton administration. Is Bush strong on rhetoric and weak on results?

The major benefit of the visit for President Bush is that is provides him with a photo op with the pope. Most Americans will only see the picture and not hear what is said. The major benefit for the United States is that it allows for an exchange of information and views with high level Vatican diplomats on a wide range of issues. The Vatican has been called one of the great listening posts of diplomacy. Let’s hope the administration listens.

In some of the stories of sex abuse among clergy, the priests involved were also involved in the Boy Scouts. Not just here, but in cases throughout the country.

So many reforms have happened in the church to prevent future sex-abuse. The Scouts have also instituted strict protocols about adult-child interaction.

Still, in my humble opinion, it might be wise to recommend that priests not get involved in the Scouts anymore. (I'm not sure that it happens much now anyway.) It doesn't seem like a right fit. Parents, remembering the history of some of the priests and their scouting activities, might be suspicious from the get-go.

Unfair of me to think this? E-mail me with your comments and I'll post them here.

From Benjamin Shors story today:

"Four more men sued Morning Star Boys' Ranch on Monday, including two men who allege that the ranch's revered director sexually abused them in the 1970s and '80s.

"Two of the plaintiffs – 50-year-old Raymond Nelson and 38-year-old Robert Gariepy – allege that the Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner sexually abused them at the Catholic boys' home south of Spokane. In previous legal filings, four other men have accused Weitensteiner of sexual abuse, according to Spokane County Superior Court documents.

"Reached late Monday, a Morning Star spokeswoman said Weitensteiner was not available for comment.

"Neither Morning Star nor our legal counsel have reviewed these new claims, so we can't comment on them," said Jenn Kantz.

"In previous statements, Weitensteiner has strenuously denied previous allegations of sexual abuse. Morning Star said the priest passed a polygraph test."

Breaking news from today:

From a John Stucke story:

"Bishop William Skylstad and other church officials signed documents for 11 hours Thursday and wired $20 million to a special trust — actions that allowed the Spokane Catholic Diocese to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

"The diocese now essentially has a clean slate, enabling it to continue its ministry in Eastern Washington, diocese attorney Shaun Cross said Friday.

Read it all.

Thomas J. Reese, S.J. has an interesting spin on the Latin Mass. Here it is:

"Much fuss is being made over the rumor that the Tridentine Mass is allegedly going to be “restored.” If anything happens, and it probably will, the decision will have more to do with power and politics than Latin and liturgy.

"The issue is not Latin in the liturgy. Any priest can say the current Catholic liturgy in Latin. Nor is the issue the Tridentine or pre-Vatican II mass. Any priest, with the permission of his bishop, can say the Tridentine Latin mass.

"The real issue is the power of local bishop to decide whether the Tridentine mass will be said in his diocese. Right now, a local bishop has the power to approve or not approve the use of the Tridentine mass in his diocese. Under current practice, a priest or a group of people petition the bishop to allow them to use the Tridentine mass. He then investigates the situation and decides on pastoral grounds whether it is a good idea or not. Often he will require that the petitioners state that they accept the new liturgy and Vatican II as legitimate.

"Some bishops, especially in France, have said no because they judge that the petitioners reject the reforms of Vatican II and are divisive in their dioceses. If the pope issues a Motu proprio allowing the use of the Tridentine mass without the local bishop’s permission, he is basically saying that he does not trust the pastoral judgment of the bishops. Those who have been fighting the bishops over the Tridentine mass will celebrate this as a victory over the bishops.

"Some in the Vatican, including Benedict, hope that allowing free use of the Tridentine mass will make possible reunion with Society of St. Pius X, the schismatic group started by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The leaders of the group, however, have indicated that their rejection of Vatican II goes way beyond the vernacular liturgy.

"Some in the Vatican hope that greater use of the Tridentine mass will undermine support for the Lefebvrite leaders and bring some of the society’s members back into union with the Catholic Church.

"Rumors that the Tridentine Mass was giong to be made more easily available date back to the papacy of John Paul II. So far the bishops have been able to fight it off, but the record shows that when it is an issue of papal power versus episcopal power, the Vatican usually wins. Other than embarrassing the bishops and pastors who have opposed wider use of the Tridentine mass, the Motu proprio will probably have little effect since public opinion polls show overwhelming support for the new liturgy among Catholics."