Notre Dame Cathedral - A Harbinger Of God's Purifying Judgments To Come

No doubt the world has heard by now that Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was severely damaged by a fire today.  The fire destroyed most of the roof and a spire.  Firefighters managed to save a relic of Jesus' Crown of Thorns and a tunic used by King St Louis IX, along with the Blessed Sacrament.

The Cathedral dates back many centuries.  It is both a religious and cultural landmark not only of France and Western civilization, but that of the Roman Catholic Church as well.  However, I join many others in believing that this disaster is a harbinger of God's judgments that are yet to come.  We may well bewail the fate of the Cathedral,  But how many of us in Maryland are just as disturbed that Mark Shriver, a dissident Catholic, will befoul another institution names after Our Lady next month?  I've already written about that.  The question is, what are faithful Catholics doing about that??

We have a pope who scrapes and bows before pagan world leaders, but won't genuflect before Our Lord during Mass.  We stand by while he spews forth verbose documents that only serve to obfuscate God's timeless truths.  We have prelates who cover for each other as they rape young boys and men.  These same prelates wink at priests who lead their parishes in "pride parades" while punishing faithful priests for preaching true Catholic doctrine that some sin-blinded people find too convicting.

President Trump And Notre Dame

Most of us remember how the University of Notre Dame disgraced itself by allowing the Messiah Most Miserable to sully its commencement ceremony AND receive an honorary degree from what once was a Catholic institution.  This happened in 2009.  Many good people protested, both before and during the debacle, from afar and right on the campus itself with some being arrested.  Father Jenkins was warned of the protests beforehand but carried on, claiming that the President of the United States should be a welcome speaker.

My!  How times change in these eight years!  When faced with the prospect of President Trump giving a commencement address at his campus, all of the sudden, Jenkins is having his doubts!  Says the UND president, "I do think the elected leader of the nation should be listened to. And it would be good to have that person on the campus — whoever they are, whatever their views.  At the same time, the 2009 commencement was a bit of a political circus, and I think I’m conscious that that day is for graduates and their parents — and I don’t want to make the focus something else."

Let's examine all this, shall we?  We'll start from the end: "I don't want to make the focus something else".  What a piece of crock!  When Obama came, Jenkins didn't care one whit about that day being "for the graduates and their parents".  It was a victory lap for both Obama and Father Theodore Hesburgh.  The latter was president of UND from 1952 - 1987.  During that time he authored the heretical Land-O-Lakes Statement and helped the infiltration of progressivism into the inner workings of the Church hierarchy.  Because he also gave aid and comfort to Msgr Jack Egan as the latter was developing the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, he fostered the kind of "community organizing" that jump-started Obama's political career.  Yes indeed, Jenkins was celebrating a triumph of progressivism that day, not the graduates.

Now let's look at the "circus".  He thinks that more of that may be present because of Trump as opposed to Obama?  Arguably he has a point.  Consider the rioting and rampage that occurred in various metropolitan areas as marauders roamed the streets, smashed windows, beat up Trump supporters, set things on fire, etc while proclaiming that Trump is "not my president".  Consider all those Clinton supporters who claimed to be traumatized, with many campuses setting up crisis counseling centers all because their candidate lost.  Perhaps Jenkins is concerned that UND students will have their noses put out of joint in such great numbers that he'll have trouble setting up enough counseling centers, safe spaces, etc.  Such a circus might indeed dwarf what he faced in 2009.  Does Jenkins realized what he might have admitted?  He might have cheered all the mayhem that happened elsewhere after the election, but isn't so keen with the prospect of his own campus being trashed by overgrown brats.  Well, just as he jailed the pro-life protesters, he can grow a backbone and be prepared to haul away any rampaging snowflakes.

Such double standards these progressives have!  And now the masks are coming off their faces.

More On Father Hesburgh's Legacy Of Destruction

On Friday I touched upon the death of the notorious Father Theodore Hesburgh, long-time president of the University of Notre Dame.  The main thing he presided over while in his post was the destruction of Catholic education there and in many other places - not to mention the confusion and likely damnation of the souls of Notre Dame's students.

Regrettably but not too surprisingly, his death has garnered him accolades from the usual suspects.  Chief among them is Cardinal Dolan, giving the usual happy-clappy crap.  I've blogged about his gaffes many times.  One theme of this bloviation is Hesburgh's "priestly touch".  What is this "priestly touch" in Dolan's estimation?  Who knows?  When Dolan defines God as "him, her, whatever you want", I suppose this "priestly touch" can be "whatever you want", even if that "whatever" is the Land O' Lakes Statement.

