I concur with:

If it didn’t have Catholic in the title you couldn’t tell them from the anarchists and moonbats at the local Big 8 Summit or WTO meeting.

We have the same problem with a lot of the so-called Catholic universities and charities in the US. And I certainly left open the possibility that the Cardinal was attempting a political statement. I’m not one who believes that you can or should prohibit religious (or areligious or antireligious) people from wielding whatever influence they have. If this is meant to be a political solidarity move, it’s pretty lame. If it’s meant to invoke a lost Catholic identity and a spiritual bond with the poor, then it’s OK.

The fact that the “news” article fails to quote him makes me wonder and at least give the presumption of innocence (although it may turn out to be unwarranted).

We used to fast way back when and it was associated with the little can that we would put the money we saved in. The Church used to do the work to feed the poor from that money donated.

I don’t see that anywhere in the story. I do see a reference to CAFOD which doesn’t say much about the Church doing that either. They do have “campaigns” galore though, from organizing protests to organizing sign-ups to carrying protest signs to writing e-mails to … whatever. And the emphasis always seems to be on the bad government — fair trade, yada yada yada — and bad businesses — exploitation of workers, stealing resources, yada yada yada. If it didn’t have Catholic in the title you couldn’t tell them from the anarchists and moonbats at the local Big 8 Summit or WTO meeting.

And that’s what is so pitiful about this message from Cardnial Cormac and, per the article, Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury: Say that you care, tell others to care, tell others to do something about it and eat a small bowl of soup for show.

The rather good thing about it though is that they aren’t visibly asking for money. They used to do a good job with feeding the poor and it was about the only thing they could do many years ago. But that’s s totally anachronistic now. It’s individuals taking it to the field and actually empowering people, via micro-loans and networking the poor with skills or talents and getting their products to market that will bring them the money they need to be the “fat and loving it” consumers Cormac and Williams want to help by eating a small piece of fish or “losing weight”.

1) Everybody believes what the MSM wrote. I noticed that there was no quote from the Cardinal. That always makes me hesitate before I criticize.

2) Fasting is an ancient Judeo-Christian tradition (as well as Muslim, Hindu, etc.). It’s silly and undignified to mock people for innocuous religious observance. This is different than practicing apologetics and only makes one seem to have the wit of Howard Dean.

Having vented, if the Cardinal is doing this as a sign of solidarity, which I certainly hope he is not, it seems like it is mortification for political cause rather than for spiritual. This is also common but usually is far more drastic (i.e., hunger strike). By their nature, political statements need lots of press. This will not get enough to be effective. This, coupled with the Cardinal’s stance against consumerism, I’ll bet that the British press misconstrued what was said.

The Cardinal ate soup and a roll for lunch yesterday and a small piece of fish for supper.

Wow… turns out I’ve been impoverished all this time. Where do I apply for public assistance?

I thought Advent was the penitential season…that ended with Christmas.
Isn’t Christianity besieged enough in the UK without trying to make those few faithful leave the Church because they’re not “devout” enough, however their local priests choose to define that?

Jen the Neocon on January 6, 2007 at 4:33 PM

Lent, the forty day period before Easter, is the traditional penitential fasting season in the Church.
And what exactly is so unusual about a Catholic priest calling for a fast on a holy day(Epiphany)?
I mean what makes it Hot Air-worthy?

And I used to feel good when I slipped a 20 vice a 10.

Until they build a new church in town, I’m just gonna sin it.

Screw it, I’m on the fast track to hell anyways, if you’re gonna go… go for the gusto!!

I know the authors, I know the tune,
I know it line for line-
In public, water is all they preach;
While in secret they guzzle wine.

LegendHasIt, popes are not excepted…These cardinals and popes would be more credible if they’d open the Vatacan kitty and do charitable work with at least more of it.

…with the homeless by not bathing…

No longer necessary – the applications coming in so soon…

Our local Catholic priest is a very smart man; an excellent historian who always illustrates his sermons with realities from history. He understands economics, law and all manner of useful things.

The Bishops and Cardinals (nearly all the ones I have heard or read, anyway) seem to spout leftist political nonsense and seem to understand nothing useful for dealing with ‘real’ life.

:-)

Speaking of pork, I’ve got some ribs in the smoker now. GT on January 6, 2007 at 2:16 PM

God bless you my son. Go in piece, and do god’s will.

How about eating full meals and donating more to charity instead?

posted at 1:51 pm on January 6, 2007 by Allahpundit

LOL. Quite right. I don’t see how going hungry myself is going to help the needy. But a few bucks, (or euros as the case may be) a couple times a year, well, that may.

The Cardinal ate soup and a roll for lunch yesterday and a small piece of fish for supper.

I’m sure the poor and starving feel better now.

Speaking of pork, I’ve got some ribs in the smoker now. Dinner is gonna be good tonight!

.

The Cardinal makes his plea for fasting as the Catholic aid agency Cafod begins its Live Simply campaign, in which Christians pledge to cut back on excess in a stand against “consumerism, celebrity and hype” and to help those living in poverty…

We could ALL do with a little less consumerism, celebrity, and hype. I rail against that every single day. But having soup and fish as a fast??? As a SYMBOL? GRADE: F

Jammie, you heartless b*stard. ;)

That seems like something I could do…