Bishop Sheridan to withhold funds from "Peace" group
Bishop Sheridan's request to Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission to explicitly state opposition to abortion rights has been refused.

On April 12, Sheridan asked the group to "explicitly acknowledge its commitment to defend life at every moment from conception to natural death" to be considered for funding.

[He] also questioned the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission's ties with DignityUSA, a gay Catholic group with a Colorado Springs chapter.

Sheridan also highlighted commission director,Sister Dorothy Schlaeger's comments about DignityUSA, noting that the catechism also condemns "the active homosexual lifestyle."

Matthew Gallagher, a DignityUSA spokesman, called Sheridan's language about gays hateful.

Article.



- posted by LRS @ 1:32 PM   

 
Bishop Olmsted suspends defiant priest
Get a load of the headline at the Arizona Republic, though: Bishop punishes priest for signing gay-rights letter

The Rev. Andre Boulanger, who is retired, said Friday he got word of the suspension Thursday in a letter from Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted.

Olmsted said the declaration did not fully reflect Catholic teaching, which holds that homosexuals must live a chaste life, and homosexual activity is "intrinsically disordered."

Boulanger responded to that letter with a two-page missive, arguing that church teaching is based on outdated science.

"I've grown accustomed to being the outcast," he said. "This is just one further step."

That's right...He's grown accustomed to be disobedient. Irreversible Church teaching doesn't agree with his ideas...The purging of heretics and dissidents continues in Arizona.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 1:24 PM   

 
Traditionalists deserve respect, cardinal says

Vatican, May. 31 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Dario Castrillion Hoyos, the Vatican official charged with relations with traditionalist Catholics, believes that traditionalist often do not receive enough respect from Church leaders.

The Colombian prelate told he Italian daily Il Giornale that traditionalists should never be treated as second-class citizens in the Church. He admitted that the Church sometime shows more consideration in dealings with Protestant and Orthodox groups than with traditionalist Catholics. At the same time, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos suggested that some traditionalists should avoid "types of exasperated criticism" of Church leaders.

Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, the prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, is also chairman of the Ecclesia Dei commission, set up by Pope John Paul II (bio - news) to supervise the implementation of the papal indult authorizing a "wide and generous" accommodation of Catholics who prefer the traditional Mass. The cardinal also has been delegated by Pope John Paul II to handle negotiations with the schismatic Society of St. Pius X, in an effort to bring that traditionalist group back into full communion with the Holy See.

To satisfy the legitimate concerns of traditionalist Catholics, "a greater understanding is necessary," the cardinal said. He observed that Pope John Paul has "recognized the validity of their liturgical sensibilities." While other Catholics may not share those sensibilities, he insisted that traditionalists "are not second-class Catholics and must not be treated as such." Regarding the status of talks with the Society of St. Pius X, Cardinal Castrillon said that "the Pope and his closest collaborators are doing everything within their power" to persuade the Lefebvrist group that "the time is ripe" for their return. He voice regrets that the "hesitations" of the Society's leaders had slowed that process.

© All material copyright 2004 Domus Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 1:22 PM   

 

CHICAGO - Roman Catholic gay-rights supporters wearing rainbow-colored sashes to Mass were denied communion Sunday, while dozens in Minnesota had to walk around protesters to receive the holy sacrament.

Rainbow Sash Movement spokesman Joe Murray was among those denied communion in Chicago. He said members wearing the sashes should be seen no differently than a uniformed police officer or Boy Scout seeking communion.

What an unbelievable statement...

In St. Paul, Minn., people wearing the rainbow-colored sashes were given communion Sunday despite protests from some parishioners who kneeled in front of the altar blocking their way.

Welcome to St. Paul...There is no need to be properly disposed to receive Holy Communion here.

The Rainbow Sash Movement received an e-mail Tuesday from the Los Angeles Archdiocese inviting them to Mass on Sunday, but no one wearing sashes showed up for morning or midday Masses at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, archdiocese spokesman Tod Tamberg said.

Article here.



- posted by LRS @ 1:15 PM   

 
Pope Calls New Movements a "Providential Answer"

The new ecclesial movements and communities are a "providential answer" of the Holy Spirit for the Church, John Paul II said on the eve of Pentecost.

Zenit article.
- posted by LRS @ 1:12 PM   

 
Update on the Catholic School Teacher's Union
The "Association of Catholic and Elementary Educators" is listed as another of the 'working groups' of Catholic Action Network. They have recently posted a letter to Archbishop Burke:

Most Reverend Archbishop Raymond L. Burke
The Catholic Center
4445 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis MO 63108

Dear Archbishop Burke:
As you are aware, the Association of Catholic Elemen­tary Educators (ACEE Local 1312) is an affiliated Local Union of the Carpenters' District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity. Mary Chubb, President of Local 1312, has dutifully reported to this office that the spokes­man for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Most Reverend Robert Hermann, has made certain remarks concerning Labor Unions in general and ACEE Local 1312 in par­ticular, that has me personally disturbed and concerned.

Statements such as ACEE Local 1312 is using "scare tac­tics" and stating that "unions are outmoded", "unions mean strikes", using "phony documents", "unions are not the way to go" and "unions are eroding" affect the integ­rity of not only ACEE Local 1312, but also this District Council, and all labor organizations.

Mrs. Chubb recently wrote to you, asking if Bishop Hermann's comments portrayed the St. Louis Archdio­cese's position on Labor Unions. If this is indeed the case, I would like to hear this from you, as the Archbishop of the St. Louis Archdiocese, rather than from one of your subordinates. Since you are new to the St. Louis area, as a professional courtesy, I have decided to give you the benefit of the doubts that Bishop Hermann has raised by his degradation of Unions, and slanderous remarks to­ward an affiliate of this District Council.

Perhaps, you should be made aware of the position of this District Council and its affiliated Local Unions. When­ever asked for assistance, financial or otherwise, the Car­penters' District Council has always been there to help. We support many efforts of many parishes within the Archdiocese with financial contributions, on a regular basis. The neighboring parishes of our District Council offices know they can always count on the "Carpenters" for support. This assistance comes from hardworking people, in forty- four counties hi Missouri, thirty-three counties in Illinois, and people in all walks of life, includ­ing the members of ACEE Local 1312. The Carpenters' Union represents "working people" and not just those who work in the construction industry. It is appalling to be slapped in the face with such remarks for the helping hand that has always been extended to the Catholic Church in St. Louis.

Bishop Hermann's response to Mrs. Chubb's letter asking for the position of the Archdiocese on Labor Organiza­tions remains unanswered. It only stated that many things were taken out of context, which is hard to believe since the two officers of Local 1312, Mrs, Mary Chubb, and Ms. Stephanie Funiaole, who also attended the meeting with Bishop Hermann, both clearly understood Bishop Hermann's message.

It is my duty, as the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Carpenters' District Council of St. Louis and Vicinity, to report matters such as this to the District Council Dele­gates who represent the 22,000 members from the thirty-nine affiliated Local Unions. As mentioned earlier, I also feel it is necessary to give you and the Archdiocese the benefit of the doubts raised by Bishop Hermann, and al­low you to respond to our question.

Are Bishop Robert Hermann's remarks and degrading comments about Labor Unions made to Mrs. Mary Chubb and Ms. Stephanie Funiaole the position of the Archdiocese of St. Louis?

Tuning is of the utmost importance in this matter. Hear­ing no response by the end of April will leave me no choice but to fulfill my obligations and report this heart wrenching situation, first to my members and then to all Labor Unions in the Community.

Sincerely,
Terry Nelson
Executive Secretary-Treasurer

We had very few, if any, lay teachers in grade school when I was there many years ago. For the most part, all of them, the sisters and lay teachers did an excellent job. My stong foundation in the faith is largely the result of many very good religious sisters solidly committed to educating us when we were children.

Had so many not abandoned this noble endeavor to pursue and embrace eco-theology and other strange activities, perhaps this subject would not be pertinent. While there are, no doubt, many very good lay teachers involved in Catholic education, one wonders why they go into this field fully aware that the pay and benefits are different from that of public schools. How many are more concerned with providing a solid Catholic foundation for children as opposed to other reasons?
- posted by LRS @ 7:32 AM   

 
A call to Evangelize through the media, especially the Internet

EVANGELIZE THROUGH THE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 27, 2004 (VIS)
Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, highlighted the need to "launch a special effort of evangelization through the media, including and perhaps especially through Internet." And he went on to express his view that "some media plan would be essential to make the contents of the Catechism better known and understood."

VIS Article.

- posted by LRS @ 7:20 AM   

 
The Holy Father Addresses Bishops from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana

Every Christian, in carrying out this prophetic mission, has taken on a personal responsibility for the divine truth revealed in the Incarnate Word, handed on in the Church’s living Tradition, and made manifest in the efforts of believers to spread the faith and to transform the world by the light and power of the Gospel (cf. Redemptor Hominis, 19).

This "responsibility for the truth" demands of the Church a forthright and credible witness to the deposit of faith. It calls for a correct understanding of the act of faith itself as a graced assent to the word of God which enlightens the mind and empowers the spirit to rise to the contemplation of uncreated truth, "so that by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves" (Fides et Ratio, Proemium). An effective proclamation of the Gospel in contemporary Western society will need to confront directly the widespread spirit of agnosticism and relativism which has cast doubt on reason’s ability to know the truth which alone satisfies the human heart’s restless quest for meaning. At the same time, it must firmly defend the Church as being, in Christ, the authentic minister of the Gospel and the "pillar and bulwark" of its saving truth (cf. 1 Tim 3:15; Lumen Gentium, 8).

For this reason, the new evangelization calls for an unambiguous presentation of faith as a supernatural virtue by which we are united to God and become sharers in his own knowledge, in response to his revealed word.

An essential element of the Church’s dialogue with contemporary society must also be a correct presentation, in catechesis and preaching, of the relationship between faith and reason. This will lead to a more fruitful understanding of the spiritual dynamics of conversion as obedience to the word of God, openness to "putting on the mind of Christ" (Phil 2:5), and sensitivity to that supernatural sensus fidei by which "the people of God, under the guidance of the sacred magisterium to which it is faithfully obedient, adheres indefectibly to ‘the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’" (Lumen Gentium, 12).

Vatican Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:15 AM   

 
Swiss say Pope must go

Seventy-four per cent of Swiss think the Pope should retire because of his age and poor health, according to a survey published by “L’Hebdo” magazine.

Does this mean that only about 25% of professed Catholics in Switzerland are actually Catholic?

In the survey of 1,025 people, just 17 per cent said the Pope - who celebrated his 84th birthday last week - should remain in office.

"People are focused on external matters like age and health. I would say we have a cult of youth,” (Dr Agnell) Rickenmann, (secretary-general of the Swiss Bishops' Conference) told swissinfo.

Of course they are...Rather than being focused on reaching heaven or praying for the Holy Father, let's concern ourselves with things of this world.

Respondents were also asked what Pope John Paul II was best known for.

In answer, 34.6 per cent named an “irresponsible” stance against condoms in the age of Aids, while 24.2 per cent answered that he had “strengthened” the Catholic Church. Twenty-five per cent had no opinion.

It seems that at least 35% are profoundly confused and perhaps ignorant in basic moral theology.

Theologian Hans Küng said the open letter was “absolutely correct”. He too, called for the resignation of the Pope, and said a new pontiff should push for major church reforms.

Hans Kung - Theologian? Of course, he is...

Article here.





- posted by LRS @ 7:01 AM   

 
Survey: Bishops Shouldn't Pressure Voters

About 71 percent of American voters believe U.S. Roman Catholic bishops should not publicly pressure Catholic politicians on abortion, according to a survey released Thursday.

When broken down by Catholic voters, 66 percent said the bishops should not publicly pressure Catholic lawmakers and 87 percent said the bishops' comments would not influence their vote in November.

Did they also ask these questions of those professed Catholics?
Do you attend Mass at least every Sunday?
Do you practice artificial contraception?
Do you go to Confession at least monthly?
Do you believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist?
Do believe in Hell?

No, I didn't think so...

Link.

- posted by LRS @ 6:52 AM   

 
God's Judgment Is Hope for Believer, Says the Holy Father

John Paul II says that for a believer, God's judgment should be a reason for hope, not fear.

"He is, indeed, judge, but he is also Savior; he condemns evil but recompenses faithfulness; he is justice but above all love," the Pope said during today's general audience.

"To his victory is associated the testimony of the martyrdom of Christians. There is a profound participation in the redeeming work of the Lamb on the part of the faithful who have not hesitated -- love for life did not deter them from death," the Holy Father said.

We are called upon to be martyrs, witnesses, for Jesus. We are called upon to be holy and, by our example, to lead others to Christ.

Zenit Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:40 AM   

 
How low can we go?

LOGO, a new cable television network targeted at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) viewers will be launched by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIAB) on February 17, 2005. The new channel will be advertiser-supported, targeting primarily gays and lesbians, 25-49, and will provide a mix of original and acquired programming that is authentic, smart, inclusive and open-minded.

Creating a network specifically for the LGBT community is something we've wanted to do for a long, long time, and it's an idea we feel is overdue," said Tom Freston, chairman and CEO of MTV Networks. "Despite our nation's progress on civil rights and the growing visibility of gay people in business, society and even in television programming -- what has been missing is a full-time home for this important and influential audience on television. We have big plans and hopes for LOGO and I'm thrilled to finally announce its arrival."

I believe that we are witnessing the collapse of America before our very eyes. Looking at our culture has deteriorated over the past 40+ years is something I would have never believed could happen.

We are in need of God's might hand of justice and mercy if we are to turn our society around from its headlong dash toward destruction.

Yahoo article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Cardinal Keeler weighs in on Politicians and Holy Communion

Addressing a national controversy for the first time, Baltimore's Cardinal William H. Keeler said he opposes an attempt by some bishops to politicize Communion and deny the sacrament to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.

"Our position is ... Catholics have a responsibility to examine their own conscience and see if they are in a state that is appropriate for the reception of the sacrament," he said. "We don't need bishops to get into the act."

It is certainly a laudable goal to have Catholics examine their own consciences...but as a result of decades of failed catechesis, it seems that far too many professed Catholics are unable to do that. Until such time as Catholics are adequately educated in the faith, this policy will fail. Until Catholics are again able to properly distinguish virtue and vice, good and evil, morality and immorality, other measures are needed to illuminate that Truth which has been obscured by Satan and a decadent society, and sustained by the failure to educate the faithful.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:06 AM   

 
This essay is adapted from his (Avery Cardinal Dulles) most recent McGinley Lecture, delivered at Fordham on March 2, 2004. In it, the Cardinal surveys the revival of apologetics over the past generation and discusses the strengths and limitations of reasoned argument in bringing people to the faith. He concludes that successful apologetics depends not only on argument but also effective witness on the part of the apologist.

Recent popes have been calling the Catholic Church to a new evangelization. To evangelize, we must allow the testimony of God, of the apostles, and of the Church to speak through us. This we cannot do with confidence and success unless we have assured ourselves that the testimony is credible and unless we are able to convince others that this is the case. Holy Scripture instructs us not to neglect apologetics. "Always be prepared," says the First Letter of Peter, "to give a defense (apologian) of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). If we love Christ and cherish our faith, and if we wish to spread its saving influence, we will not shirk this important responsibility. The time is ripe, the need is urgent, for a rebirth of apologetics.

This is an excellent article which should be read by every budding Catholic apologist - actually every Catholic!
- posted by LRS @ 9:43 PM   

 
A 'Watchdog' Group Asks IRS to Revoke CO. Diocese Tax Exempt Status

Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, said the church should lose its tax-exempt status because it used church resources for political purposes.

Where has Barry been for past few decades while, primarily, minority pastors of various protestant denominations have used the pulpit to support por-abortion, pro-welfare, pro-entitlement, politicians?

Is the persecution just getting started?

Link.

- posted by LRS @ 9:34 PM   

 
HLI President's Statement on Scandal in the Catholic Church

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president, Human Life International, rebukes the 48 "Catholic" U.S. congressmen who claim being denied communion because of their pro-abortion stance will "revive anti-Catholic bigotry":

"The Lord Jesus had a term for those who professed to believe in sacred principles and then contradicted those principles by their public positions and actions: hypocrites. Every wretched sinner, public or private, who turned away from sin, always received the fullness of His mercy, but He could not and would not countenance the pharisaical posturing of those legalists who knew the meaning of the law and flouted it anyway. If terms like 'whitewashed tombs full of dead men's bones' and 'brood of vipers' say anything, they express the Lord's perfect contempt for such hypocrisy and those who think they know more than God.

"I have one very simple suggestion for all 'Catholic' Pharisees who want to be in the Church but not of the Church: spare us all your scandal mongering and get the hell out."

I had missed this press release and can honestly say that I feel much the same.

What must be distinguished in things of this nature are those who are honestly and legitimately confused about a particular Church teaching and those who boldly, proudly and, at times, publicly denounce the teaching of the Church making no effort to even try to understand it or accept it on faith.

Perhaps, now is the time to differentiate between those professed Catholics who are sinners even though they still make the effort to accept everything that is proposed for our belief with those others who are also sinners and who may rightly be called material 'heretics' because of the express rejection of the Church's teachings. This outright rejection separates one from the Church, the Mysical Body of Christ. Those who have been advised of the Church's teachings yet willfully embrace that which is contrary to the truth would be formally guilty of heresy. It is scandalous that these errors are permitted to occur in the Church with few, if any, consequences for the offending parties. Thic cannot possibly promote the doctrinal teachings of the Church, nor does it teach the meaning of true charity.

Maybe it is well past the time for Bishops to notify those publicly embracing a heresy, knowing it to be contrary to divine and Catholic faith, to be advised of the teaching of the Church on the matter at issue so as to prepare a case for the the use of Canon 1364 which states:

1. With due regard for can. 194, part 1, n. 2, an apostate from the faith, a heretic or a schismatic incurs automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication and if a cleric, he can also be punished by the penalties mentioned in can. 1336, part 1, nn. 1, 2, and 3.
2. If long lasting contumacy or the seriousness of scandal warrants it, other penalties can be added including dismissal from the clerical state.

One reason for a formal notification would be to educate the 'material heretic' so that a defense of Canon 1321 may not be used later. A person who has not prudently weighed the issues involved in their action is not punished. Canon 1321 reads:

1. No one is punished unless the external violation of a law or a precept committed by the person is seriously imputable to that person by reason of malice or culpability.
2. A person who has deliberately violated a law or a precept is bound by the penalty stated in the law or that precept; unless a law or a precept provides otherwise, a person who has violated that law or that precept through a lack of necessary diligence is not punished.
3. Unless it is otherwise evident, imputability is presumed whenever an external violation has occurred.

It does not seem to pastorally wise to allow the rampant dissent in the Catholic Church to go undisciplined. Archbishop's Burke's use of Canon 915 is a most welcome start, it seems, to cleaning up the Church and providing commendable pastoral leadership in our times. True charity requires these actions. It is not charitable to permit a brother to walk blindly toward the edge of a cliff without some sort of warning to prevent his inevitable death.



- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
Hello, Kettle? This is Pot.

In recent weeks, what Fr. Andrew Greeley has labeled "the fringe of the hierarchy" has been busy overtime. The theological offspring of the peculiar ways of Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Neb., (where the real cathedral is a football stadium), and their spiritual kin, many newly in bishops' robes, have been grabbing headlines.

Bruskewitz is famous for, among other things, excommunicating Catholics in his diocese who belonged to a reform group that counted among its members several other bishops and hundreds of priests and nuns.

How strange it is for Fr. Andrew Greeley to be referring to Bishops Bruskewitz and Sheridan and Archbishops Burke and Chaput as the "fringe"...Of course, of all people, he should know what fringe is.

So, if I understand this 'logic', defending the Church, teaching the Faith, presenting the Truth, and sacrificing one's life to save souls is what constitutes being on the "fringe"?

Our good bishops and priests need our prayers more than ever. They are being attacked both from within and from the outside world for being faithful shepherds of Christ's children.

Those bishops and priests who are confused about what they must do also need our prayers so that they might be graced with God's truth and light and receive the strength to His will.

National unCatholic Distorter article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:27 AM   

 

Archbishop Harry Flynn has said Rainbow Sash members will not be denied Communion, reserving such an action for "extreme" circumstances.

Just then, what are "extreme" circumstances, pray tell - or do any such "extreme" circumstances even exist in our day of enlightenment? To openly defy Church teaching on sexual sins, especially the abomination of homosexuality, and to openly approach the altar to receive our Lord's Body and Blood not only unrepentently, but in a public manifest display of arrogance and disobedience is worse than shameful. What is even worse than there are bishops and priests who allow such scandals to occur. This failure to discipline wreaks havoc on the faithful who, unless having properly formed their consciences, can only become more confused at what the Church teaches.

Some, however, will try to prevent the Rainbow Sash members from receiving Holy Communion. This is being done to protect the Blessed Sacrament from sacrilege, something that some others should do, but won't.

Story here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
Public Sin and the Reception of Holy Communion
Excerpted from a homily posted on the Wanderer:

We have bishops and priests now who refuse to deny the Eucharist to people who are in public sin. They (the people) refuse to make the distinction between private and public. For instance, if I knew that one of you was living a sinful life and you came up to the communion rail, I would have to give you Holy Communion because, number one, I do not know if you have been to Confession; or even if I know that you had not, to deny you Holy Communion would cause a scandal because it would draw the attention to other people that what you are doing privately is now being made public.

So unless I talk to you first and tell you, “If you come up to Communion, I will not give you Holy Communion,” the Church says that even though it is a sacrilege on your part to receive Holy Communion if you are in the state of mortal sin, I would still have to give you Communion.

However, if one is a politician who has a public record of being pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, pro-human-cloning, if there is some other public exposition of your sin, like these unfortunate souls who show up all over the place with rainbow sashes telling people that they are practicing a homosexual lifestyle and demanding that they receive Holy Communion, at that point, it is a sacrilege on the part of the priest to give them Holy Communion because their sin is no longer private – it is now public.

But there are many who do not want to cause waves, and so they refuse to stand up for Jesus; instead, being politically correct is what is more important.

When it came to things that were wrong, Jesus Christ did not remain silent. He taught the truth; He did not wimp out. He did not water it down; He told people exactly what was going to happen to them if they did not change their lives.

...they (Jesus and the Apostles) continued to preach the truth right up to the point when they were thrown out of town. Would that we had priests and bishops today who would do the same.

We have to make sure that we are following the right shepherd.

We have a Good Shepherd, and none of us is going to be able to stand before the Lord and say, “But Father said it was okay. The bishop didn’t do anything about it, so it must have been okay.” The Lord will look at you and say, “I’ll deal with that priest or that bishop when they get here. You, on the other hand, knew better, and I’m going to hold you responsible for what you knew.” We know the truth. It is written in our hearts and on our minds; we are without excuse.

Great homily...Link here


- posted by LRS @ 6:10 AM   

 
Cardinal Law appointed head of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome

Pope John Paul II on Thursday gave Cardinal Bernard F. Law an official position in Rome, naming the former Boston archbishop who resigned in the sex abuse scandal as head of a basilica.

Law will have the title archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, a largely ceremonial post often given to retired prelates.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:09 AM   

 
Instruction on the Festival of Pentecost
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's

Ecclesiastical Year
Copyright 1880

What festival is this?
It is the day on which the Holy Ghost descended in the form of fiery tongues, upon the apostles and disciples, who with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, were assembled in prayer in a house at Jerusalem. (Acts II.)

Why is this day called Pentecost?
The word "Pentecost" is taken from the Greek, and signifies fifty. As St. Jerome explains it, this was the last of the fifty days, commencing with Easter, which the early Christians celebrated as days of rejoicing at the resurrection of the Lord.

Why is this day observed so solemnly?
Because on this day the Holy Ghost, having descended upon the apostles, the law of grace, of purification from sin, and the sanctification of mankind, was for the first time announced to the world; because on this day the apostles, being filled with the Holy Ghost, commenced the work of purifying and sanctifying mankind, by baptizing three thousand persons who were converted by the sermon of St. Peter; and because on this day the Church of Jesus became visible as a community to the world, and publicly professed her faith in her crucified Saviour.

Why did the Holy Ghost descend on the Jewish Pentecost?
Because on their Pentecost the Jews celebrated the anniversary of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, and God would show by sending the Holy Ghost on this days that the Old Law had ceased and the New Law commenced. God also chose this time, that the Jews who on this day came together from all countries to Jerusalem to celebrate the Pentecost, might be witnesses of the miracle, and hear the New Law announced by the apostles.

Why is the baptismal font blessed an the vigil of Pentecost, as on Holy Saturday?
Because the Holy Ghost is the Author of all sanctity and the Fountain of baptismal grace, and because in the Acts (i. 5.) the descent of the Holy Ghost itself is called a baptism.

In the Introit of the Mass the Church rejoices at the descent of the Holy Ghost and sings:

INTROIT
The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole earth, allel.; and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice, Allel., allel., allel. (Wisd. I.7.) Let God arise, and his enemies be scattered: and let them that hate him, fly before his face. (Ps. 67.) Glory etc.

COLLECT (Prayer of the Church)
O God, who on this day didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit: grant us in the same spirit to relish what is right, and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through — in the unity of the same, etc.

