Kerry Democrats target Missouri religious voters

Rev. David Keyes is the Kerry-Edwards election campaign's new (and first) religious outreach coordinator for Missouri, and on Monday afternoon he sat at a table at the campaign's St. Louis storefront headquarters in a Shrewsbury strip mall with six religious leaders, lay and ordained.

But in his zeal to include speakers of varying calibrations of faiths, denominations, genders, races and ages, Keyes had overlooked one of the most visible: Protestant women.

"Give me a minute," said Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman, recently retired from Congregation Shaare Emeth, as he whipped out his cell phone and began dialing. The Rev. Bill Hutchison, a retired Catholic priest, borrowed a cell phone and did the same. In no time, the group had two Protestant women lined up to speak.

Missouri women, especially, it seems are being targeted...

He [Keyes] then told the audience that Kerry is a religious man. "I know that he is a man of deep faith. He is a devout Catholic who is reverent about attending Mass. That's a good word for John, and you should take that word back with you when you talk about him: reverent," he said.

"He has a reverence for God, he has a reverence for the Church, he has a reverence for the country, and for the traditions that made this country great. He has a reverence for human life." The audience erupted in applause.

He has a reverence for life? It's amazing that anyone could buy this nonsense - one look at his voting record on abortion related issues completely refutes statements such as the one above.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:31 AM   

 
Proposed South City Deanery Closings

More anxiety for St. Louis Catholics as the first word on church and school closures in south St. Louis is due out Wednesday night during a meeting at St. Mary Magdalene Parish.

Leaders from several south city parishes will receive draft recommendations for shutting down churches and schools in south St. Louis. The south St. Louis deanery includes 35 parishes--18 of them have Catholic grade schools.

A strategic planning committee made up of pastors and church members has been working on a consolidation plan for more than a year and a half. Msgr. Dennis Doerhoff from St. Mary Magdalene said, "We have approximately the same number of parishes and schools in south St. Louis that we had in 1970, when the Catholic population was twice what it is now."

The monsignor stresses this is only a draft proposal for further study. He won't say which or how many churches and schools may shutdown. A similar process in North County has led to a recommendation to shut down or consolidate more than half of the churches and schools there.

From KTVI Fox 2 News.
- posted by LRS @ 6:23 AM   

 
This is too funny...
Jeff Miller at the Curt Jester has done it again.

Here is something which might put a smile on your face.

- posted by LRS @ 5:51 AM   

 
Austrian Bishop Quits After Scandal at Seminary

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian bishop Kurt Krenn has resigned, apparently at the Pope's request, after a sex and child pornography scandal in his diocese rocked the Roman Catholic church in the Alpine nation.

"Yes, I have stepped down and am as of now the former bishop of St Poelten," Krenn told Austria's Der Standard newspaper in an interview published on its Web site Wednesday.

Nothing official from Rome yet.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 5:47 AM   

 
Sept 30, Memorial: St. Jerome, Priest & Doctor of the Church

From: Luke 10:1-12

The Mission of the Seventy Disciples
------------------------------------
[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come. [2] And He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. [3] Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. [4] Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. [5] Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' [6] And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. [7] And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. [8] Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; [9] heal the sick in it and say to them, "The Kingdom of God has come near to you.' [10] But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,[11] `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near.' [12] I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town."
*******************************************************
Commentary:
1-12. Those who followed our Lord and received a calling from Him (cf. Luke 9:57-62) included many other disciples in addition to the Twelve (cf. Mark 2:15). We do not know who most of them were; but undoubtedly some of them were with Him all along, from when Jesus was baptized by John up to the time of His ascension--for example, Joseph called Barrabas, and Matthias (cf. Acts 1:21-26). We can also include Cleopas and his companion, whom the risen Christ appeared to on the road to Emmaus (cf. Luke 24:13-35).

From among these disciples, our Lord chooses seventy-two for a special assignment. Of them, as of the Apostles (cf. Luke 9:1-5), He demands total detachment and complete abandonment to divine providence.

From Baptism onwards every Christian is called by Christ to perform a mission. Therefore, the Church, in our Lord's name, "makes to all the laity an earnest appeal in the Lord to give a willing, noble and enthusiastic response to the voice of Christ, who at this hour is summoning them more pressingly, and to the urging of the Holy Spirit.

The younger generation should feel this call to be addressed in a special way to themselves; they should welcome it eagerly and generously. It is the Lord Himself, by this Council, who is once more inviting all the laity to unite themselves to Him ever more intimately, to consider His interests as their own (cf. Philippians 2:5), and to join in His mission as Savior. It is the Lord who is again sending them into every town and every place where He Himself is to come (cf.Luke 10:1). He sends them on the Church's apostolate, an apostolate that is one yet has different forms and methods, an apostolate that must all the time be adapting itself to the needs of the moment; He sends them on an apostolate where they are to show themselves His cooperators, doing their full share continually in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord their labor cannot be lost (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:58)" (Vatican II, "Apostolicam Actuositatem", 33).


3-4. Christ wants to instill apostolic daring into His disciples; this is why He says, "I send you out", which leads St. John Chrysostom to comment: "This suffices to give us encouragement, to give us confidence and to ensure that we are not afraid of our assailants" ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 33). The Apostles' and disciples' boldness stemmed from their firm conviction that they were on a God-given mission: they acted, as Peter the Apostle confidently explained to the Sanhedrin, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, "for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"And the Lord goes on," St. Gregory the Great adds, "Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.' Such should be the confidence the preacher places in God that even if he is not provided with the necessities of life, he is convinced that they will come his way. This will ensure that worry about providing temporal things for himself does not distract him from providing others with eternal things" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 17). Apostolate calls for generous self-surrender which leads to detachment; therefore, Peter, following our Lord's commandment, when the beggar at the Beautiful Gate asked him for alms (Acts 3:2-3), said, "I have no silver or gold" ("ibid.", 3:6), "not so as to glory in his poverty", St. Ambrose points out, "but to obey the Lord's command. It is as if he were saying, `You see in me a disciple of Christ, and you ask me for gold? He gave us something much more valuable than gold, the power to act in His name. I do not have what Christ did not give me, but I do have what He did give me: In the name of Jesus Christ, arise and walk' (cf. Acts 3:6)" ("Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc".). Apostolate, therefore, demands detachment from material things and it also requires us to be always available, for there is an urgency about apostolic work.

"And salute no one on the road": "How can it be", St. Ambrose asks himself, "that the Lord wishes to get rid of a custom so full of kindness? Notice, however, that He does not just say, `Do not salute anyone', but adds, `on the road.' And there is a reason for this.

"He also commanded Elisha not to salute anyone he met, when He sent him to lay his staff on the body of the dead child (2 Kings 4:29): He gave him this order so as to get him to do this task without delay and effect the raising of the child, and not waste time by stopping to talk to any passer-by he met. Therefore, there is no question of omitting good manners to greet others; it is a matter of removing a possible obstacle in the way of service; when God commands, human considerations should be set aside, at least for the time being. To greet a person is a good thing, but it is better to carry out a divine instruction which could easily be frustrated by a delay ("ibid.").

6. Everyone is "a son of peace" who is disposed to accept the teaching of the Gospel which brings with it God's peace. Our Lord's recommendation to His disciples to proclaim peace should be a constant feature of all the apostolic action of Christians: "Christian apostolate is not a political program or a cultural alternative. It implies the spreading of good, `infecting' others with a desire to love, sowing peace and joy" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 124).

Feeling peace in our soul and in our surroundings is an unmistakable sign that God is with us, and a fruit of the Holy Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22): "Get rid of these scruples that deprive you of peace. What takes away your peace of soul cannot come from God. When God comes to you, you will feel the truth of those greetings: My peace I give to you..., peace I leave you..., peace be with you..., and you will feel it even in the midst of troubles" ([ST] J. Escriva, "The Way", 258).

7. Our Lord clearly considered poverty and detachment a key feature in an apostle. But He was aware of His disciples' material needs and therefore stated the principle that apostolic ministry deserves its recompense. Vatican II reminds us that we all have an obligation to contribute to the sustenance of those who generously devote themselves to the service of the Church: "Completely devoted as they are to the service of God in the fulfillment of the office entrusted to them, priests are entitled to receive a just remuneration. For `the laborer deserves his wages' (Luke 10:7), and `the Lord commanded that they who proclaim the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel' (1 Corinthians 9:14). For this reason, insofar as provision is not made from some other source for the just remuneration of priests, the faithful are bound by a real obligation of seeing to it that the necessary provision for a decent and fitting livelihood for the priests are available" (Vatican II, "Presbyterorum Ordinis", 20).
*****************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher (see below).

The "Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries" is available from:
Scepter Publishers
http://www.scepterpublishers.org/product/index.php- or -
St. Gabriel's Gift & Book Nook
http://www.stgabriel.com/navarre.html
---------------------------------------------------------

- posted by LRS @ 3:27 AM   

 
Catholics for a Free Choice Files IRS Complaint Against Culture of Life Foundation
Not only is Catholic Answers the target of Catholics for a Free Choice (CFFC) but now the Culture of Life Foundation has also been named in a complaint to the IRS to have its tax exemption revoked.

CFFC is located in Washington DC, the archdiocese under the leadership of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

While it is well known among many Catholics that CFFC is, in fact, not Catholic, certainly many professed but uncatechized Catholics would not know that fact.

Has Cardinal McCarrick done anything to mitigate the grave harm and scandal that CFFC and Frances Kissling are causing to the faithful, to the mystical body of Christ? Should not this cancerous disease be excised from the body in an effort to keep the poison from spreading further?

I know the question has been asked so many times before, but why does this organization, which supports the murder of innocent children, usurp the name of "Catholic" with such impunity?
- posted by LRS @ 12:02 AM   

 
Is it a Sin to Vote for Pro-Abortion Candidates

In an effort to help raise awareness among Catholics and other Christians about the importance of voting pro-life, here is a 9.5 minute non-partisan discussion of several scriptural passages that pertain to the issue of abortion.

The video is here.

Via Patrick Madrid's Blog
- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
Conflicting and divergent statements by Bishops show a lack of unity

The conflicting message from bishops of the two Arizona dioceses reflects the division of Roman Catholics nationwide over the presidential election.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:03 AM   

 
Parents vow to keep school open

The groups met Friday at an informal meeting at the parish center to discuss their options. They have no intention of quietly watching the school close.

"I think if we kick loud enough, we can get the attention of the archdiocese," said April Townsend, the meeting moderator and a parent. "We need to pull together as a family."

Parents like Corpus Christi's location and teaching staff. One suggestion is to see if the archdiocese will rent the facility so the parents can turn it into a Christian school.

Hopefully, those who want to keep the school will be able to come to some understanding with the Archdiocese. Defiant and confrontational attitudes, though, would not be in their best interest.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:50 AM   

 
Group seeks alternatives to deanery plan

The Gathering of the Laity is asking parishioners to attend meetings and give input on a plan to consolidate Catholic churches and schools in North County.

"We hope that if we all speak as one, we will be heard," said Kitty Gray, a member of the St. Dismas parish and part of the Gathering of the Laity.

Perhaps it is irrational but when I hear things like this, I immediately think of the situation occurring in the Boston Archdiocese with some people engaged in "sit-ins", refusing to leave churches slated to be closed. Meetings have been held for quite some time, during which "input" could have been offered - now that the proposal has been submitted, more comments are being requested from parishioners to be shared with their pastors.

The Gathering of the Laity was formed to give alternatives and a response to the proposal. The group met with parishioners from several northeast deanery churches Sept. 22. The group would like parishioners to share their ideas during an Oct. 5 Gathering of the Laity meeting.

A statement printed in the Gathering of the Laity's meeting read: "We want the Task Force to plan for success — and success depends upon the creation and implementation of a plan designed to stem the tide of our Deanery's shrinking Catholic population. There are too many Catholics living, working and raising their families in the Deanery to accept any other approach."

In recent years (decades), there has been an exodus from the area westward into St. Charles county. Many wish that things would have remained constant - and that we in the archdiocese might have been spared this cross. But that is not the way it is.

We should hope and pray that all of the faithfuul and the group, "Gathering of the Laity", while expressing its suggestions for improvement and its intention for the success of the Task Force, will, in the end, submit to the difficult decision that Archbishop Burke must make.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:43 AM   

 
Readers question deanery's plan, blast Journal
A number of people are opining on the recent plans for churches and schools in the Northeast deanery.
- posted by LRS @ 6:38 AM   

 
Prayer to and an Act of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.

And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all of the evil spirits who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

(St. Michael is my patron Saint - chosen at Confirmation, many years ago)

The Act of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel can be found here at tfp.org.

- posted by LRS @ 6:32 AM   

 
Sept 29, Feast: Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

From: John 1:47-51

The Calling of the First Disciples (Continuation)
-------------------------------------------------
[47] Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to Him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" [48] Nathaniel said to Him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." [49] Nathaniel answered Him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! [50] Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." [51] And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

************************************************************
Commentary:

45-51. The Apostle Philip is so moved that he cannot but tell his friend Nathanael (Bartholomew) about his wonderful discovery (verse 45). "Nathanael had heard from Scripture that Jesus must come from Bethlehem, from the people of David. This belief prevailed among the Jews and also the prophet had proclaimed it of old, saying: `But you, O Bethlehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler of Israel' (Micah 5:2).

Therefore, when he heard that He was from Nazareth, he was troubled and in doubt, since he found that the announcement of Philip was not in agreement with the words of the prophecy" (St. John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St. John", 20, 1).

A Christian may find that, in trying to communicate his faith to others, they raise difficulties. What should he do? What Philip did--not trust his own explanation, but invite them to approach Jesus personally: "Come and see" (verse 46). In other words, a Christian should bring his fellow-men, his brothers into Jesus' presence through the means of grace which He has given them and which the Church ministers--frequent reception of the sacraments, and devout Christian practices.

Nathanael, a sincere person (verse 47), goes along with Philip to see Jesus; he makes personal contact with our Lord (verse 48), and the outcome is that he receives faith (the result of his ready reception of grace, which reaches him through Christ's human nature: verse 49).

As far as we can deduce from the Gospels, Nathanael is the first Apostle to make an explicit confession of faith in Jesus as Messiah and as Son of God. Later on St. Peter, in a more formal way, will recognize our Lord's divinity (cf. Matthew 16:16). Here (verse 51) Jesus evokes a text from Daniel (7:13) to confirm and give deeper meaning to the words spoken by His new disciple.

*****************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.

The "Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries" is available from:
Scepter Publishers
http://www.scepterpublishers.org/product/index.php
- or -
St. Gabriel's Gift & Book Nook
http://www.stgabriel.com/navarre.htmlSponsor of CIN (Catholic Information Network)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (St. Jerome)

"A man who is well-grounded in the testimonies of Scriptures is the bulwark of the Church." (St. Jerome)

"It is not enough to discover Christ--you must bring Him to others! The world today is one great mission land, even in countries of long-standing Christian tradition." (Pope John Paul II)

- posted by LRS @ 6:10 AM   

 
The "Matter" of Eucharistic Elements
And here is a little more information regarding valid matter for the Holy Eucharist. The follwing was excerpted from Newadvent.org and reformatted for ease of reading.

There are two Eucharistic elements, bread and wine, which constitute the remote matter of the Sacrament of the Altar, while the proximate matter can be none other than the Eucharistic appearances under which the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present.

(a) The first element is wheaten bread (panis triticeus), without which the "confection of the Sacrament does not take place" (Missale Romanum: De defectibus, sect. 3).

Being true bread, the Host must be baked, since mere flour is not bread.

Since, moreover, the bread required is that formed of wheaten flour, not every kind of flour is allowed for validity, such, e.g., as is ground from rye, oats, barley, Indian corn or maize, though these are all botanically classified as grain (frumentum).

On the other hand, the different varieties of wheat (as spelt, amel-corn, etc.) are valid, inasmuch as they can be proved botanically to be genuine wheat.

The necessity of wheaten bread is deduced immediately from the words of Institution: "The Lord took bread" (ton arton), in connection with which it may be remarked, that in Scripture bread (artos), without any qualifying addition, always signifies wheaten bread.

No doubt, too, Christ adhered unconditionally to the Jewish custom of using only wheaten bread in the Passover Supper, and by the words, "Do this for a commemoration of me", commanded its use for all succeeding times.

In addition to this, uninterrupted tradition, whether it be the testimony of the Fathers or the practice of the Church, shows wheaten bread to have played such an essential part, that even Protestants would be loath to regard rye bread or barley bread as a proper element for the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

The Church maintains an easier position in the controversy respecting the use of fermented or unfermented bread. By leavened bread (fermentum, zymos) is meant such wheaten bread as requires leaven or yeast in its preparation and baking, while unleavened bread (azyma, azymon) is formed from a mixture of wheaten flour and water, which has been kneaded to dough and then baked.

After the Greek Patriarch Michael Cærularius of Constantinople had sought in 1053 to palliate the renewed rupture with Rome by means of the controversy, concerning unleavened bread, the two Churches, in the Decree of Union at Florence, in 1439, came to the unanimous dogmatic decision, that the distinction between leavened and unleavened bread did not interfere with the confection of the sacrament, though for just reasons based upon the Church's discipline and practice, the Latins were obliged to retain unleavened bread, while the Greeks still held on to the use of leavened (cf, Denzinger, Enchirid., Freiburg, 1908, no, 692).

Since the Schismatics had before the Council of Florence entertained doubts as to the validity of the Latin custom, a brief defense of the use of unleavened bread will not be out of place here.

Pope Leo IX had as early as 1054 issued a protest against Michael Cærularius (cf. Migne, P. L., CXLIII, 775), in which he referred to the Scriptural fact, that according to the three Synoptics the Last Supper was celebrated "on the first day of the azymes" and so the custom of the Western Church received its solemn sanction from the example of Christ Himself.

The Jews, moreover, were accustomed even the day before the fourteenth of Nisan to get rid of all the leaven which chanced to be in their dwellings, that so they might from that time on partake exclusively of the so-called mazzoth as bread.

As regards tradition, it is not for us to settle the dispute of learned authorities, as to whether or not in the first six or eight centuries the Latins also celebrated Mass with leavened bread (Sirmond, Döllinger, Kraus) or have observed the present custom ever since the time of the Apostles (Mabillon, Probst).

Against the Greeks it suffices to call attention to the historical fact that in the Orient the Maronites and Armenians have used unleavened bread from time immemorial, and that according to Origen (In Matt., XII, n. 6) the people of the East "sometimes", therefore not as a rule, made use of leavened bread in their Liturgy.

Besides, there is considerable force in the theological argument that the fermenting process with yeast and other leaven, does not affect the substance of the bread, but merely its quality.

The reasons of congruity advanced by the Greeks in behalf of leavened bread, which would have us consider it as a beautiful symbol of the hypostatic union, as well as an attractive representation of the savor of this heavenly Food, will be most willingly accepted, provided only that due consideration be given to the grounds of propriety set forth by the Latins with St. Thomas Aquinas (III:74:4) namely, the example of Christ, the aptitude of unleavened bread to be regarded as a symbol of the purity of His Sacred Body, free from all corruption of sin, and finally the instruction of St, Paul (I Cor., v,8) to keep the Pasch not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth".


(b) The second Eucharistic element required is wine of the grape (vinum de vite).

Hence are excluded as invalid, not only the juices extracted and prepared from other fruits (as cider and perry), but also the so-called artificial wines, even if their chemical constitution is identical with the genuine juice of the grape.

The necessity of wine of the grape is not so much the result of the authoritative decision of the Church, as it is presupposed by her (Council of Trent, Sess. XIII, cap. iv), and is based upon the example and command of Christ, Who at the Last Supper certainly converted the natural wine of grapes into His Blood.

This is deduced partly from the rite of the Passover, which required the head of the family to pass around the "cup of benediction" (calix benedictionis) containing the wine of grapes, partly, and especially, from the express declaration of Christ, that henceforth He would not drink of the "fruit of the vine" (genimen vitis).

The Catholic Church is aware of no other tradition and in this respect she has ever been one with the Greeks. The ancient Hydroparastatæ, or Aquarians, who used water instead of wine, were heretics in her eyes.

The counter-argument of Ad. Harnack ["Texte und Untersuchungen", new series, VII, 2 (1891), 115 sqq.], that the most ancient of Churches was indifferent as to the use of wine, and more concerned with the action of eating and drinking than with the elements of bread and wine, loses all its force in view not only of the earliest literature on the subject (the Didache, Ignatius, Justin, Irenæus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Hippolytus, Tertullian, and Cyprian), but also of non-Catholic and apocryphal writings, which bear testimony to the use of bread and wine as the only and necessary elements of the Blessed Sacrament.

On the other hand, a very ancient law of the Church which, however, has nothing to do with the validity of the sacrament, prescribes that a little water be added to the wine before the Consecration (Decr. pro Armenis: aqua modicissima), a practice, whose legitimacy the Council of Trent (Sess. XXII, can. ix) established under pain of anathema.

The rigor of this law of the Church may be traced to the ancient custom of the Romans and Jews, who mixed water with the strong southern wines (see Proverbs 9:2), to the expression of calix mixtus found in Justin (Apol., I, lxv), Irenæus (Adv. hær., V, ii, 3), and Cyprian (Ep. lxiii, ad Cæcil., n. 13 sq.), and especially to the deep symbolical meaning contained in the mingling, inasmuch as thereby are represented the flowing of blood and water from the side of the Crucified Savior and the intimate union of the faithful with Christ (cf. Council of Trent, Sess. XXII, cap. vii).

Full article here.


- posted by LRS @ 11:13 PM   

 
Pull the plug on 'Relevant Radio'???
Frank Reilly, the author of this opinion piece, who lives in St. Paul, is a Catholic theologian and a prolife Democrat.

After reading the article, one must legitimately question the sort of theology that was studied, for the opinions expressed do not seem to be consonant with Catholic moral teachings, such as this:

Another [caller to the radio station], raising the problem of Bush's enthusiastic commitment to capital punishment, heard that the Catholic catechism acknowledges the acceptability of the death sentence in certain situations.

This is the correct answer! Unless, one is referring to a different catechism.

Or this statement:

[W]hen one caller asked a host about Iraq, she was told simply that war can be justified, and that, as the catechism says, only community leaders -- nobody else, not even the pope! -- can make that decision. Not a word was said about conscience, or about conscientious objection.

Of course there can be legitimate disagreements about the war, but as the catechism states, the decision to go to war rests with legitimate State authority and no one else. One may agree or disagree but the fact remains that this is what the Church teaches.

