Sunday, July 30, 2017

Maryland Catholic Conference Botches Immigration Again

In today's parish bulletin is the thing to the right.  It most likely appeared (or will appear soon) in the bulletins of all Catholic parishes in Maryland.  On the surface, it sounds nice and lovely, doesn't it?  However, what is not said is just as important as what is said.

In its treatment of immigration, the Maryland Catholic Conference continues to obfuscate the immense differences between those immigrants who come to this country by following the established legal procedures for so doing, versus those who enter the country by deliberately flouting those very same procedures.  In other words, the latter group sneaks in, dodging legal authorities.  They are here illegally.  By definition, they become criminals by breaking our laws.  If I were to rob a store or commit an act of vandalism, I too would become a criminal.  One class of crimes does not exempt a perpetrator from the label "criminal".

The Maryland Catholic Conference, along with its USCCB puppet-masters, have long been "front and center" in promoting the progressive agenda of amnesty for illegal immigrants.  Of course these illegal immigrants would both serve to bolster Democrat party votes and undermine traditional American culture, owing to the refusal of many of them to assimilate into American society.  I've written about this many times before, but one little fact deserves special attention.  Catholic Charities received millions in Federal grants to "assist in refuge resettlement".  The Maryland bishops most likely have some financial skin in facilitating the crime of illegal immigration.  I link now to a post in which Michael Hichborn deals with systemic corruption at the USCCB - much of it swirling around immigration.

For those of you who think that Trump's orders are "mean-spirited", bear in mind that illegal immigrants are by definition criminals.  More than a few of them are guilty of other heinous crimes as well, as detailed here.  There are other examples that I may dig out later.  Suffice it to say that this MCC flyer may not be what it purports to be.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Sins Of Superstition: Chi, Yoga, And Harry Potter

I find the videos on the Sensus Fidelium youtube page to be quite helpful.  They are faithful to the Traditions of Holy Mother Church.  When I was approximately 11 years old, the "spirit of Vatican II" had infested our parochial school so I appreciate these resources as I try to recoup the Catholic heritage and patrimony of which many of us were unjustly deprived in our formative years.  I'd recommend perusing that channel.

Friday, July 28, 2017

Baby Charlie Gard Was Murdered

Today the parents of Baby Charlie Gard announced that he passed away after he was removed from his ventilator.  On Monday it was announced that his parents would discontinue their effforts to seek experimental treatment for him, owing to the damage done to Charlie by his court-ordered stagnation at Greater Ormond Hospital.  Even after they ceased their oppposition to the British death-dealing socialized medicine machinery, the parents weren't even allowed to bring their baby home so that he could die surrounded by love.

All across Catholic social media this news is circulating.  I've yet to see anyone call Charlie's death what it really is - murder.  The various British authorities knew that without treatment Charlie would die.  There was news of experimental treatments that have helped other patients like Charlie, and all expenses were paid for Charlie to be transported to such treatment.  Still the British authorities refused to budge.  The fact is that these NHS facists had much to lose if Charlie did indeed benefit from the treatments.  Their status as unquestionable experts would immediately vanish.  No longer could they, with credibility, claim to be the undisputed arbiters of what constitutes the "rights of patients".   As Chris Gard said in the press conference when he annnounced cessation of treatment efforts for Charlie, the British authorities caused delays that rendered efforts futile.  I think that delay was deliberate.  In their mental paradigms, they could not risk Charlie's survival.  They did all they could to protect their collective pride, and they didn't particularly care that they had to engineer the death of a helpless baby in order to save face.

In Catholic moral theology, murder is defined as "the deliberate taking of innocent human life".   The commission of murder isn't always brought about by acts of violent aggression.  The deliberate withholding of due treatment to a sick individual is also an act of murder.  That's why we say that Terri Schiavo was murdered in 2005.  The British authorities deliberately denied to the Gard family the opportunities to pursue treatments for Charlie, preferring instead their own overly-exalted opinions and status to the true well-being of Charlie.

As mentioned earlier, the authorities wouldn't even allow the baby to die at home.  I now wonder that if he were taken home, might he still be alive - or was a quick death engineered?  Now that Charlie has passed away, will the parents be allowed to take his body so they can at least give him a proper funeral?  If not, consider such refusal suspicious.