LESSON
(Acts II. I-II.) When the days of Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place; and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them:. and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were. dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue: and they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak
Galileans? And how have we heard every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, Egypt, and the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also and Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

Why did the Holy Ghost come upon the apostles in the form of fiery tongues?
The appearance of fiery tongues indicated the gift of language imparted to the apostles by the Holy Ghost, and inflamed their hearts and the hearts of the faithful with the love of God and their neighbor.

Why did a mighty wind accompany the descent?
To direct the attention of the people to the descent of the Holy Ghost, and to assemble them to hear the sermon of the Apostle Peter.

What special effects did the Holy Ghost produce in the apostles?
He freed them from all doubt and fear; gave them His light for the perfect knowledge of truth; inflamed their hearts with the most ardent love, and incited in them the fiery zeal for the propagation of the kingdom of God, strengthened them to bear all sufferings and persecutions, (Acts V. 41.) and gave them the gift of speaking in various languages, and of discerning spirits.

GOSPEL
(John XIV. 23-31,) At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words: and the word which you have heard is not mine, but the Father's, who sent me. These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you: but the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. You have heard that I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it came to pass, that when it shall come to pass you may believe. I will not now speak many things with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not anything. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father hath given me commandment, so do I.

Why is the Holy Ghost expressly called "Holy," since this attribute is due to each of the divine persons?
Because He is the Author of inward sanctity and of all supernatural gifts and graces, and therefore to Him is especially ascribed the work of man's sanctification.

What does the Holy Ghost effect in man?
He enlightens him that he may know the truths of religion and salvation, and the beauty of virtue; He moves him to desire, to aim after and to love these things; He renews his heart by cleansing it from sin, and imparts to him the supernatural gifts and graces by which he can
become sanctified, and He brings forth in him wonderful fruits of holiness.

What are the gifts of the Holy Ghost?
According to the Prophet Isaias they are seven:
1.The gift of wisdom, which enables us to know God, to esteem spiritual more than temporal advantages, and to delight only in divine things.
2. The gift of understanding, by which we know and understand that which our faith proposes to our belief; children and adults should pray fervently for this gift, especially before sermons and instructions in the catechism.
3.The gift of counsel, which gives us the knowledge necessary to direct ourselves and others when in doubt, a gift particularly necessary for superiors, for those about choosing their state of life, and for married people who live unhappily, and do not know how to help themselves.
4. The gift of fortitude, which strengthens us to endure and courageously overcome all adversities and persecutions for virtue's sake.
5. The gift of knowledge, by which we know ourselves, our duties, and how to discharge them in a manner pleasing to God.
6. The gift of piety, which induces us to have God in view in all our actions, and infuses love in our hearts for His service.
7. The gift of the fear of the Lord, by which we not only fear the just punishment, but even His displeasure at every sin, more than all other things in the world.

Which are the fruits of the Holy Ghost?
As St. Paul (Gal. V.. 22-23.) enumerates them, they are twelve: 1. Charity. 2. Joy. 3. Peace. 4. Patience. 5. Benignity. 6. Goodness. 7. Longanimity. 8. Mildness. 9. Faith. 10. Modesty. 11. Continency. 12. Chastity.
To obtain these fruits as well as the gifts of the Holy Ghost, we should daily say the prayer: "Come, O Holy Ghost, etc."

Why does Christ say: The Father is greater than I?
Christ as God is in all things equal to His Father, but as Christ was at the same time Man, the Father was certainly greater than the Man-Christ.

Why does Christ say: I will not now speak many things with you?
Christ spoke these words a short time before His passion, and by them He wished to say that the time was near at hand when Satan, by his instruments, the wicked Jews, would put Him to death, not because Satan had this power over Him, but because He Himself wished to die in obedience to the will of His Father.

- posted by LRS @ 11:04 PM   

 
Proposed Bread Recipes for the Holy Eucharist at St. Cronan's
I just came across these recipes. I am forwarding these to the Archdiocese. My guess is that they will result in invalid matter.

Recipe #1
Preheat oven to 375°
Sift together:
1.5 c whole wheat flour
1.5 c white flour
1.5 T baking powder
1 t salt
Add:
1 c water
.25 c honey
3 T cooking oil

Recipe #2
Preheat oven to 425°
Sift together:
1.5 c whole wheat flour
.5 c white flour
.5 t salt
.5 t baking soda
Cut in:
1.5 T butter or vegetable shortening
Add:
4-5 T honey
Add in small amounts:
up to .75 c cold water

I suppose if one is going to ignore or reject the liturgical laws and directives of the Church with regard to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, why bother with having valid matter. After all, is the Real, True, and Substantial Presence of Christ in the 'gathered community' or in the consecrated bread and wine?

Link here.


- posted by LRS @ 9:48 PM   

 
Cardinal Arinze Explains Reasons for Instruction on Eucharist

"The Greatest Treasure the Church Has"

VATICAN CITY, MAY 26, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Francis Arinze minces no words when it comes to the Blessed Sacrament.


Q: In the United States, but also in Europe, a great debate erupted over the consistency of Catholic politicians. There are several cases in which politicians declare themselves Catholics and then vote on laws and make statements in clear contrast with Church teachings, as is obvious in the case of the support of laws that facilitate abortion, euthanasia, homosexual marriages, and the spread of anti-life contraceptive schemes. Access by these public personages to the Eucharist creates scandal among the faithful. Does the instruction address this problem? What are the indications furnished on this matter by the dicastery over which you preside?

Cardinal Arinze: Moral theology and canon law explain which Catholics may and which may not receive holy Communion.

The instruction "Redemptionis Sacramentum" mentions some of these details in paragraphs 81 and 82, but does not examine the question you pose in a direct way. It is for the bishops in each diocese and country to explain to their people this discipline and the doctrine that gives origin to it.

"The Holy Eucharist is the greatest treasure that the Church has on earth: It is Christ himself," said the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

"Is it any wonder if the Church is careful to protect and guard the celebration of this august mystery?" he asked.

Zenit Article.

Moral theology and canon law explain which Catholics may and which may not receive holy Communion. It is for the bishops in each diocese and country to explain to their people this discipline and the doctrine that gives origin to it. Some bishops get it...others, unfortunately, either don't or choose to ignore it while allowing the scandals to continue. May God have mercy on them!
- posted by LRS @ 9:36 PM   

 
June 18 - The Feast of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Friday, June 18, is the Feast of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In honor of this great feast and in thanksgiving for the countless blessings Our Lord has showered on all of us, the Men of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary have again, this year, arranged to have a special Mass of the Sacred Heart at St. Rita's Church which is located at the Corner of North & South and Page Avenue in Vinita Park. It is about one-half mile east of I-170 on Page.

Mass will begin at 7:30pm, Friday, June 18. Fr. John Miller, C.S.C. will celebrate the Mass and give his homily on "Heart of Jesus, Substantially United to the Word of God".

All are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served after Mass in the church basement.

Now more than ever, we need to deepen our devotion to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.

For those who have not enthroned the Sacred Heart within their homes and wish to do so, sign-up cards will be available after Mass. For more information, call:
Jimmy McGrew
President, St. Louis Chapter
Men of the Sacred Heart
(636) 240-2157
- posted by LRS @ 9:35 PM   

 
Catholics Against Sacrilege...
Where: Main entrance of the Cathedral of St. Paul
When: Sunday, May 30, at 11:15 a.m.
Why: Pray a Rosary of Reparation for all sins against the Holy Eucharist.

Maybe all who cannot attend in person can join in spiritually?

Link.



- posted by LRS @ 7:35 AM   

 
It's a matter of honesty
Archbishop Chaput addresses what is means to be "in communion", what it means to make the claim that one is Catholic.

It's a matter of honesty: to receive Communion, we need to be in communion

When we sin by theft, lying, adultery, pride, gossip, anger, envy, callousness to the poor, pornography or indifference, we do not live "in keeping with what Christ taught." We remove ourselves, by our actions, from friendship with God. That means we need to turn back to the sacrament of penance before we receive Communion. In fact, many of us today need a deeper devotion to confession simply to regain a basic understanding of grace and sin.

Likewise, if we ignore or deny what the Church teaches, or refuse to follow what she teaches, we are not "in communion" with the Catholic faith. We separate ourselves from the community of believers. If we receive Communion anyway, we engage in a lie.

Claiming to be Catholic and then rejecting Catholic teaching is an act of dishonesty and a lack of personal integrity. Worse, if we then receive Communion, we violate every Catholic who does believe and does strive to live the faith fully and unselfishly. And that compounds a sin against honesty with a sin against justice and charity. Again, as Justin Martyr said: "No one may take part (in the Eucharist) unless he believes what we teach is true."

Archbishop's Column here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:56 AM   

 
Cardinal Mahony welcomes Rainbow Sash Movement Members

Cardinal Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has notified the Rainbow Sash Movement that his Cathedral will welcome Rainbow Sash Members as part of the Catholic Family to his Cathedral, and when RSM members present themselves for Communion they will recieve It.

Cardinal George has instructed those in his archdiocese to deny the Holy Eucharist to those who would be so bold as to approach the altar for Holy Communion. Yet Cardinal Mahony encourages those who public manifest and promote grave sin to "gather faithfully together"...

Cardinals George and Mahony both support the Teaching of the Catholic Church, however, one promotes discrimination at the Eucharistic table, and the other does not.

Unfortunately, the RSM is wrong on this count. Cardinal Mahony does NOT support the teachings of the Church.

Link here.




- posted by LRS @ 6:30 AM   

 
An 'interesting' local liturgy committee
I find it hard to believe that in 2004 some of these things are still happening in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. I came across this quite unexpectedly when doing some routine checking of some sites for updates.

So still, there are lay people giving homilies and proudly, it seems, posting the schedule on the web (Click on Pentecost) explaining when they will be 'preaching' on Sundays. Here are a couple for this Saturdy/Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost.

Subject: Pentecost
Start Date: Saturday, May 29 5:00PM
End Date: Saturday, May 29 6:00PM
Summary: Presider: G. Kleba
*Lector: L. Hiseczynski
Preacher: M. Uline
Euch Mins: L. Meyer & D. Delay
Sacristan: S. Collins

Subject: Pentecost
Start Date: Sunday, May 30 8:00AM
End Date: Sunday, May 30 9:00AM
Summary: Presider: G. Kleba
* Lector: M. Martir
Preacher: M. Uline
Euch Mins: R. McLarney & L. Newbone
Sacristan: S. Collins

*For readings, visit the Liturgy Committee Website: http://www.ccmg.us/liturgy-readings.html

I also found the liturgy committee minutes quite interesting. As I am not sure how long they will be posted, I thought I would include them here below. I have 'bolded' what I thought were interesting tidbits of info:

Minutes -- Liturgy Committee Meeting
13 May 2004 7:05p

In attendance: Mary Lou Gavan, Barb Guilds, Madonna Kuciejczyk-Kernan, Diane Gozdzialski, Bill Barrett, Gerry Kleba, Stephen Dalay, & Sean Collins.

Unable to attend: Marilyn Unline, Anne Perkins, Martha Stegmaier, Sharon McMullen Orlett, Jean Snyder, Eileen Heidenheimer, Cathy Hartrich, & Julia Wimmer.

The meeting was called to order by Sean and Mary Lou led us in prayer.

Sean briefly outlined the genesis of this committee: it comes in response to a need described at the last Parish Assembly. He said that much of the liturgy at Saint Cronan’s is quite good, but there is a need for organization. He thanked Marie Andrews for her extraordinary work in preparing the parish for Holy Week on short notice.

Sean then went on to describe the basic organization of the present committee:
(A) There is a need for a concerted effort to make consistent (in terms of inclusiveness) the language we use in our common prayer. To that end, he described a need for work on (1) the Lectionary, (2) the Presider’s Prayers, (3) General Intercessions, and (4) the Creed.

He suggested that the first three items could be taken up immediately by the committee, but that the issue of the Creed would be tabled for the time being. There was a brief discussion of our use of the Renewal of Baptismal Promises in lieu of a Creed in the meantime. Sean will continue working on the issue of language and will post texts (readings, intercessions, and prayers) on the liturgy committee’s website: www.ccmg.us/liturgy.html

(B) The second issue that needs the committee’s immediate attention is the organization of the lectors and the Eucharistic ministers. The current schedule expires at the end of May. Mary Lou and Barb have volunteered to organize these ministries and to remind ministers of their dates of service. A sign-up system will be presented to the parish the weekend of May 15-16 – with Sean making an announcement at 5p and Barb doing so at 8a and 10a.

(C) Julia Wimmer has volunteered to organize bakers in the community to provide homebaked loaves for our weekend liturgies. Bill Barrett is interested in baking. Mary Lou and Louise Lears have also expressed interest. Gerry offered freezer space on the second floor of the rectory. We should evaluate how this system works in June and then decide whether to suspend our order of “store-bought” hosts.

(D) Stephen Dalay ahs offered to organize gardeners in the parish to provide cut flowers through the summer and fall months. Dr. Warren Wimmer has offered his green thumb to this effort. Others need to be recruited. Flowers should be delivered to the side door of the church (opposite the rectory’s side door) in water before 3:30p on Saturdays. The 5pm Sacristan will take them in to the church and arrange them. This system will begin on Trinity Sunday (June 6).

(E) Diane G. offered to organize a rota of Sacristans for all three liturgies. Our aim is to have set-up completed 30-minutes before the start of the liturgy, so as to minimize the distraction of “busy work” for any who arrive early, and to free Gerry (or another Presider) to greet the community as it arrives. Sean has posted a checklist on the website for sacristans – please e-mail him with any corrections/additions.

(F) There was a brief discussion of issues of Art and Environment. Sean outlined plans for Pentecost, Trinity and Corpus Christi (May 30, June 6, June 13 respectively.)

PENTECOST: Sean will build a mobile to suspend overhead – utilizing three new red silk banners being made by Annie Scheumbauer and lighted votive candles. Two pieces of red fabric will be processed in before the Gathering Song (perhaps as the choir/community chants the Taizé Veni Sancte Spiritus) – these pieces of fabric will be draped on the Ambo and the Altar. Red ribbons on the T-bar stands – placed outside the doors. Candles at each window. (See Art & Environment document for Pentecost on the website.)

The Pascal Season ends with Pentecost – the “Easter” drapes come down after Pentecost – and the Paschal candle moves to the font in the chapel. “Ordinary” Time begins with two Solemnities that follow Pentecost.

TRINITY: A much simpler plan focused on the Rublev icon of the “Three Visitors to Abraham and Sara.” The icon will be processed in lieu of a cross – and copies of the icon will be given to everyone during the homily. Louise Lears is preaching that day and will use the icon in her preaching.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Sean admitted to being a little stumped as to how to mark this Solemnity. He suggested prominent placement of home-baked bread and a flagon of wine in the chapel at the beginning of the liturgy. Madonna suggested that we ask members of the parish to write reflections on how they (we) are called to be the Body of Christ. Gerry seconded this notion, adding that it would be a terrific way to mark Ordinary Time by noting the ordinary ways we are called to be the Body of Christ.

Those present all seemed to support this idea. We’ll solicit the first 8-10 reflections in time to be printed, bound, and distributed on Corpus Christi (June 13) – and Gerry will invite others in the parish to contribute their reflections which will be collected and distributed later in the summer. If you are interested in organizing this project, please let Sean know.

(G) OTHER BUSINESS: Madonna suggested that there might be the need for some gentle catechesis in regards to the “space” around the baptismal font – so that it not be ignored or treated in a secondary way. She reminded us that when the church building was redesigned (16 years ago) the baptismal font was purposefully placed beneath the window where it would be bathed in light. Sean expressed the opinion that baptisms should occur there routinely, rather than moving the font to the front of the assembly. While two of the three parts of the rite could easily occur “up front,” when it came time to “get wet” the assembly should move to the font. Gerry agreed.

There was also some discussion of keeping clutter under control in the chapel. Mary Lou suggested a “Clutter Control Patrol.” It was agreed that this was something we, as a committee, should keep an eye on.

Young people in the community who are moving forward to confirmation will be blessed on Pentecost – and will work with the music minister to lead us in the final song that day – a terrific way for us to end the Paschal Season.

(H) No time was set for the next meeting. We’ll see how the committee shakes down before scheduling it. In the meantime, there’s plenty of work to do.

Sean forgot to mention dance for Pentecost. Madonna and Kathy Davis will organize this – to occur during the offertory. Jean Synder is also interested. Others are welcome.

This is just way too cool! Maybe I could forward them the link to Son Dance Ministries?

Gerry led us in prayer to conclude the meeting at 8:30p.
Respectfully submitted: smc
040513

Surely, all of this has been cleared with the Office of Worship or Archbishop Burke?

And don't forget to check out some of the great Liturgical Resources that are listed, such as:
FutureCurch
Call to Action
The Inclusive Liturgy Project
Catholic Action Network

*** updated ***
It appears that sometime in June the links/web pages were removed. Maybe its all underground now and no longer PUBLIC on the web?

- posted by LRS @ 6:30 AM   

 
Adoration-for-Vocations Campaign Under Way
From Zenit:
A vocations resource Web site (www.vocation.com) has launched a campaign of Eucharistic adoration and letter writing inviting the laity to show gratitude for priests and to pray for their perseverance.


- posted by LRS @ 6:55 PM   

 
Cardinal George: No communion for homosexual protesters Sunday

Gay Catholics who plan to identify themselves by wearing a rainbow sash in church Sunday should be denied communion, according to a memo Cardinal Francis George has written to all pastors in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

[T]he cardinal wrote that wearing the sash indicates disagreement with church teaching that gay sexual relations are sinful, and therefore those who wear the sash should not receive communion.

[Cardinal] George added that "the policy of the U.S. Council of Bishops is not to give Communion to those wearing the sash. If they come to Communion like every other member of the Church, without the sash which is a sign of their opposition to Church teaching, they may receive. This is also the policy of this Archdiocese."

Chicago Sun-Times Article here.

And the issue with pro-abortion politicians and others is...what?
- posted by LRS @ 5:15 PM   

 
60 Parishes to close in Boston

There are presently 357 parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston in 144 surrounding cities and towns. The reconfiguration actions announced Tuesday May 25, 2004 will bring that number to 292 parishes. The changes will result in 60 actual church closings.

Link...
- posted by LRS @ 12:45 PM   

 
International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima Visits the Diocese of St. Louis
With Permission of Archbishop Raymond Burke, June 1-21

Scheduled Itinerary:

Our Lady of Fatima (Florissant) 8 AM- 8 PM, June 1

St. Ferdinand (Florissant) 7 PM Mass, June 2- 7 PM, June 3

Regina Cleri (St. Louis, 63119) 7 AM- 7 PM, June 4

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Crestwood) 5 PM Mass, June 5- 12 PM, June 6

Immaculate Conception (Arnold) 6PM-10PM, June 6

St. Joseph’s Cottleville (St. Charles) Program 7-9 PM, June 7

St. Vincent de Paul (Perryville) 8 AM, June 8- 8:30 AM, June 9

Immaculata (Richmond Heights) 12 PM, June 9- 12 PM, June 10

St. James (Catawissa) 7 PM, June 10- 7 PM, June 11

St. Louis Basilica (Clayton) 8 AM Mass -5 PM, June 12

St. Raymond’s Maronite Church 8PM –12 PM, June 13

St. Matthias (Mehlville) 2PM-5PM, June 13

St. Anthony of Padua (High Ridge) 8 PM, June 13-7 PM June14

St. Michael the Archangel (Shrewsbury) 8 AM Mass- 7 PM, June 15

Our Lady of Lourdes (Washington) 5 PM- 9 PM Mass, June 16

St. Agnes Home (Kirkwood) 4:30 PM, June 17- 3 PM, June 18

St. Clement (Des Peres) 6 PM, June 18- 3 PM, June 19

Passionist Monastery (Ellisville) 5 PM, June 19- 5 AM, June 20

St. Agatha (St. Louis) 7 AM- 5 PM, June 20, and processing to…

St. Francis de Sales (Soulard) 6 PM, June 20- 8 PM, June 21


HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL PILGRIM VIRGIN STATUE
The history of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue begins in 1946. At that time, after the youth of Portugal attended a Congress in Fatima, they took the Statue from display in the Cova on pilgrimage to Lisbon. As they walked the route they stopped at the towns and people gathered to pray. In Lisbon when they entered the cathedral, the miracle of doves occurred. Many other phenomena also occurred inspiring devotion and inspiring the fervor among the people.

The statue was returned to its place in the Cova de Iria but many people wished for a visit in their own communities. The Bishop asked Sr. Lucia in a letter about sending the statue on tour. Sr. Lucia responded with a letter suggesting that the new statue, just then being made, by the famous sculptor Jose Thedim be used as a pilgrim statue. The Bishop agreed and, on May 13, 1947, this new statue was blessed and named the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

Almost before it began its journey, so many places wanted her visit that it was realized a second statue should also be blessed. This second statue made also by Jose Thedim was completed and blessed by the Bishop of Fatima on October 13, 1947 (Exactly 30 years to the day after the great miracle of the sun which was to draw the worlds attention to Mary’s Message.) His Excellency remarked that this would be the Western statue and that the two statues would travel about until finally they could enter Russia.

The Bishop of Fatima entrusted the Western statue to Mr. John Haffert, who later became the cofounder of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima in America. It entered the United States, through Canada at Buffalo, New York, on December 8, 1947. (December 8th being our patronal Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception.) At Buffalo 200,000 people lined the streets and welcomed Our Lady on that occasion. To fulfill the mandate of the Bishop to travel, teach and inspire, Mr. Haffert assigned the first custodian, Fr. McGrath of Canada. The statue has always had a full time custodian and has never stopped traveling in its entire 52 years. Succeeding Fr. McGrath, was Fr. Breault, and others have continued to the present time.

The miracles, favors, and signal graces were so numerous from the very beginning that even the Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, reflected on them in his famous radio address to the pilgrims at Fatima, May 13, 1951. He recalled having crowned the Fatima statue in 1946: “In 1946 we crowned Our Lady of Fatima as Queen of the world, and the next year, through her pilgrim image, She set forth as though to claim Her dominion, and the miracles She performs along the way are such that we can scarcely believe our eyes at what we are seeing.”

Physical cures attributed to the presence of the statue have been documented many times. The changes in _expression and coloration, and even the pose of the statue have been reported innumerable times. But, the important miracles are the spiritual cures and gifts Our Lady bestows. The sudden conversion of a stubborn heretic is a good example. Another important miracle is the enlightenment of someone who has resisted the idea of statues or the idea of praying to saints. The spiritual miracles are infinitely more valuable than the things we can see, touch, or measure.

Miracle of Tears, July, 1972, New Orleans, LA

During Her tour of the New Orleans diocese, the statue shed tears on numerous occasions. This was the first time that the press reported widely the miracle of tears from the IPVS. Although it is known that tears had run from Her glass eyes numerous times before, none of those had gained much attention. This time the press began to report it, large crowds flocked around and even Archbishop Hanann was asked to comment by reporters. He took the statue and had it investigated. That was the first time it was discovered that the moisture was human tears and also the first time photos began to circulate. The statue has shed tears very frequently ever since.

We believe these manifestations of 1972 are related to the tragic legalization of abortion. Abortion was being debated and decided at that time, just before the infamous January 22, 1973 Supreme Court decision.

The miracle of tears is something that is often reported. It happens in more than one way. Frequently, an individual sees tears on the statue while others at the same time do not. Perhaps this is mystical and not physical. But other times all present see the same thing and the tears can be wiped away causing dampness on the cloth. This then is a physical miracle. Regarding the number of times it has occurred, most go undocumented, and almost all go without publicity. Therefore, although we know it has shed tears dozens, and probably hundreds of times, only a few have been published. (We have photos of the statue crying July 24, 1995, in Highland, IN)

- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
The Collapse of the Church in the West: 1960-2000

By FATHER G.H. DUGGAN S.M. - Christian Order Magazine, February 2004

It is a fact, now evident to everyone, that the Church in the West - that is, the countries of Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand - has in recent decades suffered a severe setback; severe enough to call it a collapse.
...
In his book The Battle for the American Church, the historian Monsignor George A. Kelly, has the figures up to 1979 for the Church in the United States. They were then horrendous and there has not been any improvement in the intervening years. Nor is the statistical picture notably different in the other countries that, with the United States, constitute the West.

Some of the causes of this collapse are listed:
Neo-Modernism
Denying the Real Presence and the Immortal Soul
The Catechetical Revolution
The Moral Collapse (such as the rejection of Humanae Vitae)
The Liturgical Revolution

Conclusion

The collapse of the Church in the West has greatly weakened the whole Church in her never-ending conflict with the world. The road to recovery will be long and arduous. The principal means, and the most effective, at the disposal of the individual Catholic to hasten the dawn of a brighter day are, as always, prayer and sacrifice.

Father Duggan is a distinguished philosopher-theologian. He writes from New Zealand.

Link.






- posted by LRS @ 7:00 AM   

 
U.S. Catholics Exhorted to Recover Devotions

John Paul II recommended that U.S. Catholics recover "devotions of popular piety" as a means of personal and communal sanctification.

"A renewal of these devotions will not only help the faithful in your country grow in personal holiness but will also act as a source of strength and sanctification for the Catholic Church in the United States," the Holy Father added.

Zenit Article
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
Worcester bishop shocks gays with `evil' statement

The new leader of the Catholic Diocese of Worcester stunned gay rights supporters by writing in a church newsletter that Catholics, especially public officials, pushing to legalize same-sex marriage are ``in cooperation with evil.''

