CCHD And Planned Parenthood - Both With Ties To SEIU

Planned Parenthood and the Service Employees' International Union have some interesting ties.  For instance, PP of Oregon voted to unionize under SEIU.  That article intimates that other PP affiliates may consider unionizing with the SEIU.  One might wonder why Planned Parenthood employees might be motivated to unionize.  There have been no scandalous complaints regarding wages or other such matters (at least, none that have been allowed to make the news).  Another tie between the two organizations might explain matters a bit.  Kirk Adams, SEIU's International Executive Vice President and Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, are husband and wife.

Prior to her tenure at Planned Parenthood, Richards was president of America Votes, a coalition of progressive organizations to elect progressive candidates (including the Messiah Most Miserable).  Andy Stern, a past president of SEIU, was a driving force behind its founding.  That's another significant SEIU/Planned Parenthood tie.  I'd like to point out now that while he was at SEIU, Stern had an assistant named Tom Chabolla.  He still serves in that capacity to the current SEIU president.


John Sweeney, Oct 2008



Here is a sketch of Kirk Adam's professional career.  As you read it, you'll notice that he went back and forth between SEIU and the AFL-CIO.  Someone else did that, too.  Remember John Sweeney?  He was president of SEIU, then moved on to be president of the AFL-CIO.  He's also quite chummy with Cardinal McCarrick of Washington, DC.  In 2002, Sweeney and his wife, along with the Cardinal, were co-chairs at the annual Catholic Charities gala.  Several months later, Cardinal McCarrick honored Sweeney at a Mass at St Mary's Church in DC, just outside Chinatown.  Because Sweeney supported abortion and gay rights, I led pickets of both events.   Last February, Sweeney received the Medal of Freedom from the Messiah Most Miserable himself.  Perhaps the picture of Sweeney to the right sheds some light as to why Obama might have been so inclined to honor Sweeney.

So what does this have to do with the Catholic Church?  More than one might think.  For instance, prior to his present position, Chabolla served as Associate Director of Programs for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  John Sweeney is a consultant for the USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, which oversees the CCHD.

So the CCHD seems to have in common with Planned Parenthood a purpose to further the leftist aims of the SEIU, AFL-CIO and other organizations: aims to normalize baby-murder, sodomy, and the usurpation of God's role in our lives by an increasingly atheistic government. 

Please consider these reasons sufficient to boycott your next CCHD collection.

Gay-Rights Advocate Influences USCCB

In one of their postings yesterday, Lifesite News published a litany of the insults to the Faith proffered by John Sweeney, president emeritus of the AFL-CIO.  I link to it here.  I've commented on many of the items listed therein, but they bear repeating.  It must also be stressed that this man continues to exert considerable influence at the USCCB - particularly in the CCHD office - acting as a consultant to the USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.  No one who shills for the homosexual lobby has any place consulting the bishops on the shoelaces to put in their shoes, let alone "domestic justice".

Not only have I written on this man before (both here and on my earlier web page), I've led two pickets of Catholic functions at which Sweeney was specifically honored.  Present at both those events was Cardinal McCarrick.  His Eminence has displayed regretable tendencies to hang out (often flagrantly) with Catholics who support abortion and sodomy - but I digress. 

Here are links from three earlier blog posts.
http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-speaking-of-zombies.html
http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2011/04/dissent-fest-at-catholic-university-of.html
http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2011/05/sweeney-gets-dressed-down-at-cua.html

When I started the website, I linked to a letter that I sent to Cardinal McCarrick, expressing concerns held not only by me, but by many faithful Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington.  Here it is.  Note items 4, 7 and 11.  All have to do with John Sweeney; 4 & 11 describe the two picketed events.

Despite all this, John Sweeney continues to enjoy a place of considerable influence over the CCHD.  Did I say "Despite"?  Perhaps I should have said "Because of".  I no longer believe that the denizens of the USCCB are ignorant of a mole in their midst.  I now realize that they are merely welcoming the kindred spirit that they see in John Sweeney.

This is all the more reason why not only the CCHD, but the USCCB should be dismantled.  At any rate, not one red penny should be given to the CCHD second collection (for those localities who have not yet had that collection yet).

The USCCB's Corrosive And Deadly "Social Justice" Teachings With Their Poster Boy John Sweeney

Yesterday John Zmirak published an article called "The Myth Of Catholic Social Teaching".  I commend it to your reading.  He basically states that the Magisterium speaks infallibly on matters of faith and morals.  Some issues such as abortion and contraception involve the direct commission of mortal sin.  Those are intrinsic evils; no amount of debate is permissible.  We do not commit murder - period.