Monday, July 24, 2017

A Dark Day In England And Christendom

Today the parents of Baby Charlie Gard, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, ended their legal battle to bring their baby to the United States for experimental treatment.  In their statement outside the court room today, Mr. Gard rightly excoriated the legal system for mandating that Charlie go for months without treatment, thus greatly reducing his chances at survival.

LifeNews reported on a statement made by Judge Francis, who imperiously ruled that the state could usurp the God-given rights of parents to protect their children.  As you read this you'll see the unbridled arrogance and haughtiness of this judge, as he represents England's legal system and the socialistic National Health Service that holds so much sway in England.  His statement is reminiscent of behaviors evinced by tyrants throughout history who have ruled for their power over innocent people  He and the other bureaucrats will have the blood of that baby on their hands, barring a miracle whereby Charlie survives after being pulled off life support. Moreover, those who shrugged their shoulders in apathy, and who continue to do so as thousands of babies are slaughtered via abortion each day, will share both in blood-guilt and in responsibility for the collapse of Christian civilization.

This is one reason why Obamacare must be abolished in this country NOW.  In England, the death panels just had their way with a helpless baby.

UPDATE: More details from Connie Yates, Charlie's mother.


Sunday, July 23, 2017

Concerns About This Papacy Increase

Holy Mother Church is under attack.  Not too many people will deny that for the evidence is irrefutable.  What is often denied, despite equally irrefutable evidence, is that many of these attacks are occurring with the approval, if not initiative, of the current pontiff.  I had hopes in the early stages of this papacy that such was not the case, but had to address the evidence as it was, not as I might have wished it were.

For that I and many others have been accused of "bashing the pope", "not having faith", "being a sedevacantist", etc.  So be it.  We pray for our detractors for I believe that many do love the Church; they simply cannot face the fact that not all popes are of the same caliber as some of the sainted ones.  In fact, Our Lord never promised us holy pontiffs.  He promised that no sitting pope would ever solemnly proclaim error - and that's it!

But let's recap the sorry history of this papacy to date; some others have done much of that cataloging for us.  We have, from last week, "The A-Z List Of Concerns With Pope Francis", courtesy of LifeSiteNews.   The blogger of "That The Bones You Have Crushed May Thrill" put up a post called "Pope Francis Little Book Of Insults" (each insult cited is a link that will take you to the context of that insult).  Earlier today Steve Jalsevac posted an article that details all the harm caused (so far) by the papal gaffe "who am I to judge".

He certainly has no problem whatsoever judging faithful Catholics, as evidenced by the "little book of insults".  A few days ago, in La Civita Cattolica, a publication that enjoys semi-official status at the Vatican, appeared an article co-written by Anthony Spadaro and Marcelo Figueroa entitled "Evangelical Fundamentalism And Catholic Integralism In The USA: A Surprising Ecumenism".  In it they basically trash all those faithful Christians who have the audacity to bring their faith and morals into the public sphere.  Now let's get real.  This blog and others have noted how the Vatican, under this papacy, has allied itself with many progressive and yes, anti-life persons while pushing for unbridled immigration and the population-control mantras.  It is precisely those faithful Catholics, vilified by Spadaro and Figueroa, who are sounding the alarm regarding these death-dealing policies and who are opposing them.  This is one clear reason why those two issued their temper tantrum.  I take it as a testament that we are doing something right in opposing them; else they wouldn't be gnashing their teeth and snarling so incoherently.  Again, I point out that this publication is under Vatican supervision.  Spadaro, one of the two authors, is also a Vatican official.  The contents of that article reflect current Vatican - and I mean papal - thought.

We need to have our ears and eyes wide open and to be praying for the Church, which is now being undermined by her highest leaders.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Private Revelations And Our Lady Of Good Success

Definitely worth your listening time.

Dissident Fr James Martin To Address DC Priest Symposium This September

From Canon212, we have learned that the Washington Theological College, located at 401 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington DC 20017 will be conducting an "Alumni Days 2017" gathering.  As you can see from this flyer, (and by the way, dear chancery moles, I downloaded it so if it "disappears", I can make it "reappear)" dissident Father James Martin, will be the keynote symposium speaker.  

