Still Running Off at the Keyboard

WORLD NET DAILY RUNS THE STORY

While Carrie is doing the laundry, this is the ghost of Carrie checking in to post this bit of good news that can't be ignored!

Check out the story at World Net Daily:

A group of homosexual drag queens who dress up in outlandish nun costumes has lost its lease to hold risqué bingo games at a San Francisco parish after outcry from faithful Catholics throughout the United States. In September, the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," a self-described "leading-edge order of queer nuns," began holding "Revival Bingo" games at Most Holy Redeemer parish in San Francisco's homosexual Castro neighborhood. The next game, featuring master of ceremonies "Peaches Christ" -- was scheduled for Thursday, All Souls Day, when Catholics typically pray for deceased loved ones.

Catherine's blog was also mentioned:

The Threshing Grain Catholic weblog commented, "I don't think that masquerading and parading around on Catholic diocesan church property blaspheming the Catholic Church and displaying this behavior near the Blessed Sacrament while on the same property is 'shared values'! The ends DO NOT justify the means! Charity!? Please! Where is their charity in their displayed and deplorable antics against Holy Mother Church and Christianity!?"

And the best part of the story:

Permission to use Ellard Hall should not have been given to the [the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence]. The Archdiocese of San Francisco has directed the parish to end the arrangement immediately. For years the group has directed contempt and ridicule at Catholic faith and practices. The particular targets of the group's derision are women in religious communities, for whom Catholics, and many non-Catholics, have a special reverence and respect. Fr. Meriwether is on leave from his duties. [emphasis mine - ct]

Dare we hope that the leave will be permanent?

Nice work, Catherine!

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

CHECKING OUT OF CYBERLIFE TEMPORARILY

All of the time I've spent at the computer screen over the last couple of weeks has meant that stuff has been ignored in the real world. It's time for a reckoning.

I'll be back some time around the middle of the month.

FREEMASONRY AND NOAHIDE LAWS

From the Masonic website TracingBoard.com

The Chevalier Ramsay used to declare: “Freemasonry is indeed the resurrection of the Noachide religion, that of the Patriarch Noah, that religion prior to any dogma, which allows us to go beyond the differences and oppositions of the various faiths”. [as quoted on the site of the Grand Lodge of France]

Anderson’s Constitutions of 1738 could very well contain the seedbed of our religious faith and practice as Freemasons. While most masons officially claim that Freemasonry is NOT a religion, it is certainly religious so long as one has a proper understanding of the term and maintains a distinction between what religion is, and what religious means. Freemasonry opens its doors to men of every creed so long as they believe in a Supreme Deity, to whom all men are held accountable for the maintenance of certain basic universal laws, defined by Dr. Anderson as the moral law. In his 1738 [2nd] edition of the Constitutions he gave this moral law a name. The name applied by Anderson to this "moral law" was Noachide. (also variously spelled; Noahide, Noachite, Noachidæ, Noachida).

The entry Noachidæ, found in the ENCYCLOPÆDIA OF FREEMASONRY1 states the following:

"The descendants of Noah. A term applied to Freemasons on the theory, derived from the 'legend of the craft,' that Noah was the father and founder of the Masonic system of theology. And hence the Freemasons claim to be his descendants, because in times past they preserved the pure principles of his religion amid the corruptions of surrounding faiths. Dr. Anderson first used the word in this sense in the second edition of the Book of Constitutions: 'A Mason is obliged by his tenure to observe the moral law as a true Noachida.' But he was not the inventor of the term, for it occurs in a letter sent by the Grand Lodge of Calcutta in 1735, which letter is preserved among the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. (See Ars Quartuor Coronatorum, xi., 35.)

In The History of Freemasonry - Its Legendary Origins, Mackey devotes an entire chapter to the Masonic connection with the figure of Noah and so covers the topic more thoroughly. In that chapter he admits that "the story of his [Noah's] life has exercised a very important influence in the origin and the development of the principles of Speculative Masonry". Mackey writes of references to both Noah and the system of faith attributed to him, and cites several references from early Masonic manuscripts. According to Mackey, "In the Halliwell Poem his [Noah's] name and the flood are merely referred to as denoting an era of time in the world's history. It is only a statement that the tower of Babel was begun many years after 'Noees flod [sic]'." In the Cooke Ms more details are furnished about Noah, but they generally follow the Biblical account. From the time of the Dowland MS. forward, says Mackey, "the reference to Noah is exceedingly meager."

The FAQ page in the website of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon denies a relationship between the Noahide Laws and Freemasonry:

8. Are freemasons really Noahides?
No.

Noahides, or those who refer to themselves as such, follow the Noahide laws, generally within the Judaic tradition. These laws comprise prohibitions of idolatry, blasphemy, forbidden sexual relations, murder, theft, consuming the limb of a living animal (an expression of cruelty to animals) and lawlessness (that is to say, requiring the setting up of courts and processes of justice). 1

There are rival philosophies concerning the Noahide laws. The classical orthodox Jewish tradition, as found in Maimonides, the Maharal of Prague and the writings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, views the source of the authority of the Noahide laws as being the giving of the Torah at Sinai to Moses and therefore of concern only to the Jews.

Elijah Benamozegh (1823-1900), author of Israel and Humanity, and Aime Palliere, author of The Unknown Sanctuary, promoted the idea of an "independent" tradition which goes back to Adam and Noah, and thereby to be transmitted to the Gentiles. The growth of late twentieth century Noahide movements has been a source of concern to some Christians who view the ramifications of this philosophy as an anti-Christian attack.

These are religious discussions and therefore not of concern to Freemasonry. Freemasonry is not a religion.

