Good News! DREAM Act Referendum Effort Successful!

The despicable malfeasance of the Maryland Catholic Conference notwithstanding, the effort to petition the Maryland DREAM Act will go to referendum.  This effort was spearheaded by the Maryland Society of Patriots.  Here is their report.  The results were so impressive that they drew the attention of both the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun.

My blogging colleague, An Archdiocese of Washington Catholic, has this to say about the dubious efforts of the Maryland Catholic Conference - and Casa.  Displaying dangerously simplistic thinking (and that is a generous assumption), the MCC fails to consider this dangerous aspect of the DREAM Act.  Funny thing - they like to glom onto these booby traps that sound oh-so-compassionate, but they don't address the whole picture.  In particular, they don't address the funding aspects.

According to this email that I've received from the Archdiocese of Washington today, the MCC seems resigned to the DREAM Act appearing on the next ballot.  Here is the relevant portion:

Church Prepares to Educate Parishioners on the DREAM Act

The Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is pleased to announce the creation of an Interdiocesan Immigration Task Force, whose mission will be to educate Maryland Catholics about why the DREAM Act deserves their support, and to help them make the connection between Gospel values and the Church’s public policy positions on immigration.

The DREAM Act provides tuition equity for all students who have been residing in Maryland for at least three years while attending high school. Bishop Francisco González, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, will chair the task force. It includes representatives from the Archdioceses of Washington and Baltimore and the Diocese of Wilmington. Each have have territory in Maryland
.
As a first step, the MCC has launched a Facebook page dedicated to the issue of immigration as a way to connect people to this issue and educate them. To sign up visit them on Facebook.
MCC has extensive material on their website on immigration issues. Visit the MCC website for more information, or call Kathy Dempsey at 301-261-1979.

Got that?  We're going to be "educated"!  I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some of that occurred during homily time - in others words, during Mass!  Shouldn't the Maryland chanceries be more concerned with education about.., oh, I dunno... things like the Magisterium's teaching on baby-murder, contraception, the homosexual lifestyle being inherently sinful, or adherence to Canon 915 with respect to pro-gay, pro-abortion politicians (many of whom are supporters of this DREAM Act)?
 
When I learn of specific "educational" actions to be undertaken, I'll advise you - and I ask that you let me know via a comment.

Maryland Catholic Conference Botches Immigration Again

In today's parish bulletin is the thing to the right.  It most likely appeared (or will appear soon) in the bulletins of all Catholic parishes in Maryland.  On the surface, it sounds nice and lovely, doesn't it?  However, what is not said is just as important as what is said.

In its treatment of immigration, the Maryland Catholic Conference continues to obfuscate the immense differences between those immigrants who come to this country by following the established legal procedures for so doing, versus those who enter the country by deliberately flouting those very same procedures.  In other words, the latter group sneaks in, dodging legal authorities.  They are here illegally.  By definition, they become criminals by breaking our laws.  If I were to rob a store or commit an act of vandalism, I too would become a criminal.  One class of crimes does not exempt a perpetrator from the label "criminal".

The Maryland Catholic Conference, along with its USCCB puppet-masters, have long been "front and center" in promoting the progressive agenda of amnesty for illegal immigrants.  Of course these illegal immigrants would both serve to bolster Democrat party votes and undermine traditional American culture, owing to the refusal of many of them to assimilate into American society.  I've written about this many times before, but one little fact deserves special attention.  Catholic Charities received millions in Federal grants to "assist in refuge resettlement".  The Maryland bishops most likely have some financial skin in facilitating the crime of illegal immigration.  I link now to a post in which Michael Hichborn deals with systemic corruption at the USCCB - much of it swirling around immigration.

For those of you who think that Trump's orders are "mean-spirited", bear in mind that illegal immigrants are by definition criminals.  More than a few of them are guilty of other heinous crimes as well, as detailed here.  There are other examples that I may dig out later.  Suffice it to say that this MCC flyer may not be what it purports to be.

Maryland Catholic Conference Sabotages Other Pro-Life Efforts Against Reproductive Freedom Act Amendment

If anyone has gone to the website HealthNotHarmMD.org, they will undoubtedly have come to appreciate the research and work that has gone into their efforts to defeat the "Reproductive Freedom" amendment that is on the Maryland ballot this election as Question 1.  Their handouts, both in English and Spanish, have been superb.

Their volunteers, too, have done yeoman's work in educating the Maryland public about the various harms that the amendment will inflict upon all Maryland citizens, particularly the children.  They have been distributing flyers at parades and other civic gatherings.  They have gone door to door to distribute the door hangers.  They are manning phone banks all citizens, not just pro-life citizens, of the effect that this bill will have on parents' abilities to safeguard their children from harmful drugs and/or surgeries in vain attempts to "change genders".

We were happy, too, to see the Maryland Catholic Conference launch their own efforts.  We only wish they didn't limit their focus to abortion (harmful though it is), and that they had joined the battle sooner.  In legislative battles such as this, the more allies, the better.  Sadly, that doesn't appear to be the attitude of the Maryland Catholic Conference.

We have come into possession of communication that betrays the Maryland Catholic Conference's bizarre animosity towards Health Not Harm.  To be honest, we were aware of their dislike of HNH, as several Catholic churches refused to support its efforts over the past several months.  The MCC has basically ordered its priests to treat HNH as personae non grata. 

Ms. Kraska gives no reason for her direction to the diocesan priests to avoid Health Not Harm.  I can only state, though, that this action is consistent with actions taken by the Maryland Catholic hierarchy with regard to grassroots efforts in the past that were undertaken to combat attacks against human life and sexual morality.  There have been several instances whereby we sought to have petition drives in the churches to combat pro-death or pro-gay legislation in Annapolis, only to be denied access to the churches.  In at least one case, the margin was so thin that we know we could have prevailed, had not the Maryland Catholic Conference and its partners not stymied our efforts.

So many of these cause one to believe that the delays were calculated to cause us to lose, especially with the pro-gay measures.

