Friday, February 8, 2013

Dr Ben Carson At The Prayer Breakfast

Listen carefully to Doctor Carson.  He speaks truth to many things: political correctness, value of education, importance of parents to children.  Notice how uncomfortable Obama seems, as he withholds applause when the rest of the audience applauds.  Then as Carson starts speaking of ancient Rome as a warning to the US (at 17:24), I detect a bit of a "presidential glare".  At 21:28, when Dr Carson starts extolling health savings accounts, Obama looks positively glum!  At about 24:22 the clip is accelerated a few seconds; I don't know why.

In many ways, this is reminiscent of the 1994 Prayer Breakfast when Mother Teresa told the audience, including then-president Bill Clinton that "the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion".

Thursday, February 7, 2013

USCCB Rejects Obama's Compromise Sham

I just received word that the USCCB has rejected Obama's compromise "offer" as the joke that it is.  Good for them!  Their statement and commentary can be found here.  I was particularly pleased to note their displeasure at the de facto creation of a "third class" of citizens, namely, those private employers who would be forced to pay for baby-killing concoctions on pain of severe penalties.

This is a good start.  I pray that they will see the whole Obamacare thing as the menace that it is and work for its repeal.

The Noxious Legacies Of Bernardin And Mahony

Today's Vortex delves into the wreckage foisted on the Church by these two prelates.  Now Cardinal Bernardin has gone to his eternal reward (whatever that might be) and Cardinal Mahony recently had his wings clipped.  Still we must deal with the aftermath of their reigns of terror and dissent.  Let us pray that Cardinal Mahony respond to the grace of repentance.

Cdl Burke To Irish Priests - Deny Holy Communion To Pro-Aborts

Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, has weighed in on the debate over legalizing abortion that is now ongoing in the Irish government.  He said that Irish bishops could publicly reprimand pro-abortion politicians.  Moreover, he said that priests should exclude from Holy Communion those politicians who support abortion.  In doing so, he cited Canon 915.

Yoo-hoo!  Cardinals Wuerl, McCarrick, Dolan and O'Malley!  Please take note!  Cardinal Burke speaks to you as well!   There is no "pastoral option" to disobey Canon 915!  Got that???  Stop kissing up to the likes of John Kerry, Sister Carol Keehan, John Sweeney, Joe Biden, etc.  Man up!  Be the shepherds they desperately need because if you don't, they could well spend eternity in hell due to their public rebellion to God's laws.  Now where is the "pastoral option" in that????

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

It Isn't Just Boston!

Over the past few days, the Archdiocese of Boston has figured prominently in some Vortex episodes of the past few day - mainly by way of example.  In the one from today, Michael Voris raises the question of why so many bishops (and their chanceries) are so heedless of the voices of faithful Catholics (us) and seem to evince little concern for the scandal caused by the constant boot-licking they do for prominent people who thumb their noses at God and decency.  As you watch the video, you'll note that he refers to a National Catholic Register article about the topic; read that and the comments.



I think Voris may have answered his own question (at least in part) when he posted another Vortex a few days ago.  In that one he expounds on some figures released by the Archdiocese of Boston.  It does seem that some chancery officials there are living high on the hog and being paid quite handsomely by the Archdiocese (which happens to be in debt).  Here's a pay chart and its financial report.  I will say this for the Archdiocese of Boston; they published a real financial report, not a "public relations" nonsense that was published by the Archdiocese of Washington a few weeks ago.

Could it be that the chancery fat-cats aren't rebuking the murderous ways of the powerful and elite because they don't want to upset their apple cart and loose their own perks and pleasures?  Does money talk that loudly?  Those are fair questions that deserve honest answers.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Maryland Abortionist On Probation

A long-time abortionist in Maryland, Abolghassem-M Gohari, who slaughters babies in both Greenbelt (PG County) and Gaithersburg (Montgomery County) has recently been put on probation by the Maryland Board of Physicians.  Go to the bottom right-hand corner of the prochoice providers website (noting some others in Maryland's Rogues' Gallery as you scroll down).  You'll see a picture of him, the addresses of his killing dens and a link to the MD Board of Physicians license-lookup page.  When you get there, put his last name in and another page will pop up with a notation of his probation and a link to the pdf that contains the particulars of the disciplinary action.  I'd suggest that you save a copy to your own computers.

It seems that he allowed unqualified staff assistants to perform sonograms and administer the RU-486 drugs. When some of his victims had the good sense to be frightened of these practices, he yelled at them while using profane language.  Why this man only got probation and not revocation of his license I'll never know, as his murderous practices are manifesting themselves to the women as well as to the babies.  Such is the corruption in Maryland government; I am pleased that at least this much is starting to be done.  It's a start, not the finish.  We need to clean house in Maryland, both in Annapolis and at the county level.

Dare Not To Be Liked

We all have the desire to be liked.  However, that desire (as all others) must be tempered and brought into God's order.  This desire is particularly dangerous if unchecked, for it can lead one into doing that which he knows he/she shouldn't - or - it can impel one to refrain from a good action if he/she thinks it will cause disapproval of others.  In this current God-hating culture that is our society, we simply cannot coddle this all-too-human and all-too-fallen desire of ours.