But maybe this is the real reason for his "dislike" of Relevant Radio:

Program hosts and guest experts talk constantly about the "intrinsic moral evil" of abortion, gay marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, sex outside marriage, contraception and euthanasia. For them, only candidates who are against all these evils deserve Catholic votes.

The "dislike" for this much needed Catholic apostolate is demonstrated here:

A creation of right-wing Catholic money, and calling itself "listener-supported," Relevant Radio takes pride in being a national media outlet approved by the U.S. Catholic Bishops. . . The time has come for the bishops to pull the plug.

Locally, Covenant Network probably airs many of the same shows as Relevant Radio, such as Catholic Answers Live. Catholic Radio must be supported because it helps both Catholics who need catechetical instruction and non-Catholics who might have questions about Catholicism. This apostolate helps bring souls to Christ.

It's a shame when Catholics openly denounce those who share in proclaiming Catholic teaching as "right wing". Jesus told us the way would be difficult and we would have to suffer as He suffered.

Link is here.


- posted by LRS @ 9:10 PM   

 
Texas Bishop Says No Bishop May Refuse to Deny Communion to Pro-Abortion Politicians

The excuses for unwillingness to deny communion to pro-abortion politicians are debunked in an article submitted to LifeSiteNews.com by Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi Texas.

In his article, Bishop Gracida notes that the Vatican has already ruled authoritatively on the question of denying communion. "According to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts in that Council's June 24, 2000 Declaration on the question: 'Should a priest deny Communion to a Catholic who is an obstinate public sinner?' The answer is 'yes,'" writes Bishop Gracida. The Church's Code of Canon Law (can. 915) says the same.

As has Archbishop Burke and others.

"[E]very bishop has the duty and obligation to implement the provisions of Canon Law" which states, "Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to Holy Communion."

Bishop Gracida has been very outspoken on this issue in recent months. He seems to trying his best to call his brother bishops back to the fold.

Source.

The full 9-page article from Bishop Garcida is here.


- posted by LRS @ 8:20 PM   

 
Pro-Abortion Movement literally killing itself...
Cathy Cleaver Ruse, the Director of Planning and Information for the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has a good article here on "missing voters" (those who were aborted).

- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
Canons Regular....What does that mean?

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, a canon regular is essentially a religious cleric, or, as the same doctor aptly expresses it: "The Order of Canons Regular is necessarily constituted by religious clerics, because they are essentially destined to those works which relate to the Divine mysteries, whereas it is not so with the monastic Orders." (II-II:189:8 ad 2um, and II-II:184:8). We have then here what constitutes a canon regular and what distinguishes him from a monk. The clerical state is essential to the Order of Canons Regular, whereas it is only accidental to the Monastic Order. Hence Erasmus, himself a canon regular, declared that the canons regular are a quid medium between the monks and the secular clergy.

To explain further the nature and distinctive spirit of the canonical order, we may say, with St. Augustine, that a canon regular professes two things, "sanctitatem et clericatum". He lives in community, he leads the life of a religious, he sings the praises of God by the daily recitation of the Divine Office in choir; but at the same time, at the bidding of his superiors, he is prepared to follow the example of the Apostles by preaching, teaching, and the administration of the sacraments, or by giving hospitality to pilgrims and travellers, and tending the sick.

There is much more here at Newadvent.
- posted by LRS @ 6:38 AM   

 
Ex-bishop is indicted on abuse charges but escapes prosecution
Post Dispatch article on Bishop Dupre.
- posted by LRS @ 6:30 AM   

 
Local Area Religious Sister Honored

The Catholic Church Extension Society, a Chicago group that supports missionary work in poor urban and rural parts of the United States, [presented] its annual Lumen Christi (or Light of Christ) award to Connolly at a Mass and dinner in her honor [last week].

Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory nominated Connolly for the award.

"I can't begin to express how proud I am to be associated with this wonderful woman of faith," he said in an e-mail. "Sister Ann truly is the Light of Christ for so many in our diocese."

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:27 AM   

 
Communion Bread and Celiac Disease
Adoremus has published an article discussing the issue.

And there was this article from Zenit in which low-gluten hosts were discussed.


- posted by LRS @ 11:17 PM   

 
Youth behind resurgence of ancient Catholic ritual
Thanks to Marc P. who forwarded this article:

With the aroma of incense hovering, the Rev. Eduardo Garcia lifts the communion wafer toward heaven, reciting, "Hoc est enim corpus meum."

As the prayer echoes through St. Peter's Catholic Church in Volo, 15-year-old Beth Gammel says this is the moment she feels closest to God.

She doesn't understand Latin, but the book she holds translates Garcia's prayer: "For this is my body."

For Gammel and a growing number of young people, the once traditional Latin Mass provides a connection to the divine unmatched by any contemporary service.

The Catholic rite dating from the 5th century had almost faded into oblivion after Vatican reforms in the 1960s, which included an official ban on its use. But since Pope John Paul lifted the ban in 1984, it's thriving in Volo and being revived across the country, with young families leading the way.

Many are discovering the beauty, the mystery and the reverence of worshipping God in the Holy Mass in the manner of our ancestors.

"The Mass is like a rock, a source of stability in a noisy world."

The entire article is well worth the read, and the faithful of the St. Louis Archdiocese should express their gratitude to Archbishop Burke for expanding the Indult here.
- posted by LRS @ 10:46 PM   

 
Kerry Gives Exclusive Interview to Homosexual Activist Magazine

"I was the only elected senator up for reelection to oppose the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996," Kerry boasted in the interview.

"I approve of gay adoption. I approve of gay parenting," he said.

Interview
- posted by LRS @ 10:43 PM   

 
C-FAM seeks two new employees in New York
This also just in:

For those who care about international social issues and who hunger to engage them, I am announcing two dream jobs. Come join C-FAM in the great fight for life, faith and family at the United Nations. You will be at the very center of one of the most important fights in the world. You will work with a broad range of very talented people both inside government and in the NGO world. Your reach will be powerful and global.

Here are the listings...

Yours sincerely,

Austin Ruse
President

PS Feel free to post this announcement and otherwise get this around.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

C-FAM HAS TWO IMMEDIATE JOB OPENINGS
1. Director of Research and Policy
2. Assistant Director of Research and Policy
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

JOB NUMBER ONE
Director of Research and Policy

This person will have responsibility for running all aspects of C-FAM's United Nations operation.

You will:

* Manage the New York office,
* Write and Edit the weekly Friday Fax, which has a global circulation of 60,000+
* Assign and edit all research papers produced through C-FAM's "International Organizations Research Group,"
* Direct all C-FAM efforts with the diplomatic community at the United Nations,
* Direct C-FAM's global outreach to foreign ministries,
* Direct C-FAM's global outreach to non-governmental organizations,
* Run all UN related programs, panels, lobbying, etc.

Your qualifications will include:

* An advanced degree, preferably a Ph.D. or law degree,
* Proven research skills,
* Proven ability to write lucidly,
* Foreign languages a plus but not required,
* Knowledge of international social policy a plus,
* Knowledge of UN issues a plus,
* Diplomatic skills

Also, please know that C-FAM is officially recognized as a Catholic organization by the Catholic Church. We are loyal to the Holy Father and to the teachings of the Catholic Church in all things. You must show a similar disposition.

THIS JOB IS OPEN ONLY TO AMERICAN CITIZENS OR THOSE ALREADY POSSESSING PAPERS TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES

Salary is $55,000 plus full medical benefits and three weeks paid vacation Location of job is in New York City.

To apply for this job, please email your resume to Hannah Page at c-fam@c-fam.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


JOB NUMBER TWO
Assistant Director of Research and Policy/Office Manager

This person will assist the Director in all aspects of the UN operation, with added administrative duties

You will:

* Handle all incoming phone calls,
* Manage the daily mail,
* Manage voluminous filing,
* Handle the day to day running of the office
* Assist in writing and editing the Friday Fax,
* Assist in assigning and editing research papers published by C-FAM's International Organizations Research Group
* Assist in C-FAM efforts with the diplomatic community at the United Nations,
* Assist in C-FAM's global outreach to foreign ministries,
* Assist in C-FAM's global outreach to non-governmental organizations,
* Assist in running all UN related programs, panels, lobbying, etc.

Your qualifications will include:

* Proven organizational abilities,
* Pleasant personality,
* Work ethic,
* Enthusiasm,
* An advanced degree is a plus but not required
* Proven ability to write lucidly,
* Foreign languages a plus but not required,
* Knowledge of international social policy a plus,
* Knowledge of UN issues a plus,
* Diplomatic skills


Also, please know that C-FAM is officially recognized as a Catholic organization by the Catholic Church. We are loyal to the Holy Father and to the teachings of the Catholic Church in all things. You must show a similar disposition.

THIS JOB IS OPEN ONLY TO AMERICAN CITIZENS OR THOSE ALREADY POSSESSING PAPERS TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES

Salary is $40,000 plus full medical benefits and three weeks paid vacation Location of job is in New York City

To apply for this job, please email your resume to Hannah Page at c-fam@c-fam.org

- posted by LRS @ 12:35 PM   

 
More sad times...continued...
This just in from Catholic World News:

Massachusetts bishop charged with child rape

Springfield, Massachusetts, Sep. 27 (CWNews.com) - The former bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, has been indicted on child rape charges, according to the Springfield Republican newspaper on Monday. He is the first US bishop to have criminal charges of sex abuse filed against him.

The newspaper reported that Bishop Thomas L. Dupre has been charged by a grand jury with two counts of child rape. Dupre resigned abruptly in February amid allegations he abused two young men two decades ago. At the time, health problems was given as the reason for his resignation.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:08 PM   

 
Bishop Cupich is new episcopal adviser for Serra's U.S. council

CHICAGO (CNS) -- Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., is the new episcopal adviser for Serra International's U.S. council. He succeeds Bishop Kevin M. Britt of Grand Rapids, Mich., who died in May. In the post, Bishop Cupich will provide spiritual guidance to council leaders and will be a liaison between the council, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the episcopal advisers of other Serra councils.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:15 AM   

 
St. Stanislaus issue brings to mind St. Adalbert's fight
The article seems to be somewhat of a stretch...

The dispute between parishioners and the St. Louis Archdiocese over control of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church is similar to one more than 20 years ago in St. Clair County that also involved a Polish congregation.

In the 1970s, the Illinois Department of Transportation bought St. Adalbert's Catholic Church in East St. Louis to clear the way for Interstate 64.

Some members thought the money should go to them, not to the Belleville Diocese, headed by Bishop Albert R. Zuroweste, now deceased.

The diocese won that dispute, but when it tried to assume ownership of the 30-acre cemetery the parishioners had established in neighboring Fairview Heights, they rebelled, and eventually prevailed.

One issue involves the church and church property while the other (in St. Clair County) involves private property - the similarities are what? In name only, that is, the "St. Adalbert's Cemetery Association".

Perhaps I missed something but I do not see how the St. Stanislaus situation brings the St. Adalbert issue to mind at all.

Article.


- posted by LRS @ 7:00 AM   

 
Corpus Christi School fights for life

Corpus Christi School in Jennings is one of only two Roman Catholic grade schools in St. Louis County with majority black enrollments. Its home parish suffers from a steadily declining membership and a dwindling bank account.

"We serve African-American families from all over, and I think we need to be preserved for that reason alone," said Karen Szydlowski, the principal. "What we are is a mission school."

Lucia Signorelli, a member of the North County study group, said she wishes it could be saved. But she said there are other numbers that present a dim future for the school and parish.

The parish, meanwhile, has lost 76 percent of its members since 1990, and most of those who remain are elderly, she said.

Only about 20 percent of the school's students are Catholic.

Since 2001, the parish has averaged 24 funerals and three baptisms each year. Sunday collections are down 16 percent in the same period.

The parish is dying a slow death, and 80% of students at the school are not Catholic.
Article
- posted by LRS @ 6:37 AM   

 
Cardinal Mahony to take sabbatical month

This year our ordination class of 1962 celebrated our 42nd anniversary. Over these four decades I never had the opportunity to take a sabbatical of any kind, and after consultation with the Holy See, I have been granted permission to take the month of October over the next several years as special sabbatical months. This year, I depart on October 6 and return on October 29.

The purpose of each October's sabbatical will be to visit parts of the world where newer, younger Catholic Churches are taking root and beginning to flourish. This year my sabbatical will consist of two portions: visiting young Churches in central Africa, and a final week of art and architecture in Florence and Siena, Italy.

Art and architecture?
The Tidings article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:18 AM   

 
Pro-Abortion Catholic Politician Awarded Papal Knighthood

The Catholic Herald recently carried an interesting item about Julian Hunte, a pro-choice Catholic politician in the West Indies who was awarded a papal knighthood Sept. 19. Hunte was made a Knight of the Grand Cross Pian Order. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano bestowed the honor in a New York ceremony.

As the Herald story notes, the award is especially interesting in light of the debate currently swirling in the United States over the eligibility of pro-choice Catholic politicians for the Eucharist.

"I think every woman must have a choice. I am a pro-choice man," Hunte said during a parliamentary debate before votes were cast.

"A woman must be the one who will decide what she wants to do in any given situation. I respect the views of those who feel it is wrong. This is their right. I will give them that right, as I will give the woman the right to determine how she wishes to treat her life," he said at the time.

One wonders why such an honor would be bestowed on one who advocates and supports the murder of innocents?

The Papal Orders are awarded in the name of the Supreme Pontiff and are given both as awards of His Holiness as Head of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church and also as Sovereign of the Vatican City State. Membership at one time was conferred by Papal Bull, or by Apostolic Letter, signed by the Pope himself, but since the reforms made in the structure of these Orders at the beginning of the 20th century, the diplomas have been signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State. Since the 29 June 1991 this post has been filled by His Eminence Angelo, Cardinal Sodano.
Source.

The third, and more commonly awarded Order (although generally fewer than seventy awards are made annually world-wide), is the Order of Pius IX. An Order of Pian knights was founded by Pius IV in about 1560, but this fell into disuse and the present Order, instituted by Pius IX in 1847, may be regarded as a new foundation. There have been several reforms of the Statutes and today the highest rank is the gold Collar of the Order, the most common award to Heads of State on the occasion of official visits to the Holy See. The Grand Cross, the highest Papal award given to lay men and women, is also given to Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See after two years in post, and to leading Catholics in the wider world for particular services, mainly in the international field and particularly for outstanding deeds for Church and society.
Source.

Source of article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:17 AM   

 
Michael Davies, R.I.P.
From Una Voce:

It is with deep sorrow that I have to inform everyone of the death of Mr. Michael Davies, the President d'Honneur of the International Una Voce Federation. Michael suffered a heart attack at 9:20 p.m. on Saturday 25th September and died instantly.

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat ei.

Michael's family will be keeping me informed and I will send out information as I receive it. They have also asked that for the moment no one contacts the family direct until arrangements have been made. Should anyone require any specific information please contact me via email on argentum@euphony.net

Leo Darroch, Secretary, International Federation Una Voce.

Posted 26 Sept 2004

Please keep Mr. Davies and his family in your prayers.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:13 AM   

 
Full-Page Ad in National Post Compares Abortion to Slavery, Holocaust
The ad is running in a Canadian newspaper and has the following quotes:

* "In the eyes of the law... The slave is not a person." Virginia Supreme Court decision, 1858

* "An Indian is not a person within the meaning of the Constitution." George Canfield - American Law Review, 1881

* "The statutory word 'person' did not in these circumstances include women." British Voting Rights case, 1909

* "The Reichsgericht itself refused to recognize Jews... as 'persons' in the legal sense." German Supreme Court decision, 1936

* "The law of Canada does not recognize the unborn child as a legal person possessing rights." Canadian Supreme Court - Winnipeg Child and Family Services Case, 1997

How many more millions must die before we come to our senses?

See the Ad.
- posted by LRS @ 1:58 AM   

 
A mother revives her campaign to change the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
I thought I had posted this last night but it was posted as a draft...

A mother is stepping up her campaign to get the Roman Catholic Church to permit the use of nonwheat-based hosts in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Liz Pelly-Waldman on Tuesday sent a second letter to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith at the Vatican, in which she asked the Church to "revisit the theological definition of bread."

I'm certain Cardinal Ratzinger is right on top of this!

Pelly-Waldman . . . began her quest to get the Church to permit the use of communion wafers made of nonwheat-based flour after she learned that the First Holy Communion of her 8-year-old daughter, Haley, was considered invalid by the Diocese of Trenton.

Well, not exactly - the Church teaches that matter of the Sacraments cannot be changed - the Diocese of Trenton, in communion with the universal Church, explained the doctrine to the Ms Pelly-Waldman...

Pelly-Waldman said she decided to write a second letter after she received no response to the first one written to Ratzinger several months ago.

Oops! It looks like Cardinal Ratzinger is NOT on top of this...

Pelly-Waldman in her latest letter addresses the question of whether transubstantiation -- the Catholic doctrine that says the moment the wafer is consecrated by a priest it turns into the body of Christ -- occurs in nonwheat-based hosts.

Hmmm...Either someone failed to properly explain transubstantiation or the woman wasn't listening. Of course, even a correctly educated grade school student would be able to answer this question. She could have asked a priest (not the one who attempted to consecrate a rice wafer) or her bishop rather than the good cardinal. Maybe, though, he will answer by sending her a copy of the Catechism?

Pelly-Waldman said she agrees with the position that the matter now is between her and the Vatican, rather than between her and her local church or the Trenton diocese.

The diocese explained it once and she didn't like the answer or the explanation...

"This is not something that should be decided by the diocese," she said.

The diocese passes on faithfully what it has received, the bishop faithfully hands on what he has received - this is called Sacred Tradition. This Sacred Tradition, with Sacred Scripture make up the Deposit of Faith, the interpretation of which has been entrusted to the Magisterium of the Church. The diocesan bishop, in communion with the Holy Father, explains the truth to her, but it falls on deaf ears....Why?

"I'm questioning 2,000 years of tradition," she said. "To think that in a matter of two months that I've even had this much of an effect is amazing. This is basically a David and Goliath here. I'm happy with how far we've come."

Someone needs to tell her that her complaint, (the problem of which has been addressed previously) will go nowhere. Remedial catechesis is needed: form, matter, intention, what sacraments arem why Christ instituted them, why the Church has been given the authority to teach and interpret, etc, etc...someone should engage in a spiritual work of mercy and go over all of this with her. It might save her some further embarassment.

She should also consider what is best for her daughter who suffers from the disease which prevents her from receiving our Lord under the species of bread. Keep both her and her daughter in your prayers - perhaps, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, she will come to understand and accept the crosses that our Lord wishes to give us so tha we will bear them for Him and for our own sanctification.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 1:30 PM   

 
Important reminders for tonight and tomorrow
Tonight at 9:00pm CST on EWTN, the first of Priests for Life's six part series we air (actually this is a rebroadcast of Wednesday's program). I understand that this is a "Must See" series for Catholics who want to be better prepared to present authentic Catholic teaching with regard to our involvement in the political life.


Also:
Tomorrow, Saturday 25, there will be a Latin Mass celebrated by Fr. Oppenheimer of the Canons Regular of the New Jeursalem in Ofallon, MO. Details here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:41 AM   

 
Catechists: instruments of God’s joy and peace
Archbishop Burke comments on catechists and states that his first responsibility is to teach the faith.

To put it plainly, I depend upon our catechists to teach the faith with integrity and, therefore, I have the responsibility to provide for catechists the ongoing education and formation which will equip them to hand on the deposit of faith to those whom they catechize.

This is a very good article and he explains just how we can find joy and peace:

Only when we have disciplined ourselves to honor the truth about our relationship with God, with one another and with the rest of creation, do we find abiding joy and peace in our lives.

We are also reminded that "Doctrinal formation goes hand-in-hand with spiritual formation." We must also be keenly aware that "the catechist teaches others the way of life which he or she lives. The catechist teaches Christ, in whom he or she lives." We must be properly formed spiritually as well as doctrinally.

The Archbishop's article is here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:23 AM   

 
Ex-priest is charged in child sex case

A former Roman Catholic priest, whose whereabouts is unknown, has been charged with sexually abusing a boy when he was a parish priest in recent years in St. Louis, police said Thursday.

Juan Duran, 44, was named Wednesday in an at-large warrant with statutory sodomy in the first degree.

Jim Orso, spokesman for the archdiocese, said he knew little about Duran, except that he was ordained in 1996 and was assigned in Memphis before St. Louis.

The article states that Duran may now be living in Bolivia. He was assigned to St. Francis de Sales Parish at the time of the allegations.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
United Way Supports Abortion

United Way supports Planned Parenthood, one of the world's foremost abortion promoting and performing agencies.

Many people over the years have simply quit giving money to y\the United Way. It's a shame that its deteriorated the way it has.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 1:23 AM   

 
More RFT Letters about Archbishop Burke
The letter keep coming in to the RiverFrontTimes regarding Archbishop Burke and the scandalous attack articles written about him recently.

The first letter is from a man who thinks he is a comedian. But, then he goes over the edge by calling the Archbishop "Gay Ray"...

Burke's Works

Not everybody loves Raymond: I am a survivor! From age nine through age sixteen I was under the absolute control of a homosexual priest [Malcolm Gay, "Immaculate Deception," August 25]. Together we did everything one can imagine that a man and boy can do. After many years of psychosis, I went to the chancery office to tell them my story. That was a waste of time.

Gay Ray is the worst example of an archbishop I can imagine. Burke is such an egomaniac, he is not going to have any priests left to follow him because he is leading them down a path which will destroy the church.
Name withheld by request
Florissant

He further concludes that Archbishop Burke is an egomaniac. It seems quite apparent that the man has never met or talked with the Archbishop for this could not be farther from the truth. In addition, any priests who might leave the Church in order to avoid following the Archbishop would be leaving sooner or later anyway. And lastly, Archbishop Burke is leading the faithful on a path of renewal and sanctity in order that the Church here might be saved from those who are intent on destroying her.

Next, we have another supporter of the Arcbishop who sees him as he really is.

Wicked ways: For all those "anonymous" priests who are selling their eternal souls to belong to some unnamed American secular "church" and who choose to anonymously persecute good, holy and faithful Archbishop Burke, I have a warning:

Read Ezekiel 3:17-20 -- you may be "anonymous" here on earth, but God will be waiting for you after your deaths.
Darla Meyers
Hudson, Wisconsin

Next...As heartbreaking and demoralizing as it must be to lose a son to suicide, one must remain hopeful. We can be certain the God, Who is All-Just, will deal with unrepentant sinners in a most fitting manner. I, too, believe that the names of the perpetrators of these crimes should be released.