Below is a Vortex summary.  Pray for Father Hesburgh.

Father Norman Weslin - Requiescat In Pace

Yesterday evening Father Norman Weslin, founders of Lambs of Christ, passed to his eternal reward at the age of 81 years.  He had been arrested during pro-life rescues and other protests over 100 times.  He was one of the "Notre Dame 88", arrested during the Notre Dame commencement ceremony that was polluted by Obama.  The American Catholic has a biographical sketch of him, including a video of his arrest.  His attorney at Notre Dame posted this tribute to Father.

Let us pray for his speedy entry to heaven, and for his intercession as we carry on with the pro-life cause.

Who will join us at Georgetown tomorrow in honor of his memory?

An Interesting Coincidence Regarding Two Bishops In Recent News

Unless one has had their head in the sand, one could not have missed all the kerfuffle about Father Pavone being called back to his home diocese of Amarillo and away from Priests for Life.  Jill Stanek has much to say about this matter on her blog.  Here's more from LifeSite News.  The bishop of Amarillo is His Excellency Patrick Zurek.  Shortly after the bishop released his letter, he left for his vacation in the Rio.  He was gone when Father Pavone arrived.  But that is not the "interesting coincidence". 

The other bishop of interest is Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, who is forbidding his priests from engaging in pro-life activism (see yesterday's post).

So what do these two bishops have in common (besides squelching pro-life activities of their priests)?  Well, let's go back to May 2009, when the Messiah Most Miserable occasioned the University of Notre Dame's act of disdain of its Catholic heritage.  Although most of the bishops could not bestir themselves to utter a protest, 83 of them did so.  A list of these was compiled by LifeSite News.  Take a look - you will not find these two bishops listed thereon.  Surprised?  Don't be!

Contraception - A Major Linchpin In The Culture Of Death

On June 25 as he spoke to men whom he ordained, Cardinal Robert Sarah warned them that priests who fail to oppose the breakdown of morality in society, particularly in regards to life, sexual ethics and family life, risk the condemnation of God.  The Lifesite News piece links to his entire homily.

It is worth a serious read by all, but especially by our clergy.  I think it is directly relevant to current events in Maryland.  I believe His Eminence would place abortion and the upcoming fight for marriage in the category of things requiring the most strident opposition by the clergy.  Conversely, I do not believe he would hold support of the DREAM Act in such regard.

Today, in addition to being the Feast Day of St James the Greater, is the 43rd anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae.  Yet if one were to read it today for the first time, it would seem that the document was written only five years ago, as so many social ills predicted by Pope Paul VI have been made manifest.  To illustrate the pivotal role that the acceptance of contraception (a thing of mortal sin) has had in the degradation of our culture, Real Catholic TV has produced another episode of its Catholic Investigative Agency.  It is below.  Please watch it - it's a long one, but well worth your time.  Click here if you can't see embedded video.

Rockefellers - Key Players In Culture Of Death

Michael Voris's "Catholic Investigative Agency" has released a 33-minute clip regarding the prominent Rockefeller family.  It delves into:

• The Rockefellers' dalliance with the eugenics movement
• Their partership with Fr Hesbergh (of Notre Dame infamy) to compromise Catholic education
• Their promotion of "one-world government" via the United Nations and subsidiary organizations
• Their promotion and exploitation of environmentalism to further one-world government and population control

Real Catholic TV has catalogued their source material for this clip; it can be found here. 

If you can't see the embedded video, click here.

Emily's List Contributer Resigns From Notre Dame Board Of Trustees

Last week the news broke that Notre Dame University appointed to its Board of Trustees Roxanne Martino, a big-time contributer to Emily's List.  Thanks to the Cardinal Newman Society and the protests of thousands of Catholics, Ms. Martino has stepped down.  She stated that her resignation was in the best interests of Notre Dame.  On that point she is correct.

Our prayers are with Ms. Martino so that she reconsiders her support for baby-murder before she faces eternal judgment.  We also pray for those at Notre Dame who had invited her to the Board in the first place.  Under no circumstances do I believe that they were unaware of her contributions to Emily's List.  Therefore, either they just don't give a hoot about the murdered babies, or they themselves are supporters of baby-murder.

Faithful Catholics, your prayers and actions do make a difference.  Ora et labora!

