Surely, this cannot be true?

Chicago based researchers uncover previously unreleased portion of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document on interfaith relations
4/1/2004 8:41:00 PM
By Hugh Moore, Executive Director - St. Laphatdis Foundation (www.laphadisfoundation.net)

Mr. Hugh Moore, Executive Director of the St. Laphatdis Foundation (www.laphadisfoundation.net) in Chicago announced today at a press conference the discovery of a previously unreleased version of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document on inter-faith relations. The document outlines efforts by the council to reach some level of ecumenical understanding with the Church of Satan. In Germany, an ecumenical Cardinal who prefered to go unnamed gave ghostly praise to the new document, calling it "a breakthrough in the Catholic Church's journey toward fully reconciling herself with the many gifts that those who reject Christ bring to our cultural heritage."

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NOSTRA AETATE (Part II): Declaration on the relation of the Church to Satan

In this age of ours, when men are are drawing more closely together and the bonds of friendship between different peoples are being strengthened, the Church examines with still greater care the relation which she has with Satan.
...
The Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy about Satan. She has high regard for his nature, office, dignity and faith. Although she differswith him on many points of doctrine, nevertheless he often relects a ray of that truth which enlightens all God's creatures. Let Christians, while witnessing to their own faith and way of life, acknowledge, preserve and encourage the spiritual and moral truths found within the person of Satan as well as his social and religious life and culture.

Read it here...and pray...This "angelic" creature seems to have made his way into Christ's Church.

Seriously...Is Mr. Hugh Moore (Humor) really on to something?

The Holy Father's Address to US Bishops of Atlanta & Miami

The full text of the Holy Father's address is here.

Pope John Paul II has stunned Catholic health care providers, ethicists and theologians by announcing emphatically that it is "morally obligatory" to continue artificial feeding and hydration for people in a persistent vegetative state, even if they remain so for years.

Stunned ethicists and theologians? What's new? Some people are stunned everytime moral truth is spoken by the Church.

Until now, the 565 hospitals in the Catholic Hospital Association (CHA) considered feeding tubes for people in a persistent vegetative state "medical treatment," which could be provided or discontinued, based on evaluating the benefits and burdens on patient and family.

Many public and private hospitals have taken this stance since 1990, when the Supreme Court ruled that feeding tubes are medical treatments "never intended to keep someone alive forever in an unconscious state," says attorney Bill Colby, who argued the case.

Of course, many have taken to following the laws of man rather than the laws of God. It's one of the reasons this country is in such a deplorable shape now. As God is removed from society, the society crumbles under its own weight of iniquity...

"I think we all would have withdrawn a feeding tube in her case — until this," says Laurence O'Connell, director of Park Ridge Center for Health, Faith and Ethics in Chicago. The pope's stance is "a stunner, to say the least."

This may be a place one would want to avoid...starvation and dehydration are, to them, perfectly acceptable forms of "dying with dignity"!

Pathetic, reprehensible, and sad! Link is here in USA Today.

U.S. Homosexual Activist Website Provides List of 'Gay Friendly' Catholic Parishes

This from LifeSite:

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A homosexual activist website has produced a state by state listing of 'gay friendly' Catholic parishes. Faithful Catholics who have seen the site suggest that it may make a good starting point for bishops concerned with dissent among their priests.

Here are those listed for Missouri:

Missouri
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception --Kansas City
St. Cronan's, St. Margaret of Scotland --St. Louis

Link to article.

Swiss Bishops Reject Call for Women's Ordination

How long did it take them to come up with this? This story was circulating late last year, as I recall. The Holy Father stated that this issue was closed for discussion 10 years ago. I know, some things take time to be understood in the proper context!

According to the bishops' conference, Paula Beck, author of the initiative promoted by the synod, has been the cause of schismatic conduct and has committed a serious infraction of the constitution of the local Church. She has exhorted the ecclesial communities to "go against the bishops."

The bishops' conference has asked the synod to explain Beck's public positions.

It sounds as if it has already been perfectly explained. It was posted all over the net some time ago. Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, as an infallible teaching of the Church, requires firm and definitive assent. The Catechism says something about this in # 2089:

Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. "Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him."

Today has really been an exercise in the virtue of patience and charity!

Story is here at Zenit.

Kerry Planning on Playing the Martyr

Yes, aides for John Kerry say he is no different than the vast majority of "practicing American Catholics." Well, of course there may be some truth in this statement - primarily because most "Catholics" may not be aware of the Church's teachings or, perhaps they may actually refuse to assent to them - because they are too hard to accept!

But that's not all:

...According to other sources inside the Kerry camp, aides are attempting to identify a Catholic diocese, and perhaps even a specific priest and church, where Kerry could attend a Mass with reporters present, and be turned away at the altar attempting to receive communion.

They should not have to look very hard - Our own Archbishop Burke has stated that he would refuse Kerry if he presented himself for Holy Communion. He should come here to St Louis and display his hypocrisy and play the 'martyr'...How low can this man sink? Satan must be very proud!

[Full Article]

A way for Bishops to get tough with Kerry?

Diogenes has proffered a surprisingly brilliant way to entice the Bishops to come down firmly on John Kerry:

Spread a rumor that Kerry regularly attends a Latin Mass.

See the post here.

French Cardinal denounces "The Passion"

This is almost too much...you'll have to read the article.

It is hard to say who has been tougher on Gibson and his film, the secular film critics or the Roman Catholic Church.
"His 'Passion' seems to be based on an apocryphal Gospel according to the Saint Marquis de Sade," the left-wing newspaper Liberation wrote. "His faith is the Shi'ite version of Christianity, his religion soaked in blood and pain."

Paris Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, who was born Jewish and converted as a teenager, denounced the film's violence as the opposite of Jesus's message of love and compassion.

"The Gospel is not The Gallic Wars or Napoleon's Memoires," he said last week. Love of God, he said, "is not measured in liters of hemoglobin and spilled blood."

Let us not dwell on the fact that God became Man so that He might take on all sin and suffer and die for our redemption. Let's pretend that none of this did in fact happen.

Lord, please grant me patience in order that I will not denounce people like this!

It's time to depose this heretic bishop...

Controversial S. African bishop speaks out in Hub
By Eric Convey
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
A soft-spoken South African Catholic bishop who made headlines worldwide by endorsing the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS in his homeland said the church would benefit from moving away from its hierarchical ways.

The Catholic church, said Bishop Kevin Dowling, should be ``about building the compassionate, caring, people-centered church.''

That means developing rules based on what the faithful believe they need rather than imposing rules from above, he said. ``We've got to continue the process of building a more people-centered and community-centered theology.''

Dowling, in a Herald interview before an appearance that was part Boston College's Church in the 21st Century Project, endorses condom use despite official Catholic teaching against it.

Catholics, he said, should ``keep on creating and re-creating a church which gives people the experience of this love-filled, compassion-filled God who is present in the human condition in order that it be transformed.''

``That is what I believe the church in Boston needs to do for its own people as we have to do in Rustenberg in South Africa.

This man has rejected both Christ and His Church. He wants to build his 'new' church in his own image. The faithful need to be rid of this heretic!

American Life League urges archbishop to ban Kerry

...in its statement issued Tuesday, the American Life League asked Archbishop O’Malley to go one step further and “to consider the example of Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis, who used Church law to officially bar certain pro-abortion Catholics from receiving Communion.”

This needs to be done immediately especially considering that he made a special trip to Washington to vote against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.

NRB calls for legal consistency in abuse cases

Members of the National Review Board--the watchdog group commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops--are calling for uniform regulations that would protect priests' legal rights.

Coming soon: Long-awaited Vatican document on liturgical abuse

From Catholic News Service:
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A long-awaited Vatican document on liturgical abuse has been signed by Pope John Paul II and is expected to be published after Easter.

The latest reports indictated that this was to be released on Holy Thursday...Now we might now see this until after Easter.

Almost as much as the content, the tone of the draft document alarmed some liturgists in Rome, including several who work with the Vatican on papal liturgies.

Servite Father Silvano Maggiani, president of the Association of Professors of Liturgy, read a message expressing the liturgists' fear that the liturgical reform movement opened by Vatican II was being closed down.

He also wrote that it would go against Vatican II to try and return to a "schism ... between lay faithful and ordained ministers."

There was a schism between the laity and the priests prior to Vatican II? Who is this guy and where does he come up with this? Maybe it's a translation problem?

Whatever the final form, the document takes aim at liturgical abuse, and it was written at the specific request of the pope. When he asked for its preparation almost a year ago, the pope said he wanted it to include "prescriptions of a juridical nature" regarding church rules for the celebration of Mass and adoration of the Eucharist.

Perhaps the delay is that the "prescriptions of a juridical nature" have to be removed so as not to offend the sensibilities of those who prefer the "do it yourself" Mass?

Homosexual Reporter for Nat'l Catholic Reporter Disrupts Mass

CANTON, Mass. - A gay man interrupted a church Mass on Sunday when he told congregants he objected to a video opposing same-sex marriage that was shown moments earlier.