"Oh, my God. Wow," gasped Marianne Duddy-Burke of Boston Dignity, a group of gay Catholics. "It's an appalling statement on so many levels. It disregards a civil servant's duty to the entire community."

Yes, Marianne, the truth can be shocking and hard to accept, most especially for those who are in need of truth.

After recognizing gays and lesbians as ``brothers and sisters in the human family,'' the note ends with a bombshell: ``Moreover, it must be pointed out that Catholics, especially public officials, who willingly and with approval facilitate the legal sanctioning of same-sex unions are involving themselves in cooperation with evil.''

Article.


- posted by LRS @ 6:25 AM   

 
‘Lukewarm’ Is the Wrong Temperature

In the wake of a recent reiteration of Catholic teaching with regard to abuses of the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, there has been a flurry of commentary from bishops. Not all of it, in case you haven’t noticed, is encouraging.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C., has made no bones about what he would do if a rabid pro-abortion Catholic approached him for Holy Eucharist – he would give the body of Christ to this individual. No question about it. In fact, he has recently stated, “I have not gotten to the stage where I am comfortable in denying the Eucharist.”

Comfortable? What kind of a notion is that? What do you mean, comfortable? Don’t we all remember how Catholics got the miracle of Holy Eucharist in the first place? It had little to do with comfort. It had everything to do with Christ suffering undeniable pain as he hung on the cross for three hours before He died. Comfortable?

Christians are called by Christ to follow Him, to imitate Him; and that can mean being very uncomfortable – particularly in the midst of a godless, secular culture.

And if you're still missing the point, there is the statement Pope John Paul II made just last year, in his encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia:

“The judgment of one's state of grace obviously belongs only to the person involved, since it is a question of examining one's conscience. However, in cases of outward conduct which is seriously, clearly and steadfastly contrary to the moral norm, the Church, in her pastoral concern for the good order of the community and out of respect for the sacrament, cannot fail to feel directly involved. The Code of Canon Law [915] refers to this situation of a manifest lack of proper moral disposition when it states that those who “obstinately persist in manifest grave sin” are not to be admitted to Eucharistic Communion.”

Commentary by Judie Brown here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:21 AM   

 
Missouri Citizens to Vote on Homosexual 'Marriage'
But when is the question????

State lawmakers voted May 14 to put the constitutional amendment for the marriage ban to a public vote. But Secretary of State Matt Blunt, a Republican, has not yet done so because, he said, he has not received official, signed notice from legislative leaders.

Gov. Bob Holden and Nixon, both Democrats, have argued that a signed notice is unnecessary and that Blunt has received enough documentation of the legislative vote to set the election in August, which Nixon says was the intent of lawmakers.

“They felt, given the circumstances in the country right now, the people of Missouri needed a chance to speak on this question,” said Paul Wilson, an assistant attorney general who argued the case before the appeals court Monday. “The governor is giving them that chance at the earliest possible date, and that's the August election.”

Putting the issue on the November ballot could affect general election races, including those for governor and president. A strong turnout for the gay-marriage amendment could help Republican candidates.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
Introduction to the “Sexual Underworld” within the Church

...many Catholics within the Joliet Diocese and elsewhere...are frustrated and unsure of what to do regarding the liturgical abuses and heretical teachings being forced upon them by their bishop’s action or inaction. The faithful are constantly reminded of their obligation to contribute their hard-earned dollars to fund the destruction of their parishes and schools. They are pressured to pay for the creation and operation of special “ministries,” which in some cases, are used as a tool to undermine Church teachings and promote the “gay agenda.” While all this is going on, many of their 9 to 5 priests are involved in sexual relationships, living in lavish homes, and taking “Gay Cruises”, while the local Church disintegrates.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
Catholic Charities in Massachusetts - adoption to homosexuals?

We at MassNews feel compelled at this time to tell about a Franciscan Brother on Cape Cod, Br. Alexis Brugnolo, who has sent messages around the Internet this month that Catholic Charities in Massachusetts is giving many children for adoption to homosexuals. Apparently, one-half of their children go to homosexuals.
Br. Brugnolo writes: One is a young mother of Fall River, who approached catholic charities a few years ago, while Archbishop Sean O'Malley was Bishop of Fall River.
She requested an application form for adoption; and was shocked to
find that this form allowed two males or two females to adopt as the
prospective parents. She inquired immediately to the Catholic Charity Office in Fall River which issued her the form, and asked if it was the policity of Catholic Charities Fall River to give children in adoption to sodomitic couples. The answer she received was that they "do not discriminate".

The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has spoken explicitly about this, yet many choose to ignore the Church.

Link here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:10 AM   

 
Midwest Bishops go to Rome...

Cardinal Francis George and other Roman Catholic bishops from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin will travel to Rome today to deliver their "state of the diocese" reports to Pope John Paul II.

Bishops from Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin are on their way to meet with the Holy Father. Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:04 AM   

 
Lineamenta Provides Precis On Eucharist — For Bishops

The Lineamenta for next year’s 11th General Synod of Bishops, "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church," provides a precis of Church teaching on the Eucharist, rooted in the teachings of the Apostles, the Fathers of the Church, particularly St. John Chrysostom, the Council of Trent, Vatican II, and the encyclicals of Popes Pius XII, Paul VI, and John Paul II.

This synod, Jan Cardinal Schotte, general secretary of the synod, recently explained, is unusual in several respects, particularly because Pope John Paul II called for it after he released his latest encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, which reflected his grave concern that too many Catholics, including priests, do not understand what the Eucharist is. But, he said, in the preparation for this synod, the Pope also wishes to lead bishops to "take a pastoral inventory" on what Catholics believe about the Eucharist, to report on how well bishops are teaching Church doctrines on the Eucharist to their people, and to assess whether or not some liturgical celebrations cause a "disorienting situation for the faithful," among other items.

Wanderer Article by Paul Likoudis.

- posted by LRS @ 6:10 AM   

 
Kerry Shouldn't Take Communion, Says Canadian Bishop

"Despite repeated admonition from bishops, first private, then public, he adamantly insists that he will continue to receive Communion when he attends Mass no matter what. … By sharing in Communion, Catholics testify that they are in fundamental union of heart and mind. On fundamental life issues, Kerry is clearly offside."

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:05 AM   

 
John Paul II Cautions About Factions Within Church
Zenit Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:00 AM   

 
Holy Father's address to Bishops of Texas, Oklahoma
The full text of the Holy Father's Address is here.
- posted by LRS @ 5:30 AM   

 
July 16-17, The Church Teaches Forum-2004
The 2004 CHURCH TEACHES FORUM will be held on July 16th & 17th at the GALT HOUSE (4th Avenue & The River) in Louisville, Ky.

Scheduled Speakers are:

Edouard Cardinal Gagnon
President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Family

Archbishop Raymond L Burke
Archbishop of St. Louis installed in St. Louis on January 26, 2004, the fifth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's historic pastoral visit to the archdiocese.

Rev. Abbot Edmund McCaffrey
Former Abbot Ordinary of Belmont Abbey in North Carolina. A founder and Vice President of The Institute on Religious Life.

Rev Roger Arnsparger
Pastor, St. Barnabas Parish, Arden, NC

More information at Eternal Life.

Eternal Life has GREAT books and tapes of Fr. John Hardon and Marian Catechist study materials, as well.
- posted by LRS @ 11:25 PM   

 
Liturgical Dance Accessories
This is great!

If you are in need of:

Beautiful hand dyed silk streamers that add so much to the visual prayer experience, or

Ribbon streamers that are made of organza which float so gracefully when you dance, or

Liturgical dance workshops and fabric dying workshops in silk and cotton.

I can tell you where to go....I just saw it with my own eyes! A website for all of your "Liturgical Dance" needs!

I came across this looking at some search logs. Someone actually did a search for "Dardenne Liturgical Dance"...and what do I see.....a link for "Son Dance Ministries" by the same person who assists others at Immaculate Conception Church in introducing 'liturgical dance' in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.....Take a look around...Quite interesting!

But don't wait, get your "liturgical dance" paraphenalia now, before the Archbishop quashes this goofiness for good.


- posted by LRS @ 7:45 AM   

 
Would St Thomas Aquinas agree with this?
Below are some excerpts from an article this week in "The Tidings", the Los Angeles Archdiocesan newspaper.

As explained by Father McBrien, Aquinas "had insisted that if civil laws laid too heavy a burden on the 'multitude of imperfect people,' it would be impossible for such laws to be obeyed and this, in turn, could lead eventually to a disregard for all laws."

If civil laws are too restrictive or are unenforceable, then the passing of such laws invites people to disobey them. I suppose that if at this point in the year 2004 a law was passed by one of the states banning smoking entirely, that law would be unenforceable, and would invite disrespect for law in general.

Laws against abortion are also unenforceable, because there would still be a large number of abortions if abortion were to be criminalized. Furthermore, abortions require proper medical attention. Our society does not want to take away the legal right to proper medical attention for women choosing to have abortions. Still, there are many people in America who consider abortions to be homicides. (emphasis mine).

To support abortion rights as a politician is not to say that abortion is acceptable before the moral law. It is only to say that, legally, abortion is not a right that we are willing to take away from our citizens.

So is the distingushed philosophy professor saying that abortion may not really be murder????

Is he also suggesting that since laws will not be obeyed, we should, therefore, not have laws???

Abortion has been condemned for 2000 years of Christianity...Regardless of the US Supreme Court's usurpation of power and its 'interpretation' of the law notwithstanding, abortion is still evil and it is still a crime.

Unless I have misread this article, it seems that something is truly amiss on the Left Coast.

Tidings artice here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:20 AM   

 
The communion controversy, or 'almost beside the point'
This is a great article by Fr. Joseph Wilson.

The Bishop of Colorado Springs, Michael Sheridan, seems quite clear in saying that not only is Mr. Kerry barred from Holy Communion, those voting for him, and for politicians supporting abortion, should also understand that they are outside the communion of the Church, and that they are jeopardizing their salvation. Several other bishops have publicly stated that Catholics making public pro-abortion stances should not approach Holy Communion. Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal McCarrick, says that he is not comfortable with barring such a person from Holy Communion, and Roger Cardinal Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, says that Mr. Kerry is "welcome" to receive Communion. And there has raged in the Church, both pro and con, discussion about when a priest or Eucharistic Minister should refuse the Eucharist to a communicant.

Eucharistic discipline, it would seem, is now a matter of diocesan boundaries. I wouldn’t have thought, a month ago, that the bishops could have further messed up our situation as a Church. It just goes to show that I do not give them nearly enough credit.
...
What a peculiar sight we must present to our nation. Our bishops publicly contradicting each other on points of discipline, all the while everyone knows that masses of our people don’t even understand, let alone accept our teaching. And, as a Church, it all means so little to us that apparently we cannot bring ourselves to admit that we are in trouble. We’ve been robbing our own of their birthright, of that deep, and rich, and fruitful way of looking at all Reality in light of Him Who became one of us, and died for us, and loves us.

What a great many things we can find to distract us. Anything, apparently, anything to avoid having to fix our eyes on Jesus.

Article here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:25 AM   

 
Two Auxiliary Bishops Appointed by the Holy Father
VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgrs. Thomas A. Donato, spiritual director of the Major Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in South Orange, U.S.A., and John W. Flesey, director of permanent formation for the clergy of the archdiocese of Newark, U.S.A., as auxiliary bishops of the same archdiocese (area 1,328, population 2,809,267, Catholics 1,319,558, priests 929, permanent deacons 198, religious 1,667), U.S.A. Bishop-elect Donato was born in 1940 in Jersey City, U.S.A., and was ordained a priest in 1965. Bishop-elect Flesey was born in 1942 Jersey City and was ordained in 1969. They succeed Bishops Charles J. McDonnell and David Arias, O.A.R. whose resignations from the office of auxiliary were accepted upon having reached the age limit.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:18 AM   

 
Priest won't remove name from letter on gays [No Longer Silent]
From the East Valley Tribune [AZ] | May 20, 2004 | Lawn Griffiths

Retired reverend says policy based on old science

A retired priest has informed Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted that he will not withdraw his name from the "No Longer Silent Phoenix Declaration," a letter signed by Arizona clergy calling for full inclusion of gays and lesbians in religious and community life.

The decision puts the Rev. Andre Boulanger of Phoenix at odds with church teachings and subject to discipline.

In April, Olmsted , leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, ordered nine diocesan priests to remove their names from the letter developed by No Longer Silent/Clergy for Justice in January 2003 and signed by 120 pastors.

To date, seven of the priests, five from the East Valley, have withdrawn their names in obedience to the bishop. A Peoria priest is the only other diocesan signer on the letter.

In a letter dated May 16, Boulanger acknowledged two letters from Olmsted who asked that he withdraw his signature and support of the declaration.

"I have given the matter much thought and soulsearching in these past weeks," he said, and "in the end, I found it necessary, as a matter of conscience, not to withdraw my name."

Boulanger said that centuries of church documents that "refer to homosexuality as an intrinsic disorder, a pathological constitution, a perversion of nature, etc.," and "objectively sinful" are based on human science for 1,500 years ago and earlier. "The best science that we have to this date tells us that homosexuality is not a disorder or pathology, but that it is a variation of the human sexual expression," he said.

"The object of our faith is in the person of Jesus as he is known to us in the Gospels," Boulanger wrote. "Yet, as far as we can tell, Jesus never once mentioned homosexuality as an evil. If this matter is of such importance, does it not stand to reason that he would have said something?"

Olmsted and other bishops were at a retreat Wednesday and there was no immediate response to the letter.

Link.


- posted by LRS @ 6:13 AM   

 
Bishop Gerald Barbarito grateful to Voice of the Faithful

A fledgling but committed chapter began in the Diocese of Palm Beach about a year ago. The 35 to 40 members are hard at work encouraging lay people, embracing victims of sexual abuse and supporting priests, according to Peter Amann, a parishioner at St. Patrick Church in Palm Beach Gardens who acts as their president. They welcome new members to their banner: Keep the faith and change the church.

Amann and some fellow members met with Bishop Gerald Barbarito for the first time in April. They were warmly received.

"The bishop is very positive," said Diocesan Communications Director Jim Brosemer. "He is pleased with their commitment to the church and grateful for their support and dedication."

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:06 AM   

 
Bishop Nevins won't allow communion to be used as political ploy

Catholic politicians who support keeping abortion legal should have no trouble receiving Holy Communion around here.

Bishop John Nevins of the Diocese of Venice, which includes most of Southwest Florida, will not be endorsing candidates, presidential or otherwise, according to his spokeswoman, Gail McGrath.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:03 AM   

 
Arizona bishops: Communion OK for pro-choice politicians

The national debate over abortion rights between Catholic politicians and bishops, highlighted by the presidential candidacy of Sen. John Kerry, was joined on Thursday by two Arizona bishops who said they will not deny communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix said that instead of refusing to offer communion, he would attempt to use persuasion to educate politicians about church teachings.

"My job is to get to know the key people in the state and appeal to their consciences," he said.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:01 AM   

 
Informers not welcome in Munich, says cardinal.
I received this today from an email list:

From the Tablet's enewsletter:

Informers not welcome in Munich, says cardinal.

Anonymous informers intent on reporting liturgical abuses will labour in vain in the Archdiocese of Munich, Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, Archbishop of Munich, said in an open letter.

Blackening people's names, especially when the talebearer wishes to stay anonymous, will not get anyone anywhere in our archdiocese, Cardinal Wetter warned.

His comments follow the promulgation of the Vatican instruction on abuses in the liturgy, Redemptionis Sacramentum. The document had caused considerable anxiety in the archdiocese, he said. Some believed it encouraged Catholics to denounce practices they regarded as dubious.

But denunciation implied underhandedly maligning people for despicable reasons, something a Church document could not possibly encourage, the cardinal went on, adding that the Vatican instruction had merely confirmed every Catholic's right to complain to their bishop or to the Holy See about possible abuses.

In his archdiocese anyone who finds, or thinks they have found that a priest is guilty of liturgical abuse, must first of all talk to the priest concerned in person, Cardinal Wetter said. He quoted Matthew 18:15: "If another member of the Church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone."

People should only turn to their bishop if this was of no avail, he said.

Complaints would, moreover, only be listened to if the person lodging the complaint was prepared to reveal his or her name, and anonymous complaints would be considered null and void.

The cardinal said it was important to study the Vatican instruction carefully and objectively. It contained nothing new. It was therefore regrettable that some people thought it was an attempt to reduce the role of the laity at Mass.

One should always speak with the priest first, preferably with an initial or followup letter. Documentation is key. It also helps to maintain a log of some sort in order to properly discuss the facts without having to rely on one's memory. Remember, if one has no documentation of facts - one should not even attempt to report liturgical abuses to higher authority.

There is no link for this post.



- posted by LRS @ 12:32 PM   

 
Catholics and Political Responsibility
Helen Hull Hitchcock has several resources updated at this site at the Women for Faith and Family web site.

An excellent reference. She states:

On this page we have compiled important resources -- including timely quotes and helpful links -- as an informative aid for Catholics in discerning the issues involved, and in forming a basis for decisions to support candidates for office who work for legislation consistent with fundamental moral law consistent with Catholic teaching.

This is well worth bookmarking.





- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
Archbishop Dolan cuts 23 archdiocesan jobs

Facing a $1 million deficit in the current budget, Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan has eliminated 23 jobs in his central administration offices for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

"But, I also owe you candor," his message says. "The major reason for our shortfall has been the anticipated costs associated with the clergy sexual abuse crisis."

His message notes the costs of these measures: the VIRTUS Program to prevent sexual abuse, which has been used to train 13,000 people; mediation for and outreach to people who were sexually abused by priests as minors, including the designing of a new system and the hiring of outside professionals; having attorneys defend lawsuits; providing therapy, counseling and support services for victims; and complying with church law requirements that offending priests removed from active ministry be provided with at least minimal support.

Additional training of 13,000 people because some priests and bishops failed miserably in their vow of chastity?

But then again, I had heard years ago that the many dissenters employed by the archdiocese were fearful of losing their jobs when Abp. Weakland was replaced, but then that is a different story.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:05 AM   

 
"Pro-Life" Litmus Tests or not....?

Abortion-rights advocates are standing by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry despite his comments in an interview that he would be open to nominating anti-abortion judges.

Kerry told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he would consider a judicial candidate who disagrees with his support of abortion rights as long as it doesn't lead to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that made abortion legal.

Kerry said he regrets his vote for Scalia, saying he didn't see at the time of the vote in 1986 ``such a level of ideology and partisanship'' that he now sees in the justice.

I have heard it said many times that one just can't fix stupid...I think I understand what that means. But what can one say about this? Does he even know what he is saying?


Article here.



- posted by LRS @ 7:04 AM   

 
Why Is Ignorance So Pervasive?

When a top Vatican official recently pronounced politicians who support abortion rights unfit to receive Communion — and several U.S. Roman Catholic bishops followed with similar statements — Carrie Sheehan of Seattle found herself increasingly uneasy about her church's involvement in secular politics.

"I'm appalled," said Sheehan, a 75-year-old Catholic who supports abortion rights and attends Mass weekly at the Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University. She thinks the bishops are essentially taking sides in the election. "Are they going to have decrees against Catholic politicians who vote against health care or for capital punishment?"

Sheehan, the pro-choice Seattleite, said she is troubled that some bishops would withhold something so central to Catholic faith — the Eucharist — to sanction political stances.

"To me, Communion is supposed to be the deepest symbol of our faith," Sheehan said. "It is the coming together into community. It is sacred. That they would remove me from the Communion of my church for holding political views formed in good conscience is appalling."

She suffers from the same 'affliction of the mind' as a pastor of a local Catholic Church here. These days, it seems, Holy Communion is not the real, true, and substantial Body and Blood of Jesus - it's the 'gathering' as a community...What a disgraceful lie that has spread throughout much of the Church in America!

It is difficult to understand how a 75 year old individual could be so confused UNLESS she is a mal-instructed convert or if she has been taught heresy by priests and others. God, please, help us!

Article is here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:30 AM   

 
PROBLEM PRIESTS: Priestly power struggle
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A HURRIED MEETING in Chicago on Monday appears to have papered over - for now - hostility between some American Catholic bishops and the lay advisory board the bishops appointed to help them deal with the problem of sex abuse by priests.

At the meeting in Chicago, Judge Burke and leaders of the bishops conference agreed to continue the audits this year. But the deal must be approved by the conference as a whole at a meeting in Denver next month, setting up a showdown between church moderates and conservatives.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:23 AM   

 
Vatican says wine must be put in chalices before consecration

Following up on its recent instruction on the Eucharist, the Vatican has ordered a change in U.S. liturgical norms.

It has ordered that any wine to be used for distributing Communion under both kinds be poured into the individual chalices during the preparation of the gifts, before it is consecrated.

It reversed a widespread custom, codified in U.S. norms approved in 2002, that called for distribution of the consecrated wine into the chalices at the time of the breaking of the bread, just before Communion.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:14 AM   

 
48 House Catholics send warning to Bishops

Forty-eight Roman Catholic members of Congress have warned in a letter to Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington that U.S. bishops will revive anti-Catholic bigotry and severely harm the church if they deny Communion to politicians who support abortion rights.

McCarrick's spokesman, Susan Gibbs, said he would not comment on the letter. She said the seven-member task force is "listening to many different voices" and will grant the 48 House members' request for a meeting. "They will be heard. It just hasn't been arranged yet," she said.

There is only one voice which we are to listen when it comes to our eternal salvation...
Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:06 AM   

 
Feast of the Ascension
The feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter Sunday*, commemorating the Ascension of Christ into Heaven and His completion of the work of our redemption. The liturgy on this day celebrates the entry of Christ into heaven with our human nature glorified, and the pledge of our glorification with Him. In the past, processions outside the church were held on this day to imitate Christ's leading the Apostles out of the city to the Mount of Olives, and to commemorate the entry of Christ into heaven.

* In some dioceses of the United States, this feast is celebrated on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. See local liturgical calendar.
-------------------

- posted by LRS @ 6:00 AM   

 
Court overturns judgment against Metro East priest

An appeals court said Tuesday that the Rev. Leo Hayes, a Metro East-area priest who also did real estate management work, and two associates do not have to pay a $650,000 judgment because the judge who awarded it had already dismissed the lawsuit on which it was based.

The ruling in St. Louis by the Missouri Court of Appeals wipes out the debt owed by Hayes, who is pastor of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Ava and other parishes in the Belleville Diocese.

Full Post Dispatch story here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:55 AM   

 
Q & A on Bishop Olmsted's suspension of Fr. John Cunningham

The Catholic Sun proudly presents this new Q&A feature designed to keep you, the readers, up to speed on matters that affect your faith.

This issue: The Catholic Sun responds to the many requests for information we’ve received regarding Fr. John Cunningham of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Gilbert.

Fr. Timothy Davern, judicial vicar for the Phoenix Diocese, responds.

Nice addition to the Catholic Sun, the Diocesan Newspaper. Answers straight from the diocese.

Link here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:48 AM   

 
“Blessing of a Chaste Life” ...Part 2 (by Bishop Olmsted)
The full article is presented here as I'm not sure whether this is archived or not.

The pastoral care of homosexual persons
Second in a Series

A few weeks ago, I sent a letter to some priests of the Diocese of Phoenix, asking them to withdraw their support from a public statement entitled “No Longer Silent Phoenix Declaration.” The letter was intended to be personal and confidential because I had hoped to engage these brother priests in a person-to-person conversation about the pastoral care of homosexual persons, without the distraction of publicity. To my disappointment, news of the letter was leaked to the press. While not making my fraternal dialogue with these priests impossible, the leak has made it more difficult.

Nonetheless, I have been able to engage the majority in substantial conversations about this important pastoral matter. And I am grateful that most, in accordance with my request, have withdrawn their support from the declaration. I continue to hope and pray that the others will do the same.

Since portions of my letter have become public, I have decided, for the sake of accuracy and fairness to all, to publish it in its entirety in this same issue of The Catholic Sun. I would like also, in this part of my series on the “Blessing of a Chaste Life,” to write about the pastoral care of homosexual persons: what not to do and what to do.

What not to do

Do not see those with homosexual inclinations as problems but as persons, persons whom Jesus redeemed by His Cross, persons called to holiness, persons with an inviolable dignity and an eternal destiny bestowed on them by God, persons like you and me, persons who have a welcome place in our Church.

Do not condone homosexual activity or fail to teach clearly that it, along with all sexual activity outside of marriage, is seriously wrong. We should not presume that others know that homosexual behavior is wrong. Our silence about it could reinforce that mistaken notion.

Do not support any group such as No Longer Silent or Dignity that fails to uphold clearly the teachings of the Bible and the Church on homosexual acts and homosexual persons. We cannot help one another along the path of conversion and union with Christ if we deny the truth.

What to do

Lend encouragement to groups like Courage that offer support to homosexual persons in their vocation to holiness, and who do this in full conformity with the teachings of the Church.

Be well informed about the teachings of our Catholic Christian faith on this topic. Read what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about this topic (#2357-2359). Read the Letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. Read good books on this topic such as those by Fr. John Harvey: e.g. “The Homosexual Person” and “Truth about Homosexuality.”

Should you be aware of persons who have homosexual inclinations, accept them as brothers and sisters in Christ and support them by authentic love and prayer.