Requiescat in pace: We have no proof but believe my son, who committed suicide in 1984, was one of those abused by Michael McGrath. And of course he was often reassigned. I hope you can publish the names of all the abusers.
Name withheld by request
Florissant

And finally, unending praise is bestowed on Malcom Gay for what some conclude is a truthful and thoroughly documented account of a bishop's response to abuse allegations. Some others, however, are not so eager to join in this adulation since the full truth was absent the article.

A rare and telling tale: I can't imagine all the research required to put this type of article together. Malcolm Gay's hard work is appreciated. Even though the victims' statements are disturbing to read, they are key to understanding the true scope of the clergy abuse problem. It is rare to read a true and documented account of a bishop's response to victims' allegations, and very telling.
Kim Fischer
Crystal City

Source.


- posted by LRS @ 1:10 PM   

 
Dr. Ed Peters comments on recent Zenit article

From Ed Peters:
For a brief clarifying comment from me on an otherwise good annulments interview (in ZENIT) with Roman canon law professor Fr. Miguel Ortiz, click on: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/blog.htm

- posted by LRS @ 6:53 AM   

 
Karl Keating: "Catholic Answers will not be intimidated!"

In a brazen attempt to silence anyone who opposes legalized child-killing in America, the nation’s leading pro-abortion Catholic—Frances Kissling of Catholics For a Free Choice—has launched a full-scale attack on Catholic Answers for publishing the Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics. On September 20, 2004, Kissling and CFFC filed a “complaint” with the IRS, claiming erroneously that our voter’s guide violates tax rules governing non-profit charitable organizations.

And—get this—she’s going to try to STOP US from running the voter’s guide as a full-page ad in USA Today!

Catholic Answers Press Release in response to "Catholics for A Free Choice" complaint to the IRS.
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
Let’s make a deal: Catholic conscience and compromise

It’s a good time to reflect on the meaning of the Kennedy-Cuomo legacy.
That’s a deal with the devil, and it has a balloon payment no nation, no public servant and no voter can afford.

Archbishop Chaput's latest column.
- posted by LRS @ 6:34 AM   

 
Anne Burke fears for priest panel autonomy

The outgoing head of the U.S. Catholic Church's review board on sex abuse issues said Monday that bishops were planning to appoint a nun to the panel, a move she feared would reduce the board's independence from church hierarchy.

In a sometimes fiery speech at Loyola University Chicago, Illinois Appellate Court Judge Anne Burke said the plan was more evidence of what she called "mischievers at work" within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops...

Reading this article, one gets the impression that she wants to have the final say in what goes on int the NRB - in a way, very similar to others who want to overrule decisions of the hierarchy.

For example:

"We find ourselves at a turning point in which forces within the hierarchy are seeking to derail much of what has occurred," Burke said Monday.

Bishops at a closed meeting this summer tried to delay a proposed 2004 audit of whether dioceses were complying with efforts to end the abuse crisis...Both efforts failed, said Burke, "because we raised holy hell."

"Then they put in someone [Sister Carol Keehan] who didn't go through that process [of board member selection]. That is a violation of trust," Burke said.

It seems Karl Keating's advice would be best. Anyone with a modicum of rational thinking knows the reasons why the scandal occurred.

The Chicago Tribune article on Anne Burke is here.
- posted by LRS @ 9:54 AM   

 
Catholics must obey God at polls
Here is an Opinion article published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution by a Catholic parishioner supporting Archbishop Donoghue and others:

Atlanta Archbishop John Francis Donoghue and others have chosen to remain faithful to the vows of obedience they professed at their ordination. I fully support them.

I think most Catholics support the good and faithful bishops.

Full Article is here.

And then there is this opposing opinion. 'Archbishop does not control our thinking'.
And to whom does the author refer for her dissenting opinion? None other than Cardinal Theodore McGarrick of Washington, Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles and theologian John Courtney Murray. Apparently she does not hear the voice of the Holy Father or Cardinal Ratzinger. She states, in part, to support defiance to "Hunmanae Vitae" and other moral issues:

Listening to other authorities in addition to the hierarchy became a necessity for most U.S. Catholics after a pope issued the encyclical on birth control in the 1960s. At that time, many looked to the Canadian bishops' response — with its acknowledgment of the role of individual conscience — and to the reasoning of moral theologians to navigate the confusion caused by that encyclical.

The frequent use of abortion on demand, almost as a method of birth control, is not the only moral issue of importance to Catholics during this election year. The Scriptures and Catholic teaching call us to active concern for others, especially the poor, those enduring the violence of war, and all who suffer discrimination. This is not a one-issue election.

She could not be more wrong - all nearly all accounts. She would do much better to assent to the fullness of truth of Catholic Moral teachings and conform her will to that of Christ and His Church.

Dissenting article here.


- posted by LRS @ 7:00 AM   

 
Northeast Deanery Consolidation Plan revealed
The plan for the Northeast County Deanery is to reduce 25 parishes to 10.

The South City Deanery proposal has not yet been made public.

Hopefully, we will not experience the same problems that the Boston Archdiocese is going though (church sit-ins, etc).

According to the Post Dispatch:

Combine Transfiguration, St. Aloysius and Our Lady of Loretto parishes in the Spanish Lake area into a single parish under a new name at Our Lady of Loretto, 11725 Bellefontaine Road. St. John Neumann School, an area school on the Loretto grounds, would be kept or merged with another school south of Interstate 270.

Combine St. Jerome, St. Pius X, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Our Lady of Good Counsel and Corpus Christi parishes in the Jennings-Bellefontaine Neighbors area into a single parish under a new name at Good Counsel, 1134 St. Cyr Road. The school at Corpus Christi would be merged into the one at Good Counsel, possibly also with St. John Neumann School.

Combine St. Dismas, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Christopher in the Florissant area into a single parish under a new name at St. Dismas, 2650 Parker Road. The school at Fatima would be merged into the one at St. Thomas.

Combine St. Bartholomew, Sts. John and James, Good Shepherd and St. Sebastian in the Kinloch-Ferugson area into a new parish under a new name at Good Shepherd, 1050 Smith Avenue. Good Shepherd's school would be merged into the one at Sts. John and James.

Merge North American Martyrs into Sacred Heart in Florissant, keeping Sacred Heart's school, and merge Our Lady of Mercy into St. Martin de Porres in Hazelwood.

Preserve St. Ferdinand, St. Sabina, St. Norbert and St. Angela Merici parishes and their schools in the Florissant area, and maintain Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cool Valley as a parish for Hispanic Catholics. Guadalupe's school would be merged into the combined one at Sts. John and James.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:55 AM   

 
Saint's Blood Reportedly Liquefies - Again
I had missed this the other day.

So said Cardinal Michele Giordano, archbishop of Naples. Before thousands of faithful gathered in the cathedral this morning, on the liturgical feast of the city's patron, the cardinal announced that the saint's blood liquefied yet again.

The miracle of the liquefaction of St. Januarius' blood, contained in a sealed glass vial, can occur three times a year: on Sept. 19, his feast day; the first weekend of May; and Dec. 16, anniversary of the eruption of Vesuvius in 1631 which, according to tradition, ended after the faithful prayed to the city's patron.

Januarius, bishop of Benevento, was decapitated in 305.

Zenit article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:42 AM   

 
Publisher of Catholic magazine forced to resign

Deal Hudson, publisher of Crisis magazine and, until recently, a top Bush political adviser on outreach to Roman Catholics, will resign from the magazine at the end of the year after five of his most influential columnists pressured the board to get rid of him.

I received Deal's E-Letter last night and he indicated that he resigned of his own volition. Additional accusations are rumored to be about. I think he has done the right thing by resigning from Crisis Magazine.

Source
- posted by LRS @ 6:32 AM   

 
Bishop Gracida's editorial

There is only one thing that could be considered proportionate enough to justify a Catholic voting for a candidate who is known to be pro-abortion, and that is the protection of innocent human life. That might seem to be contradictory, but it is not.

- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Have you heard of this? I'm not sorry.net?

I'mNotSorry.net was created for the purpose of showing women that exercising their legal right to terminate their pregnancy is not the blood-spattered guilt trip so many make it out to be.

It is not intended to make women’s decisions for them, but to provide information to make the choice that will be best for them.

This site exists to tell women that it’s okay not to feel sad or ashamed after an abortion.

You are not a baby killer. You are not irresponsible. You are not selfish. And, above all, you are not evil.

The Evil One, the liar and the father of lies, the murderer from the beginning has enlisted the aid of others to speak with such confidence to humanity!

"The primary reason INS was created was that almost without exception all other story sites were full of regretful women. If a woman who had had a positive abortion experience attempted to post to one of these sites, they were turned down--even at the sites that claimed to be "neutral."

The site has posted many, many "stories" of "positive" abortion experiences - fulfilling the desire to murder the innocent - exercising a "right?" to deny God His rights and their children their rights to life.

The stories give an insight into the confusion and sin that enslaves these people. It is an example of the depravity that has taken over far too many people in this country and in others. Unfortunately, the millions of murdered children are not in a position (yet!) to tell of their "positive" experiences of being aborted.

Prepare yourself for anger and sorrow if you read these stories.

- posted by LRS @ 12:41 PM   

 
Send an email of thanks and support to Archbishop Myers
This email came in today at lunch time.

I am sharing it with you and, with Austin Ruse, ask that you send an email of thanks and gratitude to Archbishop John Myers for his recent article in the Wall Street Journal (Excerpts of his article were posted here yesterday). I sent my email to him minutes ago.

Dear Colleague,

We continue reporting on the vital question of whether Catholics may vote
for a pro-abortion politician. While specifically Catholic, this ongoing
analysis can be helpful to all people of faith in wrestling with this
question. We report today on a brave Archbishop and a conference held last
week in Washington DC.

Spread the word.

Yours sincerely,

Austin Ruse
President

Action item: I am providing a link to Archbishop John Myers Wall Street Journal column from Friday:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110005634

Read this wonderful teaching document and then send an email of thanks to this brave man who no doubt will come under attack from those on the left. You can email him at archbishopnewark@gmail.com This is vitally important. I am looking for 500 messages from all over the world and from all faiths. Do not hesitate. Do it now.
_____________________________________________________________________________
CULTURE & COSMOS
September 21, 2004 Volume 2, Number 7

Voting Questions Continue, Abortion Dominates

The question of whether or not Catholics may vote for pro-abortion candidates in light of a note by a prominent Vatican cardinal has continued to gain steam in the last week. One American Archbishop published a column in a national newspaper saying that in practical terms no issue exists today that would trump the issue of protecting the unborn. And at a major conference in Washington DC addressing the same question, several prominent Catholic scholars emphatically declared abortion and the protection of human embryos to be the preeminent issue for Catholics voters.

As reported in last week's Culture & Cosmos, many media outlets have reported that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in a recent memorandum addressed to US Bishops, gave approval for voting for pro-abortion candidates as long as the voter agreed with the candidate on other serious issues. The debate hinges on the proper definition of the phrase "proportionate reasons," a term used in the memorandum that has specific meaning within Catholic moral theology. Ratzinger, the Vatican's leading theologian, said any vote for a pro-abortion politician is cooperation in "evil." But a person who votes for a pro-abortion politician may receive communion if he voted that way for "proportionate reasons."

Newark Archbishop John J. Myers attempted to answer the question of what such proportionate reasons could be in a column published in Friday's edition of the Wall Street Journal. "[F]or a Catholic citizen to vote for a candidate who supports abortion and embryo-destructive research, one of the following circumstances would have to obtain: either (a) both candidates would have to be in favor of embryo killing on roughly an equal scale or (b) the candidate with the superior position on abortion and embryo-destructive research would have to be a supporter of objective evils of a gravity and magnitude beyond that of 1.3 million yearly abortions plus the killing that would take place if public funds were made available for embryo-destructive research. Frankly, it is hard to imagine circumstance (b) in a society such as ours."

Myers emphasized that abortion could not be spoken of in the same way as other social justice issues. "Certainly policies on welfare, national security, the war in Iraq, Social Security or taxes, taken singly or in any combination, do not provide a proportionate reason to vote for a pro-abortion candidate."

Ave Maria School of Law sponsored a gathering of scholars Thursday to address questions surrounding Catholic politicians and abortion at the National Press Club in Washington DC. With well over 300 in attendance, Father Richard John Neuhaus, the publisher and editor of First Things, made a pointed statement on the priority of abortion. "Is it permitted to vote for someone like a Kerry? Rome and the Bishops have been abundantly clear that abortion is not one of many issues. This is singular and it does have priority. . . . Any well instructed Catholic has had it repeatedly, insistently, persuasively, winsomely, lovingly put on his or her conscience that we have a moral obligation to positively protect innocent human life."

Princeton University professor Robert P. George, also speaking at the conference, offered an in-depth critique of attempts by Catholic politicians like former New York Governor Maria Cuomo to justify their pro-abortion position. George stressed that promoting the pro-life position is not an imposition of one's religion because it is a position derived from natural law. "The Church teaches that the right to life is a fundamental norm of justice and human rights that can be understood even apart from divine revelation and Church authority."

Copyright, 2004 --- Culture of Life Foundation. Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required.

Culture of Life Foundation
1413 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC 20005
Phone: (202) 289-2500
Fax: (202) 289-2502
E-mail: clf@culture-of-life.org
Website: http://www.culture-of-life.org

- posted by LRS @ 12:22 PM   

 
Canonist says bishops must deny Communion to dissident politicians

Franciscan Father John J. Coughlin, a civil and canon lawyer, said church law obliges bishops to deny Communion to politicians who obstinately refuse to budge from a public position upholding legal abortion despite warnings and efforts to educate them on why their view is contrary to church teaching.

But he said there may be good pastoral reasons for not doing that during an election campaign.

Father Coughlin, who teaches law at the University of Notre Dame, addressed the canon law aspects of the question Sept. 16 at a conference, "Public Witness/Public Scandal," which was devoted to exploring various aspects of the topic.

The question has led to a national controversy this year, sparked in large part by the candidacy of the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry, a Catholic who supports keeping abortion legal. The Ave Maria Law School and Our Sunday Visitor Foundation co-sponsored the daylong conference, held at Washington's National Press Club.

I wonder if the "good pastoral reasons" for refusing to obey Church law are akin to the "proportionate reasons" confusion of late? It would be interesting to hear or read what these "pastoral reasons" might be - Certainly, we have all witnessed the problems caused by many of those in authority who resort to using the term "pastoral reasons" to justify all sorts of questionable actions and inactions.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:10 AM   

 
"Catholics for a Free Choice" File IRS Complaint Against Catholic Answers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement of Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice:

Catholics for a Free Choice today filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against Catholic Answers, Inc. for blatant violation of its charitable status. CFFC called on the IRS to exercise its "authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of Catholic Answers and bring an action to enjoin this organization from again distributing this guide through national newspaper advertisements in October."

For those who have welcomed the clarity of the Catholic Answers' Voter's Guide, this should come as no surprise. For those of us who have helped to distribute the "Guide", this should be an impetus for us to do even more.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:52 AM   

 
Ad campaign challenges Catholics to vote their faith

Catholic Citizens of Illinois (CCI), a self-described orthodox Catholic organization, announced the forthcoming launch of a multi-state radio ad campaign designed to motivate faithful Catholics to the polls on November 2 to vote their faith in the upcoming election.

CCI, according to a statement released, characterized their forthcoming ad campaign as a response to "Pope John Paul II's call for Catholic men and women to become engaged in the public defense of the faith."

This is a commendable effort on the part of a Catholic group to use the media to educate the public, especially since a recent Post-Dispatch poll shows Kerry ahead in Illinois by 15 points.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:42 AM   

 
Vatican's new Latin dictionary

The Vatican has produced a new dictionary of modern words in Latin, including translations for words like hot pants, punk and Lambrusco wine.

The book has been produced by the Latinitas Foundation and is intended to provide updated vocabulary for theologians writing in Latin about current issues.

Link.

- posted by LRS @ 6:28 AM   

 
Another Article on the Diocese of Tucson
Diocese files for bankruptcy

The Catholic Diocese of Tucson proposed a bankruptcy reorganization plan on Monday that would compensate victims of sexual abuse while resulting in little or no disruption to the operations of its 75 parishes.

Arizona Republic
- posted by LRS @ 6:25 AM   

 
Pray for the soul of Eugene Armstrong
and for his family and friends.

I pray also that the brutal animals committing these atrocities will be found and summarily eliminated from the face of the earth.

U.S. officials confirmed that Armstrong, who was abducted Thursday, had been brutally murdered, saying they found his body and identified his remains.

The horrific video shows a bound and blindfolded Armstrong sobbing and rocking while kneeling on the floor surrounded by five masked gunmen.

The terrorist in the middle — whose voice sounds like Zarqawi's, according to some analysts — reads a diatribe in which he calls President Bush a "Christian dog" and castigates the United States about its refusal to release Iraqi women from jails.

Then the masked madman rushes Armstrong from behind, pulls out a knife and bellows, "Since you didn't release our sisters, here's the first infidel."

The killer then begins slicing off Armstrong's head, while the victim gasps and blood spurts from his neck. When the unspeakable act is finished, the killer holds up the severed head and places it on Armstrong's body.

Source.

We can be certain that sooner or later justice will prevail.
- posted by LRS @ 5:41 AM   

 
Diocese of Tucson Files for Bankruptcy

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson (search) filed for bankruptcy protection Monday under the weight of debt and pending litigation from clerical sex abuse cases.

The diocese is only the second in the nation to seek the protection of a bankruptcy court in the wake of extensive and continuing legal action stemming from sexual abuse of children by parish priests.

The Portland (Ore.) Archdiocese was the first when it filed July 6.

The decision will subject the Tucson Diocese's financial operations to court scrutiny for the first time, and potentially open the way for non-church interference.

Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas (search) had signaled his intent in June, telling parishioners in a letter that bankruptcy protection appeared to be the only option remaining for the diocese, which serves some 350,000 Catholics in 75 parishes.

FoxNews
Another one...I hope this is a mistake.
- posted by LRS @ 10:18 PM   

 
Updated Info on the Nov 9 Archbishop Burke Dinner & Talk
The topic of Archbishop Burke's talk will be:

“Catholic Moral Teaching and the Common Good”.

More information (including the menu) is here.

You may want to make reservations early so that you don't miss this event with one of the more courageous bishops of the U.S.



- posted by LRS @ 10:09 PM   

 
On EWTN - Election 2004: The Catholic Vote
This Friday at 9:00pm CST EWTN will air the first show of this six-week series.

Join EWTN for the six weeks prior to the 2004 Presidential election, as this series walks you through issues of voter responsibility.

Along with special guests, Father Frank Pavone explains what the Church teaches and includes information as to recent documents issued by the U.S. Bishops and the Vatican, the correct understanding of Church and State, what faithful citizenship encompasses and what to expect from our elected officials.

The series also talks about what clergy and laypeople can do to stay involved in the process, and the critical impact of this year's national election on public policy to Supreme Court nominees.

See this link for additional times and information.
- posted by LRS @ 5:42 PM   

 
Archbishop John Myers tells us about "Proportionate Reasons"
Fr. Greeley and any others who misconstrue the Church's teaching regarding those who support the genocidal murder of innocent children should take note - this is a teaching moment:

What are "proportionate reasons"? To consider that question, we must first repeat the teaching of the church: The direct killing of innocent human beings at any stage of development, including the embryonic and fetal, is homicidal, gravely sinful and always profoundly wrong. Then we must consider the scope of the evil of abortion today in our country. America suffers 1.3 million abortions each year--a tragedy of epic proportions. Moreover, many supporters of abortion propose making the situation even worse by creating a publicly funded industry in which tens of thousands of human lives are produced each year for the purpose of being "sacrificed" in biomedical research.

Now we get to the crux of the matter, which is explained in easy to understand terms (at least for those whose minds have not yet been clouded):

Thus for a Catholic citizen to vote for a candidate who supports abortion and embryo-destructive research, one of the following circumstances would have to obtain: either

(a) both candidates would have to be in favor of embryo killing on roughly an equal scale or

(b) the candidate with the superior position on abortion and embryo-destructive research would have to be a supporter of objective evils of a gravity and magnitude beyond that of 1.3 million yearly abortions plus the killing that would take place if public funds were made available for embryo-destructive research.

Now lest those of Catholic Action Network, and other such persuasions still not understand, Archbishop Myers will try and make it even more clear:

Certainly policies on welfare, national security, the war in Iraq, Social Security or taxes, taken singly or in any combination, do not provide a proportionate reason to vote for a pro-abortion candidate.

Source


- posted by LRS @ 6:49 AM   

 
Many priests in St. Louis Archdiocese on Retreat
This week, a number of priests will attending a retreat with Archbishop Burke. Please pray for them that they will have a rewarding and spiritual retreat.
- posted by LRS @ 6:35 AM   

 
As if most of us didn't already suspect this...

Annulment Reform Needed, Vatican Official Says

Tribunals in some countries (notably the United States and Canada) are quick to provide annulments on uncertain grounds, while in other countries the faithful find it difficult to pursue even clear-cut cases of nullity. That was the testimony of Joaquin Llobel, a canon-law instructor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and a member of the tribunal for the Apostolic Signatura.

- posted by LRS @ 6:28 AM   

 
DVD Sales of “The Passion” Enrage Critics....

...about 100 theologians have now signed a statement condemning the film for being anti-Semitic.

Don't know who "they" are yet but now Friday's article in the St. Louis Review is starting to make to sense...

Commenting on this is Catholic League president William Donohue:

“The arrogance of the theologians who hate this movie is unsurpassed. Consider the comment, ‘we also acknowledge that many who see the film are honestly unaware of its anti-Jewish elements.’ Read: many who like the movie are just too dumb to pick up on its bigoted elements. But fear not, to the rescue come the learned ones.

Pretty close to how I felt after reading Fr. Heier's article...
- posted by LRS @ 10:51 PM   

 
Fr John Perricone Dinner and Talk
We attended the Fr. Perricone Dinner and Talk this evening. To begin Fr. Perricone looks just like he did when he did his series on EWTN, "The Most Glorious Act, Understanding the Mass".

