After the Synod, a call for calm and the regaining of heads

For reasons I cannot quite grasp, the Catholic blogging world suffered a serious setback following the resignation of His Holiness Benedict XVI. We saw a demonstration of this setback over the past few weeks as many Catholic bloggers - even those who were quite sensible during the pontificate of Benedict XVI - lost their heads over the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which concludes today.

So far as I can tell, the reason for this setback has not so much to do with the election and the pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis as it has to do with the politicization of the Church by her members. Simply recall how many bloggers were adamant that this synod was the "Synod of Doom" and would destroy the Church because Pope Francis and the Synod were bound and determined to change both Catholic doctrine and discipline.

N.B.: These claims were repeatedly made despite the fact that Pope Francis never said any such thing. People interpreted his words in this manner, but he himself never said it. Nor have Synod Fathers recommended any such changing in their final document which they submitted yesterday to the Holy Father Several in the media, both secular and Catholic, are claiming the Synod Fathers recommend changes, but the burden of proof is on them; their claims are not substantiated in the document. By a strange twist of their own manipulations all along, they have to insist that the synod is changing things, or else everyone will see that their narrative about Pope Francis has been false from the start and they lose all credibility. Frankly, they shouldn't have any credibility anyway.

All along the way, far too many Catholics ignored the fact any Synod of Bishops - whether ordinary or extraordinary - only meets "to discuss the questions for consideration and express its wishes but not to resolve them or issue decrees about them unless in certain cases the Roman Pontiff has endowed it with deliberative power, in which case he ratifies the decisions of the synod" (canon 343). Pope Francis, of course, never endowed this synod with deliberative power, nor did he ever indicate a possibility that he might do so.

Several days into the synod, the highly respected John L. Allen, Jr. wrote of what he called "the dirty little secret" about the media coverage surrounding the synod:

The dirty little secret is that we’re not really covering the synod at all. For the most part, we’re covering people telling us about the synod, which is an entirely different enterprise.

To actually cover the synod would mean being inside the hall during the discussions, being able to develop our own impressions of what’s being said, to gauge the reaction, to watch body language and intonation and atmosphere, and to get an overall sense of emerging themes for ourselves [more].

Too many people ignored this wise caution and took for Gospel truth everything reported in the media, despite the many contradictory reports from day to day.

Simply consider this: On October 8th, we were told the Synod Fathers said the Instrumentum Laboris - the document governing their work - was not too Western in its approach. Two days later, Bishop Thornton said the document did contain too much of a Western perspective. The next day, Cardinal Ouedraogo seemed to agree with Bishop Thornon, saying that while the document focused on Western difficulties confronting the family, his small group focused on issues confronting the family in Africa, implying these were not addressed in the Instrumentum Laboris. How is one to make sense of this if even the Synod Fathers cannot agree on what was happening within the synod hall?

These confusions and contradictions led to widespread panic and fear mongering, rather than to deep prayer. This was most unfortunate and demonstrated those stoking these fears viewed the Church - or at least the synod - not so much in terms of faith as in terms of politics. They forgot that a synod cannot change doctrine or discipline, that a synod only makes recommendations, recommendations that the Holy Father may or may not accept. The various impressions of what was happening with the synod hall simply could not be conflated together into a unified narrative. John L. Allen, Jr., alone noted three different narratives claiming to come out of the synod.

Now that the synod is (almost) over, I hope Catholic bloggers will regain their heads and get back to the work of imbuing the Internet with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is time to stop seeing Pope Francis as the enemy and to see him for who he is, the Vicar of Christ on earth.

It is time to renew our trust in the promise of Jesus that the Holy Spirit "will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13) and that the gates of hell "shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). During the synod, several people told me such trust was both simplistic and naive, but such has, of course, turned out to be well placed.

It is time to renew our confidence in the doctrine of papal infallibility, that the Pope cannot err when enunciating the teaching of the Church on matters of faith and morals.

It is time to stop to insinuating views of others without any corroborating evidence by their own words.

