Dr. Edward Peters on the BSA membership policy change

Dr. Edward Peters, an expert in Canon Law, has written a post on thoughts Catholics affected by the Boy Scouts of America's  decision to allow membership to boys regardless of sexual preference or orientation. He notes that a ban on the basis of same-sex attraction alone for an organization like the BSA is "difficult to argue," and that the BSA's new policy seems to be as close to Catholic teaching as could be expected for a secular organization.

I support the new policy, and I think it is more in-line with Catholic teaching, not to mention just being more plainly sensible and compassionate, than the old policy, which was rather oddly worded, if not wrong-headed. The old policy prohibited youth who were "openly or avowedly homosexual." Honestly, I think growing up with same-sex attraction is tough enough without worrying about getting kicked out of Scouts if a kid makes a mistake.

A number of parents and others are upset about the change. I'm sure there are worries about the BSA becoming like the Canadian scouts, an organization that actually openly endorses a gay lifestyle. However, as Peters notes, the BSA is trying to keep their organization out of sexual matters altogether. The statement that went along with the resolution read, "Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting." If this policy is actually implemented at the local level, we've got an organization that encourages youth to be chaste. I really fail to see how it can be contended that this is something Catholics can't get behind. The resolution also noted that Scouting should not be used to "promote or advance any social or political position or agenda," aside from, I presume, Scouting's basic ideals of duty to God and country; if this resolution is carried out, there will be little grounds to worry about Scouting becoming a platform for what some call "the gay agenda." (I'm not saying there's no agenda; sure, there are plenty of agendas, everybody's got an agenda, but I'm really not a fan of this kind of sensationalist language)

I'm still behind the BSA's program, even more than I was previously, and I'm continually proud to be an Eagle scout. While I can make no calls about the future of the Scouting movement, I feel confident in supporting this resolution and the BSA's program as it is right now. I hope Dr. Peters' opinion will sway the opinions of traditionalists with reservations.

A Priest for 40 Hours

I just came across this really beautiful story about a seminarian battling cancer who was ordained early, as it seemed that he wouldn't be able to make it to ordination with his classmates. Forty hours after he was ordained, the priest died, having just finished celebrating the Mass. He is a priest forever (Heb 7:17).
  http://www.catholicvote.org/a-priest-for-forty-hours/

California Jesuit made Bishop of Oakland

Well, this is interesting: Pope Francis just appointed a California province Jesuit to be the Bishop of Oakland. Michael Barber, SJ, currently serves as spiritual director at St. John Seminary in Boston. More info at Whispers in the Loggia.

I don't want to over analyze this with "OMG Pope Francis is going to start a rash of Jesuit sees." However, it is interesting that a simple priest, especially a Jesuit, has been launched to a bishop's seat. I wonder if it has anything to do with his current work as spiritual director for seminarians, which would give him an interesting perspective on the state of the Church's youth and incoming vocations.

Germophobic Host Dispenser

So perhaps this is a gut reaction on my part, but this is just weird. The video is three years old, so I guess this product hasn't caught on, but it seems like a horrible extreme of the assembly-line-style Communion. Someone needs to get their priorities in order. Who wakes up in the morning and says, you know what, the Eucharist is cool and all, but I would feel better if we put Jesus in a shiny Pez dispenser.

I'm aware that there could be an argument made for using this in certain extraordinary circumstances, like in a hospital during an epidemic, but otherwise...

FBI Files on Cardinal Spellman

Rather than actually writing an introductory first post, I figured it might be more in keeping with the more casual nature of this blog to jump right in with some interesting miscellany.

Also, I'm kinda too busy with finals to be writing a manifesto at the moment.

But anyway, the miscellany: I happened to come across a blog post on Aggie Catholics noting that the FBI kept files on a number of Catholic leaders, including several prominent bishops. The most famous one is Archbishop Fulton Sheen (if you're not familiar, think Cardinal Dolan on steroids with his own primetime TV show). I was a bit more interested in Francis Cardinal Spellman, a graduate of my own Fordham University. He was the longest-serving Archbishop of New York at 28 years, and led the Archdiocese through a period in which there was massive building of parishes and parish schools. He's a character with his fair share of controversy, but he's an undeniable giant in American Catholic history. The FBI's files are now available online, and they're huge (as in physically hundreds of pages of documents).

On page 20 of Spellman's, there's an interesting document about agents having a semi-secret meeting with the cardinal and asking him for information about a Eucharistic Conference in Argentina. Here's some excerpts:

"During Agent [REDACTED]'s meeting with Archbishop Spellman, it was discreetly ascertained that in October 1944, there will be a Eucharistic Conference which is to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina."

"Before the conference terminated, Agent [REDACTED] made preliminary arrangements whereby Mr. [REDACTED] would meet Archbishop Spellman for the purpose of cultivating the Archbishop's acquaintance in the event that at any future time, questions might arise relative to which the Archbishop could assist the Bureau in answering"

Interpret that as you will. Sounds like something taken out of a spy film.

Interestingly, although Spellman and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover seem to have been
cordial with one another, Spellman would later refuse Hoover's request to publicly condemn Martin Luther King, Jr., and in fact raised money for a group of priests and religious sisters to attend the Selma-Montgomery  marches.

Image credit: Wikipedia