How Do Progressives Like Obama Keep Getting Elected?? Look At The Cracker Barrel Situation And You'll See How.

Have you asked yourselves that question numerous times?  I certainly have.  Bear in mind that I live in Montgomery County, MD - a literal liberal loony bin.  I've no problem believing how Dems such as O'Malley and Mikulski get elected, but I did harbor hopes that perhaps the rest of the country had some scintilla of intelligence left.  Maybe they do - but it's rapidly disappearing, it would seem.

I got that impression after I saw the story about the employee of Cracker Barrel (in Florida, I believe) who was fired after giving away restaurant food - without paying for it.  This was not his first incident; it was his fifth.  He had been warned about it the previous four times yet continued to carry on.  What seems to be tugging at the heartstrings of folks is that the man is a 73-year old veteran and (at least during the fifth violation) gave the muffin to a homeless person.  You can read the story in the Blaze and IJR Review.  Bear in mind as you read these accounts that these two sources are generally conservative; yet they too seem to be so swept up in the emotional appeal that they have let their feelings cloud their ability to think and reason in logical manners - manners that weigh immutable moral principles.  They might also be biased against Cracker Barrel for their admittedly cowardly treatment of Phil Robertson a few months back.

The moral relativism is astounding.  While a good many people do understand the man's actions as being theft, too many other have no problem with what the guy did and express anger at Cracker Barrel for firing the thief.  I'll summarize a bit of the faulty thinking and rebut it as best as I can.

• "He was being kind and generous to the homeless person.  Jesus would approve and bless him for it."
• Folks, we can only be truly generous with what is our property, not the property of others.  While the first is authentic generosity, the other is theft - a sin against the Seventh Commandment.  It doesn't matter that he intended to give it away, for an inherently immoral means can never be justified by the ends, be that end ever so laudable.
• "It's only a muffin, how much can it cost?"
• The dollar amount of the theft doesn't change the nature of the crime.
• If indeed the muffin was so inexpensive, why would not the employee simply have bought the muffin himself?  That way the muffin would have truly been his to give away and the generosity would have been authentic and not a bastardization of generosity.
• "Cracker Barrel was so heartless.  Why didn't they give him a chance?"
• They gave him four chances already.  How many chances should Cracker Barrel have given him before they realized that they had to fire this loose canon?  The IJR vdeo reveals that he'd probably have stolen again.  Why should Cracker Barrel have then given him a sixth opportunity for theft?
• "He was fired for being kind to the homeless."
• No.  He was fired for displaying that he was a serial thief.
• "Cracker Barrel needs to respect elders/veterans"
• Respect for elders and veterans does not entail looking the other way when they commit crimes.  Would these same people be so sympathetic if the thief were a bit younger?  Why should age and veteran status matter?  
• I'll be blunt.  His age and veteran status were highlighted to manipulate people's emotions and impair their ability to think rationally.  This tactic seems to have worked on too many people.

Doesn't this man's theft have a rather familiar ring to it?  Why, yes!  It's the same kind of "redistribution" and "compassion" that is practiced - at our expense - by the oligarchy that inhabits the White House and Congress.  It's the same that is advocated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the "social justice" crowd in Church hierarchy -and yes - seemingly approved by Pope Francis himself.

These people, thinking they are "compassionate", are condoning theft, sin against the Seventh Commandment.  It is said that we as a nation get the leaders we deserve.  Ladies and gentlemen of good sense and morals, we must speak out against these erroneous notions when we encounter them - and that seems to be happening with ever greater frequency.

O Sanctissima

This has to be my favorite version.  Click here for more detail on the group performing this piece.

Instrumentum Laboris - In Preparation For The October Synod

This past week the Vatican released a preparatory document for the October synod on the family.  Here it is, from the Vatican website.  It is my understanding that these Instrumentum Laboris documents are not intended to set forth teaching per se; rather, they state the topics for discussion for the upcoming meeting and they more or less frame the conversations that will occur.

While this promulgates no teaching, it still offers helpful insights.  LifeSiteNews highlights some issues, that can be found in paragraph 12 of the document.   It doesn't take any great genius to surmise that there is generally less familiarity with Church teaching on marriage and family life than there was two generations ago.  In particular, it states that the clergy is so unfamiliar with the teachings that they believe themselves incapable of proclaiming it - so they remain silent.  While I'm sure that may be true in some cases, I know such is not the case in the Archdiocese of Washington.  In my own parish, there was the case of Father Guarnizo; when he upheld Church teaching by denying a practicing lesbian Holy Communion, he was ousted from the Archdiocese.  I am aware of another priest who, several years ago, taught classes on Humanae Vitae.  When the Church's clear teaching on contraception was expounded, that priest was silenced and sent away.