More Shame From Notre Shame

Whew!  It's a good thing that Jenkins et al got rid of their ND88 boondoggle because they managed to put their feet in it again as this National Catholic Register article details.  They recently appointed to their Board of Trustees one Roxanne Martino, a ND alumna, a reputedly accomplished businesswoman and - oh, yes! - a big-time contributer to Emily's List.  Most people who are half awake understand Emily's List to be a cabal dedicated to the election of pro-abortion Democrat women to public office.  If you're just waking up, never fear - just look at the Emily List mission statement on their webpage; they have no bones about proclaiming their "purpose", such as it is.

When the news broke and went viral, the ND officials - including Fr Jenkins - tried to tell us that Martino, who is supposed to be a smart business person, had no idea that she contributed over $25k to an outfit whose sole, plainly-stated mission, is to get pro-abortion women elected.  But it's just a teensy-weensy little goof, right?   So much for "damage control"!

I'm now waiting for Georgetown University to pull off some stupendous stupidity.  Has anyone else noticed that Georgetown and Notre Dame seem to alternate with each other in providing grandeose insult to the Faith?  It's almost like a contest between the two!

The Guardians of the Grotto and the Cardinal Newman Society both helped to break this news.  Below is the Vortex take on the matter.  Click here if you cannot see embedded video.

BREAKING - Charges DROPPED Against Notre Dame 88

The pro-life activists whose protests of Obama's commencement address at Notre Dame in May 2009 finally are releaved of trespass charges.  These individuals had taken their protests onto campus grounds and were arrested and charged with trespass.  Several of these individuals are friends of this blogger.

The Thomas More Society represented the pro-life activists, who eached faced up to a year in jail and a $5,000.00 fine.  Many investigations and discoveries were conducted.  One of these revealed that campus protesters of various left-wing pursuasions were given much more lenient treatment than the pro-lifers, indicating viewpoint discrimination.

Today, Indiana's prosecuter for St Joseph County, Michael Dvorak, dismissed the trespass charges.  Details can be found at Lifesite News.  What took them so long??

Catholic Charities Awards Dissident Father Hesburgh

Just how many  "Centennial Medals" is Catholic Charities going to bestow (at great waste of money)?  Last September they held a "Centennial Gatherings" in Washington DC.  As I said in August, their personage of honor was none other than Sister Carol Keehan; she received one of those baubles.  She had also been awarded the Pen of Perfidy by the Messiah Most Miserable for her pivotal role in forcing the "Obamanation" of Obamacare down our throats.  There were other unsavory people there who were wined and dined, as that post makes clear.

Well, in Alexandria Virginia they gave another "Centennial Medal" away - this time to Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame.  Father Larry Snyder said of Fr. Hesburgh, "few are of his caliber."  To that we reply, "we wish that were true."

What are some of the not-so-stellar accomplishments of Father Hesburgh?

• He gave Msgr Jack Egan a place and resources with which to originate the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  Recall that Msgr Egan was a follower of Saul Alinsky
• He was a major driving force behind the creation and promulgation of the destructive Land O'Lakes Statement.  This statement explicitly claimed that Catholic institutions of higher learning owed no allegiance nor submission to the Teaching Majesterium of the Church.

Right there you have two ways in which Father Hesburgh helped to introduce progressive poison into the Church.  No doubt he is a darling to many of the thinly-disguised socialists running amok in high places - probably to Obama himself.  Now given the not-so-secret dependence that Catholic Charities has on federal largesse, it's not all that difficult to see why Catholic Charities is kissing up to Hesburgh.

Perhaps we need to promote a boycott of the in-pew Catholic Charities collection, as well as the CCHD collection.

CCHD - Boycott This In November - ALL Localities!

With all the rightly-placed focus on the elections that will occur in two days, I can understand that the upcoming annual CCHD collection this November has slipped the minds of many.  Alas, it is a reality that now cries for our attention.

In previous posts, I had suggested that we all boycott the CCHD collection in all localities with the exception of the Chicago Archdiocese.  At the time, their local CCHD director had taken significant steps to improve the grant-making process, defunding various progressive organizations and redirecting those monies to pro-life organizations and those actively engaged in the Works of Mercy.  Sadly, but not too surprisingly, that director was released from his position.  There was an internal drive to have him fired. 

This latest development in Chicago, plus the unusual delay in CCHD's release of the names of current grantees, leaves me with the regretable but necessary task of calling for the boycott of the CCHD in all locations, no exceptions.