Before Fr. Perricone's talk on "Put Not Your Faith in Princes", we were blessed to have Fr Daniel Oppenheimer, Prior of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, deliver an update on what has transpired since last Sunday. They have found a place of residence in west St. Louis county on some acreage owned by the Archdiocese. They will not be too distant from those in the St. Charles county area and they intend to get moving immediately. More information will be forthcoming soon.

Fr. Perricone gave a brilliant talk on the Catholic faith, the faithful, politics, government, our responsibilities, the culture, and so forth. He quoted from several people, including Pope Leo XIII. We are reminded that we are to tranform our society and the world and not be tranformed by the forces of evil which are attempting to usurp anything and everything, including the Church. It was a powerful talk!

I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to be a student of his - his humor, knowledge, and fidelity all combine to make listening to him teach a really enjoyable and learning experience. (I imagine the same can be said of other local priests here in St. Louis (like Fr. Eugene Morris and Fr. Michael Witt) whose radio talks are indeed learning experiences and wonderfully presented)

I did not take notes, understanding that a CD will be made available of the talk in a week or so. I will let anyone interested know when it is finished.
- posted by LRS @ 10:23 PM   

 
Louisiana voters approve amendment protecting marriage
People are speaking out againt activist judges...

With 99% of precincts reporting, the amendment was winning approval with 78% of the vote, and support for it was evident statewide. Only in New Orleans, home to a politically strong gay community, was the race relatively close, and even there the amendment was winning passage. Turnout statewide appeared to be about 27% of Louisiana's 2.8 million voters, somewhat low for a state election.

It looks like the people of Louisiana knew exactly what they needed to do. They didn't buy this argument, either:

Louisiana already has a law stating that marriage can be only between a man and woman.

Without a constitutional amendment, a state is left wide open to judicial tyranny...

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 10:05 PM   

 
Sept 19- Before the Beauty of God.

The great painter Ingres gave his pupils this precious counsel, "Study beauty only on your knees."

Thus before the least objects possessing aesthetic value, this artist could have one adopt an attitude of prayer.

Was he wrong? What are the infintesimal drops of beauty that conceal realities here below if not reflections of God? In the same manner that the sun is reflected in a drop of dew, God is often manifested in a mere nothing to the soul who knows how to see Him.
What is to be said then, of the attitude one should have in contemplating God Himself? Assuredly Infinite Beauty does not reveal Itself to us here below without veils. God permits us to contact Him only through faith; earth is not the place to see Him face to face. But does not faith, if it is lively, disclose many things to me? What accounts for its lack of vitality in me if not my negligent spirit of adoration that has become routine, weak in its desire to possess its Adorable Master?

Must there not be more respect in my prayer, not so much an exterior respect perhaps as an interior effort to keep myself in recollection, rich in possession and in conquering love? Am I not too often inert, drowsy, without a living will? Young artists were counseled to kneel to study the beauties here below, and I dare to be so remiss in my adoration before the Beauty of the Most High?

"My God I believe that You are Infinite Beauty, that You deserve the most respectful adoration. Pardon my negligences in posture at prayer; give me a more active faith, a more ardent and more vital comprehension of what both the virtue of religion and my title of religious demand. If there is a place or a moment when I ought to merit this beautiful title in its fullness, it is when I am invited to become more closely united to You in prayer. Make of my prayers true prayers; of my devotion, true adoration; of my poor efforts to unite myself with You, a love that in its ever increasing veneration and fidelity is truly religious."

from the book Meditations for Religious
by Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J.
- posted by LRS @ 12:28 PM   

 
16th Sunday after Pentecost-Instruction on Keeping Sunday Holy

Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath-day? (Luke XIV. 3.)

Why did Christ put this question?

Because the Jews, particularly the Pharisees, were so very superstitious in keeping the Sabbath, they would not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, while He healed on the Sabbath, which was really a good work. But, if the Jews were so conscientious, through superstition and hypocrisy, and considered the performing of an external good work on this day as a sin, some Christians, on the contrary, blinded by avarice and worldly pleasure, place themselves heedlessly, nay, insolently above the commandment to observe the Sabbath, and do not consider those things as wrong which are sometimes very grievous sins.

Consider, my dear Christian, you serve your body the whole week, you use all your powers for temporal business, to support yourself and your family, and God blesses you, if you work with a good intention. Now God chose one day in the week, Sunday, and in the year several other holidays, which you should devote to His service and the salvation of your soul; is it not, therefore, the greatest ingratitude to steal these days from God and your soul, and employ them to gain a transient good, or to indulge in vain, sinful pleasures? At certain times man gives rest to irrational animals, and you give the powers of your body and soul none of the rest they would and should find in quiet devotion, in prayer and meditation, in attending divine service, in receiving the holy Sacraments, &c. If you inquire whence come these shameful violations of Sundays and holidays, you will find that there is no other reason than love of gain and avarice, sinful love of pleasure, and often complete want of faith and confidence in God's providence. We wish to become rich by all means, and we do not reflect that. this will not happen without the blessing of God, and that wealth is a net, in which thousands entangle themselves to their eternal, perdition. We wish to live merrily and enjoy ourselves, but we do not consider that our life is only a time of penance, to attain that eternally blissful rest, of which Sunday is an emblem. We spend Sundays and holydays in idleness, vain conversations, buying and selling, servile work, or in still worse things, without experiencing the slightest scruple. But God will cover the violators of His sacred days with confusion and shame, (Malach. II. 3.) and permit many temporal evils to come upon them, as proved by daily experience. The blessing of God can never rest upon those who never care for it, but rather make themselves unworthy to receive it, by violating days consecrated to God. Let this be a warning to you.

PRAYER: O good Saviour! how manifest are meekness, and wisdom in all Thy words and actions! O, grant, that we may regulate all our actions in such a manner, that they may be acceptable to Thee and tend to the edification of our neighbor. Give us the grace to employ all the days, consecrated to Thee, for Thy honor and our salvation, that we may never raise ourselves above others, but follow Thee in all humility.

- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
Seminar examines merits of denying Communion to dissident politicians

Father Richard John Neuhaus said Catholic politicians who persist in supporting legalized abortion should be denied Communion. Monika K. Hellwig said that tactic would contribute to the misperception that abortion is a "Catholic issue" when it should be an issue with all candidates.

This would have been an interesting seminar, especially if Monica Hellwig was sharing the podium with Fr. Neuhaus.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 7:55 PM   

 
Sept 18-Love's Guarantee

The guarantee of love is fidelity. If you keep my commandments, said Our Lord, you will abide in my love. Of course, this does not refer to the Ten Commandments only, but to all of the desires of the Good Master. It is a moot question in the spiritual life whether God does or does not give unfailingly the graces of contemplation to a soul that is constantly generous. One author wrote, taking sides in the affirmative: "The perfect life equals the mystical life." There are others who refuse to agree; for them perfection depends not on what one receives but on what one gives. The perfect life, in their opinion, which must seem reasonable to anyone, equals the faithful life.

There is a totality of gift only when the soul refuses God nothing. Where there is a totality of gift, in an earnest and constant manner, there is sanctity-whether God accords or not, as reward for the efforts realized, the free graces of higher prayer or of a more sensible union.

Consequently if God gives me, periodically or habitually, lights or graces which in no way resemble my former states, I must not conclude that I am a saint. God sometimes gives choice grades to very imperfect souls. On the other hand, if God lets me seek Him gropingly in the night, without any of the lights or consolations of Thabor, I must not infer that God loves me less or that I am less faithful, but only that the earth is the earth; that in this land here below I must expect to seek God gropingly, because I shall have eternity for contemplation in light without shadows, and in happiness without alloy.

Perfection equals fidelity. Give me the grace, O my God, to carry fidelity as far as you want me to.

from the book Meditations for Religious
by Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J
- posted by LRS @ 11:48 AM   

 
'Therese' movie to open Oct. 1 in St. Louis area

"Thérèse," the new film about St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, will open in St. Louis on Friday, Oct. 1, at the AMC West Olive 16 in Creve Coeur.

Near Review press time, it was announced "Thérèse" also will open on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Wehrenberg Des Peres 14, Interstate 270 and Manchester Road.

Catholics in the St. Louis Archdiocese are being urged to support the independent film, the work of Catholic filmmaker Leonardo Defilippis and Luke Films. The 90-minute film tells the story of St. Thérèse and her "little way" of serving God, which in her short life inspired millions.

"It is my hope that as many people as possible will see ‘Thérèse,’" said Archbishop Burke this week.

Please read this article for additional information for ticket sales and group purchases.

BTW, the website for the Thérèse movie is here.

- posted by LRS @ 1:20 AM   

 
A local "review" of "The Passion"...months later
I read this "critique" of Mel Gibson's "The Pasion of the Christ" in the St. Louis Review, our archdiocesan newspaper, today. I find it difficult to understand why the Review would waste valuable space with this "review" when much better critiques have been available for months.

I. . .believe that the film has major historical and theological flaws that should not be ignored.

[M]any more people will [now] have the opportunity to see it [since it's release on DVD].

The film also may find its way into either adult or high school catechesis. This troubles me because Gibson’s version of the passion is not as consistent with Church teaching as many think.

So what do we see next? Not a critique of the film but an ad hominem directed toward Mel Gibson:

My first reservation concerns Gibson himself.

...Catholics should be aware, despite media misconceptions, that Gibson is not a Roman Catholic.

So to whom does the reviewer go to get the "facts"?

Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles has said Gibson has no active relationship to the archdiocese where he lives...

The cardinal emphasized that if one denies the Second Vatican Council, as Gibson does, he is denying the Church’s magisterium.

Yes, the "reviewer" relies on a stalwart bastion of orthodoxy for his attack.

I have never heard Mel Gibson deny the Second Vatican Council (how could he? It did happen). I suspect what he means is that Mel Gibson has denied the teachings of the council. I have not heard him do this explicitly, nor have I seen proof of him doing this although I have heard it discussed many times in many places. Nevertheless, this has little to do with the movie itself which is what the subject matter purportedly concerns. But no, after attacking Gibson, we get to the movie.

[Gibson] has produced a filmed version of the Passion Play genre.

Unfortunately because these works compress elements of the four Gospels, they obscure the theological integrity of each evangelist.

And the point is what? Gibson had a two hour window in which to do his work.

Also because the Passion Play is a drama, it must include antagonists.

As does everyday life itself. Again, the point being what?....Here it comes, the fear of stirring up a wave of antisemitism.

If seen outside its historical and biblical context, this conflict has led to certain anti-Jewish feelings.

I don’t believe Gibson set out to make an anti-Semitic film.

Implying what? Theat even though he may not have set out to do it, that this is what happened? Lord, please have mercy on us!

Anyway, I sense a "BUT" coming on...

But he wasn’t guided by Vatican II’s clear teaching ("Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions") and modern Catholic biblical scholarship.

OK, I think I get it...he did not consult ecumenical bureaucrats at the USCCB or the Higher-Critical biblical 'scholars'. Therefore, the movie is full of error. He is incapable of understanding certain biblical passages, just as most Catholics are without the 'guidance' of those blessed with this recently discovered knowledge. It's certainly a miracle that the Fathers and Doctors and Saints of the Church were able to make it without these 'scholars'.

Having said this, the "reviewer" then proceeds to question all other film reviewers that did not use the document, "Criteria for the Evaluation of Dramatizations of the Passion" for their reviews.

I find it strange that very few evaluated the film by the standards given by our own U.S. Catholic bishops in the 1988 document.

This document further reminds us that Judaism at the time of Jesus was a rich and complex group of various movements such as the Pharisees and Sadducees.

This is never shown in the film. All we see are a large group of shouting, angry people, who with few exceptions, are bullied by the high priest and temple leaders.

This is not the film I saw. I witnessed a complex mix of different attitudes of the people in the film. Some were angry, some saddened, some indifferent...

The most glaring departure from history in the film is its portrayal of Pontius Pilate. The Gospels offer conflicting views of him, yet we know from history that he was a brutal tyrant who wouldn’t have hesitated to crucify another Jew.

Something is wrong with this picture. While there was certainly no love lost between Pilate and the Jews, it is clear from Scripture that Pilate tried at least twice to spare our Lord's life. Pilate, while wanting to release Jesus, cowered and gave in to the crowd only when he was accused of being "no friend of Caesar's". His reluctance was demonstrated by the fact that he even "washed his hands" to indicate that he was innocent of Jesus' blood, and relented thus satisfying the crowd's thirst for blood and protecting his career and life. This, I believe, happens to be scripturally factual, modern critical biblical scholarship notwithstanding.

We who have been critical because of problematic theological and historical concerns with "The Passion of the Christ" have to acknowledge that those inspired by it had a far different experience.

Indeed, some of us were moved to tears because of our sins and what our sins have done to our Lord who suffered and died out of love for us.

I cannot understand how any Christian could not be so moved to repentance after visualizing what our Lord endured.

Thus I encourage those who would watch or use the movie to proceed with caution.

Caution, indeed! If it were left to people like this, we would have only sanitized versions of the Passion, versions which do little or nothing to bring us to conversion.

Or, before you see the movie, read the book published by our own bishops, "The Bible, the Jews and the Death of Jesus: A Collection of Catholic Documents."

Many bishops recommended that we see the movie. However, I don't recall many of them recommending the book, which purportedly was published out of fear of a rise of antisemitism stemming from the movie.

Or better yet, stick with the Gospels.

Wouldn't we need a "modern Catholic biblical scholar" to tell us how to understand it?

Enjoy the article here.
- posted by LRS @ 1:13 AM   

 
Archbishop Flynn does not support withholding Holy Communion to any Catholic

I do not believe that it is my responsibility or anyone else’s responsibility to pass judgment on Catholics as they proceed to the Communion table.

Somehow this does not square with what the Holy See has stated: "The reception of the Body of Christ when one is publicly unworthy constitutes an objective harm" to the Church and to the faithful who obey it, says a declaration issued by the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.

Eucharist extends our participation as baptized Catholics and invites us to discipleship. We are invited to the table to join with the community, to give thanks, to be nourished, to be challenged in our discipleship and then sent forth to be disciples. This discipleship requires that we constantly develop a more profound grasp of our faith, that we be attentive to the direction of the church and that we play a part in providing leadership in the world.

One of my pet peeves is seeing or hearing the word "Eucharist" used without the definite article "The" as in the case above...I believe it tells much of the person who speaks or writes in this manner. It reminds me of those who also prefer to say "Church" rather than "The Church"...

Perhaps, more prayers are needed for the Archbishop and others who refuse to listen to the Holy Father (as in Ecclesia de Eucharistia) in this regard, and to the counsel of Cardinal Ratzinger. The greater scandal, it seems, comes from bishops who fail to obey directives from the Holy See.

The Archbishop's article is here.

*** UPDATED ***

I had forgotten this, but pro-abortion politicians are not the only people that are welcomed to commit scandal and sacrilege (objectively) by receiving Holy Communion:

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

So what's "extreme"?
- posted by LRS @ 12:06 AM   

 
Abp. Burke responds to Polish parish (St. Stanislaus Kostka)

Archbishop Raymond Burke has responded to concerns of members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish who oppose a restructuring plan by submitting and making modifications to a statement of commitment to the parish.

A spokesman for the parish board of directors said Sept. 14 that the board voted against the Archbishop’s latest proposal. The reason, Roger Krasnicki said, was because "they felt there were no civilly enforceable provisions."

Maybe, maybe not...But without a priest, that point is probably moot.

Krasnicki added that the board asked their attorney to resume discussions with Huger. "We still want to keep the door open," he said.

Krasnicki said the board wants a peaceful resolution.

Board chairman Bill Bialczak wrote that parish members "are strong Roman Catholics who respect the hierarchy of the Church.

However, we are strong believers to adhere to things that we feel are just. We have great difficulties in trying to undo customs that have prevailed for over 100 years."

Sometimes, we must do things which we find extremely difficult especially if we have been become accustomed to something else, even if was wrong.

Respect for the hierarchy of the Church should also include obedience to the hierarchy, even in matters which may be contrary to habit or custom, and when Church law particularly requires it.

The link also includes the Statement of Commitment by Archbishop Burke to the Parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church which demonstrates his desire to see this situation resolved for the benefit of the parish and the Church.

The article is here.
- posted by LRS @ 8:31 PM   

 
Archbishop Harry Flynn, what sayest thou?

What would Archbishop Flynn do if pro-abortion Senator Ted Kennedy or Senator John Kerry came up to him for the Eucharist, and just weeks before Archbishop Burke, Archbishop Donohue, Bishop Vasa, Bishop Baker, Bishop Jugis and Bishop Bruskewitz had all denied Kerry the Eucharist, as they said they would do?

Would Archbishop Flynn remain 'divided' from these six fellow Bishops and 'do his own thing?' Would he want to obey Divine Law and remain 'united' with these six fellow members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), a conference to which he belongs?

The six bishops who have declared they would deny the Eucharist to persons who obstinately persist in their grave manifest sin are neither quacks nor schismatic, but are faithful magisterial Bishops, members of the USCCB.

The Archbishop speaks of unity, but he causes disunity by giving the impression of a false unity.

Dear Archbishop Flynn, what saith thou of thyself?

This is from Barbara Kralis' article which can be read here. It is, as her articles normally are, very good and to the point.
- posted by LRS @ 12:35 PM   

 
A Move to Censure Archbishop Burke?

A move at the Denver meeting to censure St. Louis Archbishop Raymond L. Burke — who in February ordered Mr. Kerry not to receive Communion in his diocese because of his pro-choice stance — was defeated "overwhelmingly," Rev. Richard J. Neuhaus, editor of First Things magazine, said.

Who was the individual who proposed this? What a despicable act of cowardice. This is first I have heard of this.

The bishops were all set to lay down the law to politicians, he added, until they heard a speech from Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. He summarized a letter from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican's chief doctrinal watchdog, on whether priests should refuse Communion to pro-choice politicians.

They were? Some perhaps, but others, it seems, would rather do anything to avoid taking the high road and following the directives of the Holy See.

A bishop familiar with the meeting told The Washington Times that Cardinal McCarrick did not pass out copies of the letter. "Had the letter from Cardinal Ratzinger been candidly shared with the bishops," Father Neuhaus said, "which was not done but which he intended it should be ... the statement would have been more lucid, more firm, more clear."

Nothing new here...this is a given, I would hope.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:15 AM   

 
St. Stanislaus update (Letter to the Editor -Post Dispatch)

Parish dispute

Your Sept. 11 article does not accurately describe the actual situation at St. Stanislaus Kostka parish. It is the board of directors, not parishioners, who rejected Archbishop Raymond Burke's proposal.

The article implies a unilateral support of parishioners for the board of directors, whose actions are self-serving and are not in the best interests of the Polish community. Many parishioners who support the archdiocese's proposal were not notified by the board about the meeting and consequently were not given an opportunity to voice their opinion.

Jarek Czernikiewicz
St. Louis

Mr. Czernikiewicz is taking a bold step in revealing this. He will probably be ridiculed by the board for his efforts.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:25 AM   

 
Archbishop Donghue: On Conscientious Voting
The Most Reverend John F. Donoghue, Archbishop of Atlanta, has issued a letter to the faithful of the diocese regarding how to vote as a Catholic with an informed conscience:

I can teach you, on behalf of the Church, the manner in which you must decide for whom to vote, and I hope that in this letter I have given you clear and helpful instruction.

"Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church." (CCC #1783-1785)

Letter here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:19 AM   

 
Bishop Wuerl: Prepare for fewer priests

Bishop Donald Wuerl is calling on the people of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to prepare for a future with fewer priests.

"Fewer priests does not mean less ministry," Wuerl wrote in a pastoral letter in this week's Pittsburgh Catholic.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 5:55 AM   

 
Sept 17-Stigmata

St. Francis of Assisi could not think of the Passion without weeping. God, to reward him for the ardor of his love, imprinted in his hands and feet and side the marks of the nails and of the lance.

These are special graces. There is no question at all of my aspiring to them.

But can I not, on the feast day of the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, examine myself on my love of Jesus Crucified?

Do I love to contemplate my good Master dying on the Cross? I was given a crucifix on the day of my profession, do I use it? Do I look at it often? Does it make Calvary and the painful Maryrdom of my Savior live for me again?

It is not merely a question of compassionating Jesus, but of reproducing my Savior. And without a doubt it will not be through nails, or sword thrust, or visible imprints in my flesh, that I reproduce my Savior crucified. It will depend rather upon my interior generosity, my aptitude of renunciation through love. How generous am I?

The stigmata of Francis were apparent; mine are entirely interior; but there is no need for anyone to see them; it is much better that they remain hidden from all. God alone knows them. They must, however, exist; they must be deeply imprinted. I am too easily contented with transports; my achievements do not correspond to them, not through disloyalty, but rather through weakness. I must learn to study Jesus Crucified, to be strong. The Master that I serve did not spare Himself at all. Forward, then, humbly but valiantly.

Today, particularly, I will refuse nothing to God, for love of my Savior on the Cross.

from the book Meditations for Religious
by Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J.

- posted by LRS @ 3:21 AM   

 
Why won't the Catholic bishops solve the 'gay priest problem?

The solution to that problem is simple and self-evident, according to Karl Keating, a lucid and sensible thinker if ever there was one:

"1. If a priest is ‘gay’ — living a homosexual lifestyle — he should be removed from ministry immediately….

2. If a priest is homosexual but not ‘gay’ — that is, if he is living chastely — let him continue in ministry until normal retirement.

3. Exclude from seminary formation and ordination any homosexual, whether ‘gay’ or chaste…. The latter should not sign up for ‘guy-only’ work that will have him living with other men (thus putting him into near occasions of sin)…. He should be encouraged to serve the Church in other ways…. If the priesthood in this country were healthy, little or no harm would come from ordaining chaste homosexuals whose homosexuality is kept private. But we do not live in ordinary times."

Of course, this suggestion follows the "KISS" principle (Keep it simple, Stupid) so there must be a problem with it. Perhaps, it needs more "bureaucracy" - perhaps a "task force" to study it for a few years. Maybe it is not "transparent" enough...

I can still see as if it were yesterday, Bishop Bruskewitz at the Bishops' meeting in Dallas asking for a special study of how homosexuality and dissent from Church teachings are a significant factor in the sexual abuse scandal - yet his intervention was voted down....Why?

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 2:16 AM   

 
This Sunday is Stewardship Awareness Sunday
And this is the fourth year.

