Expose Of Yet Another CRS Cover-Up Attempt

The March 4th edition of Mic'd Up deals with the latest CRS scandal unearthed by the Lepanto Institute; I blogged on this last night.  In the beginning of the episode, Michael Voris makes a key point (at the 1:30 mark) that can easily be overlooked.  He states that the government funnels billions of dollars towards the "social justice" agencies of the Church who then distribute the money to progressive organizations that are decidedly anti-God and anti-life.  In other words, the Church is a conduit for federal misappropriation of the tax dollars of the American people.  The progressives in the Church get to keep a portion of those funds for their own pet projects and cushy lifestyles, as part of this "sweetheart deal".  Boys and girls, can we all say "money laundering"?

By the way - I believe that Catholic Charities also derives much of its budget from the tax dollars of American citizens.  In essence, we already contribute involuntarily to Catholic Charities and CRS. I refuse to give them (along with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development) one penny voluntarily.

I will post the video below.  I'd also like to point out that Lepanto's report has thrown the CRS into a damage-control hissy-snit.  Here it is, along with the analysis by Lepanto.

Catholic Relief Services Promoting Abortifacient Usage And Covering It Up

Those of us who attend St. John Neumann Church in Gaithersburg, MD might recall seeing the flyer to the right inside their bulletins as they left.  It is advertising an event designed to promote the "Operation Rice Bowl" program that has been a staple in many parishes during the Lenten season.  I'd strongly suspect that an attendee at this dinner will not hear the full story regarding CRS.  I've blogged about the many issues of the CRS so I shouldn't be shocked at the revelations below.

Today the Lepanto Institute released the results of a months-long investigation of the Catholic Relief Service's distribution of contraceptives and abortifacients in Kenya.  They conducted their investigation with the help of the Population Research Institute.  In short, CRS received two grants from the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) totaling almost $4 million; with that money, CRS has taken a lead role in the distribution and promotion of condoms, sex education, contraceptives and aborifacients.  As evidenced from my other posts, this is by no means the first time that CRS has been caught with its hands in the contraceptive "cookie jar".  I do believe this is the first time that CRS has been caught accepting governmental assistance in their cover-up actions.

As you read the Lepanto report, you'll notice mention of two key documents: its 56-page report on their investigations and PEPFAR's Operational Plan Report (before governmental tampering).  Both these documents can be downloaded to your own hard drives.

To assist in the promulgation of this information, ChurchMilitant.TV released a special report today.  I post that below.

Bishop Lynch Defends Soros-Funded Catholic Relief Services

In the past few weeks Catholic Relief Services has shown its true colors (that is, anti-God and anti-life colors) by allowing, if not outright directing its personnel to distribute abortifacients in Madagascar.  Of course it earned well-deserved rebukes.  The progressive cartel within the bowels of ecclesiastic bureaucracy seemed to have received their marching orders and speaking points for now they are leaping to the defense of those USCCB organs that are funneling money towards the culture of death.

The latest to attempt "damage-control" is none other than Bishop Robert Lynch of the Diocese of St Petersburg FL.  I now link to an article that he posted on his blog this past Wednesday.   I won't pick apart the whole thing, lest I be here all night.  But I will point out one or two things, in light of his own chequered past.

He snidely refers to the Population Research Institute (a branch of Human Life International) as "an allegedly pro-life group" and many others (probably Yours Truly) as "notoriously and consistently wrong entities who thrive on attacking the Church or its entities".  If he's looking for examples of malfeasance by "allegedly pro-life entities", perhaps he need look no further than his own doings eight years ago.

It was a little over eight years ago that Terri Schindler Schiavo was murdered - "legally", of course - within his own diocese.  Not only did he do nothing to prevent it, but he went so far as to suggest that the final word regarding Terri's fate "rightly" lay in the hands of her murderous husband who was already living with his then-concubine.  One year later, American Life League interviewed Terri's family and posted it online.  It details further insulted meted to the Schindlers by Bishop Lynch.  And the bishop has the audacity to say that we are the allegedly pro-life ones???

But perhaps there's more to Bishop Lynch's posturings than meets the eye.  As with many things progressive these days, there seems to be a common denominator.  That "common denominator" has a name - George Soros.

My Catholic Media Coalition colleague, herself a Florida resident, posted an article sometime before Terri died that examines some of the key villains in that situation and some of the money trail.  Yes, Bishop Lynch is one of the villains.  To supplement this article, I'd suggest reading this blog piece entitled Soros and Schiavo.  This delves more into the history of George Soros' involvement in the pro-euthanasia movement in the US.

But anti-life groups aren't the only recipients of Soros' largess!  Why, he's been known to give to Catholic groups, too.  Well, some "katholyc" groups - those that serve as fronts for the Culture of Death!  Five years ago, Discoverthenetworks detailed how Soros money had infested the Church.  Chris Korzen of Catholics United tried to deflect some criticism of Bill Donohue by whining that Soros "contributes to Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Legal Immigration Services".  Donohue erred a bit by implying that those three weren't apologists for abortion.  Perhaps Donohue had not heard that Catholic Charities of Richmond VA was under federal investigation for paying for a minor's abortion (with full knowledge of Richmond Bishop DiLorenzo).  And of course Donohue's statement was long before the CRS aided and abetted murder in Madagascar.

Now perhaps the reader is wondering why I italicized the words "Catholic Relief Services".  At the time that Terri Schiavo was being murdered in Florida, guess who was the board chair of CRS?  Yes - Bishop Robert Lynch.  Please don't tell me he had no idea whatsoever of the Soros money flowing into CRS coffers - and probably still is.  In situations such as this, another version of the "golden rule" is in force, that is, "he who has the gold, rules".  As long as they accept Soros "gold", they accept Soros "rule"; sadly I think they accept both all too willingly.

CRS Thumbs Its Nose At Madagascar Bishops

It didn't even dawn on me until I saw this LifeSiteNews piece that there are bishops overseeing Madagascar who should have had a voice in what transpires within their dioceses.  Recall that a few days ago the news came to light that the Catholic Relief Services is distributing abortifacients in that area, and doing so in its own name.  Now I could be incorrect on this, but when a Catholic agency takes up action in a given locality, it is at least supposed to notify the local ordinary if not seek his permission.  After all, that bishop is answerable to God for the well-being of the souls in his diocese.

The local bishops' names are Archbishop Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina and Archbishop Odon Razanakolona of Antananarivo.  They were not - repeat, NOT - consulted before CRS started distributing its baby-murder tools there.  Their Excellencies are understandably and correctly incensed that this would occur.

So much for collegiality among Catholic bishops.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops displays supreme arrogance by allowing - if not outright directing - the CRS to run roughshod over the prerogatives of local bishops, even as they protest the murder of babies within their dioceses committed with complicity of the CRS.

Once more I suggest that the USCCB be abolished.  It is a blight upon the entire Roman Catholic Church.