There is also the matter of care for the poor.  That is a charge laid upon us.  However, good people can disagree as to the best methods to implement such care.  Sometimes it's clear that those in high places of the Church are exercising faulty logic in their approaches to matters such as alleviating poverty, etc.  In those circumstances, we are not obliged to give obedience to those directives as they do not carry magisterial weight.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said so himself when he attempted to have a letter delivered to a US bishops' meeting.  It said - in part - "not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion."

It is becoming all too clear that the USCCB advocates progressive positions on matters such as illegal immigration, self-defense rights, and even the atrocities being committed by Muslims in the Middle East.  I blogged on the muslim matter last week, chiding the USCCB for urging more useless "dialogue" with thugs.  I've no doubt that the USCCB dismisses my words.  Sadly, they probably also dismiss the words of Archbishop Emil Nona, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul.  He and four other Mosul bishops have been driven from their dioceses, along with countless thousands of their flocks.  He warns that what we see there could well be a harbinger of things to come in the western world - that means us, folks!  I will quote the archbishops's own words: "Your liberal and democratic principles are worth nothing here. You must consider again our reality in the Middle East, because you are welcoming in your countries an ever growing number of Muslims. Also you are in danger. You must take strong and courageous decisions, even at the cost of contradicting your principles.  You think all men are equal, but that is not true: Islam does not say that all men are equal. Your values are not their values.  If you do not understand this soon enough, you will become the victims of the enemy you have welcomed in your home."  King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has issued his own, very similar warning.

I think there are two things Archbishop Nona is trying to say.  First, the US bishops must stop their simpering and groveling pleas for "dialogue".  They are an abysmal waste of time at best and at worst, they serve to distract us when we should be preparing for real action to protect our families and our very culture.

Second, we must stop "welcoming them in our homes".  That means we must stop the floods of immigrants that pour across our borders.  Make no mistake about it; the bulk of illegals are young men, not helpless little waifs.  How many of these young men are muslim terrorists?  We don't know because there is no effective screening of those who cross the Rio Grande.  But again, we hear the USCCB telling us to "welcome the stranger".  Never mind that these "strangers" may well be murderers awaiting their orders from their muslim commanders.  By the way - there are reports that ISIS groups are in Mexico, planning an attack on the US with car bombs and the such.  USCCB, shall we "welcome those strangers"?

A gentleman named John Snyder posted an article on Crossmap a few days ago, taking the USCCB to task for their stance on gun control, given the threats of terrorism that are looming in the United States.  I quote one salient statement:  "USCCB should terminate its disgraceful support for the criminalization of private handgun possession. Such criminalization would eliminate the ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves from criminals, including terrorists.  Catholic clergy should abandon pacifism and see reality for what it is. People need guns for protection. As Christ Our Lord proclaimed, 'The man without a sword must sell his cloak and buy one,' according to Luke 22:36"  Hear!  Hear!

So why, oh why, does the USCCB insist on parroting the Obamanista's talking points on illegal immigration, muslims and gun control?  In a word, follow the money, for the USCCB certainly does.  I wrote an article for Defend Life recently (look on page 7 of this link), detailing the obvious links between the USCCB shilling for porous borders and allowance of everyone crossing the Rio Grande.  The money trail was so blatant; they aren't even trying to hide it.

There you have it.  One consequence of the USCCB's wrong-headed stances on these issues will most likely be an increase of murders, if not outright terrorism - both because they favor unfettered admission through our borders AND the removal of our ability to defend ourselves and our loved ones.

"But that's merely conjecture!" some might say.  Fair enough, but it's reasonable to believe this to be a very solid probability.  AND we have evidence of current corrosion of faith and morals by USCCB-esque social teaching.  That evidence comes from the mouth of the corrosion victim himself - John Sweeney!

John Sweeney
Thank USCCB social teaching for this!

Sweeney was recently honored by the AFL-CIO for his union work.  The erstwhile head of both the AFL-CIO and SEIU, at that award function, credited "Catholic social teaching" for giving him the impetus for his work.  I've detailed a lot of his work here and here.  The second link details the two occasions in which I led pickets of Sweeney public events.  I know I gave you a lot to read, so I'll close with a picture showing the beneficial impact of "USCCB social teaching" on John Sweeney.

Recall what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said - there are areas regarding prudential judgment in which we can disagree with Church leaders.  Many times, particularly with the USCCB, we must oppose them outright.