Masonic author, Albert G. Mackey, defined Noachidae as the descendents of Noah; and Noachite as a reference to the legend "that Noah was the father and founder of the masonic system of theology."2 Mackey neglected to define or detail that theology. Regular Freemasonry has never had a theology and Mackey was simply expressing his own opinion.

Mackey also wrote that the seven Precepts of Noah are preserved "as the Constitutions of our ancient Brethren"3 but neither the oldest extant manuscript, the Regius Poem, nor the Cooke manuscript mention any such precepts. He can only have been referring to Anderson’s second edition of his Constitutions, published in 1738.

Non-masons, especially those hostile to Freemasonry, have been known to confuse references in masonic ritual to "the Moral Law," or "that religion in which all men agree" with the Precepts of Noah. Albert G. Mackey, in his History of Freemasonry, presented an historical background to the legends of Freemasonry but, in context, is clearly not ascribing the beliefs or practices of Judaism to those of Freemasonry.4

A legend of two pillars that survive the Deluge, containing the knowledge of the seven liberal arts and sciences, is contained in the "traditional history" of Freemasonry. The legend that Noah received seven commandments when God made His Covenant after the Flood is not a part of any extant pre-1717 manuscript. The sentiment that "all masons are true Noachidae" was part of "Brother Euclid’s Letter to the Author" included, with no historical authority, with the Rev. John Anderson’s 1738 Constitutions. The 1723 Constitutions contained the passage: "A Mason is obliged by his tenure to obey the moral law." In the 1736 edition Anderson completed the sentence with "as a true Noachida. 5 These references were dropped in the 1756 and subsequent editions, and have never played a role in the ritual or teachings of regular Freemasonry. Dermott’s unauthorized Ahiman Rezon copied Anderson’s 1736 edition and also used the term "Noachida."

Anderson may have taken this idea from the Stonehouse MS., also titled the Krause MS., reproduced in Dr. Krause’s Three Oldest Documents. Probably written by a contemporary of Anderson and now accepted as spurious, it was first alleged to be a copy of the 926 York Constitutions.

Freemasons were called Noachidae by some authors, generally in reference to the Scottish Rite degrees, in a poetical allusion to the preservation and transmission of great truths. But these truths are not defined as the Precepts of Noah.

There is no connection between Noahides and Noachidae. One is a philosophy within Judaism, while the other is a poetical reference to Freemasonry and an eighteenth century attempt to create an older lineage.

The question only has meaning if one assumes that Freemasonry is a religion. Freemasonry is not a religion and has no doctrine.

BISHOP MORLINO OF MADISON TAKING CHARGE

The bishop has issued a Personal and Confidential letter to all priests in the Diocese of Madison making mandatory the playing of a recording of his statements on defense of marriage. The letter is online at the diocesan website:

Enclosed with this letter, you will find a recorded message from myself both on CD and ordinary-cassette-tape format, for your convenience. It is mandatory that this recorded message be played for our faithful people at all Masses of obligation on the weekend of November 4th and 5th. ...

I must make it very clear that any verbal or non-verbal expression of disagreement with this teaching on the part of the priest will have to be considered by myself as an act of disobedience, which could have serious consequences.

Read the entire letter here.

The bishop's open letter is here.

Both letters are linked on the home page of the Diocesan website, as well as a link there to his 14-minute taped message. He has also provided a brief explanation as to why the strong words of the Personal and Confidential letter:

Due to leakage and misrepresentation of this confidential letter from Bishop Morlino to his priests, he has decided to publish the letter in its entirety.

If you live in the Madison Diocese and don't hear the tape at Mass this weekend, the bishop would probably like to know it.

Thanks to a reader for sending in the links.

SCIENTOLOGIST TOM CRUISE TO RUN UNITED ARTISTS

Threshing Grain reports the story.

NAMES

Yesterday, Zuukie asked for names, and I responded that I didn't have any. On further reflection, there are a few names that perhaps should be mentioned, although I don't know what their political involvement would be, if any.


Chic Cicero

He is a leader in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and founded an HOGD temple in Georgia in the 70s. He was a friend of Israel Regardie according to this University of Arkansas website which also lists many other members in Section III of this Golden Dawn FAQ.

Cicero is listed on the Canonbury speakers roster for the 2006 Autumn Public Lectures. His topic is "The Rosicrucian Vault."

Last April he lectured at Canonbury on "The Spiritual Alchemy of the Golden Dawn."


Gareth Knight

He is also listd as a speaker on the 2006 Autumn Public Lectures at Canonbury. His topic is "Dion Fortune & the Masonic Tradition".

His website indicates "He trained in Dion Fortune's Society of the Inner Light, and has spent a lifetime rediscovering and teaching the principles of magic as a spiritual discipline and method of self-realisation."

Knight has authored and co-authored numerous books on occultism, as can be seen at Amazon.


Revd Neville Barker Cryer

He is the third speaker on the Canonbury Autumn lecture series, speaking on "York Mysteries Revealed".

He has also been a speaker for conferences of the Cornerstone Society, a Masonic organization.

Several of his books are offered for sale on the official Rosslyn Chapel website.


Michael Baigent

I've already covered his involvement in Canonbury. He is known for his research related to Rosslyn Chapel and the Priory of Sion, particularly that contained in HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL. Two of his books are being sold at the Rosslyn Chapel website.

In addition to his involvement with Canonbury, he is the editor of "Freemasonry Today".


Lon Milo Duquette

Grand Master of the Ordo Templi Orientis. I wrote a short article about him for Spero News.


Robert Anton Wilson

Co-author of the ILLUMINATUS TRILOGY, a long book for which he is best known, though he wrote others. The book makes light of occultism. Wilson is an esoteric cultural icon. I read recently that he is dying of cancer.