Then in paragraph 15 we see a faulty hypothesis offered as to why Catholics don't accept Church teaching.  It is supposed that the difficulty lies in the faithful lacking "an authentic Christian experience..an encounter with Christ".  Do not "encounters with Christ" happen during the Sacraments, particularly with Confession and the worthy reception of Holy Communion?  Perhaps what we have here is another manifestation of the lack of proper Catholic education.  We also see that problematic word "experience" crop up.  To what objective experience does that document refer?  I don't think there can be any one objective "experience", for experience often has to do with individual temperament, etc.  "Experiences" do differ from person to person.  Could that be why Jesus always said "if you love me, keep my commandments"?  Obedience, not experience, seems to be the proper norm of Christian life.  But then again, one must know God's commands and teachings in order to properly obey them.

I'll be frank.  I don't know what can be gleaned from this upcoming synod that we don't already know.  Why don't we just obey what has already been revealed to us?

US Supreme Court Strikes Down Massachusetts Bubble Zone Law

The Supreme Court, in its unanimous ruling in McCullen v Coakley, upheld the First Amendment rights of pro-life activists in Massachusetts by ruling that the 35-foot bubble zone was unconstitutional.  Here is a more in-depth analysis from LifeSiteNews.  Here is CBS covering the ruling, with an interview of Matt Bowman of Alliance Defending Freedom.

Rob Schenk was in the court chambers as the ruling was pronounced.  Below are his remarks.

This ruling will obviously bode well for those of us across the nation who pray and offer help to abortion-minded ladies.  In gratitude for this ruling, won't you please join some pro-lifers who are already at an abortuary nearby you?

The Senseless Census

We've been inundated by sad tales of Lois Lerner's hard drive crashing, causing all of her emails to be lost.  Poor thing!  Fortunately there are these things called servers - you know, the main computers that govern an entity's data system - and emails?  Did that crash too?  Now we hear that they've had to shell out $50k to the National Organization for Marriage for divulging their tax returns to the Human Rights Campaign.

Just a few days ago we learned that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot even protect the environment within its own walls.  It seems that the Civil Service Exam is failing to screen prospective applicants for requisite potty-training knowledge.  Its employees are defecating in its hallways.  I wish that was a joke.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen!  Your tax dollars at work - working against you, that is.  And I myself came across my own example.  From the United States Census Bureau I received in the mail today (that is, June 26) my 2014 Census Test.  Below is the "letter" that came with it.

Notice that I was asked to complete this thing by July 1.  Below the website address it reads, "respond on time to avoid a personal visit from a Census Bureau interviewer."  Oh, goody!  I was given 5 days to respond before I could expect an "interviewer" - accompanied by how many swat-team staff, dare I ask?  How fortunate that I did not choose this time to go on summer vacation; else I might have come home to find some jack-boot "interviewers" ready to accost me on my return.  But do bear in mind the July 1st deadline as I continue.

There were a number of questions that were rather inane, based upon this July 1st deadline.  I copied some and will post (with my identifying information redacted).  Observe.

Notice that the wording of the question is nonsensical, given that the census is supposed to be finished by July 1st?  The wording of the question implies that July 1st is in the past, not future.  It might have made more sense had I received it on July 3rd (to be submitted at a later date).  Alternatively, it would make sense to phrase the question, "Will you be living or staying at _____ on July 1, 2014?", for that would place the question in the future.

So the folks at the Census Bureau don't understand the proper usage of time in relation to language and communication.  Again, our tax dollars are being wasted.  But perhaps I should look on the bright side.  All indications are (so far) that the Census folks are at least potty-trained.

Bishops Cower Before "Gay Pride" Days In Major Cities

In this Vortex, Michael Voris wonders aloud if the Catholic bishops really "have Catholic hearts".  While we'll never know the answer to that question, the question is fair given the lackluster actions they take to moral evils.  Voris uses as an example of "gay pride days" that occur this time of year in major cities.  In the Archdiocese of Washington, the nation's capital, I can attest that our chancery turns a blind eye to the debauched orgy that happens here (this time a few weeks ago).  It was even worse in the Archdiocese of Boston, when Cardinal O'Malley refused to rebuke some Franciscans who set up a booth at their "pride festival".  Mind you, Cardinal O'Malley himsef is a Capuchin. And of course there's St Francis of Assisi Church in New York City where a blasphemous "pre-pride mass" was set to occur.  Where is Cardinal Dolan on that - or did we answer that question last week?

