The Harvard Controversy Wrap Up

In the end the atrocity planned for last night at Harvard didn't go on. The student organization that was to host the "Black Mass" thought better of it, or at least decided to move it off campus, but they couldn't find any one who would give them a room. Good for them, who ever they are. So, it was canceled. The New York "Satanist" group that was going to do the actual ritual sent out an email around 10:30pm saying that the ceremony was taking place at that very moment in a Chinese restaurant near by the campus. When a reporter called the place an employee identifying himself as Fred said that the principals involved were presently at the bar drinking and didn't appear to be performing any rituals (I'm not making this stuff up). Another report says that the ritual did go on on the second floor of the establishment, but without the consecrated host. 

My thoughts on all this.

johnnyc, who leaves comments now and again (something I strongly encourage, as long as they're not profane, and johnnyc's are always respectful, even if we may disagree), commented on an earlier post that we should be more concerned about dissent within the the Church as opposed to these "clowns." He points out the Leadership Confrence of Women Religious (LCWR), who have been under scrutiny by the Vatican and the USCCB for heterodox pronouncements, and a general disregard for Church doctrine and discipline. They are the ones, along with Catholic politicians who support abortion on demand, who should be the main focus of our concern, according to him. I agree that these satanist wannabees are clowns, but don't agree that we're misdirecting our fire upon them. Whatever the conflict between the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) and the LCWR, it should not be happening in the New York Times. These internecine battles played out in the public square are the very definition of the Church at her most self-referential, and irrelevant.

The outrage expressed at the Harvard affair is not a reflection of fear, but was a teaching moment in which the Church engaged the world and educated it anew about the centrality of the Eucharist in our life, the True Presence and the beauty of Eucharistic Adoration. All the LCWR battle comes off as is more Church politics that few outside of a small group within the community is paying attention to. For those in the main stream media who cover it, it's just an extension of the same old liberal-conservative battles, and to the world the Church just ends up looking like a political organization.  I have faith that the Spirit will sort that situation out, one way or another, and I don't see the need to air our family business in public. But if we are going to make a strong public stand let it be in these moments of engagement with the world when we are given these opportunities to show what what the Church really stands for.

My other thought is that as a Church we really do need to examine how Holy Communion is distributed, specifically if Communion in the hand while standing is the most reverent, and safest, way of distributing the Sacred Body of Christ. The problem is that this is usually broken down into a "progressive-traditionalist" battle, and that's wrong. In our parish we have had problems of non consecrated hosts being stolen, and of people having to be instructed to consume the host after they tried to walk away with it. A couple of our ushers had an altercation with someone on Easter who refused to consume the host and ran away with it.

Let me go on record: I don't speak Latin (mine was a social promotion out of the class) and, while I'm not opposed to it, I have no desire to celebrate the Extraordinary Form. I'm Novus Ordo born and bread, and proud of it. I am troubled though by the disrespect showed to the Blessed Sacrament and believe that in this time of increased occult activity certain aspects of our practice needs to be reexamined, free of prejudice and agenda. If we really believe the Eucharist is what we say it is; the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread; then we need to do all that we can to prevent such desecrations from happening.

Update: Harvard "Black Mass" Canceled

According to several news outlets, including Time Magazine, the "Black Mass" scheduled for tonight on the Harvard campus was abruptly canceled. More commentary to follow.

President Faust Speaks: Harvard "Black Mass" Controversy Update

President Faust of Harvard

As of this writing the so called "Black Mass" is still set to be held on the Harvard campus, with a Eucharistic Procession and Holy Hour to be held at St. Paul's Church in Cambridge as a sort of spiritual counter protest.

The President of Harvard, Drew Faust, issued a statement today that basically said, yes, this is wrong and not really what Harvard is all about, but we will leave the decision as to whether the atrocity will go on or not in the hands of the organizers. She made this decision in light of the "University's commitment to free expression, including expression that may deeply offend us." She went on to write that...

"I plan to attend a Eucharistic Holy Hour and Benediction at St. Paul's Church on our campus on Monday evening in order to join others in reaffirming our respect for the Catholic faith at Harvard and to demonstrate that the most powerful response to offensive speech is not censorship, but reasoned discourse and robust dissent."

I do not doubt Dr. Faust's sincerity, and am actually touched by her gesture of solidarity. But this does bring up other questions in my mind, not simply about Harvard, but about American academia in general, and how committed it really is to open discourse and debate; the reason she said the University wouldn't stand in the way of the "Black Mass" from being staged.  Unfortunately my schedule doesn't allow me to elaborate at this moment. Time to go hear confessions before celebrating the Holy Mass.

More to come...

Satan and Man at Harvard

Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here

CORRECTION: I link below to a post on The Anchoress blog, and go on to describe it's content. One big problem though: The description refers to a piece on the God and the Machine blog by Thomas McDonald (my bad). He makes the observations about real versus pretend satanists and gives a good review of the history of the black mass. If you follow the links on The Anchoress you will indeed get a good run through of the story at hand. Ms Scalia has been covering the story like a journalist, talking to all the concerned parties. Both sites, part of the Patheos network of religious blogs, are worth a read.  