John Sweeney - God Have Mercy On His Soul

John Sweeney, former president of both the AFL-CIO and SEIU, passed away on Feb 1st.  A picture from the Baltimore Catholic Review shows him receiving the Medal of Freedom from the Messiah Most Miserable.  Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why?

One of my first forays into street activism was a picket of a Catholic Charities gala at which Sweeney was being honored.  At the time he was still president of the AFL-CIO.  Ostensibly that union fought for the rights of workers - but they were for the slaughter of the unborn babies of those workers.  While he was president, the union demanded of employers that they include contraception coverage.  Their webpage linked directly to that of the NOW.  Of course the Review would jibber-jabber about Sweeney's faith and how it educated his labor advocacy while ignoring Sweeney's defiance of the Church's laws regarding contraception and the rights of unborn children.

By the way - if you read my other posts regarding Sweeney, you will notice that now-disgraced Theodore McCarrick was quite chummy with Sweeney.  McCarrick was present at that gala that we picketed.  He must have felt bad about the reception that we gave Sweeney so he decided to honor Sweeney later.  We picketed that event, too! 

The Catholic News Service piece was also published in the Catholic Standard.

Sweeney Gets Dressed Down At CUA Symposium

In late April, I advised you of a "symposium" on Rerum Novarum to be held at Catholic University of America on May 2-3.  I opined that it would be nothing more than a progressive brain-washing session.  It turns out that is precisely what it was, and the speakers didn't bother to conceal their agendas.

Accuracy in Media has a report on what transpired.  (By the way - I forgot to mention in that April post that prior to his taking over the AFL-CIO, Sweeney was CEO of the SEIU).  Sweeney went into a tirade about the governor of Wisconsin reining in the runaway unions there, going so far as to insinuate (incorrectly) that Scott Walker was out of step with Jesus Christ Himself (Of course the "separation of church and state" crowd has uttered not a peep - surprised?  But I digress).  Behaving like the typical arrogant progressive wonk, he then proceeded to badmouth the Catholic University itself, calling them "union-busters".  Watch that video on the AIM site, as well as the others.  For those who can't see embedded video, click here for the Sweeney clip.

But apparently Sweeney got his comeuppance right then and there.  CUA officials read a statement that accused Sweeney of lying, leaving Sweeney stunned into silence.  Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at that meeting!   Now here's some more delicious irony.  That statement was read by Stephen Schenk, chair of the department that sponsored the symposium.  He apparently was ordered to read that, and he must have done so reluctantly.  Bear in mind that Schenk sits on the board of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good - a group that draws significant funding from George Soros.  Moreover, he was one of the lead writers in the letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner that accused him of being out of step with Church teaching. 

I'm sensing a common theme here.  Various progressive wonks with ties to progressive atheist billionare George Soros accuse conservative officials of "not following Catholic teaching" because they don't throw money at unions and governmental bureaucracies.  Georgy-boy seems to have lots of fingers in lots of pies, doesn't he?

Getting back to the rebuke that Sweeney received, I haven't learned yet of where a full text of that can be reviewed.  I'd love to see it.  My hat's off to the CUA officials who caused that to be read to Sweeney's face.  I only hope that Cardinal Emeritus McCarrick doesn't see fit to assuage Sweeney's ego with some "honor", as he did when twice we picketed Sweeney in past years.

If that doesn't happen, there's hope!  Perhaps Sweeney can pop over to the "church of earthaluia" and do some duets with Bertha Lewis (see preceding post).  That might be a nice career move for him!

Bishop Paprocki Rebukes His Treacherous Brother Bishops And Their Slavish Devotion To Labor Unions

In their June 27th decision regarding Janus vs AFSCME, the US Supreme Court stated that public sector employees cannot be forced to pay union dues when these unions support political positions with which they don't agree.  It seems very simple; the average worker should not be subject to extortion by labor unions in exchange for their jobs.  After all - the worker has his/her rights of association, speech, religion, etc, correct?

One would think that the Church would uphold that right - but a few days later, the USCCB bewailed that ruling.  "Why", you may ask.  The USCCB revealed how they operate.  They get a fair amount of $$$ from these unions.  If the unions cannot extort it from unwilling workers, well, that means less $$$ for the USCCB.  Let's not forget how much the USCCB is in the pockets of their sugar-daddy puppet-string holders.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki remains (so far) the only voice of sanity who reminds his money-grubbing brother bishops of what Rerun Novarum had to say of the legitimate role of labor unions.  Too many of them support abortion, sodomy and a whole host of anti-God positions.

