From the Pastor - The Sound of His Voice

A weekly column by Father George Rutler.

The earliest recording of a voice was thought to have been that of Thomas Edison in 1877 reciting “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on his own invention. But recently an 1860 recording was discovered on a device consisting of carbon paper etched with a stylus, called a “phonautograph” by its inventor Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville. A woman is heard singing “Au Clair de la Lune.” There are remarkable recordings of William McKinley, Walt Whitman, William Gladstone and Alfred Lord Tennyson reciting “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” There are even a few seconds of what is thought to be the sound of Queen Victoria’s voice.

Microphones have changed classical rhetorical style to small-time conversation. Listen to Gladstone, and it almost sounds like grand opera. In 1843 Daniel O’Connell spoke to hundreds of thousands at Tara. Elizabeth I rallied thousands of troops against the Armada, declaiming from horseback. Sometimes “repeaters” were used: men who would echo the speaker’s lines rank to rank, but voices were trained to be heard, and Benjamin Franklin attested that the Methodist bishop George Whitfield could be heard by thirty thousand from the steps of the Philadelphia courthouse.

We do not have a recording of Christ’s human voice, but it was strong enough to be heard by possibly fifteen or twenty thousand, if we add families to the four and five thousand men at the feeding miracles, and could be heard even in the worst agony seven times. It frightened hypocrites but whispered like a charm to children. While His voice cannot be heard on a machine, we know what it said. St. John’s transcript has Him saying seven times: “I AM — the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Way and the Truth and the Life, and the True Vine.” When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, he thought the reply “I AM” meant only “yes.” The crowd knew that He meant something more, something Moses had heard from the Burning Bush.

In a larger sense, we have heard the sound of His voice and live in it. The whole Creation is a recording of the divine voice saying “Let there be light.” And everyone engrafted to the True Vine by baptism is a recording of that voice, for Jesus said to the 72 disciples, “He who hears you hears me” (Luke 10:16). As He ascended, He commanded us spread His voice to all nations. There are people today who would try to drown out that voice with their microphones and teleprompters. To them, the Second Vatican Council spoke: “. . . the Bishops, from divine institution, have taken the place of the Apostles, as the pastors of the Church, and he who hears them, hears Christ; he who spurns them, spurns Christ and Him who sent Christ” (Lumen Gentium, 20).

BBC Documentary: Margaret Thatcher - Long Walk to Finchley

This BBC documentary is a dramatization of Margaret Thatcher's early years in politics - culminating in her successful election as MP for Finchley.

Poland is Rising Against Suppression of Media Freedom by the Polish Government Agency

On April 21, 2012, an unprecedented number of 120,000 Poles protested on the streets of Warsaw against Polish government agency decision to restrict access to independent media for millions of Poles. Similar protests were held on the streets of many cities all over in Poland.

Elected by the ruling party, the Civic Platform (PO), the post-communists (SLD), and President Komorowski, the Polish media regulatory agency, broke the law and refused to grant license to independent TV Trwam despite its multi-million viewer base, long-term presence and excellent financial standing.

Protesters see this decision as a reversal to the dark years of communism when only government-controlled media were allowed to exist in Poland between 1944-1989.

The agency's refusal to allow broadcast rights to TV Trwam triggered massive street protests in Poland, unheard of since 1989 when Poland regained its independence from Soviet-imposed communism.

In Warsaw, the protest, lasting over five hours, began with the Holy Mass, followed by a peaceful march to Prime Minister Tusk's headquarters, then continued to President Komorowski's residence.

                                                      Protesters chanted:

“Prime Minister Tusk, rule Poland Polish style, not Russian style."
"God, Honor and Motherland"
"We will not surrender TV Trwam"
"TV Trwam today, other independent media tomorrow…"
"Let's show solidarity in our struggle for truth and remembrance"

Over 2.2 million people sent letters in defense of plurality of media in Poland and requested decision reversal and granting broadcasting license to TV Trwam.

The decision by the media agency was condemned by a significant majority of editors of major Polish newspapers, magazines, and independent media; by hundreds of non-governmental organizations and civic organizations (including the Polish Helsinki Foundation);

The magnitude of protests were not shown in mainstream media.

Video link to the manifestation independent coverage. Scroll time slide bar to advance.

Full 5 hour coverage; Scroll time slide bar to advance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UATU6M4eDNo&list=UUNY81VIp_eKAmyKymiAyr3A&index=18&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ7f7FmgUl0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO26zTAin3o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMEGDnlTM4&feature=related

The April 21 protest was a huge manifestation of Poles' deep love of liberty, democracy, and traditional values.

The Case Against Mitt Romney

From Steve Deace
By Steve Baldwin

Much has been written about Romney’s chameleon-like worldview but very little has been written about his actual record while Governor of Massachusetts. In a world in which slogans, sound bites and “plans” are the common currency of campaign communications, it would be wise for voters to peel back the curtain of campaign propaganda and look at a candidate’s actual governing record. This is even more necessary when it comes to Romney, given his notoriety over revising his views on just about every major issue. After all, history informs us that a person’s record is a far better indicator of how they will govern than is poll-driven campaign rhetoric.

The reality is that Romney’s record may go down in history as one of the most liberal gubernatorial records compiled by any Governor of either party in modern history. Indeed, the evidence is strong that Romney can be said to be the father of gay marriage, of Cap and Trade, and of government-controlled health care. How can one have played such a key role in the promotion of three of the left’s most important issues and yet become the GOP frontrunner? That’s the million-dollar question we all should be asking ourselves.

All Republican Delegates Are "Free Agents" and Unbound

We hope, for the sake of our party and nation, that delegates will respond to the broad, mainstream will of Republicans in all regions of the country and exercise their freedom.

Personal Ordinariate for Former Anglicans to be Established in Australia

Our Lady of the Southern Cross by Paul Newton

The President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart, announced today that Pope Benedict XVI intends to announce the establishment in Australia of a Personal Ordinariate for Former Anglicans to commence on 15th June 2012.

A Personal Ordinariate is a church structure for particular groups of people who wish to enter into communion with the Catholic Church.

You're next, Lindsey!