Now this is pure speculation, but can it be that some elements in the Catholic hierarchy actually want abortion to be enshrined in the state constitution?  I can see how they might reason that if such happens, they won't have to be bothered with fighting abortion legislatively.  Then the progressives in the hierarchy can concentrate on the "social justice warrior" trivium:

1. Climate change (bcause,,Laudato Si!)
2. Gun confiscation control
3. Allowance for uncontrolled immigration (good for Catholic Charities dollars!)
4. Some other attempts at income redistribution

We cannot help but notice that the material that the MCC produced in their current efforts make no mention of the potential for children being exposed to gender manipulation.  See for yourselves.  Why is that?  While I could hope the cause is just a simplistic take on the issue, I fear it may be more insidious.  My apprehensions are based on the actions of the prelates of Baltimore and DC.  Six weeks ago at Georgetown University, Father James Martin held a gay-enabling conference.  One might have thought a God-fearing bishop would have quashed that occasion of sin.  Not Cardinal Gregory!  He actually offered a Mass there, facilitating the proceedings at that meeting.  This past April in Baltimore, the Archdiocese of Baltimore hosted its "Social Ministry Convocation".  There was plenty of shilling for the gay agenda.  I was in attendance, and subjected myself to a workshop about gays, conducted by a gay guy who considers himself "married" to another guy.

I mention these to give the readers an idea regarding what Lori and Gregory will allow, if not applaud.  I also mention these to hypothesize on why they don't want to stand in the way of the gay advancement in our culture, and that includes the efforts of Health Not Harm.  Why should we not believe that is the reason why the MCC literature is devoid of any mention of the harmful gay facilitation of this amendment?

All this indicates that this stance of the MCC is, at best, childish.  In a struggle such as this fight against the "Reproductive Freedom Amendment", we must be willing to work with each other.  At least, let's work alongside each other and not undermine each other.

Please contact the Maryland Catholic Conference and demand that they cease their snobbish behavior towards Health Not Harm and any other pro-life organization working to preserve life and Godly morals.  Should this amendment make it to the state constitution, the MCC may well be culpable for the resultant loss of human life and damage to vulnerable women and children.

MD Elections - Ballot Question 4

Besides the all-important presidential election, there are a number of crucial matters that are specific to the State of Maryland.  Among these are four "general referendum" questions.  I will deal with these in the order in which they'll appear on our ballot.  This post will deal with Question 4 - the DREAM Act.

As you know (even if you may not accept it), there are a number of matters in this election that deal with intrinsic morality (abortion, homosexual relations, etc).  A Catholic who takes his/her faith seriously, indeed the salvation of his/her soul, will never deviate from the Church's teachings on these matters.  There are other issues that are within the realm of prudential judgment.  Economic issues are an example.  While we adhere to Christ's teaching to care for the poor, good people can and often do disagree on the proper means to do so.  It is even permissible to have such disagreements with Church structures on these matters.

Question 4 is one such matter where intrinsic morality is not in question.  Many good Catholics believe that the DREAM Act is seriously, even fatally flawed.  I myself hold that opinion.  Indeed, I believe this is one example of how the progressive elements in Church bureaucracies can ensnare themselves in imprudent alliances and actions.

Because this is a lengthy and thorough analysis,...

Maryland Catholic Conference Rants Against DREAM Act Opponents

As many Marylanders know, Governor O'Malley signed into law SB167, dubbed the "DREAM Act", which allows immigrants of any status to apply to Maryland colleges and pay "in-state" tuition rates.  When a resident of any state applies to a public college in which he/she resides, he/she pays lower rates predicated on the assumptions that 1) their tax dollars help subsidize the college and 2) that they are law-abiding citizens or properly-recognzied aliens.

In today's issue of the Catholic Standard, the Maryland Catholic Conference issued this statement congratulating O'Malley for signing the bill into law.  While the issue of tuition assistance may be a matter on which good people can disagree, I find much fault with the MCC's statement.  It doesn't state forthrightly the case that the DREAM act's opponents put forth.  Indeed, the MCC glosses over the distinction between immigrants who are here legally, and those who are here illegally. 

Here is one such problematic sentence: "We do not condone breaking the law, and fully recognize the legitimate concerns our state and country faces regarding illegal immigration. These problems cannot be solved, however, by harshly denying the needs of those who live and work among us here and now, especially the young. The in-state tuition bill is a balanced measure that benefits immigrant children mostly brought here through no fault of their own, and who are making the right choices in order to lead productive lives."  Let's unpack this mess, piece by piece. 

First, notice that word "harshly".  MCC, that's called "demonizing your opposition", and I'm calling you on it!  Good people, with valid reasons, oppose this bill, and you call that "harsh"?  Who do you think you are??  Second, while you claim that you don't condone breaking the law, your act of rewarding the illegal behavior does precisely that.  Third, about this "balanced measure" claim.  It will cost the Maryland taxpayers about $3-4 million by the year 2016.  Quite a few of these taxpayers are having trouble affording tuition for themselves or their children - and this is a "balanced measure"?  Fourth, as far as "making the right choice", no they aren't, when it comes to essentially unseating other eligible young people.  Moreover, when the MCC calls such actions "making the right choices", what does that teach these young people about rule of law, of pulling your own weight, not depending on handouts, etc.

Next set of fallacies from the MCC!  "We are therefore strongly opposed to efforts to close the door on this opportunity by petitioning the bill to a statewide referendum. A statewide referendum on the issue of immigration will have a needlessly divisive impact on our state, and we urge Catholics and all Marylanders to refrain from signing on to this petition effort."   Notice how the MCC is afraid of a vote.  Dear MCC!  Remember what I said about this being an issue on which good people can disagree?  This is it.  I've got more shocking news for you.  We live in a consitutional republic, and that constitution provides for redress for the people.  You are in effect asking people to swallow more taxes in silence - but that ain't happenin'!!  As far as the "needlessly divisvie impact", do you really mean "opposition to your opinion"?  That's all it can mean.  I have more news for you; this division already exists - and that's not a bad thing (see the post on "division" from Tuesday).  Whether you like it or not, the citizens of the state of Maryland deserve the chance to vote on this measure - even Catholics! 

This Catholic is signing the petition and I'm urging my fellow Catholics to sign it, too - the politically-correct, progressive proclivities of the Maryland Catholic Conference notwithstanding!

Catholic Charities Gets Well-Deserved Comeuppance

President Trump announced that he was going to enforce our immigration laws and not allow the border-crashing criminals to get away with their crimes. Imagine that!  The president of the United States actually fulfilling his constitutionally-appointed duties.  However, progressive organizations carrying the name "Catholic" in their names understand that their incomes will dry up in the process.  To be specific, they will be expelled from the Federal teats (that is, our tax dollars) since "immigration processing" is a major reason for them receiving Federal grants.

