Posted on 04/13/2007 6:54:57 AM PDT by Frank Sheed
Two years into his reign, Pope Benedict XVI is finally poised to make a major mark on American Catholicism with a string of key bishop appointments and important decisions about the future of U.S. seminaries and bishops' involvement in politics.
Benedict's election on April 19, 2005, shook liberals and comforted conservatives who expected a doctrinal hard-liner. So far, they have found an easier hand - and someone who has not made the United States much of a priority.
When Benedict has gained attention, it has mostly been on the world stage, focusing on the re-Christianization of Europe, Islam and mending relations with Orthodox Christians. He also has stressed universal themes of faith and reason.
``The last two years have been much quieter years as far as the papacy is concerned because you have a very different personality'' than John Paul II, said Monsignor Robert Wister, chairman of the church history department at Seton Hall University's School of Theology.
``Many Americans were surprised - some happily, some disappointed - that he did not turn into the pit bull of dogma. He is taking a very pastoral approach, and I think people resonate very positively with that.''
Yet America's turn may be coming. At the top of the list is a looming generational shift among the nation's bishops, whose decisions at the local level greatly affect Catholics in the pews and can carry national weight. For instance, church leaders recently closed parishes in Boston and New York, while the St. Louis archbishop has clashed with a heavily Polish parish over control of its assets.
Key appointments are expected in New York, Baltimore and Detroit, where cardinals have reached retirement age - 75. And retirements or appointments are likely in at least seven other archdioceses...
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
And a lyric:
“Gettin’ Hot”
Do I have to turn the AC on?
It’s hot in here; the spring has come and gone.
I hear the sound of plywood being sawn,
But I don’t want to have to close the windows!
A mockingbird is singing on the roof.
A Rottweiler emits a mighty “Woof!”
Egyptian music from a truck: “Shoof shoof.”
And I don’t want to have to close the windows.
A season of immense electric bills,
Cold showers, whirling fans, and insect kills.
Summer has its leisure and its thrills,
But I don’t want to have to close the windows.
The roar of mowers and construction trucks,
The smell of grass, and chickens, geese, and ducks,
(What’s another word that rhymes with “trucks”?)
“Now children, go upstairs and close the windows!”
***
Help me with the third line, please? A *tasteful* word that rhymes with trucks and ducks?
If I can finish this last verse (starts in post above), I’ll retitle it “May in Union County” and submit it to “The County Edge”!
Hockey pucks? Mukluks?
Neutron flux?
Okay... only one neuron's firing in the brainthis morning...
LOL! It rhymes, and it’s suitable for a family publication ...
Is “neutron flux” what’s making it so hot here?
Better hope not...
Hmmm. Must be the hot air from the County Commissioners :-).
Ha. Was looking at the forecast for today. Rain, thunderstorms, but all I see is blue sky...
We’re supposed to get rain tonight and tomorrow.
The roar of mowers and construction trucks,
The smell of fertilizer, geese, and ducks.
I hear an earthquake!? No, just chickens’ clucks.
“Now children, go upstairs and close the windows!”
Whatcha think?
The roar of mowers and construction trucks,
The smell of grass, chicks, geese, and ducks,
Musked odors of wild fowl and 5-point bucks,
Now children, go upstairs and close the windows!
Is this forecast a bit off or what? (I took that photo just a a few minutes ago...)
Is it 5-point buck mating season?
Your weather forecaster seems not to have looked outside.
I was going with sound and smell (and heat) because of the theme of the outside coming in through the windows. (Can’t see much, when you’re lying in bed with the blinds down :-).
How should I know? All I shoot is skeet although there are lots of migrating deer around here now. The cars have their deer whistles on....
CHANGE:
The roar of mowers and construction trucks,
The smell of grass, chicks, geese, and ducks,
And Musk Oil by Jovan costs $23 bucks,
Now children, go upstairs and close the windows!
The roar of mowers and construction trucks,
The smell of grass, chicks, geese, and ducks,
And leeches are noted for the blood they suck,
Now children, go upstairs and close the windows!
The roar of mowers and construction trucks,
The smell of grass, chicks, geese, and ducks,
And lava flows leaving hot magma and muck,
Now children, go upstairs and close the windows!
The roar of mowers and construction trucks,
The smell of grass, chicks, geese, and ducks,
And, did you know that I have vampire teeth?
Now children, go upstairs and close the windows!
Hmmm... I thought we were going to have the lower reaches of the Castle cleaned out...
You’ll never find my coffin, Cop’er!
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