Heretics

Last week on NPR i heard a report about some women that are ordaining other women into the "Priesthood." They call themselves Roman Catholic Womenpriests. This is of course not possible and they are heretics and have excommunicated themselves from the church. In the interview i heard one woman say that Jesus constantly broke the rules of the Pharisees (therefore giving them permission to break rules).... but they don't seem to realize they are not only breaking the Church's rules but the rules Jesus himself established for His Church.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh produced a brochure in response that i think it is very good. It also addresses the common misunderstanding of the "Common Priesthood" of all baptized Christians and the "Ministerial Priesthood."

Books

My brother "tagged" me to answer some questions about books. I usually don't do these types of things but its about books and i haven't posted anything recently so...

1. One book that changed your life?

The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. Have you seen my left arm?

2. One book you have read more than once?

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. This was probably the first book I read in High School which really got me interested in literature.

3. One book you would want on a desert island?

Besides the Bible? The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. the next best thing ;-)

4. One book that made you cry?

Go tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin.... i don't want to talk about it...Excuse me i think i've got something in my eye....

5. One book that made you laugh?

The Sot-weed Factor by John Barth. A wonderful book and not only funny... its a historical satire.

6. One book you wish had been written?

Ok the first scene starts with a boy with a shaved head starting an old Triumph motorcycle... alone in at a bar.... cemetery.... tap dancing.... church..... i'm not sure about the ending....

7. One book you wish had never had been written?

oh, something (anything) by Ayn Rand

8. One book you are currently reading?

John Brown: Abolitionist; The man who killed slavery, sparked the civil war, and seeded civil rights. By David S. Reynolds. (i was interested in reading about this Calvinist Terrorist. People now would surely call him a "Fundamentalist".... he just had convictions.)

9. One book you have been meaning to read?

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Through a glass darkly

So, here i am in PA. It seems the main reason for why i wasn't allowed to start seminary this year was because of money. I just hope i can save enough this year to satisfy them... So, I plan on staying here in PA (living rent free) and work (somewhere). Right now i'm doing some painting for the Northumberland Christian School (where my brother-in-law works).

I found a good church here; All Saints in Selingsgrove and i hope they will be willing to help me out....

I'm in the process of finishing my application for postulancy in the Diocese of Quincy; which requires both a medical and psychological evaluation. I met with a psychologist on Friday. He interviewed me and I took a personality test (to see if i'm insane). It was 567 true or false questions. One of my favorites was "True or False: There are many people out to get me." which i was tempted to answer True....;-) Some others were "I wish i was a girl" and "I like to hurt animals" (both i marked False, in case you were wondering).... I have a full medical exam scheduled on Wednesday that i'm not looking forward to.... The psych evaluation cost $225 and who knows what the full damage of the medical will be (it requires some lab work); it must be done but it just makes it more difficult to save if i'm required to spend.