In truth, stewardship is the recognition of God in our lives, who is the source of all that we are and have. Recognizing God, we naturally place Him first in our lives and, therefore, place all of the many good gifts, which He has given us, at His service for the sake of others. Practicing stewardship, we acknowledge that the gifts which we enjoy are not ours to keep but to use in giving glory to God and in working for the salvation of the world. When we put God first in our lives, we consider His plan for us and our world in every decision we make, including budgetary and financial decisions. Putting God first in our lives means an active concern to be a co-worker with God in the care of the world and in the salvation of our fellow man. It means wanting to do God’s will in all things and to please Him by all our thoughts, words and actions.

Archbishop Burke's article is here.


- posted by LRS @ 1:39 AM   

 
Let us pray that this is not really true.
Catholic hospitals commit - and U.S. Bishops condone - live birth abortion

*** Updated 9/16

Aparrently there may have been a mischaracterization or misunderstanding of sorts about this story...You can read about it here.

*** Updated again 9/17 (and date changed from 9/15)

The story is apparently true...As noted in the above link comments:

Tom Szyszkiewicz here. A number of points to make.

1) The reason I wrote the articles was because the fact that Catholic hospitals are doing what they term early induction for fetuses with anomalies incompatible with life (EIFWAIL--my acronym) is disgusting. And it is morally abhorrent, in my opinion, that they are hiding behind certain of the USCCB’s Ethical & Religious Directives to justify their behavior. However, as a reporter, I did not make that opinion known in my stories.

2) I wrote two news pieces on this for the National Catholic Register and Our Sunday Visitor. Besides some slight attention in the Heart, Mind & Strength blog and a link in Jeff Ziegler’s morning e-mail, they were virtually ignored, which is not exactly what I was hoping for. Jill Stanek wrote an opinion column on my two news pieces. Suddenly the issue is gaining attention. That’s what I had hoped for.

3) As stated in #2, Jill wrote a column. Columns, if I’m not mistaken, are meant to grab attention and to state opinions. Jill could say things in a column I was not able to say in a news piece. I had people telling me that I should come right out and state that this is abortion and the bishops were waffling. I refused as what I wrote was news, not opinion. It is not that I didn’t believe it, but that I did not see a place for it in my pieces. Jill, however, was perfectly free to do so in a column. Was she accurate? From what I have learned in all the time I’ve been dealing with this story (over a year now), yes.

4) The coverage that Domenico mentioned with which I was unhappy was that provided by LifeSite News, not Jill’s column. Their story on the column claims that Jill & I said the hospitals were delivering the children and then killing them. Neither of us ever said that.

Jill Stanek's article is also here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:04 AM   

 
Catholic Answers, "This Rock" magazine online
Here:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2004/2004_ann.asp

- posted by LRS @ 8:36 PM   

 
Sept 16-Cloistered

Speaking of religious who do not practice their Rule, but who follow from afar their ideal of life, St. Francis de Sales makes this comment: "Cloistered persons without a doubt, but no religious at all."

Fr. Lallemant, speaking to some young priests of the Society of Jesus, used a similar comparison, exhorting them not to be mere shadows of religious, that is, men in soutanes, whose souls are not wholly given to God, who are more like walking ghosts than true saints endeavoring to translate into their life the ideal of vocation.

Let me examine myself seriously: I am someone in the monastery; my name is on a door, or my number on a lingerie shelf; I walk through the halls as a figure in regulation dress. But these are merely appearances. In reality what am I? If at this moment I should appear before the Tribunal of God, what judgment would be passed upon me? In the community I can still keep up appearances, although more than one soul of keen insight must have seen through my life for some time. In any case, before God I am exactly what I am; and again, what am I?

What are the most glaring defects of my life? What observations are emphasized for my benefit in retreats? What faults am I asked to correct? What predominating cowardice does my examen reveal to me?

I must reflect, I must change, and to have the courage for this, I must pray much.

from the book Meditations for Religious
by Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J.

- posted by LRS @ 6:38 PM   

 
Please keep EWTN, others in your prayers.
I received notice that EWTN's offices are closing today & tomorrow.

Prayers are requested that the hurricane does not damage their facilities and cause any life to perish.

That was a request from Catholic radio station WRYT this morning.

Thanks to Marc for the update.

- posted by LRS @ 11:21 AM   

 
More Letters to the RFT re: Abp. Burke & the Church

"Immaculate" Reception
A bad match for St. Louis: This is just a quickie fan letter to tell you how much I value your courageous investigative journalism. Malcolm Gay's "Immaculate Deception" [August 25] provided a fascinating and damning view of Archbishop Burke's highhandedness. We in St. Louis know of it because of the political bombs he has lobbed against politicians who support reproductive choice, and because of his insensitive treatment of St. Stanislaus parishioners.

While I am not really surprised by what Gay discovered in La Crosse -- a church hierarchy that stonewalled abuse investigations and priests who left the priesthood because they could not in good conscience serve under Raymond Burke -- still his stories affected me viscerally. Burke's leadership style is so at odds with our city's temperament. I had often wondered why in the world St. Louis became afflicted with this man. And a funny thing: Only one day after your story appeared, the Post-Dispatch reported that the archdiocese had just settled eighteen abuse cases. Hmmm, could there be a connection? Maybe Burke's hardball ways made him the "perfect candidate" for St. Louis!

Thanks again for a terrific job.
Anne Bader
Frontenac

An eye opener: Thank you so much for all the time and trouble that you went through to put this amazing article together and for having the courage to print it. It is time that we all opened our eyes and see what is happening in the way the Catholic Church is being operated. There are some very wonderful priests and they certainly deserve credit for the work they do, but it is long past time that we clean up the running of the church and bring it back to what Christ wants.
Mary Ellen Kruger
Webster Groves

Lies and the lying liars who tell them: Apparently the "dirty little secret" that followed Archbishop Raymond Burke to St. Louis is that he is loath to blindly accept the validity of decades-old allegations from accusers who have no evidence to substantiate their claims. The lawyers for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests would of course prefer that they not be challenged to prove any of these charges and that the archdiocese simply open the checkbook.

The American bishops' imprudent methods in the past of attempting to keep a lid on the scandal with hush money have damaged their credibility. Now victims'-support groups are counting on the attitude that when an accusation is made there should be no other alternative than to believe everything the claimant says. The large settlements made in the Boston archdiocese have cemented the tactic of "hitting the jackpot" by threatening litigation.

No one disputes that child abuse is a terrible crime, but no crime is so terrible that someone wouldn't lie about it for a payoff.
George Haberberger
Imperial


Ken Lay has nothing on Raymond Burke: The article about Archbishop Burke should be published in every Catholic Church bulletin. His handling of victims of clergy sexual abuse would put a corrupt corporate executive to shame. He is supposed to be the good shepherd leading his flock to a moral and Christ-like life and instead he is practicing slimy legal tactics.

I hope this article will encourage Catholics to write the archbishop and demand that he reach out to victims and work to protect all the children in this diocese.
Barbara Doris
St. Louis


Raymond Burke -- not to be trusted: Thank you for the article about Archbishop Burke, who I considered from one look into his eyes as someone who couldn't be trusted. Of course, I knew about him prior to his arrival in St. Louis from my relatives in Wisconsin. I am a supporter of the SaveSt.Stans effort and attend prayer services each Sunday. I recently moved to rural De Soto from St. Louis and almost missed this issue of RFT because of infrequent visits to my favorite saloon.

Once again, congratulations on this information and don't let up exposing the criminal activities of this man. He is in the words of the times "an extremist," but his views are distorted and to effectuate his desires, he twists the meaning of the rules of the church to meet his end results. I hope this article will help divert his attentions from St. Stans.
Frank Medved
De Soto

The cold dead heart of the church: My compliments to the Riverfront Times and especially to Malcolm Gay for his extremely well-written and informative piece, which exposes, in graphic detail, the "deficiencies," not only among the hierarchy of the Diocese of La Crosse, but in the Wisconsin state house as well.

I do however, disagree with Peter Isely's statement that "[l]oyalty to the church is of the highest order" for these men, whom I prefer to call the anointed yet tarnished princes of the church. From East Coast to West Coast, and everywhere in between, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States are only concerned with the loyalty they owe to themselves and to each other. These lofty positions to which they have risen and the power that comes with those positions have made them lose sight of why they entered into holy orders in the first place: to serve God, to serve His people, to serve His church. There is no love of God or fellowship of the Holy Spirit present in their treatment of these brokenhearted, broken-spirited children of the church who have been raped in body, mind and soul. In truth, these "men of God" have only proven how cold and dead the heart of Holy Mother Church really is.

Anyone who has read the Report of the National Review Board is aware of that now-famous quote: "The smoke of Satan was allowed to enter the Church." With this quote in mind, we can only wonder: What master does the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church really serve? Can the church be saved? Do the laity have strength and courage enough to take back their church?

Time, as they say, will tell.
Victoria Martin
Santa Monica, California

More on Mason: I was a member of the Roncalli Newman Center when Jim Mason joined us. We found out about his "ways" through the media when he was charged with third-degree sexual assault. Truly a sorry time. I am happy to see this in print.

He was a troublesome man and I can't believe he is still on the La Crosse Diocesan payroll. 'Tis a pity. This man was charming and smart but got to be a very disturbed man. I hope he is kept away or stays away from underage or vulnerable people. Thanks for listening.
Sarah Hundt
La Crosse, Wisconsin

Scapegoating the Catholics: I am greatly saddened by the crimes committed by those priests of the Catholic Church, and I believe that such wrongdoings, when substantiated, should result in ecclesiastical, civil or even criminal punishment.

What perplexes me is that recent allegations of similar sexual abuse in our nation's public schools have been practically ignored, while we have experienced several years of intensive scrutinization of Catholic clergy abuse. The Shakeshaft report on public-school sexual abuse estimated that approximately 4.5 million children in eighth to eleventh grade in the year 2000 had experienced sexual harassment or abuse by school workers. In contrast, the National Review Board report on child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy reported 10,667 individuals alleging abuse by ordained clergy during the 53-year period from 1950 to 2002 (17.2 percent also said they had siblings who were also abused). Both reports included incidents ranging from inappropriate touching and sexual language to statutory rape.

The difference in absolute numbers between the two reports, both issued this year, is staggering. Even if the public schools' figures are wildly exaggerated, and if the Catholic numbers are far higher than reported, the public schools seem to have a much higher incidence of sexual abuse than the Catholic Church.

The real difference in interest in these two reports is due to an impression of hypocrisy in the Catholic Church. The Catholic clergy are assumed to affect an image of holiness and to promote an impossible standard of conduct, while the public schools are assumed to be progressing toward an ideal of openness to universal sexual expression. In other words, the alleged sexual behavior is unbecoming to a Catholic, while the same behavior is admired, at least in some circles, by the secular world. This is then a secular examination of Catholicism by Catholic standards, and not by the standards of the secular world -- which I consider unfair, even though I must admit it is very effective.

Archbishop Burke is a lawyer by training and is acting like the chief lawyer of any large organization would do in similar circumstances. Punitive lawsuits are so potentially destructive to any organization that a certain measure of secrecy is prudent; corporations, governments, and academic institutions are also secretive. Perhaps doing the right thing -- even though it means total worldly loss -- is heroically virtuous, but the church does not require such heroism of its members.

American Catholics were a persecuted minority until the Second World War. During that war, Catholic mothers who hung four, five or six service stars in their front windows, symbolizing sons in military service, demonstrated the patriotism of Catholics and their commitment to the United States. The election of John F. Kennedy to the presidency proved that Catholics had finally arrived, even though he promised no influence of his Catholicism in his service. Catholics supported Martin Luther King in the civil rights struggle and also assured equal employment rights for themselves. Vatican II liturgical and artistic reforms assured that Catholics would not be distinctive anymore and would be viewed as normal Americans. Catholics did all they could to please the world. Acceptance was assured for a while, but then came pressure to conform to new worldly standards. Now we are told that we were no longer liked and have to change again.

The resurgence of traditional Catholic practices and increasing Catholic moral pressure against the mainstream may mean that Catholics are once again outside the pale, but at least high Catholic standards will recover, and this sexual abuse will diminish further.
Mark Abeln
St. Louis

Irreverent, indecent and disgusting -- an unholy trifecta! Your display of bitterness toward Archbishop Burke reached the limit of decency in your deplorable caricature of the archbishop in your endeavor to belittle him in the eyes of your readers. Granted, you have the right to criticize, but to display all the intimate happenings serves little purpose but to arouse disgust in the minds of readers.

Your paper should be a sounding board for good happenings for St. Louis. I feel sure you have not turned many Catholics against the archbishop but have turned away many from your low-grade endeavor to smear him.

Finally, your play on words using a Catholic doctrine of the Mother of God to further insult the archbishop is a true lack of reverence for the Catholic Church.
Fr. Valentine Young, O.F.M. Cap
St. Patrick Church
St. Louis

Posted in it entirety since it changes weekly. Link here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:54 AM   

 
Holy Democrats!

The Catholic presidential questionnaire is dead — thank God

The Presidential Questionnaire from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is dead. But do not mourn. Its death is a good thing, and is important not just for Catholics but for all who were concerned that candidate Kerry was about to get official Church cover for his pro-abortion position.

The problems with the questionnaire are many. First, the document is almost guaranteed to confuse the typical pew sitter as to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Faithful Catholics and others may applaud that the presidential questionnaire is dead, at least for this election cycle, and may also hope that its death portends more profound changes at the USCCB, what Henry Hyde once called "the Democratic party at prayer."

— Austin Ruse is president of the Washington, D.C.-based Culture of Life Foundation.

Highly recommended article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:44 AM   

 
Limiting the harm using proportionate reasons
Bush Not 100% Pro-Life But Can be Supported Says Barbara Kralis Explaining Catholic Theology of Proportionate Reasons
- posted by LRS @ 6:36 AM   

 
Sept 15-The Seven Sorrows of Mary

Mary, from the time of the Annunciation, did not pass a single day without suffering, and that for a very simple reason; she knew that the life of her Son would end in the Crucifixion.

This suffering which permeated her whole life became more acute under certain circumstances which the Church wishes us to meditate on particularly.

The Purification: "Oh, poor child," exclaimed Simeon in substance, "the world will be torn in two on account of Him: there will be those who will be for Christ and those, and how numerous they are, who will be against Him. And for you, poor mother, a sword . . ."

Then again, consider the command Joseph received to Take the Child and its Mother and flee into Egypt. . . .What an exodus, what a precipitate departure, and to such a place!

Jesus lost in the temple: I must be about my Father's business.

The meeting of Mary with Jesus on the Ascent to Calvary. What a scene! Contemplate their tender exchange of glances; compassionate these two broken hearts; I will unit myself with their hearts.

The three hours at the Foot of the Cross: How she suffered, our poor Mother! And for me! Chancellor Gerson claims that if Jesus would have tried to descend from this cross, Mary, through love for men, would have begged Him to remain nailed to it.

Mary holds Jesus in her lap after His removal from the Cross: Isn't it true that any one of these scenes would nourish my contemplation for days and weeks?

Mary, after a last look at her dead Jesus, leaves the tomb to return to Jerusalem, the evening of Good Friday.

"Ah," cried the prophet years before, "do not forget the groans of your mother!"

I wish that they would resound so profoundly in me that never, never, would I forget them; that in hearing them, I would understand the whole price of my divine life, of the divine life in all souls.

from the book Meditations for Religious
by Rev. Raoul Plus, S.J.


See also the "Discourse IX Of The Dolours Of Mary" by St. Alphonsus Liguori for more meditations.
- posted by LRS @ 11:00 PM   

 
Karl Keating's E-Letter of Sept 14

KARL KEATING'S E-LETTER

September 14, 2004

TOPICS:

VOTER'S GUIDE VIDEO
VOTER'S GUIDE FLAK
VOTER'S GUIDE COMPETITION
AN IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ

Dear Friend of Catholic Answers:

"Goofy." I think that's the proper word for it.

The National Coalition of American Nuns, a group that claims only 500 members, has called for the resignation of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. NCAN says Ratzinger should be replaced with a "feminist woman."

The Vatican should grant more decision-making power to women, says NCAN, and women should be included in the election of the next pope. As an aside, the group said the Church should endorse same-sex marriage.

VIDEO VERSION OF VOTER'S GUIDE

This is an early heads-up. A friend of our apostolate is making an online video out of our "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics." We have the scripting done, and next comes a professional voice-over, followed by matching the visuals to the voice.

Our plan is to upload the video to our web site and to send the link to it to you and to thousands more via e-mail. The short video--about nine minutes long--will be available in several file formats and will be viewable by those with either high-speed or dial-up connections.

THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN

Our voter's guide has received lots of praise and some opposition. Why the opposition? The voter's guide does nothing more than repeat Church teaching. Well, okay, it does more than that. It says Catholics ought to follow Church teaching, even when in the voting booth. Is this so radical? Some people seem to think so.

It's not that they have come out against the teaching contained in the voter's guide. None of its opponents has said, "Vote for those who support abortion, euthanasia, fetal stem cell research, human cloning, and homosexual 'marriage.'" Nothing that crass. What opponents have said is that
lots of other issues should be taken into account.

If they meant that the five non-negotiables should be handled first, and then the Catholic voter should factor in other, lesser issues, that would be fine. That's just what our voter's guide says anyway. But that's not what opponents really are doing. They're giving the impression that other issues, on which Catholics are permitted a range of opinions, should be given the same weight as the five non-negotiables.

What is the Catholic position on the minimum wage? Actually, there isn't one. You can be a good Catholic and think that the minimum wage should remain as it is or that it should be increased--or even that it should be eliminated. (Many economists argue that the minimum wage, while well-intentioned, actually ends up hurting the poor, by throwing many of them out of work.)

I'm not interested in discussing what to do about the minimum wage (so please don't write to me about it), but, no matter where you find yourself on the issue, one thing you must admit: Other Catholics legitimately may differ from you, and they still will be counted as good Catholics.

You can't say the same thing about those who support the five non-negotiables.

IF YOU CAN'T INGORE US, COMPETE

The Catholic Voting Project was started in response to the success of Catholic Answers' "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics." The organizers, several of whom are students and many of whom have been active in left-wing politics (there seems to be no political moderate or conservative associated with the group), have been described in a newspaper article as "nonpartisan," but their web site has a clear bias in favor of John Kerry. See for yourself at http://www.votingcatholic.org/

The spokesman for the Catholic Voting Project is Chris Korzen, who also is the site's webmaster. He is a student at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The web site has a discussion forum, which has 30 registered members. (As a comparison, Catholic Answers' discussion forum has more than 11,000 registered members.) One person posted this message on the Catholic Voting Project discussion forum:

"In your 'Why a Catholic Voter Guide?' statement, you claim, 'There are many other voter guides for the 2004 elections that claim to be "Catholic," yet they focus on only a handful of issues, depending largely on the ideology of the sponsor.' Name one. It is clear you are referring to Karl Keating's 'Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics.' I believe it would serve you better to just be honest."

Korzen responded by saying, "We feel there is an important place for the Catholic Answers voting guide in the broader public debate surrounding the Catholic vote in this election. However, we could find no definitive magisterial statement to substantiate the claim that the five issues laid
out in the CA guide are the only ones Catholics should consider when making their voting decisions."

Of course the five non-negotiables aren't the only issues Catholics should consider. The "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics" says precisely that--after it says that these five issues are so important that they should be used to narrow down the field of acceptable candidates. The Catholic voter first should eliminate candidates who are wrong on the non-negotiables, and then he should look at where candidates stand on other issues. This means other issues aren't ignored, but they are secondary.

ANSWER ME THIS

The Catholic Voting Project web site features a quiz designed to tell you "how your own beliefs compare to the positions of the U.S. Catholic bishops and the two major presidential candidates." The quiz is divided into eleven sections, each with three statements about which you are asked to agree or disagree. The bias of the organizers is found in the odd phrasing of the statements.

Consider the topic of abortion. Here are the three statements you are asked to agree or disagree with:
1. "I oppose abortion except when the life of the mother is threatened or in cases of rape or incest, but I support anti-abortion legislation that makes no exception for the health of the mother."

2. "I oppose abortion in all circumstances, except for when the life of the mother is threatened."

3. "I oppose abortion in my personal life but publicly support the right of women to choose abortion."

Which of these, if answered "agree," states the Catholic position? None, of course, since each statement allows for abortions.

Which of these, if answered "disagree," states the Catholic position? Again, none, although this might be a little harder to see.

If you disagree with statement 1, does it mean you oppose anti-abortion "legislation that makes no exception for the health of the mother"? If so, you support some abortions.

If you disagree with statement 2, does it mean you approve generally of abortion?

If you disagree with statement 3, does it mean you "support the right of women to choose abortion" but not publicly--that is, that you keep your opinion to yourself?

The ten other sections of the quiz are similarly confused. False choices are given and false implications are made. Beyond that, one is left with the impression that such things as the minimum wage are morally on the same level as abortion and that immigration regulations are as important as
euthanasia.

Oh, wait a minute. The quiz doesn't even mention euthanasia. And it doesn't mention human cloning. It entirely leaves out two of the five non-negotiables. But it does wonder who should benefit most from tax cuts.

Until next time,
Karl

********************
To learn more about the Catholic faith and about Catholic Answers, visit us
at http://www.catholic.com/.
********************
The content of this E-Letter is copyright 2004 by Karl Keating.

- posted by LRS @ 7:10 AM   

 
Healing Mass/Service Question from EWTN
This is another question which has come up recently in the neighborhood. Again, this may contradict what some others have stated.

This is taken from the "EWTN Q&A" site.

Healing Mass
Question from Nick on 02-04-2004:

I attended a healing mass the other day and everyone was on the floor and it seemed like the healers goal was just to get you on the floor. There were priests there, but the focus was on the lay healers.

Some of the healers were waving their arms and speaking in tongues it seemed like a tent revival meeting. Is this a licit practice in the catholic faith? Thank you
-------------------------------------------------------

Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 02-25-2004:

No it is not. It contravenes an Instruction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith intended to put an end to such unlawful abuses.

[See: this document, www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFHEAL.HTM]

Art. 2 – Prayers for healing are considered to be liturgical if they are part of the liturgical books approved by the Church's competent authority; otherwise, they are non-liturgical.

Art. 3 – § 1. Liturgical prayers for healing are celebrated according to the rite prescribed in the Ordo benedictionis infirmorum of the Rituale Romanum (28) and with the proper sacred vestments indicated therein.

Art. 5 – § 1. Non-liturgical prayers for healing are distinct from liturgical celebrations, as gatherings for prayer or for reading of the word of God; these also fall under the vigilance of the local Ordinary in accordance with can. 839 § 2.