Note - speaking of quisling bishops, read what an Italian bishop did to one of his parish priests when the latter was preaching on the sin of fornication.  Doesn't it seem to you that the bishop was trying to soothe his fornicating sugar-daddies?  Kudos to Father Vicario and shame on Bishop Brambilla (ht Pewsitter).

Pope Francis's Bad Examples (Intended Or Not) Continue To Emit Purification In The Church

A few weeks ago I wrote about the debacle that Pope Francis allowed, if not orchestrated, at the Vatican Gardens on Pentecost Sunday.  Well it seems that the fallout was rather immediate.  In a Catholic Church in Orlando, FL, also on Pentecost Sunday, two Muslim men were allowed to give their "reflections" - in place of the homily!  See this Zenit article.  I do believe that Father McNamara is incorrect, or simply trying to "save face" for the Holy Father.  Make no mistake about it; just as the Holy Father's disregard for Holy Thursday rubrics gave terrible example in giving priests and bishops anywhere the false notion that they could wash women's feet, so too did his allowance of blasphemy at the Vatican Gardens give the erroneous impression that they could let any Muslim strut and preach in Churches.  There's no gainsaying that.

Moreover, my blogging colleagues Eponymous Flower and Rorate Caeli have other posts that vocalize what many of us are sensing: that traditional reverence in the Catholic Church is regarded with suspicion if not outright contempt.  Again, this seems to be occurring with the permission and possible orchestration of the highest offices in the Vatican.

Let's be very clear about something.  We have been promised by Our Lord that the Holy Father will never solemnly promulgate error as sacred dogma.  However - we have been promised nothing more in regards to proceeds from the Vatican.  We need to keep our eyes wide open, to expunge from our thinking any hint of naivete regarding these matters.  Otherwise, how else can we pray intelligently for His Holiness?

Unless There Is Repentance, God's Unconditional Love Will Be To No Avail

Simply put, God insists that we approach Him on His terms, not our own.  The Church of Nice, along with their atheist/progressive puppet masters, have trouble acknowledging that the first admonition of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark is "repent".

Too often I hear at my own church homilies that proclaim the greatness of God's love (true enough) and that if we'd just "open ourselves to His love" our lives would be fuller.  Well, what does "open ourselves" mean?  I know full well that in that congregation are those in irregular marriages, those who call themselves "pro-choice", those who support sexual perversion (and who punish those priests who stand for God's teaching in that regard).  They will never "open themselves to His love" until they repent of their mortal sins - and many won't unless they are told, point-blank from the pulpit, just what specific sins endanger their immortal souls and that they need to get themselves to Confession pronto.  First things first - as exemplified in the Gospel of Mark (see Mark 1:15).

Today's Vortex delves more deeply into this matter.  I'll reiterate one key line of Voris's: God loves us unconditionally, but He does not save us unconditionally.

More Progressive Hacks Trying To Dilute The Meaning Of Being Pro-Life

First, let's deal with Mark Shea (the patheos blogger) and the issue of gun control.  From what I understand, he seems to think that all pro-life people must support gun locks, "smart technology", etc to claim the moniker "pro-life".  This article from American Catholic links to Shea's patheos article about it.   Because the patheos bloggers are paid based on the number of hits their blogs get, I refuse to post to the patheos article directly.  I will, however, link to his Facebook posting.

Here he posts a Catholic News Service article that makes the ridiculous claim that the Catholic Church's position on individual gun ownership is that it should be banned.  The basis for that conclusion couldn't be too much more flimsy than it is.  The basis is a parenthetical remark in a footnote of the document entitled "Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice".  Reminder - the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has no inherent teaching authority at canon law.  Certainly no one need take to heart some obscure little footnote in a document.

Now I'll quote from a less-obscure document - called the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Obviously this does bear the weight of the teaching Magisterium.  I'll be quoting actual paragraphs as opposed to little footnotes: paragraphs 2263-2265 to be precise.

2263 The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. "The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one's own life; and the killing of the aggressor. . . . The one is intended, the other is not.
2264 Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow: If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful. . . . Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one's own life than of another's. 
2265 Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.

The right to self-defense by individuals is a necessary corollary to their inherent right to life.  For just as much as an individual has the right to obtain food, shelter, etc to maintain his/her life and that of his/her family's, he/she has the right and even solemn duty to protect him/herself and family from unjust aggression.  It stands to reason that this God-given right to self -defense also includes the right to have the means necessary to address threats as they present themselves in this 21st century.  Keeping paragraph 2265 in mind, please reread the American Catholic link and consider the predicament in which that young mother found herself.  Had she not had ready access to a gun, unencumbered by a "gun lock" or politically-correct clap-trap, she and her baby might well have been murder victims.