John Sweeney, Labor Boss

One of my first forays into activism against the rot in the Church occurred in 2002, when some of us protested the Catholic Charities gala in the Dupont Circle area of Washington DC.  Why?  Because Cardinal McCarrick (heard about him a lot these days) was the co-chairman of the gala along with his buddy, John Sweeney, then head of AFL-CIO.  At the time, AFL-CIO was pushing for labor agreements that would provide for contraceptives, and their web page linked directly to that of NOW.  Moreover, we all know of the insidious SEIU; enough has been written on this blog.

When the USCCB goes so far as to issue such releases, they only show what lemmings they are for progressive money bags.  I cannot say they undermine their own credibility, for they long since forfeited the last shreds of credibility they once had.

Catholic Bishops For Obama

John Sweeney - pals with
Cardinal McCarrick

I post below the jump-break two Vortex videos dealing with the dubious politics and squalid alliances of too many bishops (there are laudable exceptions but they are too few and far between).  As he talks, one cannot help but think of the horrible example set by Cardinal McCarrick.  Several times I've had occasion to picket events at where he was publicly rubbing elbows and chumming it up with notable pro-aborts: labor-boss John Sweeney, Ted Kennedy and of course Sister Carol Keehan.

With the second video I could not help but recall the disgraceful treatment that the Archdiocese of Washington (led by Cardinal Wuerl) meted out to Father Guarnizo when the latter obeyed Canon 915 in February 2012 at my church (see my Feb/March postings).  Is it any wonder that western civilization is heading towards hell in a handbasket?

To watch the videos

Obama's Spiritual Advisors

The National Catholic Reporter has given us a glimpse at the various spiritual advisors whom President Obama consults now, or has consulted in the past.  The article states that Obama is "frequently summoning the spirits of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and even St. Thomas Aquinas to frame his policies in moral terms."  I certainly hope that this isn't being done in the same fashion as did Hillary Clinton, when she reportedly consulted the "spirits of Eleanor Roosevelt and Mahatma Ghandi".

He is reputed to consult with some "advisors" who were consulted by previous presidents.  Such luminaries include:

• Rabbi David Saperstein.  A Reformed Rabbi, Mr. Saperstein has sat on many boards - including that of People for the American Way.  We need go no further here.
• Sojourners founder Jim Wallis.  He lashed out at James Dobson when the latter dared to question the wisdom of voting for Obama.  Boys and girls, can we all say "payback"?
• Last but not least, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick.  Why, oh why, does it seem quite natural to list him along with these other two left-wingers?  The article states that the Cardinal has advised Obama about (wait for it!) - health care reform.  Now doesn't that explain a lot?

Other advisees/friends of the Cardinal include:

• The late Senator Edward M Kennedy.  I can only hope beyond hope that the Cardinal did, in accord with his high office, preach the truth to the now-deceased Kennedy before his death.  That hope looks dim.
• John Sweeney, former president of AFL-CIO.  Sweeney, who was president of a union that demanded contraceptive coverage for union workers, was frequently honored by McCarrick.  I led pickets of two of these functions.  By the way, if you haven't yet done so, watch the "CIA" clip from Real Catholic TV about Alinskyte organizing - and note Sweeney's role.

From 2 Timothy 4:3 - "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

More Manifestations of USCCB Corruption

John Carr is the Director of USCCB's Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development.  Among other things, The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is under the umbrella of this department, as is the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change (yes, they've glommed onto that junk science).  They also seem to be the organ of the USCCB that is clamoring for the socialist Obama Hell Care bill.

You may have noticed in the bio that he has also served as board chair of the Center for Community Change.  Click on that name for a look at their website.  Then click here  and here for closer inspections that reveals CCC to be rather ominous under its pseudo-idealistic veneer.  Actually, if you go back to the CCC website, just take a look at some of their board members (I find that to be most revelatory about an organization, as you get a feel for the philosophical orientations of the board by looking at their other affiliations).  You'll see folks from two left-wing labor unions.  One is the AFL-CIO.  I've led a number of pickets against John Sweeney, owing to AFL-CIO's push for contraceptives in health care policies.  You'll see someone from SEIU, the lovely bunch who acted as bully-bouncers at various town halls.  The presidnet of Ms Foundation for Women is there to lend a radical pro-abortion flavor to the bunch.  We see the ED of moveon.org there.  Get the idea?

Let's take a look at the executive director, Deepak Bhargava.  He used to be the Legislative Director of ACORN.  Now remember as you watch this clip that he and John Carr, USCCB's current Director of Justice, Peace and Human Development are closely tied through the CCC.



