Wuerl's Appearance At Little Flower Today

Yesterday I suggested that concerned Catholics gather outside Little Flower Church this evening to pray a Rosary and to let the cardinal know that we won't let this matter of him harboring a criminal be forgotten.  I realize it was short notice, but unfortunately I was the only one there - well, not entirely.

At The Mass Ave entrance

I arrived at the Massachusetts Avenue entrance about 4:30, hoping to greet the cardinal with my bullhorn.  At the top of the driveway I saw a Montgomery County police cruiser (see photo).  This officer was looking into each and every car that pulled in.  One might have thought they were pulling into a military base containing secret weapons, the way that the cars were being scrutinized.

I too watched the cars for Cardinal Wuerl; later I found out that he had already scurried in.  I was praying the Rosary when a woman walked down from the parish grounds to chat with me.  Apparently she is a registered parishioner and tried to stop inside the Church to visit the Blessed Sacrament.  She was told she couldn't do so, as there was a "private function" occurring.  I don't recall whether or not she was aware of Wuerl's presence.  Regardless, does Canon Law permit the barring of Catholics from praying in their own Church?

At Chesterbrook

As we were talking, several men came over to us.  They had heard that George Neumayr was there and were trying to locate them.  They mentioned that they saw police at every entrance to the parish grounds.  They and the lady went off to find Neumayr.

At about 5:15 I headed to my car and drove to the other entrances.  Both were towards the back, away from Mass Ave.  I took pictures.  Here's one to the west of the church,   Yes, you are looking at three county cruisers.

The bottom picture is the last entrance to the east of the church, at Kirkwood and Jordan.  Two cruisers block that entrance.

At Kirkwood and Jordan

So there you have it - six cruisers in total!  I didn't know that Montgomery County was so crime-free that they could spare six or more officers to basically sit in the parking lot of Little Flower and twiddle their thumbs.  I certainly hope no real crimes (you know, things like rape and murder and theft, etc) happened with these cops just sitting there.

Of what was the chancery and/or parish afraid?  Were they afraid that Neumayr or I or someone else might have dared to (gasp!) ask the cardinal a question?  Neumayr asked one of them who called them there.  The officer said their lieutenant ordered them there.  That makes sense; those officers really had no say; they were dispatched to Little Flower so off they went.  The question is, who requested their presence, and why?  We Montgomery County citizens have a right to know for that was paid by our tax dollars.

So what happened inside that meeting?  Were the priests allowed to voice their concerns?  Or did they have the pope's sanctimonious demands for "silence" (see here and here) cast into their teeth?

Prayer And Protests - Cardinal Wuerl

A few days ago some of us wondered whether or not Cardinal Wuerl took flight.  Well, he is back in town and offered Mass at Annunciation Church this morning.   He tried a verbal tap dance around the mess.  He then asked the parishioners in attendance to remain loyal to Pope Francis as "increasingly it is clear that he is the object of considerable animosity".

One parishioner just wasn't having any of that.  He shouted "shame on you!" as he walked out of Mass.  Another parishioner in the choir loft stood up, turned her back and folded her arms as Wuerl continued his spiel.  Usually I'm not a fan of disburbances at Mass, but neither am I a fan of dissident clergy carrying on at Mass as though the congregation was their captive audience.  That itself is its own disburbance.

I don't think these clergy should feel comfortable as they prattle on like that.  They need to be made most decidedly uncomfortable if they continue to play faithful Catholics like patsies.  Tomorrow lends to us another opportunity to do just that.

I have become aware of a gathering of priests tomorrow, Monday Sept 3, 5pm, at the Church of the Little Flower on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda MD.  I am suggesting that Catholics congregate on the public sidewalk in front of the church along Massachutsetts Avenue to pray and offer reparation.  If any do bring signs that ask for his resignation, please use language befitting Catholics - no profanity, imprecation, etc.