Loose Lips in the Loggia (Laetare Thursday Edition)

From everything we've heard about the new movie “Noah” starring the totally awesome bad@$$ Russell Crowe, it probably should have been named “Attack of the Tree-Hugging Rock People.” Or something. But director Darren Aronofsky, while admitting to a departure from the biblical account (also done in the opening title, as if that wasn't enough), defends his work in this interview on CNN. More on that later.

Meanwhile, here's what's bouncing around the bandwidth of Believers lately:

• Darren Aronofsky is not alone. [The Matt Walsh Blog]

• Someone saw a female American official wear a black pantsuit when greeting the pope in a private audience, so the conclusion was that the dress code in the Vatican wasn't as strict as it used to be. Au contraire, mon frere! [The Deacon's Bench]

• "Equivalent canonizations." What the hell is that??? [Catholic News Service]

• Is the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) greater than the Order of Preachers (Dominicans)? Three of the latter make their case, in a venue devoted to the former -- or at least it was. There's a story behind the story, but read the first story, uh, first. [The Jesuit Post]

• There are occasionally accounts of incidents where, the more answers are provided, the more questions they raise. Unfortunately, this is one of them. (Read the comments section. It includes what all the pretend-pundits have mysteriously omitted.) [The American Catholic]

• Thomas Aquinas wrote: “When the faith is in imminent peril, prelates ought to be accused by their subjects, even in public.” Some guy goes to great lengths -- a little too great, so settle down for a long one -- to get around that. [Mary Victrix]

• Finally, and in the face of the above, Thomas McDonald believes it's time for Catholics to get a serious grip on themselves -- as yours truly has done all along. [God and the Machine]

Well, that's our story and we're stickin' to it. Remember to attend Holy Mass this Sunday. Until the next chattel of church chat, stay tuned, and stay in touch.