Now the big question is, why on earth did the United States bishops retain the so-called services of this man who is buddy-buddy with pro-aborts and socialists?  We all know, by the way, that John Carr is by far not the only rotten apple in that bushel.  The Les Femmes blog contains an excellent article detailing the systemic woes of the USCCB.  Please read it.  Jim Fritz, another Catholic Media Coalition affiliate, asked the question in his article, Is the USCCB Intrinsically Evil?

I've no bones about answering that last question with an emphatic "yes".  Take note that I believe the conference has become evil - not the bishops themselves, as they are the Successors of the Apostles.  However, as they continue to embroil themselves in that unsavory snakepit, they compromise their own ministries and poison the Church.

Suggested action item:  Let's tell the bishops that until they clean up this cabal, that you will not donate to any appeals.  Of course you would want to donate to a worthy group to fulfill the precept of supporting the Church's work.  But the Church's work does not include striking hands with the agents of the devil who want to undermine and destroy Catholicism.

Why the Democrats Control the USCCB

Michael Voris of RealCatholicTV.com gives an excellent historical perspective on the historical connection between the Democrat Party and Catholics - starting from the days of mass Catholic immigration to this country.  He makes plain why so many bishops want to find "common ground" with the party that has now come out in favor of baby murder, all manners of debauchery and draconian statism.  Please watch.



Note how he said that a main historical link has been the labor movement.  I've no intention of distracting from Mr. Voris' focus on SEIU, but I must make mention of a former president of the AFL-CIO named John Sweeney.  I mentioned him in my December 4th posting on why the USCCB should be dismantled.  Go to that post and read the comment from one of my fellow bloggers.  His blog is in the right sidebar.  Apparently Archbishop Wuerl decided that Sweeney needed more honors, so he gladly obliged.

I again reiterate my position that it's way past the time when the USCCB should be dismantled.  Maybe then some of the Democrats' stranglehold over the bishops might be weakened.

DC Chancery Shows Disdain For Good Priest Who Follows God's Laws

In doing so, the DC Chancery also displays (once again) Canon Law and the eternal salvation of souls.  My fellow blogger "a Washington DC Catholic" alerted me to the statement issued by Archdiocese of Washington regarding Father Guarnizo's actions this past Saturday.  Please refer to his blog post for the statement and for the text of Canon 915.

This will be long, so I'll put the jump break here.

More On McCarrick - With A Trip Down Memory Lane

Christopher Manion, a Catholic journalist, wrote a piece in which he calls for the resignations of all bishops who knew of Cardinal McCarrick's abuses and did nothing to stop it.  One Peter Five has commentary on that and I need not elaborate on that.  I would only add that priests be added to that clarion call.  Even if they were victims, even if their vocations were on the line, they still had a moral duty to come forth, yet they shirked it.

Today Church Militant published the account of John DeFilippis, a former seminarian who had his own harrowing experience with Cardinal McCarrick.  However, even he doesn't name names.  Clearly the priest who told him that McCarrick might want to share his bed was complicit.  He should be named.

From the moment he arrived in Washington, Cardinal McCarrick was always prone to embroil himself in squalid associations, be they with Ted Kennedy, John Sweeney, Sr. Carol Keehan, etc.  Over the years I've been involved with four pickets to protest his joint appearances with these pro-aborts.  It appears that there will be no others from him - at least I hope so.  Below I post a video from the last of these encounters.  This occasion was the graduating ceremony of students from Gonzaga High, in June of 2010.  The Obama Hell-Bill had just been signed, with the connivance of Sister Carol Keehan of the Pen of Perfidy.  Guess who the commencement speaker was?  Yes, the aforementioned Keehan!  Guess who gave the invocation?  Yes, Cardinal McCarrick!  We were on hand to protest the debacle and Cardinal McCarrick received some well-deserved rebuke.  Observe (please watch till the end).

Cardinal McCarrick's years are winding down.  He hasn't much time left.  Please pray that he repents - that he makes a good confession, and very soon.  Else his eternal prospects look mighty dim.

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????