According to Michelle Mairesse, Wilson studied under Israel Regardie, and has been published by New Falcon Publications, the publishing house of the Ordo Templi Orientis.


Tracy Twyman

Author, editor of "Dagobart's Revenge", Grand Master of Ordo Lapsit Exillis, a magical fraternity. She has been interviewed on Coast to Coast. She used to work with industrial noise musician Boyd Rice until they had a falling out.


This is certainly not an exhaustive list by any means, nor is it necessarily the most prominent of the occultists. It's merely a list that comes to mind of those who appear to exert influence on the culture.

BEHEADING - WE HAVE A NEW SAINT

While I sit here and research the Noahide Laws, a Christian boy in Iraq is beheaded for his faith.

Blogger credit to New Oxford Review.

GLOSSOLALIA AND BRAIN WAVES

Pennsylvania researchers are documenting brain functioning when Pentecostals engage in glossolalia, or so-called speaking in tongues.

U. Penn School of Medicine researchers said Tuesday they have discovered decreased activity inthe frontal lobes, an area of the brain associated with being in control of one's self.

Of course Pentecostals and our charismatics will readily admit that they are not in control during glossolalia. They believe the Holy Spirit is in control. The article picks up this theme, quoting Principal Investigator Andrew Newberg, M.D., associate professor of Radiology, Psychiatry, and Religious Studies, and director for the Center for Spirituality and the Mind:

Our brain imaging research shows us that these subjects are not in control of the usual language centers during this activity, which is consistent with their description of a lack of intentional control while speaking in tongues.

Ok, the Pentecostals and the scientists agree. What science can't tell us is who or what is in control. For that we must turn to religion. What spirit is it?

New Oxford Review has linked the article which can be read in its entirety here.

CANONBURY CONFERENCE 2006, AND THE ESSENES ACCORDING TO MICHAEL BAIGENT

Some recent discoveries...

First - the 2006 Conference of the Canonbury Masonic Research Center is titled "The Knowledge of the Heart: Gnostic Movements & Secret Traditions", and is scheduled to take place this weekend. On the program you will find a lecturer from the University of Paris discussing "Martinist Orders & Freemasonry in France Since Papus' Time"; a Fellow of Exeter University discussing "Freemasonry: A Gnostic Tradition?"; a professor from the University of Utrecht discussing "Spiritual Transformation in Ancient Hermetism & Gnosticism"; a University of Sheffield Professor discussing "Gnosticism & the Dead Sea Scrolls"; a Princeton Professor discussing "The Sethian Gnostic Gospel of Judas"; a Professor from the Sorbonne discussing "Gnostic/Sufi Symbols & Ideas in Turkish & Persian Freemasonry"; and more.

But is Canonbury accepted by Regular Masonry? For an answer, turn to the Grand Lodge Legal of Portugal, a speech made by HRH the Duke A Kent, on the occasion of his being made an Honorary Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, in which he states:

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the recognition by the United Grand Lodge of England of the Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal...

As far as my Grand Lodge is concerned, you are the only regular freemasonry in Portugal and we value our close relationship with you. ...

I started the Canonbury Masonic Research Center to study the more esoteric aspects of freemasonry and I am delighted that your Grand Master came to one of our conferences and lectured on the Hermetic Palace at Sintra, which we so, enjoyed visiting this morning. ...

One could be forgiven for thinking the Craft carries the torch for the Hermetic Tradition. And if we are going to attract good quality candidates we must re-enchant Freemasonry by explaining these aspects of its true nature and propose, [sic] and inspiring men to want to join us.

If that doesn't indicate that Canonbury is regular mainstream Masonry, I don't know what would. Michael Baigent, being (or having been) a member of the Board of Trustees of Canonbury, is thus legitimized as belonging to regular Masonry as well.

A picture at the Canonbury website shows R. A. Gilbert talking with another man who is not identified. I have a printout of this same webpage dated 2/16/00 which shows the same picture and indicates that the other person is Michael Baigent, trustee of the Canonbury Masonic Research Center.

Baigent is the author of "Freemasonry Today," and also the co-author of several books including HOLY BLOOD, HOLY GRAIL which essentially told the Da Vinci Code story before Dan Brown got around to it.

Baigent wrote an article for "Masonic Forum Magazine" No. 18-19 titled "The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls" which uses the Dead Sea Scrolls to refute Josephus and Pliny about the nature of the Qumran community. Baigent claims that:

According to Josephus, the Essenes maintained cordial relations with King Herod the Great who, he states, held the Essenes in high esteem.

The Dead Sea Scrolls however reveal a militant antagonism and unremitting hostility towards non-Judaic authority generally and, according to the Temple Scroll, towards the Herodian dynasty specifically. Furthermore, Qumran seems to have been abandoned around the beginning of the reign of Herod (37 BC) because of his persecution.

The classical writers describe the Essenes as being pacifist. Philo specifically mentions that no weapons makers were members of the sect. Josephus draws a distinction between the non-violent Essenes and the violent, militant, and messianic, Zealots. Yet, the ruins of Qumran reveal a defensive tower and a probable forge. In addition, weapons (arrows) were found in the ruins during excavations. The Dead Sea Scrolls themselves, especially the War Scroll reveal the sect's belligerent and martial nature.

Baigent closes the article with this:

We end this chapter in The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception with the following: "It would thus seem that the Qumran community was equivalent to the "early Church" based in Jerusalem ...the "Nazoreans" who followed James, "the Lord's brother". Indeed, the "Habakkuk Commentary" states explicitly that Qumran's ruling body, the "Council of the Community", was actually located at the time in Jerusalem. And in Acts 9:2, the members of the "early Church" are specifically referred to as "followers of the Way" a phrase identical with Qumran usage."

