Less than two months after a satanic ritual that was set to take place at a Harvard extension school was cancelled, news of another “Black Mass” is making the rounds; this one scheduled for September 21st at the Oklahoma City Civic Center.
Once again, Catholics are raising their voices in opposition, and just like last time, the way in which they are doing so aptly demonstrates the degree to which most in our day have lost their ability to sentire cum ecclesia, to think and feel with the Church.
Consider, for example, the statement issued by Most Reverend Paul Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, who for the record may just have a little “restorationist” blood coursing through his veins (and for this may God protect him).
For more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide and more than 200,000 Catholics in Oklahoma, the Mass is the most sacred of religious rituals. It is the center of Catholic worship and celebrates Jesus Christ’s redemption of the world by his death and resurrection. In particular, the Eucharist – which we believe to be the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ – is the source and summit of our faith.
How perfectly American it is to appeal to the numbers of offended persons: This is, after all, a representative republic, and the decision makers need to be made aware that they’re messing with a sizable constituency!
It’s also perfectly American to subtly concede that our faith is not the faith of all who dwell in this great melting pot of ours, which is why, I suppose, the archbishop felt compelled (as modern day churchmen so often are) to preface the objective truth of Our Blessed Lord’s real and substantial presence in the Most Holy Eucharist with the rather polite qualifier, “which we believe…”
You see, we can’t make this issue about Him. No, no, no! We must claim recourse to something with broader appeal, a line of argument that has the potential of resonating with everyone, and that something is, you guessed it, our feelings.
I mean, everyone has feelings, right? And who would want to have their feelings hurt, as naturally they would be, by someone making sport of something that they hold dear.
The Archbishop continued:
That’s why we’re astonished and grieved that the Civic Center would promote as entertainment and sell tickets for an event that is very transparently a blasphemous mockery of the Mass. The ‘Black Mass’ that is scheduled for the Civic Center in September is a satanic inversion and distortion of the most sacred beliefs not only of Catholics, but of all Christians.
Again, let’s be very clear: This isn’t about Jesus Christ. It can’t be, you see, because that’s nothing more than the religious belief of a finite number of people, and other people have the right, as a function of their own human dignity, to reject Him.
No one, however, has the power to tell us we’re not offended! That’s why it’s imperative that we make this all about us, our astonishment and our grief.
Therefore, the Archbishop went on:
In a spirit of hope, I ask those who are allowing this event to reconsider whether this is an appropriate use of public space. We trust that community leaders – and, in particular, the board members of the Oklahoma City Civic Center – do not actually wish to enable or encourage such a flagrantly inflammatory event and can surely remedy this situation.
Now, for you civil libertarians out there, don’t be getting your drawers all up in a knot.
Archbishop Coakley isn’t flirting with the Church-State line by invoking the theological virtue of hope by which we aspire to Heaven with trust in Jesus Christ who alone is the way, the truth and the life.
No, he is speaking of that “hope” that belongs even to the heathen; like, “I hope it doesn’t rain during the picnic,” or more specific to the situation at hand, “I hope you’ll think long and hard about your decision to allow others to hurt our feelings.”
That said, at this point in the statement, it gets real:
If the event does move forward, we will have to consider other peaceful, prayerful and respectful options to demonstrate our opposition to this publicly supported sacrilegious act.
You think Divine wrath is bad? Just you wait till we respectfully demonstrate!
That, my friends, isn’t a threat; it’s a promise. If the people in charge proceed to hurt our feelings, well then, we’ll have no choice but to peaceably assemble to make known just how offended we are, as is our First Amendment right to do.
Of course, we all hope (in the same sense invoked in the statement) it doesn’t come to this, however…
In the meantime, I call on all Catholics in central and western Oklahoma – as well as all men and women of good will – to pray for a renewed sense of the sacred and, in particular, to pray that the Lord might change the hearts and minds of the organizers of this event.