His topic is strangely called "Encountering Jesus: Meeting The Jesus Of History And The Christ Of Faith".  Why are "Jesus" and "Christ" separated in that fashion?  Any Catholic knows that while Jesus possesses two natures, divine and human, His Personhood is divine.  As you'll see in this anthology of posts concerning Martin, he does seem to have some trouble grasping the fact that Jesus Christ isn't just another guy.  The commands of Jesus and His Father are truly to be obeyed - including those regarding the mortal sin of homosexual conduct.

Note that during this symposium, Cardinal Wuerl will be the principal celebrant at the Sunday Mass.  You might also have noted in that anthology that Cardinal Wuerl invited Father Martin (fully aware of his serious heresies) to give the Good Friday meditations at St. Matthew's Cathedral.  Did Cardinal Wuerl pull some strings to get Father Martin invited to this thing?  Given recent history, I believe that is a fair question.

Let's give them a call and urge that Father Martin, on account of his dissidence regarding the gay lifestyle be rescinded.  Faithful priests may wish to avoid this event. Other actions are under consideration.

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Placid And Comfortable Lack The Will To Survive And Protect The Church

Last week President Trump gave an address to the people of Poland.  In that speech he uttered a key statement: "The fundamental question of our time is whether the west has the will to survive".  While the president went on to answer in the affirmative, many of us aren't so certain whether that will exists.   A website called The Trumpet analyzed these presidential remarks and I think in many ways they are spot-on.

We as a nation are quite lethargic when it comes to protecting our culture for we are besotted by sin and rejection of God.  That rejection of God and exaltation of sin has become more and more ensconced in our legal and societal framework during these past few decades whereas in the early part of our nation's history, laws and customs at least gave perfunctory lip service to God and Christian values.  We know that one key effect of sin on the one committing it is that their intellect is darkened and their will is weakened.

The weakening of the will and draining of the will to survive was evident even in Old Testament history.  We can read in the books of Kings how King David, after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah, surrendered control over his own family.  Thus he was lethargic when his son raped his daughter and was murdered by another son who would go on to almost overthrow David himself.  Moving onto the Book of Judges we see how Samson was undone by his dalliance with Delilah.  The loss of will to survive has been evident almost from the start of human existence.

Not only in the arena of civil governance do we see this creeping lethargy, but also among the ranks of many Catholics.  For the sake of this post, I'm focusing on Catholics who exhibit a modicum of fidelity to the Faith by attending Mass and doing many good and charitable things within the context of their parishes.  However, when it comes to facing real threats from within the Church leadership they reflexively turn blind eyes and deaf ears to the facts that are slapping them in the face.

This deliberate blindness and deafness is magnified even more when it comes to the ever-increasing number of misbehaviors by this current pope.  I've commented about this before and now link to a LifeSiteNews article that's a few months old but still quite relevant.  Anna Silvas, who is being interviewed in that article, postulates that an "affective papalism" might be a big cause of their blindness.  That could well be a large part of the problem.  An inordinate desire for a "simplistic Catholic faith" and the overvaluing of emotions and sentiments are also factors.  When she states that Catholics who sound the alarm are berated, I can affirm that with my own experiences of being chided for being "dour" and "hateful", etc.

I now suggest that the seeking of the "simplistic" and "experiential" are inherently sinful for they involve willful (if somewhat reflexive) rejection of objective truth.  Such embrace of a subtly sinful mindset will also dull the intellect, weaken the will and diminish the will to survive as Catholics.

So now I ask this question: do the readers of this blog have the will to see our Church survive for the sake of their own souls and those whom they love?  Will they resist the insipid calls to "lighten up" and be willing not only to pray but to take decisive action if threats should present themselves?  See hereherehere, and here.  When (not "if" but "when") attacks present themselves, will we be ready to act?  Will we, as a Church, have the will to survive?