Cardinal McCarrick Praises Culture Of Death Icon Father Hesburgh

Father Theodore Hesburgh, president of Notre Dame University for thirty-five years, used his influence and position to severely compromise Catholicism in the United States (maybe the entire western world) and to promote the Culture of Death.  Part and parcel of the Culture of Death is socialism.  This blog and a number of others have documented his rather putrid career.  He has:

• Played a pivotal role in creating and promulgating the heretical Land O' Lakes Statement, that declared de facto rebellion of Catholic colleges against the Magisterium.
• Gave aid and comfort to Alinsky-disciple Msgr Jack Egan (when the latter was evicted from his diocese), allowing Notre Dame to be used as a base to create the Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• Chaired the Rockefeller Foundation, advocates for "population control"
• Go to this link to see how Notre Dame University has done tremendous insult to Christianity.  The 2009 commencement was just the most notorious example.  I've no doubt that this list is not exhaustive.

I think it's fair to say that if it weren't for Fr Hesburgh's influence, Catholic institutes of higher learning would not be polluting the minds of their students.  The CCHD may not have gained the footholds in so many chanceries that it now has.  And yes, Obama may well not be president.

Two days ago in the US Capitol Building, some Catholic (using "Catholic" loosely) politicians hosted a birthday party for Father Hesburgh.  We can guess why there was no screeching and howling from the "separation of church and state" crowd over this - because their champion was being honored!  Among the "usual suspects" in attendance were Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi: two CINO pro-aborts who enjoy their positions of influence due in no small part to Fr Hesburgh.  

One of the other attendees called Father Hesburgh "one of four great Americans", the other three being George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.  For the profuse amount of slobbering, kissing-up and toadying that oozed from such a stupid statement, this attendee made an utter fool of himself.  And who was that who stuck both feet in his mouth?  Cardinal McCarrick!

Today was not at all the first time that Fr Hesburgh and Cardinal McCarrick met.  Thanks to a colleague in the Catholic Media Coalition, I was informed that Cardinal McCarrick is a signer of the Land O' Lakes Statement.  Go to the link to the statement and scroll down.  Sure enough, his name is there.  He stood "lock, stock and barrel" with those who deliberately introduced dissension and heresy into our Catholic schools!

This past Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, Cardinal McCarrick was the main celebrant at the 9:30 Mass at St John Neumann Church in Gaithersburg, MD.  I was in attendance and recorded his homily; I link to it here.  Take note of the homily between 4:50 and 5:10.  He says that "once we leave the teaching of the Apostles...then Islam comes.."  While that statement is true enough, I was aghast when I heard it for I remembered other times when he affirmed Islam.  As you continue to listen him praise (rightly so) the "purity of doctrine", recall how he helped adulterate that same purity with his affirmation of the poisonous Land O' Lakes Statement and his squalid associations with Sister Carol Keehan, Ted Kennedy, John Sweeney, etc.

In his Pentecost homily, Cardinal McCarrick deplored the confusion that his ongoing actions create!   His celebration of Father Hesburgh just a few days ago after that homily is merely the latest in the litany of contradictory messages that he sends.  Holy Mother Church is suffering through want of fidelity of action on the part of her shepherds.  Pray that God would send these to us quickly.

Dissent-Fest At Catholic University Of America, May 2-3

Catholic University of America is hosting a conference entitled “120th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum: Church, Labor, and the New Things of the Modern World."  It will be held at the Edward J. Pryzbyla Center from May 2 till May 3.  More details can be found on this CUA page.

What we really have here is another venue from which to plug a progressive, socialistic mindset that masquerades as authentic Catholic social teaching.  It is anything but real teaching.  Let's look at the gang of usual supects that are some of the speakers at this thing.  It is quite eye-opening!

Eighth Installment of USCCB Expose - A Bishop Weighs In

First let me do a little follow up on the seventh installment, where the USCCB's participation in the LCCHR's fund-raising dinners are discussed.  A little digging around their website revealed even more disgusting detail.   These fundraisers are called "Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinners".  Indeed, the USCCB did participate in the 2007 dinner.  As the word "award" implies, awards are bestowed upon selected individuals at this dinner (quite a common practice across the board).  Are you breathlessly wondering just who was deemed worthy of such honor in 2007?  Well, feast your eyes!  Bill Clinton was one of the three honorees at that dinner, the dinner that the USCCB helped put together.  We know that at that time, Bill Clinton was the most pro-abortion president (the Messiah Most Miserable has since usurped that title from him).

Let's look at other dinners and other honorees.  We see Tom Daschle, Connie Morella, John Conyers, John Sweeney, Tipper Gore, Ralph Neas.  None of these folks, due to their public pro-abortion stances are fit to receive any acolade from any Catholic organization.  Yet the USCCB, as part of the LCCHR, has bestowed such honors upon them.  Why?