Chuck Colbert created a brief disturbance when he stood up after the eight-minute video, identified himself as a Catholic and said he objected to the video, said the Rev. Michael Doyle of St. John the Evangelist church.

"I just found it to be such a scurrilous, scandalous piece of misinformation," Colbert said. "For me to sit there and take it is out of the question."

Some people can't stand the truth...

"My life is very similar to the people in there," Colbert told New England Cable News outside the church. "I want to be married, I have a wonderful partner, we're building a life together, it in no way threatens anyone else."

Building a life together?

"He's not even a member of that parish," he (Archdiocese spokesman the Rev. Christopher Coyne) said. "He doesn't even worship in Canton. He was obviously alerted and decided to disrupt that Mass."

Colbert acknowledged he was alerted about the video, but that he's free to attend any Mass.

"I wanted to see how it was presented," he said. "I've never seen anything like that."

Of course he hasn't seen anything like it before. When one lives in the dark, one usually avoids the light of truth. How sad this is for the parishioners who had to go through this. How sad for this man who chooses to be shackled by the Evil One. May God have mercy on him!

John Kerry, Bible Scholar and Preacher?

Yes! He can add this to his CV now, in addition to that of supporter of the murder of innocent unborn children.

Sen. John Kerry brought his presidential campaign to a St. Louis church Sunday, mixing preaching with politics, and Scripture with soul.
...
Kerry's aim was to appeal to the largely African-American crowd - generally loyal to the Democratic Party...

Of course...those who suffer the most from the scourges of abortion.

Kerry, D-Mass., departed from his prepared text when he took to the lectern. He praised the worshippers: "Thank you for telling the truth here. And as the Bible also tells us, the truth shall set you free."

Unfortunately, one who is enslaved by sin will be unable to understand what is meant by true freedom. But, I suppose it sounds good.

"The Scriptures say, 'What does it profit my brother if someone says he has faith, but does not have works,'" Kerry continued. "When we look at what is happening in America today, 'Where are the works?' For it is also written, 'The doers of the word are no hearers only.'"

Yes, and they also say "Thou shall not murder", and "He who hears you, hears Me and the One Who sent Me."

Perhaps, now that he has become a biblical expert, and since he claims to be "Catholic", some of the local parishes may want to invite him to conduct Bible Studies or something?

Story here.

Kerry won't be bossed around by the Pope (or by Jesus, either)

No puppet of Pope, Kerry says
By DEREK ROSEDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

John Kerry says he is a proud, churchgoing Catholic, but the former altar boy insists he won't be bossed around by the Pope.

Hmmm, there is the first clue in the word "proud". So proud, in fact, that he is rejecting the authority of the Holy Father, huh? In effect, then, he is saying, in union with Satan, "I will not serve!" What a guy! A born leader!

St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke said last month he would refuse to give Kerry Communion if he went to his church.

Kerry was in St. Louis yesterday but sidestepped the issue by praying and speaking at a Baptist church, New Northside Missionary. He cited Scripture and an African proverb, "When you pray, move your feet."

A good, practicing Catholic, eh? Didn't go to Mass? I'll bet he did not want to be refuse Holy Communion here in St. Louis, publicly.

I suppose he doesn't recall our Blessed Mother's advise, "Do whatever He tells you!"?

More Problems at St. Stanislaus

The meeting at St. Stanislaus yesterday, from the account in the paper, must have really been something to see.

Surely there is more to this story than what we know. There is something else about the group of people who are running the parish as well. The story relates this:

Some church members have also investigated the option of hiring their own priest from the Internet at www.rentapriest.com if they lose their priest.

Now this really speaks volumes! Any Catholic who would actually consider an action such as this, is certainly in need of help.

It would certainly be nice to be able to get the details of what this controversy is really about and why it has come to the attention of the Archdiocese. And why has it been allowed to continue for so long?

Full story here.

"Same Sex" Unions starting in St. Louis?

This was in Sunday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Two women wed in county church in union of politics and tradition
By Aisha Sultan
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/28/2004At the solemn moment before the rings were exchanged Saturday afternoon, the minister performing the wedding ceremony misspoke.

He described the rings as symbols of enduring love which the couple entered as "husband and wife," to which the crowd of about 200 guests burst into laughter.

"Excuse me - life partner," said the Rev. Daniel O'Connell. "I guess my ceremony needs an update."

O'Connell performed a wedding ceremony at Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood for two women - Lesley Proud, 55, and Sally Nelson, 50, of Creve Coeur. While the ceremony has no legal standing, the couple said they wanted to open it to the public to raise support for gay marriages.

This is an affront to a civilized society - but then, it may be a stretch to call our society civilized. As a society, in general, we have rejected the fundamental precepts of our Creator and continue to murder His unborn little ones. This is nothing more than the fruit which comes from our rejection of the Divine Law and the natural moral law.

St. Louis archdiocesan agencies told to cut expenses, balance budgets

From Catholic News Service:

ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- The Archdiocese of St. Louis has launched a cost-cutting effort, asking agencies and offices to reduce expenses to balance their budgets. Deacon Frank Chauvin, chief financial officer of the archdiocese, said operating costs have risen. "We have to take a hard look at where we are and decide what if any (costs) we can eliminate without eliminating some of the services we provide," he said. Deacon Chauvin noted that salaries have risen slightly to stay competitive in the labor market. He added that "our health care insurance has increased significantly (and) our property insurance, liability insurance and so forth have increased."

Article here.

Lay Eucharistic Conference, Saturday, March 27 ...

Archbishop Raymond Burke will address the papal encyclical, 'Ecclesia de Eucharista' as the keynote speaker of the archdiocesan Lay Eucharistic Conference. The day begins with Mass at 9:00 a.m. and concludes with Benediction at 2:15 p.m.

Location: St. Raymond Maronite Catholic Church

American Life League to track Kerry's movements, warn local bishops

From Lifesite:

The group plans to track Kerry's movements and warn local bishops of his approach with the following: "Warning! This pro-abortion senator is coming to your diocese, and may attempt to desecrate the Holy Eucharist while reporters take his picture."

It would be an act of great charity, courage and unity if all U.S. Bishops would follow Archbishop Burke's lead and state categorically and unanonymously that John Kerry may not receive Holy Communion in their dioceses.

Too much to ask for?

Relics of Crucifixion coming to St. Louis-April 3 & 4

From Catholic Citizens of Illinois:

Venerated relics of Christ's Passion - from pieces of the cross, to replicas of the nails believed to have been used 2000 years ago to crucify Jesus - will be put on rare public display next month during Easter.

The relics will be shown at the Cathedral in St. Louis on Palm Sunday, April 4, and at the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., from April 4-18.

"As the recent success of films on the final days of Christ's life show, people of faith still feel a deep connection to his death after 2000 years, and we hope that allowing people to see these relics will make that connection even stronger," said Andrew Walther, vice president of the Apostolate for Holy Relics, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that is organizing the events.

Last year, over 140,000 people reportedly attended nationwide displays, organized by AHR, of a 16th century relic of St. Juan Diego.

"For those who cannot visit the relic shrines in Rome, or the Holy Land itself, this is as close as many people will come to artifacts associated with the crucifixion," Walther said. "We hope that people will come away from viewing these relics with an increased faith and personal connection to Christ’s loving sacrifice."

Added AHR President Thomas Serafin: "We are grateful to Archbishop Burke and the Archdiocese of St. Louis and to the John Paul II Cultural Center for providing venues in which these rare and moving items can shown to the American public for the first time in recent memory."

The most celebrated relic of Christ's Passion, of course, is the Shroud of Turin -- the reputed burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The current edition of WND's monthly Whistleblower magazine features an in-depth look at the Shroud, and the latest scientific and historical evidence of its authenticity.

See the Archdiocesan Web Site here for more information

More info:
On Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, as part of the observance of Palm (Passion) Sunday and the opening of Holy Week, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis will host a display of relics of Christ’s Passion. Arranged with the cooperation of the Apostolate for Holy Relics, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving Christian relics and promoting their devotional veneration, the display at the Cathedral Basilica will include relics of the True Cross, the Column of the Flagellation, the Crown of Thorns, the Burial Shroud, the Table of the Last Supper, and St. Longinus (traditionally held to be the centurion who thrust the lance into Christ’s side, and who subsequently converted to Christianity and was martyred). Also included in the collection are an effigy of the Veil of Veronica and a replica of a nail used in the Crucifixion, both issued by the Vatican. The relics will be displayed beginning on April 3, following 8 a.m. Mass and continuing until the conclusion of 5 p.m. Mass; and again on April 4, also following 8 a.m. Mass. The display will conclude on Sunday evening with a 7:30 p.m celebration of Evening Prayer, at which Archbishop Burke will preside and preach, and which will include a procession with and veneration of the relics. All are warmly invited and encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity to encounter and meditate on the mystery of Christ’s Passion, through the Church’s tradition of holy relics.

Location: Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108

Watch this clip...

Thanks to Carol McKinley at Magisterial Fidelity who posted this link on her site, "Grab a cup of coffee, take 8 minutes and listen to what will happen should sexual anarchists obtain the civil right to create races through deviant sexual activity."