Faithful Catholics have documented many times how Catholic Charities branches, particularly those located near the southern border, receive billions of federal dollars (that originate as withholdings from our paychecks).  That link details other evils committed by Catholic Charities over the years: needle exchange programs, driving young girls to abortion appointments, trafficking of children.

Well, Catholic Charities got wind of the newly-invigorated enforcement, as ICE and other agencies started snatching up illegals for deportation.  They released the video below, showing that they are entirely complicit in the de facto breaking and entering that these guys (and yes, it's mostly young males) have been doing, all on the federal (i.e., your) dime.  Observe.  A little translation: this woman says "undocumented"; that means "here illegally".  I doubt that she would call a burglar breaking into her home "an undocumented house guest".

So here you have it - a Catholic organization telling criminals how to evade the law.  President Trump was having none of that.  He made clear that any such organization who aided and abetted criminals could not reasonably expect the government to fund them.  Catholic Charities was literally slapping the hand that fed them and they expected that hand to keep on doling out the cash.  Had that hand been Biden's, that might have happened.. Wait!  Scratch that!  Biden would never have started to enforce the border at all!

Right on cue, the Maryland Catholic Conference ordered the parishes to email all their parishioners some very disingenuous blather regarding immigration.  The text is on their site.  You will notice immediately that there is no distinction between legal immigration and illegal immigration.  The lack of distinction is so egregious that we can call it deliberate deception - a lie.

President Trump, to his immense credit, announced the defunding of not only Catholic Charities, but any NGO that facilitated the breaking of immigration law.  Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, mentioned Catholic Charities by name when queried by a reporter about the matter.  This screen shot from a Facebook page lists some others.

It says that Catholic Charities will soon be bankrupt.  Perhaps the creator of that meme was simply being facetious, but we all know that a significant part of Catholic Charities' budget does come from federal grants.  In-pew collections?  Well, they haven't received a penny from me in several decades, and I cannot imagine one informed and decent purpose funding their mischief.  If Catholic Charities does go bankrupt, all I will say is "good riddance".

MD's "Bathroom Bill" - Where, Oh Where, Is The Maryland Catholic Conference On This?

I've been getting email alerts from MD-Petitions, Help Save Maryland and others (politicians and individuals) who are tracking the process of Maryland's SB212/HB1265.  It has been dubbed the "bathroom bill" and is a statewide version of the bill that passed the Montgomery County Council several years ago.  I'm a woman and I believe this is an affront to my safety, which is being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.  I'm glad that all these folks are alert and speaking out.  However, one organization's silence is deafening - an organization that ostensibly exists to promote the Catholic voice in legislative venues, particularly in Annapolis.  Which is that??  Why, it's...

The Maryland Catholic Conference

Look at their webpage.  Why isn't the Bathroom Bill smack-dab in the middle of their main page??  We see all sorts of advocacy for progressive positions such as minimum wage, "immigration reform", ya-da-ya-da.  I find their silence on the Bathroom Bill to be rather deafening.  Could it be that they just don't care?  Might it be that their silence is coerced or bought?  Why - oh why - hear we not one peep regarding this moral disaster that's about to be thrust on us?

And the Maryland Catholic Conference wonders why faithful Catholics don't take them seriously!

USCCB Releases Amnesty Screed After Illegals Brutalize Young Girl

The entire nation has heard what happened a few days ago at Rockville High School, less than a half-hour's drive from my own home.  A 14-yr-old girl was brutally raped by two immigrants, with at least one of them here illegally and facing deportation due to another crime.  Although the immigrants are 17 and 18 years old, they were allowed to register in that school as freshmen.  Of course the lame-stream media did their best to cover up the illegal status of the thugs but thanks to the internet the truth is out.  I don't have time in this post to go into details.  Suffice it to say that county and school officials are in major cover-up mode since they do hope to have Maryland declared a "sanctuary state".  The Superintendent of Schools has gone so far as to accuse concerned parents of being racists and xenophobes.  Governor Hogan is demanding answers from Montgomery County - as well he should.  We pray for that poor young lady as she recovers from the trauma of her brutal rape.  If there is one thin silver lining to this cloud, it may be the awakening of the parents and some citizens; at least one woman is rethinking her former liberalism.  Let us remember this in 2018.  We must vote out that entire school board, certainly that superintendent and those in Annapolis who are behind this cockamamie "sanctuary state" crap.

Meanwhile, London is reeling from a Muslim terrorist attack at the Westminster Bridge and the grounds of Parliament.  Five people are dead.  Although the Mayor of London, himself a Muslim, is downplaying the Muslim connection, the Islamic State is claiming responsibility for it.  London authorities are investigating other potential terrorist threats.  Again we see signs of realization on the parts of some, but will it be too little and too late?

Others, though, continue to dig in their heels regarding the farce known as multiculturalism and unbridled immigration and amnesty for those who break immigration laws (like the two rapists in Rockville).  I speak primarily of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Yesterday they released a screed called "Living As A People Of God In Unsettled Times".  As you read this gobblygoop, you'll notice the ever-present obfuscation of the real concerns of faithful Catholics.  Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, but we simply want our immigration laws to be respected for the sake of all concerned - especially for the sake of those immigrants who are honorable and who enter the country via already-established channels.  These good people don't deserve to be vilified as "racists", "xenophobes", or whatever epithets the progressives like to fling about.

The bishops sure like to misquote the Scriptures, don't they?  "When an alien resides with you in the land, do not mistreat such a one."  Is it "mistreating" the alien to expect him or her to abide by the laws of the land, just as everyone else does?  I could go on and on about this and maybe will do so in a future post.   I will say two things, though.

First, bear in mind that the impetus behind this guilt-trip attempt may not be entirely altruistic.  The USCCB and Catholic Charities have a lot of Federal grant money tied up with the facilitation of mass immigration.  I have written much in general about the USCCB's blind following of the progressives in regards to illegal immigration.  When it comes to this issue, the US Catholic hierarchy may well be motivated by their financial bottom lines.  See this and this

Second, consider that the USCCB spewed forth this vomit right after the events in Rockville and London.  These acts of violence were perpetrated by thugs who had no intentions of assimilating in their host cultures.  The governments of both Montgomery County and London, being run by progressives, have been way too cavalier in their admittance of harmful immigrants, to the detriment of their citizens.  The USCCB is likewise acting irresponsibly - or maybe, in their case, greedily.

