I assure you that I have not been "silenced" nor forced to make this decision by any outside authority. It is my choice and one that I have been contemplating for some time now. I've decided to shut down the blog for three main reasons:

1. I feel that the life of the blog has run its course. I have been finding it difficult to find quality things on which to post and was having a difficult time keeping it up to date with items of substance. The best analogy I can use is that like a good sitcom, it went off the air before it stopped being funny.

2. This original purpose of this blog was to provide a laugh here and there, but I noticed as it began to grow more popular it became a cause for more contention than jocularity. Now I have to be cautious with just about everything I post because it could lead to a slew of rude and condescending remarks. I never wanted the blog to be an occasion of strife and dischord.

3. Most importantly, I have a number of large projects that I would like to complete in the near future (including a book on John Paul II's "Theology of the Body") and I would like time to concentrate on those.

So, it has been a great run. I thank all my faithful readers for their support over the years. God bless and keep the faith!

The current issue of America, in reporting on Thomas Reese's resignation, refers to a Vatican action in response to complaints about Famiglia Cristiana, a "Pauline" magazine in Italy. I have already tried to notify our publishing house about this error-but everyone is on retreat, so I am doing something provisional myself here and now:

Further info: the action was limited not only to the Society of St. Paul, but to the Italian province of the Society of St. Paul. Our brothers here in the U.S. (StPauls, Alba House) were not at all touched by this, except perhaps emotionally.

I must tell you the truth. It may shock you. It may make you cry. It might make you want to blow things up with firecrackers. It may give you the hooboo jeebies. I'm not sure how you'll react. But I must take this risk. What follows is The Truth™.

The Truth™: Cats is trying to steal our base by launching every cheesy OCP "hymn."

I discovered this last Friday while driving home from my home parish. I am your garden variety orthodox Tiber-tempted Anglo-Catholic (and there aren't many of us around in New Jersey). It takes me 45 minutes to get home from the parish now that I moved to Central New Jersey. (Our motto: It doesn't smell too bad down here.) Suffice it to say, I know every inch of New Jersey's most infamous expressway.

Anyhow, while driving on the New Jersey Turnpike, in the more carcinogenic areas thereof...this revelation came to mind. While humming the New Jersey Roman Catholic Standard, "On Eagles Wings," the aliens (or toxic chemicals of the Turnpike) communicated their dangerous message: All our base are belong to them (us).

The evidence? Listen to this!

Is this a coincidence? I DON'T THINK SO! The same can be said for "Celtic Alleluia," which is equally insidious.

It is obvious that we get signal (what?) and we are on the way to destruction unless we launch every plainsong chant for great justice.

Tonight from 7:00-9:00pm at Our Lady of
Lourdes Medical Center in Lafayette, LA a Buddisht Monk named Khentrul Rinpoche will be speaking on "The Wheel of Mindfulness." This will not be the first time this Buddhist monk will have spoken at this hospital.

If you would like more information, or if you would like to lodge a complaint that a Buddist monk will be allowed to speak at a Catholic hospital, you can contact the Executive Department of the hospital at this e-mail address. Please be charitable.

A diocesan bishop who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause is earnestly requested to present his resignation from office.

We have already reported on the nuttiness going on in that Diocese here and here.

I have a funny feeling that the Vatican "earnestly requested" his resignation.