Rebuke The Sinner

The title states the First Spiritual Work of Mercy.  The properly educated Catholic will understand his/her responsibility to administer these, and the Corporal Works of Mercy, diligently.

When we reach out to others in prayer at abortion mills, we exercise many of these works of mercy simultaneously.  Some are emphasized more than others.  Today we caught sight of the abortionist of 1111 Spring Street, Silver Spring, MD.  He tried to dash past us, but he heard these few words that we were able to utter before the doors closed behind him.  Let us pray that he and others will heed our words of rebuke.

Common Ground With Pro-Abortion Supporters Is A Deadly Myth

I wrote several times in the past about the futility of seeking "common ground" with pro-abortion people and/or those who vote for pro-abortion politicians.  After a rather startling and distasteful exchange I had with someone (a former pro-life leader) on facebook a few days ago, I must now conclude that any attempt to seek such "common ground" will be fraught with great spiritual and intellectual peril.

The background is this.  A friend who is caring for a disabled relative complained of treatment that she received when she went about in public without a mask.  I will call her "Mary".  The former pro-life leader, whom I will call "Bill", lashed out at her with over-the-top venom and vitriol.  He accused Mary of "attacking her relative", about to "have his blood on her hands", etc.  I and a number of others took him to task.  Mary pulled down his remarks; I don't blame her a bit.  I remain flummoxed at the vehemence with which he addressed Mary simply because she didn't go along with being treated like a sheep.

As mentioned earlier, Bill was a pro-life leader several years ago.  He's since embraced some liberal causes and has voiced disappointment that other pro-life people, particularly those of us who remained on the front lines of activism, didn't follow his lead.  He made mention of trying to seek "common ground" with pro-abortion proponents.  A key problem with that ill-advised attempt is that it lends moral legitimacy to the pro-abortion position, a legitimacy that is completely erroneous in every way, rendering that attempt immoral on its face.  Moreover, I have seen other pro-life people, similarly deluded, befuddled in their thinking to such great extents that they now embrace inherently immoral positions.

Here is a perfect "case-in-point" to illustrate that danger.  There is an outfit called "Catholic Common Ground Initiative".  That link is to its website.  When I visit sites like this, I always examine its leadership and the people with whom they collaborate and/or honor.  Right away you'll notice that this cabal is the brainchild of Cardinal Bernardin.  Other notables who pollute(d) its leadership include Cardinals Gregory, Mahoney and Tobin, and honorees such as John Carr, Carolyn Woo, etc.  You get the picture.  You take up with dogs, you take up their manners.

The meme in this post is absolutely true.  That can be hard to acknowledge when the pro-abortion mentality is found amongst one's relatives and friends, but the truth must be faced.  We must treat them with respect and dignity, of course, but realize that they have embraced objective evil.  The Spiritual Works of Mercy include "instruct the ignorant" and "rebuke the sinner".  We want to see them attain heaven, and they can do so only by repentance and conversion.  Charity of the "tough love" variety may be in order.

Mount St Mary's Careens Towards Decadance

Last month we had to picket the commencement at Mount St. Mary's owing to the fawning that they heaped upon pro-abortion Mark Shriver.  They have had other problems.  Now, via their alumni magazine, they are formally cooperating with the mortal sin of sodomy as committed by two of their graduates.

Two Mount graduates, currently engaging in perversion, are about to make a mockery of the Sacrament of Matrimony.  The Mount is assisting them in announcing their "engagement" just as they would the engagement of a man and woman.

The Church recognizes nine ways in which we can cooperate in sin, and thus partake in that sin.  That cooperation can either be remote or proximate, formal or informal.  I would think that printed praise of sodomy in their official publication is both formal and proximate cooperation in mortal sin on the part of Mount officials who instigated and allowed that praise.  They most likely share in the guilt of the sins of sodomy and sacrilege committed by those two alumni.

The LifeSiteNews article has embedded therein a letter of protest from an alumna of the Mount.  She spoke out against the sin, exercising the Spiritual Work of Mercy known as "rebuking the sinner".  Now the question remains, "what will you and I do about it?" We do not have the moral option to just shrug our shoulders and ignore the matter.