Now I may be just speculating, but I think I understand (in part) the motives of the USCCB for jumping on the progressive gun-control bandwagon.  Many programs of the USCCB, including CRS, are heavily funded by various governmental agencies.  They want to keep those funds flowing.  As far as Shea goes, who knows?  Knowing, however, that he (and other patheos bloggers) get paid based on their numbers of hits, I will not link directly to him.

But enough of gun control.  According to Bishop John Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake (UT), no one can be called "pro-life" who opposes Medicaid expansion.  Of course, who would be funding this Medicaid expansion?  Find the nearest mirror and stare into it; there's your answer.

No one who calls themselves Catholic will deny their responsibility to come to the assistance of the needy.  The question is how best to do it; on that good people can disagree.  That is a matter of prudential judgment.  In other words, one can call themselves "pro-life" if they don't agree with the USCCB-like clamoring for more governmental encroachment.  Regarding abortion and other intrinsic evils such as contraception, no one can make allowances for them.  Certainly no one can be pro-life who accepts the usage of contraceptives and the such.

I and others must continue to call on the carpet those who attempt to use the term "pro-life" to sell their progressive positions.

More On Holy Innocents Situation From Forward Boldly

Father Justin Wylie

I've written recently about the proposed closing of Holy Innocents Church in Manhattan and the retaliation taken by Cardinal Dolan against Father Justin Wylie.  In  one of the posts, I put up a Vortex in which Michael Voris interviewed Paul McGregor, a parishioner at Holy Innocents.  Christine Le Niles of Forward Boldly also interviewed Mr. McGregor.  He sheds more light on the events there.

After the interview, Christine read the text of Father Wylie's homily - the homily that caused Cardinal Dolan to see red and to draw his long knives out against that priest.

Diocese Of Charlotte Tosses Another Under The Bus

It was just over two months ago when Sister Jane Dominic Laurel was disgracefully treated by the Diocese of Charlotte for presenting Catholic teaching on various aspects of sexuality at Charlotte Catholic High School.  The progressives among the parents, rebuked for their support (if not commission) of mortal sin, bared their teeth and made clear their hatred of Sister and others.  Bishop Jugis wasted no time in toadying to that crowd and effectively had Sister Jane's career - if not vocation - shelved.

But apparently that wasn't enough for the de facto lynch mob.  More had to pay the price for confronting them with truth.  From Catholic Culture we read that Jerry Healy resigned his position as principal of the school in May, with allegations now appearing of "misuse of funds".  Ladies and gentlemen, of course it is simply the strangest of coincidences (ahem!) that these events are occurring within such short time spans.  Of course I'm being sarcastic.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to surmise that Mr. Healy is simply the latest sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered by the powers-that-be in the Charlotte diocese to appease the ravenous dissidents whose consciences are still smarting from the truth proclaimed by Sister Jane.  The "misuse of funds" sure seems to be a handy alibi; who is buying it?

Does any scintilla of courage and fidelity to the Magiserium exist at the Diocese of Charlotte?  Or will they continue to cower and toady to the progressive dissidents among them?

Synod Of The Church Of Nice

Today's Catholic Standard carried a full-blown report of the First Synod of the Archdiocese of Washington that concluded on Pentecost Sunday.  The formal proceeds were in there (and I assume that publication in the Standard would constitute official promulgation of those proceeds) as well as all sorts of ancillary anecdotes pertaining to the synod.   The archdiocesan website carries those stories and the official proceeds.  Read them and notice what's missing.

I read and I noticed.  Color me unimpressed.  Oh, I suppose it's a nice little document - if one is merely taking a view of the Church that's centered on human needs and not the purposes for which Jesus Christ established His Roman Catholic Church.  So what was His purpose?  One need look no further than Question 120 of the Baltimore Catechism.  Q: Why did Christ found the Church?  A: Christ founded the Church to teach, govern, sanctify and save all men.  Here are more questions and answers from the Catechism pertaining to the Church.  To my readers from the Archdiocese of Washington and the USCCB: please study these.  You are in desperate need of remedial Catholic education.

Go to the pdfs on the Archdiocesan site.  Try some word searches.  Look up "eternity", "heaven", "hell", "salvation", "soul".  I'd suggest you might be amazed at how few of these words you'll find, but I regret I know the chancery too well to be surprised by the complete lack of attention there is to eternal matters.  But the Church is supposed to be all about preparing people for eternity.  While the earthly matters have importance, that importance is dwarfed by that of the Last Four Things.  It appears that the Archdiocese has these priorities exactly ass-backwards.  It seems like a lot of pomp and circumstance happened for priorities gone askew.  That's par for the course around here.