Video here.

Weak Sense of Sin Seen Undermining Use of Confession

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 25, 2004 (Zenit.org).-

Disuse of the sacrament of reconciliation is due to the crisis of the sense of sin, said an organizer of a course given by the Holy See to young priests.

The intense course on the "internal forum," questions of conscience, that priests are involved with, especially in the sacrament of penance, is being held through Saturday by the Apostolic Penitentiary.
...
"In an age of profound changes, it is not difficult to see that the sacrament of penance has suffered an obfuscation in practice in recent times," the priest said on Vatican Radio.

"A first aspect that catches the attention is the weakening of the sense of sin. The weakened consciousness of sin runs the risk of leading the penitent to simply externalize his state of spirit instead of acknowledging his own sin," Father Girotti said.

Full Article.

From jail, St. Louis priest seeks information on victim

I missed this the other day, somehow...

The Rev. Bryan Kuchar has asked supporters and parishioners at Assumption Catholic Church in south St. Louis County to provide character references in his efforts to block the church's attempt to remove him as a clergyman.

Continuing to maintain that he is not a sexual offender, Kuchar has hired Bertrand to fight his removal. He said in the letter that he expects he will never be returned to public ministry here because of the publicity surrounding his case.

Of course, it is the PUBLICITY that will keep him from returning to ministry - not the fact the he was convicted of a crime.

In a recent meeting with the victim's mother, Stika said, Archbishop Raymond Burke "made it clear that Kuchar is not coming back as a priest in this diocese."

Full Story here.

Meeting Notes from St. Louis VOTF Conference, March 13

VOTF-St Louis Conference, March 13

Before I post my transcribed notes, I need to say a couple of things. I arrived about 8:45 to register and noticed that they had a table set up for "walk-ins" - so much for the pre-registration requirement.

The vast majority of the people there were well past retirement age it seemed to me. Very few young people, and by young, I mean below the age of 40. There was, perhaps, roughly 150 people there based on the number of occupied chairs.

I saw Mr. Robert Schutzius, who wrote a rather scathing letter to the editor to the Post-Dispatch critical of Archbishop Burke.

I noticed 6 priests at the meeting: 5 wearing a roman collar and 1 in civies. (Msgr. Telthorst, Fr. Robeson, Fr. Lydon, others unknown). I'm not certain if there were more there or not.

Below are the transcripts of my notes from the day's meeting:
Any comments of mine in the transcription will be in [brackets].
----------------------------------------------------------------
The meeting was opened with comments by Ken Parker, Professor of Theological Studies at St. Louis University.

There was a "Gathering" Prayer to begin the meeting with "Voices of Survivors" (Statements of survivors read by others, I assume not victims), Songs, and prayers complete with a sort of 'danced movement' (actually arm/hand gestures) because "it (danced prayer) is part of our culture".
-----------------------
After the prayer service, Don Manson and his wife? (of VOTF-Mid Missouri, Jefferson City) spoke first. They related how they had started a VOTF-type group (PVMM-Parish Voice Mid Missouri) in the Diocese of Jefferson City in 2002. They encountered difficulties in getting the priests to come to their meetings and getting permission to meet on parish grounds. They were told by the bishop that he would not force any priest to provide accommodations for them.

By March 2003, the Diocesan newspaper would never print the letters of articles nor did they receive a response why. Participation in the group dwindled from 20 to about 12.

They are now considering doing an op/ed piece in the local papers in an attempt to encourage more involvement.

Their view of the issues:
Childrens Safety Programs
Children leaving the Church after Confirmation
Lack of Vocations
Lack of open discussion regarding "alternative" vocations (married & women priests)
The Loss of the "Best" Catholics, because of their 'frustration' with the Church over these and other issues.
[I was curious what he meant by 'best' Catholics?]

The last issue, which evoked a positive response from the crowd, was "How do we go about changing the Church, when there is active suppression of dissent by Church authority?

----------------------------
Mike Pollard-VOTFSL

We are moved by the 'spirit'.
There is a need to add more people to leadership in the group.
We are ready to act.
We need to remember the vision of Vatican II.

----------------------
Fr. Donald Cozzens [wearing suit, not clerical clothes]

There is frustration and discouragement among the faithful.

He discussed the John Jay Study and the National Review Board (NRB)Report. He indicated that he was interviewed by the NRB at Bob Bennett's office and said it was like a friendly deposition with several lawyers present.

The message for Bp. Gregory - It isn't history! (from National Catholic Reporter editorial)

He said there is a systemic structural crisis in the Church today and he quotes Peggy Steinfels of Commonweal.

The NRB has done much to liberate the laity, continuing the liberation of the laity started by Vatican II. He believes they (NRB) will do more to liberate the laity.

Things will be different now because there is an 'educated' laity. [See later statements on feudal system]

The NRB report blamed bishops and seminaries, specifically 2 aspects of seminaries: admissions and formation.

Today there is more psychological testing than ever. What is needed are more leaders and preachers. He related the story of an Annapolis graduate who became a candidate for the priesthood and who stated that the psych testing in the seminary was so much more than that at the academy.

Many candidates for the priesthood do not have the charism of celibacy. There needs to be a discussion of celibacy and of married priests. Especially considering that the Church allows married ministers of other faiths to enter the Church and become priests.

There is a problem with zero tolerance for priests but none for bishops. We should be looking at a zero risk policy instead.

Celibacy is a key to the crisis. Need to address the resistance to the removal of celibacy. It's easier for the hierarchy to control celibate priests than married priests.
In the reports, deacons have a much lower incidence or abuse (because married).

Quoted part of a poem by a monk, Kilean McDonald?, which include the phrase "large betrayals, small treasons", about a group of monks standing around a grave burying one of their own.

All of us are in denial to some extent, including the Church. The Church is not healthy.

Also quoted MASH's Fr. Francis Mulcahey, "We all are experts at not facing things."

Quoted stats on the number of priestless parishes, etc.

Many Catholics are uncomfortable with the Church. (read some verses from Lamentations & Jeremiah) "Rachel mourns her children."

Was especially grateful to Bishop John Heaps? of Australia for his expounding on the real meaning of Vatican II.

Asks the question about which we must think: Why are structures of the Church they way they are?

Our vision of the Church - what should it be?

Critics of VOTF have not taken to heart the spirit & teachings of Vatican II.

Pius X once said that "the laity is to docily follow their pastors." Look where we are now.

The Holy Spirit has been loosed in the world. The spirit cannot be stifled or quieted.

We are witnessing the unraveling the last feudal system. Explained how the feudal system worked....The linchpin to bring down this feudal system is LOYALTY.

Feudal systems only work when the serfs (us) are uneducated. Our education is our freedom from serfdom.

The dioceses are fiefdoms (parishes, also). Look at the titles used: Excellency, eminence, grace, monsignor [this drew laughs].

Under the old ordination ritual during one part he was required to say "adsum" (I am present). Laity should start saying "adsum" - I am here, I am present!.

Our loyalty should be to the Gospel and our conscience. Touted Walter Burkhardt?, theologian and writer for "America" magazine.
---------------------------
Questions Asked/Statements given before lunch.

Vocations - where are they. Why male only, why no married allowed?

Structural changes needed-Will I, as a woman be listened to if I go to the chancery?

Will women ever be ordained? Ans. Perhaps to the diaconate, theologians are looking into it, no reason why not, there were women deacons in the early church.

Why does the Church have such narrow teachings on sexuality? Ans. The Church is schizophrenic about sex...this will need more theological work as well.

Does VOTF support the Pro-Life position and why don't we hear more from them about it?

Need to apply pressure and begin revolution - maybe the first step is the ordaining of deacons wives, since they have gone thru all the training as the husband....

Why does VOTF not attract young people, generally?

Why isn't this room overflowing with people? Ans. It's the vision of VOTF that's important right now...then quotes something from Hans Kung.

Why is ordination even necessary?

What about financial accountability? Where is the money going? Not for schools, etc? Ans. New book by David Gibson will address this...it will be next crisis in the Church.

Why can we not have the Church as it was in early America with John Carroll & John England...why is Americanism heresy? Ans. Read Anthony Pavadano, quoted something about the early Church in America is a good model.

Need for democracy in the Church.

There is the liberating power of speech for structural changes in the Church. The role of women is a "tilting/turning" point.

Bob Schutzius asks something like, Because of the lack of the Eucharist in so many places, can we call our bishops "TRAITORS"....Ans. Not recommended, too confrontational...Question, How about with a small "t"?

Why doesn't someone tell the people how the bible stories are not true but come from ancient pagan myths and legends?

We men need to understand the great feminine spiritual consciousness both in women and also in us.

What's new in seminaries today? Ans...Dialoguing, some seminaries are open for lay education as well (about 50%); this help seminarians prepare for the real world interfacing with people.

There needs to be a call for a rethinking on contraception by the Church, to remove the ban on contraception.

One problem with not allowing women in the priesthood, girls feel inadequate - they don;t feel as important as men.