Should persons you know be engaged in homosexual activity, look for an opportunity to invite them back to the faithful practice of a life of abstinence, assure them of the power of God’s mercy to forgive and to bring fresh hope, and pray for their conversion. Christ calls us all to on-going conversion of life; so our prayers for conversion encompass ourselves as well as others.
----------------
These are only a few of the do’s and don’ts of a full program of pastoral care of homosexual persons. The books and documents mentioned above can provide a more encompassing program. As I stated in my letter to my brother priests who signed the declaration, our relationship with homosexual persons needs to be that of Christ, one that offers full and fraternal acceptance of each person as made in the image of God and one that is animated by both truth and charity. When carried out with the help of the Holy Spirit, it can help us all to grow to full maturity in Christ.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:47 AM   

 
Swiss bishops denounce calls for Pope to retire

Swiss bishops say they are disgusted by an open letter calling on Pope John Paul II to stand down.

The publication of the letter – signed by more than 40 Catholic priests and lay people – coincided with the Pontiff’s 84th birthday on Tuesday.

The letter, which was delivered to the Bishops Conference on Friday, was signed by priests, theology professors, and Catholic lay people.

Could it be that these are the same individuals calling for women priestesses and for the elimination of all sexual 'sins'?

One Swiss bishop, Kurt Koch, said the decision to publish the letter as the Pope celebrated his birthday was "disgusting and disloyal".

“As his age increases and his health deteriorates, his abilities are increasingly in doubt and the Pope is in some ways less credible. And we think it's important to tell him that, so that he gives some thought to standing down,” (Xavier) Pfister said., ( Pfister is the information officer for the Catholic Church in Basel).

The Holy Father's abilities are in doubt and he is less credible? I think it is plain to see where the credibility problem is.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
Psalm 31, "Thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sins."

The Holy Father said that in Psalm 31 we find the "personal testimony of a convert" who has committed "serious sins and does not have the courage to confess his sins to God. It is a terrible interior torment, described with strong images. . The convert feels the weight of the hand of God on him, conscious that God is not indifferent to the evil perpetrated by man, because He is the guardian of justice and truth."

"Unable to go on in this way, the sinner decides to confess his sins with a courageous declaration which seems to foreshadow that of the prodigal son in Jesus' parable." God "responds right away with generous forgiveness. . For the faithful who repent and are forgiven, despite life's trials, a new horizon of safety, faith and peace" is opened up.

"We can apply this psalm," he concluded, "to the sacrament of confession..."

VIS article.

- posted by LRS @ 6:40 AM   

 
Catholics vote with wallets on bishop's Communion ban

A prominent donor to the Colorado Springs Roman Catholic Diocese is leading a charge to revoke large gifts to the diocese unless the bishop reverses his Communion clampdown on Catholic voters.

In a scathing "open letter" to Bishop Michael Sheridan, Parker lawyer and businessman Ric Kethcart says Sheridan's stance hearkens back to McCarthyism and threatens his flock more than the clergy abuse scandal.

Peter Howard, Sheridan's executive assistant, said the diocese is willing to sacrifice dollars to stake a moral claim. Already, some Catholics in the 10-county south-central Colorado diocese who support Sheridan's leadership have increased their giving, Howard said.

One supports those things in which one believes.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
Another Colorado Bishop uses "seamless garment" rhetoric
The effort to use the "seamless garment" approach of "peace and justice" issues as Bishop Tafoya of Pueblo, does not in any way do justice the life issues that currently exist in our society. Both Bishop Sheridan and Archbishop Chaput have clearly spoken on this.

While other issues are to be considered, there are non-negotiable issues which must be considered first and foremost.

Pueblo Bishop Arthur Tafoya entered the debate raging over religion and politics, calling on Catholics to consider "peace and justice" issues along with abortion when they go to the polls.

"Respect for life is also confronted by hunger and poverty, the death penalty, euthanasia, war and, as we see today, torture," Tafoya said in a statement.

Tafoya favors the "seamless garment" philosophy developed by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, said his spokesman, Larry Howe-Kerr. It says Catholics should be sensitive to a spectrum of life issues, from abortion to the death penalty. He would not refuse Communion to anyone, his spokesman said.

Link.


- posted by LRS @ 6:10 AM   

 
So much for being obedient to one's Bishop...

An Arvada priest lashed out Sunday at a message from Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan, prompting applause from his congregation.

"The applause caught me off guard," said the Rev. Bob Kinkel, pastor of Spirit of Christ Catholic Church, 7400 W. 80th Ave.

Standing before his congregation, Kinkel criticized a letter that Sheridan sent May 1 to Catholic voters.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:05 AM   

 
Florida Bishop Rebukes Pro-Abortion, Communion Receiving Catholics

Obliquely chastises some bishops for failure "to rebuke when necessary"

ORLANDO, May 18, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Another US bishop has stepped up to the front lines of the battle in the US Catholic Church over the reception of communion by pro-abortion, dissenting Catholics. The coadjutor bishop of Orlando Florida, Thomas Wenski, has published a pastoral statement in which he calls pro-abortion Catholics who demand to receive communion "boorish and sacrilegious." He suggests that they are in a worse moral position than Pontius Pilate after his condemnation of Christ.

Bishop Wenski compares the failure to chastise pro-abortion politicians with the failure of the bishops in general to protect young people from predatory homosexuals in the priesthood. He writes, "But to fail to rebuke when necessary is to fail in the charity we owe our brethren. (And we bishops will be apologizing for a long time for the failure to rebuke and apply sanctions to those wayward priests who criminally sinned against young people and children.)"

Lifesite Article

To read Bishop Wenski's full statement: Click here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:00 AM   

 
Latin Liturgy Convention June 25-June 27, 2004 in Indianapolis

40 years after the Second Vatican Council permitted greater use of the vernacular in Catholic liturgies, the Latin Liturgy Association will hold it's bienniel convention in Indianapolis to encourage Catholics to preserve their Latin liturgical heritage.

(PRWEB) May 15, 2004--The Latin Liturgy Association will hold its biennial Convention from Friday evening, June 25 through Sunday afternoon, June 27 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Keynote talk will be given by Mr. James Likoudis entitled “The Latin Liturgy: Quo Vadis?” The weekend will include a Vatican II Rite Latin High Mass, a Tridentine Rite Solemn Pontifical Mass, Solemn Vespers in Latin, and nine stimulating talks and workshops.

Other talks will include topics such as “Gregorian Chant: Music for the Few or the Many” by Dr. Lucy Carroll, “An Illustrated Introduction to the Dominican Rite” by Rev. Father Dennis Duvelius, F.S.S.P., an examination of the training received by Seminarians in the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, a look at how a small chapel in New Jersey has flourished by offering the Traditional Mass and much more!

Cost is only $60 if paid by June 4 ($75 after June 4), including lunches on Saturday and Sunday. The liturgies will be held at St. John’s Church, Holy Rosary Church and Sacred Heart Church, all in Indianapolis.

Our Friday evening workshop “Give Gregorian Chant a Chance in Your Parish”, which will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Hampton Inn, 105 S. Meridian Street, Indianapolis. This Chant workshop will give you the practical skills and resources to bring back Chant to your parish!

The cost to attend just the Friday evening Chant Workshop is $10.00. Detailed information can be found at www.latinliturgy.com or call the Latin Liturgy Association at 718-979-6685 and a detailed brochure will be mailed or faxed to you promptly.

If you love the Latin Mass and Gregorian Chant, you will not want to miss this event!

Additional information about the Convention, or the work of the Latin Liturgy Association, can be obtained by calling the Association’s President, William J. Leininger at 718-979-6685.

Link here... or the Latin Liturgy Association Web Page here.

- posted by LRS @ 7:22 PM   

 
The Catholic Church's great divide

Now that a veteran priest at a traditional Huntington Beach parish has retired, the diocese (or Orange, CA) is stamping out the Tridentine Mass at that location, forcing devotees to drive to the overcrowded Mission San Juan Capistrano, where it is still officially sanctioned.

Locally, Fr. Daniel Johnson, the kindly, traditionalist priest who led St. Mary's by the Sea for 25 years, has retired. His retirement, and the retirement of the Tridentine Mass with him, is heartbreaking news to St. Mary's parishioners.

This is standard fare, however, in the bitter war that is waged behind the scenes within the church. In reality, there are two churches co-existing uncomfortably together. There's the traditional Catholic Church, with its unwavering support for church traditions and theology.

As Catholic author Michael Rose argued in his blockbuster book, "Goodbye Good Men," the liberals gained control of many seminaries and kept tradition-minded men out of the priesthood. That's the root of the sexual-abuse scandal: The success of the left in driving out "good men" and replacing them with priests with different standards.

Now the diocese is taking away the Tridentine Mass at St. Mary's. In a letter to a parishioner, the diocese said the parishioners should accept the decision with an obedient heart. But given the Vatican has said dioceses should be generous in allowing such masses, a reasonable question is raised about who is not being obedient.

"Ecclesia Dei" may need a wide and generous 'study' in the diocese to determine what it 'really' says.

Article here.



- posted by LRS @ 7:10 PM   

 
Dr. Edward Peters analyzes Cardinal Mahony's comments from a canonical perspective

The Cardinal and the Canons

Cardinal Roger Mahoney, amid a variety of interesting comments that I am sure will attract competent commentary from others, spoke inaccurately about certain canonical considerations surrounding pro-abortion Catholic politicians receiving Communion. Some of the most salient canonical assertions by the cardinal were:

Here Dr. Peters reviews 4 points made the the cardinal from a Canon Law perspective...He concludes by saying:

Let's be clear about what Abp. Burke and others are doing: Their stance against pro-abortion Catholic politicians receiving the Eucharist is completely justified. In brief, their decisions are 1) made in the realm of sacramental discipline, not penal law; 2) meant to prevent serious scandal to the faithful, curb sacrilegious reception of Communion, and impress upon certain persons the gravity of their deeds; 3) binding on all ministers of the Eucharist in their jurisdictions; 4) illustrative for others who, someday, as will we all, have to account to Jesus for what they did with His Precious Body and Blood. I need hardly add that all that is necessary to secure one’s readmission to the Eucharist would be confession and firm purpose of amendment.

I agree with His Eminence that we have had pro-abortion Catholic politicians receiving the Eucharist since 1973. What’s changed is that we now have bishops who are saying enough is enough. +++

Link is here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:50 AM   

 
NRB & Bishops reach a "Deal"?

The committee of U.S. Roman Catholic bishops that deals with sexual abuse reached an accord in Chicago Monday with a lay watchdog panel that monitors church reform policies, but details were not announced.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a telephone interview that the bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse and the lay National Review Board ``came together on a proposal'' and both sides are ``very pleased with it.''

Illinois Appellate Justice Anne Burke of Chicago, interim chair of the review board, said the agreement ``is in compliance with the charter'' the bishops issued to deal with the abuse scandal in 2002, but she, too, said no details will be released till the full body of bishops meets in Denver next month.

An angry dispute between the review board and certain bishops has threatened to disrupt reform policies. The review board insists that the 2002 charter requires audits of compliance in every U.S. diocese each year, but some bishops opposed audits in 2004 in order to discuss the whole procedure.

Once again, it is better that I not comment on this if I cannot be charitable. One must wonder why there was so much whining the past few days from Anne Burke if something was being worked on?

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:46 AM   

 
Did Acceptance of Contraception Finally Lead to Homosexual Unions?

Phil Lawler, editor of the Boston based Catholic World News and author of five books and numerous articles, has responded to today's beginning of legally sanctioned homosexual unions in Massachusetts. In his Phil's Forum for today, Lawler lays out the case that Christians themselves are to a large degree responsible for this logical outcome of the acceptance of contraception.

Lawler writes, "The degradation of marriage did not begin with a Massachusetts court decision late last year. It began a few decades ago, when 'ordinary' married couples… began routinely using contraceptives. At that point, the typical American marriage-- which might have looked, from the outside, very much like that beautiful old union-- was itself based on acts of sexual perversion."

It is undeniable that the acceptance of contraception in Western societies has resulted in the abominations we witness today - abortion, euthanasia, rampant homosexuality.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:36 AM   

 
Rod Dreher's take on the Bishops and Holy Communion
This article is an indictment, not of all bishops, but, it seems to me, of the Church in the US. He states:

For an entire generation, Catholics in this country have not been taught the basics of the faith.

Actually, it is more than a generation - it is nearly two generations of Catholics who have not been taught the fundamentals of the Catholic Faith.

In a powerful essay published in The Wanderer, a conservative Catholic newspaper, Father Joseph F. Wilson writes that this communion controversy is taking place as if the church in America has clearly and forcefully taught its people what the Eucharist is, and why abortion is so morally repugnant. Nonsense, says the Brooklyn priest, who argues that parishes have fed their people a steady diet of noncontroversial, content-free "mommy religion" for so long that nobody should be surprised that Catholics don't understand what the church teaches, and why.

"They may come to Mass, but they are, sadly, never really fed, never really formed in the Catholic faith," the priest says. "And their attitudes and values morph into what we would expect of amiable pagans."

This is one reason why it is so important for the faithful to learn the faith and to teach others the truths of the faith. In far too many parishes, they will not learn the truth unless they learn from those who know and live it.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Editorial "Theologian" Slams Bishop Sheridan
It's amazing how armchair "theologians" come out in force when a bishop proclaims the truth.
I will not confess what is not a sin
- posted by LRS @ 6:08 AM   

 
Societal Suicide
With the State of Massachusetts leading the nation toward the moral abyss of depravity and ruin, we witness a group of professed Catholics, including priests and religious, engaging in what can only be described, at best, as a scandalous confusion of Catholic teaching and, at worst, complete apostacy. Regardless of the intent of those who participated in and signed this statement, the scandal resulting from this action can only be viewed as objectively grave.

The statement, while clearly calling for the respect of the dignity of the individual person, confuses what are termed "human rights" with "license". The dignity of a person with homosexual tendencies is no more diminished because of existing marriage laws than is the dignity of one though blind who may not be licensed to operate a motor vehicle.

The Church teaches us that men and women with homosexual tendencies "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided".

However, there is much more to it than that. Those with homosexual inclinations are called, like other Christians, to live the virtue of chastity. We cannot fail to recall that the homosexual inclination is "objectively disordered" and homosexual practices are "sins gravely contrary to chastity".

What this group of signatories fails to recognize or fails to admit is that we, as professed Catholics, have an clear, moral obligation to oppose the legitimization of evil. We must refrain from any kind of cooperation with any laws or proposals for such laws that would give any sort of legitimacy to a so-called "homosexual union". To merely advocate for dialogue and respect do not go far enough - we are called to proclaim the whole truth in charity, not just that part which is easy to proclaim or which only serves to obfuscate the painful realities of life.

The Church clearly explains why it is necessary to oppose homosexual unions:
1. Right reason - the legitimization of homosexual unions obscures basic, fundamental moral values which are necessary for the common good of society.

2. Biological and Anthropological Considerations - These 'unions' are not life-producing and are opposed to the complementarity of the sexes. They are fruitless and as such, they can only contribute to the decline of civilization. Human society is based on the family unit, consisting of a man who may become a father and woman who may become a mother. The absence of sexual complimentarity is an obstacle to the proper development of children.

3. Social Considerations - Humanity, in the form of societal structures, cannot survive without the family which comes about from marriage. Legal recognition of homosexual unions, in essence, redefines marriage. In effect, such a recognition distorts the truth and strips society of an institution which is essential for the society to survive. True justice requires that those things which are detrimental to the good of society not be sanctioned by the State as legitimate.

4. Those who are married and who faithfully carry out their responsibility are essential to the survival of the society and, therefore, to the common good. They help to ensure the "succession of generations", and rightly, civil laws grant them recognition. This is not possible with homosexual unions which cannot exercise this function.

The State has an obligation to preserve and protect society by promoting the institution of authentic marriage. Failure to protect society results in disorder - the promotion of disorder as a way of life leads only to death; it leads us away from life itself. We are on a death march to our own destruction. Rational minds must prevail amid this confusion. We murder the unborn depriving society of future generations, and more importantly, we attempt to deprive God Himself of His own children. We attempt to kill those who are no longer 'useful' to society - the sick, the elderly, the infirmed. Now we are attempting to promote another evil as a good for the benefit of society - unnatural unions. In the name of freedom, we have exchanged virtues for vice, good for evil, truth for lies. Many are proclaiming that darkness is light and that society will be better off with these 'freedoms'. No society can withstand living in darkness for very long. Every society which has attempted to live in darkness has starved itself to death.

The Church concludes in "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons" with this:

The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions. The common good requires that laws recognize, promote and protect marriage as the basis of the family, the primary unit of society. Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behaviour, with the consequence of making it a model in present-day society, but would also obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity. The Church cannot fail to defend these values, for the good of men and women and for the good of society itself.

We are called to be faithful, to know the truth, to live the truth, and to suffer for the truth. We must not shy away from the Truth, from Jesus Christ - we must, in all charity, present Him as HE is - the Way, the Truth, and the Life, even if we must suffer persecution.

We must "do whatever He tells us to do". We must offer our prayers, sacrifices, daily Holy Communions, and penances for our own sins and the sins of those who have abandon God. We must pray for those who think they are gaining 'freedom', when in fact, they have sold themselves into slavery. Our future and the future of our children depends on our fulfilling our obligations to God, to our families, and to our society.
- posted by LRS @ 6:05 AM   

 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOLY FATHER !

VATICAN CITY, MAY 18, 2004 (VIS) - Today is Pope John Paul's 84th birthday. VIS subscribers who wish to e-mail birthday wishes to him may do so by clicking on the link below, and then clicking on the icon of the Pope where it says "Wishes to the Holy Father."

Click here: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

"Arise, Let us be going," the latest book by Pope John Paul, was released today to coincide with the Pope's birthday. It contains reflections on his life as a bishop and on the ministry of every bishop. John Paul II was ordained a bishop on September 28, 1958.

The book is 178 pages long, has an introduction, six chapters, notes, a list of quotations from the Bible and the Magisterium and an index.

Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in a statement made this morning to journalists, said: "For the Holy Father today is an ordinary work day, above all one of thanksgiving. One special detail: the Holy Father has invited his closest collaborators in the Curia to lunch.

"Birthday wishes have arrived from around the world, and not just from Catholics, for John Paul II. They have come from heads of State and government, Church officials and people in the world of politics, business and the arts, but above all from single individuals who wish to express their affection and gratitude to the Pope."

Link.

- posted by LRS @ 6:00 AM   

 
Another look at the "Dark Days at Disney World"
Having witnessed first hand what occurs during that "special" week at Disney World in Orlando, this article sheds a little more light on how Disney has abandoned its family friendly image.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:57 AM   

 
Bishop Sheridan speaks...

(CNN's Anderson) COOPER: The district attorney in Denver was quoted, a Catholic was quoted as saying "I just think this is a tragic direction for the bishop to take and my great fear is that it will drive Catholics away from the church." Do you have that fear at all? I mean if you look at figures from 1972, 49 percent of Catholics reported attending church weekly. In 2000, only 26 percent do. Can the church afford this?

(Bishop) SHERIDAN: I certainly don't want to drive any Catholic from the church. That's not my intention but the fact that is that the truth, and I believe I am speaking the truth of the church, the truth of God, the truth is sometimes divisive and it sometimes does leave people behind.

It's an unfortunate consequence, not one intended, but the alternative is to say nothing and, if I do that, then I jeopardize my own salvation I believe because as a bishop I have the mandate to speak the truth.

The TRUTH is sometimes divisive...If fact, many hate the truth and they hate those who proclaim the truth:

Jesus said to his disciples:
"If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you." (Jn 15)

Bishop Sheridan needs our prayers as he will also be attacked for speaking the truth.

Article here.




- posted by LRS @ 7:19 AM   

 
More from Colorado Springs...

"I think it's in God's hands and on each person's conscience whether or not he's taking communion," Ms. (Anne) Mayo-Mullen said. "We support stem-cell research because our daughter, Brooks, is diabetic. In the case of rape or incest, I was raised to believe that abortion is a personal choice."

If she was taught this as a Catholic, it only demonstrates the depths of the abyss that catechesis has taken in some areas. The failure to fully explain the teachings of the Church and of moral theology has had a terrible impact and has corrupted many souls.
Article here...

- posted by LRS @ 7:09 AM   

 
UNAIDS Official Distorts Catholic Position on Condoms

A UN official in charge of AIDS prevention has denied that the Catholic Church opposes the use of condoms. Taking the dissenting views of a small number of commentators as representative of official Catholic policy, he said that there is "hot debate" in the Vatican over the use of condoms.

The only "hot debate" I ever see is that of dissenters trying to rationalize the use of condoms as a menas to prevent STDs...

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:49 AM   

 
Archbishop Burke explains the issue with St. Stanislaus
I'm not certain if this will be archived, so I've included the entire article. The Archbishop clarifies the position quite well.

The article is currently at the St. Louis Review here.

May 14, 2004
St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish: Parish, diocese, universal Church

by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction

In recent weeks, there has been much conversation and publicity regarding my meetings with the board of directors of the civil corporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, with the priests assigned to the parish, with the parish Pastoral Council and with the parishioners. A number of the faithful of the archdiocese have written to me, expressing their concern about the situation as they perceive it. A common perception is that the archdiocese is demanding a change in the civil incorporation of the parish, in order to be in a position to suppress or close the parish and, then, to take the parish’s funds to use for other purposes. As you can imagine, such a perception is a source of scandal for the faithful.

In order that you have a correct perception of the situation, I offer a reflection on the situation itself, in the context of the Church’s understanding of the relationship of a parish to the diocese or archdiocese, and to the universal Church. The reflection both seeks to heal any scandal in the matter and provides us all a good occasion to reflect on the gift of our life in the Church at the parish, diocesan and universal levels.

Closing of Parishes and Parish Funds

To be clear, from the start, it is no part of my thinking or of the thinking of anyone who advises me that St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish should be closed. On the contrary, I have stated repeatedly, both in writing and orally, that I take great pride in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish as a personal parish for Polish-speaking Catholics and Catholics of Polish heritage in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. I have thanked publicly those who have sacrificed so much to keep St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish active and strong. And I have confirmed publicly my intention to help the parish in every way possible, pledging that it will enjoy my fullest support. For example, even though the archdiocese anticipates having fewer priests to assign in the coming years, I have promised to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish the service of both a priest of the archdiocese and a native Polish priest.

It is sometimes said to me that the archdiocese has never done anything for St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, that the parishioners have built and maintained the parish on their own completely, without any encouragement or help from the archdiocese. My reading of the history of the archdiocese tells me otherwise. There is not sufficient space here to review the whole history of the relationship of the archdiocese to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, but I can offer an example of the recent solicitude of the archdiocese for the good of the parish. Cardinal Justin Rigali not only assigned Father Philip Bene, a priest of the archdiocese, to the parish, but also, working with the Bishop of Drohiczyn in Poland, he obtained the services of a native Polish priest for the parish. The archdiocese provided for the tuition, room and board of the Polish priest during his study of the English language at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Father Bene, who has some Polish heritage, also has been studying the Polish language. What is more, in order that having the services of two priests not be too burdensome for the parish, Father Bene’s compensation comes principally from the Archdiocesan Curia, in which he serves as a judge of the Matrimonial Tribunal.

Regarding parish funds, no bishop may confiscate the funds of any parish. Such action is directly forbidden by the Code of Canon Law. The ownership of goods acquired by a parish belongs to the parish and is governed by Church discipline (cf. Can. 1255-1257).

The bishop has the responsibility to supervise carefully the administration of the funds and other temporal goods of the parish, so that they serve the mission of the Church in the parish, but he may not take the temporal goods from the Parish (cf. Can. 1276). If a parish is closed — and I repeat that I have no idea of closing St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish — the funds of the parish are directed to the parishes in which the parishioners of the closed parish are then registered.

Also, the Code of Canon Law requires that the designation of gifts, given to the Church, be fully respected (cf. Can. 1284, §2,3º). There has been concern that the archdiocese will not respect funds that have been designated for the cultural center established at the parish. To be clear, the archdiocese is obligated to respect the designation of funds for special works or projects of the parish.

Civil Incorporation of Parishes

The present form of civil incorporation of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish places complete authority for the administration of the parish in the hands of the board of directors, which operates according to its own bylaws. The bylaws previously permitted the parish priest or pastor to be present at meetings of the board, but he had no vote. Recently, the board of directors has proposed a change in the bylaws, which was subsequently approved at a meeting of some parish members, which would grant to the pastor a vote on the board of directors. In either case, the pastor remains subject to the authority of the board of directors, even though his appointment is made by the archbishop of St. Louis. In other words, the archbishop of St. Louis is asked to send a pastor to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in order that he serve under the direction of the board of directors of the parish.

Church law does not permit a parish to be civilly incorporated in this manner. The form of civil corporation must respect the nature of the Church, in which Christ has placed the Holy Father, Successor of St. Peter, and the College of Bishops, Successors to the Apostles, as true shepherds of the Father’s flock.

Priests are the co-workers of the bishop and carry out the mission of Christ the Good Shepherd in the parishes and other institutions to which the bishop sends them. As a true shepherd, the bishop, with the priests, has responsibility for both the pastoral care of the faithful and the administration of the temporal goods which support the pastoral care.

Temporal goods are buildings and grounds which are owned by the Church and are used to carry out the Church’s mission. They also include monies which are used to provide financial support of those who dedicate themselves to carrying out some part of the Church’s mission, and to maintain and develop the buildings and grounds. Because temporal goods are essential to the Church’s mission, the Code of Canon Law includes a special section which contains the discipline to be followed in their administration (cf. Can. 1254-1310).