Again The Standard Shills For The DREAM Act

I suppose this sort of thing will be a regular feature in the Standard.  Read the article closely and notice some things.

They completely and deliberately misconstrue the reasons behind the opposition of so many of us to the DREAM Act.  Notice that when they use the words "immigrant" or "immigration", they deliberately fail to mention a key adjective?  Here is the adjective that they refuse to supply: ILLEGAL.  In this context, it describes those who are in this country without proper authorizations (green card, visa, etc).  They have deliberately circumvented reasonable laws of this country and thus, by their actions, they have rendered themselves criminals.  The Standard's omission of that key word is, quite frankly, patently dishonest.  I fear I must say the same for the Maryland Catholic Conference and those who comprise this "task force" to advocate for the DREAM Act.  A case in point is Bishop Roczanski's statement, "we are an immigrant church."  True enough; however, we are NOT a criminal Church!

Mary Ellen Russell, Executive Director for the Maryland Catholic Conference, urges Maryland residents to "think through the motivations of the law's opponents."  That's fair enough - because we certainly urge Maryland residents to think through the motivations for the law's proponents!  Of course I urge Ms. Russell et al to think through their own movitations for the tweeking of language as described in the preceding paragraph.

Notice the third paragraph.  See how it states that " representatives from the archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington as well as the Diocese of Wilmington will promote the Church's advocacy on immigration issues while connecting those issues to Gospel values."  What does that mean?  Does it mean that they will dare to use the pulpit during Sunday Masses to push this progressive-pandering upon the congregations? 

USCCB Ponders Canonical Penalties Against Defenders Of US Borders

Eeeekk!!  The USCCB is having their semi-annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale this week!  And they've already plopped a massive stinker!  This one centers around "immigration".  In other words, they are all for the coddling of those who crash our borders, entering illegally.  By definition, those who sneak into our country and break our laws are criminals.  But the bishops have historically been awarded millions of federal dollars throughout the years to "resettle" those who crash our borders.

They have their kindred progressive spirits in liberal areas of the country - Maryland being one of them.  In particular, Montgomery County is a liberal loony bin.  You might recall the debate among the candidates for County Council President.  I recorded that and posted the entire thing here.  Listen to these lemmings brag that they will order local police not to cooperate with ICE in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.  This debate happened in a Catholic church; Msgr Enzler (president of Catholic Charities, by the way - the same Catholic Charities that was the recipient of the aforementioned billions of our tax dollars) was just beaming at these arrogant pronouncements.

Yesterday the USCCB ranted against the Trump administration's moves to protect our borders.  They went so far as to say that this matter is a "right to life" issue.  Some bishops even suggested "canonical penalties" for those who implement the administration's new rules.  More on that in a moment.

Here's one gem of a paragraph:

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., proposed that a group of bishops be sent to the border to inspect the detention facilities where children are kept as a “sign of our pastoral concern and protest against the hardening of the American heart.” Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, N.M., suggested “public gestures” such as prayer vigils in front of federal courthouses.

This is the same Cardinal Tobin who, as Archbishop of Indianapolis, turned a deaf ear to us when we pleaded with him to forbid lesbians from using a KofC hall to celebrate their fake "marriage".  In light of his subsequent receipt of his red zucchetto, I entertain the possibility that in fact he ordered that concession to the perverts.  Where was his "pastoral concern" when perverts and their enablers were allowed to flaunt their mortal sins on Catholic property?

Here's another:

Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Tucson, Ariz., made a bolder suggestion, raising the possibility of implementing canonical penalties for Catholics “who are involved in this,” referring to children being separated from their families at the border.Canonical penalties can range from denial of sacraments to excommunication, though Weisenburger did not specify what he intended beyond referring to sanctions that already exist for “life issues.”

Weisenburger was appointed Tuscon bishop by Pope Francis.  Certainly canon law is not one of his strong points for canonical penalties cannot be levied in the absence of canonical offenses.  Disagreeing with some clergy on matters of prudential judgment is not a canonical crime.  Bishops cannot wave the threat of "canonical penalties at their whims and fancies.  Sheesh!  Where's the "separation of church and state crowd" now?  Oh, that's right!  They only come out when non-negotiable matters of morality are the topics of interest.

Now here's an interesting question regarding canonical penalties.  We know that they are completely disregarded when pro-abortion politicians strut up the Communion line and receive, in direct violation of Canon 915.  So will all these prelates who thumb their noses at this unmistakable canon law now wax stern and forceful if Weisenburger has his way?

Speaking of "life issues", how much attention will baby-slaughter receive at this meeting?  Not much, but I digress.

Maryland bishops and their Annapolis cronies have been particularly hard at work to make Maryland a haven for illegals.  With these illegals have come hispanic gangs such as MS-13.  I link now to a video detailing how dangerous they have made it to attend public schools.  The Maryland bishops, to an uncomfortably large extent, are culpable for this state of affairs.

More On The DREAM Act - And A "Just Say No" Campaign

The DREAM Act "Sabbath Push", after all was said and one, wasn't much more than a little nudge.  Still, it wasn't entirely non-existent.  Most (not all) parishes inserted a two-sided flyer from the Maryland Catholic Conference into their weekly bulletins.  For those fortunate few who didn't have their intelligence insulted, I link to it here, as I intend to pick this thing apart.  Again, I acknowledge that good faithful Catholics can adopt a wide variety of opinions on this ACT.  In fact, that has been my entire point.  My objection is with the promotion of the DREAM Act support as the "authoritative Catholic position".  There is, in fact, no such thing as an authentic Catholic position on this particular legislative matter.

We'll now begin with the analysis of the MCC's flyer, so I'd suggest that you have the pdf open in another window as we go through this.  Since this will be rather long, I'll put a jump break before it starts.  At the end, I will suggest another action step that we can take in the wake of any future "efforts" on behalf of the DREAM Act.

Why Catholic Conferences May Be Mum Regarding Planned Parenthood Funding

Yesterday the US Senate voted to pass H.J. Resolution 43, undoing Obama's executive order that forced states to fund Planned Parenthood.  It was a split vote, with the Vice President breaking the tie.  Last month it passed the House by a 230-188 vote split.  It now heads to President Trump's desk.  This bill does not cut Planned Parenthood funding in and of itself; rather, it allows states to do so.  A number of them have already passed such defunding measures.