Another praises the feminist movement and what it has done to bring the Church into the 20th/21st century...The train is on a roll and cannot be stopped!

We need to get back to living and doing in the spirit of Vatican II [from one of the musicians, maybe in his 30's]

Cozzens indicated that he had several 'hysterical' comments on his book in 2000.
-----------Lunch Break----------------

My General Comments.

After having attended my first VOTF meeting, I can only express my profound grief for these people. While professing to be Catholic, they are far removed from the Church in a spiritual sense, even though they may have some of the outward appearances of being practicing Catholics. They have a grossly distorted view of the Church. They are defiant and proud. Their understanding of Vatican II is irreconcilable with the actual documents of the council. One must believe that they have not read any of the documents of Vatican II.

My reason for going was to ask questions of the presenters to challenge them to see the truth. While I was reworking my questions for the Q&A, perhaps 20 or more people had lined up already to ask questions or make comments and there was not nearly enough time for all the people before the break. I waited to see what would happen all the while hoping to have an opportunity to ask a couple of key questions which most would not want to hear.

While watching them and listening to their 'issues' with the Church, I began to see them in a different light. I saw these people as, perhaps, truly lost. Maybe this was due to what they had been taught after Vatican II by others who were confused. The poor souls are bewildered. Many no longer know the truth. Some, I'm certain know the truth but reject it because of pride and arrogance, putting thier 'wisdom' before that of Christ and His Church. I felt so sorry for them and prayed that they might be reconciled to God. They are in great need of prayer and conversion. Their minds are clouded and disoriented.

I cannot diminish the fact that what this group proposes is clearly demonic. The faithful need to be made aware that this and other such groups are clearly a grave danger to the Mystical Body of Christ. The movement is bent on destroying the Church. But I believe many have been duped, seduced by the father of lies, just as Eve in the Garden...

I could not stay past 12:30 as I had other committments. I bid goodbye to the 2 priests with whom I shared a table for lunch, saying to each, "May God bless you." One of these priests admitted to being homosexual. Both priests said that the percentage of homosexuals in the priesthood was extremely high and very few of the laity even have an inkling of this. I told them that I would keep them in my prayers.

I believe that this group (& others like it) will die out or abandon Catholicism, eventually. The sad part is that many souls may be lost if we do not pray for their conversions and educate the faithful about groups like this. And a few in these groups may want nothing to do with God's grace. I'm certain that some of them could be rescued from the clutches of Satan with our continued prayers. May God have mercy on all of us!

Why the '60s Went Wrong - Russell Shaw on the Church in the U.S.

Russell Shaw was press secretary for the U.S. bishops' conference from 1969-1987. He is the author of 16 books, most recently, "Personal Vocation: God Calls Everyone by Name," published last year by Our Sunday Visitor.

Shaw's unique understanding of the workings of the bishops' conference and long experience as a Catholic writer and journalist position him as an authoritative commentator on the crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States today.

In Rome recently for a week of lectures, Shaw candidly shared with a group of Vatican journalists his views on "squishiness" in some American seminaries, the Vatican's "uncollegiality," and the future of Catholicism in the United States.

I asked Shaw about the underlying causes of the sex abuse scandal.

Full Zenit article here.

And don't forget, Russell Shaw will be in St. Charles on April 27 (Details here.)

Massachusetts Supreme Court rules incest okay for stepparents

Boston, Mar. 25 (CWNews.com) - The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which last year legalized same-sex "marriage", has this week decided that incest is not illegal when it involves a stepparent. The judges ruled 4-3 that incest applies only to blood relatives or to children by adoption.

LInk at Catholic World News

Theologians, historian explore decline in confessions

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been two weeks since my last confession. ..." With that ritual formula once familiar to all Catholics, Boston College historian James O'Toole opened a daylong symposium on how the sacrament of penance has changed and how its chief form, individual auricular confession, has almost disappeared from American Catholic consciousness in the last 40 years. The symposium was held March 19 at The Catholic University of America. Historian Leslie Tentler of the university's Center for American Catholic Studies coordinated and moderated the event. O'Toole contrasted a New York City parish in 1896-97, where the seven priests on staff heard 78,000 confessions a year, with the typical parish today, where the bulletin may list a half-hour or 15-minute weekly time for confessions, or perhaps offer them "anytime by appointment."

Full article here.

Archbishop Foley - Mass needs some Latin

Code: ZE04032422
Date: 2004-03-24
Archbishop Foley Fond of Latin

LONDON, MARCH 24, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications would like to see some Latin back into the Mass.

Archbishop John Foley made his comments in an interview with Briefing, the relaunched official journal of the Catholic bishops' conferences of England and Wales, and Scotland.

He was present at the Second Vatican Council as a young priest and reporter for Philadelphia's diocesan newspaper. He says that some intentions of the Council Fathers have been implemented properly, and some have not.

"There have been abuses in some areas ... for example, some of the liturgical abuses where people inaccurately interpreted documents, causing confusion and resentment," he told Briefing.

Archbishop Foley still celebrates the Mass in Latin sometimes, and even speaks Latin with some non-English-speaking bishops. The universal nature of the language impresses him.

"That's why I think it is important to be able to train people to participate in Mass in Latin, especially the sung part," he said.

"Ironically, when people did not travel very much, Mass was in Latin," he added. "Now that they travel a lot and want to be able to understand and identify with what's going on; [they can't because] they don't speak the local language."

John Carroll University.....compares Cardinal Newman Society to Taliban

Here are some excerpts:

The Cardinal Newman Society is, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Patrick Rombalski, “the Catholic police.”

(University President Rev. Edward Glynn) added, “I do not respect the Cardinal Newman Society’s leadership.”

In reaction to the society’s actions, (chair of the Communications Department Sister Mary Ann) Flannery said, “I think the Cardinal Newman Society is the closest organization in the Catholic Church to the Taliban.

Certainly there is a problem. JCU pretends to be a Catholic university, and the Cardinal Newman Society calls them to account.

Most Catholic universities have apostacized.

Full Story here.

Kerry's photo op Mass

On Dom Bettenelli's site :

He showed up in his ski clothes, to the annoyance of parishioners. He also received Communion to the annoyance of all Catholics in good standing. But it’s his staff person’s attitude that takes the cake:

"It was just a media-op,” says a Kerry advance staffer. “We set it up with some reporters that we knew were going to be there."

The only reason to go to Mass was to have his picture taken? How depraved is this man?!

Link to Dom's site & article here.

Archbishop Weakland debuts own Web site

From Catholic News Service....

Archbishop Weakland debuts own Web site with reflections, homilies

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (CNS) -- After writing more than 1,000 messages to his flock through columns in the local Catholic newspaper during his almost quarter-century as Milwaukee's archbishop, it's no wonder that now-retired Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland continues to communicate with Catholics. Archbishop Weakland, who resides and maintains an office at the archdiocese's Cousins Center, began a personal Web site in early January. The Web site, www.archbishopweakland.com, features personal reflections, commentary on current events, cultural comments, including thoughts on books, music and movies, and audio recordings of past Sunday homilies given by Archbishop Weakland. A couple months into the project, the archbishop admitted maintaining the site and keeping the copy fresh is more work than he anticipated, but he remains excited about the opportunity to share his thoughts in writing.

Don't forget to bookmark this one! (No, I am not serious!)
Link is here.

Is Gary Wills for real?

God in the Hands of Angry Sinners
By Garry Wills
The Passion of the Christ
a film directed by Mel Gibson

If you relish the sight of a healthy male body being systematically demolished, beyond the farthest reach of plausible endurance, The Passion of the Christ is your movie. It is not simply the scourging scene that is at issue, though that deals out an unspecified number of stripes—more than sixty and still counting, half of them inflicted by whips that have been made into multiple-hook tearing instruments. Even earlier, at the arrest of Jesus, he is chained, beaten over and over, thrown off a bridge to crash below. He arrives at his first legal hearing already mauled and with one eye closed behind swollen bruises. From then on, he is never moved or stopped without spontaneous blows and kicks and shoves from all kinds of bystanders wanting to get in on the fun. On the way to execution, he is whipped while fainting under the cross. A soldier says to lay off or he'll never make it. But the crowd just keeps whipping and beating him all the rest of the way.

My wife and I had to stop glancing furtively at each other for fear we would burst out laughing. It had gone beyond sadism into the comic surreal, like an apocalyptic version of Swinburne's The Whipping Papers. At one of several points where Gibson is following the mystical visions of an anti-Semitic Bavarian nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich, he has Mary swab away at the lakes of blood sluiced out of Jesus by the scourging.
...
The alliances formed around the movie are interesting. Gibson has been supported not only by Legionaries of Christ but by members of Opus Dei, an equally conservative Catholic group. Although Gibson does not recognize the validity of the postconciliar Church or the current papacy, those two Catholic groups tried to manipulate a papal endorsement for the film—this despite the fact that Gibson violates almost all the guidelines concerning performances of the Passion issued in 1988 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops....

For fear they would burst out laughing?

Anyone who would find something to laugh about regarding this film must be extremely sick and perverted. Those who think the suffering and death of Jesus, as portrayed in the film, is funny must be in league with the demonic. I pity this man and those like him.