Distorting The Spiritual Works Of Mercy

Note: While I'm using the bulletin from my own parish as an example, I've no doubt that they published what they did due to "orders from on high".

In our parish bulletin (page2) appears what is being passed off as the Spiritual Works of Mercy.  Some of us older types might notice the problem immediately, having received solid training thanks to the Baltimore Catechism.  For comparison, here are those works as they appear in that Catechism; you'll have to scroll down to Question 813.  As you compare the two, you'll notice one major difference.

In the Baltimore Catechism version, please note that the First Spiritual Work of Mercy is "Rebuke the Sinner".  In the bulletin you'll notice that it has been rendered "encourage sinners to seek forgiveness".  The others remain essentially the same.

So why do today's Catholic leaders eschew "rebuke the sinner"?  Quite simply, they are part and parcel of what can be called the "church of nice".  You see, it's not considered "nice" to rebuke anybody, although both the Old and New Testaments are replete with godly men (and Our Lord Himself) with rebuking those in sin, particularly those who are obstinate about it.  It's not "happy-clappy smiley-face" enough for those whose spinal columns are calcium-deficient.  Perhaps they don't believe in the reality of hell.  The latter is a grim reality, and those who rebuke the sinner simply see that is where the sinner is headed if he or she doesn't repent.

That dovetails into today's Gospel reading from Mark.  The very first recorded word that Jesus uttered in Mark's Gospel is "repent".  It even comes before "believe the Gospel".  The order is important.  However, too many of our leaders want to put false "happy faces" on God's clear teachings that they distort them in the presentations: hence the distorted version of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.  Too often they won't even tell Catholics what actions constitute inherent sins for fear of pricking seared consciences.  What doctor worthy of the name would withhold a truthful diagnosis to a sick patient?  How would that patient be able to follow proper remedies, uncomfortable those these remedies might be?  But that is what the "church of nice" is doing to Catholics in their pews. 

Let us pray that our priests find the resolve and courage to preach the whole truth to Catholics so that they can come to true, soul-saving repentance this Lent.

Witchcraft, Islam And Humanism - De Facto Creeds Of The New Age

This post regarding these three popular manifestations of idolatry appeared a few days ago and it provides much food for thought.  I'd go a bit further than the author does.  He merely says that these idols are merely filling in a vacuum being left by a dying and shriveling church.  I, however, believe that the church isn't merely making way for these, but actively ushering them to places of prominence.  Witness the "poop video" in the post previous to this one.

Another very recent manifestation seems to come from a most surprising source - the canonization of Mother Teresa.  There is no doubt that she and her sisters spent their lives in heroic service to many destitute people and not too many of us can forget the truth she spoke to power at the 1994 prayer breakfast.  But there were troubling signs of indifferentism throughout her writings, at least in the early days.  There is this quote from A Simple Path: "I’ve always said that we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic."  We know that the only way a Hindu, Muslim or anyone else can become "better" is to embrace the One True Faith, not to become further entrenched in their false religions.  The Bellarmine Forum carries an article about the relationship between Mother Teresa and Father John Hardon.  While it rightly praises Mother's many virtues, we see starting in the second paragraph testament to her unwillingness to teach the creeds of the Faith, saying "her sisters were there to help the poor".  So the imparting of the Faith would not have assisted the poor?  But Father was there, at the behest of Pope John Paul II, to equip the sisters to engage in that aspect of charity and I believe that they did.  But did Mother ever walk back that statement as quoted from A Simple Path?

It does seem that at least in the first stage of the ministry of the Missionaries of Mercy, Mother Teresa was content to focus on the Corporal Works of Mercy to the exclusion of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.  I'll now link to an article by Msgr Charles Pope, written over a year ago, entitled "What Ever Happened To The Spiritual Works Of Mercy?"  It is worth careful study, as are the comments below.  I truly am glad that Pope John Paul II, through Father Hardon, corrected that short-coming in the Missionaries of Mercy.