Montgomery County Council Must Pay The Proverbial Piper

Last week I wrote how the rather obtuse Baltimore City Council was harassing four pro-life organizations.  I had opined that they should take a lesson from their Montgomery County counterparts and quit while they still can.  Well, comes now the news that the Montgomery County Council has to pay a pretty penny for their little escapade against the pro-life centers - to the tune of $375,000.00!  Details from LifeNews.

Perhaps Baltimore and other locales who are implementing the NARAL-dictated strategy (as detailed in their "Unmasking Fake Clinics" booklet) might want to reconsider their malicious attacks on the First Amendment rights of those who only endeavor to give real life-affirming assistance to mothers and babes in need.  Taxpayers who are upset about this payout order might consider what their elected officials were doing when they attempted to twist the speech of pro-life advocates; that was a waste of their tax dollars if nothing else.

God is good!

Does The Pope Understand Impact Investing??

I thank my friend at Tenth Crusade for alerting me to this.  Apparently Catholic Relief Services, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and University of Notre Dame's business school gathered in Rome, with the approval if not initiative of His Holiness, to yap and yammer about "impact investing".  The idea is ostensibly to solve a host of global challenges.  Oddly in that list of "global challenges" one finds no mention whatsoever of the prevention of child-murder, gay lifestyle, etc.  Perhaps that's because several of the participants are actively fomenting these intrinsic evils.  Tenth Crusade focuses on the Pontifical Council. I'll shift focus to the Catholic Relief Services.

I've written extensively about that progressive snake-in-the-grass that is part and parcel of the USCCB.  Read those posts.  CRS is heavily funded by George Soros; we all know what impact he desires.  It's certainly not the impact that was appreciated by the bishops of Madagascar when CRS distributed abortifacients in their country.  In Mexico and other nations, CRS partnered with other organizations that distributed contraceptives and abortion-causing potions.

I humbly but strongly suggest to His Holiness that he avoid all things economical and simply focus on the salvation of souls.  When he attempts the former, he finds himself rubbing elbows with those who seem more interested in the damnation of souls.

Church Leaders And Their Malevolence Towards Church Tradition

Today's Vortex says what is all too obvious. Our Church and her traditions are withering precisely because of the malevolence borne to her by her very own leaders - particularly bishops.  In times past, some thought that the bishops did not take strong measures against heretics and perverts in the ranks because they were weak, inept or simply not so bright.  No more.  There's too much of a pattern here.

Let's take a look at Cardinal Dolan, for example.  How many of us groaned when he yokked it up with Obama during that Al Smith dinner, just before his election?  There are some who thought that he was merely acting in a naive manner.  Some blamed cowardice for his refusal to excommunicate dissident Catholics such as Andrew Cuomo.

Now examine his treatment of Father Wylie last week.  The instant Father asked that the Traditional Mass be supported more by the Archdiocese of New York, Cardinal Dolan had him packing and did all he could to besmirch Father Wylie.  Cardinal Dolan did not play the bumbling fool there; he knew what he wanted to do and he acted with all alacrity, deliberation and ruthlessness.

Two Lents ago, in my own parish, I saw this played out in the case of Father Guarnizo.  Within a week of Father's denial of Holy Communion to two flamboyant lesbians, he too was given his heave-ho out of the Archdiocese of Washington.  The progressive prelates are all too focused when it comes to eradicating priests who stand up for the Church and her traditions and teachings.  Those who still wear rose-colored glasses in regards to our prelates would do well to remove them.  We cannot pray properly for them if we don't see the problems as they exist.

More Cow-Pie From Pelosi's Mouth

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco will participate in the March for Marriage in DC on June 19th.  Many progressive and pervert-pandering San Francisco pols - including Nancy "pope" Pelosi - are urging him not to attend.

It is a sad yet educational exercise to read the letter.  They have so many things precisely ass-backwards.  They accuse the March participants of promoting "hatred and division".  Rather, it is they who, through their disregard of God and His laws, cause hatred to be fomented.  As for division, as long as there are those who flout God's laws, there had better be division, for good and evil simply cannot co-exist.  It is the promotion and coddling of the "gay agenda", along with perversion of marriage, that is truly evil.

God bless the Archbishop for his leadership.  And as another blogger pointed out, since Pelosi has been disregarding Church teaching for so long to her eternal peril, there is no reason on God's green earth why he should listen to her.  I hope Pelosi et al will let that sink into their thick skulls.   Pray for their repentance.

By His Draconian Treatment Of Father Justin Wylie, Has Cardinal Dolan Shown His True Colors?