At least one bishop is publicly asking this, and similar questions.  When interviewed by Lifesite News, Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Oregon had this to say about the USCCB/LCCHR relationship: “I am not well enough versed in the 'politics' of such associations to make any criticism of the motives or justifications which might be provided but, on the face of it, I would have to agree that support of this organization and an active endorsement of its principles and purposes would appear to be problematic.”

Below is another segment from Real Catholic TV.  Discussed therein is the "Catholic Social Ministry" gab-fest that ended today (hopefully with paltry attendance).  Michael Voris examines the questionable organizations that were allowed to be exhibiters at this affair.  He also suggests that folks sign a petition to reform the USCCB, courtesy of the Reform CCHD Now Coalition.  I'd have to go a step further and call for its total abolishment, as I truly think the USCCB is too far gone to be salvaged.

Bishops In Bed With Progressives

For over a hundred years, the Church has always supported the rights of workers to form unions so that they could bargain more effectively with their employers.  Such support was enshrined by Pope Leo XIII in Rerun Novarum.  However, today's bishops seem to be somewhat compromised when it comes to the rights of workers not to join a union if that is their preference.  They have demonstrated their left-wing proclivities once again with a case that is now before the Supreme Court, Janus vs American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.  Mark Janus, an Illinois employee brought suit so that he wouldn't have to cough up the mandatory union dues even though he declined to join.  He rightly states that such compulsion to pay union dues is a violation of his rights.

Demonstrating their slavish devotion to unions, the USCCB filed an amicus on behalf of AFSCME.  To his immense credit, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield publicly disavowed the USCCB's stunt, correctly stating that no such consensus exists among Catholics regarding a matter on which reasonable people can disagree.  I thank him for not joining the USCCB's false pretense that compulsory union membership is enjoined by the Magisterium.  I suspect the USCCB benefits a bit from union largess as well as that of the feds.  How else do we explain the toadying to John Sweeney, former boss of both SEIU and AFL-CIO over the years?

Let's take a look at the latest stunt by Cardinal Cupich of Chicago.  A parish within his archdiocese, St. John Cantius, has conducted Mass in the Extraordinary Form and fostered traditional sacred music.  Some rather cheap allegations arose concerning the pastor, Father C. Frank Phillips.  With no regard to due process, Cupich slapped on him very draconian measures, including the suspension of his priestly faculties.  Meanwhile, Father Michael Pfleger is still pastor of St. Sabina's.  Remember him?  Remember how he threatened to "snuff" the owner of a local gun shop (because he hates violence so much!)?  How does Pfleger remain while Phillips gets thrown under the bus?  The answer is really quite simple; Pfleger and Cupich have very similar outlooks.  Father Phillips on the other hand embraces fidelity to the Magisterium.  So as he squashed the priests who participated in 40 Days for Life while he was bishop of Spokane, so too is he punishing Fr Phillips for his love of Tradition.

We will now move onto another dissident prelate who, like Cupich, was made a Cardinal.  I refer you to Cardinal Joseph Tobin (not to be confused with the relatively decent Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island).  In direct contradiction to a statement made by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, he voiced his opinion that the Church should not attempt to make herself more pure.  Well, at least he's honest about that.  At a meeting of close confidantes of the pope's at Villanova last week, the cardinal opined that the "church is moving on the question of same-sex couples".  Moving where, pray tell?  In her two-thousand years of existence, she has always held to the teachings of Jesus Christ on the matter (and by the way - it's NOT "complex").  The only way she could "move" would be away from the truth.  That is happening only in the minds of dissidents, progressives and outright heretics.  Those last few words describe the attendees at that gabfest.

One last word about Cardinal Tobin.  Three years ago, Tobin was an archbishop in Indiana.  Within his diocese, a Knights of Columbus council rented their hall to a lesbian couple to celebrate their #mowwidge.  I had suggested that all call the chancery and ask Tobin to have the thing cancelled.  At the time I was unaware of Tobin's true colors.  Needless to say, Tobin did nothing.  At first I chalked his inaction to mere apathy.  Now I consider the very real possibility that the KofC council caved to the lesbians under his order.

Above I mentioned Bishop Thomas Paprocki as a bishop who is upholding the truth.  Another is Cardinal Burke.  He too was at a conference, one quite different in tenor than the heretical snake-pit that Cardinal Tobin attended.  What he said deserves its own post and that post will follow this.