It is time to take up our abode in the pierced side of Christ like the dove who makes its whom in the clefts of the rock (see Song of Songs 2:14).

It is simply time to calm down because, as Tim Stanley wrote, "nothing of substance has changed."

An English reader

A few years ago this blog had a fair number of consistent readers from England, for reasons which I could never quite discern, but today I believe I found the answer.  Those numbers have decreased somewhat in recent years, no doubt in part because posting here has been less regular in recent years as it once was.

Among the priests with whom I sat at table this afternoon was an English priests (we have two Englishmen with us at the Casa Santa Maria, and seven Australians).  I don't remember how it happened, but somehow the topic of blogs came up and so I mentioned mine.

After I gave the name of the blog and its address, the English priest, with wide eyes, asked for the name of it again.  I repeated it and he said, "That's you!"  We've known each other know for several months but he had not yet made the connection.  Apparently he was one of my regular readers from England, together with a number of his then fellow seminarians.  I'm happy to say that he was very pleased by what he read here.

The more I travel the wide world, the smaller - and more connected - the world becomes.

Should priests blog?

It sometimes happens that a priest is criticized for blogging, considering his many other duties.  Such criticisms usually come from someone the priest has upset because what he has written on his blog - generally in cases of the truth - cuts to someone's heart.  And rather than going to confession such a person lashes out instead at the priest.

I am happy to say that this has not yet happened to me through my blog, though similar things have happened in "real life."

Over at The New Theological Movement, Father Erlenbush takes a look at the question of clerical bloggers and answers very well.  Whether or not he was personally criticized is uncertain and really doesn't matter.

Vatican conference on blogging

The Pontifical Councils for Culture and Social Communication has invited Catholic bloggers to a special conference on blogging to be the held the day after the beatification of the Servand of God Pope John Paul II on May 1st.

I would love to attend but, alas, my duties as the Episcopal Master of Ceremonies will keep me otherwise occupied.

The mind of a foe

It isn't very often that I receive a nasty comment or e-mail from a reader. I try to keep these pages peaceful and calm, but it seems when I defend the Holy Father from false accusations - and point readers to those more skilled than I at doing so - it brings out the trolls.

Here is the original text of an e-mail I received this morning, without alterations:

Your web site smells of large ego and lack of insite into the appalling state of the Church today.

I pray everyone involved in the current sex issue is brought to justice including the Pope who is as guilty as any of the Bishops he's accepted resignation from!!!

I speak as a normal human being who is disgusted by the church cover up.

Jesus said suffer little children to come unto me....then we have this disgusting scenario....get a life and get real!!!!

I hope we are witnessing the final stages of Roman catholism.

Now, I have never denied being a proud and selfish man; while I am not as arrogant as others, I am certain not as humble as perhaps I should be. Every day I ask from the Lord the grace to be more charitable, more giving and less concerned with myself. At these words I take no offense, for the writer speaks true, but the truth of his or her comments end here.

The e-mail contained neither a greeting nor a salutation, which is not quite the respectable way to address an e-mail; the only way I know the commenter's name is that it is included in the sent line. I do not believe I know this person and there is no reason to make his or her identity known here. I bring this up only to demonstrate the thought of those who seek to destroy Pope Benedict XVI.

We might well ask: Who is the more egotistical, the one who makes facts known or the one who ignores them to suit his or her own agenda? Clearly, it is the second and so of this first charge it might be said I am not guilty (at least as far as the commenter's reason for insinuating I have a large ego).

With the commenter, I, too, hope that those involved in sexual abuse will be brought to justice. However, I also desire that those who are innocent of false charges be brought to justice. It is a matter of the truth.

Numerous writers have demonstrated clearly that Pope Benedict XVI is plainly innocent of the charges the New York Times has levelled against him and they have used the New York Times' very own documents made available on its web site.

It takes a very arrogant person indeed to ignore such facts.

