Those of you who are regular reades know that I am not much for the via media approach to things unless it is in reference to the principle in medio stat virtus.
Nevertheless, I also hold fast to the old phrase of the late Msgr. Richard Schuler, who was wont to say, "You can go into the ditch on either side of the road, right or left, but either way you are still in the ditch."
With that in mind, consider these following videos.
First, I drag back into view, much like a decaying badger than needs closer examination, the closing "liturgy" of the Left Coast Call To Action folks. This is pretty wacky… and tasteless! An unbeatable combination, that. As I mentioned elsewhere, I wouldn’t rule out alien life being involved with this. just think, they got a retired bishop into enneagrams to do this, with big puppets, even.
If you have seen this already, just skip ahead.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSbiL3XduvY]
Creepy.
In the meantime, let’s play dress up!
Over in the other ditch, we find the liturgical hijinx of anti-pope Gregory XVII.
Yes, friends, we still have anti-Popes.
This video, from 2001, shows the Spaniard, known for taxt purposes as Clemente Domínguez y Gómez aka "Gregory XVII", who proclaimed himself Pope back in 1978. He is head of the Palmarian Catholic Church
He has visions! But without liturgical dancers or puppets… unless you count those dupes who are around him,
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGUQqNgffUM]
Biretta tip to Hallowed Ground for the video… o{]:¬)
You will be pleased to know that His Anti-Holiness was succeeded in 2005 by Manuel Alonso Corral who omniously took the name of Peter II. Ooooo…
We can find groups to fit our every ecclesiological fantasy. And some of them have their own Popes!
For example, you can be a follower of Pius XIII, who probably has to pay state taxes in Montana as Lucian Pulvermacher. He even had some white smoke to signal his election from his cottage’s chimney.
So it isn’t the Sistine Chapel… but hey! Traditions are cool!
It is very important to stay in union with the Vicar of Christ, folks. It is important to follow faithfully the liturgical books and stick to the Church’s teachings and laws.
There is no precise "middle of the road" for Catholics… and the road is fairly wide. And you can go off the road into the ditch. Frankly, I think the right side of the road is the fastest, smoothest and safest lane to get to heaven.
But pay attention there, too!