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Possible Motives Behind Papal Malfeasances

Through Canon 212, I came across two posts.  One is by George Neumayr entitled "The Roots Of Pope Francis' Anti-Americanism".  The other is from a blog called The Deus Ex Machina and it's entitled "More Fog Lifting - FrancisPlan Becoming Clearer And Clearer".  They might seem unrelated but I think there is a common theme running through both.  Most progressives harbor deep hatred for western culture - that is, culture that largely originated in Europe from its Catholic roots and that spread throughout its various colonies.  The United States of America is one of those offshoots.  Owing to our constitutional republican form of government, we have certain safeguards that have helped retard the disintegration of our cultural roots as compared to Europe - but we aren't that far behind them.  The progressives are literally hell-bent on expunging from society any vestige of belief and obedience to God and His Roman Catholic Church.

Sadly, they see in Pope Francis an ally in the pursuit of their goals.  The US, again, remains as an obstacle to their plans.  Had Hillary Clinton won the White House last November, their juggernaut could have processed with lightning speed.  By God's grace, she lost and now the rate of decline has slowed somewhat.  Hence the pot-shots that the pope has been lobbing in President Trump's direction - and towards us who abhor the progressive agenda.

Other recipients of papal pot-shots are faithful Catholics, particularly those of us who sound the alarm about malfeasances coming from the Vatican.  In a development that is coming straight from the "niggers of the new age" department, we have been advised of a hit piece that appeared in Civilta Cattolica, a semi-official publication coming from the Vatican.  One of the two authors is Father Antonio Spadaro (a subject of many posts)   In that piece you can see the visceral hatred that Spadaro (and quite possibly the pope) harbor for those of us who shine the light on their shenanigans; Church Militant TV has particularly earned their scorn.  Rorate Caeli has the full text.  I think I'm not alone in opining that we faithful Catholic bloggers can take hit pieces like this as badges of honor.

I'd like to return to the "more fog lifting" piece for a moment.  Towards the bottom of the article we read that Pope Francis is "trying to engineer a schism in the Catholic Church...to drive the Catholics out of the post-conciliar church, thereby leaving all the physical assets and cash for the FrancisChurch".  This thought has occurred to me before.  One must admit that his "gaffes" are becoming too numerous, too blatant for any reasonable and honest person to believe that they are merely innocent blunders.  Of course Neumayr cannot say for certain just what is motivating the pope, but no one can honestly gainsay that there is some sort of ulterior motive behind Amoralis Lamentia, the way that faithful prelates are being treated, etc.

Do we have the honesty and intestinal fortitude to accept the truth that is literally slapping us in the face?

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Disgraceful Dismissal Of Cardinal Muller

Cardinal Muller has been dismissed as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  We knew that was coming, owing to the Cardinal's stances on both Laudato Si and Amoris Laetitia.  One Peter Five has further details of the dismissal interview. The pope summoned Cardinal Muller to a conference.  Right away the Pope presented him with five questions in apparent mockery of the dubia issued a few months ago by the "dubia Cardinals".  The questions are (with the Cardinal's replies):

  • Are you in favor of, or against, a female diaconate? “I am against it,” responded Cardinal Müller.
  • Are you in favor of, or against, the repeal of celibacy? “Of course I am against it,” the cardinal responded.
  • Are you in favor of, or against, female priests? “I am very decisively against it,” replied Cardinal Müller.
  • Are you willing to defend Amoris Laetitia? “As far as it is possible for me,” the Prefect of the Congregation for the Faith replied: “there still exist ambiguities.”
  • Are you willing to retract your complaint concerning the dismissal of three of your own employees? Cardinal Müller responded: “Holy Father, these were good, unblemished men whom I now lack, and it was not correct to dismiss them over my head, shortly before Christmas, so that they had to clear their offices by 28 December. I am missing them now.”
Any Catholic worthy of the name would have answered all five of these in the negative, as has the Cardinal.  Immediately afterwards, the Pope announced to the Cardinal his dismissal from the post and abruptly ended the interview by walking out without even a "good bye".

When Cardinal Muller first complained about the manner of his dismissal, these details were not known.  Now we can understand the Cardinal's complaint in the correct context.  He also remarked that the Church should follow its own social teaching.  I agree.  For all the jibber-jabber about "dialogue" and "accompanying", those two elements were nowhere to be found in that conversation.

I will say one thing.  The pope put forth five questions and received five very prompt replies.  Will he now condescend to answer the cardinals' dubia?