I, too, am disgusted at the cover-up that certain Churchmen have encouraged, fostered and defended. However, Pope Benedict XVI has done nothing to cover-up such horrendous news, as a simple, honest and sincere review of the documents and his recent Letter to the faithful of Ireland clearly shows. He has even called for those responsible to be brought before tribunals.

I have nothing to say the childish words by which the commenter tells me to "get a life and get real," because I am not quite sure what he or she means, except to say that he or she should take an honest look at the documents.

I can, however, assure our commenter that we are not witnessing the end of the Church but a purification of her members.

Please, dear readers, pray for Pope Benedict XVI. Pray for those who have suffered sexual abuse by a cleric. Pray for those clerics guilty of such abuse. Pray for those wrongly accused of such abuse. Pray for those who wish to destroy the Church. Pray for those who wish to honestly make known what has tragically occurred so as to help purify the Church. Above all, pray.

Why I'm not giving up Facebook for Lent

...Or following Papal Direction

With the season of Lent now upon us, many of my friends are giving up Facebook for Lent and some have asked me if I wanted to do the same. My answer is a solid, "No." And for good reason, I think.

Some weeks back the Holy Father released his Message for the 44th World Communications Day in which he focused on the use of the new media - of which Facebook is one of many - in the ministry of priests. It is an excellent message for our times and proof that Pope Benedict "get's it," so to speak.

Here the text of the message, with my emphases and comments:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The theme of this year’s World Communications Day - The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word – is meant to coincide with the Church’s celebration of the Year for Priests. It focuses attention on the important and sensitive pastoral area of digital communications, in which priests can discover new possibilities for carrying out their ministry to and for the Word of God. Church communities have always used the modern media for fostering communication, engagement with society, and, increasingly, for encouraging dialogue at a wider level. Yet the recent, explosive growth and greater social impact of these media make them all the more important for a fruitful priestly ministry.

All priests have as their primary duty the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments. Gathered and called by the Word, the Church is the sign and instrument of the communion that God creates with all people, and every priest is called to build up this communion, in Christ and with Christ. Such is the lofty dignity and beauty of the mission of the priest, which responds in a special way to the challenge raised by the Apostle Paul: “The Scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame … everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? (Rom 10:11, 13-15).

Responding adequately to this challenge amid today’s cultural shifts, to which young people are especially sensitive, necessarily involves using new communications technologies (I found that ministry with the youth took off, as it were, once I started using Facebook. The Holy Father knows well of what he is speaking, even if he himself does not use these new media). The world of digital communication, with its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16) The increased availability of the new technologies demands greater responsibility on the part of those called to proclaim the Word, but it also requires them to become become more focused, efficient and compelling in their efforts. Priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word (This isn't the first time the Holy Father has called this to our attention, even as many others lament the increased use of the Internet as an impersonal means of communication. Clearly, Pope Benedict recognizes this potential risk, but he also recognizes the great good the Internet offers and the way in which it draws many people together who otherwise could never meet).

The spread of multimedia communications and its rich “menu of options” might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web, or to see it only as a space to be filled. Yet priests can rightly be expected to be present in the world of digital communications as faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as leaders of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different “voices” provided by the digital marketplace. Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis.

Using new communication technologies, priests can introduce people to the life of the Church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ. They will best achieve this aim if they learn, from the time of their formation, how to use these technologies in a competent and appropriate way, shaped by sound theological insights and reflecting a strong priestly spirituality grounded in constant dialogue with the Lord. Yet priests present in the world of digital communications should be less notable for their media savvy than for their priestly heart, their closeness to Christ. This will not only enliven their pastoral outreach, but also will give a “soul” to the fabric of communications that makes up the “Web” (Naturally, the priest must use the Internet well, but not lose his primary focus. Thankfully, the new media is becoming easier and easier to use and more and more of the laity are willing to offer they capable assistance to priests).