It’s not immediately clear to whom or what “men and women of good will” who happen not to be Catholic are going to pray. Arguably, some of them will call on the one, true God; others, I suppose, might call on the “Universal Energy” or some other figment of an imagination left unaided by the Successors of the Apostles in our day who dare not profess the objective truth about who God is.
Yes, I know… It may appear to some that I am being unreasonably hard on Archbishop Coakley. It bears mention, however, (for the benefit of those who are likewise infected with an undue focus on emotion) that I am really just being justifiably hard on his weak defense of Our Lord Jesus Christ; not him personally.
Truth be known, I admire Archbishop Coakley, if for no other reason than his obvious attachment to a certain “kind of fashion” as evidenced by his willingness to ordain priests in the traditional Latin rite. (See restorationist link above.)
That said, I also have sincere pity for Archbishop Coakley as well as for every other sincere Catholic who truly desires to sentire cum ecclesia and yet cannot seem to think their way beyond the confines of the pervasive fog that has encompassed the Church over the last 50 years.
At the heart of the matter lies the Second Vatican Council’s treatment of religious liberty as expressed in the document Dignitatis Humanae, according to which everyone, including those would dare to desecrate the Blessed Sacrament, have a “right to religious freedom that has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person.” (DH 2)
We understand God one way; they understand Him another way. We worship our way, they worship their way. That’s what makes the conciliar world go ‘round.
This presumably is why the archbishop is so entirely focused on [queue up that sappy sentimental song from the 1970’s] feelings, nothing more than feelings…
Look, this isn’t rocket science, folks.
The Council Fathers placed no limiting factors on the supposed “right” to practice the religion of one’s choosing without restraint, even as it pertains to those who would carry out an act so offensive to Christ as desecrating the Eucharist, beyond the following:
“This right exists even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it and the exercise of this right is not to be impeded, provided that just public order be observed.” (ibid.)
With this in mind, as long as that “Black Mass” is carried out peacefully, who the hell are we to complain?
The Council’s answer: We are just one group of people with a right to religious liberty among many such groups; i.e., we are no one to complain of the “religious” activities of another.
The unsavory truth that should be coming into sharper focus is that Dignitatis Humanae set the stage for this terrible situation by effectively proposing that damn near anything called “religion” should be protected, nay, held sacred, by the State; the same that would “clearly transgress the limits set to its power, were it to presume to command or inhibit such acts.” (cf DH 3)
As the date for the Black Mass at Harvard approached, I wondered aloud if events such as this might in some way serve to open the eyes of our bishops, and others, to the grave disservice Dignitatis Humanae has done to Christ, His Church, and indeed the whole of society.
At this point, it’s safe to say we have a long way, and God only knows how many more Black Masses, still to go.
The subjects of this post and the last are intimately connected. Proselytism necessarily embraces the hard work of apologetics. In dismissing the former as “solemn nonsense” Bergoglio shows that he does not have the back of any bishop who would publicly proclaim the Social Kingship of Christ. This follows because in today’s world such a proclamation would involve fending off attacks both on His existence and on the authority of His Holy Catholic Church.
How many “Black Masses” will it take before a critical number of bishops realize that they will have to carry out our Lord’s work without this backing?
Paraphrasing a good priest: “If you notice, these people don’t hold ‘black synagogue services’, ‘black tent revivals, or ‘black Islamic prayer meetings’. These people know who the real enemy is.”
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Both Archbishop Coakley and Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, NE., studied at the University of Kansas during the 1970s in Dr. John Senior’s Integrated Studies Program. This program, which attempted to emulate a true, classical liberal arts education, has clearly had a profound effect on both of these men. I was fortunate to have two outstanding public school teachers who were also products of this program. They both left their mark on me, and one of them had a direct influence on my eventual conversion to Catholicism. Dr. Senior faithfully supported the SPPX and acted as a staunch defender of the TLM during the dark days following the council. I’m sure this is part of the reason why both of these bishops have some sensible regard for tradition. Incidentally, Dr. Senior’s books “The Death of Christian Culture” and “The Restoration of Christian Culture” are must reads for all Catholics. The Remnant also offers a book containing his final essays entitled “The Remnants”. It contains some of his writings around the time of Archbishop Lefebvre’s episcopal consecrations in 1988. In response to the notion that the SSPX are “outside the Church”, Dr. Senior responded, “If Gumbleton is in, who’s out?” RIP Dr. Senior.