"The Way". The same phrase used by the Ebionites and the Essenes is being used by the Cleveland chancery in its announcement of an upcoming youth program scheduled in Columbus, as I reported yesterday. Are they talking about the same "Way"?

The Essenes are closely linked with the Ebionites. Orthodox Wiki makes the association:

The Early Church before Constantine had many diverse views.

Jewish Christians

On one extreme were the so-called Judaizers or Jewish Christians. They were established by James the Just and believed in the Jewish Bible, at that time called the Law and the Prophets, and that Jesus was the prophesied Jewish Messiah who would return in a Second Coming to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy.

They denied the virgin birth, believed that Jesus became one with God at his baptism but was not a god. The Ebionites, Nazarenes and other groups of Judaizers used only the Gospel of the Hebrews and rejected Paul’s writings and Pauline Christianity. They kept all the Biblical Hebrew rituals (such as the Sabbath and Quartodeciman) and did not believe in the Holy Trinity. They rejected Antinomianism but were accused by their opponents of Legalism (theology).

There is an Order of Nazorean Essenes on the web which offers a webpage dedicated to "Scottish Rite Masonry: The 2nd Degree of Scottish Rite Masonry". Essentially the webpage describes the degree ritual.

In MORALS AND DOGMA, Albert Pike mentions the Essenes 22 times, 21 of which are in the 17th degree chapter, "Knight of the East and West".

This Essene website makes it quite clear what this group of Essenes think about Christians:

Having set the stage, I will describe in detail the schism led by Paul which evolved into modern Christianity. I will conclude this expose´ with a call to action: A CALL TO REJECT PAULIANITY AND RETURN TO ESSENE NAZARENE CHRISTIANITY. The choice is simple, yet profound; and every Christian must make it: YAHSHUA (Jesus) OR PAUL?

First, some necessary background information must be given. There was an ancient Jewish religion which was very mystical, high and noble. It was a very evolved form of religion, rooted in respect and care for all of creation. This ancient Jewish religion was both very esoteric -- as evidenced by its Kaballah mysticism -- and yet very practical, as evidenced by its emphasis on daily lifestyle disciplines, ecology and communal economics. It was also VERY VEGETARIAN: not only was animal sacrifice forbidden, but so was the eating of animal flesh absolutely condemned. War and slavery had no part in this nonviolent religion. Women were the equals to men; women were entitled -- in fact, encouraged -- to participate in the Priesthood. This Priesthood -- called "The Priesthood of Melki Zadek" -- was governed by God via good angels and the divinely inspired BOOK OF THE ETERNAL COVENANT. Their original founder was Enoch; later, Moses led a major remanifestation of their movement. THIS ENLIGHTENED ANCIENT JEWISH RELIGION WAS KNOWN AS "ESSENE NAZARENE JUDAISM".

I would argue that there is an association between Essenes (and thus Ebionites) and Freemasonry based on the evidence I've presented over the last couple of days. It seems to me there can be a reasonable argument made that Freemasonry may in fact have been the system that brought the teachings of the Jewish community in Jerusalem forward in history in a secretive system as is being claimed by Alan Butler and John Ritchie in ROSSLYN REVEALED. If this is true, the Church has opposed it each time it has broken out into open sight. Today, however, it would seem that Benedict is focused on making compromise with it and forging some sort of peace. What then is one to think about his firm stand against Freemasonry made at or near the time when the 1983 Code of Canon Law was promulgated?

It is easy to dismiss the Ebionites and their Noahide laws that would forbid belief in the Trinity and in Jesus Christ as God, with its penalty of beheading for violation. They are a small group. The situation becomes somewhat more alarming when the Ebionites are coupled with the Essenes. But add Freemasonry to this mix and the picture changes dramatically.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

GOLDEN YELLOW, WHITE, AND GRAY

Does anyone know what would be the significance of a chasuble that is striped in golden yellow, white, and gray? I don't believe I've ever seen gray in a chasuble before today, and gold is usually actually gold, not this color.

EBIONITES IN THE BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia gives an overview of Ebionites and refers to the religion as "Ebionism". What struck me in reading through it is that according to the website:

Dr. Campbell of Dundee, finds a strong Ebionite bias in the Gospel of Luke, in which certainly there is no lessening of our Lord's supreme Divinity. All that it amounts to is a prominence given to the poor. The identification of the poor with the righteous has not come down to us as a tenet of the Ebionites; it has been ascribed to them from their name. As already stated in the Ascension of Isaiah, the Divinity of the Messiah is strongly asserted. The farther down the stream of history we go more and more clearly do the Ebionite features appear, till by the time when Alcibiades, the follower of Elkasai, appeared in Rome, we have something widely removed from the Ebionism of the Clementines, far as that is from the simple position occupied by the Nazareans.

How closely associated is this with the social gospel that has been so prominent in Roman Catholicism since Vatican II? Most of our liberals are heavily into the social gospel and are light on Christ. Does that reflect the liberals' embrace of Ebionism? Are the "womenpriests" who claim to be Roman Catholic and who practice rituals in imitation of the Catholic Mass in various home settings really practicing Ebionism?

THE LAST SUPPER IN A MASONIC WEBSITE

HiramsTravels.com

ALLAN CRONSHAW - THE LONG ISLAND MYSTIC

who claims to be an Ebionite in the process of restoring Ebionitism, also claims to be an Ordained Evangelical Minister and a Nazirene Disciple of The Way.

