Catholic Ragemonkey

So Long and Thanks for All the Fish...

On the good news from my weight, I am wearing a pair of jeans which I had confined to the back of the closet because I was too big for them. I was about to say that the jeans were too small, but that's not fair to the jeans. They didn't change; I did. I am anxious to see what my weight will be when I weigh in on Monday. However, you probably won't be able to find that out unless you ring me up.

I have given the following decision a lot of thought. I know that this decision will come as a surprise to some of you. I have decided to close Catholic Ragemonkey. I spoke with Fr. Hamilton this afternoon about this issue and after much discussion and wrangling, we came to the decision to close up shop. Why? It has become clear to me that I don't have time to devote to this endeavor so that it can be a product of which I can be proud. When I look around at the blogs I like, and you know who you are, I realize that you can only have a really excellent blog if the blog is an integral part of one's work. For me, I have enough to do both in the diocese and in the parish that I don't have enough time left over to write here. Quite frankly, after the day is done, I don't have enough mental resources left over to craft anything which passes for enjoyable reading. Perhaps, I can finally get to writing those articles on adult formation and RCIA that I have been meaning to get to. And don't get me started on the backlog of questions for the diocesan paper. So, for this and other reasons, this is the final post of Catholic Ragemonkey.

**** [Switch to the remarks of Fr. Hamilton] **** Fr. Tharp and I thought it best to have our final post actually be one post and not a post from each of us; therefore you are hearing from both bloggers in this final post. We have appreciated our many readers. It has been rather humbling to run into strangers who tell us they read Catholic Ragemonkey. Our decision is in no way a reflection of readership. Rather, it is a reflection that authorship has been lagging. Readers of CRM know that our posts have become few and far between. Fr. Tharp and I have experienced that life as Pastors just keeps getting busier. We haven't made time to continue posting and that certainly impacts whether you have readers to read. In a certain sense, this decision to close CRM is merely formalizing what, in fact, has already been the case: We can't keep up with what are the basic requirements of having a site such as this for public consumption. In reality, we stopped posting and running this blog quite some time ago. The decision -- to actually make a formal closure -- has not been an easy one. There is a significant part of me that wants to hold on to the blog. But, when I cut through the sentimentality of what we did on CRM in its first two years, I realize that the blog has had its run. Now it is time to say goodbye. As much as I like having a forum to post things that just might be read by anyone around the world, I realize that my most important duties (and the ones on which I will be judged) are right here in front of me: teaching, sanctifying, and governing in the person and in the name of Christ. And all right here in the small section of Christ's flock that is mine to tend in service. I guess Fr. Tharp and I have come to the difficult conclusion that we just can't do justice to blogging. The run has been immense fun. The loyalty of readers has been flattering and humbling. But the time has come to say thank you and goodbye. God bless you all! **** [Return to Fr. Tharp's remarks] ****

In conclusion, I want to thank all the faithful readers who have flattered us with their attention. I hope that we have contributed in some small way to the new evangelization and have helped you progress in the spiritual life with a minimum of scandalous in-fighting. If you see us around, stop by and say hi. As Tim Bisley would insist, I'll leave the coffee for the next guy who shows up. And whoever is last to leave, get the lights on your way out.