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“How long, O Lord, how long?”
Dear Louie,
Would you consider writing and posting a “sample” letter as if you were a faithful Catholic Bishop protesting this atrocity the right way? We’d love to see that from your perspective and in your words.
We invite any of our fellow posters to do the same. Those of us with less information or insight but equal passion for defending the Church, might then make use of them to pattern our own responses and protest letters, and increase our knowledge about this important issue.
Also, anyone interested, please post ideas of other locations to contact.
What comes to mind are: The planned site, city hall, Diocesan headquarters, restaurants and area businesses who would want to avoid the chaos.
And a Eucharistic procession should be suggested to the Bishop, like the one in Cambridge. With all this lead-time, maybe more folks could show up and add to it, if this thing goes forward. (Or even if it doesn’t)
Contact Ok Civic Center
General Contact Information
T.H.E. Box Office 405.297.2264 or 1.800.364.7111
Administrative Office 405.297.2584
Fax 405.297.3890
Address Civic Center Music Hall
201 North Walker Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Billing Information 405.297.1577,
Administration 405.297.2584
Jim Brown – General Manager
Kelly Haikin Hadsall – Management Specialist
Jennifer Lindsey-McClintock – Public Information Manager 405.297.3882
HOTELS NEARBY :
Colcord Hotel Call 1-866-577-4817 Located .3 miles from Civic Center
Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel Call 1-866-577-4817
The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City Call 1-866-577-4817 .4 miles
Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel Call 1-866-577-4817
Courtyard Oklahoma City Downtown Call 1-866-577-4817
Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown ? Bricktown Call 1-866-577-4817 .7 miles
Hampton Inn – Suites Oklahoma City-Bricktown Call 1-866-577-4817 .8miles
Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City Call 1-866-577-4817
Homewood Suites Oklahoma City Bricktown Call 1-866-577-4817
Hilton Garden Inn Oklahoma City Bricktown Call 1-866-577-4817
Residence Inn Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Call 1-866-577-4817 .9mi
Don’t want to take up too much space here, but businesses don’t like bad publicity, and there are restaurants on the net easy to find, too.
BIG Apology, Meant to cut off the rest of that list after the first few hotels, and it posted.
Louie, I think your problem is with the American constitution. What words would a pre-V2 prelate in the US have used. I’m guessing much the same thing as Archbishop Coakley.
Believe it or not, Gangenelli, but Catholics on the whole, and especially clergy, used to be quite mindful both that absolute truth exists and that the objective trumps the subjective.
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Furthermore, as soon as one starts thinking like *this* – thinking “I believe this is the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ” instead of “this IS the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ”, faith (the supernatural virtue, that is) has EVAPORATED.
As for Bergoglio not having the back of faithfull priests and bishops – faithful clergy would be mad to turn their backs on Bergoglio – the defender of faithlessness and filth.
Good quote, OaTmEal. Since Roncalli wrested the sword of truth from the weak mitts of compliant Bishops, and handed it to satan, everyone not worth ridiculing knows for sure the flock Christ no longer has enemies (just slave-masters). I’m surprised all the clerical Wojtyla fans out there aren’t lining up to con-celebrate, ‘in a spirit of assisitic ecumensm’. After-all, scores of inter-masses Wojtyla ecumened his way through were black. I wonder if they do Tango at the end of a black mass rather than reading St John backwards, these days? I guess Bergoglio knows. Fact is, God is not mocked, not by stupid-satanist-oinks and not by pointless-pretend-catholics.
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You’d think Christ came with a tickle-feather, not a flaming sword.
