Tango rhythms Mass in Rome

Red-nose Pope goes native

Many more photos here

Not the first Pope to go native

nor the first priest to wear a red nose.
and not even the second.

Vatican denies female cardinals on the horizon

The Vatican has denied speculation that at the Consistory next 22 February, a woman could be elevated to the cardinalate. Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi dismissed reports in the international press with regard to this matter:

"This is an absurdity," he commented on the issue, according to agency APIC.

The British newspaper "The Sunday Times" had suggested in its Sunday edition that the Irish theologian Linda Hogan was a possible candidate for the Cardinal office. Canon law (Canon 351) requires that to be chosen a cardinal, the person must be at least a priest, and on elevation must be made a bishop, if not already a bishop.

The occasion of speculation about female cardinals was Pope Francis' remarks about women in the church: the Pope had shown himself open to women in leadership positions within the Catholic Church. He had not spoken about anything relating to the cardinalate in this context. On the other hand, the Pope rejected the idea of female priests: This question has already been conclusively dealt with under Pope John Paul II, according to Francis.

Source

Feminist friend of Nancy Pelosi suggested as first female cardinal.

"She’s married and a feminist to boot, but Irish theologian Linda Hogan is being touted as a candidate to become the first female “prince” of the Catholic Church.

Hogan, 49, has become the subject of widespread speculation that Pope Francis will someday choose her to break the Holy See’s stained-glass ceiling.

The reformist Argentinian Pope, considered liberal on social issues, has made one of his top goals boosting the role of women in the Church, saying it needs to develop “a truly deep theology of women.”"

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A tabernacle Jim, but not as we know it.

The tabernacle of the Marylake Augustinians, near Ontario.    It looks more like a piece of scenery from Star Trek which was never even used for filming.

Weighs two and a half tons.  It is made of travertine marble and was sculpted by Mr. Earl Neiman
who also fashioned the celebrants chair and lectern in the same material. His wife, Maria, executed the bronze crucifix,  candleholders and sanctuary lamp, as well as the terra-cotta stations of the cross.

The church itself looks rather more like Starfleet Command than a church.

Update- when I wrote the above comment, I had not actually checked what Starfleet Command looked like.  Many a true word spoken in jest.

The worst liturgical abuse of all time.