The Hypocrisy of Father Jenkins - Another Thrilling Chapter

By now most of you have heard the not-so-startling news that in 2007, when anti-war (Catholic Worker) and pro-gay (Soulforce) demonstrators dared to set their big toes on the campus of Notre Dame, they suffered no legal repercussions whatsoever.  They were arrested, processed, released - and that was that!  No trial, no specter of fines or jail sentences hanging over their heads.

Contrast that to the treatment meted out to those who protested on-campus the honors bestowed upon the Messiah Most Miserable in May 2009.  This group is known as the ND 88 (although one of them has since passed away).  They were no more violent than were Soulforce or the Catholic Worker people, yet they are being treated much more harshly.  Why?

An In-Depth Look at Alinskyte Organizing - WIth Its Telling Ties!

Real Catholic TV has launched a new series called "Catholic Investigative Agency".  Its premiere was made available last evening.  In this episode, Michael Voris takes an in-depth look at the history of Alinsky, "community organizing" and its entanglement with the Catholic Church.

One aspect of all this network was previously unknown to me.  I knew Msgr Jack Egan was a disciple of Alinsky and was instrumental in the formation of the Campaign for Human Development.  He was in Chicago, of course.  What I did not know was that when Egan was finally booted out of the Chicago chancery, he was taken in by Father Hesbergh of Notre Dame!  In fact, Egan set up shop there for many years thereafter.  Doesn't that shed new light on the Obama commencement scandal?  It's no wonder now that our protests availed nothing!

Please watch it by clicking the link below.  It is about 1 hour and 20 minutes long (that's why it's not on youtube).  However, it is well worth the time spent.
http://www.realcatholictv.net/cia/

Notre Dame Newspaper Rejects Column by Charles Rice

I read from my friend at Les Femmes that Dr. Charles Rice, renowned for his fidelity to the Church and who has for some time written a regular column for The Observer (campus newspaper)  had his column rejected because he presented correctly the Church's teaching on homosexuality.  The Les Femmes article has all relevant contact information.  I wrote to the editor.  Because I highly suspect that my letter won't be printed in that paper, I reproduce it below:

"Mr. Gamber, I read the correspondence between you and Dr. Rice regarding your rejection of his article. Need I remind you, sir, that you edit a Catholic newspaper? Accordingly, you are solemnly charged with presenting the teaching of the Magisterium as such. It is not just a "viewpoint"; it represents God's will with regards to the topic of the disorder known as homosexuality. Apparently the liberal powers-that-be do not consider Holy Mother Church to be politically correct - but so what? You, as the editor of a Catholic newspaper, are charged with presenting Church teaching, not with spouting politically correct pabulum. If that is disagreeable to you, perhaps you should resign as editor. Thank you."

I then advised him that the letter is reproduced here. Please write your own.

Petition to Drop Charges Against the Notre Dame 88

You'll recall from last May that Notre Dame University, a FORMERLY Catholic institution, sullied itself by inviting the Messiah Most Miserable to give the commencement address and to receive an "honorary" (using the term "honor" laughingly) degree.

Eighty-eight prolife activisits, at various times and locations during that period, were arrested for giving pro-life witness.  Most of the arrests occurred on campus, and were done with the approval, if not the actual mandate, of Father Jenkins, the University president.  While he now claims that he does not have the legal authority to have the charges dropped, common sense dictates that a request from him to do so would have great bearing on the matter and would most likely result in dismissal.  Reasonable people can conclude that the courts would rather not be bothered with a myriad of tresspass cases, and would most likely welcome the request for dismissals so they could move onto other matters.

The Thomas More Society, Human Life International and Lifesite News have drawn up an online petition to ask that Father Jenkins request dismissal of the charges.  We link to that petition here and ask that you sign it, and to please advise those whom you know to sign it as well.  Thank you.

Bishop D'Arcy To Retire?

From the American Papist (look to the right-hand bar of this window) I learned of the pending retirement of the current bishop of Fort Wayne/South Bend. Bishop John D'Arcy is 77 years old; he submitted his resignation 2 years ago as per the requirements. The stories have it that he will announce his replacement tomorrow. His successor is already a bishop currently serving in another diocese.

Bishop D'Arcy came into prominence last spring during the Notre Dame commencement debacle, when President Obama befouled the commencement with his pro-abortion presence there. As far as I'm concerned, there is still much clean-up that needs to happen at the episcopal level that hasn't happened. Why it hasn't happened to date has baffled me, but perhaps these questions will be answered tomorrow.