MORE ON THE EBIONITES

H. P. Blavatsky mentions them in ISIS UNVEILED, Part Two, Chapter IV:

But who then were the first Christians, may still be asked? Doubtless the Ebionites; and in this we follow the authority of the best critics. "There can be little doubt that the author (of the Clementine Homilies) was a representative of Ebionitic Gnosticism, which had once been the purest form of primitive Christianity. . . ."* And who were the Ebionites? The pupils and followers of the early Nazarenes, the kabalistic Gnostics. In the preface to the Codex Nazaraeus, the translator says: "That also the Nazarenes did not reject . . . the AEons is natural. For of the Ebionites who acknowledged them (the AEons), these were the instructors."**

We find, moreover, Epiphanius, the Christian Homer of The Heresies, telling us that "Ebion had the opinion of the Nazarenes, the form of the Cerinthians (who fable that the world was put together by angels), and the appellation of Christians."*** An appellation certainly more correctly applied to them than to the orthodox (so-called) Christians of the school of Irenaeus and the later Vatican. Renan shows the Ebionites numbering among their sect all the surviving relatives of Jesus. John the Baptist, his cousin and precursor, was the accepted Saviour of the Nazarenes, and their prophet. His disciples dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and the scene of the baptism of the Jordan is clearly and beyond any question proved by the author of Sod, the Son of the Man, to have been the site of the Adonis-worship.**** "Over the Jordan and beyond the lake dwelt the Nazarenes, a sect said to have existed already at the birth of Jesus, and to have counted him among its number. They must have extended along the east of the Jordan, and southeasterly among the Arabians (Galat. i. 17, 21; ii. 11), and Sabaeans in the direction of Bosra; and again, they must have gone far north over the Lebanon to Antioch, also to the northeast to the Nazarian settlement in Beroea, where St. Jerome found them. In the desert the Mysteries of Adonis may have still prevailed; in the mountains Aiai Adonai was still a cry."*****

"Having been united (conjunctus) to the Nazarenes, each (Ebionite) imparted to the other out of his own wickedness, and decided that Christ was of the seed of a man," writes Epiphanius.

And if they did, we must suppose they knew more about their contemporary prophet than Epiphanius 400 years later. Theodoret, as shown elsewhere, describes the Nazarenes as Jews who "honor the Anointed as a just man," and use the evangel called "According to Peter." Jerome finds the authentic and original evangel, written in Hebrew, by Matthew the apostle-publican, in the library collected at Caesarea, by the martyr Pamphilius. "I received permission from the Nazaraeans, who at Beroea of Syria used this (gospel) to translate it," he writes toward the end of the fourth century.* "In the evangel which the Nazarenes and Ebionites use," adds Jerome, "which recently I translated from Hebrew into Greek,** and which is called by most persons the genuine Gospel of Matthew," etc.

The Societas Rosicruciana in Canada speaks of them:

To the Ebionite Jews, Jesus became God’s son at baptism. He was thus not divine by nature, or at birth, but only by "adoptionism". It remains unclear whether Jesus remained human throughout his life or was transformed to a semi-divine status after his "adoption".3

To the Nazorean Jews, writing in Aramaic, Jesus is presented in much the same terms as in the canonical Matthew, although with "corrections".

The Cambrian Episcopal Church of the Grail speaks of the Ebionites, the Essenes, the Nazoraeans, the Desposyni, "The Way", Albigensians, Freemasonry, and Tarot Cards. The material is too long to quote here. Check it out at the website. Their homepage indicates they are organized around house churches.

The Nazarene Way of Essenic Studies mentions the Ebionites:

Jerome's description, taken along with the name (cf. Acts 24:5) and geographical position of the sect, strongly suggest that the Nazarenes of the 4th century interacted with the Ebionites in spite of Epiphanius' distinction.

Earlier church fathers such as Justin Martyr, Origen and Eusebius mention other groups who, to varying extent, accepted Jesus as Messiah while continuing to observe the Jewish Law. It is often suggested that these are the same as the groups identified by Jerome and Epiphanius as Nazarenes. One such group were the Ebionites, referred to in second century writings. There Epiphanius draws a comparative distinction between the Nazarenes and the Ebionites.

Another page in the Nazarene Way website offers a contrast between "The Way" of James and "The Church" of Paul, indicating at the top of the website that "Essenes, Nazarenes, Ebionites and others" practiced "The Way".

REVIVAL BINGO LOSES LEASE

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have lost their lease for the parish hall at Most Holy Redeemer Parish. The notice is dated Oct. 31, indicating that the stir created on the web over this blasphemous occurrence has probably been the cause. Exposure seems to be the only hope we have of cleaning up the mess.

Special thanks to Catherine at Threshing Grain for the letter she wrote that must have impacted this decision.

As for this "charity card" that the Sisters are playing, Catholic Charities can and does dwarf their efforts.

Now let us hope and pray this activity will not go underground again at this or any other Catholic facility.

DIOCESAN ACTIVITIES IN CLEVELAND

Thanks to a reader who sent in a link to the Cleveland Diocesan Memorandum for November 2006, a pdf file.

Some highlights in no particular order...

-- The Appreciative Inquiry Ecumenical Network will be presenting a workshop entitled "Framing the Questions: The Questions You Ask Determine the Change You Get" for clergy, parish staff and lay leaders on Saturday, 11 November from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm at Montrose Zion United Methodist Church located in Fairlawn just off I-77 at Ghent Rd. The workshop is jointly sponsored by the East Ohio United Methodist Program in Pastoral Care, The Presbytery of the Western Reserve, the Northeastern Ohio Synod - ELCA, the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio and the Pastoral Planning Office of the Diocese of Cleveland.

Do you suppose they will allow the question, "Have we all become Protestants now?"

If you've read Lee Penn's book FALSE DAWN, you will know why I get belligerent when Appreciative Inquiry turns up. It's a brainwashing technique that will not allow inconvenient questions to be asked. It owes its popularity to United Religions Initiative. AI put URI on the world stage. AI was developed in a Cleveland university. URI was its first project and a rousing success. AI is the basis for Vibrant Parish Life. I saw it in operation during the Vibrant Parish Life "town meeting" at the parish I was attending until recently. I managed to ask the inconvenient question there which concerned the necessity of priests, but it was an uphill battle to do it. AI is BAD news.