The administration of temporal goods requires that the Church observe the local civil law and adopt the appropriate civil structures to make possible the fulfillment of her mission (cf. Can. 1284, §2, 2º-3º). The Church respects the civil law and provides for the civil incorporation of parishes and dioceses and other Church institutions and associations in order that the civil law be observed and the fitting protections of the civil law be assured. The parishes of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with the exception of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, are presently structured in the form of unincorporated associations. At present, the archdiocese is studying a proposed revision of the form of civil law structure of parishes to nonprofit corporations that it may serve even better and more securely the work of the Church. Since my arrival as Archbishop, I have been studying the proposal and hope to finalize it, with the help of archdiocesan legal counsel and canonical counsel, within the coming weeks.

Nature of the Church

As is clear from the above, the civil structure of the incorporation of parishes and the archdiocese must respect the nature of the Church. If not, the right ordering of the Church is disturbed, and there is the strong danger of misunderstanding our life in the Church and failing to respect our distinct responsibilities in the Church. Such misunderstanding has led, in the past, to sad divisions in the Church.

The Church is God the Father’s gift to us. God the Father sent God the Son into the world, that He call the Church into being through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Throughout His public ministry, Christ was forming the Church, His disciples, and instructing them regarding the life of the Church. By His suffering, dying, rising from the dead, Ascension and sending of the Holy Spirit, Christ brought to completion the work of establishing the Church as His living Body, in which the members have communion with God, in Christ, and become co-workers with God, again in Christ, for the salvation of the world.

The Church is not an organization which we have formed and joined. No, it is God’s gift to us through our Baptism and Confirmation. The highest expression of God’s gift of the Church to us is the celebration of the holy Eucharist, through which He feeds us with the Body and Blood of Christ, His Son, nourishing the life of the Holy Spirit within us, drawing us closer to Himself and strengthening us to do His work in the world.

In calling the Church into being, Christ, at the very beginning of His public ministry, set apart certain of the disciples to carry out a distinctive service, the service of Shepherd and Head which belongs to Him alone but which He carries out through them. By the Sacrament of Holy Orders, Christ gives to bishops and priests the grace to act in His person as Shepherd and Head of God’s flock in every time and place. To be precise, by the grace of Holy Orders, the whole being of the bishop and priest is given over to Christ, so that He can act in them to teach us, to sanctify us and to guide and direct us.

In guiding and directing the life of the Church in every community, the bishop and priests enjoy the assistance of both pastoral councils and finance councils, composed of lay members of the faithful and consecrated persons. The diocesan or parish pastoral council helps the bishop or pastor to know as fully as possible the pastoral needs of the faithful and to use appropriate means to meet those needs. The diocesan or parish finance council assists the bishop or pastor in administering the Church’s temporal goods — buildings, grounds and money — so that these temporal goods serve as best as possible the teaching of the faith, the worship of God and the care of all who are in need.

Why now?

The question is frequently raised about my reason for addressing the civil corporate structure of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish at the present time, especially so soon after beginning my service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. First of all, my predecessor, Cardinal Rigali, had been working with the board of directors and the parishioners at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish to correct its civil structure, in accord with Church discipline. He met with the board of directors of the present civil corporation on Sept. 30, 2003, to explain the steps necessary to bring the corporate structure of the parish into compliance with Church law.

Subsequent to Cardinal Rigali’s meeting with the board of directors, Father Bene, parochial administrator of the parish, wrote a lengthy letter to all of the parishioners on Nov. 14, 2003, explaining in detail the requirements of Church law and responding to questions about how making the necessary changes will effect parish life.

Before I came to the archdiocese, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, then archdiocesan administrator, provided me with the complete documentation in the matter. I studied it carefully and agreed completely with Cardinal Rigali’s actions to rectify the situation. It is important to note, however, that Cardinal John Glennon, who served as Archbishop of St. Louis from 1903 to 1946, made an initial effort to address the irregular corporate structure which exists at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. Cardinal Joseph Ritter did likewise during the time, from 1946 to 1967, when he served as Archbishop of St. Louis. Both of these initiatives are facts of history.

After I began my service in the archdiocese on Jan. 26, I met, on March 2, with the board of directors of the civil corporation, the members of the parish pastoral council, Father Bene and Father Adam Hurbanczuk, the priest of the Diocese of Drohiczyn in Poland, who assists Father Bene, to bring to a fruitful conclusion the work which Cardinal Rigali had begun. Then on March 19, I wrote to all of the parishioners, both in English and in Polish, to explain my decision in the matter. A copy of my letter is available to anyone who wishes it. If you wish a copy of the letter, please contact my office. Could I have let the situation continue as it is? Of course, I could have, but to have done so would have indicated that I did not believe that there was anything wrong. It would have been a lie, on my part. As a faithful Archbishop, I would be obliged to correct the matter eventually. Then, the question would logically be asked: Archbishop, if the corporate structure of the parish was all right with you in 2004, why is it not all right now? In any case, as Archbishop, in obedience to the discipline of the Church, I wish St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish to be constituted, also from the point of view of its civil structure, as a parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

What next?

Once the final form has been given to the proposed revision of the civil law structure of the parishes of the archdiocese, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish will be asked to accept the same civil structure as every other parish in the Archdiocese. If the board of directors refuses to revise the present structure of civil incorporation of the parish, I will be left with no other choice than to declare that the parish is no longer part of the archdiocese.

Because of my strong commitment to provide a personal parish for Polish-speaking Catholics and Catholics of Polish heritage, I commit myself to having a personal parish for Polish Catholics. It is my hope that St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish will remain the personal parish for Polish Catholics, but I cannot presume upon the decision of the board of directors and, therefore, will be prepared to provide immediately for the needs of the faithful who wish to belong to a parish for Polish Catholics.

Conclusion

I hope that the above will address the questions which the faithful of the archdiocese have raised in response to reports which they have received about the relationship of the archdiocese, and my relationship as Archbishop, with St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish and the faithful who are members of the parish. I hope also that my reflection on the situation has been the occasion for all of us to deepen our appreciation of God’s most wonderful gift to us, the gift of our life in Christ in the Church.

Please pray that the relationship of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish with the Archdiocese of St. Louis may be reconciled in order that the fullness of the pastoral life of the Church may be available to the parishioners now and for the future. I ask the intercession of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland; St. Stanislaus Kostka; and Sts. Faustina Kowalska and Maximilian Kolbe for this intention.

- posted by LRS @ 7:21 PM   

 
Life In the Ohwellian Society

When societies become exceptionally decadent, when decency is under attack and immorality defended, we naturally seek the source of such a nightmare. Certainly, evil cannot thrive without the cooperation of man. But what men are most culpable for our present decadence, the blatant instigators of the revolution against Our Lord, or the “silent majority”?

By silent majority it is meant those that look the other way in the presence of evil or sigh and say: “Oh well...”

There are those for instance, claiming to be Catholic, who when asked about abortion will reply with: “Oh well...it’s the law!” There are others, when faced with liturgical abuse will say: “Oh well... nothing stays the same. What’s wrong with change?” Finally, there is the now classic, out-of-context and simplistic rejoinder: “Oh well, we should not judge!”

What we lack today, with a few notable exceptions, is a combative Catholic spirit in the world.

There are so many of these "Ohwellians" who are 'professed' Catholics. I believe it is a flawed understanding of the Catholic Faith which has, effectively, neutered the faith of most of these people. Unable to defend the Church or her teachings from attacks from those outside the Church, they are even less able to do so from those who are within her walls. All who are truly faithful must continue to pray for and to teach those who are in need of catechesis. It is by hearing the truth that they will come to the truth, into the glorious light of Christ. This is our duty as baptized and confirmed Catholics and our mandate as expressed by the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.
Full article here...
- posted by LRS @ 7:02 AM   

 
Bishop Brusewitz questions the authority of the National Review Board
I had missed this two weeks ago and thought I would provide a link to it. Bishop Bruskewitz, being one of my favorite Bishops because of his courage and fidelity, speaks openly about the NRB and the Bishops' conference.

Here are a couple of his comments:

But wouldn't you acknowledge that the scandal of clerical sexual abuse required some drastic response?

Bruskewitz: My point, of course, would be that you don't cut off your head to cure a headache. Even if you have a tumor, that's not the correct therapy: to behead yourself in order to get rid of the brain tumor. I think that surely these crimes and sins and horrors of sexual misconduct--and perhaps also the guilt and cowardice and folly and the sloth of bishops who didn't properly address these issues--are horrible in themselves. But I don't think they are an excuse burn down the barn, just to get rid of the rats.

What would be the proper therapy?

Bruskewitz: Well, I think the proper therapy is to have adequate apostolic visitations, by competent people who are sent by the Holy See to check into the issues and the questions that are now being raised. In particular, the focus of this apostolic visitation should be to inspect seminaries, and to make certain that the homosexualization of the clergy (if that's what is going on) is arrested and excised.

I would say that would be the correct way to do it. It would be very important to have people involved who are competent and knowledgeable, and above all to have people involved who profess the Catholic faith. I think that it's downright bizarre to have people who are opposed to the doctrines and moral teachings of the Catholic Church acting as advisers to the bishops--or even worse, as they might understand themselves, controlling and punishing bishops--while at the same time they themselves remain outside the purview of the Church's doctrinal and moral teaching. Bishops who grossly fail in their episcopal duties need to be removed.

And later on he had this to say:

Homosexuals shouldn't be priests, any more than alcoholics should be bartenders, or pyromaniacs should be taking care of gasoline-storage facilities, or kleptomaniacs should be bank tellers. There are certain things that are excluded because of these aberrations. Whether or not a kleptomaniac is personally responsible for being a kleptomaniac is really beside the point. His proclivity for stealing things is a socially and a morally disordered inclination; he must be kept away from those situations where this inclination could be indulged. Similarly, the clergy is not a place for people who are homosexuals.

This is a very good analysis by a very good bishop - I highly recommend that everyone read this. Link is here.



- posted by LRS @ 6:47 AM   

 
A Nice Set of Pictures of the Various Liturgies...
...of the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. After looking at these, one might be able to understand Cardinal Mahony's 'disappointment' with the revised translation of the Roman Missal.

Take a look at this, and this, and this, and this,...then pray...

After looking at these pictures, I think I understand where ICD's Liturgy Committee gets it ideas..
- posted by LRS @ 6:28 AM   

 
The Holy Father's address to Bishops of Region XI (CA, HI, NV)

As Bishops you must be at the forefront of this spiritual journey of sanctification.

The credibility of the Church’s proclamation of the Good News is intimately linked to the commitment of her members to personal sanctification.

The courage to face the crisis of the loss of the sense of sin...must be addressed today with particular urgency.

...the Bishop’s duty to indicate the sad and destructive presence of sin, both in individuals and in communities, is in fact a service of hope.

I particularly wish to encourage you in your promotion of the Sacrament of Penance.

Full text here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
U.S. Catholic Colleges Invite Scandalous Commencement Speakers

Cardinal Newman Society, conducting its annual review of commencement speakers and honorees at Catholic colleges, has thus far identified 19 inappropriate invitations, many of them to public abortion-rights advocates.

“When Catholic institutions honor well-known abortion advocates like Barbara Boxer and Chuck Schumer, they are being openly subversive,” said Cardinal Newman Society president Patrick J. Reilly. “Not only are they scandalizing students and impeding the Church’s aggressive efforts to end legalized abortion, but they are flaunting their nonconformity in a very public way.”

The Cardinal Newman Society lists 19 "Catholic" colleges/universities with inappropriate commencement speakers and honorees, and asks the presidents to withdraw invitations to these speakers when possible.

Link here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
Archbishop Burke leads groundbreaking for church

Groundbreaking for the blufftop, 450-seat church for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse went forward Thursday despite steady, pouring rain, crashing thunder and occasional flashes of lightning. Several hundred people huddled under umbrellas for the half-hour ceremony led by St. Louis Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, who founded the $30 million shrine project in 1999 when he was bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:13 AM   

 
Bishop Michael Sheridan issues Pastoral Letter regarding Holy Communion

There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation. Any Catholics who vote for candidates who stand for abortion, illicit stem cell research or euthanasia suffer the same fateful consequences.

It is for this reason that these Catholics, whether candidates for office or those who would vote for them, may not receive Holy Communion until they have recanted their positions and been reconciled with God and the Church in the Sacrament of Penance.

Link here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:08 AM   

 
No wonder Catholics are confused.....

But last month, as six U.S. cardinals joined St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop Harry Flynn at a Mass in the Cathedral of St. Paul, about two dozen members of Rainbow Sash, Dignity, and Soulforce received Communion in their rainbow sashes, along with about 1,500 other Catholics.

The Mass was held in conjunction with a $1,000-a-plate banquet to raise funds for the Catholic University of America.

Gay activist Brian McNeill of Dignity Twin Cities told the Star Tribune April 24 that he and others were demonstrating because the Church’s official documents describe homosexual behavior as an "objective disorder." He acknowledged that Archbishop Flynn allows those wearing the rainbow sash to receive Communion, and he complained that Washington’s Theodore Cardinal McCarrick does not.

Chicago’s Francis Cardinal George, while he allows a special Mass for gays and lesbians at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, on the assumption — according to the Rainbow Sash Movement’s Chicago coordinator Joseph Murray — that all those attending are celibate, he has refused Communion to those demonstrating by wearing the Rainbow Sash.

Cardinal McCarrick is 'uncomfortable' denying Holy Communion to Kerry and others who PUBLICLY promote or support the murder of the unborn, yet he is "comfortable" with denying the Blessed Sacrament to those who PUBLICLY show that they are practicing homosexuals.

Once again, "Catholic" homosexual activists intend to demonstrate their disagreement with Church teaching on homosexuality by receiving Communion on Pentecost Sunday in cathedrals and churches across the country, wearing their rainbow sashes.

"In wearing the Rainbow Sash we proclaim that we are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender with our families, friends, and loved ones we witness and celebrate our sexuality as a sacred gift," declares a press release by the Rainbow Sash Movement

Paul Likoudis has the article "To Repeat Pentecost Sacrilege" at The Wanderer here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:44 PM   

 
Another Archbishop sets rule on the Holy Eucharist

Archbishop John G. Vlazny, leader of 298,000 Roman Catholics in Western Oregon, has declared that any Catholic, politician or not, who is publicly at odds with serious church teaching should refrain from taking Holy Communion.

"Catholics who publicly disagree with serious church teaching on such matters as abortion or same-sex marriage should refrain from receiving Holy Communion," he wrote in his May 6 column. The phrase "publicly disagree" means just that he said, not speaking privately to family or friends.

"Catholics who are not in communion with the Church (for example, divorced and remarried Catholics who have not received annulments from previous Catholic marriages) must similarly refrain from receiving the Eucharist," he wrote. "All Catholics in the state of mortal sin who are unrepentant also should refrain from the reception of the Eucharist."

Article here.
One will notice what appears to be a major accomodation, however, in this statement:

Should Catholics who choose to vote for pro-choice politicians refrain from reception of the Holy Communion? If they vote for them precisely because they are pro-choice, I believe they too should refrain from the reception of Holy Communion because they are not in communion with the Church on a serious matter. But if they are voting for that particular politician because, in their judgment, other candidates fail significantly in some matters of great importance, for example, war and peace, human rights and economic justice, then there is no evident stance of opposition to Church teaching and reception of Holy Communion seems both appropriate and beneficial.

Is not the defense of INNOCENT life non-negotiable? Is it not confusing and scandalous to equate these other 'social justice' issues with the issue of abortion? Is it not a sin to vote for a pro-abortion politician?


- posted by LRS @ 12:25 PM   

 
Review panel accuses bishops of backsliding
The St. Louis Post Dispatch carried this article today, with these comments:
"No more foot-dragging" and

Group demands annual audits of compliance with sex-abuse policy.

Nice choice of words, "foot dragging" and "demands"...

So, Anne Burke, interim head of the National Review board, while speaking to the "Voice of the Faithful" has this to say, "There can be no more foot-dragging by the hierarchy."

The Post Dispatch article states:

This is a "defining moment" for the church, said Burke, an Illinois appellate judge, speaking to members of Voice of the Faithful, a lay reform lobby group.

This is not the first time, if I recall, that Anne Burke has addressed the "Voice of the Faithful"...And the article does not tell the entire truth about the 'lay reform lobby group'.

But that is nothing new. Post Dispatch article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
Forced conversion to Islam fatal for Christian boy in Pakistan

AsiaNews/Ucan) Lahore - Outrage at the death of a Catholic boy forced to convert to Islam at the hands of torturous abductors has prompted the Pakistan Catholic Bishop's Commission of Justice and Peace, to take up the legal case. The Christian youth died of injuries inflicted by a teacher and students at an Islamic school. The National Commission for Justice and Peace declared May 4th that the incident reflects a worrying trend of forced conversions.

Javed Anjum, an 18-year-old commerce student, was seized by a teacher and students of Jamia Hassan bin Almurtaza Madrasa (an Islamic religious school) on April 17th when he stopped for a drink of water at a nearby tap in Toba Tek Singh, 310 kilometres south of Islamabad. For five days he was tortured until his condition became so serious that the abusers took him to a police station, stating that he had been attempting to steal an electric water pump, and filed a charge of robbery against him. The boy was kept in police custody until April 24th, when he was finally taken for medical treatment. By that time, according to the Bishop's Commission investigation, it was too late to save him. Anjum died May 2nd, in a nearby Faisalabad hospital, of "renal failure," having also suffered broken ribs and loss of eyesight.

According to the Bishop's Commission, police refused to investigate the cause of Anjum's injuries, or the allegation against him. Chairman of the Commission, Peter Jacob said on May 7th that officials at the Islamic school tried to create an impression that Anjum was a drug addict, and now local Muslim political leaders are supporting and protecting the school. "It only shows how desperate and aware the perpetrators are of their crime and what they had done, that they tried through various allegations to cover it up."

The Bishop's Commission claimed, "Religious intolerance and discrimination is the reason behind the recent incidents where young non-Muslims were forcibly converted and circumcised." In November, another Pakistani Catholic boy, 15-year-old Zeeshan Gill, was abducted by a Muslim classmate and forced to convert. He was threatened and beaten by Islamic clerics, and made to attend religious classes at Madrasa Jamia al Qasim al Aloom, an Islamic boarding school. He eventually escaped from his captors, but he and his mother and brother have since been in hiding for fear of death.

Beyond its concern for justice in Anjum's case, the Church's commission urged the government of the Punjab province to "take long-term steps to root out religious hatred and take timely action against the perpetrators of hate crimes in accordance with the law."

"We appeal to the federal government to ensure equality of rights and opportunities, which is the only way to build a society based on justice, peace and human rights," the commission's statement said.

The official teaching of Islam condemns forced conversions of others.

This was forwarded to me a couple of days ago.

The link to the story is here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:15 AM   

 
Mahony suggests that he will skip Bishops' June meeting

In a Feb. 2 letter, Cardinal Edward Egan of New York urged a delay in talks about the new audit until a November bishops' meeting. Egan was criticized in the 2003 audit for failing — in his former post as bishop of Bridgeport, Conn. — to remove a priest who faced accusations.

(Justice Anne) Burke said Egan's letter to Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the bishops' conference, drew a sharp response from Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles, who opposed waiting until November.

Mahony warned that he and other California bishops would not attend a national meeting in June unless bishops took up the issue at that time, Burke said. Mahony was in Rome on Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. An aide in Los Angeles said staff would have to check with Mahony before commenting.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:10 AM   

 
Two more priests remove name from "Phoenix Declaration" list

In obedience to Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, two more priests have removed their names from the "Phoenix Declaration," signed by Arizona clergy calling for full inclusion of gays and lesbians in religious and community life.

The Rev. Vernon Meyer, pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Scottsdale, and the Rev. Mathew Mampara, associate pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Gilbert, notified No Longer Silent/Clergy For Justice this week they wanted their names taken off the support list. Meyer had served as spokesman for the priests who hesitated before relenting to the bishop.

No Longer Silent has been posting the words "name removed at request of signer in obedience to church hierarchy" in the place where the priests’ names previously had appeared on the signers list on the Web site.

East Valley priests who previously removed their names were: The Rev. Chris Carpenter, Christ the King Church in Mesa; the Rev. Scott Brubaker, St. Bridget in Mesa; and the Rev. John Cunningham of St. Mary Magdalene in Gilbert.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:29 AM   

 
Chaput rebukes inquiry panel
Archbishop Chaput and others have called into question certain things of the National Review Board. For instance, he suggested the group has overstepped its bounds and issued "implicit threats."
Bishop Bruskewitz had made his opinions known some time ago.

In an April 2 letter to Burke, Chaput and Gomez wrote that her letter "assumes the worst motives on the part of the bishops, despite the progress that has already been made. Your language is designed to offend and contains implicit threats that are, to put it mildly, inappropriate for anyone of your professional stature."

The Denver prelates noted the Dallas charter does not require an annual audit "and the expense, staff and structures that would involve." They suggested conducting one every three or four years instead.

"It is not the (lay review board's) duty to interpret the Charter," the letter says. "The (board) is an important advisory body at the service of the bishops. It does not and cannot have supervisory authority."

But this is not all. Some time ago, Kathleen McChesney, executive director of the USCCB's National Office of Child and Youth Protection, indicated that they needed to audit some 19,000 parishes as well. Sounds like a lifetime career! And I have not yet touched on the promotion of 'sexual awareness' programs for children!

Denver Post article here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:14 AM   

 
Priests urging optional celibacy described as men who love the church

Outlining the growing shortage of priests and its negative impact on weekend Masses in parishes, the group said, "Priests' Forum for Eucharist sees that the church law of mandatory celibacy is endangering the identity of the Catholic faithful as a people of the Eucharist." Members of the forum "believe that making celibacy an option for those who wish to become priests or by ordaining those who are already married is an obvious way to alleviate the problems" arising from the priest shortage, the news release said.

Failure to recognize the problem is symptomatic of many. There are less men from which to draw due, in large part, to the bishops and priests of the Western world failing to address the intrinsic evil and seriousness of contraception.

The 'garden of vocations', altar service, has been poisoned by many so that the ground is barren. This is because of many who exclude boys for serving at the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Many have failed to teach the truth about the Most Blessed Sacrament for decades.

Link here.

- posted by LRS @ 5:59 AM   

 
L.A. cardinal says Order of the Mass draft needs major work
Of course, this should not be a surprise. Apparently, there are not a few who loathe "Liturgiam Authenticam".

Cardinal Mahony said he gave copies of the draft translation to members of his priests' council and asked them to "read it out loud" with members of their parish liturgy committees.

Because the prayers are meant to be proclaimed, he said, "you can only capture whether it works or doesn't work in hearing it out loud."

"Most of the responses I got back were quite negative," Cardinal Mahony said.

The cardinal said there is an obvious "tension" between the principles enunciated in the 2001 Vatican document on translation and the needs of the priests and people.

"We simply cannot have a translation that is labored and is not easily proclaimed or understood," he said.

"The danger is that that kind of new Roman Missal, if it were approved in such a stilted fashion, would simply not be used," he said.

The cardinal said he was afraid that priests simply would continue using the old translation, "which, of course, is not helpful either."

Charity forbids me commenting too much on the cardinal's responses except to say that the implicit attitude of accepting and promoting willful disobedience is a disgrace.

CNS article here.
- posted by LRS @ 5:39 AM   

 
Commencement Speakers at Catholic universities?
This just in:

Dear "Catholic Higher Education Alert" Subscriber:

The San Francisco mayor who violated California state law to marry homosexuals will give the commencement address at a Catholic university? If that isn't a blatant affront to the bishops and all faithful Catholics, I don't know what is. Please help, we need a full-court press on this!

So begins Part II of Friday's alert, as promised, including some updates,
a few action items, and catch-up on important developments about which we haven't yet reported.

Thanks to everyone who has contacted college presidents about inappropriate commencement speakers, and to those who plan to do so right away. The list is likely to expand as more speakers and honorees are announced, so you might check the list at www.cardinalnewmansociety.org every couple of days.

- posted by LRS @ 5:00 PM   

 
What error is condemned in "Gaudium et spes"?
Dr. Arthur Hippler, Director of the Office of Justice and Peace, Diocese of La Crosse, has an excellent article on this and it is quite appropriate considering the present day circumstances of professed Catholic politicians and others who are so adamant about separating their 'public' lives from their 'professed' Catholic faith.

The condemnation of error is a rare occurrence within the documents of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. Pope John XXIII indicated in his opening speech that the Council was quite deliberately more concerned with affirming the truth of the Faith than condemning the errors opposed to it. When therefore errors are condemned, we should take notice. For despite its generally commendatory attitude, Gaudium et spes condemns what it considers to be "one of the graver errors of our age."

What is this "graver error"? It is not liberal capitalism, nor atheist communism, nor any economic or social system. Rather, it is the root and principle of all social and economic errors. It is rather the divorce of the Catholic faith from secular life.

...This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age" (Gaudium et spes, n.43).

The Council Fathers make clear that this error is condemned in Holy Scripture: "Long since, the Prophets of the Old Testament fought vehemently against this scandal (cf. Is. 58:1-12) and even more so did Jesus Christ Himself in the New Testament threaten it with grave punishments (Cf. Mt. 23:3-33; Mk. 7:10-13).

"The Christian who neglects his temporal duties, neglects his duties toward his neighbor and even God, and jeopardizes his eternal salvation" (GS, n.43).

Dr. Hippler's article can be read here.