§ 2. Confusion between such free non-liturgical prayer meetings and liturgical celebrations properly so-called is to be carefully avoided.

§ 3. Anything resembling hysteria, artificiality, theatricality or sensationalism, above all on the part of those who are in charge of such gatherings, must not take place.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 7:00 AM   

 
"Baptism in the Holy Spirit"
Some questions have arisen lately in the neighborhood, so I'll see what I can find. This is the first 'issue' being addressed. This may contradict what some others have stated.

This is taken from the "Ask Father Hardon" series.

Question:
Is the charismatic practice known as "baptism in the Holy Spirit" 1) an integral part of either the sacrament of Baptism or Confirmation, 2) a new sacrament, 3) a part of the liturgy, or 4) an authentic Catholic practice?
-K.A.K., Michigan


Answer:
No, the charismatic practice of baptism in the Holy Spirit is not: 1) an integral part of either the sacrament of Baptism or Confirmation, 2) a new sacrament, 3) a part of the liturgy, or 4) an authentic Catholic practice.

What is called the "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is variously interpreted by charismatics. The most common interpretation is the belief that some people receive what is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

These would be persons who receive certain extraordinary gifts, such as those received by the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday.

This claim is purely gratuitous. It is part of a larger claim by some charismatics.

They say the Church of the future will be the Church of the Holy Spirit and no longer the Church of the hierarchy and the sacraments instituted by Christ.

© 1997 Inter Mirifica

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:36 AM   

 
An bad example of a professed Catholic...?
This was in today's issue of the Post Dispatch's "Town Talk" feature.

I think most people will see what happens when one's intellect has not been properly informed:

See here, archibishop

I SEE ARCHBISHOP Burke is at it again with his politics and abortion. I have one message to you, Mr. Archbishop, I'm a Catholic, but you keep your nose out of how I vote and who I vote for. You just take care of your church and take care of all these pedophile priests you've got and you'll have a full-time job.

THIS IS TO point out a typo in Town Talk where it refers to Archbishop Burke as the good Archbishop. That's either a typo or an oxymoron. And in addition to him not missing our two bucks a week or two bucks a month, that's correct since he continues to try to rape the good people of St. Stanislaus of their $10 million.

He (or she) claims to be Catholic? How sad...We should continue to pray for the conversion of souls to Christ.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:29 AM   

 
Michigan Catholic voters in abortion firestorm

Michigan Catholics are fiercely debating comments made by the Vatican's top theologian [Cardinal Ratzinger] that give them some leeway to vote for politicians who support abortion rights.

At issue are statements made by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who heads the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, that became public in July. Reflecting longstanding Catholic teaching, Ratzinger gave Catholics who oppose abortion rights leeway to vote for politicians who support them, provided the voter believes the candidates' other positions outweigh the abortion issue.

The Detroit Free Press gets its wrong as do some of the priests who are quoted in the article.

They also refer to the Post Dispatch article about Archbishop Burke:

In the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Burke said that Catholics opposed to abortion rights could support a candidate who supports them if they feel the candidate's positions on other moral issues outweigh the abortion issue, although Burke said he couldn't imagine any issue outweighing abortion.

"If they feel"...hmmmm...I don't believe that is what Archbishop Burke said...

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:17 AM   

 
Evansville Bishop warns defiant politicians

Evansville Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger said Tuesday he would deny Communion to Catholic politicians who publicly defy their faith or who dare church leaders to block them from receiving the sacrament.

Catholic politicians who vocally support abortion rights or gay marriage are not in communion with Catholic teachings, the bishop told Rotarians. Those politicians, whom he did not name, should expect the bishop to refuse Communion.

It takes courage for a bishop to do what he is supposed to do. We must continue to pray for our bishops and priests.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:13 AM   

 
For C.S. Lewis fans...

The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis, is a four-hour PBS series scheduled to air on consecutive Wednesday nights, September 15 and 22. It is a superb journey into the critical distinctions between the competing worldviews which underlie the cultural war currently convulsing Western Civilization.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 1:03 AM   

 
Vatican Document Misused by Kerry Supporters in the Church and Media
This is from an Email from Austin Ruse, of the Culture and Life Foundation:

CULTURE & COSMOS

September 14, 2004 Volume 2, Number 6

Vatican Document Misused by Kerry Supporters in the Church and Media

A memo released privately two months ago by the Vatican's leading theologian, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, is being portrayed by the media and liberal Catholics as giving Catholic voters permission to vote for the pro-abortion Democratic candidate for President.

So far, a moral theologian and a high-ranking official of the Detroit Archdiocese, where the story first broke, say the document's precise language is being distorted.

Ratzinger issued a private memo in the spring that explored whether pro-abortion politicians ought to be denied communion. He concluded that they must be denied communion if, after consistent teaching by the bishop, they persist in their error regarding abortion.

It is the final and separate paragraph to his memo that is causing all the confusion and controversy. In a short "nota bene," Ratzinger answers the question whether a voter may receive communion if he has voted for a pro-abortion politician. He concludes that any vote for a pro-abortion politician is cooperation in "evil." He goes on to say that a person who votes for a pro-abortion politician may receive communion but only if he voted that way for "proportionate" reasons. And this is the phrase that the media and liberal Catholics have used to give permission to vote for the pro-abortion John Kerry. Some are claiming that "proportionate" reasons may be any serious issue that the voter cares about, the war in Iraq, for instance.

Father Stephen Torraco, chairman of the theology department at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusettes, says this interpretation of "proportionate" is wrong. Taracco says the term "proportionate" has a very specific meaning within atholic moral theology and that "proportionate reasons" for voting for a pro-abortion candidate would have to be limited to stopping other intrinsically evil acts similar to abortion. Even a candidate's support for capital punishment or war could not be used to justify voting for a pro-abortion candidate, he said, because neither of those things are intrinsically immoral according to Catholic teaching.

Besides Taracco's, a response was issued by the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Detroit, where the story first broke. Presumably writing for the Archbishop of Detroit, Cardinal Adam Maida, Father Robert J. McClory, wrote that the issue was "much more nuanced than was reported in the Free Press article . . ." He said that Ratzinger's note did not clear the way to vote for a pro-abortion candidates. "The distribution of this text has led to much debate over what might be 'proportionate reasons' in the context of the moral evil of abortion, including how this might apply when all the candidates for a given office support abortion to varying degrees. Suffice it to say that 'proportionate reasons' go far beyond simply 'agreeing with the candidate's other stands.'"

Many other news outlets including The Washington Post have reported on the note but have omitted an adequate explanation of the term "proportionate reasons." Culture and Cosmos has learned that at least one, possibly more, prominent bishops are planning to address the problem in the coming days.

Copyright, 2004 --- Culture of Life Foundation. Permission granted for
unlimited use. Credit required.

Culture of Life Foundation
1413 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC 20005
Phone: (202) 289-2500
Fax: (202) 289-2502
E-mail: clf@culture-of-life.org
Website: http://www.culture-of-life.org

- posted by LRS @ 7:33 AM   

 
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mt. Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jersualem by Emperor Heralius in 629.

The Breviary lessons tells us that Emperor Heraclius carried the Cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders. He was clothed with costly garments and with ornaments of precious stones. But at the entrance to Mt. Calvary a strange incident occurred. Try as hard as he would, he could not go forward. Zacharias, the Bishop of Jerusalem, then said to the astonished monarch: "Consider, O Emperor, that with these triumphal ornaments you are far from resembling Jesus carrying His Cross." The Emperor then put on a penitential garb and continued the journey.

For more information, read this.
- posted by LRS @ 7:10 AM   

 
“Woe to those who call evil good.”

Images of innocent children with no place to run, having the backs of their skulls ripped open by masked men under the guise of “freedom” should make us squirm.

- posted by LRS @ 6:58 AM   

 
Pope Tells Bishops to Make Known Full Teaching of Church on Defense of Marriage

In feeble attempts to defend marriage several bishops and bishops conferences throughout the world have failed to present the full teaching of the Catholic Church. Some have gone so far as to back unacceptable compromises when confronted with homosexual 'marriage' such as same-sex civil unions or some such scheme to give societal benefit to homosexual couples. In that light, Pope John Paul's comments to the bishops of New Zealand today are of particular significance.

"I encourage you to continue to ensure that your statements clearly convey the whole of the Church's magisterial teaching."

Now, if all bishops and priests would listen and do this. One can only imagine!

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:53 AM   

 
The Ratzinger Fiasco

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

Never have I seen a more shameless abuse and distortion of somebody's words than in the recent articles that some secular and Catholic publications have run regarding a memo written by Vatican Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger about abortion and voting.

The Cardinal wrote, "Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia...There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia...A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate's permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia."

That's pretty clear. Those who want to keep abortion legal and therefore vote for candidates who have promised to do that are sinning and are excluded from Communion.

Instead, some publications are saying that the Vatican now gives Catholics permission to vote for pro-abortion candidates! One article I saw said this is true "if a voter feels a candidate's position on other issues outweighs his or her stand on abortion."

But whether abortion outweighs other issues is not for a voter's feelings to decide. The Holy Father has written, "The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights -- for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture -- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination . . . " (Christifideles Laici, n.38)

The full body of United States bishops, moreover, went so far as to say that legal abortion is so unacceptable that it may in fact require us to abolish our entire system of government. The exact words, found in paragraph 3 of their 1998 document Living the Gospel of Life, are, "When American political life becomes an experiment on people rather than for and by them, it will no longer be worth conducting. We are arguably moving closer to that day."

Cardinal Ratzinger's memo does answer a dilemma that many good Catholics find themselves in when all the candidates -- at least among those likely to win -- seem to support at least some abortions. What then? Are we required to vote for a candidate who does not have a sufficient base to win? Are we required to abstain from voting altogether? The answer to both is no. We may vote for the candidate who supports less abortion than his or her opponent. This is supported by the following sentence in the footnote to the Cardinal's memo: "When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion ... but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it ... can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons."

The Cardinal had already explained that abortion is not proportionate to other issues, but is certainly proportionate to itself.

See further comments at www.priestsforlife.org/elections/ratzingerletter.htm

Comments on this column? Email us at mail@priestsforlife.org, Priests for Life, PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314; Tel: 888-PFL-3448, 718-980-4400; Fax: 718-980-6515; web: www.priestsforlife.org

- posted by LRS @ 6:44 AM   

 
Archdiocese of Chicago to be consecrated to Mary’s Immaculate Heart

On December 8, 2004 - the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s solemn proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception - Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, will consecrate the Archdiocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration will take place at Holy Name Cathedral.

Article here>
- posted by LRS @ 6:07 AM   

 
Prosecutor: Diocese of Phoenix Can Handle Own Affairs

The Roman Catholic Diocese has made changes in the way it handles priest sex abuse allegations and no longer needs to be supervised by prosecutors, authorities said Monday.

The Diocese operated under the watchful eye of the county prosecutor's office under a deal reached last year. It barred Bishop Thomas O'Brien from being involved in sex abuse allegations in return for not charging him with covering them up.

This is due to the efforts made by Bishop Thomas Olmsted, no doubt, who must be a welcome relief for the Diocese. PLease remember to keep him in your prayers as he continues his work for the Church.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:03 AM   

 
Bishop Wenski: Citizenship more than an oath

President Harry Truman established Sept. 17 as Citizenship Day. The choice of this date was not arbitrary: Friday marks the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution -- and it is this hallowed document that defines what it is to be a citizen of these United States.
...
Whether we are already citizens by birthright or naturalization, or whether we are still in a seeming interminable queue awaiting our opportunity to swear allegiance, Citizenship Day is worth celebrating.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 5:57 AM   

 
Prior of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem request your prayers
Dom Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer, Prior, Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, celebrated the first public Mass of the Canons in the St. Louis Archdiocese yesterday at St. Joseph Church in Josephville.

He asked that we keep them in their prayers in their search for a church and rectory in which to relocate and commented on how fitting it was to have celebrated the first public Mass at a church and in a town named after St. Joseph, who intercedes in helping to find homes.

Archbishop Burke and the Canons are presently engaged in a search for a suitable location for their canonry in the general vicinity of St. Charles. The Canons' priestly ministry will include daily Mass in the Tridentine rite, and the religious education of children and adults.

If anyone is aware of facilities which could be used, Fr. Oppenheimer may be reached at (314) 633-2407.

In the meantime, please keep the Canons in your daily prayers so that suitable facilities may be located.

- posted by LRS @ 7:38 AM   

 
Archdiocese of Boston faces 140 new claims of sex abuse

Less than a year after it paid $85 million to settle 541 sexual-abuse claims, the Archdiocese of Boston is facing at least 140 new claims that a church spokesman says the church cannot now afford to settle, in part because it has been unable to recoup money from its insurance policies to cover last year's settlement.

140 new claims? What is going on?

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:58 AM   

 
Priest admits he stole $1 million from church

CHICAGO

A Catholic priest who resigned earlier this summer from his church has admitted stealing more than $1 million from his parish on the city's southwest side, church officials said. The priest returned the money with interest.

In a letter read to parishioners at St. Bede the Venerable, an Archdiocese of Chicago bishop who oversees the parish wrote that the Rev. Brian Lisowski had misappropriated $1.1 million in church funds between January 1999 and July 2004.

Lisowski resigned in July after acknowledging he had relapsed into alcoholism and had been stopped by police in the company of an alleged prostitute, church officials said. After resigning, parish collections rose, and the archdiocese reviewed the priest's records, the bishop said in the letter. Lisowski repaid $1.2 million to the parish, the letter said.

How was he able to repay this? Was it stashed somewhere for "safekeeping"? Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
The Bishop is above all a witness, a teacher and model of holiness

Pope John Paul II spoke of "the need today for each bishop to develop 'a pastoral style which is ever more open to collaboration with all'." He added that "a sound ecclesiology of communion ... should not be misunderstood as a concession to a secular 'democratic' model of governance, but as an intrinsic requirement of the exercise of episcopal authority and a necessary means of strengthening that authority."

"Every act of ecclesiastical governance, consequently, must be aimed at fostering communion and mission. ...The three 'munera' of teaching, sanctifying and ruling are clearly inseparable and interpenetrating. ... Experience shows that when priority is mainly given to outward stability, the impetus to personal conversion, ecclesial renewal and missionary zeal can be lost and a false sense of security can ensue.

"The painful period of self- examination provoked by the events of the past two years will bear spiritual fruit only if it leads the whole Catholic community in America to a deeper understanding of the Church's authentic nature and mission, and a more intense commitment to making the Church in your country reflect, in every aspect of her life, the light of Christ's grace and truth."

Words of the Holy Father to the 33 bishops from the ecclesiastical region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the United States.
- posted by LRS @ 6:37 AM   

 
SNAP wants two clergy sent elsewhere

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests has asked Archbishop Raymond Burke to have the two clergymen sent elsewhere. But Burke, through a statement, said he lacks the power to have them removed.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:37 AM   

 
Bishop Malone hears criticism at "Pro-Life" luncheon

When the highest-ranking Catholic priest in Maine spoke at an anti-abortion luncheon Saturday, he drew criticism from an audience member who said the bishop is "talking the talk" but not "walking the walk" in opposing abortion. Speaking to a crowd of about 100, Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Diocese of Portland faced a University of Maine professor who said priests should not give communion to politicians who support a woman's right to choose.

These people have not been excommunicated," Malone said. "I have to try to work with these folks. ... A whole lot of our Catholic brothers and sisters are not with us on this thing. We need to engage these people in dialogue."

How many more years of "dialogue" is needed? If our Catholic brothers and sisters support abortion and those who further that crime, have not rejected Catholicism?

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:28 AM   

 
Catholic Schoolteachers in Brooklyn in Dispute with Diocese
It seems to happening everywhere. Teachers "up in arms", taking on an adversarial role in unionizing to fight against the Church.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Fraud: What Ratzinger didn't say

If you live anywhere in the United States, you probably saw news stories this past week, reporting that Cardinal Ratzinger had issued a new statement, saying that Catholics can vote for a candidate who promotes legal abortion-- as long as they're casting that vote for other reasons.

Cardinal Ratzinger said no such thing.

In fact, Cardinal Ratzinger didn't issue any new statement on the subject recently!

The story that has spread through the American press this week is a complete fraud.

Full CWN Forum Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 9:16 PM   

 
The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
I received this today and wish to share it.
Please pass is along to those who may be interested.

Your family is invited to join us in welcoming to St. Louis a new order of Latin Rite priests.

Saturday, September 25

3:00pm Latin Tridentine Mass
Celebrant: Dom Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer, Prior, Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem

4:00pm The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
Dom Daniel Oppenheimer will speak on the work and ministry of his traditional foundation.

4:30pm Barbeque and Potluck Dinner

Location:
Knights of Columbus Hall
3rd Street and Lincoln
O'Fallon, Missouri

The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem is a new order of priests dedicated to the traditional Latin Liturgy and following the rule of St. Augustine. Archbishop Raymond Burke, who established and approved their religious constitution, is effecting their transfer from Wisconsin to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Archbishop Burke and the Canons are presently engaged in a search for a suitable location for their canonry in the general vicinity of St. Charles. The Canons' priestly ministry will include daily Mass in the Tridentine rite, and the religious education of children and adults.

Father Oppenheimer would be very happy to speak with and visit families who are interested in their upcoming ministry in St. Louis. You may reach him by calling (314) 633-2407. he is presently living at the Archbishop's residence on Lindell Blvd.

Please RSVP for Dinner by 9/23.
Call Mark & Linda Bromeier at (636) 458-1515 or Terry Rohan (636) 566-6924.
Barbecued hamburgers, hot dogs, buns and beverages will be provided, along with table service. Please bring a potluck dish to share.

Mark this date on your calendar and try to attend. This is great news and a welcome opportunity for the faithful of St. Charles county.




- posted by LRS @ 6:03 PM   

 
The 1962 Missal Epistle and Gospel for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost
EPISTLE
Galatians 5: 25-26; 6: 1-10

Brethren: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be made desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, and if a man be overtaken in any fault, you, who are spiritual, instruct such a one in the Spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ. For if any man think himself to be something, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let everyone prove his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another. For every one shall bear his own burden. And let him that is instructed in the word, communicate to him that instructeth him, in all good things. Be not deceived: God is not mocked; for what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption: but he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting. And in doing good, let us not fail; for in due time we shall reap, not failing. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.


GOSPEL
Luke 7: 11-16

At that time, Jesus went into a city called Naim; and there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude. And when He came nigh to the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people of the city were with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said to her: Weep not. And He came near and touched the bier. And they that carried it stood still. And He said: Young man, I say to thee, Arise: and he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on them all: and they glorified God, saying: A great prophet is risen up amongst us, and God hath visited His people.




- posted by LRS @ 9:58 AM   

 
Pope urges openness among bishops in sex-abuse scandal

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II discussed the U.S. sex-abuse scandal with Cardinal Justin Rigali and other American bishops Saturday, encouraging them to be more open to the needs of parishioners in the wake of a "crisis of confidence in the church's leadership."

John Paul noted that Roman Catholic bishops had "an unequivocal right and duty of governance." But he indicated that the approach of some American church leaders may have driven a wedge between them and churchgoers.

This from the St. Louis Post Dispatch...

And this is the actual text of the Holy Father's address to the Bishops.
- posted by LRS @ 9:42 AM   

 
St. Stanislaus parishioners reject archbishop's proposal
That's nothing new...

Parishioners from St. Stanislaus Kostka church said this week that they are rejecting a proposal by the Archdiocese of St. Louis to end a dispute over control of their church.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:39 AM   

 
Fr. William Barnaby Faherty writes book on Germans

German spouses of area Irish should give themselves a pat on the back.

The newest book by Jesuit Father William Barnaby Faherty was written in part, he said, because of their pull.

This looks to be another good book by Fr. Faherty who has written over 30 books on the history of St. Louis and Catholicism.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:22 AM   

 
Archdiocese considers responses to appeals

Archbishop Raymond Burke is preparing a response to an appeal filed with the Vatican by the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish board of directors over proposed parish restructuring.

Archdiocesan officials last week also responded locally to an appeal filed with the Vatican by the Association of Catholic Elementary Educators (ACEE) stemming from its attempts to represent teachers. In a prepared statement, the archdiocese defended its past labor relations with teachers.

Source.>
- posted by LRS @ 7:13 AM   

 
Archbishop Burke's Pastoral Letter on Civic Responsibility to be issued on Oct 1

Pastoral Letter on Civic Responsibility

During the time of my pilgrimage to Rome to receive the sacred pallium, at the end of June and beginning of July, I promised to write a pastoral letter to assist the faithful in the archdiocese in exercising their civic responsibility, especially the duty to vote, in accord with the moral law. A number of factors have kept me from finishing the writing of the pastoral letter until now. In the meantime, a number of reports in the secular media have raised serious questions about the Church’s teaching in the matter. Some of the reports have generated confusion and frustration. Be assured that I have wanted to complete the letter as soon as possible, in order to present clearly the Church’s teaching and to clear up confusion. I am happy to report to you that the pastoral letter should be issued on this coming Oct. 1, the memorial of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower.

When the pastoral letter is completed, it will first be published in the St. Louis Review. Aids for the reading and study of the pastoral letter also will be provided.

Please pray for me as I bring to completion the writing of the pastoral letter, so that it may truly serve well the consciences of the faithful in the archdiocese. Please pray that the pastoral letter may contribute to the building up of the life of our society, in accord with God’s law.

Source.

In this article, the archbishop talks about St. Thérèse of Lisieux and advises us on what we can do to bring the new movie about St. Thérèse to St. Louis. This will be covered in a separate post later.

In the meantime, we should pray for Archbishop Burke as he requested for the completion of his pastoral letter and pray also that it may help in building the culture of life in our society, as he asked.
- posted by LRS @ 6:22 AM   

 
ICD event tonight - from the Post Dispatch

The Rev. Donald Wester, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Bellefontaine Neighbors, will be the featured speaker at 7:30 tonight at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 7717, Highway N, Dardenne Prairie.

Wester's talk is titled "God's Love and Our Response." The event is sponsored by Inspiration Quest, an adult Christian learning series. A free-will offering will be taken. For child-care reservations, call 636-561-4269. Information: 636-561-6611.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:18 AM   

 
Miami Herald Opinion on Voting and Abortion
Of course, they misunderstand Cardinal Ratzinger's use of the term "proportionate reasons"...