I'm taking a detour from the series of posts on the missionary-evangelical Church to address a story that popped up in some corners of the web this past week. A so called Satanist group has announced that it will be holding a black mass on the Harvard University campus, using a consecrated host in the ritual. The event is supposed to take place Monday.

The secular story came with the usual caveat that there is no historical proof that such rituals, purportedly originating during the Middle Ages, actually ever took place. The argument goes that these were inventions of the establishment to persecute dissenters, mainly proto-feminists, much like how the Salem Witch Hysteria of 1692 is usually spun. And I do mean spun. Whatever one might think of the efficaciousness of satanic ritual, and witchcraft in general, there are scholarly studies to back up that such activities were going on in the Massachusetts Bay Colony at the time. Does this justify the witch hunts or mean that innocent people didn't get caught up in the hysteria, sometimes at the hands of malicious opportunists? No, it doesn't. But it does mean that we need to be honest about the reality of the occult. To perpetuate the idea that black masses and witches are a part of some contrived mythology is itself a myth. And I happen to believe that these rituals do have an effect and a certain power, even though it's not the effects intended by their practitioners.

Satanists, Fellow Travelers or Useful Idiots? Elizabeth Scalia, in an excellent post on her blog The Anchoress, gives a rundown of the story, and her own take on the so called satanists behind this atrocity. She comments that these aren't real satanists at all (as she points out the real ones don't put out press releases) but atheists who use the guise of the occult to attack traditional religion. Satan has long been used by otherwise secular types as a symbol of rebellion and "freedom." These posers would be eaten alive (literally?) by the real thing. She goes on to write that what the pseudo-satanists believe isn't so much the point, the Enemy is more than willing to take advantage of these "useful idiots." And it really is the best of both worlds for him. The devil gets some free publicity (Mephistopheles and his crew love to see their names in the paper more than a Kardashian), gains an opening with which to cause some mayhem and possibly destroy a soul or two hundred, while continuing to reinforce the notion in the popular mind that he really doesn't exist to begin with. What ever you want to say about him, the Prince of Darkness knows how to manipulate the media industrial complex like a pro.

As for Harvard. A cliche I've heard repeatedly from friends this week is some variation on the "Harvard would never have the guts to allow a Koran burning on campus" motif. Just because it's cliche doesn't mean it isn't true, and in this case it is. Of course I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HARVARD, OR ANY PLACE ELSE SHOULD BE HOSTING KORAN BURNINGS. On some level the what that's being desecrated isn't the point; it's that Harvard would take such a hypocritical stance and allow this highly offensive act to go on under their sign.

The great sin of modern academia is being offensive and insensitive to others' beliefs and "life style" choices. The point of the organization hosting this "event" is to share different cultural and religious expressions in a spirit mutual appreciation. But we aren't talking about the performing of an ancient and hollowed ritual adored by countless generations. They're essentially reenacting a scene from a 60's horror movie, based on nothing more than the warped imagination of the film maker. Harvard itself, if I can read into their statement a bit, would love for this thing to go away, but they've backed themselves into a PC corner. If they cave and stop the black mass from being held they look like they're giving in to the "Man," and being untrue to their pluralistic, inclusive goals. If they let it go on, somewhere, in someone's mind there has to be the understanding that they are cooperating in a cynical, craven act that has nothing to do with cultural awareness or inclusivity.

As for the Consecrated Host. To me what's being desecrated is important, above and beyond any other considerations. It really doesn't matter what these lost souls believe. It doesn't matter to me what the folks at Harvard believe, either. As far as I know none of them thinks that the Catholic Sacraments or their satanic inversion have any power what so ever. In their post modern, deconstructed world words have no meaning, ritual has no meaning, apart from what we give them, which in their case is nothing. But words do have meaning. And they know it; no one is quicker to take offense when contradicted than your average Ivy League academic. They know deep down that words have meaning. They inspire people to action. They can cause joy and break hearts.

I believe that the divine words of Jesus Christ have supreme meaning. So yes, my main devotion is not to a book, though that Book contains the Words of everlasting life. I believe the words themselves, and when Jesus tells us through that Word that he gives us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink under the appearance of bread and wine I believe it. When he tells us, in one of the only direct commands he gives in Scripture, to "do this in memory of me," I believe it. And when someone purposely mocks and desecrates the Eucharist I'm enraged.

I hope this atrocity is canceled. Yes, because of the hurt it will cause the faithful. But also because of the harm it will cause Harvard. Let no one be deceived; this is a door opener. I fear for the Harvard community if this goes on. These are foolish, frivolous people. They are like drunks who dive head first off a cliff into water that is far shallower than they can see. Only it will not be merely themselves who will be harmed. I've seen too much damage done by people who engage in occult practice, and most of the damage happens to others; family members, the target of a spell or incantation, or simply a family that had the misfortune of buying a house or living in a building where the rituals were performed. Whether they believe it or not, the administration of Harvard should keep clear of this. No good will come of it, in this life or the next.