A little "aside" for my #nevertrump friends.  You do realize that if you had your way, states would still be forced to fund Planned Parenthood, don't you?  Deep down in your hearts, aren't you glad you didn't have your way?  Let this be a lesson to you.  As additional examples arise, I will be pointing these out to you!

Getting back to the main point of this post, state governments now take back control of their Title X funds and they now have the option of denying funding to the largest baby-killing racket in the nation, if not the world.  I hope many states seize that opportunity.  Alas, other states are infested with anti-life liberals and progressives.  My home state of Maryland is one of them.  I wrote last Saturday of the effort underway by pro-baby-murder politicians to fund Planned Parenthood.  In that piece I also wrote of the de facto cooperation with these progressives that the Maryland Catholic Conference intends to give them.  I speculated as to the cause(s) of the MCC's despicable stance, wondering if funding for some of their pet "social justice" goals hung in the balance.  The video released by Michael Hichborn now causes me to fear that the reasons for MCC's lack of actions may be even more perfidious.

Deal Hudson had an article published today in Newsmax entitled "Catholic Bishops Caught In Conflict Of Interest Over Immigration".  In the fifth paragraph down, we see that Catholic Relief Services received over $400 million from the Obama administration in 2016.  In Obama's first year, he increased CRS funding by over $120 million.  Hudson also mentioned that Planned Parenthood received approximately the same amount from the feds; he mentions it as a coincidence but maybe it's more than a mere coincidence.

So what does Catholic Relief Services have to do with Maryland Catholic Conference?  Well, they're both headquartered in Maryland.  CRS is directly controlled by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the MCC takes many leads from the USCCB.  Six years ago, the USCCB did lobby for the defunding of Planned Parenthood.  This month it was utterly silent regarding H.J. Resolution 43.  Why the change?

The video below is that of Michael Hichborn giving a talk at the "Bringing America Back To Life" summit held in Cleveland earlier this month.  The title of his talk is "Catholic Charities And The Culture Of Death".  He details how Catholic "social justice" groups (under control by the US hierarchy) have compromised their missions to the point of participating actively in the Culture of Death.  He focuses heavily on Catholic Relief Services.  Pay very close attention to the 15:55 mark, when he reveals how CRS actually partnered with Planned Parenthood.  Just how close have the tentacles of Planned Parenthood gotten into the inner sanctums of the US Catholic establishment?  Can this be some explanation of the inaction of both the USCCB and MCC regarding the various battles over Planned Parenthood funding?  To my readers: what, if anything, have your state Catholic Conferences been doing about your states' funding of Planned Parenthood?  Please advise via the comments box.

If you have one of those lenten rice bowl things and have been dropping change into it, please empty it and give that money to an organization that is fighting for the Culture of Life.

Maryland Catholic Conference Coughs Up Another Ridiculous "Candidate Survey"

The Maryland Catholic Conference, in anticipation of the November 8 elections, released what it calls a "candidate survey".  It appears in the latest paper issue of Washington's Catholic Standard and presumably in Baltimore's Catholic Review.  This survey is typical of its prior productions.  That is, it is worse than useless.

Please take a look at the questions as they appear for the gubernatorial race. This is actually superior to the questions for down-ticket offices.  But note the order of questions.  Abortion is clearly playing second-fiddle to "poverty assistance".  The latter issue is one in which the progressive Church establishment (MCC included in that cabal) gloms onto the "new world order" take on the matter.  The candidates who get the green check-mark, indicating agreement with USCCB positions, are the progressives who are pro-abortion.  Moreover, the abortion question only deals with public funding for abortion, not the need to eradicate abortion from Maryland.  I did say that the questions for governor-candidates are the more sensible for the pro-life candidate could earn three check marks indicating agreement with Church teaching.  That isn't the case with other races.

Look at the questions posed to the candidates for US House of Representatives.  They deal with (listed in order as they appear on the survey):

1. Education
2. Poverty
3. Environment (Note how the wording in the elaboration indicates that the MCC partakes of the "carbon footprint" charade)
4. Health care
5. Conscience protection (Again, no talk of eradicating abortion entirely)
6. Immigration

Four of these six questions indicate alignment of the USCCB with "new world order" goals.  Thus, a pro-life candidate who prioritizes the protection of unborn children from legalized baby-slaughter could appear that he/she is in disagreement with the Church on most of the "issues" (using that term lightly) while the pro-abortion candidate could appear that he/she is in line with Church teaching.  That is because the MCC has made no attempt to illustrate how these issues do not have equal weight in the eyes of the Church or God, for that matter.

The only saving grace to this useless exercise is that the Democrats, by and large, didn't bother to partake in this farce.  Naturally, the MCC took great pains to emphasize that they do not endorse any candidate or party -despite the fact that the Democrats almost struck belief in God from their party platform in 2016.

This blog has no "tax-exempt status" to which it must bow.  Therefore, Maryland voters, I suggest that you vote straight Republican throughout your ballots.  As for the Board of Education, please get hold of one of those little "apple ballots" before the election.  Go to the sub-page for your own counties.  Note the endorsed candidates - and vote for their opponents.

We all need to get to the polls on Election Day.  No mail-ins, no early-voting (unless you're a poll worker).  Make sure your vote is as tamper-proof as possible.  Your vote counts.

Catholic Standard Watch: Shilling For Democrats On The Sly

On page 5 of the Catholic Standard's October 17 issue, (here, in the online edition) we find a letter written by Cardinal Gregory that deals with the upcoming elections.  While there are truths to be found therein, we also are none too surprised to see "seamless-garment" (hereafter called "seamless garbage") nonsense embedded in it.

We are pleased that Gregory made mention of the need for Maryland citizens to cast a "no" vote for Ballot Question 1, although his reasons are deficient.  We thnk that deficiency is by design.  He made no mention of the enshrining into the MD constitution the de facto disenfranchising of parental rights when it comes to making healthcare decisions for their children.  He made no mention that the proposed amendment would allow minor chidren to commence "sex changes" despite parental objections, nor even abut the fact that this amendment would pave the way for state-coerced abortions.  His omission of the gay-agenda aspects of this "reproductive freedom amendment" is highly suspect, and I will elaborate on that in this post.