Let's move onto Islam.  I'll now post an account of an interview granted by Cardinal Burke.  In that interview, His Eminence states that the belief that Christians and muslims worship the same god stems from relativism.  It might be indifferentism, too, such as the one seen Mother Teresa's quote in A Simple Path.  It is quite blasphemous to state that those who behead babies, stone rape victims, engage in terrorist bombings by using their own children, etc, etc, in the name of their god, somehow worship the One, True God.  Yet that is what progressive church leaders thrust down our throats, as our post-Christian culture makes ever-increasing concessions to muslims while treating Christians - particularly faithful Catholics - as de facto "niggers of the new age".

Again we see the Church hierarchy welcoming in this heresy, not only in the misguided indifferentism rightly condemned by Cardinal Burke, but also in troubling actions by Pope Francis.  Recall his allowance of muslim prayers to the false "allah" idol within the Vatican gardens and his washing of the feet of muslims during Holy Thursday services.

These embraces of both humanism and indifferentism by progressives in the Church not only facilitate cultural suicide, but also facilitate the damnation of immortal souls by holding up to them lies as though they were truths.

Pope Claims Environmentalism A Work Of Mercy - At Soros' Bidding?

Remember "Father Goodvibes"?  At the end of that post, I expressed my hopes that such a scenario would remain a parody.  Alas, such is not to be, as Pope Francis has swallowed the envirowhacko kool-aid.  Moreover, it seems that he's trying to force-feed Catholics that same poison on pain of sin!

Earlier today, at the "World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation", the pope called "global warming" a "sin against God", and must be "atoned" by recycling, separating trash, using public transportation, etc.  For different accounts of the nonsense, see here, here, here.  He has gone so far as to designate "care of creation" as a de facto "Eighth Corporal Work of Mercy".

Far from being a "work of mercy", the embrace of environmentalism is to embrace knowingly the demonic, anti-life dictates of Satan himself.  I and others have written extensively on:

• The lack of true scientific basis for the "global warming" hysteria.  Many scientists debunk the nonsense - and have paid dearly for it.  Please read this link, and the links embedded therein.  I strongly suggest watching the well-researched videos.
• The anti-life motives of key leaders of this "global warming" schtick.  More and more they are becoming quite brazen about their goals.

The linked post in the last bullet highlighted the possible role that George Soros may be playing in this whole mess.  We see in discoverthenetworks.org that Soros funds EarthJustice and Defenders of Wildlife.  Human Events reveals some of his envirowhacko dabblings.  Last week we learned that Soros gave $650 billion (not million but billion) to PICO and Faith In Public Life to sway bishops to doing his bidding.  Father Sirico of the Acton Institute elaborated on that, calling these groups "Soros's Catholic Useful Idiots".  Well, maybe these groups aren't the only "useful idiots" in Soros' back pocket.  That may well apply to the pope himself, as he deliberately uses the weight of his high office to attempt to bind the consciences of Catholics into accepting "global warming" junk science.

"What's that you say?" I hear the rose-glasses wearers shrieking.  Well, the only other alternative is to suspect that the pope is a knowing and willing henchman of Soros', if not a partner.

We must of course pray for the pope, that he takes up his task to defend the Teachings of Jesus Christ, not twist them to suit some well-heeled progressive megalomaniac.

Election Time Means Wisdom On Windshields

In less than two weeks the polls will open as many elected offices are up for grabs.  In Maryland, for example, every local office from the governor on down to the county clerks will be filled based on the people voting.

Many people will be sporting on their cars the names of their favorite candidates.  Unfortunately that means you may well see, in a Catholic parking lot, a car touting the candidacy of someone promoting abortion, gay lifestyles, etc.  Obviously they are either dissident from the Church in matters of public morals OR they are victims of lousy catechesis.

Either way, they can benefit from Wisdom on Windshields.  It is an educational flyer that can be placed on the car of the obviously oblivious fellow Catholic.  You can download it here and have it handy on your own computer.  Print it out and always carry a supply with you to Church, as you'll never know when an opportunity will arise to educate an ignorant fellow Catholic.