- posted by LRS @ 12:40 PM   

 
Who Should Be Denied Communion? by Paul Likoudis
A great article today in The Wanderer.

In one sense, the issue of Catholic pro-abortion politicians receiving Communion is artificially narrow, and the bishops’ reluctance to address it in a meaningful way may be reflective of a longtime habit of "grave dereliction of duty," according to one prominent pro-lifer who spoke with The Wanderer. She did not want her name revealed.

"Just as a law is only good as long as it is enforced," she said, "a faith that is not enforced is rendered meaningless."

This pro-lifer also suggested that the best way for the bishops to resolve this highly controverted and contentious issue is with a "seamless garment" approach that includes a range of both issues and players.

"If some or all of the bishops are going to say that pro-abortion politicians cannot receive Communion, they should also say that pro-abortion, and/or pro-homosexual Catholic journalists cannot receive Communion.

"Prominent Catholic journalists such as Peter Steinfels, Anna Quindlen, and the late Mary McGrory are preachers from the printed page, and they often have as much, if not more, influence on forming public opinion than do politicians. It is a grave scandal that such dissenters are not rebuked and disciplined, especially in the case of Steinfels, who promotes dissent on a range of issues from contraception to women priests."

Who else should be on the list if an "inclusive, seamless garment" approach were to be used?

As the article suggests:
The pro-contraception and pro-homosexuality editors of the National unCatholic Reporter.
Catholic doctors who perform abortions. (they are excommunicated automatically)
Catholic doctors who prescribe contraceptives.
Catholic phamacists who dispense contraceptives.
Catholic scientists involved in condemned activities in 'life sciences'.
Catholics 'living in sin' either hetero or homosexual.
And last, but not least:

The list of those banned from Communion would also include bishops, priests, religious, moral theologians, Scripture scholars, chancery staff, and school teachers who create scandal by their public dissent from authoritative Church teaching on any issue, she concluded.

This would be a great start since all of these are sources of "public" scandal...

The Wanderer article is here.



- posted by LRS @ 12:38 PM   

 
The Times Union: Bishop Howard Hubbard, An Enlightened Bishop

Howard Hubbard is right to resist the trend of denying certain politicians Communion.

The thoughtful and progressive instincts and sensibilities of the Catholic diocese of Albany are at work in the decision to steer clear of the so-called Communion wars.

Let's see if I have this right...Bishop Hubbard is 'enlightened' because he refuses to safeguard the Blessed Sacrament and would choose to allow manifest public scandal in the reception of the Holy Eucharist.

What then, are we to conclude about Archbishop Burke, Bishop Bruskewitz and others who would do otherwise? They are not 'enlightened'? What about Cardinal Arinze? Is he also bereft of that special 'enlightenment'?

Take a closer look at just who the Times Union includes in that 'enlightened' group.

Frances Kissling of the Washington-based group Catholics for a Free Choice envisions that a ban on Communion to all who supported some form of abortion rights, not just politicians, could empty the churches.

The Rev. Kenneth Doyle, chancellor of the Albany diocese, correctly sees a nightmare in the making if a political scorecard stood in the way of the distribution of Communion. Both he and Bishop Howard Hubbard are admirably determined to maintain a more substantive dialogue about the church's teachings. Denying Communion distracts from such a discussion, the Rev. Doyle explains.

Kissling? Wonder woman of the new "Catholics"...?

Dialogue and education (as Cardinal Mahoney suggests) about the Church's teaching will resolve the issue of pro-abortion, professed "Catholics" and bring them into the Church. Of course, God can perform the miraculous, however, after 30+ years of professed "Catholics" being confirmed in their independence, freedom of conscience, and rejection of the teachngs of the Church, who really thinks this will work? Ah yes, only one who is 'enlightened'!

Many times I am reminded of a quote I heard Fr. Corapi relate during one of his talks, and I do not recall the person to whom it is attributed: "God put obvious limitations on man's intelligence, but He placed no limits whatsoever on man's stupidity."

Link here.




- posted by LRS @ 6:36 AM   

 
Five priests follow Bishop Olmsted's instruction & withdraw signatures

Although five Catholic priests have followed Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted's order that they remove their names, no other clergy member has withdrawn. On the contrary, the publicity surrounding the Catholic situation is resulting in additional signatures on the statement, said the Rev. David Felten, secretary of the No Longer Silent group that drafted the declaration last year.

But four have, so far, not removed their names.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:05 AM   

 
Cardinal says education on abortion more effective than sanctions

Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony said he believes the church's efforts to educate people about the reality and immorality of abortion are more effective than imposing sanctions on politicians who support legal abortion.

After 30 years of "education", why is it that so many still "fail" to understand, or even worse, outright reject the Church's teaching? I suppose one only has to consider the source of rhis profundity regarding education.
Link here.
- posted by LRS @ 5:58 AM   

 
La Crosse Diocese to break ground for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis, who was La Crosse's bishop in 1994-2003 and now heads the St. Louis Archdiocese, was scheduled to break ground for the church May 13. "I have had a strong sense from the time I was ordained a bishop for the Diocese of La Crosse to foster the devotional life especially with the help of our Blessed Mother," Archbishop Burke said in an interview with The Catholic Times, the diocesan newspaper.

CNS Link.

- posted by LRS @ 5:54 AM   

 
"Gender Study" Victim Boy Raised as a Girl Commits Suicide
The doctor responsible for this, if he still "practices" medicine should have his license revoked for "experimenting" on children as he did. And how could the parents be talked into this?

David Reimer committed suicide last week at the age of 38. Reimer's parents, after a botched circumcision, were convinced by a Johns Hopkins gender studies specialist to raise the boy as a girl. Dr. John Money believed that gender was a learned trait, and wanted to prove his theory with an ideal test subject: David was one of a set of identical twins. He was started on female hormone injections and raised as Brenda.

David's mother, Janet Reimer, said that he would still be alive had it not been for the gender experiment. She blames the doctor for talking them into the sex-change. She described his life: "They wouldn't let him use the boys' washroom or the girls. He had to go in the back alley," she said.

LifeSite article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:52 PM   

 
Three Catholic Bishops Refuse to Take Action on Pro-Abortion "Catholic" Politicians
American Life League: Three Catholic Bishops Refuse to Take Action on Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians -- Why?; Bishops of Albany, N.Y., Lansing, Mich., and Burlington, Vt. Will Not Protect Holy Communion from Pro-Abortion Politicians

WASHINGTON, May 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- American Life League's Crusade for Defense of Our Catholic Church is disappointed over recent statements by three high-ranking Catholic clerics. Bishops Howard Hubbard of Albany, N.Y.; Carl Mengeling of Lansing, Mich.; and Kenneth Angell of Burlington, Vt., have all been quoted in the media as saying they would not prevent pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians from receiving Holy Communion.

"Archbishop Raymond Burke set the standard while bishop of LaCrosse, Wis., when he canonically barred certain Catholic politicians from receiving Holy Communion until they publicly recanted their pro-abortion positions and repented," said Brown. "We pray that all of our bishops will use Archbishop Burke's actions as the template for ending this scandal. We also hope that more bishops will follow the example of Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of Fargo, N.D., who so compellingly stated that as successors of the Apostles, the bishops have an obligation to speak out against this outrage.

American Life League article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:43 PM   

 
Meeting about suspended priest, Fr. John Cunningham, draws some protesters

About 400 people turned out Monday night for a meeting called by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix to explain why a popular Gilbert priest was suspended on accusations he broke church law.

"This is a high-tech lynching," said Jerry McCarty, who attended to the meeting in defense of the Rev. John Cunningham. "They’re trying to silence the more liberal priests."

Cunningham was suspended April 30 from his job as pastor of the St. Mary Magdalene parish after accusations he broke church law by celebrating Mass with a non-Catholic clergyman during a wedding at St. Anne’s Catholic Parish, also in Gilbert.

Staff members at St. Anne’s filed a complaint with the diocese, claiming Cunningham allowed an Anglican priest to play a role reserved for practicing Catholics in the Eucharist, the part of Mass in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed.

A high-tech 'lynching' of liberal priests? It looks like Bishop wants to deal with dissenting and disobedient priests.

Link here.

Also, for those interested in some background on Fr. Cunningham, go here to the St Mary Magdalene Web Site.

Father Cunningham was born in Phoenix in 1949 and grew up in the shadow of the State Capital, the sixth child of Irish immigrants. He attended St. Meinard Seminary in Indiana, where he earned his B.A. in Philosophy and Masters in Divinity. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix in 1974 and served in two urban parishes before become pastor in Tolleson, Arizona. He was diocesan vocation director for six years. An innovator who enjoys a new challenge, Fr. John founded St. Bridget Parish in 1985.

While still a pastor, Fr. John enrolled at ASU where he received an M.A. in Religious Studies in 1997. His thesis was entitled: Gender, Authority and the Gospel of Mary: A Feminist Critique. Our pastor has taught World Religions and other classes at Mesa and Scottsdale Community Colleges and ASU East. He also has an extensive background in Jungian psychology, having done a sabbatical at the Jung Institute in Zurich, and been actively involved for years with the Phoenix Friends of Jung. He is ready and eager to start Gilbert's second Catholic parish. He named it after St. Mary Magdalene in tribute to the devoted friend of Jesus, the first witness to the resurrection, the first evangelist, a perennially illustrious symbol of spiritual illumination, and , in our time, a popular icon of women's empowerment.

- posted by LRS @ 6:15 PM   

 
Fargo Bishop Aquila's homily
Although this was earlier reported here, I did not have a link to the Bishop's homily.

It is online here. Another bishop rises to the task of teaching. A couple of excerpts:

In the light of the last few days and all of the media coverage regarding John Kerry’s unambiguous support of abortion rights, his personal opposition to abortion, and his insistence on the separation of his Catholic faith from his professional life, I, as a successor of the apostles, cannot remain silent. I, as an apostle, must speak with the apostles and obey God rather than man and present to you the teaching of the Church on the proper relationship between our faith and professional life. Neither the media nor the theologians who support the separation will present the clear teaching of the Church. I have the responsibility and duty before God to teach and to present to you the teaching of the Church on the matter of living one’s faith in the world.

The grave error that has come about, the grave error that the Father of Lies has planted in the hearts of many is the lie of thinking that we can have one foot with God and one foot with the world. We are in the world, not of the world. We are in the world to transform the world. The only way that the world will ever have peace, the only way the world will ever live in the truth is if the world embraces Jesus Christ. While we may never impose the Gospel message or force someone to believe in Jesus Christ, we must always propose the truth. We cannot move into negotiation, ever, with evil.

Finally, I ask all of us to seek the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Truth, for she will lead us to the truth. She will always lead us to her Son, Jesus Christ, who is “the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14, 6).” Mary’s intercession will grant to us every grace that we need to walk in Jesus’ steps and to follow in His light, to bring the truth to the world which so needs it today. May each of us grow in obedience to the will of the Father, and may we, too, respond with Peter to the Risen Christ’s question on love, with his words, “Lord, you know that I love you.”

- posted by LRS @ 7:00 AM   

 
You cannot have your "waffle" and your "wafer," too.
Bishop Thomas Wenski, the coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando, wrote a commentary for the Orlando Sentinel recently.

..."getting it right" for a practicing Catholic means conforming oneself to the will of God as revealed to us through scripture and tradition and as definitely set forth by the teaching authority of the church. A practicing Catholic cannot invoke "conscience" to defy or disregard what the church definitely holds as true -- for a practicing Catholic doesn't create his own truth but forms his conscience according to the truth.

Bishops as teachers of the faith have no special competencies in the world of business or politics -- and in those worlds we have no regulatory or legal powers. But precisely as teachers of the Catholic faith we do have competence to tell businessmen or politicians or anyone else for that matter what is required to be a Catholic. It is totally within our competence to say that one cannot be complicit in the injustice of denying the right to life of an unborn child or an invalid elder and still consider oneself a good Catholic.

Link to article here (may require registration)

- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
The Price Of My Soul’s Salvation...
Fr. Joseph Wilson has a good article in The Wanderer.

It can be read online here. A couple of excerpts:

The sacramental discipline of the Church in this country has largely broken down. Mass attendance in our Diocese of Brooklyn is 18%; in New York, 19%; in Chicago, 16% (those are pre-scandal figures). The Most Blessed Sacrament is so little valued among Catholics that the overwhelming majority of them are not faithful to Sunday Mass. I am sure, though, that most of those who only pop in occasionally have no hesitation about approaching for Communion.

The Church’s catechetical program — a systematic, consistent method of passing on the faith that was Church-wide — was deliberately dismantled 40 years ago. Recently, a noted archbishop garnered attention because he told his peers that virtually all of the high school catechetical texts being used in our country are unsalvageable junk. There was much applause for his courage and insight; I choked over my coffee. Every one of the bishops knew this at least 30 years ago; dioceses were routinely marginalizing as kooks faithful Catholics who wrote letters protesting these developments.

Catholics routinely approach for Communion who are engaged in premarital sex, extramarital sex, masturbation, contraception, homosexuality. Public, nonchalant dissent from Church teaching in these areas is easy to find among Catholics — not just those in public positions, but among those on religious education staffs in parishes and schools. While mountains of postconciliar documents have been churned out on various crucial issues, they have minimal impact in parish ministry and family life. Indeed, we’re at the stage where cafeteria Catholicism, picking and choosing from among the teachings of our and other religious traditions, is regarded as a virtue.

We need to admit that we have strayed dangerously far from the path, as we look at our liturgy, catechesis, parish and rectory life, religious communities, seminaries, health care institutions, family life, moral theology. We’ve got to admit that there is something deeply wrong.

The clarion call needs to be sounded. One of our shepherds needs to stand up and challenge his brethren and all of us, needs to say, honestly, "Enough, dear God! We have been in a state of crisis for 40 years, and it gets worse by the day!" We need an Elijah. We need another Hilkiah, who found the forgotten Book of the Law in the Temple; another Josiah, the king who wept as he heard it read to him, and ordered a bright, fierce renewal (2 Chron. 34:19).

Read the article...You will find out what tomatoes are good for. God, help us and help our bishops and priests.
- posted by LRS @ 6:18 AM   

 
Covenant Network-Radio Announcements...
Catholic Radio is now on the air in Terre Haute, Indiana on station 91.9 FM and also in Moberly, Missouri on station 90.1 FM.

If you have family or friends in these areas please let them know that they can now listen to Catholic radio.

Please keep the Covenant Network Apostolate in your prayers so that they may continue to provide Catholic radio coverage to us and to others.
- posted by LRS @ 6:02 AM   

 
This should be interesting...

Sen. John Kerry plans to be in Denver next month. So will hundreds of Catholic bishops. The result could be a defining moment in the presidential campaign.

Kerry's anticipated fundraising stop will coincide with a retreat at which the bishops are expected to discuss whether to deny Communion to the Catholic presidential candidate because he supports abortion rights.

Denver Post article here.

- posted by LRS @ 5:54 AM   

 
Vatican's synod outline takes aim at rules on reception of Communion

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The recent debate over liturgical abuses and reception of Communion by dissenting Catholics is about to be taken to a global level as the church prepares for the 2005 Synod of Bishops.

The synod's topic is the Eucharist. In recent days, bishops around the world have received a Vatican-prepared thematic outline that focuses in large part on the rules that govern celebration of the Eucharist -- including who should and who should not receive Communion.

The 75-page outline, called the "lineamenta," has not been released publicly by the Vatican. Catholic News Service obtained a copy of the document in early May.

The outline emphasizes the sacramental and liturgical norms against shared Communion with most non-Catholics. It repeatedly makes the point that the church does not have the power to give Communion to Catholics living in grave sin, to those "teaching error" or to "persons living an immoral life."

This would be an interesting document to see.

Full article from Catholic News Service is here.
- posted by LRS @ 9:38 PM   

 
Pro-Abortion Politican Leaving the Church...

A prominent pro-choice politician is quitting the Catholic Church after being told he would be denied Communion, it was reported yesterday.
New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny (D-Hoboken), a former altar boy, told the Philadelphia Inquirer he's leaving the church after 57 years.

"I will look for other options to express my faith and will probably join another Christian church," he said.

"If every faith starts trying to impose their rules on elected officials," Kenny said, "democracy is going to be factionalized along religious lines."

I will look for a "Christian" church that allows me to continue on my path to hell without any warnings whatsoever...

Story here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:13 AM   

 
Cardinal Ratzinger Tells Why Many Misperceive Christianity

"Today, Christianity is seen as an old tradition, weighed down by old Commandments, something we already know which tells us nothing new; a strong institution, one of the great institutions that weigh on our shoulders," said the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

"If we stay with this impression, we do not live the essence of Christianity, which is an ever new encounter, an event thanks to which we can encounter the God who speaks to us, who approaches us, who befriends us," the cardinal said in the latest issue of the Italian Catholic weekly Vita Trentina.

"It is critical to come to this fundamental point of a personal encounter with God, who also today makes himself present, and who is contemporary," he added.

"If one finds this essential center, one also understands all the other things," the cardinal said. "But if this encounter is not realized, which touches the heart, all the rest remains like a weight, almost like something absurd."

Zenit Article

- posted by LRS @ 6:16 AM   

 
Albany Diocese to maintain the status quo...

Bishop Howard Hubbard and other priests in the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese won't deny Communion to elected officials whose political beliefs conflict with the church's teachings on abortion, diocesan officials said Friday.
...
Catholics who oppose abortion have tried for 20 years to get the Pope to deny Communion or even excommunicate policy-makers who back abortion rights, said Frances Kissling, the president of the Washington, D.C., group.
...
Only a few of the 300 U.S. bishops will deny the Eucharist to Catholic officials who back abortion rights, Kissling said.

"The remainder appear to be more prudent, understanding that Catholics have a right in canon law to receive the sacraments and that there is no infallible teaching on how to vote on either abortion or other controversial issues," she said.

Article.

- posted by LRS @ 6:09 AM   

 
Pro-Abortion Politicians Risk "The Possibility of Hell"

FARGO, ND, May 7, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The scandal of U.S. Catholic pro-abortion politicians defying Catholic teaching and receiving Communion despite their grave sin of supporting abortion has caused several bishops to speak out forcefully on the issue. The latest is Fargo Bishop Samuel J. Aquila Bishop of the diocese of Fargo in North Dakota.

Article...

- posted by LRS @ 6:06 AM   

 
Kerry Takes Communion on Mother's Day

Kerry and his wife, Teresa, took communion from Father Robert G. Duch at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in suburban Pittsburgh, where the presidential candidate often worships when staying here.

Link
- posted by LRS @ 6:00 AM   

 
Homosexual couple denied communion

A gay couple in northern Minnesota is angry and upset over being told they no longer should take communion or sing in the choir at their church because of their lifestyle.

Link...

- posted by LRS @ 5:51 AM   

 
English Media Distorts Spanish Papal Nuncio's Remarks on Homosexual Unions

Nuncio actually said that legalization of homosexual unions is totally against Church doctrine.

He also said that "there are other forms of cohabitation and it is good that they be recognized", however press reports are unclear as to what was meant by the statement which could also refer to dependent cohabitation between siblings or elderly mother and daughter.

LifeSiteNews.com has requested a clarification on the matter from the Vatican Press Service.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 5:09 PM   

 
SPECIAL ALERT.....
From EWTN

May 7
Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, St. Louis speaking on
Redemptionis Sacramentum: directives regarding the Holy Eucharist

Click here to submit a question Archbishop Burke about the new document from the Vatican or
Question about Pro-abortion Politicians

We Need Your Phone Calls!!!

This show will be pre-taped on Friday May 7th.

We need phone calls during the show.

If you would like to ask a telephone question to Archbishop Burke, Please call on Friday - between the hours of 3:30 and 4:30 pm Eastern time. (phone number 1-800-221-9460)

That's until 5:30 pm Central.

- posted by LRS @ 4:31 PM   

 
Bishop Doran's Column for May 6...

Vote your principles and hopes for the future
I want to say this early on, so that if it has to be said again later, this issue of The Observer will be proof that I did not wait until a tactically crucial point in the 2004 campaign to speak up, but said my piece at the very beginning.

We have been, for some months, involved in the quadrennial exercise whereby we are hypnotized into the belief that our ballots in November count for everything. In reality, the supine negligence of our legislators and the arrogance of our unelected federal judiciary have brought it about that our votes count for almost nothing. But the emphasis that I wish to place is on the almost, the small difference that our choices do make.

As followers of Christ and faithful members of his Church, it is our obligation to form our consciences after consulting the teachings of the Church and then to follow our consciences to the extent we are allowed a choice in choosing our leaders. It is not within the province of bishops, priests or deacons to tell anyone how he or she should vote, but it is within the power of God to do so, through the judgments of our properly formed consciences.

For some time, young people have adorned bracelets and necklaces with the letters WWJD – What Would Jesus Do? It is difficult to say what Jesus would do in this 21st century because we have, from the accounts of his life in the Gospels, only what he did in the first century. Nevertheless, through the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to us in Confirmation – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence — we can discern with confidence the principles of life that Jesus taught us and wishes us to follow.

Thus, by the use of a properly formed Catholic conscience, we can determine what Almighty God calls us to do and what leaders He calls us to choose if we are to preserve for ourselves and our children the blessings of equal liberty and, more importantly, to pass on the Catholic faith to our posterity, together with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Does your conscience tell you that God calls us to national suicide? If it does, then by all means choose leaders who will promote contraception, abortion, euthanasia and the gay lifestyle. We need only to look around us, among the erstwhile nations of the world, to see which ones have perished and why. Those nations have perished which despised children, disrespected the elderly and demeaned the holy state of marriage.

Does your conscience tell you that your children should live under the threat of terror for all their natural lives? If it does, vote for those who appease terrorists, who despise strength of character and purpose, who believe in faulty education and the coarsening of public morals.

Does your conscience tell you that public institutions are not bound by the moral law? Does it tell you that slackening standards of education will produce a more capable population for the future? Does it say that the poor have no claim on us for help in problems of housing, nutrition and health care? If these are the dictates of your conscience, then vote for the people who support these things and vote against those who hold the opposite. Make a choice and then live with it. It has been said more than once: we Americans get the government we deserve, and deserve the government we get, because we choose it.

We have in our country long since lost the ideal of republican representative government. But it is not yet totally beyond our power to choose from among those who contend for our votes those candidates who, by their private lives of sobriety and upright conduct, have shown in small matters that they can be put in charge of greater affairs.

The point, I suppose, of this column is to suggest that you ought to choose people who will act in accord with your convictions and not merely be swept into the polling place by mere partisan concerns, by a desire only to come out and say, “I voted for the winner,” or worse, to make your choice based upon the puerile presentations sometimes made in campaign commercial announcements. Moreover, the so-called debates we see are not particularly helpful since they are not, strictly speaking, debates. Instead, they are oratorical contests in which rhetoric substitutes for logic, and spin for substance.

It requires a Herculean effort of voters to seek out the truth since we have hardly any reliable sources of news available to us.
Nevertheless, we must do our best against the odds. It is easy to say we are at a crossroads. That may or may not be true, but what is true is that those we choose for public office will, whether we want them to or not, make decisions for us in the coming months and years that will affect our lives and our children’s lives for ages.

Do not complain afterwards that, despite our best efforts, the pagans won. Of old, the pagans actually conquered few countries by battle. They often simply overwhelmed their adversaries after the inhabitants let them in.

It is a lesson for us that we must be vigilant in not letting those who would destroy our Catholic Christian way of life take office and dismantle that which has made this nation the envy of the ages.

As always, Bishop Doran asks the questions that NEED to be asked of Catholics...and, indeed, of all God-fearing people.

The Link to the Bishop's column is here but I'm not certain if they are achived or not.


- posted by LRS @ 3:17 PM   

 
Archbishop Burke names new editor, adviser to St. Louis Review

James Rygelski, formerly the newspaper’s managing editor, has begun duties as editor, the first layman to hold the post in the newspaper’s 63-year history. He succeeds Msgr. Robert W. Finn, editor for the past four years, who on May 3 was installed as coadjutor bishop of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese.

Msgr. Joseph D. Pins, who began duties as rector of the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica Parish this week, has assumed the newly created position at the Review of episcopal vicar. He will serve as the Archbishop’s representative to the Review and as its adviser.

Congratulations to both Mr. Rygelski and to Msgr. Pins.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:35 PM   

 
Bishop John Nienstedt of the Diocese of New Ulm refutes heterdoxy
There is a blog link here to an article about Bishop Nienstedt.

The link to the Bishop's statement which clarifies the teachings of the Church is here. The Bishop apparently needed to do this because of the manifest heterdoxy contained in a booked titled " Revelation and the Church: Vatican II in the Twenty-first Century", co-edited by his predecessor, Bishop Raymond A. Lucker, who was the shepherd of the diocese for nearly 25 years.

A particularly poignant quote from Bishop Nienstedt's article:

Dissent from this authoritative teaching as expressed by the Council places one theologically in opposition to the Church and spiritually in peril of losing eternal life. Catholics have a right to know that the Church is a sure guide for their salvation.

- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
Why did Judge Anne Burke leave the National Review Board?
This is a question posed by Catholic Citizens of Illinois. They say, "Ask her May 16th at the Voice of the Faithful sponsored reception in Wilmette, IL after Mass..."