It says, in other words, that if a Catholic thinks a candidate's positions on other issues are more important [than abortion, euthanasia], a vote for that candidate is not considered a sin.

Source.

But if one wishes to read what "proportionate reasons" actually mean, Jimmy Akin has written a rather good report here, titled, "What Ratzinger Said".
- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
Cardinal Mahony's statement on Redemptionis Sacramentum
I pity the people of his archdiocese...

The implementation of Redemptionis Sacramentum
By Cardinal Roger M. Mahony

While we all must constantly re-evaluate our liturgical practice and not allow it to become routine or careless, I have determined that there is no need to make any significant changes in our liturgical practice at this time.

How nice it must be to be so perfect that one can ignore the Holy See...
- posted by LRS @ 6:03 AM   

 
Church Leaders Who Equivocate on Abortion and Voting Asked to Resign

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life (PFL) has called all Church leaders "who fail to point out the difference in seriousness between abortion and other issues" to "resign their positions." In the latest release from PFL, Fr. Pavone explains that the reason for his suggestion is that such Church leaders "obviously lack the most basic capacity for moral judgment."

While this seems to be a laudable goal, I believe the purpose may be to shame those into examining their consciences. Why? Any Church leader (and we know who some of them are) who lacks the moral capacity to speak the truth about brutality of the crime of abortion and voting for those who support abortion certainly lacks the courage to resign his position.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 10:58 PM   

 
Nov 7-11 - Fr. Bill Casey at St. Rita's
Come to the Mission!
St. Rita's Church
November 7-11th, 2004
(Sunday through Thursday)

Fr. Bill Casey, of the Fathers of Mercy, will preach at both the morning Mass at 8:30 AM and the evening Holy Hour at 7:00 PM; confessions after all services.

Parish of St. Rita
8240 Washington Street
Page Ave. (at North & South Washington St.)
Rectory: (314) 428-4845
Mass Schedule: Saturday, 5:00 PM
Sunday, 8:00 & 10:00 AM
Weekdays: 8:30 AM

- posted by LRS @ 9:00 PM   

 
The Eye of God?
This was sent to me the other day.

This is a picture NASA took with the Hubble telescope.

It is simply called "The Eye of God." This is all the information I have.



- posted by LRS @ 7:10 AM   

 
Columnist should avoid discussing Catholic doctrine
Another Letter to the Editor (Post Dispatch)

To the editor:

At the end of his September 1 article. "Have pharisees taken over the Vatican" you identify John R. Stoeffler as president of a think tank dedicated to upholding principles of the U. S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Whether or not Mr. Stoeffler has the expertise expected of him in those two fields, he has neither knowledge of nor expertise in Catholic Church Canon Law and theology.

I respectfully suggest that Mr. Stoeffler continue to pursue his commendable efforts on behalf of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. They need all the help they can get. In justice, however, I suggest that he maintain silence about matters concerning which he displays only ignorance, on the basis of which he presumes to tender advice both unsolicited and unwarranted.

Edward A. Rohde
South County

An excellent response to a previous Post Dispatch article.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:40 AM   

 
Ugandan priest finds differences, similarities here

The Rev. John Ssebitosi, pastor of churches in Valmeyer and Madonnaville, says the church's message translates from one continent to another.
The Rev. John Ssebitosi notices much that is different in Valmeyer and the United States from his native Uganda.

"The Catholic church is the same everywhere," he said. "Maybe some of the singing is different, because of the different cultures. The lessons (in Uganda) can be the same here."

"I've come to learn. To take back what I've learned to Uganda," he said, noting that he had heard stories about the United States but that his imagination hadn't prepared him for the reality of what he has seen.

"The development here is incredible," he said. "And the standard of living. You people are blessed."

An interesting story in the Post Dispatch today about this priest from Uganda. There were two things, in particular, which I thought were interesting - that the Church is the same everywhere (universal) and how blessed we are.

Sometimes it takes someone from outside the US to remind of just how fortunate we are. We should give thank God everyday for His blessings and generosity He bestows on us.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:31 AM   

 
Judge Rules Homosexuals a Distinct, Protected Class, akin to Race or Gender

A Washington state Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that same-sex couples not only have a constitutional right to marriage, but that, as a group, are a distinct, protected class or subset of society, akin to race or gender.

Judicial activism at its best - which is to say, worst! Wayward judges attempting to enshrine evil as a right, vice as a virtue. Judges like this should be impeached.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:04 AM   

 
BISHOPS CONFERENCE WITHDRAWS PRESIDENTIAL QUESTIONNAIRE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO THE PRESS

Release Date: September 8, 2004
Contact: Mark Adams 318-794-1170

BISHOPS CONFERENCE WITHDRAWS PRESIDENTIAL QUESTIONNAIRE

In a letter released to the US Bishops on Friday, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office of Government Liaison announced they have withdrawn the Presidential Questionnaire which had been delivered weeks ago to the Bush and Kerry campaigns.

At this moment the press office of the USCCB has no statement prepared but we are told by diocesan sources that at least one of the campaigns did not return the questionnaire by deadline.

"We have been critical of the Presidential Questionnaire because it improperly equates doctrinal issues like abortion with judgment calls like the minimum wage," said Austin Ruse, President of the Culture of Life Foundation.

"We also welcome the fact that candidate Kerry will not be able to use the questionnaire to claim he is a faithful Catholic when we know he actively opposes Church teaching on fundamental issues."

Pressure, perhaps?
Is it time for cleaning house at the USCCB offices yet?
- posted by LRS @ 11:11 PM   

 
A Congress Sings the Praises of Gregorian Chant
.
Now if only more parishes around here would do the same....

Meeting Aims to Promote "Liturgical Correctness"

A recent congress here highlighted Gregorian chant as a manifestation of the faith of modern men and women.

The Pope thanked them for their effort "in the field of sacred music, always attentive to the teachings of the magisterium. In this way, you offer a valid contribution to the application of the Second Vatican Council's liturgical reform."

What a blessing it would be to be able to hear, once again, Gregorian chant instead of the stuff that we must endure today, in many places, that purports to be 'sacred music'. Am I the only one who is sick of guitars, bongos, drums, and pianos? Thirty five years worth of guitar music at Mass is too much - it's like being frozen in the 60's and 70's...If the Vatican II Council stated that Gregorian chant and the the organ hold pride of place, why are these things relegated to the dust bin?

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 10:22 PM   

 
Some Rebuttals to the RiverfrontTimes...
Regarding its articles about Archbishop Burke.

Sin No More
A cheap shot:
Malcolm Gay's "Immaculate Deception" [August 25] reveals that the author cares less about the welfare of the victims of sexual abuse, but rather aims to promote his own agenda by unjustly attacking the actions and character of the Archbishop of St. Louis. Mr. Gay would serve his journalistic integrity better if he clearly stated and defended his position on contraception, abortion, euthanasia, for example, rather than taking cheap shots at those he regards as being on the "ecclesiastical fast track."

The current incumbent of the See of St. Louis is clearly a man of faith, conviction and moral principle. I personally disagree with the Archbishop on many issues, but what he says challenges the liberal status quo. As such, my suggestion must be that the issues themselves be debated, and that the use of the victims of sexual abuse as pawns in such debates remains a scandal.
Patrick J. O'Rourke
St. Louis

And there is this one:

Good riddance to the disgruntled:
In "Bishop Takes Queen," his sidebar to "Immaculate Deception," Malcolm Gay focuses more on Archbishop Raymond Burke than on Sister Julie Green. What is his point? How does Sister Green's supposed operation reflect negatively upon Archbishop Burke? I thought reporters were supposed to report the news and leave personal opinions out of it; clearly this writer has an agenda. Perhaps you are hard up for good, objective writers in St. Louis.

In regard to "Immaculate Deception," I found, as a former religious education director for a small parish in the La Crosse Diocese, then-Bishop Burke to be a sincere, authentic and prayerful man, even holy. It seems you have chosen to interview some disgruntled, renegade priests who weren't doing what they were ordained to do anyway. I say good riddance to those who won't obey the Magisterium.

Finally, the titles of the articles are clearly designed to stimulate readership but are crass. Where is the truth in reporting? I feel that this reporter is not interested in getting at the truth, but only to further his own views.

Archbishop Burke is a heroically courageous man. There are many of us in his former diocese that were sad to seem him go. St. Louis is blessed to have him as their shepherd.
Monica Kolars
River Falls, Wisconsin

I posted these letters in their entirety since it does not seem that they are archived at the RFT. The original articles are pathetic examples of journalism and are juvenile attacks on Archbishop Burke. I did not link to them then, and I will not link to them now. They are still posted on the site, if one wishes to see them.

I have to agree with Monica Kolars above that Archbishop Burke is an heroically courageous bishop. And I have repeatedly stressed how blessed we are to have him here. We must continue to pray for him as the attacks against him for proclaiming the truth will only increase. We must ask our Lady to intercede for him so that he might be protected from those who so ardently desire that he fail in his mission to teach and sanctify the faithful entrusted to him.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 7:28 AM   

 
More confusion re: the Archbishop Burke article
Here are a couple of a recent letter to the editor:

Burke explains
In attempting to clarify his prior comments on the voting controversy he has created, Archbishop Raymond Burke seems to speaking with forked tongue.

In legalistic terminology, he defines voting decisions based on "proportionate reasons" and those based on "formal cooperation." A voting decision based on the former would allow a Catholic to vote for a candidate who supports abortion rights but based on the latter would, in the archbishop's words, result "in an intrinsically evil act."

However, in his final statement, he says, "It is difficult to imagine what that proportionate reason would be."

This implies to me that he does not believe conscientious Catholics could adopt the proportionate-reason defense in exercising their voting rights in the election. Consequently, it appears Catholics will continue to hear highly charged rhetoric from the pulpit on this issue until Election Day.

Rosalie M. Laune
New Haven
>

I think it would be wise to determine just who is speaking with a "forked tongue" - I am certain that it is not the Archbishop.

Secondly, how one understands (or fails to understand) 'legalistic teminology' is not as much the issue as is the issue of obedience to the Church in matters of the moral law. One has a duty to learn and try to understand so that one's conscience may be rightly formed in moral matters.

Finally, the Archbishop makes it quite clear that there are no proportionate reasons for which one could vote for a pro-abortion politician whose successful election would result in furthering the crime of the murder of innocent unborn children - unless the opposing candidate would do likewise AND cause even more harm to society. There are no other issues which rise to the level of importance today as that of protecting 4000 children per day. If these innocent children are deemed expendable at will, then other rights mean absolutely nothing. A truly "conscientious" Catholic will understand this. A confused Catholic will not.

The "proportionate-reason defense" is a misnomer - there is no such thing. Proportionate reasons may allow one to vote for a pro-abortion candidate - but this does not apply in the current presidential race.

Move over, Sen. Kerry. You have competition with another flip-flopper. Archbishop Raymond Burke now says it is OK for Catholics to vote for an abortion-rights candidate if his other moral issues outweigh the abortion-rights stance.

Margaret L. Young
St. Louis

It is amazing how some people fail to understand what is being said. It is a certainty that Archbishop Burke has not 'flip-flopped', despite the wishes of so many that he will.


Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:43 AM   

 
Bishop Burke Has Remained Consistent on Voting Pro-Life Despite Media Misrepresentation

Campaign Life Catholic, told LifeSiteNews.com that Bishop Burke's position has remained consistent. Suresh Dominic, spokesman for the organization, explained to LifeSiteNews.com what proportionate reasons could be.

"In North America, where abortion - the slaughter of the innocent and most helpless among us - is rampant, abortion is the central human rights concern and thus the overriding political concern in all elections.

"All who would vote for a pro-abortion politician would associate themselves with that atrocity.

"However, in a case where two pro-abortion politicians are vying for election, a pro-life Catholic may, in good conscience, vote for the politician who will give at least minimal protection to life such as the case where one of the pro-abortion politicians would support a partial-birth abortion ban."

This is exactly what must be stated loudly and clearly to Catholics who are confused on the issue!

The St. Louis diocese will release a document clarifying the moral position of Catholics who support pro-abortion politicians. This statement will include Burke's qualifications that the reasons a voter is supporting a candidate have to weigh more heavily than his or her support for the killing of the unborn. However, the damage to the Bishop's position will have been done by the time any official statement comes out. By Saturday, newspapers in Chicago, New York, Fort Worth, Seattle, Sioux City, London England and Taiwan had run the story and flashed headlines around the world that the Archbishop has 'flip-flopped' on his strong stand.

This is, perhaps, the main reason to limit one's interviews with reporters from the Post-Dispatch.

Will all of these news outlets give as much coverage to Archbishop Burke's upcoming pastoral letter when it is released? We'll see.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:42 AM   

 
Spread of "Culture of Death" Worries Pope

"The threats that continue to arise against life are well known, especially against unborn life," the papal message continued.

"I must call for reflection especially on the worrying spread of a 'culture of death' which leads large sectors of public opinion to justify some crimes against life in the name of the rights of individual liberty and, with this assumption, pretends its legitimization by the state," the Pope wrote.

Not only is the Holy Father worried, but many others are as well. We are witnessing a complete disregard and disdain for life and the continued attack on all that is good. Pray for the Holy Father, and pray that those who advance the "culture of death" may be converted.

Zenit article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Crying to Heaven for Vengeance

The Bible mentions only four sins which cry out to God for vengeance. Considering the source and the emphasis, we have little choice but to examine our consciences on these points. A cursory examination will not do; we must cast off our cultural preconceptions to see beyond the obvious.

Catholic Culture Article by Dr. Jeff Mirus
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
Editorial: Grave sin to vote for Kerry?

OPINION -- Last June Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote a memorandum on “Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion,” to assist the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops.

Cardinal Ratzinger noted that (1) for a Catholic to vote for a candidate because the candidate favors abortion is so sinful as to render that Catholic unfit to receive Communion, but (2) voting for a pro-abortion candidate despite that candidate’s support of abortion is not sinful, if “proportionate reasons” justify voting for that candidate.

Unfortunately, Catholic News Service misreported that Cardinal Ratzinger “said it is not necessarily sinful for Catholics to vote for politicians who support abortion, as long as they are voting for that candidate for other reasons."

“Other reasons” do not suffice unless they are “proportionate reasons.”

This must be stressed over and over again - and explained to those who don't quite 'get it'.

Bishop Emeritus Rene Henry Gracida of Corpus Christi, Texas, issued a valuable statement explaining “proportionate reasons”:

The explanation us here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:38 AM   

 
Comparison of statements of Cardinal McCarrick, Bishop Gracida
An review of statements which show the contrasts regarding the obligations of voting with an informed conscience.
- posted by LRS @ 6:22 AM   

 
Donations by nuns to Emily's List

The Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters, the blue-robed nuns who have educated legions of Catholic children in southeastern Michigan, donated $200 to Emily's List, which raises money for Democratic female candidates who support the right to have abortions.

Despite the church's teachings against abortion, the IHMs made the donation in August 2003 to promote electing more women into office, said Sister Mary Katherine Hamilton, IHM vice president.

Paul Long, executive director of the Michigan Catholic Conference, denounced the IHM donation to Emily's List. He said there are other ways to advance women in politics, without "contributing to an organization that solely promotes the destruction of human life."

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:09 AM   

 
Whoever loves your law will have abundant peace
A sermon by Pope St Leo the Great

The blessedness of seeing God is justly promised to the pure of heart. For the eye that is unclean would not be able to see the brightness of the true light, and what would be happiness to clear minds would be a torment to those that are defiled. Therefore, let the mists of worldly vanities be dispelled, and the inner eye be cleansed of all the filth of wickedness, so that the soul’s gaze may feast serenely upon the great vision of God.

It is to the attainment of this goal that the next words refer: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This blessedness, dearly beloved, does not derive from any casual agreement or from any and every kind of harmony, but it pertains to what the Apostle says: Be at peace before the Lord, and to the words of the prophet: Those who love your law shall enjoy abundant peace; for them it is no stumbling block. Even the most intimate bonds of friendship and the closest affinity of minds cannot truly lay claim to this peace if they are not in agreement with the will of God. Alliances based on evil desires, covenants of crime and pacts of vice – all lie outside the scope of this peace. Love of the world cannot be reconciled with love of God, and the man who does not separate himself from the children of this generation cannot join the company of the sons of God. But those who keep God ever in their hearts, and are anxious to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, never dissent from the eternal law as they speak the prayer of faith. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

These then are the peacemakers; they are bound together in holy harmony and are rightly given the heavenly title of sons of God, co-heirs with Christ. And this is the reward they will receive for their love of God and neighbour: when their struggle with all temptation is finally over, there will be no further adversities to suffer or scandal to fear; but they will rest in the peace of God undisturbed, through our Lord who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

- posted by LRS @ 9:35 PM   

 
Marriage Is Only Between Man and Woman, Pope Reminds Canada

Only marriage between a man and a woman can guarantee the survival of a society and its culture, and hence cannot be equated with same-sex unions, says John Paul II.

"Any attempts to change the meaning of the word 'spouse' contradict right reason: legal guarantees, analogous to those granted to marriage, cannot be applied to unions between persons of the same sex without creating a false understanding of the nature of marriage," he added.

Full Zenit article here.
- posted by LRS @ 9:32 PM   

 
Mandatum Schools
I was not aware that a list had been published on colleges and universities which have embraced the mandatum as required both by Canon Law and by "Ex Corde Ecclesia".

However, I noticed that the National Catholic register has posted such a page on the web here.

This is a great resource for those who wish to do the best to ensure their children receive an authentic Catholic education.
- posted by LRS @ 8:30 AM   

 
Can the Vatican stop liturgical meddling?
Liturgical abuses are not problems only in the US...

For Irish Catholics, the most common experience of this reluctance to obey the rules comes at Sunday Mass. An increasing number of priests have taken it on themselves to ignore official directions and make up their own personal liturgies.

Since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the Church has experienced a tidal wave of liturgical abuse, not infrequently inspired by professional liturgists determined to challenge Catholic tradition and teaching.

"Guitars. Love songs. Dance.

"Background music. A few cushions, maybe.''

It sounds more like a lap-dancing club.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:13 AM   

 
USCCB questionaire...

Bishops survey of politicians reflects 'seamless garment' mentality that continues to pervade the 'modern' US Catholic hierarchy

Questionaire here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:01 AM   

 
Bishop Gracida: No Catholic could vote for Kerry...

...with a clear conscience."

"No Catholic could ever vote for John Kerry because he is 100 percent pro-abortion whereas President Bush is not," he told NewsMax just before Bush's speech."

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:28 AM   

 
Archbishop announces new stance
As you can see from this headline, the media is playing this out like there is no tomorrow.

Burke clarifies past remarks on voting.

Published Saturday, September 4, 2004
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Archbishop Raymond Burke, who sparked a national debate on denying Holy Communion to abortion rights candidates, has given an opening to Catholics in his archdiocese who vote for such politicians.

In June, Burke said Catholics cannot vote for candidates or policies in support of abortion and be worthy to receive Communion.

He now says Catholics can at times vote for those who favor abortion rights without committing a grave sin or having to go to confession.

In clarifying his stance this week, Burke said he believes Catholics could vote for a politician who supports abortion rights as long as that’s not the reason they are voting for the candidate. Catholic voters also must believe the candidate’s stance on other moral issues outweighs the abortion rights stance.

Of course there is no discussion of what constitutes "proportionate reasons". We are only told that "a Catholic could vote for an abortion rights politician without committing a grave sin after weighing all the moral issues a candidate stands for."

However, and this part is never stated in the newspapers, Archbishop Burke has previously said he finds it difficult to imagine any "proportionate reasons" which would permit one to vote for a candidate who supports and defends abortion. He would agree that "In some political races, each candidate takes a wrong position on one or more issues involving non-negotiable moral principles. In such a case you may vote for the candidate who takes the fewest such positions or who seems least likely to be able to advance immoral legislation, or you may choose to vote for no one."

This is a far cry from what we are reading in the papers these days.

Article.

- posted by LRS @ 10:17 PM   

 
Another example of the confusion...

A wide loophole

Pro-abortion Catholic voters and politicians must be breathing a sigh of relief after Archbishop Burke's clarification about how Catholics can support pro-abortion candidates, so long as they vote for them for other offsetting reasons.

What other reasons are more important? This is a loophole wide enough to accommodate a semi-trailer.

No politician will ever admit to being in favor of abortion. Politicians are all "personally opposed" to abortion, but with an all-important "but" attached. President Jimmy Carter invented the "personally opposed but" defense, and every pro-abortion politician has been using it ever since.

The archbishop's "clarification" is not a clarification at all, but an all-out retreat from his previous principled and courageous stand on this matter.

If this represents my church's official position on pro-abortion politicians and those who put them in office to support the culture of death, our bishops can cease issuing high-sounding guidelines on Catholics in public life. They are beginning to have a hollow ring to them.

F. Douglas Kneibert
Sedalia, Mo.

This is precisely the confusion and dissatisfaction which can occur when a secular newspaper attempts to "clarify" Catholic theological or moral principles. Mr. Kneibert is not the only person who has been mislead and confused by the Post-Dispatch's recent article. We can only hope and pray that Archbishop Burke will issue his pastoral letter sooner rather than later now that this misrepresentation has occurred.

Letters to the Editor Link.
- posted by LRS @ 10:08 PM   

 
"Well formed" Consciences?

Burke clarifies position on voting

Archbishop Raymond Burke did not give St. Louis Catholics much credit for intelligence when he said that we were confused by what he meant to say in June about the sinfulness of voting the wrong way. We knew exactly what he meant to say.

His current backtracking - explained by calling it "remote material cooperation and if the reasons are really proportionate" - might sound good in La Crosse, Wis., but we call it "common sense" here.

Perhaps he is beginning to understand that we Catholics will act on our own well-formed consciences, whether he agrees or not. Welcome to St. Louis, Archbishop Burke.

Robert Schutzius
Secretary, Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church
Florissant

Anybody who thinks the recent Post Article is a definitive statement from Archbishop Burke on voting and proportionality is confused. In a similar manner, anyone associated with a dissident group which rejects various teachings of the Church or which is opposed to the Church is devoid of a "well formed" conscience. It is an utter impossibility that the Holy Spirit would lead the Church in one direction while leading others in the opposite direction.

Letters to the Editor Link.
- posted by LRS @ 9:57 PM   

 
Terri Schiavo's "exit strategy" exposed
Fr. Rob Johansen has detailed and commented on the "exit protocol" document found in Terri Schiavo's medical file. It is a gruesome example of how one is to proceed in starving and dehydrating a human being - in this case, Terri Schiavo.