God’s loving care for all people in Christ must be expressed in the digital world not simply as an artifact from the past, or a learned theory, but as something concrete, present and engaging. Our pastoral presence in that world must thus serve to show our contemporaries, especially the many people in our day who experience uncertainty and confusion, “that God is near; that in Christ we all belong to one another” (Benedict XVI, Address to the Roman Curia, 21 December 2009).

Who better than a priest, as a man of God, can develop and put into practice, by his competence in current digital technology, a pastoral outreach capable of making God concretely present in today’s world and presenting the religious wisdom of the past as a treasure which can inspire our efforts to live in the present with dignity while building a better future? (Who indeed? I seem to remember in my seminary days that seminarians were cautioned against blogging, sites like Facebook and MySpace, personal web sites and even giving out our e-mail addresses. I accepted this caution for what it was, but continued to maintain a visible presence on the web.) Consecrated men and women working in the media have a special responsibility for opening the door to new forms of encounter, maintaining the quality of human interaction, and showing concern for individuals and their genuine spiritual needs. They can thus help the men and women of our digital age to sense the Lord’s presence, to grow in expectation and hope, and to draw near to the Word of God which offers salvation and fosters an integral human development. In this way the Word can traverse the many crossroads created by the intersection of all the different “highways” that form “cyberspace”, and show that God has his rightful place in every age, including our own. Thanks to the new communications media, the Lord can walk the streets of our cities and, stopping before the threshold of our homes and our hearts, say once more: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20).

In my Message last year, I encouraged leaders in the world of communications to promote a culture of respect for the dignity and value of the human person. This is one of the ways in which the Church is called to exercise a “diaconia of culture” on today’s “digital continent”. With the Gospels in our hands and in our hearts, we must reaffirm the need to continue preparing ways that lead to the Word of God, while being at the same time constantly attentive to those who continue to seek; indeed, we should encourage their seeking as a first step of evangelization. A pastoral presence in the world of digital communications, precisely because it brings us into contact with the followers of other religions, non-believers and people of every culture, requires sensitivity to those who do not believe, the disheartened and those who have a deep, unarticulated desire for enduring truth and the absolute. Just as the prophet Isaiah envisioned a house of prayer for all peoples (cf. Is 56:7), can we not see the web as also offering a space – like the “Court of the Gentiles” of the Temple of Jerusalem – for those who have not yet come to know God?

The development of the new technologies and the larger digital world represents a great resource for humanity as a whole and for every individual, and it can act as a stimulus to encounter and dialogue. But this development likewise represents a great opportunity for believers. No door can or should be closed to those who, in the name of the risen Christ, are committed to drawing near to others. To priests in particular the new media offer ever new and far-reaching pastoral possibilities, encouraging them to embody the universality of the Church’s mission, to build a vast and real fellowship, and to testify in today’s world to the new life which comes from hearing the Gospel of Jesus, the eternal Son who came among us for our salvation (I am always a bit baffled at the readership that I have here: Great Britian, India, Malaysia, the United States of America, and other places in between). At the same time, priests must always bear in mind that the ultimate fruitfulness of their ministry comes from Christ himself (Again, they must keep their proper focus), encountered and listened to in prayer; proclaimed in preaching and lived witness; and known, loved and celebrated in the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation.

To my dear brother priests, then, I renew the invitation to make astute use of the unique possibilities offered by modern communications. May the Lord make all of you enthusiastic heralds of the Gospel in the new “agorà” which the current media are opening up.

With this confidence, I invoke upon you the protection of the Mother of God and of the Holy Curè of Ars and, with affection, I impart to each of you my Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, 24 January 2010, Feast of Saint Francis de Sales.

BENEDICTUS XVI

To sum up, I'm not giving up Facebook for Lent because the Bishop of Rome has encouraged me to use it in my ministry. And as it has proven most effective in the past, so I expect it to continue to prove.

I've been awarded

...The Anti-muffin Award by Sarah, who recently moved to my beloved Hawaii and blogs at So...This Is The Road I Am Travelling On (she has a great header picture).

This award is given to bloggers who "promote what they believe without hesitation and without fear of possible negative feedback." Awardees are bloggers "who don't conform to the world's standards."