This flyer is a tool that can be used to "rebuke the sinner" or "instruct the ignorant" as the case may be with the individual recipient.  Wisdom on Windshields.  Never go to church without it!

Pope Francis Jokes About Seventh Commandment Violation

According to his own account earlier today (see here and here), he removed the crucifix from a Rosary that was in the casket of his fellow priest.  For the sake of non-Catholics reading this blog, let me explain a little of Catholic burial customs.  We have viewings (or wakes) as do most Christian denominations.  When the deceased is placed in his/her coffin, their hands are folded over their midriffs as though they are in slumber.  A Rosary is placed in their hands, intertwined with their fingers.  Often the Rosary is a favorite of the deceased's, or holds meaning to the deceased's relatives.

It is that cross that Pope Francis surreptitiously removed.  In his own words, "And immediately there came to mind the thief we all have inside ourselves and while I arranged the flowers I took the cross and with just a bit of force I removed it.  And in that moment I looked at him and I said 'Give me half your mercy.'"

Coming from the Vicar of Christ, this is incredible.  "Thou shalt not steal" remains the Seventh Commandment, binding on us all.  There is also the matter of the Spiritual Work of Mercy known as "burying the dead".  Whatever else that Work of Mercy means, it doesn't mean helping oneself to personal effects of the deceased and absconding with them for one's personal use/enjoyment.

Particularly scandalous is the nonchalance with which he spoke of his - yes, I'll say the word - crime.  He showed the cross to those in attendance this morning.  Instead of contrition for indulging "the thief we all have inside ourselves" he seemed to affirm his own "inner thief" with a wink-chuckle-wink air.  He is the Holy Father.  Should we all emulate that example?  If so, why stop at "the thief we all have inside ourselves"?  Why not indulge "the murderer we all have inside ourselves"?

The victim of Father Jorge Bergoglio's sticky fingers was himself a well-known confessor.  Perhaps that Sacrament is needed, along with the return of the cross to the deceased's relatives.

Maryland NARAL Rebuked At 2012 Gala By Our Picket

On Friday we announced two events for pro-life prayer and activism.  The first event, NARAL's "Evening of Chocolate" fundraising blood-feast, occurred yesterday.  At least fourteen pro-lifers were there to greet them at the entrance to Sandy Spring Volunteer Firehouse, where NARAL had rented out the Oak Room for their fundraising orgy.  Our picket line actually stretched down from that driveway to the Brooke Road / Route 108 intersection.  There is a stoplight at that fairly well-traveled intersection so all those passing by got an education as to what was occurring at that time in their neighborhood.  Quite a few of those driving by gave us "thumbs-up".  Some of those going into the blood-feast raised other fingers at us - what can be expected of those minds and sensibilities dulled by the support of baby-murder?

Below the jump-break I'll give more detail, with photos and a video, so...

Camouflage Catholics

Here is today's episode of the Vortex.  Pay special attention to the section starting at 5:09.  You - yes you have a duty to point out to "camouflage Catholics" the errors of their ways.  It's not just "the priests' job" to exercise the Spiritual Works of Mercy such as "rebuke the sinner" and "enlighten the ignorant".  It's your job - no excuses!  A tool that you may wish to use is Wisdom on Windshields  available here .  Download it and have a copy handy on your own hard drive.

Click here if you cannot see embedded video.

Kreeft's Steubenville Talk: Vulnerable To Big-Time Misinterpretation

Tom Crowe of Catholic Vote (see right side-bar) posted a video of a talk given by Peter Kreeft at Steubenville University.  His post contains a link to that talk plus his own commentary.  In order to understand both Crowe and what I wrote below, you'll need to watch the entire clip.

I just posted the comment (in italics) below to Crowe's post.  Whether or not he publishes it, I don't know.  So here is what I wrote:

Tom, you write, "I must confess that some of what he proposes is a 'hard teaching' for me personally, and I have to examine some of my own thought processes and positions in light of what he points out."


