Edwards rules out possibility of vice presidential run with Obama

Posted on by Fr. Peter
This must be a blow to Obama. This would have made things a little easier for him at the convention. Oh well it will be good TV if they fight it out on the floor of the convention.

***

When John Edwards and Barack Obama appeared on stage together Wednesday night in Michigan for the former North Carolina senator’s official blessing of the Democratic front-runner, some pundits and Democrats wondered aloud whether they were seeing the Democratic ticket.

But yesterday Edwards seemed to rule out a sequel of his 2004 vice presidential run.
“No, no, no, won’t happen,” he said on NBC’s “Today” show.

Pressed further, he replied, “It is not something I’m interested in.”

Asked about whether he has talked to Obama about a job in his administration, Edwards said “only in the abstract way,” and refused to say whether he was interested in being attorney general.

From www.boston.com

16 May ~ St. Brendan of Clonfert

Posted on by Fr. Peter
St. Brendan of Ardfert and Clonfert, known also as Brendan the Voyager, was born in Ciarraighe Luachra, near the present city of Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, in 484; he died at Enachduin, now Annaghdown, in 577. He was baptized at Tubrid, near Ardfert, by Bishop Erc. For five years he was educated under St. Ita, “the Brigid of Munster”, and he completed his studies under St. Erc, who ordained him priest in 512. Between the years 512 and 530 St. Brendan built monastic cells at Ardfert, and at Shanakeel or Baalynevinoorach, at the foot of Brandon Hill. It was from here that he set out on his famous voyage for the Land of Delight. The old Irish Calendars assigned a special feast for the “Egressio familiae S. Brendani”, on 22 March; and St Aengus the Culdee, in his Litany, at the close of the eighth century, invokes “the sixty who accompanied St. Brendan in his quest of the Land of Promise”. Naturally, the story of the seven years’ voyage was carried about, and, soon, crowds of pilgrims and students flocked to Ardfert. Thus, in a few years, many religious houses were formed at Gallerus, Kilmalchedor, Brandon Hill, and the Blasquet Islands, in order to meet the wants of those who came for spiritual guidance to St. Brendan.

Having established the See of Ardfert, St. Brendan proceeded to Thomond, and founded a monastery at Inis-da-druim (now Coney Island, County Clare), in the present parish of Killadysert, about the year 550. He then journeyed to Wales, and thence to Iona, and left traces of his apostolic zeal at Kilbrandon (near Oban) and Kilbrennan Sound. After a three years’ mission in Britain he returned to Ireland, and did much good work in various parts of Leinster, especially at Dysart (Co. Kilkenny), Killiney (Tubberboe), and Brandon Hill. He founded the Sees of Ardfert, and of Annaghdown, and established churches at Inchiquin, County Galway, and at Inishglora, County Mayo. His most celebrated foundation was Clonfert, in 557, over which he appointed St. Moinenn as Prior and Head Master. St. Brendan was interred in Clonfert, and his feast is kept on 16 May.

The Akathist and Office to St Brendan can be found here.

Same Gender Marriage

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday we saw the Supreme Court of California rule or actually overturn a decision of a lower court that denying same gender folks to marry is non-constitutional. The teaching of the church on this issue seems to be clear, or as clear as it can be although I have not seen anything in writing by any Orthodox bishop on the issue so I am actually not sure where the church stands on the marriage of folks of the same gender. (If anyone has a link to a statement on this issue from an Orthodox Bishop in the US please let me know) Sex is a different story.

My issue with the whole thing is this. I was listening to NPR this morning reporting on the issue and the reporter said that the court ignored the will of the people. Now I am no scholar of the California Constitution but I believe the courts are not supposed to up hold the will of the people but rule on cases based on the law and the law alone. If there is nothing in the constitution banning this or that thing then it is ruled as unconstitutional regardless of how the people feel about it. If you want the issue changed, change the constitution.

Now this brings us the whole issue of the Federal Government getting involved in the issue. All I have to say is marriage is a local, state issue and not a Federal issue and the Feds should keep their hands off. I am not sure of the exact quote but I believe the Constitution of the US says that anything not in here the states get to decide. I am not quoting word for word.

Marriage of two people of the same gender is an issue that is not going to go away. If you don’t want it in your state then launch a campaign to amend the constitution of your state. Judges are not supposed to rule based on anything other than the law. Now I am not so naive that I believe this happens all the time, but there has to be some basis to how they rule. I have not read the decision but I am sure it is true to the law in California. This is our system, not great, but it is the only one we have.

Round Up

Posted on by Fr. Peter
This is the third time I have attempted to try this post let us see how far we can get. Busy weekend has passed. On Saturday graduation at the college where I teach. It was great to see so many embark on the next phase of their lives. I remember my first graduation like it was yesterday and how nervous I was the next day.