-- Father [J. Glenn] Murray made it known to Bishop Pilla and his Provincial Superior that he would be open to being reassigned upon the retirement of Bishop Pilla. Father Murray's Provincial Superior, Father Timothy B. Brown, S.J. being informed of Bishop Pilla's retirement and remembering Father Murray's willingness, has requested that Father Murray return to the Maryland Province (for a Jesuit assignment).

Those of you who have followed the sexual abuse scandal in Cleveland know how often Fr. Murray's name came up, and not favorably. He was part of the system that shut out victims and protected abusers.

-- The Diocesan Vibrant Parish Life - Phase II Committee is now deeply engaged in reviewing all proposals and discerning an overall summary of proposed clusters to be made available to parishes. Individual parish proposals will remain confidential within the Committee. Both the reader who sent in the link and I would like to know why these proposals "will remain confidential within the Committee." What's the big secret?

-- A concert series is beginning (or has already begun) at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland. The Sunday, November 12, 3 p.m. event will feature "Dr. Samuel Gordon director" of "Simple Gifts: Music from America's Heart" which will include hymns, spirituals and Gospel songs by American composers: Stephen Paulus, Moses Hogan, Andre Thomas, Carol Barnett, Joshua Shank and Ernani Aquiar. There is another concert event scheduled for Friday, December 15, at 7:30 p.m. which will feature the Ohio BoyChoir.

This process of turning cathedrals into concert halls began, I think, at the New York Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and was part of the activities of Lindisfarne Associates there. It seems to be spreading like wildfire. I trust Bishop Lennon will have the good sense not to bring an elephant to the cathedral like the folks at St. John the Divine did.

-- Pastors who know of a young man or a group of young men who might consider the priesthood are encouraged to invite them for supper and conversation in the rectory with the Coordinator for Vocations to Diocesan Priesthood. (Why do stories of sexual abuse come to mind when I read this announcement in the Diocesan Memorandum? Oh wait, must be because boys who have been sexually abused by priests in the past have been invited to the rectory for dinner and conversation afterwards with their patron priest who tended to hold those conversations in his bedroom.)

-- The interfaith section of the Memorandum includes "Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue: The Road Traveled and the Look Ahead", a lecture scheduled for John Carroll University with Duke University School of Divinity's Dr. Geoffrey Wainwright. Duke is ringing some sort of faint warning bell, but I can't recall why.

-- A "Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam" series of meetings will take place at the Tolerance Center of Notre Dame College which looks to be another exercise in wishful thinking, while placing all three religions on an equal playing field. One of the topics to be covered is Sharia-Halaka. Let's hope those of a certain religious persuasion leave their swords at home.

-- My own particular favorite headliner is "'Will our faith have children? Together we can be sure' - an evening of reflection". Maybe they should check to see if Faith is pregnant?

-- A youth conference scheduled for November 2007 in Columbus, Ohio is headlined "Discover the Way". And which "Way" would that be?

Transition of authority in Cleveland seems to be moving ahead with minimal interruption. Is that a good thing?

SPEAKING OF EBIONITES !

ROSSLYN CHAPEL AN EBIONITE GOSPEL IN STONE ?

A couple of articles in The Scotsman last week report that Rosslyn Chapel may not be a Catholic chapel, but rather an Ebionite chapel built to reflect the beliefs of Sir William St. Clair and Gilbert Haye. These are the theories of Alan Butler and John Ritchie, authors of just released ROSSLYN REVEALED. According to one article the authors claim:

...master masons who came to Midlothian from across Europe to build the chapel between 1456 and 1496 became, in effect, the first Freemasons. The secretive nature of the craft, they say, was forged at Rosslyn, through rituals and ceremonies devised by Haye and Sinclair - linked closely to the beliefs of the Ebionites.

The carvings of Rosslyn are unlike those of a normal church because they reflect Ebionite symbolism rather than the more mainstream Christian tradition.

Ebionism had its origins in a pre-Christian mystery tradition and incorporated beliefs and symbols from Judaism, Islam and Egyptian and Persian traditions. Butler and Ritchie believe Sinclair and Haye enshrined these beliefs and symbols in the very fabric of Rosslyn - to ensure they were understood by future generations.

Many believe some of the leading figures of the Renaissance may have been Ebionites. But the sect, with its emphasis on individuality, was a threat to the hierarchical beliefs of the established church.

As the quote indicates, the article claims that Freemasonry owes it's very existence to Rosslyn Chapel where the craft was created. The Sinclairs are closely associated with Freemasonry. Kilwinning Lodge, the first known Masonic lodge, was located on Sinclair property. The Sinclairs of Roslin were heredity Grand Masters of Scottish Freemasonry. The article once again restates it:

While the beliefs of Freemasonry have changed and been embellished over the years, the authors believe they have their core origins in the Ebionite belief systems incorporated into the design of Rosslyn. They write: "At the heart of Freemasonry we still find imperatives critically important to William Sinclair and Gilbert Haye. These include a deep reverence for John the Baptist, an enduring belief in justice, equality and fraternity, a reverence for the Noahide Laws of ancient Judaism and a recognition for that all-important part of the year around the autumn equinox.

"The same heady cocktail of Old Testament legend, Ebionite Christianity, mystery rite religion and a reverence for the human spirit that was personified by the 15th-century Sinclairs was passed directly to Freemasonry and in part survives with the craft to this day."

The entire article can be read here.