It is impossible to consider that interest in a black mass is imaginable. If someone wants to google it, I am sure that there is plenty on the internet to satisfy one’s inordinate lust. This is an event to enact a sacrilege, which is of a totally different dimension. The common denominator phenomenon of religious freedom robs the ability to distinguish between good and evil, truths and lies, right and wrong. Only from the pinnacle of good can we really recognize the depth of evil. Now that everything is the same and each person can choose mistaken errors as equals, many have lost the ability to recognize the sublime place of metaphysical and dogmatic reality. So bad has it become that the hate of a black mass is almost indistinguishable from the holiness of Christ’s love in the sacrifice of the cross. It only took a couple lawyer’s being offended to have the 10 commandments removed from a state court house. It only takes one person being offended to have crosses removed. Yes, I know from public property. Yet, it seems like a new principle of law now is to be offended. It does not matter the number or the content, just being offended. I might think that anyone who has any sense can see that this event so objectively abject on its own, is also a tremendous offence to Catholics and Christians everywhere, especially those who must prevent sacrilege for that is exactly what the black mass is, the worship of satan. There may be no stopping these unfortunate, misguided people from satisfying their craving for evil, but such public support and approval is totally unacceptable and to be condemned.
I agree. Last time I checked ‘Christendom’ pre-vii could never have countenanced publicly endorsed bLackmasses – even the Freemasons kept their creepies on their own property and behind closed doors. But, it wasn’t the satanist and the satanic-freemasons who had the power or authority to turn Christian countries over to demons – nup – that power and authority belonged to Cardinals who decided they didn’t want the Holy Ghost interferring anymore.
I think if I came across a novus ordo Bishop of absolutely clear and true faith, willing to rain down fire from heaven with his righteous words upon the wicked I would know I had witnessed a miracle the likes of which could make the remains of Roncalli, Montini and Wojtyla explode like so much satanic ectoplasm. The Cardinals should then be made to clean up the mess, including Bergoglio.
Despite the problems with Dignitatis Humanae – and there are many – combating Devil Worship and “Black Masses” should not be one of them. As stated in §7:
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“Society has the right to defend itself against possible abuses committed on the pretext of freedom of religion. It is the special duty of government to provide this protection. However, government is not to act in an arbitrary fashion or in an unfair spirit of partisanship. Its action is to be controlled by juridical norms which are in conformity with the objective moral order.”
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This is echoed in rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court, which has defined “freedom of religion” as “the freedom to hold an opinion or belief, but not to take action in violation of social duties or subversive to good order.”
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Demonstrating that Devil Worship (not Satanism, which is really little more than secular humanism with a bent for perverse dramatic flair) is contrary to natural law and the objective moral order is not exactly difficult. According to the group hosting the sacrilegious “Black Mass”, they worship “the Destroyer” who “generates death, madness, and abuse and targets individuals and groups.” In their literature, they identify this “Destroyer” with “Angra Mainyu” or “Ahriman” (both names being borrowed from Zoroastrianism), whom they describe as “an outright destructive force that plagues humanity with vexation, corruption, plague, drought, flood, starvation, sin, war, domination, etc. He is the Antithesis, the embodiment of Evil.”
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Furthermore, the “Black Mass” is not a religious practice, but rather a specifically anti-Catholic practice. It is an intentional perversion directed against Catholics with the intent of provoking outrage. This fact is even acknowledged by the group hosting it: “The modern form of the Black Mass is still practiced by modern Devil Worshipers to celebrate the perversion of the Catholic Mass.” This is a clear example of the “violation of social duties” mentioned by the Supreme Court.