DC Catholic Charities' Mysterious Gala

Today, at Mass in a local parish, I discovered that the DC Catholic Charities is having its annual fundraising gala this evening.  Maybe I missed it but I recall no mention of it in the Catholic Standard.  It is here on their website, but immediately I noticed something very odd about it.  Nowhere do I see mention of a keynote speaker.  In the past, they have had some extremely questionable honorees.  In 2002, for instance, they honored John Sweeney, then president of the pro-abortion AFL-CIO.  He had been president for several years and still the AFL-CIO site directly linked to NOW's site.  So given their propensity to rub elbows with all sorts of seedy characters AND their rather coy silence regarding tonight's program, we will not be surprised if DC Catholic Charities indeed grovels at the feet of some pro-abort and/or dissident celebrity.

By the way, I went to their facebook page to see if there were additional details about this evening's shin-dig.  I didn't see any, but I saw where they promoted the Soros-funded "March for Our Lives".  However, I don't see one peep regarding the Sex-Ed-Sit-Out that is scheduled for April 23rd.  If parents are going to let their kids out of school, the reason might as well be to prevent progressive poison from polluting their brains and corrupting their morals.  In fact, I don't see mention of it on the USCCB site or any diocesan websites; if I've overlooked one, please advise.

If anyone has any info on this evening's event, please advise via the comments section.  In the meantime, please boycott the in-pew collections of all these so-called "Catholic charitable outreaches".

How Mainstream Catholic Media Facilitates Rot Inside The Church

Yoo-hoo!  Catholic Standard and Our Parish Times!  Please take note!

UPDATE - If you're visiting this blog for the first time because of The Tenth Crusade's excellent post, permit me to properly introduce this blog.  The title of it will indicate that I'm located in Montgomery County MD, within the Archdiocese of Washington.  It (and the earlier sister website) was started to address real concerns that many of us have with the governance of this archdiocese AND because of the silence of the Catholic Standard.  The latter is the official news organ of the archdiocese.  For some time it had a "letters to the editor" section that was at one time rather fair about printing our letters.  That feature immediately ceased when understandable controversy arose because of Cardinal McCarrick's refusal to obey Canon 915 and his abysmal habit of cozying up to pro-abortion public figures (most notably the late Ted Kennedy, John Sweeney and Sr Carol Keehan).  I inaugurated our earlier website with this open letter to Cardinal McCarrick and have been publishing ever since.   I hope you find this, and the other linked material, to be useful.  Thank you.

Cardinal McCarrick Embarrasses Yet Again

Yesterday at the Washington National Cathedral Cardinal McCarrick joined with leaders of other faiths to "call for an end to gun violence".  Let's review the definition of "violence" from the viewpoint of Catholic morality, shall we?  Violence is defined as the "unjustified use of force".   So we can infer that while all violence involves the use of force, not all usage of force is violence for there are cases when use of force is justified, e.g., self-defense, law enforcement, etc.

During the meeting, the Very Reverend Gary Hall, president of Washington National Cathedral had the following to say regarding the NRA's suggestion of placing police officers in schools: "That the NRA seeks to answer the problem of violence with more violence shows that their answers are directly at odds with the teachings of all faith traditions of the vast majority of people of faith in America."

Not only did Hall demonstrate his ignorance of what constitutes real violence, but with this silly-assed statement he insulted each and every police officer who puts him/herself at risk every day to protect citizens from real violence.  To equate the presence of a police officer with "more violence" is over the top.  Hall should apologize to all the police of this country for such a slap in the face.  Unfortunately I'm sure Cardinal McCarrick just nodded in agreement as Hall stuck both feet in his mouth.

Why are they only agitated about gun violence?  Given that violence is inherently evil, why are they not equally concerned about all types of violence?  How about the violence in the womb, about which Mother Teresa spoke so eloquently at the 1994 National Prayer Breakfast?  At yesterday's conference, the National Council of Churches was represented.  What is their position on baby-murder?  Quote: "Because of the diverse theological teachings of its member churches, the National Council of Churches does not have an official position on abortion"  Isn't that great?  They've no position on the murders (that is, violence) of over 3000 babies every day, but they're ready to wax indignant about police going into the schools!

We also see New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good represented.  They are described as "progressive evangelicals".  Yep!  There's that "progressive" word again!  Looking at their website we see that they are pro "gay marriage".

Many of these folks are so morally compromised themselves that they cannot be taken seriously.  I fear that includes His Eminence.  His regrettable tendencies to hang around with pro-abortion bigwigs (Sister Carol Keehan, John Sweeney, etc) undermine any moral credibility he might otherwise have enjoyed and put to good use.  Let all these folks address real violence and not this "gun-violence" straw man.