Who's next?  Will it be Cardinal Sarah?  How about Archbishop Schneider or maybe Bishop Paprocki?  Pray that the faithful prelates remain steadfast and show your support for them.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Coccopalmerio's

Courtesy of That The Bones You Have Crushed May Thrill - and apologies to Barry Manilow.  There is much truth in this thing.

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Some Closer Looks At The Vatican Gay-Drug Orgy

Last Tuesday I posted about the drug/sex orgy inside Vatican facilities that was busted by local police.  This occurred in the apartment of Msgr Capozzi, who was so high on cocaine that he had to taken to a local hospital for detoxification.

LifeSiteNews has summarized key facts about this debacle, while Toronto Catholic Witness broaches more considerations, including the obvious cover-up.   Capozzi's boss, Cardinal Coccopalmerio, said that Catholic leaders "must emphasize the positive realities that are present in homosexual relationships".  Bear in mind that this man is head of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legal Texts.  Did the Cardinal just give us a glimpse of the kind of "interpretations" that will spew forth from his council?  When he made his remarks, did he know of Capozzi's gay escapades?  I suspect the answer to both of those questions is "yes".

Speaking of "emphasizing positive realities", several US parishes are in fact coddling sodomite sin.  Church Militant advises us of a California parish that is celebrating its sodomite parish council member in their bulletin.  Just one hour's drive from me is a moral cesspool that used to be Catholic parish; I refer to St. Matthew's in Baltimore (on Loch Raven Boulevard).  I've written enough about that, but will most likely have more  to report.

We will need to both pray and act.  One cannot truly happen without the other.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Rogues' Gallery!

Here they are!  Whatever happened to all that "dialogue" and "encountering" and "tolerance" and  "accompanying" and "listening"?  Does that only happen when the end purpose is to quash piety, weaken the Faith, compromise Christ's moral teachings?  I guess so!


This was featured at the "Convolution of Catholic Leadership" that concluded in Orlando a few days ago.  The Vortex below gives more details of the disgusting way in which faithful Catholics, operating with Catholic donation dollars (and perhaps we should all stop donating to the national collections), are treated by their feckless "leaders".  By the way - the "somewhat well-known blogger" mentioned at the 5:05 mark is Brandon Vogt, employee of Bishop Robert Barron.  The latter is the quasi-heretic who called Martin Luther a "mystic of grace" and who thinks there is "reasonable hope that no one is in hell": and yes, he spoke at this Orlando gab-fest.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

A Parish Council Worth Its Weight In Gold - Action Item At Bottom

I speak of the parish council at St John Bosco parish, in the Archdiocese of Palmero located in Italy - Sicily to be precise.  They have a parish priest named Don Alessandro Maria Minutella.  The latter is being sacked by Archbishop Corrado Lorefice because he teaches the truth about marriage, Holy Communion, etc.  He will not allow adulterers to receive Holy Communion and has publicly decried the language in Amoralis Lamentia that permits such abominations.

The parishioners are upset and understandably so.  Knowing the proclivities of their bishop, they have reason to fear a progressive being named as Minutella's replacement.  They are being diligent not only for their own souls but those of their families.

LifeSiteNews not only has more details of the situation but they also have a translation of the open letter that the local parish council sent to their bishop.  They make plain the fact that they are not going to roll over and play dead, that they will not play the rubber stamp.  They want at least to discuss the matter with the bishop.  With all the kvetching about "dialogue" and "encounter", is this such a difficult concept for Lorefice to grasp?  Or does that only work when the conversation favors progressivism?

Readers, I for one applaud the clarity and courage of this parish council.  It is worthy of study and emulation.  Let us ponder that last word, for many of us will most likely face such scenarios where we'll have to stand up to diocesan bullies who would spiritually starve us and our loved ones.

Meanwhile, we can add our voices to those of the parish council members.  Here is the contact page from the diocesan site.  Please write your own emails.  Unless you are writing in Italian, I'd suggest brevity along with clarity.  These chanceries do seem to respond to volumes of contact; let's make our own, shall we?

Dubia Cardinal Meisner Has Died

Joacim Cardinal Meisner passed away early this morining while on vacation.  A cause of death has not been announced.  Recall that Antonin Scalia also passed away while away from home.  Color me suspicious; I wouldn't put anything past what is in the Vatican now.