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With that being said, I agree with Louie that Dignitatis Humanae has thoroughly confused the Catholic world. Especially when you have statements like the following from Pope Benedict, made in Africa on March 21, 2009:
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“Today it is up to you, brothers and sisters, following in the footsteps of those heroic and holy heralds of God, to offer the Risen Christ to your fellow citizens. So many of them are living in fear of spirits, of malign and threatening powers. In their bewilderment they end up even condemning street children and the elderly as alleged sorcerers. Who can go to them to proclaim that Christ has triumphed over death and all those occult powers? Someone may object: ‘Why not leave them in peace? They have their truth, and we have ours. Let us all try to live in peace, leaving everyone as they are, so they can best be themselves.’ But if we are convinced and have come to experience that without Christ life lacks something, that something real – indeed, the most real thing of all – is missing, we must also be convinced that we do no injustice to anyone if we present Christ to them and thus grant them the opportunity of finding their truest and most authentic selves, the joy of finding life. Indeed, we must do this. It is our duty to offer everyone this possibility of attaining eternal life.”
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Here we have what appears to be a rejection of religious indifferentism and/or secular relativism and a defense of traditional Catholic teaching. But notice that Pope Benedict says nothing about actually condemning the error in which these people find themselves. Our “duty” extends only as far as offering everyone the possibility of eternal life. Nowhere does it include presenting them with the equally real possibility of eternal damnation. In short, the defense and propagation of the Catholic Faith has come to this: “You’re not wrong. You’re just not as right as we are.” While I personally have no problem granting that fragments of truth exist outside the visible confines of the Church, taking this approach to interfaith dialogue does not excuse hesitation in condemning error.
I appreciate your information and resources.
They tolerate black masses now, and consider it freedom of religion equal to ours.
We just spoke with the Oklahoma City Police Department rep. regarding Hate Crimes and assault against Jesus, and Theft, and were told that our beliefs don’t mean anything to the law, and Jesus’ Body and Blood is just a piece of bread to them. And as long as Catholic churches give it away to anyone who comes in, and they are able to walk out with it, there is no theft under the law.
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The officer said, if Jesus wants to come down that day and file a “victims” claim, then, they can do something about it. Otherwise, a Black mass is just freedom of speech.
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The official definition of Hate Crime In both crime and law, hate crime (also known as bias-motivated crime) is a usually violent, prejudice motivated crime that occurs when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group.
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“Hate crime” generally refers to criminal acts that are seen to have been motivated by bias against a group or of their derivatives. Incidents may involve physical assault, damage to property, bullying, harassment, verbal abuse or insults, or offensive graffiti or letters (hate mail).
We argued that Satanic cults are not religions that worship God, as they worship evil, and that their purpose is to assault what we know to be the Son of God. All to no avail, legally.
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So our Bishops need to do a better job expressing the truth, and Catholics need to protest ahead of time, to get this thing cancelled.
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Dear Matthew,
Amen, and God Bless us all with the courage of our convictions.
Louie, thanks for your help with that. God Bless
In a recent interview, Jennifer Lindsey-McClintock, the spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall – where the “Black Mass” is being held – said she is not in a position to say “whether it is appropriate or not.” She was further quoted as saying, “That’s not for us to judge.”
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I beg to differ. According to the permit issued to the organizer of the event – one Adam Daniels of Oklahoma (a registered sex-offender), – it is entirely within the right of the OCPPA to cancel any event on the following grounds:
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Compliance with Laws: The permittee shall comply with federal, state and local law including all rules and regulations established by any authorized officer or department of the City. The permittee shall not allow to be done anything on said premises in violation of any such local laws, rules or regulations. No performance, exhibition or entertainment shall be given or held in the public events facilities which is by community standards illegal, indecent, obscene, or immoral, and should any such exhibition, or performance, or any part thereof, be indecent, obscene, lewd, immoral or in any manner publicly offensive, then said Director or OCPPA may cancel said performance or exhibition or any part thereof and all monies paid by the permittee as rental will not be refunded.
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So, a registered sex-offender plans to perform a “Black Mass”, which involves – either staged or actual – the most vile debauchery conceivable to man, and “it’s not for us to judge” whether it will violate community standards of obscenity and immorality? The WHOLE POINT of a “Black Mass” is to violate standards of obscenity and immorality! Daniels writes: “I choose to follow the precepts of the the Devil: evil thought, evil speech, and evil action.” Since when is it beyond the purview of society to suppress the promotion of evil? Talk about diabolical disorientation!
