Author: Bryan Baldwin

OK, Sal, here you go!

You may wish you hadn’t asked, because I’m writing of Milwaukee, Weakland, and Dolan.

I criticized the former Archbishop of Milwaukee in a comment below and was told that I should not dredge up what had been dredged before and that I get my facts straight. I was not callously criticizing; I simply wished to express my support of Archbishop Dolan, who, by all that I can see, is infinitely more suited to his current position than was his predecessor.

The age of the male person was not the issue. That the archbishop wrote (or attempted to write; it makes no difference) him a check out of diocesan funds was. He (Weakland) further showed his stripes by saying that he had given so much of his money to the diocese over the years that it was acceptable for the diocese to pay the male person. That is sophomoric reasoning at its best.

I am not judging the state of Archbishop Weakland’s soul. I am saying that his actions are inconsistant with those of a man of faith who happens to be a shepherd of souls. What the archbishop has done publicly has caused scandal. I hope he has repented.

Now, as to the comments about the cathedral renovation (sought by Weakland, denounced by Rome, finshished by Weakland anyway, and I do mean any way):

The comment about the jacuzzi was meant to be sarcastic. I don’t think there is any architectural reason to install a full-immersion baptismal pool in the aisle of a cathedral, notwithstanding the description of the baptistry found on the Cathedral’s web page that says “Situated prominently in the Cathedral, the baptistry now takes its proper place in the celebrations of the community of believers.”

What garbage.

That the pillars surrounding this wading pool (that’s also sarcastic, of course) have been fashioned from the baldacchino is an additional insult.

That the choir has been moved out of its loft to be a visual center of attention is silly.

The Dali-esque “crucifix” with its giant crown of thorns, which has replaced the original, is so stylized as to be useless in a liturgical setting.

There are many more problems with the new interior of the cathedral, including the location of the altar, the seating, the pastels, &c. Go have a look at the website (and remember Lex orandi, lex credendi).

Finally, as for the soon-to-be installed portrait of Archbishop Dolan, I know the best location for it: at the back on the north side, right over that of his predecessor.

What does one do?

The announcement that the band director at Bishop Ireton High School (run by the Salesians for the Diocese of Arlington and a most desirable job for a band guy) is retiring after 30+ years at the school makes me ask:

What happens if, as an employee in a Catholic high school, one encounters false or un-Catholic teaching in one’s colleagues or un-Catholic leadership in one’s administrators? Things at BI (or any other Catholic high school) may be fine and dandy right now, making the pay cut one would take to be able to work there seem inconsequential, but it dosen’t take long for things to go downhill. Have you ever been in this situation?

I work in the public school system and expect things to be secular. I think I would just die if I were teaching in a Catholic school and encountered the same problem.

Their whole problem

In the Washington Times (Washington’s premier newspaper) yesterday, an AP story about the problems the Presbyterians are having with (or without) dogma quoted an offending clergyman as saying

I just have to be true to myself, and that’s the best I can do.

Indeed.

Father must have been a band director

My wife picked up a bulletin while she was visiting a local church. In his weekly letter, the pastor thanks

the choirs and the musicians (italics added) for their service during the Easter season.

Comments from an enraged (or just weary) choir director to follow? John? Sal?