Flagons, dragons and dancing girls?

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES reports on Cardinal Mahony's recent trip to China ...

"Mahony's low-key journey was not announced in advance because of what archdiocesan spokesman Tod Tamberg called diplomatic sensitivities. Although Mahony described the tour as a private sabbatical, he said he is preparing a report of his findings for the Vatican."

This is so weird. While his Archdiocese is in ruins, Mahony goes off as a self-appointed Vatican diplomat to China. Like Pope Benedict really needs him to do this? What hubris!

"[Mahony] delivered addresses at three Chinese seminaries at the invitation of the official Chinese Catholic Patriotic Assn., a government group that keeps close tabs on the state-approved "patriotic" church."

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles used to have three seminaries. Now there is just one because Mahony closed two of them and the third is barely staying afloat because he has no vocations. What could Mahony possibly teach the Chinese about seminaries other than, "this is how you go about closing them"?

"Mahony spent more than two weeks in China, including stays in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. He said he was informed that he was the first cardinal ever to publicly celebrate Mass in Shanghai, at St. Peter's parish church."

So he said Mass in Shanghai. I wonder if he brought with him the usual flagons, dragons and dancing girls.

That would have gone over well.