Earlier in that same letter, Gregory said, "the Church does not tell you how to vote."  Oh, really?  Then what was the pastor and staff of St Thomas More doing in their distribution of Harris shirts, going so far as to announce it from the pulpit after a Sunday Mass?  I reported that a few weeks ago. 

Right after his remarks on Question 1 comes the seamless-garbage pabulum.  I quote "instead of a sole focus on access to abortion, it is necessary to advocate for comprehensive solutions.." etc.  

On page 3 of that same issue (here in the online edition), Cindy Wooden of the Catholic News Service (media outreach of the USCCB) seemed to offer some commentary on Gregory's letter, taking some liberties to embellish it a bit.  She quotes him as saying "that umbrella is wide enough to also include the dignity of people who are seeking entry into our country as immigrants."  That's odd!  I did word searches on Gregory's letter and did not find the words "immigrant" or "umbrella" therein!  Hmm!  For that matter, he didn't mention "capital punishment" either.  At best, this is sloppy journalism.  But what can one expect from the USCCB?

A few paragraphs up, I said that I'd elaborate on the complete lack of mention the gay-pandering aspects of the proposed MD amendment on the part of the MD bishops.  I shall now do so.  Please refer to my first linked article about St Thomas More.  Embedded in that post is a memo to the MD priests issued by Jenny Kraska, Executive Director for the Maryland Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Among other things, Kraska ordered the priests not to use materials produced by Health Not Harm MD.  Here is HNH's website.  Please peruse it.  You will see that their treatment of the amendment is far more comprehensive than that of the MCC.  Furthermore, they urge good people to educate their fellow citizens about the amendment, whereas there is no encouragement of outreach in the MCC's site.  Now why, oh why, does the MCC omit any mention of the gay agenda behind the proposed "Reproductive Freedom Amendment "?

Consider the previous actions of both Cardinal Gregory and Archbishop Lori regarding gay infestation in the Church.  In August, dissident gay-pandering Father James Martin SJ held a gay-gab-fest at Georgetown University.  Cardinal Gregory offered a Mass that was part of this debacle.  The Standard actually published Gregory's screed homily.  As you can see, this blather would have done the Washington Blade proud.

A few months prior to that, I attended the annual Archdiocese of Baltimore Social Ministry Convocation.  I detailed my experience in three posts between April and May of this year.  Chief among the delightful (?) presentations was the spectacle of Catholics being lectured to by a practicing gay dude.  One of Baltimore's auxiliary bishops was there at the close.  This debacle happened under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Office of Life, Justice and Peace (what a mouthful!).  Its director, Erin Younkins, was in attendance and had been part of the planning committee, as she had done in previous years.  Archbishop Lori knew what was going to happen and allowed it.

The escapades described in the preceding two paragraphs are just the latest.  It doesn't take too much intellectual strain to understand why the Maryland bishops are loathe to oppose their gay-agenda pals, even if it means soft-pedalling the fight against the amendment and allowing abortion the mutilation of minors to be enshrined in the Maryland Constitution.

Not to be outdone, Msgr John Enzler, Catholic Charities affiliate, penned an article on page 6 of that same issue, and here in the online edition.  The poor guy is confused, you see?  He states, "navigating the party platforms and candidate's stances on various issues like immigration, abortion, death penalty and more can become quite confusing and contradictory."  Notice that abortion is just another issue, not treated as the deliberate act of murder that it is.  Also notice that we don't even see abortion listed as the first issue.  But consider that this is coming from someone whose political priorities are terribly askew from Catholic morality, as evidenced here.  Later on, he says, "my guiding principle when voting is to consider what would Jesus say, and what would He want me to do?...It doesn't mean that everyone will come to the same conclusion."  Full stop!  Yes, it does, unless we are to hold the blasphemous belief that Jesus has a split-personality disorder.  But that's the kind of nonsense uttered by someone who supports pro-abortion candidates over pro-life candidates.  With this kind of nonsensical thinking, Cathollics of weak minds, and very likely weak morals, could feel themselves quite assured as they cast votes for Kamala Harris.

I humbly present (again) factors for consideration when casting your votes.

Will The US Bishops Profane The Birth Of Our Lady???

First, I'll present today's Vortex in which Michael Voris comments on the abysmal state of today's Catholic Church.  He lays the blame for the deplorable state of affairs squarely on the shoulders of the bishops for failing (as a whole) to be the shepherds that they were ordained to be.  Now listen closely between 5:55 and 6:12.  He is chiding the bishops for urging their congregations to jump on bandwagons for liberal causes and other matters about which good people can disagree while neglecting the spiritual and eternal matters that should be their primary concern.

When Voris uttered those words, might he have had in mind news of the latest nonsense emanating from the USCCB?  I'll elaborate on that after the Vortex video.



First, ht to Pewsitter for alerting me to the latest crap that will ooze from the USCCB.  It's about "comprehensive immigration reform", folks!  The bishops are launching an all-out effort to press Congress for amnesty for those who've broken our laws.  Breitbart News opines that this effort seems to be garnering more emphasis than did the actions against the Obamacare contraceptive mandate.  In that article Rep Dan Lipinski (one of the few remaining Democrats who is truly Catholic) remarked - correctly - that immigration is a matter of prudential judgment about which the Magisterium does NOT speak authoritatively as it does with matters such as abortion and euthanasia.

The Washington Times reports that this lobbying effort for amnesty will come from the pulpits.  Interesting?  Does that mean that People for the American Way and the ACLU will soon start protesting that effort as they squawk about "keeping the Church out of politics"?  Of course not!  After all, the USCCB is taking its cues straight from the Messiah Most Miserable himself.

So we should hear these less-than-spiritual homilies beginning on September 8.  If that date seems to stand out, it's for good reason.  September 8 is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  While I don't think that liturgy uproots the regular Sunday liturgy, I would think that it deserves a mention.  How on earth can the bishops even think of giving that short shrift in favor of a matter that is merely in the realm of prudential judgment?

Many good Catholics, owing to our fidelity to the Magisterium, take exception with the position espoused by the USCCB.  Bear in mind that the USCCB has no inherent canonical authority in and of itself.  Should the Maryland dioceses participate in this ill-advised lobbying push, we will undertake efforts to advise Catholics that good people can - and perhaps - should disagree.