I second Indignus’ request. Louie, what would YOU write if you were the Bishop of a Diocese that was holding a black mass? We’ve heard the limp wrist emo answers for decades…what would the true Catholic bishop say? Maybe the Bishop (or others) will read this blog one day and need some guidance. Looking forward to it:+) God bless~
A pathetic response by law enforcement, and on multiple levels at that, but, sadly, I am not surprised.
“That’s not for us to judge.”
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If she’d have worded that only slightly differently, she might have succeeded in completely shutting up the protesting [neo]-Catholics. 🙁
It”s sadly to be expected that with our bishops adopting the false terminology (with its inherently erroneous and evil premises) that the lay people, with darkened intellects and hardened wills (from unmitigated practice of, and compromise with, sin, largely due to lack of instruction and correction by those charged with that duty) fail to fight against serious intrinsic evil, even when it is imminently threatening the souls of their own children. Lord, help us to remain strong in the Faith and not to succumb to silence in the face of evil. Blessed Michael, the Archangel defend us in battle . . .
Horrific! That’s not just toleration – that is upholding the objective evil as an objective “right” to be upheld and defended. Lord, preserve us!!! We are in extremis.
My comment, supra., is in response to Indignus’s relating of the terrible response of the State’s police force.
We spoke with Ms. McClintock for about 20 minutes today, but didn’t know about the clauses you cited here regarding indecency and public offense, and got the usual “our hands are tied because of l freedom of speech” talk. So more phone calls may help — expressing public offense and calling for cancellation.
When she mentioned that anyone could buy such wafers on-line, and we explained the miracle of Transubstantiation to her, as the cause of horror at the desecration of the Real Person of Our Lord.
She also said that this man had done this “Mass” for several years now; the first time having about 50 attendees, the second time, 12, and last year zero; that the local police say he’s a showman and a fake, looking for attention, having experience with real Satan worshippers in their district.
But that all the attention of the Bishop this year, has him delighted.
Dear Lynda
Agreed. It all goes back to what Louie was talking about –religious freedom, plus freedom of speech, all looked upon by a pagan society as rights GRANTED to us by the consensus of the governed, rather than Divinely bestowed and governed by His natural and revealed law.
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After 40 years of arguing with our reps over abortion, and seeing the rhetoric go from -“it’s just tissue”, to “Ok, we know it’s a baby and we have the right to kill it”, we don’t have much hope of reason winning the day. That’s why we’ve redoubled our prayer life, and are waiting for God to act as Our Lady promised. We’re still making the efforts, just in case God wants to make use of them.
ATTN: Petition Against the Satanic Black Mass in Oklahoma City
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http://dld.bz/dtWNg
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Nearly 21,000 people have signed so far. Jim Brown, general manager of the Oklahoma City Civic Center, is quoted as saying, “When you have an event that isn’t viewed by the public in a positive light, we do get responses and we encourage people to contact us because we think the best-informed public is the best way to make decisions on it.” So, please, let Mr. Brown know how you feel about this. If nothing else, sign the petition, which will be delivered to the OCPPA before September 21.
Matthew,
Will do. Thanks for the
ABOVE LINK TO THE PETITION TO CANCEL THE BLACK MASS-
on the grounds that sacrilege is simply not free speech.
ATTENTION: SEE #13 BELOW Matthew’s link to a PETITION TO CANCEL THE BLACK MASS.
ATTENTION: SEE #13 BELOW Matthew’s link to a PETITION TO CANCEL
THE BLACK MASS.
While this likely has more to do with the practice of “fracking” as a mining tool, than with the so-called Black masses being allowed annually in their capitol city, it is, nevertheless an interesting headline:
‘Geophysicists Concerned as Oklahoma’s Earthquake Total Surpasses
California’s’