For those of you who wondered what was going on when Anne Burke showed up at the last Call To Action convention as a headline speaker, you won't be terribly surprised to see one of her first public appearences post-NRB is a Voice of the Faithful sponsored event at the hip, liberal Saints Faith Hope and Charity parish in Wilmette, Illinois, as announced at their website, as follows:

A Special Parish Sponsored “Mass of Healing and Renewal”
Sunday, May 16, 2004, at 11:30 A.M.

With so much attention necessarily given to the investigation within the Church to the magnitude and scope of past clergy misconduct, it is time to step away from all the details and “come together as a parish” to pray for healing, reconciliation and renewal for the victims, their families and for the Church. It is only the Lord that can bring the ultimate peace and renewal necessary to so many injured by past offenses. Our guest presider and homilist for the Mass will be Bishop John Gorman, retired auxiliary bishop of Chicago and significant past contributor to the development of the Chicago Archdiocesan policies for clergy abuse which became the first model for many dioceses. Bishop Gorman is a clinical psychologist, past rector of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and former pastor of St. Michael’s parish, Orland Park, Illinois. We are also delighted to welcome back Justice Anne Burke, acting chair of the Catholic National Review Board, who will be available for questions and answers immediately following Mass.

Please place this important spiritual event on your calendar. The local Voice of the Faithful Committee is graciously hosting a short reception following the Mass.

Sincerely, Father Kevin J. Spiess, Pastor

Catholic Citizens Link here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:18 AM   

 
Proper Formation in Celibacy Urged for U.S. Seminaries

John Paul II urged U.S. bishops to ensure that candidates to the priesthood are receiving a "mature and balanced" formation in celibacy and a correct theological understanding of the Church.

Proper formation in chastity and celibacy remains an essential component of seminary training, together with the presentation of a solid and correct theological understanding of the Church and the priesthood," he said.

In particular, the Pope called for "a clear and precise identification of those positions which are not compatible with the Church's authoritative self-understanding, as expressed by the Council and the documents of the post-conciliar renewal."

"This is a personal responsibility that falls to you as pastors concerned for the future of your local Churches, and one that cannot be delegated," John Paul II reminded the bishops.

Zenit Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:15 AM   

 
One more article on Fr. Hausen's Excommunication

The Rev. William Hausen knows just what he'll do when he gets the letter notifying him of his formal excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church: Frame it.
Excommunications are rare, said Bill Ryan, spokesman for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Two priests have excommunicated themselves under circumstances similar to Hausen's in the past 15 years.

The Rev. Jim Callan and pastoral administrator Mary Ramerman was excommunicated in 1999 in Rochester, N.Y., when they split to form another church. And the Rev. George August Stallings, of Washington, D.C., was excommunicated in 1989 when he founded the African American Catholic Congregation.

Pride....absence of humility - Satan exploiting man's fallen nature, taking advantage of man's loss of faith. It is so sad contemplating the pain our Lord because of people rejection of Him and His Church. Pray that this priest and his followers may repent and be reconciled to our Lord.

And note this, here in St. Louis, some at St. Cronan's Parish look to Jim Callan's "Spiritus Christi" as a model for Parish Leadership.
- posted by LRS @ 7:03 AM   

 
The Denver Catholic Register...The Kerry challenge
George Weigel' column in the Denver Archdiocesan Newspaper.

The bishops of the United States must address this sorry misrepresentation of their teaching —soon, crisply, and preferably as a united body.

Leaving this distortion of the nature of the Church's pro-life position unchallenged would have several serious consequences. It would further corrupt the public debate, which would decay into a non-argument between mis-named "sectarians" and misguided "pluralists." The bishops have done the entire country a great service these past thirty years by using a vocabulary in defense of the dignity of life that everyone, irrespective of religious convictions, can understand. If that genuinely ecumenical, public approach is successfully labeled "sectarian" — and by a Catholic, no less — lasting damage will be done to our political culture.

Link here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
Catholic League calls for support of Bishop Gregory's decision

Bishop Wilton Gregory, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has refused to release the mental health records of a retired priest accused of sexual abuse. The alleged acts occurred in the 1970s in the Illinois Diocese of Belleville; the diocese is now led by Bishop Gregory. As a result of his decision, the Belleville diocese is being cited for contempt of court.

William Donohue states, “All Catholics should stand with Bishop Gregory and reject the politics of revenge. Those who think this is ‘pay back’ time need to be confronted. Get the guilty but protect the innocent. To their shame, that’s a motto the critics of Bishop Gregory cannot embrace.”

Link here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:27 AM   

 
Bishop John D'Arcy 'Dissed' in a Fort Wayne editorial

Why hadn't D'Arcy and other church leaders vetted these speakers for theological orthodoxy before they were invited? How did they decide that these two speakers flunked their tests?

And how will D'Arcy exert doctrinal control in Catholic institutions from now on?

Will not only future commencement speakers, but also employees, teachers, professors, even students need to worry more about how closely they hew to church teachings? Must they agree with D'Arcy's interpretation of doctrine on abortion? On just war? On economic and social justice? On homosexuality? On birth control?

Editorial here.

Bishop D'Arcy's "interpretation" of the doctrine on abortion, homosexuality, contraception? Unfortunately, many people are confused in that it is not the Bishop's interpretation of these matters but the teaching of Christ and His Church. It is the responsibility of the Bishop to teach the faithful the truths of their faith. It is his responsibility to lead them to heaven and to help them to avoid the everlasting torments of hell.
- posted by LRS @ 6:25 AM   

 
New Phoenix Bishop Directly Addresses Homosexuality

Moves quickly to replace key archdiocese staff to ensure unity with his orthodoxy

PHOENIX, May 6, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The new Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, Thomas J. Olmsted, has set one of the most impressive US Catholic religious leadership records in recent times. He has deftly addressed issues of prominent concern and has used potential setbacks to his advantage.

Olmsted's official installation as the new Bishop of Phoenix took place only in mid-December. He wasted no time in asserting his leadership, clamping down on the most overt church abuses without delay. By March one priest who flouted church law by co-celebrating a Mass with a non-Catholic minister was suspended pending the results of an investigation into the matter.

Showing unusual episcopal administrative prowess and backbone he put his own team into the key points of the diocesan bureaucracy, a move essential to good governance and going forward with a common vision. Beyond staff changes in the top positions in the chancery, the diocesan spokesperson and diocesan newspaper editor were replaced.

The faithful of Phoenix are blessed to have been given such a good shepherd. Full article here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:22 AM   

 
Call to Action group in KY & OH stirring up dissent among priests

Friends of Call to Action of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky recently sent the surveys to all priests in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Diocese of Covington.

It was part of a national effort by Call to Action USA and other Catholic lay groups to find out how priests feel about the celibacy issue.

She said one Cincinnati priest, 70 years old, agreed to the need for discussion, but said that as for himself, he wouldn't have been as effective a pastor if he had been distracted by family life.

Another priest said he'd had plenty of chances to break his vow of chastity -- he'd been propositioned five times, according to Kemper.

One priest who responded crossed out the name of the group and wrote "Whiner's Anonymous" over it, she said.

"Whiner's Anonymous"...at least some of the priests understand what this group is about.

The article also quotes statistics from "FutureChurch", another dissenting organization, most of whom are bent on destroying the Church in America.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:14 AM   

 
National Day of Prayer criticized by some, including Bishop Thomas Gumbleton

The president's participation in the broadcast drew criticism from Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a liberal group, which suggested that the nonprofit evangelical organization that sponsors the concert and related events was improperly advertising for Mr. Bush's re-election.

Some religious figures, including a Roman Catholic bishop and the president of a major evangelical Christian seminary, also accused the organizers of the broadcast and the White House of using prayer for political purposes.

Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of the Archdiocese of Detroit, said he disputed the whole premise of the National Day of Prayer, which he said seems to petition God with certain goals in mind. "The whole point of prayer should be about asking God's will," Bishop Gumbleton said, and he noted that the Catholic Church opposed the war in Iraq.

Article here.

- posted by LRS @ 6:09 AM   

 
Another Homosexual Website for Priests?
RCF some time back exposed the "St Sebastian's Angels" Internet discussion list which included CapeTown Bishop Reginald Cawcutt. One would have thought that their reports would have been sufficient to ensure that priests and bishops cease exposing their obessions with intrinsically disordered appetites.

But alas, that does not appear to be the case. Envoy has an article which I had meant to link a few days ago, but I was apparently distracted. Part of the post:

This morning, a concerned Catholic reader sent me a link to "Venerabilis," yet another website dedicated to gay priests. Its purpose, explained in English, French, and Italian, is to allow gay priests to anonymously contact one another with an aim toward sharing information and personal stories, fellowship and mutual encouragement, and (surprise!) to facilitate face-to-face encounters.

One priest, posting under the name "Tim," wrote:

"I am a lonely 44 year old priest. I am looking to connect with any priest over 45 who is built and stocky and stronger looking. Although im settled in mycountry I wish to move again to some parish abroad in UK or in Europe where english is spoken. IM a professional and feel so contrained and suffocated in my own country which is so conservative and homophobic. I need help and if any parish priest over 45 wishes to host me and become my friend im willing to offer a lot as long as he is gay and willing to also allow me to keep on studying and we support each other. Anyway wouldl ike to make lots of friends who are priests but im mostly attracted to older stronger men."

Pray for these men who have abandoned Jesus and His Mother.
- posted by LRS @ 6:01 AM   

 
American Life League to run full-page ad re:McCarrick & abortion

Despite the counsel of both Christ and the Holy Father, Cardinal Theodore
McCarrick of Washington, D.C. made this statement on April 27, 2004,
concerning Catholic politicians who openly support legalized abortion:

“I have not gotten to the stage where I’m comfortable in denying the Eucharist.”

Comforting words for John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy and the 68 other pro-abortion “Catholic” politicians in Congress.

A spokesman for the league said the full-page ads would appear in the Washington, D.C.-area and in in several national publications.

See the Washinging Times article here.

See the Ad here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:00 AM   

 
Pittsburgh priest excommunicated

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh today formally declared that a priest who has begun a breakaway church is excommunicated.

The Rev. William Hausen caused himself to be excommunicated when he conducted a service at his new Christ Hope church in Sewickley on Sunday, a statement from the diocese said.

Link here.

This seems notably fast for an excommunication to occur...
- posted by LRS @ 5:30 PM   

 
Urgent! ******* Stop the Morning-After Pill!
Several people were requested to post this and as it is a matter of vital importance I have chosen to do so.

========================================
Urgent! ******* Urgent! ******* Urgent!
Stop the Morning-After Pill! Over-the-Counter approval to be decided by the FDA May 21.

No age limits, no medical supervision, no parental involvement!

Spread this far and wide! Time is of the essense! Call the White House, contact your Senators and Congressmen!

From the Population Research Institute
Weekly Briefing:

Dear Colleague:

There is still time for pro-lifers to call the White House (202-456-1414) and urge the President to assure the American people that the mega dose "morning after pill" will not be sold "over the counter."

Also contact your U.S. Senator or Representative to urge leadership from Congress that will protect women and babies from this new chemical assault weapon.

Toll free: 1-800-648-3516 or 1-877-762-8762.

The abortion establishment is going all out to urge their followers to lobby in favor of making this chemical killer available over the counter.

Their mailings include the lie that so-called "emergency contraception" does not cause abortion and does not work if a women is already pregnant. Over the counter approval of the "morning after pill" will be a public health disaster.

Steven W. Mosher
President

Action item: Urge the FDA to not approve OTC/MAP:
Write:
FDA Commissioner
FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857-0001
Re: Docket Number 01P-0075 "Switch Status of Emergency Contraceptive from Rx to OTC"
(1-888-463-6332)

Comments can be sent to FDA over the Internet
Attention: FDA Commissioner

========================
PRI Weekly Briefing
12 May 2004
Vol. 6 / No. 17

Stop the Morning-After Pill!

Press reports suggest that the FDA is teetering on the brink of approving the so-called morning-after pill. As past PRI Weekly Briefings have made clear, there are terrible risks in making this powerful drug available over-the-counter with no age restrictions or parental involvement.

€ The progestin-only hormonal contraceptive in Norplant is the same active ingredient as Plan B. Norplant is no longer available for use in the United States because it is so dangerous. Known risks include significant weight gain, ovarian cyst enlargement, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure and respiratory disorders.

€ Among teenagers, some of these common side effects could result in increased rates of bulimia, anorexia, or clinical depression. Also, an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy has been associated with use of Plan B-type emergency contraception.

€ Since the drug precludes parental involvement, it is likely that teenage girls who buy Plan B at the drugstore then experience abdominal pain may not confide in parents so that a physician could diagnose if a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy had occurred. Over-the-counter approval would mean that young people would be free to purchase and use (abuse) this powerful hormone without supervision or follow up.

€ The drug was approved for over-the-counter use on January 1 in Australia. Already there are reports in the Australian press of 13-year-old girls buying the pill several times a week to the alarm of local pharmacists who are not able to give proper counseling to these girls on the many risks involved. The Australian Medical Association is already questioning the wisdom of making this risky drug so easily available without restriction. (The West Australian, 4/4/04)

€ If over-the-counter availability of this drug is approved, we may also expect that rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teens will skyrocket. Adolescents age 15-19 currently represent 46% of all cases of Chlamydia in the U.S. 1 in 4 sexually active teenagers contract an STD at some point. In Washington State and in Sweden, where emergency contraception has been made widely available, rates of STD infection are skyrocketing.

€ We can also expect an increase in the rates of sexual violence committed against adolescent girls. The easy availability of this drug over-the-counter will make it more difficult for teenage girls to resist
pressure to have sex, and will trivialize the act of rape.

€ Over-the-counter availability of the morning after pill will lead to an increase in the pregnancy rate among teenagers. Studies have shown that increased rates of pregnancy occur among teens with increased use of "emergency contraception." Another showed that teenagers whose pregnancies ended in induced abortion were more likely to have used the drug before conception, and that teens who use the drug were more willing to engage in "risk-taking" behavior.

Please take time to call the White House or, better yet, jot a note to your Senator or Congressman regarding the morning after pill. If it goes over-the-counter as scheduled on May 21, then anything goes. Lives will be compromised and families further undermined.

A sample letter follows:

April 29, 2004

Dear Senator ____________ (or Congressman _____________):

I understand the FDA is set to decide whether or not the morning-after-pill (MAP) will go over-the-counter on 21 May 2004. I believe that pressure from you and your colleagues could stop this
dangerous drug from being made available to very young girls without medical supervision or parental knowledge.

Would you please advise the FDA to cease and desist? If MAP is approved, then it won’t be long before the FDA makes the birth control pill available over-the-counter. This will further compromise the sanctity of life and the integrity of the family.

Thank you.

(Signed)
Your name
Address
City, State. Zip
Phone

© 2004 Population Research Institute.

Permission to reprint granted. Redistribute widely. Credit required.
_________
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to PRI, please go to https://pop.org/donate.cfm. All donations (of any size) are welcomed and appreciated.
_________
The Population Research Institute is dedicated to ending human rights abuses committed in the name of "family planning," and to ending counter-productive social and economic paradigms premised on the myth of "overpopulation."

PRI
P.O. Box 1559
Front Royal, VA 22630
USA

Phone: (540) 622-5240 Fax: (540) 622-2728
Email: vince@pop.org
Media Contact: Vince Criste
(540) 622-5240, ext. 206

--
Please visit John Mallon's website: http://www.petersvoice.com/mallon/index.html
AND his new Blog! http://mallonsmedia.blogspot.com/

- posted by LRS @ 12:30 PM   

 
The Holy Father's address to the Bishops of Ohio and Michigan

"Vocations need a vast network of people who pray fervently to ‘the Lord of the harvest’. The more the problem of vocations is confronted in the context of prayer, the more prayer will help those whom God has called to hear his voice"

Proper formation in chastity and celibacy remains an essential component of seminary training, together with the presentation of a solid and correct theological understanding of the Church and the priesthood, including a clear and precise identification of those positions which are not compatible with the Church’s authoritative self-understanding as expressed by the Council and the documents of the post-conciliar renewal. This is a personal responsibility that falls to you as Pastors concerned for the future of your local Churches, and one that cannot be delegated.

Full text of the Holy Father's address is here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
Parents are the PRIMARY educators of their children, unless...
...one buys into some of this:

Your kids are safer with homosexuals

A new article in The Wanderer this week (not online, alas) reveals the lengths to which diocesan bureaucrats are going to take control of your children. It concerns the Diocese of Arlington, Va., it’s revoked “Good Touch, Bad Touch” program, and a new program that faces the same opposition and concerns from parents, similar to those raised by parents in Boston against Talking about Touching. Here’s the latest brainbuster: “Mrs. Jennifer Alvaro, diocesan Director of Child Protection and Safety, told a group of religious educators on April 21st that ‘children are safer with homosexuals than with heterosexuals,’ evidently including their parents.”

Article here, Courtesy of Dom Bettinelli, Jr.
- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
Only one priest has obeyed Bishop Olmsted - so far...

A week after they were ordered by the bishop to remove their names from a pro-gay statement, only one of nine Catholic priests who signed the document has complied.

One of the signers, the Rev. Andre Boulanger, has said he will not remove his name from the statement, first issued in January 2003.

Olmsted, in a column titled "The blessing of a chaste life: The call to holiness of homosexual persons," pointed out that "homosexual acts are always wrong, always the opposite of holiness. . . . Those who engage in homosexual acts commit serious sin."

The bulk of the article described the Catholic belief that all followers of Jesus Christ are called to holiness. For "persons with a homosexual inclination," the calling includes chastity and sexual abstinence, Olmsted wrote.

Boulanger said the bishop's column "is well-written and logical" but is built on the "false premise that homosexuality is an aberration."

Not only does the Church teach that homosexual acts are always wrong, but the light of natural reason does as well. One wonders what sort of 'education' some of these men received?

Please keep Bishop Olmsted in your prayers - The stables in Phoenix are apparently in need of a major cleansing.

Article here.

Here is the Holy See's document, "Considerations Regarding Proposals To Give Legal Recognition To Unions Between Homosexual Persons".
- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
What a meeting this will be...

In an effort to defend his political appeal among Catholics, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is to meet today with Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, who has strong ties to the Latino community.

Some Catholics say Mahony is one of most liberal of America’s 14 cardinals.

...American Catholic bishops and several cardinals scheduled for June in Colorado...At next month’s bishops retreat, an advocate such as Mahony could be valuable for Kerry.

Wait....there's more...and you should be sitting down for this one!

Catholic leaders, such as Father Robert Drinan, a Jesuit priest and former Democratic congressman from Massachusetts, who now teaches law at Georgetown University, say Kerry should sell the extensive parts of his legislative record that follow the teachings of the church.

“Kerry is a very good Catholic,” said Drinan, who said the candidate is strong on many important Catholic issues. Drinan, who has counseled Kerry’s campaign, said the senator fought for “refugees and immigrants, and he should make that known.”

Yes! Fr. Drinan is a "Catholic leader"...But wait, there is even more to this article.

Sister Joan Chittister, a columnist for the National Catholic Reporter, said questions about Kerry’s Catholicism are “so far off the mark.”

“The question is what is the role of any politician in a pluralistic society, when it’s not a theocratic state, when you’re not the Taliban,” she said. “I can’t think of any time when a politician tried to introduce legislation to impose Catholic views on the country. You must make space for the consciences of all.”

Yep, the good sister tells us we should make room for all. Even those who promote or endorse the willful murder of innocent human beings in what should be the safest place on earth for them.

Chittister said Kerry’s campaign called her yesterday morning and asked her for an unpublished op-ed she had written defending Catholic politicians who refrain from imposing their religious views on the electorate. Chittister said Kerry’s staff wanted to see her “argumentation.”

Kerry's campaign staff evidently knows which professed "Catholics" to contact - those who publicly reject the teachings of the Church - those who are his comrades in "conscience".

Please keep these people in your prayers. First, pray that our Lord will enlighten and guide us and grant us perseverance and courage in this age of apostacy and secondly, that He will enlightened those who live in darkness that they may see and desire His wonderful light!

Story here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:11 AM   

 
NJ Governor will not receive Holy Communion in public

Gov. James E. McGreevey, continuing to clash with Roman Catholic Church leaders over his support for abortion rights, said yesterday he would comply with the wishes of Newark Archbishop John J. Myers and not seek Communion at public Masses.
...
McGreevey criticized the Newark archbishop's statement as the latest example of a Roman Catholic leader trying to force Catholic politicians to choose between their faith and the separation of church and state. He was unapologetic in his support for abortion rights.

"I will continue to go to Mass with my family. I will continue to practice my faith. It's a faith that I love. And I believe this is a false choice in America between one's faith and one's constitutional obligations," he said.

He added that, "A woman Sunday in church said, 'Well, ultimately, the faithful will save the church from the bishops.'"

Link to the story is here. The Archbishop's pastoral letter is here.


- posted by LRS @ 5:30 AM   

 
Karl Keating E-Letter for May 4

TOPICS:
A BISHOP CAUGHT IN AMBER
THE WORLD'S WORST INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

Dear Friend of Catholic Answers:

To the left-wing Catholic intelligentsia, Kenneth Untener was a model bishop. "Bishop Ken," as he liked to be called, favored all the trendy causes and appeared in all the trendy protests. His name was found frequently in the pages of the "National Catholic Reporter," where he was mentioned in hagiographic terms.

That was never more evident than in that paper's April 9 remembrance of him. Untener, not long retired as bishop of Saginaw, Michigan, died March 27 at the age of 63. He had led the diocese since 1980.

A VISIONARY BISHOP LOCKED IN TIME
The April 23 issue of the "Reporter" ran a surprising letter about the paper's eulogy of Untener--surprising in that it took the paper to task for its fawning description of the bishop. The letter was written by Bette Woods of Brighton, Michigan.

As Dr. Johnson noted, "In lapidary inscriptions a man is not upon oath." When eulogizing the dead we highlight their virtues and omit their failings, giving necessarily a skewed--but, for the moment, forgivable--impression. That is permissible at the funeral service and at the graveyard, but we expect a more considered treatment when the deceased is reflected upon in print.

Let me quote from Woods' letter:

"I am sadly amused, though not surprised, at the sappy over-eulogizing of the former bishop of Saginaw, Michigan, Kenneth Untener. May he rest in peace, but at least when speaking about him, we should be honest. And honestly, what is so humble about a man who refused to submit himself to the teaching and discipline of the church he promised to serve ... and what is so visionary about a man whose ideology and vision has [sic] not been replicated anywhere and will die with his generation because it is not being widely replicated with my generation?

"I understand that he is very popular with you older folks at NCR and Call to Action and the like, but the future of the Church is in us 'young fogeys,' as Fr. Andrew Greeley recently referred to our next generation of priests and Church professionals. You may not like that, but at least you should be honest about it.

"Every person I have every met, particularly in the field of Church work, who admires anything even close to Bishop Ken's vision is over 50. Young people, particularly young Catholic women--I am 24--are embracing a much more dynamic John Paul II-esque interpretation of Vatican II, which includes liturgical fidelity, attraction to Christ-centered (and habit-wearing) religious life, and not only an acceptance of but a love for the Church's teachings on the all-male priesthood and the immorality of contraception. And we are the ones graduating from theology schools to minister to youth, teach religion, and write textbooks.

"Bishop Ken may have been a well-meaning, nice man. I hope that God is as merciful to him as he will be to me when all the mistakes I have made in my ministry are before him. But to call him a 'visionary' seems both dishonest and blind when his vision did not capture the next generation!"

Woods makes several telling comments, but let me highlight two:

1. The Church in this country suffers from a "generation gap." When we hear that phrase, normally we think of the elders being conservative and the youth being liberal. Here it is the reverse. Young Catholics, if active in the Church, are almost universally orthodox, even if not yet well formed in their faith.

The most radicalized segment of the Church in America is populated by folks near or past retirement age. Sure, there are twentysomethings who admire what Kenneth Untener stood for, but they are so few that at meetings of Call to Action they are trotted before the audience to prove the organization is not yet moribund.

2. Dissident Catholics justify themselves by saying that their heroes are "visionaries," a visionary being someone who is leading you where you were going anyway. Throughout his long episcopal career Untener was described by his fans as a visionary. He stood up to Rome. He "did" theology and liturgy his own way. He represented the wave of the future.

The problem is that his wave turned out to be the wave of the past, the ecclesiastical equivalent of the leisure suit. Young Catholics such as Bette Woods see this. For some reason, the editors at the "Reporter" do not--or, if they do, they are not admitting it in print.

I wonder what the "Reporter" staffers do after an issue is put to bed. Do they gather at Clancy's Bar for a beer and marvel at how their brand of Catholicism is taking the country by storm? I doubt it, since they can't be subject to that much self-deception.

No, I see them huddled at a side table, cupping their drinks in their hands, eyes downcast, faces drawn, wishing for a return of the exuberance they felt in the 1970s, when things seemed to be going their way. Back then, they could not have imagined that the infants they saw in church would grow up to turn their backs on the "vision" they offered.

Last month it was a eulogy for Kenneth Untener. Soon enough it will be a eulogy for the kind of Catholicism he stood for.

EVEN YOUR PARISH DOESN'T HAVE IT THIS BAD
Perhaps you hear ill-formed or banal intercessory prayers during Mass at your parish. Many Catholics do. But cheer up--it could be far worse. Your priest could be selecting the prayers from "Prayers of the Faithful," edited by Fr. Henry Fehren and published by Liturgical Press.

Fehren is the author of seven books, has appeared in fifteen movies, and has written a regular column for "U.S. Catholic." Perhaps his best known book is "Good News for Alienated Catholics."