I echo Voris's suggestion that the bishops occupy themselves with spiritual matters, for indeed when Catholics believe that immigration and abortion are equally weighty matters, then their knowledge of Catholic morality is sorely lacking.

Maryland Bishops' Wrong-Headed Letter On Immigration Situation

Last week's Catholic Standard contained a letter released by Maryland bishops on the crisis brought on.

by the increased masses crossing our southern borders.  A few days later the Gazette published an article penned by Blair Lee IV entitled "By Heart or By Head"

Lee raises concerns that citizens of Maryland and of the US at large are raising.  Other concerns involve the real nature of the immigrant population that is now bombarding the borders.  Not all are children; many are gang members posing as children - or in many cases not bothering to disguise themselves.  Oh, technically they may be minors, but many of the 16-year olds are gang members and are actively recruiting for the gangs from fellow immigrants.  Read this account of jihadists and people infected by ebola coming through our all-too-porous southern border.

A good Catholic will consider the plight of these people (assuming they truly are desperate, which many of them really aren't).  However, he/she will prioritize his/her concerns.  The needs of his/her family will come first.  That obligation binds on them by virtue of the Fourth Commandment.  An extension of that will be to place as priority the needs of his/her fellow citizens.  Note: I said "needs", not "preferences".  Regrettably, when we do so, we are judged to be xenophobes, racists and all sorts of unsavory epithets.

It is even more unacceptable when that attitude emanates from our bishops.  Nowhere in that propaganda piece published by the Standard is there any validation of our concerns.  The bishops carry on as though the priorities of good Catholic people were of no account.

Whatever else one might think of the bishops' letter, it is NOT magisterial teaching.  At most, they are delivering their prudential judgment with which we are liberty to disagree.  As you might suspect, I certainly do disagree with it.  Here are some facts to consider as you ponder this question.  I've mentioned before that the bishops may well be complicit in the crime of human trafficking, and they've received some nice-sized federal grants for it.

Lee opines that liberals may be allowing their heart to overrule their heads.  In the bishops' case, I hope that's true, and not that the wallet overrules everything else.

Regarding Illegal Immigration, Here Are Questions The Liberals And USCCB Refuse To Answer

I'm going to follow up on yesterday's posting with some observations and questions - mostly questions, for there seem to be many questions that aren't being asked.  Who know?  Perhaps these questions are being actively stifled.  Well, I'll ask them (in no particular order) and hope that this serves to wake some folks up.

Today I received my newsletter from Help Save Maryland, a conservative organization in Maryland.  They in turn reprinted a National Review article, called "The Moral Crisis On Our Southern Border" by Victor Davis Hanson.  He rightly points out that the bulk of these children are not Mexican; rather, they hail from Central America.  Since Mexico (ironically) has much tougher immigration policies than does the United States, how can it be that these children were not turned away at Mexico's southern border?  Did Mexico admit them because they wanted them shipped to the United States?  If so, for what purpose(s)?

Hanson asks some questions that bear review, and I'll "copy-and-paste".  What sort of callous parents simply send their children as pawns northward without escort, in selfish hopes of soon winning for themselves either remittances or eventual passage to the U.S? What sort of government allows its vulnerable youth to pack up and leave, without taking any responsibility for such mass flight?

These questions deserve answers, as do the following questions that arise because of Hanson's.

• There are thousands of kids coming across.  Did their parents willingly send their children abroad, or were they pressured to do so?  I have difficulty believing that thousands of parents could be so roguish and callous as to just send them away on a train.  Could it be that those children were seized from their parents?
• Assuming that the kids were indeed sent ahead of their parents to be tools for their own immigration to the US, what tracking mechanisms (if any) were put in place so that these parents could eventually find their children?  The whole procedure seems so hodge-podge (at least north of the border) that I don't see how any reunion would be possible.
• Regarding the de facto abandonment of these children by their parents OR the seizure of the children from their parents, why do we hear nary a peep from Catholic bishops on either side of the Rio Grande regarding this practice?  When it comes to deportation, the US bishops are among the first to pitch royal snit-fits about "disrupting the unity of families".  Now that the families are being shattered south of the border in the process of the kids coming here, where, oh where, is that noble indignation of the bishops?  Why do we hear crickets on that score from the USCCB?

Rush Limbaugh pointed out a few days ago that the mobilization of all these kids was no spontaneous event; there had to be a considerable amount of organization to pull it off.  I bet even Limbaugh did not know how much the Church establishment was part and parcel of all that coordination.  Father Z reprinted news that he in turn obtained from Liberty News.  As early as 2010, dioceses along the Mexican border received grants from both Health and Human Services and Department of Homeland Security for the express purposes of preparing them to receive this increased influx of illegal immigrants.  So when you hear of border dioceses "opening their doors", etc, realize that a large part of all this "generosity" is your tax dollars at work.  The chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, told attendees of the conference last week that "it is not because we have a political agenda..it is something we are impelled to do".  Yes, I'd imagine that millions of dollars in DHS and HHS grants would be quite "impelling".  As for "political agendas", how else will the Democrats buy enough voters to keep them in power?

At that same Migration Conference held last week, Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, president of Caritas International, gave yet another pitch at trying to inflict a guilt-trip on good people wanting to defend their borders.  His failure to do so was overshadowed by his inaccurate knowledge of world history.  He stated, "Can you imagine if St Paul tried to get into Europe nowadays? Rather than being welcomed with unusual kindness he would probably be classed as an undocumented migrant and sent back home."  Your Eminence, most of the western world at that time, including Europe, was part and parcel of the Roman Empire - and Paul was a Roman citizen.  Under no circumstances would he have been considered an immigrant, let alone illegal.  Earlier he made a similar (and common) gaffe about Jesus "living as a migrant".  He is referring to the Holy Family's flight into Egypt.  I point out that at that time, both Egypt and Israel had been subsumed into the Roman Empire.  So here we see yet again more conflation of Scripture and world history on the part of these progressives.

In that same speech he made a startling admission (probably inadvertently).  "Many of these children are from my own country, Honduras. They flee gangs who want to induct them into a life where they will surely die a violent death at a young age."  Your Eminence, before you come to the US to chide us for defending our country from a swell of immigrants that we cannot assimilate, you and your brother Honduran bishops would do well to address the problems in your own country that seem to be making life in Honduras miserable.  You will not be addressing the issues in Honduras by shipping them north of the Rio Grande!

