Wednesday Godbytes

Catholic blogger Anthony Stevens-Arroyo writes at the Washington Post’s On Faith blog about Mayor Bloomberg‘s recent decision to make 9/11 ceremonies clergy-free (in terms of who’s doing the praying): “New York’s Mayor Bloomberg has ruled out clergy leading prayers at the 10th anniversary commemoration of 9/11 at the site of Ground Zero. Instead, stated the […]

Catholic blogger Anthony Stevens-Arroyo writes at the Washington Post’s On Faith blog about Mayor Bloomberg‘s recent decision to make 9/11 ceremonies clergy-free (in terms of who’s doing the praying):

“New York’s Mayor Bloomberg has ruled out clergy leading prayers at the 10th anniversary commemoration of 9/11 at the site of Ground Zero. Instead, stated the Mayor, the victims’ families and survivors can say their own prayers or quote from scriptures: clergy or First Responders can do so at other events. Jumping to the conclusionthat only the clergy can pray, the American Family Association, considers the mayor’s decision to be “an insult to God,” conveniently adding an email address for donations.”

Speaking of 9/11, Huffington Post Religion has a roundup of spiritual thoughts from different 9/11 chaplains:

The New Republic has a story on the Taliban‘s Least Favorite Buddhist Art, which is apparently now on display in New York:


“Nearly two thousand years ago, in the stark terrain where modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan meet, a sculptural tradition emerged that joins opulent forms and contemplative feelings and is unlike anything else in the history of world art. Although we know next to nothing about the sculptors who in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries CE developed what amounts to the first great act in the history of Buddhist art, a visitor to ‘The Buddhist Heritage of Pakistan: Art of Gandhara,’ the exhibition now at Asia Society in New York, cannot fail to respond to the emotional texture of the work. Carving into dark gray schist, a stone with a dense materiality, these sculptors were giving shape to the Buddhist critique of materiality.”

Oh, and in case you missed it: A Colorado man named Marshall Vian Summers is claiming to be God’s latest prophet and will be delivering a series of web addresses from September 8th through the 11th. Save the date, I suppose.

“God has a new prophet, according to Marshall Vian Summers who is, of course, God’s new prophet. According to the Colorado religious leader, the last prophet that God sent to earth was Muhammad.

For four days, Summers’ followers will gather in Estes Park, Colorado, for an “encampment” to explore the over 8,000 pages of revelations that Summers has recorded over the past 20-plus years. On September 11, a special message will be broadcast live on the Internet.”

Tennis players at this year’s U.S. Open better mind their manners – The New York Times reports that one of the refs is a Catholic priest. No word on whether pastoral care will be available for athletes destroyed by Serena Williams.

“So a Catholic priest walks onto a tennis court. Seriously. It happens, for Father Paul Arinze, every day at the United States Open.

Often, Arinze climbs into the chair, as a certified bronze badge umpire. There, he officiates serves, not church services, matches instead of Mass. Below, players cross themselves and pray for victory or take the Lord’s name in vain. They do not know that while God may not be interested in their tennis match, a clergyman is watching from close range.”

Finally, our Tweet of the Day comes from Rabbi Rami, who offers some, er, interesting spiritual parenting advice:

@rabbirami – Give away your dormant possessions. Drop sleeping kids off at the Goodwill.

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