Another Scotsman.com article desribes a tiny red window above the rose window that floods the chapel with a red light on St. Matthew's Day, September 21--a window that was discovered by the authors of the book. This is significant because the only gospel accepted by the Ebionites is the Gospel of Matthew.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Ebionites were "early Christian sects infected with Judaistic errors." However, the article also offers a different perspective:

Recent scholars have plausibly maintained that the term did not originally designate any heretical sect, but merely the orthodox Jewish Christians of Palestine who continued to observe the Mosaic Law. These, ceasing to be in touch with the bulk of the Christian world, would gradually have drifted away from the standard of orthodoxy and become formal heretics. A stage in this development is seen in St. Justin's "Dialogue with Trypho the Jew", chapter Xlvii (about A.D. 140), where he speaks of two sects of Jewish Christians estranged from the Church: those who observe the Mosaic Law for themselves, but do not require observance thereof from others; and those who hold it of universal obligation. The latter are considered heretical by all; but with the former St. Justin would hold communion, though not all Christians would show them the same indulgence. St. Justin, however, does not use the term Ebionites, and when this term first occurs (about A.D. 175) it designates a distinctly heretical sect.

Ebionites denied the Divinity of Christ and the virginity of the Blessed Virgin. They believed He was a natural born child of Mary and Joseph and became a Son of God or Prophet at His Baptism in the Jordan. They regarded St. Paul as an apostate, and reject all Christian teaching.

Epiphanius divides Ebionites into two sects, classifying those who are closer to Catholic-mindedness as Nazarenes. There were also Gnostic Ebionites.

Wikipedia claims that the

Ebionites revered John the Baptizer as a precursor to Jesus, and the Desposyni (a sacred name reserved only for Jesus' blood relatives), especially James the Just, as his legitimate successors, rather than Peter.

According to Wikipedia Keith Akers has argued that the Ebionites had an influence on Islam and the Sufis. The article indicates that modern Ebionites belong to the Ebionite Jewish Commuinity and the Ebionite Restoration Movement.

One website, ebionite.org, offers a webpage of frequently asked questions. There you can learn that these modern Ebionites "are in no way Christian or supportive of Christianity" which they consider "to be a type of Mystery Religion devised by Paul of Tarsus and others."

Some additional comments on the ebionite.org FAQ webpage:

- There are a number of Christian derived fringe groups who have misrepresented themselves as Ebionites. They are often "pentecostal" "non-denominational," "right-wing" conservative, anti-government, anti-authority, and apocalyptic if not gnostic.

- Jesus has been made into something very disgusting and pagan by Christians.

- Christians made Jesus into an idol.

- There is no all-encompassing "original sin"

- ...we do not care much at all for the Christian religious system and its doctrine.

- Christianity has developed false values and goals which has enabled it to wreak...havoc with impunity, and claims it does it for God. It is not a good religion and it is not a religion of God.

- Most Christians are born into the Christian culture, and brainwashed in churches, schools, and media.

- Christianity itself is worthless to us as a faith.

- We want Christians and all gentiles to come to know and worship God (Yahweh) and enter into covenant with Him.

- Dat Kazav (Lying Religion, or Religion of Falseness) is a Hebrew term Ebionites use to describe Christianity that comes from the ish kazav (Lying Man, i.e., Liar) Paul of Tarsus.

- Due to a gnostic influence which said that the physical world was flawed and evil, the Pauline Christians rejected physical requirements (like circumcision, and lawkeeping, (sic) and instead emphasized spirituality.

- Yahweh does not command us to believe anything, but on the other hand He instructs us to do many things and desist from many things in His Torah.

- ...there is no such thing as "The Ten Commandments," [rather they are] Ten Principles, because each act as categories in which all the other 603 commandments can be sorted into.

- Ebionites have a mission to provide an alternative to religions which deify men, particularly Christianity that deifies the man Jesus.

Former Christian Shemayah Phillips founded the modern Ebionite Movement in 1978 according to the history page in the Ebionite website. It went worldwide on the web in 1995. It is impossible from the website to determine how large the movement is.

If Butler and Ritchie are correct in their premise that Freemasonry was founded by an Ebionite, it would go a long way toward explaining why the Church and Freemasonry have been antithetic from the beginning. How many Freemasons today would be willing to embrace Ebionitism outright?

Large or small, their adherence to the Noahide Laws dovetails with a larger movement in Judaism that promotes these laws, and that sees Christianity as idolatry, punishable by beheading.

THE S.F. ARCHDIOCESE RESPONDS

Catherine, at Threshing Grain, has notified the Archdiocese of San Francisco of the scandalous activities at Most Holy Redeemer Parish and Rev. Stephen Meriwether's involvement in them. She has received a response from the Archdiocese which is positive and which she has posted in her blog. You can read it here.

I would like to think this response could be taken at face value, but until I see positive change out there, I'll remain skeptical but still clinging to a shred of hope.

CARDINAL ARINZE IS PODCASTING

Here. My computer won't play it, but yours might!

PAPAL NUNCIO TO PARTICIPATE IN CONSECRATION of U.S.A.

The World Apostolate of Fatima is pleased to announce that the US Papal Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Pietro Sambi will be officiating the Mass for the renewal of our country’s Consecration to Our Patroness, the Immaculate Conception. All are invited to come to our nation’s Basilica, The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, D.C., Saturday, November 11, 2006 at twelve noon.

All bishops have been invited to participate at the Mass. However due to scheduling conflicts, the bishops may sign the Consecration prayer for their dioceses, which has been provided to them by the World Apostolate of Fatima which will be offered at the Mass. The prayer for the Consecration was composed by our bishops in 1959 at the dedication ceremony of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception whereby they consecrated the country to Our Patroness, the Immaculate Conception. However by this consecration on November 11th our country will be Consecrated to the Heart of Our Patroness which is our apostolate’s primary mission for world peace.

