Archbishop Gregory Honors Gay-Enabling Religious

Before we look at the main problem here, let's start with a general examination of the December 19th issue of the Catholic Sub-Standard.

In addition to the deficiencies observed by my blogging colleague A Washington DC
Catholic, others caught my eye.  On page 4 of the paper edition appears an article written by Msgr John Enzler entitled "Rejoicing in Jesus' Humble Birth"  In it the usual canards are to be found, particularly the one about Him being homeless.  Note to Msgr Enzler, the pope, etc: the Holy Family was not , repeat NOT, homeless.  They traveled to Bethlehem to register for tax purposes.  In fact, much of the population was traveling for the same reason.  That is why there was no room in the inns, for the rooms were occupied by fellow travelers.  So much for that politically-correct codswallop.

The other one, one that the progressives seem to think is obligatory to trot out, is that they were refugees.  Of course they are doing so to justify those crashing through our borders in disregard for legitiate immigration laws.  While they were indeed fleeing Herod at the direction of an angel, in no way did they flout immigration law.  Moreover, after a short while, they returned to their native place.

Another gaffe can be found on page 19 in the short blurbs of saints on the calendar for January.  I cannot find this on an online version.  Anyway, regarding St Raymond of Penafort, the Standard erroneously states that he was the second master general after St Dominic.  In fact, the second master general was Blessed Jordan of Saxony.  St Raymond was the third master general.  Might the ordinary lay person know that?  Most likely not.  However, one should be able to expect that the authors and editors of a Catholic publication would check these facts before publishing these kinds of bloopers.

But now for the real point of this post.  On page 20 of the paper edition, and here from the online edition, we read that Sr Mary Berchmans Hannan, former head of Georgetown Visitation, has been honored with a campus building named after her.  Archbishop Gregory attended the dedication and there was a big photo-op of the two of them.  The bloviation in her honor included snippets such as claiming that "everything she has done has been directed to honor God".  Oh really?   Let me jog some memories of events of this past May!   In brief, Sister announced that the alumni magazine would be polluted by the announcement of same-sex shack-ups.  Whatever the reasons, by praise of perversion she has embroiled the entire Visitation institution in mortal sin.  Some alumni did publish an open letter to protest Sister's horrendous decision.  However, one doesn't detect a peep of that mortal sin in the Standard's overly-glowy accolades for Berchmans.  She should have been tossed out on her ear after that stunt.  But of course our current prelate, friend of Fortunate Families, probably finds in her a kindred spirit - and it's not the Holy Spirit.

Washington Post Gnashes Its Teeth Over A Local Priest Upholding Catholic Teaching

See here.  They are joined by other progressives in the area.  Unfortunately in Montgomery County there are quite a few of them.  When I say "unfortunate", I mean that they are placing themselves in danger of damnation, owing to their applauding of mortal sin.

Recall how Georgetown Visitation, thanks to Sister Mary Berchams Hannan, soiled itself by its open embrace of lesbian perversion.  A nearby pastor knew he could not remain silent.  Msgr Filari, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda MD, issued an open letter to Sister.  It appeared in the bulletin. (By the way, should this bulletin "mysteriously" disappear, please be advised that many of us have downloaded it and we can make it reappear!)  Msgr tells the truth regarding the support of perversion.that it will endanger souls.  The screed issued by the Post is both typical and expected.

The real question is whether or not newly-minted Archbishop Wilton Gregory will himself uphold Catholic moral teaching.  Will he?  Will he act as a real shepherd of souls?  Or will he follow the despicable precedent set by his now-disgraced predecessor in office, Cardinal Wuerl, when the latter threw Father Marcel Guarnizo under the bus for withholding Holy Communion from a flaming lesbian?  All eyes will be upon him - including ours.

Georgetown Visitation Goes Down The Toilet

I saw it first on LifeSiteNews, but in reality it's all over the lame-brain media.  The president emerita, Sister Mary Berchmans Hannan, announced that the school's alumni magazine will carry announcements of same-sex-shackups along with actual marriages.

In trying to justify her catering to mortal sin, Sister claims that "we can focus on Church teaching on gay marriage or we can focus on Church teaching on the Gospel commandment of love."   So much error, so little time!  But I'll give it a shot.

• Our Lord teaches through His Catholic Church.  It is this Church that contains the full deposit of faith.  She teaches infallibly on faith and morals.
• The Church's teachings do not contradict each other.  They cannot, for God does not contradict Himself.  If any notion of "love" lends one to affirm homosexual conduct or any other mortal sin, that notion is not authentic charity but a cheap, deadly, sentimental facade of the same.
• What she calls "learning and growing" is in fact capitulation to the sinful dictates of secular society.  Berchmans and her friends value the world's opinion (and probably funding) more than Our Lord Himself.

Some parents understand that Hannan is compromising the Catholic education for which the paid.  However, they remain silent.  They say that they fear "the soft discrimination against the children...(with) A's becoming B's".  Plus, they don't want to have a reputation as "one of the angry parents".  In short, while they understand the truth, they are moral cowards.

I don't know what troubles me more: Hannan's disobedience to the Faith (and her vows) or the cowardice of these parents.  Just as the school is doing gross disservice to the students in their own way, so too are these parents, albeit differently.  In remaining silent, they are teaching their children to remain silent as to uphold their Faith and yes, their very identities.  They are teaching their children that it is better to "go along to get along" because this life matters more than the next.  I believe Our Lord stated "who acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge before my Father.  Whooever is ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of them before My Father."

Then of course there is the "non-statement" tossed out by the Archdiocese of Washington.  Will they respond with half the alacrity that they displayed when Father Guarnizo refused Holy Communion to the flaming lesbian?  I don't think so, either.

Faithful Catholics simply must put some steel in their spines if we ever want to restore decency to our culture.  This is doubly incumbent on parents who are responsible for the souls of their children.

Contact information for the school can be found here (bottom of page). Please contact them and advise them that they are endangering the souls of the students in their charge, and their own.