The question is rhetorical because the answer is obvious.  Other sites and blogs have been abuzz about this matter.  Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, is preparing yet another bloodbath of parish closures in the near future.  Among them is Holy Innocents Church that is a fairly vibrant parish - certainly so in comparison with other NYC parishes.  It also features Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

Father Justin Wylie, a priest of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, South Africa was on assignment to New York City as he worked for the Holy See at the United Nations.  He was a popular priest at Holy Innocents and greatly championed the Mass in the Extraordinary Form.   On May 18th, his sermon included an exhortation for the Archdiocese of New York to send sympathetic priests to shepherd those who had devotion to the Extraordinary Form.  For that, not only were his faculties in the Archdiocese of New York revoked, but the Dolan crew saw fit to complain to the Holy See and to the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.  I suspect that if Father Wylie had been incardinated in the Archdiocese of New York, he might have found himself laicized.

Renew America, in addition to linking to Father Wylie's sermon, mentions that the Archdiocese plans to have Holy Innocents subsumed into St Francis of Assisi parish.  Notice what's on the main page of St Francis of Assisi's website; they are touting their (drums and trumpets, please!) PRE-PRIDE MASS!  It doesn't take much imagination to surmise that this is not much more than a pep rally for the Gay Pride orgy that will occur in NYC soon thereafter.  The parish has a "gay and lesbian ministry".  Odd - I cannot seem to locate their pro-life ministry!

So Cardinal Dolan thinks that Holy Innocent Church should be absorbed into that progressive hornets' nest known as St Francis of Assisi Church?  Perhaps this plan sheds some light on the question asked in this post's title.

The Vortex has weighed in on this matter.  Voris reminds all of another gay-infested NYC church, St. Francis Xavier, with the obvious approval of Cardinal Dolan.  He thinks that many don't remember the incident shown in his clip of St. Francis Xavier.  I do for I posted that video when the news of the incident broke.  Why is a healthy Church like Holy Innocents being shuttered, while heresy-infested parishes like St Francis of Assisi and St Francis Xavier allowed to remain, and in their current states?  Again, a rhetorical question.

Liberal Snit-Fits: Hiding Guilty Consciences

Baltimore City Council Draws Long Knives For Pro-Life Groups

Last month the Montgomery County Council gave up its ridiculous attempt to force gag regulations on the pro-life pregnancy centers in the county.  Mind you, they had to endure a few legal smack-downs and they witnessed what was happening to other localities across the nation that attempted to follow the NARAL playbook.

It seems that the City of Baltimore is being just a bit more stubborn and obtuse than their compatriots of Montgomery County.  In their ongoing quest to satisfy their sources of money, the Baltimore City Council has demanded that four pro-life organizations surrender their private files to their viewing. It filed a subpoena for that purpose.  Alliance Defending Freedom has come to the aid of these pro-life groups with a motion to quash the subpoena.  The four pro-life groups being threatened are: Heartbeat International, Care Net, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, and the Vitae Foundation.

It is election time in Maryland.  The pro-aborts on the City Council probably want to convince their puppet masters that they deserve to be kept on the Council.  Will the citizens of Baltimore City finally wake up and give them their walking papers?  Even if not, we hope that the council will acknowledge what has been happening with that legislation nation-wide and, as did their Montgomery County counterparts, decide to give it a rest.

Bishop Schneider Stands Tall In Stark Contrast To British Bishops

Two days ago I posted on an interview given by Bishop Athanasius Schneider while in England.  If you haven't read it yet, please do so.

He stated that the Church is facing a new paganism in which many priests and bishops are participating.  He also decried the attempts to change Church teaching about sexuality and the Sixth Commandment.  One might opine that he made those remarks in England for good reason.

LifeSiteNews reports that the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is compiling a document entitled Applying Equality Law in Practice: Guidance for Catholics and Catholic Organizations.  In this draft we read this statement that urges formal and material cooperation with mortal sin: "Transsexual people face many difficulties before, during and after transitioning to another gender. As such it is recommended to seek guidance on how to make the transitional process as easy as possible. This could include training for co-workers, as well as reference to medical and social advice."

Shall we pick this apart?

• No one will be "transitioning to another gender".  That is a pipe dream.  They will always be the male or female that they were at the beginning, albeit with mutilated bodies.
• No Catholic should "make the transition as easy as possible".  In doing so, they would be facilitating the mortal sin of another and committing their own mortal sin.  They would be endangering their own souls and the souls whom they pretend to help.
• What any decent Catholic should do in that case is to dissuade any such individual from committing such a heinous act against themselves.  Get them some real spiritual help (I wouldn't advise resorting to any of these bishops).