During World War I His Eminence Francis Cardinal Bourne who was the Primate of England Consecrated England to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary which he claims and many others as well that it stopped World War I. The Armistice for World War I was signed after the Consecration on November 11th incidentally the same day which this Papal Nuncio chose to officiate the Mass for the United States.

During the 1720’s the Bubonic plague was rampant in Marseille, France. Out of the town’s population of ninety thousand, fifty thousand of them were dead in a matter of months. The Archbishop consecrated Marseille, France to the Sacred Heart to end the plague which it did without any medical means or vaccinations.

The Country, Portugal was Consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before World War II and was protected from the war. So let us with great joy and excitement proclaim this country’s renewal will happen for we are being obedient to the Fatima message. Amen.

Could they slip California in for a special plea?

Blogger credit to Spirit Daily.

MOVIE NIGHT

In the process of raising a kid, somehow we got out of the habit of going to the movies. Now that the job is done, my husband has taken an interest in getting back into the habit. I never turn down a date when the right guy asks.

Saturday night he picked the film--"The Departed"--a Scorsese effort with a three and a half star rating (out of four) in the local listing. We made it past the halfway point when husband whispers "Do you want to stay for any more of this?" "No, not really," I responded and we got up and left. So did another fella who apparently liked it about as well as we did. Today husband got online and looked for a bad review of this movie, but wasn't able to find one.

Let's see, if we had a dollar for every F--- word, we could have dinner at the swanky restaurant up the road that we can't afford. If we had a piece of candy for every bloody scene, we could have another Beggar's Night. If we had a drink for every body part that got smashed, we wouldn't be sober till next Sunday. If we used half the brains God gave us, we would know that a Scorsese film is not going to make for a pleasant night out! Skip this one.

I get to pick the next one. "The Good Year" looks like a choice.

SAN FRANCISCO

Dom has had a post up about the activities at Most Holy Redeemer Parish that I've noted below. One of the comments is revealing if accurate:

SF is completely run by the Lavender Mafia. The only way to release its Satanic grip is public exposure of Niederauer’s and Merriweather’s personal misdeeds. Pope Benedict is powerless to intervene. Cardinal Levada is too heavily implicated. Until the clerical corruption is on the evening TV newscast (a la Ziemann in Santa Rosa) the Faith is lost in the archdiocese of Sodom-by-the-Bay: the fish has rotted from the head.

The comment is signed "FrMichael". Stop to consider, Niederauer was chosen by Benedict/Levada, wasn't he? And Levada came out of SF and is now in the catbird seat. Is it all over but the requiem?

BLOGGER

For some reason Blogger wouldn't publish a post this morning. Seems to be working better now.

We attended Mass at St. Bernards again today, and happily the only thing I have to say about it is that I'm beginning to catch on to Fr. Wilhelm's accent.

DECORATING FOR HALLOWEEN

Don't know if it's a trend or not, but this year there were not as many houses decorated for Halloween. Oh, a couple had the creepy stuff like front yard cemetaries and gruesome things hanging from tree limbs, but mostly those who did decorate had lots of pumpkins--straight from the field with no embellishment, the carved kind with a big grin, the fake kind that are large and lightweight for their size, and the blow-up kind with two or three inflatable pumpkins staked up, or a large one with smiling ghosts popping out. Where I live, pumpkins were the decorator's accessory of choice. It was a nice change, and a lot closer to the aspect of Halloween the majority of us would like to keep--the kid part with costumes and candy.

Beggers were down last night, probably because of the weather. Trick-or-Treat began at 6:30 and lasted until 8. By 7:15 there were long lulls between doorbell rings. By 7:50 there wasn't a person in sight upstreet or down. Normally we need 100 or more pieces of candy. Last night we passed out 51. Which means that there was a bowlfull left. Yes, I meant to say "was." There is still a kid inside of all of us, I guess. A kid who should know better!

My husband took charge of the door, and I was happy to let him do it. Sitting on the porch watching the kids run around is good entertainment. Having your TV program interrupted 51 times is something else.

My mother always enjoyed Begger's Night when I was growing up. Usually she made donughts, and costumes come to mind whenever I think of them. But there were a couple of years when she couldn't resist getting into the spirit of things. The first year I didn't go out for candy--age 13--I put on a costume anyway and manned the door. She went down to the basement to take the laundry off the clotheslines, or so I thought. Once I went down to tell her something or other, and that was what she was doing. Then there was this very weird Beggar. He had a bag over his head with eyes cut out, the strangest collection of clothing that looked vaguely familiar, a pillowcase for a treat bag. He didn't talk, just kept shaking the pillowcase for more candy. I got the impression he was angry with the candy I dropped in. He scared the heck out of me.

As soon as I knew he was gone, I ran downstairs to tell mom about him. She should have been disturbed and come upstairs to be sure everything was ok. For some reason she didn't do that, and sent me back up to the door. I can't remember when she finally told me she was the angry beggar. She had dressed up in her "costume" and gone out the basement door and around the house to the front door. After she got her pieces of candy, it was all she could do to get back inside and out of the costume before I came down the stairs scared. She was still laughing about her little joke when she was eighty.

Then there was the year she donned another crazy costume get-up complete with paper bag and held a note in her hand that read "I want to use your bathroom." I drove her to her sister's house across town and parked out front to watch the action. First she showed the note to my uncle at the front door. My uncle called his wife who shook her head "no!" Then she went to the side door and got herself told off properly by my aunt who was not intimidated by brazen Beggars. Another good story for the eighties. She never did let her sister live that one down.

(Isn't this time change wonderful. I have a whole extra hour to waste at the computer!)