Please pray for his eternal repose.  The man did display courage in standing for the Truths of Our Church.  May he rest in peace and may eternal light shine on him, O Lord.

Continue to pray for our church.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Vatican Official Arrested For Engaging In Drug And Sodomy Orgy

Vatican police busted a drug-and-sodomy orgy that was occurring at the apartment of Msgr Luigi Capozzi, secretary to Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, head of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.  The apartment is located in the same building that houses the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.  Capozzi was taken to a hospital to be detoxified (apparently he was quite buzzed) and then taken to an Italian monastery (maybe Monte Cassino).  The cardinal had proposed that Capozzi be made bishop.

Toronto Catholic Witness has seen reports that this debacle may have occurred at least two months ago.  That would put the drug bust in the Easter season or perhaps even Lent.  What a way to profane some of the Church's most holy days.  Moreover, Capozzi had an entire bag of cocaine at the orgy.

The Vatican must have known this story was going to break.  Can this be a reason for the rather odd timing of the Pell and Muller expulsions from the Vatican?

Monday, July 3, 2017

Who's Not Speaking For Baby #CharlieGard ?

Earlier today we heard that a Vatican-owned hospital (Bambino Gesu) offered to care for Baby Charlie Gard and that President Trump also offered assistance to him.  We pray that the hard hearts in England's National Health Service will turn from their murderous intents and at least let this baby go from their clutches.

From whom have we not heard yet?  Quite a few.
  • This so-called "Convocation of Catholic Leaders" in Orlando has not uttered one peep although they are ostensibly interested in the "challenges" facing the Church today.  If a hardened murderer was soon to be executed, you could bet your bottom dollar that the wailing and gnashing of teeth from that hotel could be heard the world over.  But when an innocent infant is being murdered by socialized medicine (one of their darling causes), they utter not one peep.
  • Speaking of "executions", death-penalty opponent Sr. Helen Prejean is another progressive who has been abysmally silent regarding a truly unjust execution.  I've searched both her Facebook and Twitter pages and cannot find not even the mention of #CharlieGard 's name.
  • Similarly the "Catholic Mobilizing Network To End the Use of the Death Penalty" (isn't that a mouthful?) also has nothing to say about this tiny, innocent victim of execution imposed by socialists.
We will continue to pray that #CharlieGard 's life will be spared.  In the meantime, the entities listed in the bulleted points have forfeited all moral credibility.  Truth be told, they accomplished that quite some time ago, but now such lack of credibility is one again made manifest.

Convolution Of Catholic Leadership Conference

As I write this, the USCCB is hosting in Orlando its so-called "Convocation of Catholic Leaders".  Its ostensible purpose is to "assess the challenges and opportunities of our times".  In other words, they know something is wrong with the Church but they don't want to admit that they are a large part of that "something", owing to:
  • their abandonment of their God-given mission to save souls by by preaching God's gospel, administering the Sacraments and proclaiming the Church's traditions on faith and morals
  • their connivance with progressives as the latter seek to spread their anti-God and anti-life bile throughout civilization in return for money and political favors
Therefore, ignoring the obvious, they are now gathering for a collective head-scratching gab-fest session where they will cluck about "social justice", "global warming", etc.

Michael Voris and Church Militant TV are at the same hotel in Orlando where the USCCB is squandering thousands of dollars now.  They are simply trying to tell these leaders that the answers to their questions are really quite simple.  Namely they are simply to obey the Traditions of the Church, that is, the teachings of Jesus Christ that have been handed down for these past two thousand years.  Many of us have been stating that incessantly on our own sites over these past years.

Before they were squelched by USCCB personnel at the hotel, CM was distributing this flyer.  The suggestions contained therein, if implemented, would go a long way towards restoring the spiritual life of the One True Church.  That in turn would allow the Church to become a more effective channel of God's grace to this very broken world.  I will say, though, this list is by no means all-inclusive.

A few days ago Michael Hichborn released the podcast below.  From another angle he also reiterates that the solutions to the Church's various crises are really quite simple and they all mandate a return to the Traditions and Teachings of Our Lord.  Because those teachings emanate from the Eternal God, they are immutable as He is immutable.