Sunday, March 11, 2007

MAHONYFEST SPEAKER REJECTIONS

Yes, folks. Jesus Christ himself was rejected as a MahonyFest speaker. Could it be that there was something special in Jesus' speech? Like... truth? Or was it so that he doesn't discover that His own Precious Blood was being stored in KoolAid and beer pitchers?

You be the judge.

Cartoon from Paul Nichols.

Peace,
BMP

8 comments:

Mr. C said...

Brian, you did write the following, yes?
"Yes, folks. Jesus Christ himself was rejected as a MahonyFest speaker. Could it be that there was something special in Jesus' speech? Like... truth? Or was it so that he doesn't discover that His own Precious Blood was being stored in KoolAid and beer pitchers?

You be the judge."

Then you sign off with "peace."

I'm not at all supportive of the Anaheim REC; to the point of declining an invite to perform there this year (as I arranged a great deal of Bob Fabing's latest album.)
That said, as I clicked the "link" I erred in assuming there was more substance to the serious (and potentially blasphemous) lead-in, quoted above. There was nothing beyond the cartoon.
No, I won't be the judge. Lest I be judged.
But neither will I be silent when being "snarky" morphs into blatant slander and smug, self-righteous and indignant blanket condemnation. That is distinctly also a rejection of the Word, both as the Logos and spoken by Jesus, the Christ.
Sorry, brother. Not cool.

Brian Michael Page said...

Charles,
I'm sure you've seen the umpteen glass (KoolAid and beer) pitchers on the altar at these conferencese YEAR AFTER YEAR. Where's the slander in that?? I too read Paul's cartoon, which I thought was hilarious, mind you. So I gave it a little caption that pretty much was simply a humorous cross between the cartoon and the MahonyFest itself.

I'm sure Christ had some kind of a sense of humore.
Live a little. Sheesh!

BMP

Brian Michael Page said...

(Pardon my spelling error - "humore") --- too early for this $&!+. :-)
BMP

Mr. C said...

No worries, mate.
C

Anita Moore said...

What was blasphemous in this post? I guess they changed the meaning of "blasphemous" without telling me!

Mr. C said...

Dear Anita,
Without belaboring the point or asking for more debate, Brian's poetic license (that he acknowledges was simply riffing upon the cartoon)was a vain appropriation of the personhood and divinity of Christ, like it or not. Just as is appropriating or invoking the Lord's Name to suit anyone's personal "expression" such as profanation, cursing, or advancing a propagandist intent: such as "God hates homosexuals" or "Jesus wouldn't recognize Roger Mahoney as a Brother, much less a Prince of the Roman Catholic Church."
I'm big on semantical precision, to a fault, Brian and many ex-blog compatriates would tell you.
The cartoon alone, IMO, does not cross that semantical line. Brian's extrapolation did, again IMO.
Please understanding I'm trying to answer your question; and not trying to defend the Anaheim REC or its liturgical events (including the infamous Kool-aid pitchers.) I find the whole thing as just another ironically impoverished (in spirit) manifestation of the "business" and industry of "church." To the Church, it is indefensible and repugnant.
But that doesn't justify uncharitable mischaracterizations nor judgments made upon it by fellow Christian travellers.

Brian Michael Page said...

The cartoon alone, IMO, does not cross that semantical line. Brian's extrapolation did, again IMO.

IMO - "in my opinion". I take it as exactly that - an opinion.

Now, take a look at the cartoon. The lady with the tattoo and the mohawk tells Jesus "I'm sorry but looking at Cdl. Mahony's guidelines, I seriously doubt you have anything of interest to us". Thus rejecting him as a speaker - which is exactly what I said - Jesus Christ himself was rejected as a MahonyFest speaker.

Now how is it that the two differ, Charles? I haven't found it yet, and probably won't. You say you don't defend the REC or its liturgies, but when I have something to say about it, or any of Mahony's mockeries for that matter, humorous or otherwise, you're the first one (and often the only one) to cry foul.

My take is this - if you're gonna make a mockery of the liturgy (liturgical dance, kool aid jugs, etc.), and I catch it, chances are I'm gonna make a mockery of you. This isn't brain surgery, nor is this a thesis paper, nor the infamous NPM forum. This is a blog. A diary of sorts. Although I do tend to state some facts, not everything here is. It doesn't have to be. Not everyone's gonna agree with what I write (fine by me), nor am I gonna agree with what some commenters write (also fine by me). Do I defend my actions? You bet yer hiney I do. :)

Peace,
BMP

Mr. C said...

Dear Brian,
I meant no offense, so I'm officially apologizing that I have provoked you into defending yourself in this thread.
Lastly and finally, I hope, I DO NOT endorse the Anaheim REC enterprise as having any valuable and likely valid contribution to the welfare of the Church or the spiritual/liturgical health of those who attend. I seriously regret that you feel that my opinions also imply support for its goals, or those of the Cardinal Archbishop. I'm on the older side of 55 and should know better than to confront rather than converse. Again, my apologies.