Second Coming Watch

or

False Prophet Follies

I'm taking a break from my recent fervent activity of the last few weeks attempting to defend Catholic orthodoxy in lengthy online discourses with a wide variety of "do-it-yourself" and "cafeteria Catholics." Throw in an occasional essay, too.

There are quite a few colorful characters out there shouting from the housetops the time of the second coming this 21 May 2011!

The worst [most ridiculous?] of these is without a doubt "Lord Ra-El." As much as I do not wish to give any type of promotion to such a combo of madness and blasphemy, his lunacy is best evidenced by letting it speak for itself. On his website you can find information written by his "apostolic line of Templar Knights" [oh, brother!] proclaiming him as the second coming of Jesus. "Proof" of his identity is provided by the careful manipulation and twisted interpretation of various Bible verses, old prophesies, and real or imagined coincidences.

Let's cut to the chase and expose him quick and painless. Actually, it's too easy. Without having to create a long exposition, all that is needed is two basic points:

1. The Bible is clear that we can never know the exact time of Jesus' return. We have been told many times in Scripture, ...at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. rf. Matthew 24: 44, 2 Peter 3: 10, 1 Thessalonians 5: 2, Revelation 3: 3
2. Jesus resurrected and has a glorified body. He will return in his glorified body. "Lord Ra-El" claims to be Jesus reborn from a woman. This is not how Jesus will return.

Darn, I'm going to miss the big announcement. I'll be at my Dominican regional conference most of the day. Oh well.

The Sad Affair of Bishop Morris

The unfortunate situation with former Bishop Morris of Australia is still rearing it's ugly head in the Catholic "press."

"The National Catholic Distorter Reporter" ran a story on it today as the former Bishop is still publicly yelling "foul" and demanding public release of private Vatican reports neither the public or he, individually, have access rights to.

You can read NCR's article here.
It's been a while since I've wrote to them or replied to an article until now. The following is my response to the article appearing on their site:

This situation is very sad and should never have to happen to a successor of the Apostles. But if one is to be in place as an apostolic successor, the teachings of the Apostles must remain intact.

The situation is not really new; the Vatican has been trying to remove the Bishop for a few years. Bishop Morris, sadly, has a long history of conflict with the teachings of the Church and the Magisterium. This conflict was not limited to the "question" of priestly ordination for women (although it certainly is an important element of the situation). Even his simple but adamant call for "dialogue" concerning "women's ordination" is an in-your-face disdain for the Code of Canon Law: the casting of doubt on the Church's teaching of ordination (of women) is a transgression to be reprimanded. His actions very publicly showed contempt for "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis" by Pope John Paul II.

The visitation was his own doing; it was the result of his stubborn refusal to go to Rome when he was called there to account for himself. Before this, He was given many opportunities to correct his errors and more than once actually met with Vatican officials in-person...including one audience with the Holy Father himself!

For the last few years he was basically a squatter in the office of bishop as he refused to give his resignation when told to do so. His juvenile obstinacy forced the Vatican's hand in making it a publicly announced removal.

He was chosen as a successor to Christ's Apostles and more than anything else, we should be praying for him. Not only for his own soul which he has put in danger but all the souls that were put in his charge which he has also put in grave danger. All members of Christ's Mystical Body, down to the lowest of us, deserve our leaders and teachers to be true and help in saving our eternal souls, not contributing to their damnation. Bishop Morris was a shepherd leading his flock into a pit.

Mr. Brian Batty, O.P.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.