Bishop Vigneron Refuses to Run VOTF Ad in Diocesan Paper

As publisher of the Catholic Voice, Bishop Allen Vigneron of the Oakland Diocese rejected running an ad and notification item for the one-day University of San Francisco seminar, "Imaging the Future Church."

"My judgment was based on the meeting I had with the local VOTF leadership," Vigneron wrote to Peter Davey, the group's East Bay chairman. "At that time, I was informed that the VOTF has decided to withhold affirmation from some elements of authentic magisterial teaching, for example, the impossibility of ordaining women to the priesthood."

Davey responded to the bishop in a March 3 letter, writing that the group did not advocate for those changes. He added that he hopes the bishop will support events such as the San Francisco seminar that, he said, are intended to create a better understanding of the church.

An ad did run in the Jesuit publication America.

Right....The group does not advocate women priests...And pigs fly....!

It is not surprising, either, that 'America' would run the ad...

Full story here.

Judge allows doctor testimony on fetal pain

From Catholic World News

New York, Mar. 23 (CWNews.com) - A federal judge has decided that a doctor who says unborn children can feel pain during an abortion will be allowed to testify in a legal defense of a new federal law banning partial-birth abortion.

US District Judge Richard Casey ruled last week that Dr. Kanwaljeet Anand may testify as a government witness in the trial set to begin later this month. The National Abortion Federation had tried to argue that his testimony was irrelevant.

Casey said the doctor's testimony will help him evaluate Congress' findings while debating the law that the abortion procedure is "brutal and inhumane" and that "the child will fully experience the pain associated with piercing his or her skull and sucking out his or her brain." Anand has conducted research on the pain felt by unborn children and newborns and has concluded that children feel pain at the 20th week of pregnancy.

We thank you, Lord, for enlightening the mind of this judge. Please grant him the grace to have the strength to conform his will to Yours in this matter.

Q&A on Washing Feet, Emptying Holy Water, etc.

Zenit Liturgy Question & Answer
Code: ZE04032321
Date: 2004-03-23
Washing of Women's Feet on Holy Thursday?
And More on Preparing the Corporal

ROME, MARCH 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum.

Question 1: Is it proper to have holy water receptacles empty from Ash Wednesday on, through all of Lent? -- F.D., Scandia, Minnesota

Q-2: I have learned today about the Washing of the Feet ceremony at Mass in my parish on Holy Thursday. To take the place of the Twelve Apostles, we are to have six gentlemen and six ladies. I would welcome your comments about this innovation. -- M.R., Melbourne, Australia

Q-3: Each year I find it increasingly difficult to perform the washing of parishioners' feet at the celebration of the Lord's Supper because of stiffness in my knee joints which make it almost impossible to get back up on my feet when moving from one parishioner to the next. Is it permissible to delegate this function to an older server? -- C.D., Archdiocese of New York

Q-4: For the adoration of the cross on Good Friday, can we use a crucifix (with Jesus' body on it) or should we look for a plain cross? -- F.M., Antique, Philippines

Answer 1: The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments recently responded to a similar question (3/14/03: Prot. N. 569/00/L) giving a clear answer: "This Dicastery is able to respond that the removing of Holy Water from the fonts during the season of Lent is not permitted, in particular, for two reasons:

"1. The liturgical legislation in force does not foresee this innovation, which in addition to being 'praeter legem' is contrary to a balanced understanding of the season of Lent, which though truly being a season of penance, is also a season rich in the symbolism of water and baptism, constantly evoked in liturgical texts.

"2. The encouragement of the Church that the faithful avail themselves frequently of the sacraments is to be understood to apply also to the season of Lent. The 'fast' and 'abstinence' which the faithful embrace in this season does not extend to abstaining from the sacraments or sacramentals of the Church.

"The practice of the Church has been to empty the Holy Water fonts on the days of the Sacred Triduum in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil, and it corresponds to those days on which the Eucharist is not celebrated (i.e., Good Friday and Holy Saturday)."

A-2: The rubrics for Holy Thursday clearly state that the priest washes the feet of men ("viri") in order to recall Christ's action toward his apostles. Any modification of this rite would require permission from the Holy See.

It is certainly true that in Christ (God) there is neither male nor female and that all disciples are equal before the Lord. But this reality need not be expressed in every rite, especially one that is so tied up to the concrete historical circumstances of the Last Supper.

A-3: The rite of the washing of feet is not obligatory and may be legitimately omitted. However, this is usually not pastorally advisable.

While the rite may not be delegated to a non-priest, a concelebrant may substitute the main celebrant for a good reason.

The rubrics describing this rite are limited to the essentials (selected men sit in a suitable place) and so allow for practical adaptations to the realities of place, time and circumstances.

Thus, taking the example of our Holy Father, as he has grown older, and less able to bend over, the seats of those whose feet he washed were first elevated so that he could continue to perform the rite. But in the last year or so he has been substituted by a cardinal.

Thus, if possible, the seats used by those whose feet are to be washed should be elevated, so that an elderly priest need not stoop too much.

If this solution is not feasible, I do not think it is contrary to the overall sense of the rite to find other practical solutions resulting in a similar effect, provided the rite be carried out with decorum.

A-4: The use of the crucifix, a cross with the figure of Christ crucified, is obligatory for the Good Friday celebrations of the Adoration of the Cross.

This is made clear by the rubrics which, in one form of the rite, describe how this cross may be progressively unveiled, showing first the top of the cross but not the face, then the right arm, and finally the entire body.

After this celebration on Good Friday afternoon, and until the Easter Vigil, Catholics genuflect before the crucifix; they would not do so before a simple cross.

This liturgical situation is different from the pious practice of the Way of the Cross, where widespread custom prefers the use of a simple cross rather than a crucifix. This is the practice followed in the Holy Father's widely televised Good Friday "Via Crucis" at the Colosseum.

More here...

A USCCB Employee No More?

This was brought up some time ago, and Deal Hudson of Crisis Magazine informed his e-letter subscribers of a change of status of Ono Ekeh.

You probably remember my telling you about Ono Ekeh, an employee at
the Bishops' Conference who also happened to be the founder of an
Internet forum called "Catholics for Kerry." I pointed out what I
thought seemed pretty obvious... that having a paid employee for the
USCCB leading a public campaign for presidential-hopeful John Kerry
-- a rabidly pro-abortion "Catholic" -- sent a dangerous message to
Catholics about their responsibility regarding life issues.

Well, it appears that the Bishops' Conference agreed. We've learned
from several sources that Ekeh is no longer an employee of the
conference. Whether he was fired or allowed to resign is unclear
(their comically unhelpful office of human resources refused all
comment).

Either way, it appears that the bishops were unaware of Ekeh's side
project and were none too happy when it came to light. I applaud the
bishops for taking this stand -- they've sent a clear message
regarding their commitment to life and the responsibility of lay
Catholics to do the same. This is a very good start.

At least it's a start. Still, I believe a major cleansing is needed.

This having been said, however, if one looks at the USCCB Web Site here, Mr. Ono Ekeh is still listed as Program Coordinator for African American Catholics.

Archbishop Burke sends clear message to Polish parish

Burke makes demands clear to parish
By Aisha Sultan
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/21/2004

Archbishop Raymond Burke sent a clear message this weekend to an independent Polish church in St. Louis: Follow church law or cease to exist as a Catholic church.

Many parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church north of downtown received the letter Saturday from the archbishop outlining the reasons the church must hand over control of approximately $9 million in assets and its finances. Currently, the church is run as a civil corporation with a lay board of directors.

"It is simply not right that a parish call itself Catholic and be so recognized by Church authority, and, at the same time, be under the exclusive direction of a civil corporation, in which the parish priest ... is considered to be just one of several members," Burke's letter stated. "The parish priest ... has the responsibility to direct all of the pastoral activity in the parish."

Full story.

Outspoken Critic of Archbishop Burke and Church Under Fire

Dan Maguire, a Pro-Death supporter of the murder of innocent children is a professor at Marquette University in Wisconsin. He has been an outspoken and oft-quoted critic of Archbishop Burke.

See the full story here.

Global Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination on Mar 24

Catholic Action Network is holding a "global" day of prayer at the St. Louis Cathedral this Wednesday Night. I wonder if they invited Archbishop Burke?

Their notice states:

Wednesday, March 24th: Global Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination

--6pm: Candlelight Vigil at Cathedral Basilica
--6:30pm: Potluck strategic planning for future events, programs and speakers at 1077 S. Newstead

Please Join Us !

I assume it is open to all. Anyone want to go there an pray for them? Take pictures? Hand out copies of "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis"?

Pope Declares Feeding Tube Removal Immoral

Pope Declares Feeding Tube Removal Immoral
By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press Writer
March 20, 2004, 11:34 AM EST

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II said Saturday the removal of feeding tubes from people in vegetative states was immoral, and that no judgment on their quality of life could justify such "euthanasia by omission."