Today's Vortex talks of our need to conquer this desire if we are to lead authentic Catholic lives.  I agree with him as he says that we must not be afraid to contradict rebellious voices around us - even if they come from our chanceries.  I'd only add that we need to be more bold and consistent about being a voice for the unborn.  How to do so?  Get out to an abortion mill in your area.  Pray the Rosary.  Offer alternatives to abortion-bound women.  On Ash Wednesday (a week from tomorrow) the lenten cycle of 40 Days for Life will start in many localities.  Click on the link above to find one near you and be faithful to it during Lent.  After Lent is done, continue your witness.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Which Bishops Will Go To Jail

Rather than comply with the immoral HHS mandates?  Read the Lifesite News article here (pointed out by my anonymous commenter from Saturday's post).  While Bishops Sample, Aquila, Zubic and others stated their willingness to emulate their sainted predecessors, others demurred.

One of those who hemmed and hawed was DC's own Cardinal Wuerl.  He hopes for "an agreement" whereby the church can "continue to function as we always have, as a free entity freely exercising our ministry in our country".  Of course we can wonder just what kind of "ministry" His Eminence speaks of, when non-church-affiliated businesses are forced to comply with immoral laws on pain of their own harm.

Let me be frank.  This is mealy-mouth talk on the part of Cardinal Wuerl (and I suspect Cardinal Dolan as well).  They need to stand firm and not look for "agreements" with evil - "agreements" that will impel them to look the other way while private citizens and businesses are having draconian evils thrust in their faces.  The bishops wear red for a reason - to remind them that they must be prepared to shed martyrs' blood.

By the way - does part of this "agreement" include the USCCB acting like lap-dog mouth pieces for the blatant gun-grabbing by the Obama cartel?  From this action alert, it would seem so!  Perhaps some of the Minions Most Mindless of the Messiah Most Miserable headquarter themselves at 3211 4th Street NE.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

HHS Religious Exemptions - Abysmal Jokes

Yesterday the Messiah Most Miserable decided to fling a few crumbs our way in regards to the onerous HHS mandates that forces each and every taxpayer to pay for contraceptives - that is, chemicals that murder tiny unborn children.  Well, not really!  (Hint - When these "announcements" are released on Fridays, caveat emptor!).

The crumbs, in all their dubious 80-page glory, can be found here.  You will notice one thing immediately on page 8 of the pdf; only churches, "integrated auxiliaries" and "exclusively religious activities of any religious order" are the recipients of the largess of Dear Leader.  That would mean that any religious order that does not engage exclusively in religious activities would be subject to the mandate; thus Catholic hospitals and religious orders with any kind of outreach are bound.  All other business entities, regardless of the beliefs of their owners, MUST fund the availability of drugs that kill preborn children.

This gesture on the part of Obama is simply that - a meaningless gesture, an empty ruse.  No wonder he waited until Friday to announce this tripe.  Most Catholic and conservative blogs see through this silly set of smoke and mirrors: Catholic World Report, American Life League, Catholic Vote,  EWTN, Susan B. Anthony List.

Of course the progressive infiltration weighed in, as well.  Read the Catholics United we read that "more women will have access to the health care that they need".   The author makes no bones about his support for contraceptives, placing himself at odds with Church teaching.  However, what else can be expected from Catholics United, whose director, James Salt, once worked with Sebelius' campaign office in Kansas?  Michael Sean Winters of the Not-So-Catholic Reporter gushes over this latest Obama slop as well.  He starts off his piece by stating that he's not a lawyer.  He forgot to add that the bishop of the diocese in which NCR operates has made plain that NCR is not qualified to call itself "Catholic".

Most baffling, though, is the reaction of the USCCB.  Perhaps "baffling" is a poor choice of words as they have always seemed eager to try to find ways to appease the tyrants of Washington; "disappointing" is actually a better word for this situation.  Basically they said nothing, citing a need for "study".  Really?  Let's assume that everything was just wonderful with these new regs in giving churches and church-related organizations carte-blanche exemptions.  Would that make the HHS mandate morally acceptable to the USCCB?  What about the small, for-profit businesses?  Would the USCCB be ok with them being forced to pay for baby-murder?  The statement by the Susan B. Anthony List was excellent and one that should be echoed by the USCCB.  Key segments are: "religious and moral freedom is not up for negotiation", "there must be no religious test by the government", "only complete repeal is acceptable".  This is not rocket science requiring copious amounts of study.  These exemptions are a sham, and the Catholic bishops of this country must grow backbones and call out this charade for what it is.

California Cleansing

On February 1 it was announced that Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez has informed his predecessor, retired Cardinal Roger Mahony, that he has been relieved of any duties within the archdioceses.  Furthermore, he has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry.  This comes on the heels of his release of the files of those archdiocesan personnel accused of sexual abuse of minors.

In the wake of the archbishop's actions, the cardinal has posted his response to him.  As you read the letter, you will probably sense the petulance and sniveling therein.  The letter starts with the ridiculous excuse that "nothing in my education equipped me to deal with this grave problem".  What of basic decency or common sense?  Moreover, there was the grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders itself.  There's the equipment.

Let us pray that some sense of repentance and of the dignity of the office of bishop be infused into Cardinal Mahony for the sake of his own immortal soul.  From the sound of his response, both are sorely lacking at this time.  Let us also pray that other dioceses in this nation experience similar expurgations.