I have a problem with this sentence, in a Sun-Times story:

The 2014 documentary “A Murder in the Park” reexamined the case and tried [but failed, apparently] to cast doubt on the motivations of and methods employed by Protess and his students in the Medill Innocence Project.

Tried? What if you dropped “tried to”? Or was the documentary a complete flop? No one entertained doubt after watching it?

The writer hints at something he’d like to say. He should come out with it.

via Chicago Sun-Times

I can hear a guy saying to a clumsy character, “Do me a favor and get off my back, OK?”

I mean, come onnnn . . .

via Spectator USA

Getting organized, Communist style.  Background for previous story  about bishop evicted etc. five months later.

Members of the Party and [its agency] United Front, university professors and patriotic [state-approved] bishops have transformed formerly “underground” priests into perfect “state officials”.  A report by the Patriotic Association.

Reaction:

Rome (AsiaNews) – “Is this still the Catholic Church?”: This is the reaction of a young Chinese man to the text we publish below today in full translation, concerning the “formation courses” held in Beijing for the priests of the diocese of Mindong (Fujian) who joined the [government’s] Patriotic Association.

As already reported Mindong – which was to be the “pilot project” for the Sino-Vatican agreement – was given a new ordinary bishop, Msgr.  Zhan Silu (formerly excommunicated, reconciled by the pope) while the underground bishop Msgr.  Guo Xijin [later evicted] agreed to be demoted to auxiliary bishop at the request of the pontiff.

Despite this, [Guo] was never officially recognised by  the government because Beijing requires him to formerly adhere to an “independent” Church.  Many priests – mostly from the underground branch – have not agreed to sign.

However, a few dozen have.  From July 21 to 27, the Party, together with Msgr. Zhan Silu [“patriotic”] organized an “internship” in Beijing for these men, where Party members, professors, and United Front cadres introduced them to the work of priests who have to carry forward socialism, sinicize the Church, love their country first and  then religion, to develop “an independent, autonomous and democratic Church”. [Italics added throughout]

A captive church, expected to leave Jesus out of it, to go by the government’s report, as here:

What is most striking is that the Gospel is mentioned only once, the word “Jesus”, never.  As many experts have highlighted in recent months, the Party and the United Front are transforming the official Catholic Church into a State Church and the priests into “officials”. 

Is this what Francis had in mind?

Read the rest here: In Beijing, the “patriotic” formation of Mindong priests. 

He won’t buy into recent Francis arrangement with the Chinese government, was effectively thrown with others under the Communist/papal bus.

At least five parishes have been closed, with electricity and water supplies cut off. . . . . “Fire safety” measures were given as a justification, an excuse for persecution. Some priests have been kicked out.

A home for the elderly kept by the nuns is also closed. Of the thirty guests, some are hosted by relatives, others are homeless.

Official [government-approved] bishop Zhan Silu [excommunicated until rehabilitated by Francis] was [transformed] by the [party vehicle] United Front.

Some priests speak of Holy See’s having “too lightly” signed to the agreement.

Ruthlessly, for the sake of God knows what.

More more more here.