John Paul made the comments to participants of a Vatican conference on the ethical dilemmas of dealing with incapacitated patients, entering into a debate that has sparked court battles in the United States and elsewhere.

The pope said even the medical terminology used to describe people in so-called "persistent vegetative states" was degrading to them. He said no matter how sick a person was, "he is and will always be a man, never becoming a 'vegetable' or 'animal.'"
. . .
Providing food and water to such patients should be considered natural, ordinary and proportional care -- not artificial medical intervention, the pope told members of the conference, which was organized by the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations and the Pontifical Academy for Life, a Vatican advisory body.

"As such, it is morally obligatory," to continue such care, he said.

Since no one knows when a patient in a vegetative state might awaken, "the evaluation of the probability, founded on scarce hope of recovery after the vegetative state has lasted for more than a year, cannot ethically justify the abandonment or the interruption of minimal care for the patient, including food and water," he said.

Similarly, he said that someone else's evaluation of the patient's quality of life in such a state couldn't justify letting them die of hunger or thirst.

"If this is knowingly and deliberately carried out, this would result in a true euthanasia by omission," he said.

Full story here.

John Jay Investigator Refutes David Clohessy's Letter to the Post

The Post Dispatch printed a letter to the editor on March 15, titled "Archbishop Burke is Off-Base on Abuse".

It seems that the only one who was off-base here was the person who penned the letter, David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Karen Terry, Principal Investigator and James Levine, Administrative Coordinator, respond to Clohessy's incorrect statement in a folloe up letter to the Post.

He (Clohessy) states that the John Jay study only included "credible allegations" of abuse and excluded "3000 priests who have since died and were not investigated." This information is incorrect.

It's certainly nice to know the facts.

Full article here.

St Cronan's, Catholic Action Network, Dissent & Archbishop Burke

While reading the bulletin of St. Cronan's for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 21, I came across this interesting article on page 2.

The Holy Families Committee of St. Cronan’s was formed in response to the Vatican’s position toward gays and lesbians in the Catholic church. The Holy Families Committee, in conjunction with Catholic Action Network (CAN), is sponsoring an Issues and Inspiration presentation on Saturday, April 3rd at Adams School (1311 Tower Grove Ave.) from 9:00—11:00 a.m. The presentation will focus on the Vatican document, “Considerations Regarding Proposal to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons”. Please feel free to invite anyone who is interested in discussing this document and our response to it. Childcare will NOT be provided. We look forward to seeing you there.

One wonders just how the teaching of the Church will be maligned and distorted and rejected at this 'presentation'?

Why would I say such a thing? Take a look at the Catholic Action Network website and you will notice that on Wednesday, March 24, they are having a "Global" Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination with a candlelight vigil at the Cathedral Basilica at 6:00pm. Surely this St. Louis based unCatholic group can rouse a "global" response for women's ordination which is contrary to the infallible teaching of the Church.

I'm wondering how many of those who attended the recent VOTF conference will be at these meetings?

They have also included additional information on Archbishop Burke, presumably as a condemnation of his other works and efforts in promoting authentic Catholic doctrine when they conclude by saying "Well, that should give you the gist of things."

Here is what they posted about our wonderful Archbishop:

Raymond L. Burke:The spiritual moderator of the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins.

He is involved with the Call to Holiness conference with Mitch Pacwa and Cardinal Lopez Trujillo.

He has publicly opposed the withdrawal of hydration and nutrition in the Schiavo case in Florida, saying *"It is never permissible to remove food and water to cause death"

*He is the national director of the Marian Catechist association, founded by John Hardon, SJ. "The Marian Catechist Apostolate helps you develop a spiritual life that prepares you for your consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, while at the same time, it helps to prepare you, doctrinally, to pass on this tremendous gift of the Faith, with confidence, through the home-study courses." "Do whatever He tells you"! (Marian Catechist motto) from the Marian Catechist web page:http://www.mariancatechist.com

He has given talks to the Wanderer Forum Foundation and has been sponsored by Catholics United for the Faith (Milwaukee, December 6-7, 2002). See also http://www.thewandererpress.com/a8-01-02.htm

He is on the advisory board of the Cardinal Newman Society, along with Bishop Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Bishop Doran of Rockford, Archbishop Donoghue of Atlanta, and Archbishop Meyers
of Newark. The mission of the Cardinal Newman Society is to promote Catholic identity in higher education, especially through the implementation of /Ex Corde Ecclesiae/ (http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/about_us1.htm)

He has addressed the national convention of Catholics United for the Faith in their "Church Teaches Forum", along with " His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, His Eminence Edouard Cardinal
Gagnon, Bishop Thomas Doran, Bishop Raymond Burke, and Fr. Edmund McCaffrey(http://www.cuf.org/cufevents.htm)"

According to the National Catholic Register, Bishop Burke was one of the eight signers of a letter calling for a plenary council to address the clergy sex-abuse scandal : "The bishops' letter says the plenary council would center on the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and post-conciliar Magisterium on the life of bishops and priests, on sexual morality in general and on celibate chastity as an authentic form of human sexuality. It also would affirm the means by which the Church has told pastors they can live a virtuous life, including daily celebration of Mass, frequent confession and obedient submission to Church teaching. (http://www.ncregister.com/Register_News/082202ple.htm)

Well, that should give you the gist of things.

http://www.calltoholiness.com/photo/bishop_burke.htm

It's no wonder they are upset! Archbishop Burke is not a moral relativist. He is not a dissenter of Catholic faith and morals. He is not someone who would support their agenda of destroying the Church. How sad! How pitiably sad for them! We can pray our prayers of thanksgiving that our Lord has seen fit to bless us with a shepherd and spiritual father like Archbishop Burke who proclaims the truth of Christ to us in union with the Holy Father. We have so much for which to be thankful!

Vice-Mayor of Phoenix Criticizes Bishop Olmsted for permitting Latin Mass

What we have here is another uninformed individual who has probably never read the documents of Vatican II and who, as it appears in the article, is more concerned about himself rather than the wishes and desires of the Church. Some excerpts:

...permitting or encouraging Latin masses is part of a misguided trend to go back in time to the romanticized church of the 1940's and 1950's. Today's Catholic Church is not the fictional movie church of Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman or Barry Fitzgerald. We don't speak Latin to each other. I greet people with "hello" and not "salve".

There was a reason that the Second Vatican Council called for services to be held in the vernacular.

Here is the first clue he is ignorant of "Sacrosanctum Concilium".

...Sadly, some in the church today would prefer to reverse many of the Vatican II reforms.

Conservative groups such as Opus Dei have infiltrated the clergy in many communities and are subtly wielding power to influence many of these changes. Such groups would be much happier if all priests wore cassocks and birettas and all nuns returned to wearing habits and living in convents, instead of actively participating in community affairs and in encouraging social justice.

This past year, we have seen a de-emphasis in the role of the laity in Mass services, with lesser roles for lectors and Eucharistic ministers and an emphasis on the roles of priests and deacons. Where is this all leading? Will the next papal bull require women to again wear hats in church?

What happened to the "spirit of Vatican II"? I dare say, most never knew what it was to begin with.

Full article here.

Hans Küng tells why Jesuit college rejected young Wojtyla

This is classic:

Küng said Wojtyla´s studies had focused on the neo-scholastic theology of St Thomas Aquinas. He was admitted to the Dominicans´ Angelicum University after ordination in 1946.

"I think it’s a fact that Karol Wojtyla does not know enough modern exegesis, history of dogmas, modern theology," he said. "He has a very traditional neo-scholastic training, but I think that these are his limits, and I do not see why we cannot speak openly about that."

This coming from a man who has, for all intents and purposes, rejected the Church.

Full article here.

Latin Masses to be allowed after 25 years

Latin Masses to be allowed after 25 years
Michael Clancy
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 17, 2004 12:00 AM

Latin, the ancient language of the Catholic Church, will be allowed in Diocese
of Phoenix churches for the first time in at least 25 years.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, reversing 20 years of diocesan policy, announced the
change to priests at a meeting earlier this month. A committee will report today
on details.

Olmsted said he will institute the Tridentine Mass to promote reconciliation
with individuals who prefer the service, to comply with Pope John Paul II's
wishes to resume the Latin rite, and to invite back those who left the church
after Latin Masses were dropped.

It is likely that the Latin service will be held in a limited number of
churches. The modern English-language Mass would continue to dominate in the
diocese.

"The decision in no way casts doubt upon the validity" of the current service,
instituted during and after the Second Vatican Council in the mid-1960s, Olmsted
said.

A leader of a dissident church praised the decision.

"This is a step in the right direction," said the Rev. Joseph Pfeiffer, pastor
of Our Lady of Sorrows in south Phoenix, which is not recognized by the diocese.
But the church must return completely to the old ways, he said, before his
congregation will feel comfortable with the Catholics.

Mass in Latin was the norm for the church throughout history, and Latin remains
the church's official language. The pope approved the resumption of Latin Mass
in 1984, but former Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien never allowed them.

No link yet...passed on via email.