If this document of the British bishops isn't an example of clergy participating in the new paganism, what is?

Why Does Pope Francis Put Arms Manufacturing On Same Moral Plane As Human Trafficking??

Here is what he said today during his expose of the Spiritual Gifts, quoted from Zenit: noting traffickers of persons and manufacturers of arms, as those who will have difficulty going to the Lord since “all the fruit of his corruption has corrupted his heart.”  The Pontiff said manufacturers of arms "manufacture death." "They are merchants of death and make death merchandise.

It makes no sense.  Human trafficking and arms manufacturing can in no way be called moral equivalents.  The former is always intrinsically evil as it is the deliberate enslavement of other human beings.  Not so the manufacturing of arms, unless a particular manufacturer has in mind a concrete nefarious purpose for the arms that he/she is manufacturing.  Arms are morally neutral in and of themselves.  Depending on the purpose and disposition of their users, arms can bring about great evil - or great good.

This past Monday a father defended his daughter from two thugs by firing his weapon.  He killed one thug, wounded another and saved his daughter's life.  Will the maker of that father's gun "have difficulty going to the Lord"?  I cannot answer for the state of that individual's soul, but I'd wager that this gun would make no contribution to any difficulty whatsoever.

Now watch this report of an armed man who came to the aid of a beating victim by drawing his weapon.  Rather than being called a user of "death merchandise" he is being hailed as a Good Samaritan.  Again, the availability and use of arms helped save innocent life.

It would be so helpful if the Pope stopped mishmashing progressive talking points with attempts at catechesis.

Bishop Athanasius Schneider Telling The Truth About Church's Problems

Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan, gave an interview while paying a visit to England.  He had much to say about the current crisis in the Church - and he is correct.  Rorate Caeli has a text of the full interview.

He states that "the real crisis of the Church is anthropocentrism", that is, man putting himself as center of the church rather than acknowledging the Christocentric nature of the Church.  For this he decries the reception of Holy Communion in the hand.

I won't go into a full analysis now.  Suffice it to say it's well worth your time.  Pray for him and the few who are like him.  We need fearless shepherds now more than ever.

Contraception: Destroying The Church, Fattening Wallets Of CRS Leaders

In last week's Mic'd Up, Michael Voris and Michael Hichborn discuss the seminal role that contraception played in the inception of the Culture of Death in western civilization.  They segue into a discussion of the role of Catholic Relief Services' role in distributing that moral poison, with an enlightening "aside" about the gargantuan salaries that CRS leaders drew.  They, along with Rey Flores, delve into a discussion of contraception's role in the general implosion of the Church.  It's an hour long but well worth your time to watch.

Vortex - Last Installment Of The Sixty Issues The Church Leadership Refuses To Address

In light of the travesty that will occur in the Vatican Gardens (or maybe has occurred, depending on when you see this), pay special attention to #51: "lack of precision regarding Islam worshiping of 'the same God'".  This one is very appropriate today and needs to be taken most seriously.

Reparation Needed For Idolatry That Will Occur At Vatican Gardens On Pentecost Sunday

Let us speak plainly, shall we?  This supposed "prayer for peace" is an occasion for several serious sins.  "But it's for peace", some might whine?  What difference does that make?  The ends never justify means that are inherently evil.  Moreover, no real peace can occur when false idols (namely "allah") will be worshiped.

So right there we have a sin against the First Commandment.  The fact that it's to occur on Catholic grounds lends the aura of sacrilege to it.  Here's an article from Catholic Encyclopedia; pay attention to the section on "local sacrilege".

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Catholics, reparation is needed.  Start now.  Today is First Saturday; if there's still time, make your confession and Mass and pray your Rosary, per the requests of Our Lady of Fatima.

Please pray tomorrow for forgiveness for what will happen on Pentecost Sunday.

UPDATE: I just read in Creative Minority Report that this is part of the Islamic screed prayer that will be uttered:   "...O You who know the unknown and the manifest, O Lord of everything and its sovereign, we testify that there is no god but You alone ..."  As the CMR commenter noted, this prayer is an outright contradiction of the truth that Jesus Christ is a Divine Person and the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.  And this is occurring on consecrated Catholic grounds???

Pope To Allow Islamic Prayer At Vatican This Sunday

This Sunday, June 8, Pope Francis will allow Islamic "prayer" and reading of Quarn at the Vatican Gardens.  He is allowing it (if he didn't outright initiate it) in a misguided quest for "peace".  It is the first time in the history of the Vatican that this has ever been done.  See here, here, here and here.