Read it here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:17 PM   

 
October 6, Wednesday - on EWTN, 9:00pm Central
GATE OF HEAVEN: THE SOLEMN CONSECRATION OF ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC ORATORY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

On May 31st, 2003, this Solemn Consecration was performed by the Most Rev. Bishop of La Cross, Raymond L. Burke. This ceremony is shown in all its parts:
(1) The purification & dedication of the Church;
(2) The translocation of the relics;
(3) Consecration of the Church; and,
(4) Celebration of the first pontifical high mass, using the traditional Latin rite of the Liturgy

Wednesday October 6, 2004 10:00 PM
Saturday October 9, 2004 1:00 PM
Sunday October 10, 2004 10:00 AM

--------------------------------------------------

For those of us who love and appreciate the Latin Mass, you won't want to miss this. This looks to be well worth watching.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:10 PM   

 
Conservative or Liberal Catholic
This article is as true, if not moreso, today as when it written.

Conservative or Liberal Catholic
by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

In almost any group of Catholics today, one hears the question frequently asked, "Are you a conservative or liberal Catholic?" Or perhaps it is posed, "Are you charismatic?" Then again the speaker may interrogate his audience about his familiarity with renewals, retreats, liberation theology, centering prayers, Cursillo or any other currently popular movement or practice within the Church. Oftentimes people feel that the answer to such a question involves deep philosophical pondering. Semantics aside, there can be only one answer to these questions.

The left of Rome, liberal Catholic manifests his faith in several unique public expressions. Often he is associated with causes such as gay rights, feminism, euthanasia, and a plethora of others. His religion is an umbrella which encompasses saving whales, recycling inorganic materials, worrying about CIA involvement in Latin American governments, humanizing bureaucratic organizations, and awaiting a cosmic Christ. The unity he envisions in the new world order has little if any linkage to the one bread, one body in which the religion he supposedly espouses was based. In his alleged concern for all rights, he supports many wrongs. Endorsed by him would be a church in which a non-gender-specific liturgical “service” is led by a female priest, assisted by altar girls for a congregation which consisted of those who hold disparate beliefs all of which were democratically allowed under the guise of freedom from the patriarchal system whose leadership, outdated and outmoded, was yet based in Rome.

At the opposite end of the belief spectrum is the conservative Catholic whose actions and opinions are always right (of center, that is). Archbishop Marcel Lefebre epitomizes for him the essence of strict adherence to the true faith. Just as his hands will not be sullied in an exchange of peace nor receive the Eucharist from a priest or (heaven forbid) an extraordinary minister, so too will his mind remain untouched by any of the allowable innovations inaugurated by the Second Vatican Council. As if the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered in the language of the laity instead of Latin were not bad enough, what could be said of the scandal of speaking in tongues and other manifestations of the charismatic Catholic? In practice much like strict interpreter of the Constitution, this believer professes only that which is explicitly expressed in the Ten Commandments of in Canon Law; all that which is tacitly implicit is not a viable worship option.

[O]ur duty as Roman Catholics is to adhere to both the letter and the Spirit as the Holy Father delineates them for us, not pick and choose those aspects of Catholicism more to our liking. As 2 John 9 reminds us, anyone who “does not remain rooted in the teaching of Christ does not possess God, while anyone who remains rooted in the teaching possesses both Father and the Son.”

Copyright © 1998 Inter Mirifica

The full article can be found here.



- posted by LRS @ 7:22 AM   

 
The lust for power?
From CNS...

U.S. nuns' group says Cardinal Ratzinger should resign

DENVER (CNS) -- German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger should resign as head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and be replaced by a "feminist woman," said an organization representing 500 U.S. women religious. The National Coalition of American Nuns added that the Vatican should grant greater decision-making power to women, including participation in the election of popes. The positions were taken in a resolution passed by the coalition's board of directors at its Aug. 18-21 meeting in Denver. The coalition is known by its initials, NCAN. It was founded in 1969 and specializes in human rights and social justice issues. In another resolution the board said the church should allow same-sex marriages. The resolution also opposed federal or state laws that would prohibit gay or lesbian unions.

What orders are included in this group? 500 religious "sisters"? We can only wonder what religion they embrace - it certainly is not Catholicism.

Source.

*** Updated ***
For additional statements/press releases given by this "coalition" see this, or this, or this.

These references should suffice to demonstrate that this group is opposed to the Church.
- posted by LRS @ 7:02 AM   

 
Why does Cardinal George permit Greeley to infect the Faithful?
Fr. Andrew Greeley's latest screed at the New York Daily News is an open attack against Cardinal Ratzinger and the Church.

This man, although ordained to the priesthood, is no priest of our Lord. Cardinal George should do something about him.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:54 AM   

 
Study Catholic Apologetics Online With Patrick Madrid

THE NEXT TIME A SINCERE if misguided non-Catholic [or professed Catholic] challenges you with tough questions about your Catholic beliefs, will you be ready with good answers? You will, by preparing yourself in the art of apologetics (i.e. defending the Faith).

Patrick Madrid does an excellent job in this area. His tapes are great and are well worth the investment.

The course details are here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:48 AM   

 
Lesbian Legislator Promotes 'Pedophile Protection Act' in California

Openly lesbian California Senator Sheila Keuhl (D) authored and is promoting Senate Bill 1313 in the State of California. The bill has gotten past both houses of the Democratically controlled California State Legislature and is on its way to Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for signature. SB 1313 drastically reduces the requirements for mandatory reporting of the known or suspected sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children. Critics are calling this bill the "Pedophile Protection Act."

Sheer lunacy....

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:44 AM   

 
Ann Coulter Rails on Abortion, Says Dems Support Murder

Conservative columnist Ann Coulter drew heady applause Wednesday in a front of a pro-life crowd when she referred to Democrats as murderers, adulterers and liars.

Article
- posted by LRS @ 6:22 AM   

 
The Vatican reaffirms its total rejection of euthanasia

"We must repeat with the utmost firmness that nothing and no one can give permission to kill an innocent human being, whether he be a fetus, an embryo, a child, an adult, an old person or a sick person in incurable agony," wrote [Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life].

"No one can claim such homicidal responsibility for himself or for another person. No authority can legitimately impose or permit it. This is a violation of divine law, an offense at the dignity of the human person, a crime against a life and an attack against humanity," the papal representative said.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
Archbishop Burke clarifies voting stance
After having quickly read this article, I am certain that the reporter has it incorrect. The reporter fails to properly explain the the issue of "proportionate reasons".

Archbishop Raymond Burke is giving St. Louis Catholics a way to vote for politicians who support abortion rights without commiting a grave sin or having to go to confession.

Burke said Thursday he believes Catholics could vote for a politician who supports abortion rights as long as that's not the reason they are voting for the candidate, and they believe the politician's stance on other moral issues outweighs the abortion-rights stance.

Burke now says there is one scenario in which a Catholic could vote for a politician who supports abortion rights without committing a grave sin.

In that scenario, a Catholic who personally opposes abortion rights, votes for a candidate who supports abortion rights "for what are called proportionate reasons," he said.

"And that is called remote material cooperation and if the reasons are really proportionate, and the person remains clear about his or her opposition to abortion, that can be done," Burke said.

So, a Catholic who does not support abortion rights can vote for a candidate who does support abortion rights without fear of committing a grave sin.

This statement, in and of itself, is FALSE and misleading - but then the Post is not known for presenting theological facts and principles in an unbiased manner.

Archbishop Burke will present the fullness of the teaching of the Church in an upcoming Pastoral Letter. Most certainly, he will discuss the issue or "proportionate reasons", which the Post fails to clarify.

I suspect that many will now feel vindicated and free to support and vote for pro-abortion candidates because of other moral issues which hold a pre-eminent position in their confused minds - over and above the primary life issues of abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, etc.

Archbishop Burke explained the situation recently. What I understand is this: Issues must be weighed and viewed objectively. If we consider the 5 non-negotiable and intrinsically evil issues as enumerated in the Catholic Answers Voters Guide, one may vote for a politician who supports and advocates fewer of the evils than his opponent.

For example, if "Candidate A" supports abortion only in cases of rape or incest and none of the other intrinsic evils while "Candidate B" supports and defends abortion, homosexual marriage/civil unions, and embryonic stem cell research, then one may NOT in good conscience support "Candidate B".

The "proportionality" is obvious - "Candidate A" support fewer intrinsic evils than "Candidate B" and will, in all likelihood do less harm than "Candidate B". "Proportion reasons", first and foremost, deal with the intrinsically evil acts which a candidate may support. It does not deal with other issues, until the five non-negotiable issues have been addressed. If neither candidate supports abortion or the other evils, then - and only then - may one continue to review the positions held on other social issues and choose a candidate based on a proper understanding of the those issues.

The Post, evidently, has found a temporary loophole - soon to be closed - with which they can continue to confuse uninformed Catholics. What a disservice to the community.

Article here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:05 AM   

 
Sufferings of U.S. Priests in Heart of Pope

John Paul II expressed his profound affection and gratitude to American priests for their suffering as a result of the scandals of those who betrayed their ministry.

Zenit article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:03 AM   

 
Meeting in London discusses how to make abortion an international right

Dear Colleague,

We report today on an amazing meeting that happened this week in London.
Timothy Wirth, former US Senator and official at the US State Department,
said the Bush administration may be guilty of crimes against humanity for
its work on HIV/Aids in Africa. Present was Thoraya Obaid of UNFPA.

Spread the word.
Yours truly,

Austin Ruse
President
Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 427
New York, New York 10017
Phone: (212) 754-5948 Fax: (212) 754-9291
E-mail: c-fam@c-fam.org Website: www.c-fam.org
-------------------
FRIDAY FAX

September 3, 2004
Volume 7, Number 37

Meeting in London discusses how to make abortion an international right

Pro-abortion government and non-governmental leaders met in London
this week to discuss the tenth anniversary of the 1994 International
Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The meeting devolved into
attacks on the Bush administration. Present was Thoraya Obaid, head of the
UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

The president of Ted Turner's United Nations Foundation, Timothy
Wirth, even discussed whether the Bush administration was guilty of
"crimes against humanity," because it encourages abstinence training to
prevent the spread of AIDS. According to Wirth, "the United States and
others have started questioning the efficacy of condoms. To condemn women
by indifference to science and by failure to provide tools for their own
protection may not meet the technical definition of crimes against
humanity but it is certainly gross negligence toward humanity."

During the meeting, called "Countdown 2015," Steven Sinding,
Director-General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation
(IPPF), proclaimed that a major goal of the attendees of the conference,
including presumably the UN and EU officials, was the expansion of legal
abortion.

According to Sinding, "IPPF and the people at this conference
believe that the abortion provisions of the ICPD did not go far enough in
calling for universal access to safe legal abortion. While we strongly
believe in eliminating unwanted pregnancies, we recognize that they cannot
be eliminated altogether. We believe the time has come to press ahead, to
reinforce a global movement to ensure that every woman in every country
has access to safe abortion services when she needs them."

Sinding also criticized the Bush administration for its program to
address HIV/AIDS in Africa, stating that, "Simplistic approaches like the
Bush administration's interpretation of 'ABC' [Abstain, Be faithful, or
use Condoms] gain legitimacy despite the fact that they are generated by
people with no understanding of sexual behavior or science." Sinding did
not address the fact that the US under the Bush administration is the
largest funder in history to the prevention and treatment of AIDS in
Africa, or that a growing number of scientists now consider Uganda's
abstinence program to be the most effective AIDS program in Sub-Saharan
Africa.

The meeting ended with the promulgation of the "Declaration of the
Global Roundtable," which called for governments to "guarantee the rights
of people irrespective of.gender identity or sexual orientation." The
Declaration also stated that, "We want a world where women and girls have
access to safe and legal abortion."

Dr. Lieve Fransen, head of the European Commission's human and
social development unit and the top EU AIDS official, welcomed the
Declaration, stating that he "will take your recommendations to the
European Council of Ministers in the fall where [UNFPA Executive Director]
Thoraya Obaid will be invited for the discussion."

Copyright 2004 - C-FAM (Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute).
Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required.

Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 427
New York, New York 10017
Phone: (212) 754-5948 Fax: (212) 754-9291
E-mail: c-fam@c-fam.org Website: www.c-fam.org

These people really do make me sick...Attempting to enshrine the horrific murderous crime of abortion as a "human right" is utterly demonic. The extent to which these people lie and distort the truth demonstrates that their thinking is a product of Satan himself - my, how proud he must be of his followers!

The demented logic of equating "abstinence" education to prevent AIDS with "crimes against humanity is to be expected from people like this. I often wonder how they would react if they were asked if it would be OK to abort them at this stage of their lives?

Pray for them and, especially pray for those they wish to murder!
- posted by LRS @ 5:56 PM   

 
Separating the Catholic Sheep From the CINO Goats
Reprinted from NewsMax.com

Separating the Catholic Sheep From the CINO Goats
Phil Brennan
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004

Except for a courageous handful, America's wimpish Roman Catholic Bishops won't say this, but I will: A significant number of proclaimed Catholics in this country are no more Catholic than the most secularized of their fellow Americans.

Yet the media insists on labeling them as being members of a church whose doctrines they dispute and whose disciplines they reject. It is members of this group whose dissent from the most vital teachings of the Church draws huzzahs from the neo-paganists who dominate the mainstream media today. And it also this group which distorts the true picture of what was once a solid voting bloc, but no longer exists as a political reality.

There are, in fact, faithful Catholics and there are people who call themselves Catholic but are, in reality, about as close to being atheists as they can get without completely banishing the idea of the Almighty from their lives. If He exists at all, to them He is merely an afterthought.

This has a serious impact on America's political future because, as George Marlin points out in his extraordinary new book, "The American Catholic Voter - 200 Years of Political Impact," both the real and pseudo Catholic vote will be the decisive one in the upcoming presidential election.

In a pair of recent Gallup polls it was revealed that Catholic registered voters who attend church weekly - about one-third of all Catholic registered voters - support Bush over Kerry. Those voters view Bush's moral policies as most closely resembling those of the Church, and Kerry's moral outlook as greatly at odds with the Church - by a full 10 percent margin, 52 percent to 42 percent.

But among those Catholics-in-name-only (CINO) voters who rarely if ever go to church - about 38 percent of the self-described Catholics - Kerry led by 57 percent to 39 percent.

Marlin points out that since the "Catholic" vote will determine the outcome - and he provides solid evidence for the veracity of this prediction - the election will be decided by how effective the Bush forces are in energizing the faithful Catholics to come out and vote for him, and how effective Kerry is in energizing the phony Catholic bloc of voters.

It's important to understand exactly what defines a Roman Catholic. Anyone wishing to be a member of the Roman Catholic Church must subscribe fully and not half-heartedly to what is called the "Depositum Fidei," the deposit of faith which contains the Church's doctrines. It's not up for debate. Take it or leave it. Leave it and you leave the Church.

Adhering to those doctrines faithfully makes a faithful Catholic. It is not easy. There are lots of inconveniences that prevent a Roman Catholic from living in accord with the current fun-and-games secularist lifestyle with which the media, Hollywood and the literary world are so enamored. It sets us apart from a majority of our fellow Americans. But as the old saying goes, "living Catholic is hard; dying Catholic is easy."

The CINOs reject the hard part - that which interferes with the decadent lifestyle they prefer. In the case of those in political life, the hard part interferes with taking positions opposite from those of voters on the left. And if that sets them at odds with their nominal religion, it's not their fault. They blame a Church which refuses to join the secularist parade and approve that which would deprive it of its very reason to exist.

Let's be blunt about this; people like John Kerry and Tom Daschle and their like - all CINOs - are well aware of the horrendous nature of abortion - the outright murder of unborn human beings in the eyes of the Church and most of humanity for most of the world's history.

But they would rather sacrifice babies over the political support of the multi-billion dollar abortion industry and its lavish campaign contributions.

Yet they continue to insist they remain members of the Catholic faith and are simply following their consciences by bartering their immortal souls for money and votes.

Let's be clear about this. They are not in any sense of the word Catholics. One can't support abortion and remain a Catholic. Nor can those who are faithful Catholics go down to their polling places on election day and vote for turncoats. By so doing they forfeit any claim to Catholicism and become apostates and accomplices in the murder of the unborn.

It's not just the issue of abortion that separates the CINOs from their former church. Other issues - same sex marriage and embryonic stem cell research and the requirement to attend Mass on Sundays - also puts them into the apostate column.

For them, living Catholic is just too hard. And dying outside their church will be hard. Damned hard.

Pray for them. And for God's sake, outvote them on election day.

Phil Brennan is a veteran journalist who writes for NewsMax.com. He is editor & publisher of Wednesday on the Web (http://www.pvbr.com) and was Washington columnist for National Review magazine in the 1960s. He also served as a staff aide for the House Republican Policy Committee and helped handle the Washington public relations operation for the Alaska Statehood Committee which won statehood for Alaska. He is also a trustee of the Lincoln Heritage Institute and a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He can be reached at phil@newsmax.com

This was sent to me via email today...It was too good not to pass along...All emphasis above was added by me.

Thanks to Marc for passing this on the me!

- posted by LRS @ 12:21 PM   

 
St. Louis Catholic elementary teachers turn to Vatican

After a nine-year fight to unionize, a group of St. Louis-area Catholic elementary school teachers have sent a suit of sorts to an arm of the Catholic Church at the Vatican.

The 80-page canonical recourse, as it is called, alleges that St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke has gone against canon law and violated human and natural rights by refusing to recognize a union for elementary school teachers.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:31 AM   

 
Kentucky Supreme Court Unleashes Power of the State to Kill its Own Citizens

The Kentucky Supreme Court issued a stunning decision on August 26th granting legal authority to the state of Kentucky to end the life of a totally innocent ward of the state. The case involved a mildly retarded black male, Matthew Woods, who was placed on a ventilator after suffering cardiac arrest at the age of 54. The state requested permission to remove his life support, contrary to the wishes of Woods' guardian at litem.

Article
- posted by LRS @ 6:28 AM   

 
:The Passion" Sells over 4 Million Copies on First Day of DVD Release

Fox Home video announced Wednesday that 4.1 million copies of the video were sold on the first day of its release.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Critics: Blessed Junipero Serra - a Sinner

[S]ome elementary school teachers and activists say Serra took advantage of Native American labor, and through his leadership, the Golden State’s adored missions had devastating effects on thousands of Indians who lost their freedom and lives building and maintaining the 21 Catholic sites.

While Serra could become California’s first saint, some teachers are providing their own perspective, forsaking the mandated textbooks and letting 8-year-olds act out scenarios that portray Serra as a trickster and even, in a few extreme cases, a purveyor of genocide

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:59 AM   

 
Opinion Shaper: Have the pharisees taken over the Vatican?
Here is an article written, not be a theologian, but by a co-founder of a 'constitutional think tank'. This man is quick to criticize the Church and Bishop Smith of Trenton, NJ for upholding and protecting the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist. As you may recall, this story began with the problem of a young girl who suffers from some form of celiac disease and was given a communion wafer made of rice rather than wheat - and, of course, this was rightly declared to be invalid.

Now comes John R. Stoeffler, the author of this St. Louis Post Dispatch article, who equates the position of the Church with that of the pharisees for being 'legalistic'. He states:

For me this doctrine [the Holy Eucharist] is clearly based on legalism that has more in common with the pharisees Jesus encountered than that of the Good Samaritan.

For one who understands what a sacrament is, this should be no problem. It is no more 'legalistic' than any of the 10 Commandments. As you may know, simply stated, a sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace [Baltimore Catechism]. Or as the new Catechism indicates: The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us (CCC 1131).

But there is more to be said of the Holy Eucharist which Mr. Stoeffler does not understand when he states:

The origin of the Eucharist began at the Last Super when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples. The bread was symbolic of Jesus' body, and the wine that of his shed blood. In distributing the bread and wine to his disciples Jesus told them to "do this in rememberance of me." (Luke 22:19) What eight-year-old Haley Waldman and all who participate in the celebration of the Last Supper were doing was honoring Jesus by keeping his charge.

Faithful Catholics understand that there the bread and the wine are not merely symbolic of Jesus' body and blood, but actually and truly become the very body, blood, soul and divinity of our Saviour by the power of the Holy Spirit. This has been the teaching of the Church from the very beginning - it is not some mere 'honoring of Jesus by keeping His charge'. Jesus said, "This IS My Body, this IS My Blood." Nowhere in the New Testament or in the writings of the Early Church Fathers is there any mention of a merely symbolic nature to this august mystery.

As the Sacraments were instituted by our Lord Himself, the Church does not have the power or authority to change them.

Mr Stoeffler finishes by stating:

If the Catholic Church has a problem with Haley Waldman's physical restriction I know there are other Christian denominations whose members would take a sincere interest in her physical concerns and spiritual well being and welcome her with open arms.

The insinuation that the Catholic Church has a problem with the little girl's disease is disingenuous and represents a complete lack of understanding of the Church. Catholics certainly sympathize with those who suffer from the disease and the Church does allow low-gluten hosts to be used. The Church also permits the communicant to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord under the species of wine.

While other Christian communities might well accept Haley with open arms, the fact remains that these other Christian communities cannot offer her what the Church established by Jesus Christ can offer - the real, true and substantial Body and Blood of our Lord contained in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
'The Passion' Sells 2.4 Million DVDs

The DVD of Mel Gibson's biblical epic "The Passion of the Christ" went on sale Tuesday and sold 2.4 million copies by midday.

"We think a lot of the consumers will be going in after work to pick it up," said Steve Feldstein, spokesman for Fox Home Entertainment, which is distributing the DVD. Total one-day sales figures for the movie were expected Wednesday.

I have not picked one up yet, although I plan to do so this week...I'm looking forward to watching the movie again and I'm reluctant to recall how offensive to God my sins are.

Article here
- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
Pastoral Letter from the Bishop of Diocese of Greensburg

Dear Brother Priests and Deacons,
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Faith,

This pastoral letter is being addressed to you in an effort to clarify the Catholic Church's teaching as it relates to certain issues which have emerged as a result of this year's election campaigns. It analyzes these issues from a faith perspective. By way of conclusion, I have focused upon some practical measures which result from this analysis, and which are considered pastorally appropriate. I commend this statement to your careful consideration.

Full text here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:15 AM   

 
Responsibility of U.S. Catholic Voters
This is a Zenit interview with Cardinal McCarrick.
Link.
- posted by LRS @ 5:41 AM