*** Updated *** Link is here.

St Thomas Aquinas and the Passion

DE PASSIONE CHRISTI
James V. Schall, S. J.
Georgetown University, DC 20057-1200
St Thomas asks in Question 46, a. 3, which asks, "whether there was some more convenient or apt way to free the human race than through the Passion of Christ?"

Now Aquinas, surprisingly perhaps, does not deny that our redemption could have been effected otherwise. By a simple act of His will, per solam Dei voluntatem, the Father could have liberated us, Thomas tells us. But when God does not act in the way we would have Him act, this difference gives us occasion to wonder if there is not more to it than meets our eyes. God does not just redeem us in a way that has nothing to do with us, or with our understanding of what is going on.

Catholic Answers-READERS SOUND OFF ON THE VOTER'S GUIDE

Karl Keating takes some heat for the Catholic Answers Voter's Guide. This should come as no surprise as many are still confused on basic, primary, fundamental issues affecting our country.

KARL KEATING'S E-LETTER
March 16, 2004
TOPIC: READERS SOUND OFF ON THE VOTER'S GUIDE

Dear Friend of Catholic Answers:

As I note at the end of each E-Letter, I'm not in a position to answer (let alone solicit!) comments. Writing this E-Letter is not my full-time job, and I want to keep it that way.

Still, many people reply to what I write here, and I read each e-mail that comes in. A very few I answer myself, and a few others I forward to our staff apologists. The majority of the messages I just read and try to learn from.

The February 24 E-Letter was mainly about Catholic Answers' "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics." Let me share with you a few of the comments I received.

NOT INCLUSIVE ENOUGH

David Ewing had these comments:

"While I am adamantly opposed to all the mortal sins you listed, I cannot in good conscience vote for the current administration and/or their cronies & subordinates. Whereas they do hold to Church teaching in their moral/sexual positions, they completely ignore--if not repudiate--teaching about helping one's fellow man, the environment, international cooperation, etc. Why not give any emphasis at all to those important issues, Karl? Are they of no import? Or are you, when it comes to politics, just a right-wing Fundamentalist with a rosary?"

Before I answer Mr. Ewing (I respond to his last question at the end of this E-Letter), let me present comments from others readers who have opinions similar to his.

Bob Storch wrote:

"Your simplistic five 'non-negotiable' Catholic issues is not smart voting. ... The right to life extends beyond the womb. Where do candidates stand on the death penalty? The right to life extends to the quality of life. Where do candidates stand on education and health care? The right to life extends to the dignity of work. Where do candidates stand on jobs, trade, and taxes? ... Narrowing the voting process to a simplistic five-issue check-off is not smart."

Lynn Norris said "ditto":

"Your assertion that 'serious' Catholics should vote for a candidate based solely on any one of the five issues outlined (important though they are) is truly frightening. There are numerous critical moral issues that require conscientious examination and evaluation by people of faith when deciding who should get their vote. ... Your suggestion that some Catholics are voting 'dumb' based only on the five issues on the list is offensive to 'serious' Catholics."

Ronald J. Jebaily said pretty much the same thing:

"This time you have gone over the top. Single-issue voters are dumb by definition, and Catholics who vote only on a candidate's pro-life v. pro-choice position are dumber still, because we are raised on the whole of the Church's social teaching. It is the fallacy of our time that abortion is the last remaining sin. Our Catholic faith should inform our complete value structure so that we can make effective political choices with regard to all the issues facing us, including abortion."

Each of these four correspondents labors under one or more misunderstandings.

1. The "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics" doesn't tell the reader which candidates to vote for but which to vote against: Candidates who are wrong on any of the five "non-negotiables" should be eliminated from consideration. Then choose from among the remaining candidates based on other issues. No matter how good he may be on "jobs, trade, and taxes," a candidate who favors homicide (which is what four of the five non-negotiables are) shouldn't get your vote.

2. So far as I know, no candidates for any offices are running on platforms that favor racism, which is why that issue wasn't included among the non-negotiables. But assume there were such candidates. Would you argue that it would be permissible to vote for them, on the theory that they might be right on all the issues except race?

Of course not. You would say their pro-racist position should exclude them from consideration, since racism is a vile thing. As vile as racism is, the killing of innocent people in such things as human cloning and euthanasia is worse.

By crossing off our lists the racist and the candidate who supports any of the five non-negotiables, we don't become one-issue voters, because we go on to take into account other, lesser issues. What we accomplish with this methodology is to declare that some things are beyond the pale and that candidates who want to vie for our votes need to qualify themselves minimally by passing a certain threshold.

3. Issues such as education, health care, the environment, jobs, trade, and taxes are all important--but on them Catholics are permitted a wide liberty. On the five non-negotiables, there is only one possible position for a conscientious Catholic to take: complete opposition. The Church mandates no such uniformity on these other issues.

Consider taxes. How should the tax code be structured? Should we stick with the current system, should we go back to much steeper rates, or should we change to a flat rate for everyone? There is no "Catholic position" here, since any of those systems can qualify under Catholic principles. You may argue in favor of soaking the rich, and I may argue in favor of doing away with income taxes entirely (or the other way around), and neither of us exceeds the bounds of Catholic principles.

Consider jobs. Should we institute government-created jobs, as was done during the Depression? Should we foster jobs by lowering corporate tax rates? Should we give tax breaks to small businesses to help them get off the ground? Any of those positions may be advocated by a Catholic--or opposed by a Catholic. Again, the Church doesn't mandate a particular arrangement--this is true even though particular prelates may argue for one solution or another.

Consider education. Should more money be spent on public schools? Should less? Should some arrangement, such as vouchers or tax credits, be made available for private, including religious, schools? Should home economics classes be scrapped? Should the phonics system be used? Again, a Catholic is free to support or to oppose any of these positions. There is no Catholic party line. Nothing in the creeds tells us whether "Huckleberry Finn" should be assigned reading or whether students should be mandated to attend physical education classes.

4. The voter's guide did not give any "emphasis" (to use Mr. Ewing's word) to these other issues because they aren't black-and-white the way the five non-negotiables are. They are at a different level morally.

No one ever claimed that "abortion is the last remaining sin," to use Mr. Jebaily's phrase. But abortion is such a heinous sin that people advocating it should forfeit our votes. If a candidate is wrong on such a basic issue, what trust can be put in his judgment when it comes to a lesser matter, such as what tariff rate, if any, should be applied to sugar? We would not reward a racist with our vote, so why should we reward someone who is wrong on abortion or the other non-negotiables?

5. The complainants seem to operate from a "seamless garment" approach, but that approach, over the last two decades, failed to advance the Church's teaching on the lesser issues while giving nominally-Catholic politicians "cover" to do nothing at all on the non-negotiables. In theory the "seamless garment" sounds great. In practice it has been a failure.

The fact is that issues are not all on the same level morally. Whether a child dies through abortion is more important than whether a child gets a free school lunch. Moreover, there is an official Catholic position on abortion, but there is not one on free school lunches. One can favor or oppose a school lunch program and be considered a good Catholic, but one can't favor abortion and be so considered.

6. Finally, to answer Mr. Ewing's most pressing question: No, when it comes to politics, I am not "just a right-wing Fundamentalist with a rosary." I am a Catholic with a rosary.

NAMING NAMES

Nancy Weiland had a different complaint:

"You state you will not 'name names.' I feel very strongly that in order to bring about change, you cannot be vague or oblique. Most people need to be hit over the head before they truly understand the message and what's at stake, and in order to do that, you really must 'name names'!"

Tracey Kelly went much further:

"Man, oh man. ... I stopped reading 'cause I was getting really disgusted. ... I don't care what reasons you chose not to mention specifically what politicians or parties were against very basic Catholic and Christian principles ... the bottom line is the same. ... If you don't have the guts, how can you be an example for those you are trying to persuade? I'm sick."

Perk up, friend! No need to get ill over this. Let's think things through.

Our voter's guide makes it clear that the principles it conveys should be applied to all political races, not just those at the national level. Catholic voters should demand the same accountability from candidates who are running for state and local offices as they do from those running for national office. After all, those running for lesser offices, if successful, will be running for greater offices in the future.

In this election year thousands of offices are up for grabs, and tens of thousands of names are appearing on ballots. The "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics" is only ten pages long. To "name names" fully, we would need to print not a booklet but a phone book. That's not in our budget.

Maybe my correspondents are thinking chiefly in terms of a few national races. Would there have been room to evaluate the candidates, say, for president and maybe a few senatorial races?

Sure, but that would leave readers with the false impression that they have done their duty when they have applied the five non-negotiables to those races. We wouldn't want that to happen. We want readers to hold all candidates, no matter how obscure the offices, to the same standards, for the reasons given in the guide itself.

WHY WASN'T CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LISTED?

Chris Harris smelled a plot:

"I'm rather disappointed in your litmus test (oops, voting guide) for
several reasons, but foremost: It appears to me that you purposely omitted capital punishment from your list of non-negotiable issues, expressly so the person who is currently President of the United States (who is very much pro death penalty) will pass your litmus test! Please tell me this is not so!"

Okay: It is not so. There was no effort to fashion a list that would allow a particular politician to "pass" or to get off easy.

