Archbishop Burke to Rome

His Grace, Archbishop Raymond Burke of the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been appointed to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, and has also named His Grace to the Congregation for the Clergy. His presence on both bodies will benefit the Church due to his canonical expertise, steadfastness and pastoral care.

Archbishop Burke (pictured here with Fr. Leinhart and another Abbot from the Institute of Christ the King whose name I should remember, as well as Bishop Braxton of Belleville (I think) and another Bishop I do not recognize) is the leader of Traditional Liturgy in the Catholic Church in the United States.

He has been a driving force in the building of the Shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, as well as the convent for the Nashville Dominicans.

The Society of St. Barbara sends it congratulations to His Grace on his appointment and wishes him continued success in his calling to Rome.

It's Unanimous: 1200 More Condo's Available in Wilmette

In near complete disregard to the residents, tenants, and taxpayers of Wilmette, the Wilmette Village Trustees unanimously appproved a new zoning district for the 4th and Linden neighborhood, allowing 1200 new condo units to begin construction.

Despite lack of parking, saturated roads, and the vocal disapproval of an overwhelming majority of the incumbent residents and businessmen in the neighborhood, the Wilmette Trustees decided that a dogmatic adherence to "green living" is worth the consequences of greater traffic, longer commutes and congestion.

Neighbors have begun a petition drive to stop the upzoning. Without any apparent irony, the trustees thanked the high level of participation of residents of the area, which the Trustees ignored.

Criminal Complaint Against Rafael Follieri

This mornings Wall Street Journal brings unfortunate news concerning a criminal complaint against Rafael Follieri, of the Follieri Group, an investment company with a seemingly solid plan of providing cash flows vs. Church Properties.

The Follieri Group had done work in Chicago, and in my only (brief) interactions with them, presented a plausible business plan for property development and provision of funds to the Archdiocese.

Follieri, pictured here with Anne Hathaway, has led a bit more high profile lifestyle than most of the people in Church development (though that is certainly no offense...Church property is a messy business, and I hope that no crimes nor simony was committed)

Please pray via St. Barbara for Mr. Follieri and for the protection of the Church itself.

Creative Minority Report: New Photos from Thomas Aquinas College - A Catholic Blog: Religion, Politics, Current Events, Humor, and more.

Creative Minority Report: New Photos from Thomas Aquinas College - A Catholic Blog: Religion, Politics, Current Events, Humor, and more.

Fr. Barron Named Chair of Theology at Mundelein, Begins Filming Historic Series

Fr. Robert Barron, the Evangelical Catholic Preacher, has been named The Francis Cardinal George Chair of Faith and Culture at St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary.

Fr. Barron also has begun filming for his new documentary on Catholicism, to be filmed at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Fr. Barron plans a series of 10 DVD's to be filmed at in High Definition at 10 of the most notable and sacred sites in Christianity, including Hagia Sofia in Istanbul and the Basilica of St. Peter's in Vatican City.