Social Media Pressure A Factor In Apologies Of Bishops To Covington Boys

This afternoon Bishop Roger Foys of the Diocese of Covington finally issued an official apology for throwing the boys under the bus at the behest of the leftie hyenas.  While a tad weak, the words "I apologize" appear therein.  I regret that is more than the March for Life leadership has done to date (no doubt causing Nellie Gray to spin in her grave).  The apology and some analysis can be found on LifeSiteNews and elsewhere.  Archbishop Kurtz of Louisville has followed suit and also apologized on his blog.  So too did the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

My colleague at Les Femmes advises us that some high profile lawyers, acting on behalf of the students, are planning lawsuits against some of the barbarians who issued slander, libel and even threats against the boys.  I for one hope and pray that they are successful beyond their dreams.  That said, there exists the very real possibility that these three Catholic dioceses issued apologies to escape being targets for legal action; I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case.  At least something gave them cause for pause.  One Kentucky bishop, John Stowe of Lexington, continues to pile on the boys.  Lepanto Institute reveals that Stowe embraces just about all things heretical.  Perhaps the less-than-good bishop will find himself in legal cross hairs.

While I've no doubt that these prelates might well fear more lawsuits, we cannot discount the role that faithful Catholics all over the nation have played in this.  I'm sure many readers have joined in calling and/or emailing these dioceses to voice your displeasure.  Moreover, in Kentucky some have no doubt informed their prelates of their intentions to reduce or suspend any future donations.  Your voices, each and every one of yours', have played a pivotal role.  You probably heard of this atrocity over various blogs, facebook,etc - in short, through outlets that are independent of mainstream media.

However, there are Catholics who, for whatever reason, are encouraging us to eschew social media, claiming that "it doesn't matter what we say".  I have seen this mainly on facebook and have captured screenshots of those jaded sentiments.  The key player in this knows who he is, and may well be reading this post.  If I continue to see any more attempts to get us to stifle our voices, even if you believe your reasons to be spiritual and noble, I can promise you that you will be vociferously and publicly opposed.  If there is one thing for which I commend the left, it is their astute use of social media.  We are just starting to learn its power.  What a sin it would be for us to abandon this tool - and yes, I do mean to use the word "sin" in all its aspects.  It has proven to be of benefit to the Covington boys and I for one will take issue if other Catholics mistakenly deny their voices to these young men.

Head of USCCB Grovels Before Obama

Most of us heard the news that in the "eleventh hour" before the HHS contraception mandate was set to bare its teeth against Catholic agencies, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor blocked the Obama cartel from enforcing that mandate against agencies using the Christian Brothers Employee Benefits Trust.  Among the orders who were spared was the Little Sisters of the Poor.  It is nothing short of miraculous that Sotomayor, an Obama appointee and pro-abortion person would stand against the demagogue who placed her in that post.   Some opine that Sotomayor is remembering that she's Catholic.  While that would indeed be lovely, I think the cause is something more mundane - she is remembering that her function is to uphold the United States Constitution, with its all-important checks and balances and limits of power.

Sadly this point seems to be lost on Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the USCCB.  In the wake of Sotomayor's action, he is "requesting" that Obama temporarily exempt religious institutions from the contraception/abortifacient mandate.  According to the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is charged with enforcing laws that have been enacted by Congress and signed by him.  He does not have sole discretion about what laws get enforced and what laws don't get enforced.  He is not a dictator, as much as Obama pictures himself to be.  In placing this wrong-headed petition before Obama, the Archbishop is tacitly (and hopefully unwittingly) affirming this unconstitutional view of presidential authority.

But the problems with the Archbishop's request are even more fundamental.  There is no denying that Obamacare would not have been law of the land had it not been for the support of Catholics in high places and even that of the USCCB.  That's right.  The USCCB came out in support of Obamacare, minus the obvious abortion provisions.  They failed to acknowledge two facts: 1) the inherent antipathy any socialized medical system will have for God and life and 2) the Messiah Most Mindless would lie through his teeth to garner any kind of support and then stab his supporters in the back.

If Archbishop Kurtz truly seeks to protect the Church against the overreach of Obamacare, he will first have to acknowledge the pivotal role that the USCCB played in bringing about this disaster on the entire country.  He and his brother bishops will have to repent of their role and their readiness to sell their souls to the progressives in power to obtain a few measly crumbs of considerations and concessions.  They will then be obliged, as a body, to oppose Obamacare in its entirety and bring all their resources to bear on the utter annihilation of the Obamacare menace.

That groveling letter will earn no concessions for the Church - at least none that really matter.  It shows a complete lack of regard for those Catholics who do not work in Church-affiliated enterprises.  It asks for an exercise of authority outside the bounds of the United States Constitution and shows complete cowardice in the face of a de facto tyrant.  It's time for the bishops to face up to reality and start acting like men of God as opposed to wimps.

USCCB Slobbers Over Mandela While Firing Honest Columnist

The liberal hierarchy of the Church establishment continues to spew forth accolades to the late Nelson Mandela.  Predictably, the president of the USCCB has joined in the cheerleading.  The USCCB webpage has the statement from Archbishop Kurtz.  Among other things he said, "Nelson Mandela was a light for peace and equality in his country and for the whole world."

Pardon my french, but how could he utter that crap with a straight face?  Does a "light for peace" open the floodgates for abortion and sodomy in his own country?  Perhaps by "light" he meant that coming from gasoline-filled tires around the necks of executed South African citizens.

Meanwhile, Adam Smith, Fox News Commentator, was dismissed from his other position as movie reviewer at the Catholic News Service - which is, of course, controlled by the USCCB.  And what was his "high crime and misdemeanor"?  He takes umbrage with some of Pope Francis' "off-the-cuff" remarks and likens him to Obama.  Well, the USCCB took umbrage at Smith.  One must wonder if the USCCB took similar swift actions against previous movie reviews (e.g. Harry Forbes) for their overly-lenient reviews of "Brokeback Mountain", "The Golden Compass" and rather derogatory review of the "Passion of the Christ"?  Harry Forbes stayed on for several years after his Brokeback slopjob.  Let's hope the USCCB doesn't bring him back to fill Smith's slot (I wouldn't put it past them).