Thank you, Sarah!

Sweet!

You may have noticed there is now an image in the header box of this blog, courtesy of reader, Jake. It is an altered version of the image I posted yesterday. Thanks, Jake!

The background image is taken from the window of the Holy Spirit in St. Peter's Basilica. The picture of me was taken during the Mass when I announced my transfer to the high school students.

In just a few moments I will join some friends and parishioners for dinner. When I return I hope to post this Sunday's homily and maybe blog a bit about the day. If I don't get to it today, I will tomorrow :)

You don't know me, but...

At the sound of those words a flurry of activity takes flight in my mind trying to determine what will next be said.

As a priest, I hear these words a lot and they can precede any number of scenarios, some good and others bad.

After Mass Sunday morning and before a Baptism a woman approached me saying these very words.

Apparently her son in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin is a frequent reader of this blog and asked her to greet me.

And so to you in Fond du Lac, I greet you and thank you. Rest assured, this blog will continue in my new assignment.

An unprecedented figure

Yesterday's announcement of His Excellency the Most Reverend George J. Lucas as Archbishop of Omaha brought an unprecedented number of visitors to these humble pages: 976.

For many Catholic blogs, this is but a small number, but for this blog, which typically sees between 250 and 300 hits a day, it is quite a figure.

A warm welcome to all, and many returns!

Why do I blog?

Becuase the Holy Father wants me too.

At the conclusion of his General Audience this morning, Pope Benedict XVI commented on the upcoming World Communications Day:

This coming Sunday, the Church celebrates World Communications Day. In my
message this year, I am inviting all those who make use of the new technologies
of communication, especially the young, to utilize them in a positive way and to
realize the great potential of these means to build up bonds of friendship and
solidarity that can contribute to a better world.

The new technologies have brought about fundamental shifts in the ways in
which news and information are disseminated and in how people communicate and
relate to each other. I wish to encourage all those who access cyberspace to be
careful to maintain and promote a culture of respect, dialogue and authentic
friendship where the values of truth, harmony and understanding can
flourish.

Young people in particular, I appeal to you: bear witness to your faith
through the digital world! Employ these new technologies to make the Gospel
known, so that the Good News of God’s infinite love for all people, will resound
in new ways across our increasingly technological world!

I hope I'm living up to his expectations!

That sage of sacred symbol, Fr. V., who blogs over at Adam's Ale, has awarded me the Superior Scribbler Award:

In bestowing the award, he said I am "frank, learned, and never fails to be interesting. But most importantly he has fun being Catholic. Woohoo." Thanks, Fr. V.!

And now the rules for those who receive this award:

• Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
• Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received the Award.
• Each Superior Scribbler must display the award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains the award.
• Each Blogger who wins the Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List (scroll down). That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honor!
• Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

I hereby bestow the Superior Scribbler Award upon:

1. Nicholas Hardesty, of Phat Catholic Apologetics. Nicholas always provides indepth and understandable answers to questions regarding the Catholic faith.
2. Sr. Mary Martha, of Ask Sister Mary Martha. The good Sister applies her wit and humor to questions of all topics.
3. Esther, of A Catholic Mom in Hawaii. Esther keeps us to speed with news from Hawaii and offers excellent items to reflect upon throughout the day.
4. Julie, of Adoro te Devote. Julie chronicles her in life in insightful and humorous ways.
5. Andrew, of Unam Sanctam. Andrew keeps us to speed on things happening on the other side of the world, often with great photos.

A blog description

I received an e-mail from the folks at CatholicEverything.com asking me to link to them. In return they have offered to list my blog on their site, complete with a description of my blog.

What should the description say?

Line spacing

Can anyone help me understand why a space is not appearing between paragraphs when I type a post directly in the "compose" mode in Blogger?

A Papal Blog?

Teaching four classes at the high school each day as I am - with working with the soccer team to boot - I've been a bit behind lately, especially concerning e-mail.