Open Letter to Father Jenkins of Notre Dame

Father Jenkins, Mr. X forwarded to me your reply to him regarding the arrests at Notre Dame last May.

I am not a lawyer and am not versed in the various legalities of who has what authority to drop charges or who has what property rights over the campus of Notre Dame. I do believe that these are minor questions, and perhaps even red herrings to avoid dealing with more fundamental issues.

We all know that on campus at that time were people of many various opinions regarding the decision to honor President Obama. Many of these individuals expressed their opinions by wearing clothing, carrying signs, etc. I speak not only of the Catholics protesting Obama’s appearance, but those individuals who approved of Obama’s appearance. Yet only those people who opposed Obama’s appearance were barred from campus and subsequently arrested. Obviously there were distinctions made on basis of expressed opinions. You mentioned that the police were professional in their demeanor. Given that, there is no way that the police would have made distinctions concerning who would be admitted to campus and who would not be granted such admission; they lacked the authority to do so, and they knew it. They had to receive instructions from some other authority. That authority, Father, could have come only from your office.

The response you gave to Mr. X is the same pathetic cop-out that you have given to many others. It is an attempt to play Pontius Pilate by washing your hands of this matter while trying to pawn responsibility to Indiana legal authorities, when these Catholic people were plainly arrested at the behest of Notre Dame authorities. It is utter nonsense to claim that you are unable to at least ask that the charges be dropped, when those charges exist because you forbade them to come onto campus. Let me be plain, and please direct this to the Board of Directors and to the Trustees of Notre Dame. By extending that ill-advised invitation to one of the most pro-abortion presidents in United States history, Notre Dame seriously besmirched its very identity as a Catholic institution. Will you continue to bring shame upon Notre Dame by prosecuting these people? What have you to gain, Father, by doing so? Do you think your seared conscience will somehow be assuaged by your vindictive pursuit of these charges against good Catholic people? Why not urge the authorities to drop those charges and retain at least some shred of dignity and honor for yourself and Notre Dame?

Father, this letter to you is open. It appears in the blog http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com, under a posting with the date of this email. Any replies – or lack thereof – will likewise be posted. Please do the right thing and have these charges dropped.
Praying that God will bless you with common sense and wisdom regarding this matter, I am

Janet Baker, President, Faithful Catholics of MD/DC, Inc.

Here's the email from Fr Jenkins that occasioned this open letter:

(begin quote)
Thank you for your email regarding Notre Dame’s response to the arrests of protesters on campus in connection with the commencement exercises in May.

As I understand, you are calling upon Notre Dame to “drop the charges” against those arrested for criminal trespass. It is important to note that these protesters were arrested for trespassing, not for expressing their pro-life position; we agree with them and uphold the Catholic Church’s position on the sanctity of human life.

Under Indiana law, however, Notre Dame is not the complainant in these matters and so is not in any position to “drop the charges.” Nevertheless, Notre Dame officials have been in regular contact with the prosecutor’s office on these matters, and, in consultation with the University, the prosecutor has offered Pre-Trial Diversion to those for whom the May incident was a first-time offense. As described by the prosecutor, this program does not require the individual to plead guilty or go through a trial; rather, the charges are dropped after one year so long as the individual does not commit another criminal offense. We understand that most of those arrested have chosen not to take advantage of this offer and obviously we cannot force them to do so. In essence, the choice of whether or not to go to trial belongs to the defendants.

Finally, it must be stated that the police who were on duty during this time were professional and respectful in carrying out their responsibilities to protect private property. Each person was given fair warning to leave the campus prior to any arrests.

Hopefully, this information provides you with a greater understanding of the issues involved in this matter. Again, thank you for writing. (end quote)

Fresh Insults to Our Lady

As the title hints, more perfidy issues forth from the formerly Catholic institution that bears the name "University of Notre Dame".

It has come to our attention that the campus' "Progressive Student Alliance" received permission to use student activity funds to send five of its members to the Equality March this past weekend in Washington. That's right! Catholic funds, presumably from Catholic parents, were used to promote the sinful gay lifestyle while further corrupting those five students.

Ask Bishop D'Arcy to take the disciplinary action against Notre Dame that he should have taken last May.

To contact University of Notre Dame:
President Fr. John Jenkins
Office of the President
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Phone: 574.631.3903
Email: president@nd.edu

Bishop John D'Arcy
Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese
114 West Wayne Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Chancery phone: (574) 234-0687