A Woman of Substance

As we all know by now, Professor, and former Ambassador, Mary Ann Glendon has politely declined to accept the 'Laetare Medal' which she was to have received at the same time as Julian Felsenburgh was being feted at Notre Dame University. Her short letter, published on the 'First Things' website, is the work of a Catholic statesman (there is no such thing as a 'stateswoman'). St. Thomas More, the Patron of Statesmen, would be proud of her. In a world where political expediency and "political correctness" seem to be the prerequisite for success, Ambassador Glendon has served the Catholic community well. Apparently Notre Dame and its increasingly embarrassing President are going to "give the award to someone else." How demeaning to received a second-hand award, rather like the bargains one finds in a supermarket with the "sell-by date" already expired.

The Great Influenza

Having not been up to much blogging for a while, I'm re-starting with a really gloomy one (got to keep the folks at home happy!). Some truly extraordinary things have happened in the last few weeks: the scandalous (in the Scriptural sense of the word) story of Georgetown covering the Holy Name and other Catholic 'symbols,' at the express request of the White House for the speech by Felsenburgh. Then Secretary of State Clinton's terrifying remarks about Margaret Sanger and the Felsenburgh Administration's policy of reversing pro-life laws all over the world. It has always surprised me that people who believe in a God of justice do not believe for one minute that we will ever be punished for the genocide of abortion. Health officials have been predicting for many years that it is only a matter of time before there is another world flu pandemic, on the scale of the 1918 pandemic, or even worse. That pandemic began in Kansas, and was incubated in pigs. John Barry's magisterial history of that period, 'The Great Influenza,' estimates that the 1918 pandemic killed between 50 - 100 million people in the world. God does not send evil - but He may allow this evil for a greater good. Watch your news tonight.

Roosting

The Owl has been rather quiet recently - apologies to my three readers (it may be two by now) - after the incredible busyness of Holy Week/Easter, the Owl was roosting on another perch for a few days.

Talk at St. Mary's

My talk on the English Martyrs is rather hard to find on the St. Mary's, Greenville, website. For anyone who is interested, it is under the 'Adult Sunday School' section. I thought it went rather well.

Holy Thursday

A blessed and holy sacred three days to all!

The South is Rising Again!

Although the picture refers to a different kind of rising - after my short visit to Greenville, South Carolina, I can certainly assert that the future of the Church in the United States will be heavily influenced by what is going on down South. Visiting the parish of the great Father Jay Scott Newman, and blogger-in-chief, Father Dwight Longenecker, after a wonderful supper with Fr. Newman, Fr. Longenecker and Joseph Pearce on the night of my arrival, I heard confessions for several hours on Wednesday. Then on Thursday I gave my lecture on the English Martyrs (apparently it will be on the St. Mary's website). On Friday before my flight back, I joined Fr. Dwight to celebrate Mass and preach at St. Joseph's School, which was extremely impressive. 500 young people - in nice uniforms, a beautiful choir and a devout celebration. A short and intense visit - but encouraging - the Church is alive!

Owl in Greenville

Astute readers will gather from my last post that the Owl is flying! Tomorrow I head down to Greenville, South Carolina, to St. Mary's Parish, to give a lecture on the English Martyrs. Invited by their eminent Pastor, Father Jay Scott Newman, I will also be with world famous blogger, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, and my new editor at 'The St. Austin Review,' the prolific Catholic biographer and writer in residence at Ave Maria University, (and fellow Englishman) Joseph Pearce. Prayers, please, for a successful visit and safe return on Friday.