On February 1 it was announced that Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez has informed his predecessor, retired Cardinal Roger Mahony, that he has been relieved of any duties within the archdioceses. Furthermore, he has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry. This comes on the heels of his release of the files of those archdiocesan personnel accused of sexual abuse of minors.
In the wake of the archbishop's actions, the cardinal has posted his response to him. As you read the letter, you will probably sense the petulance and sniveling therein. The letter starts with the ridiculous excuse that "nothing in my education equipped me to deal with this grave problem". What of basic decency or common sense? Moreover, there was the grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders itself. There's the equipment.
Let us pray that some sense of repentance and of the dignity of the office of bishop be infused into Cardinal Mahony for the sake of his own immortal soul. From the sound of his response, both are sorely lacking at this time. Let us also pray that other dioceses in this nation experience similar expurgations.
I had written in the past about Father Joseph Palacios of Georgetown University, a self-described "gay priest" who co-founded "Catholics for Equality". Comes now the happy news (thanks to Cardinal Newman Society) that Palacios has been relieved of his priestly faculties by his bishop, Jose Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Of course what would be more joyous would be the news of Palacios' repentance of his gay advocacy and dissidence in general. In the meantime, we thank and salute Archbishop Gomez.
Much has been written on this blog about Bishop Gambino Zavala, former auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles. We know he's a former president of both Pax Christi and Interfaith Worker Justice. He's presided at the "closing liturgies" of the 2010 religious education conferences in Los Angeles - "liturgies" that are more accurately called farcical circuses. And yes, he's whined about us bloggers who shine the light on progressive shenanigans within the Church.
I emphasized the word "former" in the previous paragraph for Zavala's resignation from his post has been announced - for cause. He has disclosed that he fathered two children who are now teenagers. They live in another state with their mother. Let our prayers be with them.
There is a phrase "lex orandi lex credendi lex vivendi". The (loose) translation from Latin yields "the law of prayer is the law of belief; the law of belief is the law of life". Bishop Zavala's sad story is testimony to the truth of that Latin phrase.
Pray for him. Also pray for Archbishop Gomez who has a bit of a mess to clean up in Mahoney's wake.
I left "REC" in initial format for a reason. While it would commonly be understood as "religious education conference", I think what it more accurately stands for is "Ridiculous Excuse for Catholicism". Our colleagues in the Catholic Media Coalition, the Concerned Roman Catholics of America, created this video of the travesty that the Mahoney cabal made of Holy Mass.
Let us keep Archbishop Jose Gomez in our prayers as he will inheret the debacle left behind by this Prince of the Church. He will need it to deal with the miscreants that will continue to lurk in that chancery.
First, watch this montage of liturgical abuses. Notice that Cardinal Mahoney is in a good number of these.
In LA, we pray that these days will come to an end, although not all are pleased as evidenced in the next clip. Unfortunately the You Tube owner of the video has disabled embedding. However, click on the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCJPmvfU4Ow&feature=player_embedded to see it.
Let's welcome with joy and gratitude the news that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed a replacement for the rabidly-leftist Cardinal Mahoney. Archbishop Jose Gomez, the coajuter bishop, will take over when Cardinal Mahoney reaches his 75th birthday, on February 27, 2011. Read the Lifesite News account to get some sense of the contrast between the two men.
Among the bevy of insults to the Faith that occurred under Mahoney's watch was the so-called "Relgious Education Conference", that always featured dissidents of all stripes. It might well have been dubbed "The Los Angeles SACRILEGIOUS Education Conference". Below is a description, with clips of the one that ocurred this past March.
If it was an "education conference", Lord only knows what kind of slop comprised that "education". The below shows the "closing liturgy". The beginning, with the "liturgical dancers" (forbidden, by the way) seems to be performing some wiccan new-age incantation session, dancing about as they wave smoking incense bowls above their heads. Then comes the "procession". Since when are deacons ever accompanied by their wives? One of the deacons (no spouse!) carries in the lectionary - holding it above his head and twirling about as he does so.
Now below is the Canon. Never have I heard this particular language used in the Canon. What is meant by "gather people of every race, language and way of life.." Forgive my ignorance, but aren't some "ways of life" sinful? I hear no clarification of that phrase. We're sure you have noticed by now the unacceptable vessels used to contain the Consecrated Hosts and the Precious Blood.
If you right-click on one of the videos to watch it on youtube, you can see the entire 12-clip series. Clips 11 and 12 are the closing. Why does it take 2 10-minute clips? Because the mistress of ceremonies producing this thing saw it necessary to try to "give credit" to all their workers - by name - and to call for applause and cheers. Mind you, this is being done before the dismissal - that is, during Mass! Then the presiding bishop chimes in with a few of his own. Then the bishop closes the Mass, the liturgical dancers start boogying in the aisles to murachi music
My friends at Orate Fratres did a report on it. Please read it. Please pray that this is the last debacle of its kind that will disgrace Los Angeles. Moreover, let's pray for Archbishop Gomez, as he will have a herculean task before him as he attempts to clean the chancery of all the left-wing, pro-abort, ACORN-loving bureaucrats that will lurk in the hallways after Mahoney's departure.