So it's never been done before?  Has it occurred to His Holiness and his handlers it has never happened before for good reason?   Let's be real.  The only way real, lasting peace has any chance of occurring is if the world (or the great majority of folks) becomes Catholic.  There never will be peace in the world until all come to peace with God; that won't happen without coming to Jesus through His Church.  I know this sounds "intolerant" and it certainly isn't politically correct, but only the truth will set us free.

Instead of the pure proclamation of the Gospel, however, the sacred Vatican grounds will be profaned by unabashed exercises of idolatry.  What a way to make a mockery of the Solemnity of Pentecost.  I'm utterly aghast at the rank stupidity issuing forth from the Vatican these days - and the buck stops with the Holy Father.  Let us pray for a real outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our shepherds so that they proclaim the Gospel and make no allowance for error - especially on Catholic property.

Some Reasons Why Parishes Are Closing Right And Left

More Issues That The Mainstream Catholic Media Won't Touch

Today's Vortex lists the next 12 of the 60 issues that scare the heebie-jeebies out of the lame-brain Catholic media (that means you, Catholic Standard!).  Listen very carefully as Voris demolishes the canard, "you get more flies with honey than vinegar".

Why Controversy Is Essential In This Day And Age

As Michael Voris points out, controversy arises when problems are unsolved.  I might add that its existence is inevitable whenever truth and falsehood meet.  Because there never will be a compromise between truth and falsehood (for such compromise would be its own falsehood), division and controversy must exist.   Yes, it exists among Catholics; I just had my second "unfriending" in Facebook with someone who admitted that she was looking for an excuse to block me.  The cost of adhering to the truth will certainly become much more significant that a mere "unfriending" on a social site. We'd better grow thick skins and stare down the controversy.  We must not fear to be controversial, for Jesus Christ Himself and the martyrs were murdered because they stood for truth and were "controversial".  We are not excused from the obligation of paying that cost.

Pope Francis: Reject "Culture Of Comfort", Bring Forth Children

As I read his comments today, I was wondering if His Holiness ever took walks in the Woodside area of Silver Spring MD.  (It's the area that's bordered by Spring Street - and Planned Parenthood - to the south).  As we pray and offer Christian witness to those about to go into Planned Parenthood, neighborhood denizens stroll by to thank the clinic escorts for blocking our approach to women.  More often than not, these supporters of baby-murder are walking their dogs!  Rare are the kids that accompany such parents.

(Now that I've said this on the blog, the pro-aborts will trot some babies out just to show us up.  They do read this blog, but I digress).

I would suggest that they - and others - take the Holy Father's words to heart.  Marriage is ordered for the procreation and education of children.  The deliberate frustration of that Divinely-ordained purpose will redound to the harm of all.

From Niggers Of The New Age Department: Five Stages Of Religious Persecution

A planned persecution is upon us as faithful Christians.  The Obamacare mandate is only one blatant example, and a recent one at that.  In fact, we've been in the crosshairs of progressives for some time now.  With their puppet running the White House, they probably feel they can be a bit bolder.

One person who saw the looming clouds gathering and who tried to warn us is Saint John Paul II.  Father C. John McCloskey quotes the sainted Holy Father and offers commentary.  Another is Msgr Charles Pope on his blog that is hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington.  The post is rather old but clearly folks could see the writing on the wall.  He lists five stages of religious persecution; anyone who has been watching current events over the years knows that we're now "in the end game", as it were.

I don't know if western civilization will survive this onslaught.  I know it can't if people insist on drowning themselves in entertainment, creature comforts and even hedonistic lives of sin.  We need to repent and wake up now, so that we can pray and act appropriately.

Knife Control! We Just Knew It Would Come To This!

It is illegal for British citizens to keep guns in their homes.  However, murders still continue there!  Fancy that!  You don't suppose sinful human nature has anything to do with that, do you - not to mention the liberal loopy law enforcement?  Nah?  Perish the thought!

Some dopes doctors who write for the British Medical Journal are saying that long knives should be banned.  We're talking kitchen knives, folks!  "Long pointed knives have little value in the kitchen."  Really?  How do they propose that roasts or other meat dishes be sliced?  And what makes these geniuses so convinced that will work?  Wasn't the banning of guns supposed to eliminate murder?  If knives are banned, the thugs will devise something else.

Hey!  Here's a radical idea!  How about jettisoning the knife ban AND the gun ban.  Bring back real punishments that fit the crimes.

This knife-ban nonsense is just another example of the loons running the asylum in England.  I'd suggest that our confreres "across the pond" wake up and start taking their country back while we strive to take ours back.

(HT - Pewsitter)