Sunday was Mother’s day and my father’s 75th birthday so I went home to my parent’s house after Liturgy and spent a few days there relaxing and reading. Hence no personal posts during that time.

This morning the Fire Department ran their annual pre-prom drill. This has become an annual event and two cars are placed in the parking lot at the high school with some of the kids in them made up to look like an accident has taken place. Two of them are dead and the funeral home comes and picks them up. The fire department responds and cuts the victims out of the car. At the end some one explains what happens and what not to do on prom night. Very positive drill I think. I was looking around at the kids and they were all paying attention and no one was talking and that is a good sign with kids.

Tomorrow I have a podcasting session with Fr. Greg in the morning an then a visit by the iPadre in the afternoon. Fr. Jay and I have been trying to get together for some time and we seem to be able to do it tomorrow. So Fr. Jay is coming here to the village for a church tour and then off to get some food. Maybe we will podcast together, who knows.

Edwards Backs Obama

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well it looks like the long election season might be coming to a close. John Edwards is backing Obama, well the Associated Press says so anyway. I had been waiting to see what he was going to do. I think he is wrangling for the VP slot or maybe a good spot at the convention. We will see.

Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney elected ROCOR head

Posted on by Fr. Peter
New York, May 12, Interfax – Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand has been elected the new hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Nikolay Balashov told Interfax-Religion.

The election took place during a session of ROCOR’s Archbishop Council in New York.
Archbishop Hilarion became acting Chairman of ROCOR’s Synod after the death of ROCOR’s top hierarch Metropolitan Laurus of East America and New York and was seen as his likeliest successor.

Under the new order, his candidacy requires the approval of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II.

Archbishop Hilarion (Igor Kapral) was born on January 6, 1948, in Canada.

In 1972, he graduated from the Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville.

On December 1974, he was tonsured as a Ryassofor monk with the name of Hilarion. In December 1975, he was ordained to the deaconate. In 1976, he became a hierodeacon. The following year he graduated from Syracuse University with a master’s degree in Slavic Studies and Russian Literature and was ordained to priesthood.

In December 1984, at the age of 36, Father Hilarion was appointed bishop of Manhattan. In June 1996, he was transferred to the diocese of Australia and New Zealand and raised to the rank of archbishop.

In 2006, he was elected first deputy chairman of ROCOR’s Synod.

Breaking News ~ 7.8 earthquake hits China

Posted on by Fr. Peter
UPDATE: 11:46 CNN reporting death toll at 7,500

UPDATE: From the Scotsman

I am just hearing word of a 7.8 earthquake in China and it appears that a school has collapsed and up to 900 students are trapped inside. Let us pause and remember them in our prayers… More updates as I hear.

And They Will Know We are Christians…

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Moscow Patriarchate once again confirms its intent to refrain from common prayers with non-Orthodox Churches

May 12, Interfax –
The Russian Church has once again reassured that it thinks impossible for the Orthodox believers to conduct services together with members of other Christian confessions.

“We would like once again to confirm our intention to refrain from participating in communal prayers with unorthodox believers,” said a member of the secretary for interchristian relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Priest Alexander Vasyutin to Interfax-Religion.

According to the priest, this issue becomes important again in the process of organization of the 13th General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches which is scheduled to be held in July, 2009 in Lyon, France.

Fr. Alexander, who is also a member of the organization committee of the Assembly, said that “the standpoint of the Russian Orthodox Church unfortunately finds little understanding with members of other local Orthodox Churches.”

As a case in point, Fr. Alexander told us that at the recent meeting of the committee Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (the Patriarchate of Constantinople) replied answering to the proposal to keep from interconfessional prayers during the Assembly that “the standpoint of the Moscow Patriarchate on this matter reminds him of a husband who has a wife, but does not sleep with her.”

Besides, this Constantinople representative asked a question: “Why do members of the Moscow Patriarchate always refuse to participate in common prayers with unorthodox believers, while Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia conducted the common service with the Catholic clergy in the Notre Dame de Paris during his stay in Paris in October, 2007.”

“There is no need to repeat information distributed by many church and secular media that the Notre Dame de Paris held the Orthodox service where members of the Catholic Church were only present, including the Archbishop of Paris Andre Vingt-Trois. So, any common service or prayer is definitely out of the question,” said Fr. Alexander.

Gas Price

Posted on by Fr. Peter
AAA is reporting that gas prices have risen again and the average is $3.72/ gallon. Just to put this in perspective I heard on the BBC yesterday that Diesel Fuel in the Highlands of Scotland cost 1.40 (that’s one Pound 40) per liter. Now I believe there are 4 liters to the gallon and the dollar is twice as much as the pound. So we are looking at $2.40 per liter times 4 equal $11.20 per gallon. Now my truck has a 14 gallon tank (gas mind you) it would cost $156.80 to fill my tank! Dang! So I guess $3.72 per gallon is not that bad after all.
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