As I discussed in the March 2 issue of the E-Letter, contrary to what many people think, the Church does not demand opposition to capital punishment--so, yes, we "purposefully omitted capital punishment" from the "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics," but for a very good reason.

Mr. Harris is at liberty to oppose the use of the death penalty and to oppose candidates who support it. Other Catholics are at liberty to support the use of the death penalty and to support candidates who support it. Capital punishment just isn't something that qualifies as a non-negotiable issue, no matter how strongly a particular person may feel about it.

PRO MULTIS or PRO OMNIS?

Jackie Gere had a question but not a complaint:

"I wanted to let you know that I love the voter's guide. I ordered 100 to distribute. I do have a question on the title. Why isn't it a voter's guide for all Catholics? Would you please explain why you chose to put the word 'serious' in the title? I anticipate that as I distribute the guides I may get questions on this."

Whew! I appreciate getting off the hot seat for a moment. Here are the reasons:

1. The only Catholics who will apply their faith in the voting booth are, almost by definition, serious people.

2. "Voter's Guide for Catholics" sounds bland. The title sounds better, maybe even a little intriguing, with "Serious" in it.

3. The title flatters the potential reader by implying that he is serious. This makes it more likely that he will read--and use--the guide. (Imagine the effect on the booklet's distribution if the title had been "Voter's Guide for Airhead Catholics.")

Until next time,

Karl

What are Catholics Saying about "The Passion of the Christ"?

This is good.

The Catholic League has a list of notable quotes from a number of Catholics, primarily Bishops.

Well worth the read.

New rules on the Eucharist

New rules on the Eucharist
By Luke Coppen

The Vatican will publish strict new norms on the Eucharist next month,
permanently changing the way Mass is celebrated throughout the world.

The Pope has authorised the publication of the norms on Holy Thursday, April 8, a year after his landmark encyclical on the Eucharist.

The final draft of the document, which is now being translated from Latin, will be a carefully edited version of the draft text leaked last September. The draft, which discouraged the reception of communion in both kinds and limited the role of altar girls, provoked an angry reaction from bishops in the English-speaking world.

After intensive episcopal lobbying, the Vatican is understood to have simplified the document and moderated some of the more controversial proscriptions.

The Catholic Herald has learned that the new norms will address some of the most divisive liturgical issues in the Catholic Church today. A source close to the Vatican said the document was part of a drive to "solemnise" the celebration of Mass and to counter a perceived lack of reverence for the Eucharist among Catholics.

It is also likely to challenge the view that the Second Vatican Council gave local bishops the authority to adapt the liturgy. It will also emphasise that Rome must guarantee the universality of the Mass.

"THE PASSION," AS SEEN BY A WOMAN RELIGIOUS

Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz on 3 Key Moments

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, MARCH 15, 2004 (Zenit.org).- As a special ZENIT feature, a woman religious offers her view on key parts of the film "The Passion of the Christ." * * *

Three Moments of "The Passion of the Christ"

By Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP
Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Viewing "The Passion of the Christ" affects each person in an individual manner. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the film's portrayal of the last 12 hours of Christ's life on earth, the majority of this depiction of these most sacred hours is rooted in the various Evangelists' accounts found in Scripture.

As a woman religious, I viewed "The Passion" through the eyes of my own feminine nature and the spousal vigilance proper to one whose freely made avowal of the evangelical counsels identifies me as "sponsa Christi." Through such eyes, I have chosen three scenes which have become as the heartbeat of my reflections.

From the opening scenes, I realized that I could not identify with Christ as such. That identification would be more fitting for a priest, who, as "alter Christus," finds his likeness in the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

For me, Jim Caviezel's portrayal of Christ elicited tears wrung from the heart which, I soon understood, was beating as one with Mother Mary's and with all the women portrayed in the film: Mary Magdalene, Veronica, Claudia, the weeping women.

1st: "All Things New"

I watched Christ, I walked with him, I desired to wipe the dirt (which as a woman so bothered me) plastered with ever increasing thickness upon his holy face.

My admiration of Christ's Mother grew as, deep within my own being, I reacted to the bloodthirsty crowds which swirled in mad frenzy throughout the film in their physical and mental brutality toward Christ.

I felt my own body lean toward the screen and had to hold myself back to prevent the release my heart sought. I wanted to shout Simon's later words: "Stop! Haven't you done enough? Stop!"

But she, the Mother, did not; neither did he, the Son and innocent victim. Rather, when the Mother, following the manly logic of John's directions, was able to approach her Son, she tenderly said, "I am here!" And he responded by gifting her (and us) with the secret of obtaining the strength necessary for propitious redemptive suffering: "See, Mother, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5).

St. Louis de Montfort must have rejoiced anew in heaven at this poignant scene culled from the spiritual reflection of Mel Gibson. Can we not summarize the Marian entrustment which John Paul II's coat of arms has displayed to the world for a quarter of a century now as the simple suggestion, "Through the Mother to the Son"?

Perhaps the greatest moment of a mother's love is known when her resolute strength emboldens her children for a suffering the world cannot understand but one rooted, by the redemptive value it offers, in the opened heart of the Christ.

2nd: His Presence

A personal spousal moment for me was epitomized when the Mother was wildly running through the streets in search of her bound and already brutally beaten Son.

Upon crossing over the ground which hid his physical presence from her eyes, as he was held in the dungeon below on that fateful night, she instantly knew his presence; and, bending down, she touched her cheek, her heart, to the ground.

Jesus, too, knew his Mother's closeness and, as the cameras fell below the dust to the hollowed and dirty tabernacle below, the viewer is able to catch Jesus reaching out his hand in an invisible embrace with the woman he loves. The One whom "the rocks like wax melt before his glance" (Judith 16:15) was separated from his Mother, but they still knew a oneness beyond the things of this world.

Similarly, as "sponsa Christi," I am not gifted with the marvelous sensible affects a bride comes to know in her husband. Therefore, the interior communication is heightened, and through this I know Christ's presence with me: each morning in Eucharistic adoration with my community, in each holy Communion, and by reaching out to each person my Spouse sends me.

Through my embrace of all people, regardless of their individual strengths and weaknesses, I know the touch of my Spouse and that touch spiritually fructifies our union as I, with him, behold all humanity as my spiritual children.

3rd: The Pietà, and priests

The third moment which I wish to point out is that immortalized by Michelangelo's famed Pietà. The Son lies in the lap of the Mother once again. Though the Man of Sorrows is now dead, I cannot view this scene as anything but Hope Personified.

As a woman and as a religious sister, this scene calls me to carry, support and love each individual priest whom the Almighty Father places within the radius of my heart's care; ultimately, all priests.

As the wife is made, by holy marriage, the helpmate of her husband, I, a religious sister, become, by virtue of my vocation, the helpmate par excellence of each priest.

When the priest is young, healthy and dynamic, my love is there to prayerfully support him, as Mary supported her Son, oftentimes from what might appear to others as afar.

When the priest must carry his cross for the salvation of the world, I wish to accompany him in my role as co-martyr for the fecundity of the children of God.

And when he appears broken, spent, given, I wish that it be my heart -- through my prayers, sacrifices and support -- upon which he might find peaceful rest. Without him, I have no Eucharistic Spouse; with him, the Church is given Christ until the end of time.

In his role at daily Mass, the priest shows me, again, what it means to be Mary: at the birth in Bethlehem, during her Son's public life of preaching and healing, in the silence of unitive prayer, and, finally, in receiving his Body when Calvary is completed.

With "alter Christus," the religious woman as bride awaits the promised resurrection even as she hears a familiar voice within assuring her: "Mother, behold I make all things new."

Would I advise everyone to experience this movie, even those who have no Christian background? My answer is "yes" without hesitation.

All persons are made in the likeness of God and thus are "imago Dei." The Angelic (Dominican) Doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, assures us: "The light of your face, Lord, is signed upon us" ("Summa Theologiae," I-II, q. 91, a.2). The Apostle John gives us a one-word name for God: "Love."

We were made by Love; for Love; and to receive and give this Love who is God.

I submit this movie has the power to resonate in all hearts because it is the greatest Love story. With faith, one can only fall back in adoration ... knowing here is a Man who loves me.

The Pill made same-sex nuptials inevitable.

Save Marriage? It's Too Late.
The Pill made same-sex nuptials inevitable.
BY DONALD SENSING
This article in the Wall Street Journal seems to get part of it right. Fr John Hardon said for years that contraception is one of the primary reasons our society has become so paganized and why this nation and others murder its own children.

No nation has ever survived after having gone down the path of contraception, abortion, infanticide. We are witnessing the implosion of a once great country. We and others have contracepted ourselves into oblivion!

The question that must be asked is why have so many of our bishops and priests been so silent about contraception, which, according to Fr. Hardon's calculations some time ago, result in more than 5 times the number of abortions as those performed in clinics, etc. That is, somewhere near 9 million deaths/murders actually occur in the US due to the pill and direct abortions. To be truly pro-life one must reject, not only the insideous evil of abortion, but also the gravely immoral act of contraception, as well.