I think I know to what you refer: a tendency to elevate contemplation to the detriment of activism. Let's bear in mind that as a theologian only, Kreeft cannot speak "ex cathedra". Certainly let's ponder, but let us not be biased or fall into the trap of false humility. For example, did you notice the tacit interpretation of the "Mary vs Martha" passage to mean that Jesus rebuked Martha's being busy? As I read it, He chided her anxiety, not activisim. Besides, I'd be willing to bet that He did eat what she set before Him as a result of her activism.

I'm going to go into more detail of this in my own blog post. I will be addressing a regretable tendency amongst faithful Catholics to glom unquestioningly onto the sayings of theologians like Kreeft. Mind you, I think in many and even most respects he's spot-on, but like the rest of us, he's only human.
 
I suppose my concern is not so much with what Kreeft said, but the unfortunate tendency of faithful Catholics to put people like Kreeft and others on pedestels and to take their words as though they're Holy Writ - or rather, to take selected snippets of Kreeft's words as Holy Writ outside the context of the rest of Sacred Tradition.  In this particular case, I can see how folks who tend to eschew activism could take Kreeft's clip as a justification for their laxity (which I'm sure Kreeft would regret).
 
Here is my take on the matter.  With the exception of those who are called to consecrated comtemplative lives and those whose circumstances do not permit activism, we are called to obey the maxim, "ora et labora".  While it is true that our first duty is to see to our own eternal salvation and sanctity, part and parcel of that duty is an active apostolate that encapsulates the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.  By the way - lay people are enjoined to practice all the Spiritual Works as well as the Corporal Works.  I've heard some ridiculous things on Catholic radio that outright opine that we lay folks should avoid the Spiritual Works because we're too ignorant to practice them.  Nonsense!  What a shameless cop-out, not to mention outright disregard for the Sacrament of Confirmation!
 
I've heard the analogy of prayer being a foundation to the building of activism.  In my opinion, that's quite accurate.  There is no doubt that we can only move under Divine guidance, inspiration and strength.  But once He grants us those, He requires that we do something with them.  They make a firm, deep foundation - necessary for any ediface.  But once that foundation is in place, the building MUST be erected, lest that foundation become a glorified hole in the ground.  The building without a sure foundation will be destroyed - I think we all see that.  However, what some refuse to see is that the foundation without a building on top of it will likewise be destroyed.
 
I spoke of the Sacrament of Confirmation above.  Those of us who have been confirmed have the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.  To be sure, they must all be developed and some like Kreeft have gone that extra step in studying theology and philosophy.  However, if something rubs the wrong way or doesn't pass our "smell test" we cannot automatically assume that we're in the wrong.  We really need to work with it a bit.  We must also combat our tendency to place people like Kreeft and others on pedestels.  That tendency is understandable, given the lack of leadership displayed by too many bishops.  But still, it is a tendency filled with many boobytraps.
 
In my post just prior to this, I announce one excellent opportunity for activism that will occur tomorrow morning.  It is also activisim that encompasses prayer.  Be there.  It is NOT enough to pray for an end to abortion.  We MUST work for it as well.

This Easter Mass - Take Wisdom on Windshields with You!

As you know, Easter and Christmas are the only two times a year that many Catholics attend Mass.  A goodly percentage of them are woefully ignorant of Church teaching in many, many areas.  These areas may well include matters such as restoring God's order to public life and the primacy of life issues when making electoral/political decisions.  Some of this confusion may be manifest by bumper strips on cars that indicate support of pro-abortion politicians.  What can you do about that?  More than what you may have thought until now.

We developed a tool last year called - Wisdom on Windshields . If you see such a car as described above, you can just deposit one of these on the car's windshield.  That way, you don't have to worry about looking for the owner or being late for Mass yourself.  You can download it here and have it handy on your own computer. Print it out and always carry a supply with you to Church, as you'll never know when an opportunity will arise to educate an ignorant fellow Catholic.  In doing so, you will have performed several of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.