Here are samples of what you have been spared:

1. "For employers whose primary interest is in efficiency, self-confidence, and good appearance, that they will also hire the ugly ..."

2. "For a frost that will tarnish the value of gold and put sparkle into the dullness of life ..."

3. "For a society where we don't have to make a million dollars, run the 100 in ten seconds, invent a laser, or die in order to be believed ..."

4. "For soldiers who don't get mail, children who flunk, showgirls who grow old ..."

5. For put-down, stepped on, squelched children exiled to live in dark caverns ..."

6. "For the smell of new rain, for pumpkins and Snoopy, for the aroma of homemade bread, for cotton candy, for funny looking animals like giraffes and koalas and human beings ..."

7. "For dissenters and the right to dissent ..."

And my contribution:

"From all such silliness, good Lord deliver us!"

Until next time,
Karl

I would send these intercessory prayers to my parish, but I'm afraid that might really use them...In fact, maybe they do already - I would not know. I attend Sunday Mass at another parish to avoid the various liturgical abuses going on.
- posted by LRS @ 6:30 AM   

 
CAN's Letter to Archbishop Burke
A week or so ago, I was hopeful that someone would be able to get a copy of a letter to Archbishop Burke that was posted at St. Cronan's with a signature list. It was my understanding that this letter was composed by the 'Holy Families' group at St. Cronan's. It appears that it may have been a joint effort, but nevertheless, the letter has been posted on Catholic Action Network's web site.

This letter was composed by a member of our new working group, Holy Families, and sent to Archbishop Burke in late April.

An Open Letter to Archbishop Raymond Burke

GENUINE LOVE – VALUABLE FAMILIES

Most Reverend Archbishop,

In the summer of 2003, the Vatican issued a document called “Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons” through the office of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. We are a small organization of homosexual and heterosexual Catholic men and women who, we believe, quietly represent the beliefs and frustrations of a much wider group of local Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

We have come to realize that committed same-sex unions are life-giving and loving, not “intrinsically disordered” nor “a serious depravity”. They should be recognized for the sacraments they are, not banned. While there is much other content in this document with which we intensely disagree, we cannot sit silently by and let pass the assertion put forth telling us and the world that allowing committed gay or lesbian couples to adopt children means doing violence to these children. With all due respect, we find this assertion to be totally unfounded in our experience, and completely unsupported by authoritative research. Our experience is that committed gay and lesbian parents are as capable and successful at parenting as their heterosexual counterparts. The Vatican “Considerations”, on the other hand, offers no documentation to the contrary.

Archbishop Burke, we urge you to get to know a few committed same-sex couples. Share meals with them. Get down onto the floor and play with their children. After this experience has convinced you of the presence of genuine love in these valuable families, we ask that you use all the weight of your office to convince your fellow Bishops, our Cardinals, and even our Pope, that there is no place in our Church for hatefulness and bigotry.

Yours in Christ,

As I understand it, there is no place in heaven for those who persist in denying God or His conditions for living according to His will. It is impossible to have supernatural life while continuing to live one's life in darkness and grave sin. We are called to Christian charity and chastity. Homosexuality is the egocentric practice of mutual masturbation.

Every sin against chastity, is a sin against charity.

The unnatural sins against chastity (masturbation, contraception, and homosexuality) are opposed to the divinely ordained nature of sexual intercourse, which is ordered to procreation. Homosexual activity is gravely sinful and has been explicitly condemned in Sacred Scripture. The deliberate practice of homosexuality is a mortal sin which deprives those who die in this state, estranged from God, of the beatific vision of God - heaven.

Those who refuse to bend their minds in the humble worship of God do not receive the grace to keep their passions under rational control. They will continue to see light as darkness and darkness as light.

Pray that their pastor may help them to see the joy of participating in the life of Christ by conforming their will to His will.

Link to the "Open Letter" is here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:25 AM   

 
A lack of courage
"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms: it means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." (G.K. CHesterton)

Patrick Leahy has no need to fear being denied Holy Communion by his bishop, despite the fact that he is a supporter of a woman's 'right' to choose to murder her unborn child and despite the fact that he is a member of American Life League's "Deadly Dozen".

Vermont's Bishop Kenneth Angell said this week that he wants to "establish and maintain open lines of communication" with politicians who may hold positions that differ with the church's.

He also said he is awaiting a review by a task force of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops about how the church should deal with Catholic elected officials who have dissenting views. The panel's chairman, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., also opposes withholding communion from those officials.

Leahy said, "Religion is very, very meaningful to me and (his wife) Marcelle, but I have always kept it separate," he said in an interview. "I have no problem with the church stating its views and preaching to its members, but it has to understand that in the United States we have a separation of church and state. No religion is allowed to dictate the policies of the United States."

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
A Pastoral Statement by The Most Reverend John J. Myers
Some excerpts from:

"A Time for Honesty"

“Although we must all follow our conscience, the task of conscience is not to create moral truth, but perceive it. It is quite possible for an individual to perceive the moral reality of a particular situation erroneously. Such a person may be sincere, but he or she is sincerely wrong.

“Catholics who publicly dissent from the Church’s teaching on the right to life of all unborn children should recognize that they have freely chosen by their own actions to separate themselves from what the Church believes and teaches. They have also separated themselves in a significant way from the Catholic community.

“The Church cannot force such people to change their position; but she can and does ask them honestly to admit in the public forum that they are not in full union with the Church.

“One who practices such dissent, even in the mistaken belief that it is permissible, may remain a Catholic in some sense, but has abandoned the full Catholic faith. For such a person to express ‘communion’ with Christ and His Church by the reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist is objectively dishonest.”
...
Perhaps it is also time to remind ourselves of the meaning and purpose of communion. No one has an absolute right to the Eucharist. It is a gift given to us by a merciful and gracious God. In fact, the Eucharist is God’s gift of Himself to us.

But, receiving the Eucharist also means that one is in fact in full communion with Christ and His Church. To receive communion when one has, through public or private action, separated oneself from unity with Christ and His Church, is objectively dishonest. It is an expression of communion by one’s action that is objectively not in accordance with one’s heart, mind, and choices.

Because the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, the most sacred action of our Church, to misuse the Eucharistic symbol by reducing it to one’s private “feeling” of communion with Christ and His Church while objectively not being in such union is gravely disordered.

Perhaps Archbishop Myers will be the next to see that manifest grave public scandal of pro-abort politicians receiving Holy Communion will not be permitted in his archdiocese?

The full Pastoral Letter here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:17 AM   

 
Papal Nuncio in Spain needs Prayers and Enlightenment

The Pope's ambassador to one of Europe's leading Catholic countries has hinted that the church should "acknowledge" gay partnerships - a significant crack in the Vatican's resolute opposition to "evil and deviant" gay relationships.

Departing from his prepared speech, the papal nuncio added that although the law in Spain, and many other countries, defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman, "there are other forms of cohabitation and it is good that they be recognised".

Although he insisted that same-sex unions could not be regarded as marriages, the envoy implied that they were at least worthy of compassion.

The nuncio said gay couples should be given access to certain civil rights, including those within the social security system. He added: "The church can also help them in their spiritual life."

The remarks were in sharp contrast to last year's Vatican guidelines which called on Catholics to campaign against the legalisation of gay relationships, calling them evil, deviant and a grave threat to society.

The document said: "We must refrain from any formal cooperation with the promulgation or application of such seriously unjust laws and, as far as is possible, from any material cooperation in their application."

It added: "There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family. Marriage is holy while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law.

Insidious attacks on the Truth continue from inside the Church - both here and abroad. It will be interesting to see how this develops - if the Papal Nuncio is rquired to retract his statements and proclaim what the Church teaches.

Article here.


- posted by LRS @ 5:30 AM   

 
Cardinal Rigali to Take Possession of Titular Church
VATICAN CITY, MAY 4, 2004 (VIS) - At 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 9, Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, metropolitan archbishop of Philadelphia, U.S.A., will take possession of the title of Santa Prisca in Via S. Prisca 11 in Rome, according to an announcement from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 7:50 AM   

 
President's Bioethics Chairman Charges Recent Report was Misused
I received this email this morning.

Dear Colleague,

Proponents of embryonic cloning for experimental purposes claimed victory last month when the President's Council on Bioethics released its most recent recommendations. Some on the Commission are saying the report recommends experimental cloning up to 14 days of development. Leon Kass, the Chairman of the Council, said in an interview with FRC's Bill Saunders last week that this is simply not true.

Spread the word.

Yours sincerely,
Austin Ruse
President, Culture of Life Foundation

Action item: To read Bill Saunders' excellent interview with Leon Kass go to http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AR04D03

- posted by LRS @ 7:23 AM   

 
Facing the Insurmountable with the Fatima Message
Where?
Maria Center
336 E. Ripa Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63215

When?
Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 2:00 PM.

Today's Catholics often face what seem to be insurmountable obstacles to the practice of their Faith. We live, for example, in a society that accepts and promotes abortion, immoral fashions and now same-sex marriage. Every family confronts the concrete difficulties of applying their Catholic principles to daily life. The Fatima Message teaches us how to face these difficulties with courage and strength. It also teaches us how to fight back with a spirit of Faith and confidence.

In this talk, we will discuss:
Historic examples similar to our own
Fighting back with less than ideal conditions
Invoking Our Lady's help
Dealing with the crisis inside the Church

This talk is one of a series of regularly held talks sponsored by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima campaign.

American TFP member and director John W. Horvat II will speak on this timely topic and answer questions. He has spoken on numerous occasions in St. Louis.

A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Please join us for what promises to be a stimulating afternoon of Catholic conviviality, enlightening conversation, and hope for the future.

For additional information, contact Mark Serafino at (573) 459-5531.
- posted by LRS @ 7:10 AM   

 
Richard Doerflinger asks a pertinent 'Life' question of ethicists

Arthur Caplan, University of Pennsylvania bioethicist asks in his MSNBC commentary, “Must we all die with a feeding tube?”, conjured a “cruel” scenario where patients are “forced to endure medical treatment that they do not want.” He says the pope is attacking patient autonomy.

Even in the “tube feeding” cases that have divided families and sparked headlines, the patients generally said nothing clear in the matter; some family members want to continue their care while others want to let them die. Some relatives have said the patient is essentially already dead – an “empty shell” with no dignity.

What does this trend have to do with patient autonomy?

Not much.

If these patients had no human dignity, there would be no reason to respect their autonomy either.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 7:00 AM   

 
What happens when one sees the reality of abortion?
Shocking film reignites abortion debate

THE bloody reality of abortion was brought into British living rooms (on April 21) in a world TV first that has inflamed emotions and revived old divisions.

My Foetus, a 60-minute documentary shown at 11pm on Britain's Channel 4, shows footage of a four-week-old fetus being vacuumed from its mother's womb.

The documentary also shows images of the dismembered remains of 10, 11 and 21-week fetuses, their broken limbs measured by a tape.
...
"When I interviewed a doctor about the unpleasantness of performing late abortions it was difficult to listen and not believe it was morally wrong.

"For many people there is no difference between me aborting my fetus at eight weeks and a woman aborting her fetus at 24 weeks, the legal limit for abortions in Britain.

"But for me, even after knowing the facts about abortion, there is a difference."

Journalist Lauren Booth, a pro-choicer who has also had an abortion, said she recoiled when watching the film's pivotal moment.

"My hand flew to my mouth in shock," she said.

"I swallowed. I didn't want to say it, but the word 'murder' came to my lips."

When will this be shown here in the U.S.? Or has it been outlawed as 'hate speech'?

Perhaps vivid reality is needed to help convert hearts and minds - rational 'dialogue' seems to fail too many times.

Article here.




- posted by LRS @ 6:40 AM   

 
Who's telling the truth here?

Some Catholic Republicans are telling their local priests and parishioners not to believe what the Missouri Catholic Conference — the church's lobbying arm in the state — says against GOP proposals to cut Medicaid spending and to support life sciences research.

The Republicans' anger is directed specifically at Larry Weber, executive director and chief lobbyist of the Missouri Catholic Conference.
...
“I'm beginning to understand that the lobbyist for the Catholic Conference does not always present things in a truthful fashion,” said Rep. Jodi Stefanick, a St. Louis County Republican and a Catholic who has spoken with her priest about Weber.

“If I had a bishop call me up and say, ‘I'd like to talk to you about this bill'— fantastic,” she said. “But I don't give any credibility to that lobbyist. He's proven himself wrong.”
...
Though Rep. Carl Bearden, a St. Charles Republican who leads the House Budget Committee, has worked with Weber in the past on pro-life issues, he recently barred Weber from his third-floor office in the Capitol.

Sounds pretty serious...

“I understand people have different viewpoints,” said Bearden, who tore into Weber during a recent speech on the House floor. “The problem comes when you start misrepresenting and flat-out lying.”

And then there is this:

Rep. Bill Deeken, a Jefferson City Republican, had similar thoughts. He recounted that at one point in the session, several groups of Catholic schoolchildren from around the state were brought to Jefferson City to lobby against the Medicaid cuts. Deeken and other Republican lawmakers were invited to a rally at a Catholic church across from the Capitol.

“We were asked to come to defend what we had done,” Deeken said. “They (groups of schoolchildren) were chanting, ‘Save the Kids,' and they had no idea what this bill was doing.”

Deeken said it bothered him that children were used as “pawns” by the church.

Story here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
Grave Public Scandal? Abortion? Let's talk about it.

Bishop Blase Cupich of the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City said church officials are not considering sanctions, such as the denial of Communion.

"This was no official pronouncement by this cardinal. He later clarified that he was not telling anybody how to do anything," Cupich said.

A domestic policy task force is working on recommendations of how to put into practice a Vatican document about how church officials should communicate with elected officials, Cupich said.

"Even in that, there is nothing said about sanctions," Cupich said.

Cupich said he believes church officials are right to give advice on politics but that it should not be limited to a single issue.

"We cannot cherry-pick particular issues. We have to be willing to talk about all issues. Our position begins with protecting the unborn, but it doesn't end there."

So it seems there will not be anything of substance coming from the 'task force'. As long as there is 'dialogue' (unilateral as it may be) everything will be OK.

Article here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:10 AM   

 
Pride: The reason we disobey higher authority
US Catholic Leaders Refuse Explicit Papal Directive on Nutrition and Hydration
Will "Study" Life and Death Issue for a Year

Last month Pope John Paul II stated unequivocally that a person who is ill always has the right to food and water, even if it must be administered to him through a feeding tube. The Pope made it clear that removal of nutrition and hydration from patients in a vegetative state who are not otherwise dying is "gravely immoral". In Catholic language that means it is unambiguously forbidden.

The reaction of some prominent Catholic ethicists has been a reflection of the divide in medical ethics between the teaching of the Church and modern bioethics. Father John Paris, bioethics professor at Boston College, in an incredibly blunt statement of defiance, said the pope's remarks will have little impact. "I think the best thing to do is ignore it, and it will go away," Paris said. "It's not an authoritative teaching statement."

Father John Strynkowski, executive director of the secretariat for doctrine and pastoral practices, said that the USCCB office will "study" the pope's statement, but until they have finished, no changes in practice will likely be made in Catholic hospitals.

The refusal to obey clear instructions from high authority in the Catholic hierarchy on key issues is not new to the Church in North America. Strynkowski's comments follow closely on the heels of the latest denial of official Vatican directives from Theodore Cardinal McCarrick. In response to high level directives on refusing pro-abortion politicians communion, McCarrick gave an almost identical comment to Fr. Paris' in an interview, "I don't think it was his eminence's (Arinze's) official opinion… this was not something that he reported as an official or even a personal statement."

Article here.

"The refusal to obey clear instructions from high authority in the Catholic hierarchy on key issues is not new to the Church in North America." This reminds me of the statement, "I will not serve."

- posted by LRS @ 6:00 AM   

 
Lessons in humility
This past Saturday Archbishop Burke was speaking about some of the tricky (difficult) questions in the Marian Catechist tests and he mentioned that some of them were intentional. Fr. John Hardon had used them as a means to teach humility to some of his Jesuit brothers who had become prideful of their knowledge. This is a good lesson for all of us. We all need to practice humility regardless of the extent of our knowledge.

He also mentioned something else which I understood as a problem about which I have been struggling for some time - that of being overly critical of many bishops and others for failing to act decisively as I believe I would if I were in their positions. Because of the Archbishop’s admonition and advice, I am making the effort to be more charitable in presenting facts and commentary. And hopefully, I will do this in a more prayerful manner.

And this brings up another instance which taught me another lesson in humility. A sentence in the paragraph above contains a subjunctive mood clause which my son ‘proved’ was a proper and correct usage, despite my many arguments against his.

One reason for this is my pride of thinking that my knowledge of English grammar was somewhat remarkable. It began over 40 years ago in 4th grade as I was taught English by a wonderful teacher, Sister Mary Selsus, a religious sister of Loretto. She taught us proper grammar by instilling in us the ability to truly understand the language and its rules. We began diagramming sentences in 4th grade, we learned the parts of speech, and we were ‘encouraged’ to memorize various rules, and other aspects of English. Because of her ability to impart knowledge of English, I was able to grasp other languages in my subsequent years much more easily.

Some forty plus years later, I know of two people who can recite an alphabetical list of 32 prepositions in under 10 seconds. I encountered the other person who remembered these things working at a local Catholic bookstore. We both reminisced about those ‘good old days’ while others around us must have thought we were somewhat ‘touched’ as we rattled off those prepositions and discussed the things we had learned at that time.

Another thing which is firmly engrained in my mind, are the rules for verbs (which is leading to the other point I want to make). For all verbs, we were to know the following: Principal Parts, Form, Use, Voice, Mode, Tense, Person, Number and the Rule: “A verb must agree with its subject in person and number”! These nine items, I still recall and use to this day and I am so grateful that I was fortunate enough to have had such good sisters teaching me and others in Catholic grade school.

Anyway, while I remembered the ‘Rule” above, my son showed me the exception to the rule this past weekend. “If I were so and so, I would do such and such.” ('I' is singular and 'were' is plural-therefore, it must be wrong) However, this is the only use of the subjunctive tense in the English language and it uses the first person singular while using a plural verb. I was certain that the proper way to write or express the phrase would be, “If I WAS so and so,…” I reluctantly admitted that I was wrong – thinking that the “Rule” was absolute without exception.

So I was blessed to have had a couple of lessons in humility over the weekend. I hope and pray that any future criticisms I have will be more charitable and intellectual rather than emotional.

Father Hardon was right. There is a certain joy in humiliation especially when one learns something from it. And it is from humiliation that one learns humility,
- posted by LRS @ 1:33 AM   

 
May 23 - Michael Rose in St. Louis, to speak on "Beyond Scandal"
Credo of the Catholic Laity is proud to present

Michael S. Rose

Speaking on the Topic “BEYOND SCANDAL”
Sunday May 23, 2004 6:00 p.m.

The Radisson Hotel
7750 Carondelet Blvd.
Clayton Mo.

Michael Rose needs no introduction to most of you. His book “Goodby Good Men” exposed the rampant homosexual penetration in many of our Catholic seminaries and was on the New York Times best seller list. His articles and editorials have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, NY News Day, The American Conservative, the Wanderer, The New Oxford Review, Latin Mass Magazine and the list goes on and on.

He has been interviewed on more than 150 radio and television programs including Crossfire, Rush Limbaugh, Alan Keyes, Sean Hannity and FoxNew’s Rita Crosby Live and many more.

His most recent book is entitled “Priests” in which he describes ten good priests serving the Church.

Another of Rose’s books is “Ugly as Sin”. This book describes why churches were designed as they were and some of the problems with many of the dysfunctional modern churches we have today.

Michael Rose will have a supply of his books for sale at this event.

Join us for a delicious dinner at the Radisson on Sunday May 23rd. The cost is $20.00 per person.

For more information call 314-894-0357.


- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
Meditation...
''It is an act of charity to cry out against the wolf when he is among the sheep.''
(St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life).

- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
A Photo Essay: The Abortion Movement's True Face
From Tradition, Family and Property.
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
300 worship with breakaway priest
'The greatest theology today will come from your experience of yourself'

The only reason for coming to church is to learn how to love," the Rev. Bill Hausen preached at Christ Hope Ecumenical Catholic Church, which met at the Sewickley Country Inn.

"God does not need praise. God has all the praise he needs. We don't have to love God, because God is love."

Many people said they were visiting out of curiosity or to show support for Hausen. Those included 18 Unitarians from Slippery Rock who had skipped their own service at Ginger Hill Unitarian-Universalist Church.

"We came to show support for a more liberal viewpoint," said Lois Ament, who said she was a former Catholic who had been outraged more than 40 years ago when she was not permitted to become an altar server.

Julianne Scimio of Hopewell said she had left the Catholic Church 25 years ago but never felt at home in other churches. "I want to come home, but I don't want to come back to the same church I walked away from," she said. "This feels like home. I just hope it turns out to be a home church."

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:43 AM   

 
Pope's Statement on Food/Hydration must be studied (may take a year)

At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, theologians and bishops will study the pope's words before the bishops decide whether any policies at Catholic hospitals, nursing homes and health care institutions should change, said Father John Strynkowski, executive director of the secretariat for doctrine and pastoral practices. About 625 Catholic hospitals are in the United States.

Link here.

And here is part of the Holy Father's speech:

I should like particularly to underline how the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act. Its use, furthermore, should be considered, in principle, ordinary and proportionate, and as such morally obligatory, insofar as and until it is seen to have attained its proper finality, which in the present case consists in providing nourishment to the patient and alleviation of his suffering.
...
The obligation to provide the "normal care due to the sick in such cases" (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Iura et Bona, p. IV) includes, in fact, the use of nutrition and hydration (cf. Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", Dans le Cadre, 2, 4, 4; Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, Charter of Health Care Workers, n. 120). The evaluation of probabilities, founded on waning hopes for recovery when the vegetative state is prolonged beyond a year, cannot ethically justify the cessation or interruption of minimal care for the patient, including nutrition and hydration. Death by starvation or dehydration is, in fact, the only possible outcome as a result of their withdrawal. In this sense it ends up becoming, if done knowingly and willingly, true and proper euthanasia by omission.

The text of the Holy Father's speech.


- posted by LRS @ 6:11 AM   

 
Bishop Olmsted continues bold leadership in Phoenix

Some 4 1/2 months into his tenure, Bishop Thomas Olmsted has left no doubt that he is what the Vatican ordered when he was named to head the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.

A rapid series of recent diocesan actions underscores that Olmsted is a loyal and ardently faithful servant to Pope John Paul Il, with whom the bishop once regularly worked during assignments with the Curia in the early 1980s.

Some, however, are not too pleased with Bishop Olmsted. It should not be difficult to determine who those might be...

(Mary Jane) Benton, who serves on the national and Arizona boards of the Catholic reform group Called to Action, said Olmsted’s stance on such issues as the priests’ names on the gaysensitive declaration show more emphasis on legalism and rules than respect for the men’s freedom of conscience and the treatments of gays by society.

In a private "personal and confidential letter," Olmsted recently ordered nine priests — five from the East Valley — to remove their names from an interfaith clergy letter, the "Phoenix Declaration," which urges full acceptance of homosexuals in religious and community life.

On Thursday, the bishop suspended a popular longtime Gilbert priest, the Rev. John "Jack" Cunningham, for allegedly allowing a non-Catholic priest to participate in a Eucharist Mass during a recent wedding, in violation of Catholic teaching. The incident is under investigation by a diocesan team.

After years of turmoil and allegations of financial mismanagement in two Mesa parishes, Holy Cross and St. Bridget, Olmsted has looked into complaints there. He ordered the Holy Cross priest removed.

"I have never been so upset with a bishop" in a lifetime of being Catholic, said Ray Rafford of Mesa.

"What you are seeing is a move by the ultra-conservative branch of the Catholic Church to bring the parish priests in line to the bishop’s thinking," he said. "Father John has a history of reaching out to all religions in a spirit of the overall love of God."
...
Olmsted released a statement Friday in response to inquiries as to where he is taking the diocese.

Pray for Bishop Olmsted as he continues to fulfill his role as shepherd of the Phoenix diocese.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 10:24 PM   

 
Belleville diocese is fined in sex case

A circuit court judge in St. Clair County has fined the Belleville diocese for contempt of court for refusing to turn over the mental health records of a retired priest accused of child sexual abuse.

(One of the plaintiff's lawyers, Patrick) Noaker said it was "disheartening" to see the diocese headed by Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, continue to use "hide the ball tactics" with legal records.

St Louis Post Dispatch Article.
- posted by LRS @ 10:13 PM   

 
Pro-Life Women Forcibly Dragged From John Kerry Abortion Rally

Five pro-life college students were forcibly removed from a pro-abortion rally held by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on Friday. The students were literally dragged off after they began leading a pro-life chant and one woman suffered injuries to her feet as a result.

With leaders of NARAL and Planned Parenthood at his side, Kerry held a rally on Friday to tout his pro-abortion position and Planned Parenthood's endorsement prior to Sunday's march for abortion.

Selective Diversity!

- posted by LRS @ 9:56 PM   

 
The Holy Father's general prayer intention for the month of May is:
"That the family - founded on the marriage of a man and a woman - may be recognized as the basic cell of human society."
- posted by LRS @ 9:49 PM   

 
Seminary Reform Needed in Wake of Sex Abuse Study
Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons Suggests Programs for Priests, Religious, Seminarians


- posted by LRS @ 9:45 PM