One of the things I missed as a result was a Zenit article the recent suggestion made in the Synod of Bishops to the Holy Father that he start a daily blog of reflections on Scripture.

Thankfully, I did caught the story via the Curt Jester, who has a few suggestions for the name of the proposed blog. I prefare Pontifex Blogimus or Supreme Blogger of the Universal Church, though the latter might be a bit too long.

I don't expect Pope Benedict will create a blog, but if he does it will be the first stop on the Internet I make each day.

Blogger's Choice Awards

As the Blogger's Choice Awards wind to a close, would you mind casting a vote in my direction? Thanks!

Servant and Steward

Yesterday several of you kindly sent messages of gratitude and prayers, noting that the first reading of yesterday's Mass contained the passagre of Saint Paul from which this blog takes its name

I am still recovering from the work of these last few days and a significant weather change or two, as well, and, though I wish I could, I simply do not have the mental ability at the moment to offer a reflection of my own on this passage.

Instead, I offer you a few words of the Servant of God Pope John Paul II on this passage from his Gift and Mystery:

What does it mean to be a priest? According to Saint Paul, it meas above all to be a steward of the mysteries of God: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Not it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy" (I Corinthians 4:1-2). The word "steward" cannot be replaced by any other. It is deeply rooted in the Gospel: it brings to mind the parable of the faithful steward and the unfaithful one (cf. Luke 12:41-48). The steward is not the owner, but the one to whom the owner entrusts his goods so that he will manage them justly and responsibly. In exactly the same way the priest receives from Christ the treasures of salvation, in order duly to distribute them among the people to whom he is sent. These treasures of those of faith. The priest is thus a man of the "mystery of faith." through faith he draws near to the invisible treasures which constitute the inheritance of the world's Redemption by the Son of God. No one may consider himself the "owner" of these treasures; they are meant for all. But, by reason of what Christ laid down, the priest has the task of administering them.

And now I must muster up enough mental concentration to put together the various pieces of Sunday's homily. I'll try to put up a post on homily building later this evening.

Comment moderation enabled

Over the years I have considered enabling comment moderation but decided against it, trusting in the decency and kindness of my readers to follow the Christian law of charity in their posts.

My frequent readers have done this very well and for this I thank them.

However, there have been - on occassion - a commenter or two who has been less than kind, though they never quite "crossed the line" to require moderation. Last night, however, a commenter's words were simply obscene. Consequently, comment moderation has been enabled.

For those of you who have exercised charity in your comments, I regret this necessity.

Due to the sometimes bizarre daily activities and routine of a parish priest, I cannot promise your comments will always be approved in a timely fashion, but I will do what I can.

Another award

I'm delighted to say that Hallowed Ground and I have both won the 2008 Carolina Cannonball Award in the category of "Best Under Appreciated Catholic Blog."

Many thanks to those of you who cast your vote for me!

The other winners of the 2008 Carolina Cannonball Awards are listed here, together with the runners up.

A virtual coffee clatch?

Andrew over at Unam Sanctam wants to have coffee with me. I hope he'll settle for a nice hot chocolate because I cannot stand even the slightest hint of a coffee flavor. Coffee - and coconut - ruin perfectly fine desserts every day.




Really, I'm grateful for his invitation and for the gift of the Coffee Cup Award and, if I lived closer to Malaysia, would happily take him up on his offer.

I bestow this award on the following bloggers with whom I would like to have a cup of chocolate while they drink that nasty drink made from strange beans that will be the downfall of civilazation as we know it:

• Esther, A Catholic Mom in Hawaii - I've met her once before but we didn't have time for a drink
• Easter of A Tribute to Our Priests - I think I met her when I met Esther
• Joey of Catholic Homeschooled Teens - I met him when I met his mom, Esther (can you tell I want to go back to Hawaii?)
• Thom at Ad Dominum - he's got a good humor and a fine mind and conversations with him are bound to be random and enjoyable
• Ellen From Across the Net - how can I not want to meet one of my faithful readers?