By the way - the House of Representatives has nixed Obama's $3.7 billion "emergency request".  Will that dry up the DHS and HHS grants to the churches?  We hope!

Catholic Charities Hosts Democrat Dog And Pony Show At St Jude's In Rockville MD

In 2018 all levels of Maryland public officials are up for elections: from the governor down to the local registrar of wills.  That of course means all the county councils and county executives are up.  This past Thursday evening on May 3rd, I attended a debate of candidates for the Montgomery County Executive position held at St. Jude's in Rockville.

I must remind one and all that Montgomery County Maryland is a liberal loony bin.  The lunacy was on display tonight in all its macabre glory.  First the debate was co-hosted by both Catholic Charities and the Justice and Advocacy Council.  I knew that when I got the notice and realized it was a harbinger of things to come.

The moderator of this debate was none other than Msgr John Enzler, who has been known to cozy up to pro-aborts and even to donate to their political campaigns.  There were seven candidates who were debating.  Six of them were Democrats; Robin Ficker was the lone Republican.  Three of those Democrats are current members of the County Council; they are George Leventhal, Roger Berliner, and Mark Elrich.  They were also on the council in early 2010 when the council passed its measure to hog-tie pro-life pregnancy centers in the County.  If you go back to my archives from that time, you can see video that I took of the hearings in Rockville.  Leventhal was particularly contemptuous of the pro-life people who testified against the bill.  It did pass, but went down in flames in court.  Mind you, all three of the current county executive candidates voted for it, although it was obviously unconstitutional.  You'll see later on how they hold the US Constitution in cheap regard.

The first part of the debate focused on "immigration": that is, when the Democrats weren't busy bashing President Trump.  Each of the Democrats loudly proclaimed that if they were elected, they would protect the border-crashers and that they'd direct the County police not to cooperate with ICE in any attempt to enforce immigration laws.  Let that sink in.  The President of the United States is constitutionally charged with ensuring national security; part and parcel of that task is the securing of the nation's borders.  We all listened to Democrats vowing to undermine the President as he carries out his constitutional responsibilities.  Whoever is elected to the executive position in November will take his or her own oath of office.  That oath includes the upholding of the Constitution.  But in loudly proclaiming that they would undermine the president, they just admitted that they would disregard their own oaths of office.  Moreover, in stating that they'd direct the county police to take a hostile stance towards ICE, they'd be directing those same officers to disregard their own oaths that they swore as police officers.  Isn't that, well, special??

Now of course Enzler was just beaming with joy upon hearing such talk.  Recall that Catholic Charities, along with other branches of the US church hierarchy, receive billions in federal dollars to "resettle immigrants".  Since that amount is predicated on headcounts "served", we can see how they'd be anxious to keep them crashing our national borders.

They moved beyond the Trump-bashing and shilling for border-crashers onto other favorite progressive topics.  As I said, there was one lone Republican - Robin Ficker.  When the candidates were asked about bringing jobs to Montgomery County, Ficker said he would brook no tax increases on his watch.  The others clearly didn't like that and used their time slots to take umbrage at that suggestion.  They also lauded the hike in the minimum wage.  Clearly we saw a shining example of how progressives simply aren't in touch with the real world.  Hikes in minimum wages - hikes in taxes - universal health care - these are all arbitrary costs that make Montgomery County unfriendly to employers - especially to those that are small businesses.  Anyone with a scintilla of common sense knows that, but liberals are devoid of even that.

Education was a hot button topic too.  The favored solution for the Democrats seemed to be expanding pre-k programs.  That's right.  They actually want to take the three-year-olds and start the brain-washing early.  Perhaps if schools concentrated on the basics instead of allowing and even mandating that the students "walk out" for some gun-control parade, the students might actually learn some useful skills.  Perhaps if little children weren't suspended because they pointed their fingers and made gun sounds, they might feel safe enough to learn.

Not every topic was covered.  They didn't touch their draconian attempt to gag crisis pregnancy centers by a long shot.  There was also no provision for the audience to ask questions.  Oh, we could write them down on cards and submit them, but they were screened.  Be certain that Catholic Charities would never allow their sugar-daddy puppet-masters to be embarrassed.

Below is a recording of the debate - unedited so that you can hear the socialistic prattle in all its ugliness.  Forgive the comments from me and my companions; I trust they don't muffle the nonsense from the stage.

Perversions Of Social Justice

Keep in mind the Vortex episode from Wed July 6 as I expound upon the following two matters:

1) On the same day, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Relief Services weighed in on the budget situation in Congress.  They are commenting on the Foreign Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2012.  I'm sure you can guess.  They are warning against budget cuts for various programs for poor people in the world.  While I certainly don't doubt that there is real suffering out there, I do doubt the USCCB's and CRS's grasp of economic realities.  The simple truth is this: we don't have the money.  We are printing funny-money and borrowing to the whazoo, threatening the well-being of our own progeny.  Do the USCCB and CRS care about that?  Such doesn't even make one appearance in their whinings.  What does make its startling appearance in their statements is this claim, and I quote, "poverty and hopelessness can provide a fertile ground for the growth of terrorism."   Now consider the reality of that statement - or lack thereof, I should say.  No one doubts that terrorism requires money, and lots of it.  Why, the terrorists have to be trained, have to be given weapons, perhaps transported to their targets.  That doesn't even touch upon the research, planning, etc that is probably done to plan a strike.  So these indigent people have no money to procure basic necessities for themselves and their families, but they'll have money to go shooting up people, blowing themselves up, etc?  Such are the fuzzy pipe-dreams that pass for thinking inside these "professional catholyc" enclaves such as the USCCB and the CRS.

The DACA Drivel Of The Archdiocese Of Washington

Once again I missed an issue of the Catholic Standard.  Owing to some pressing personal matters, I didn't realize it until I saw it in the lobby of Blessed Sacrament (DC) this weekend.  When I saw page 3, I understood why it might have been omitted from my mail.  It was all about DACA and that insipid telephone campaign of the USCCB to beg Congress to extend de facto amnesty to the so-called "Dreamers".  The online version didn't have that precise article but here is an online article along a similar bent.  For more articles, search "DACA" on the Standard's website.

Several months ago I wrote a post explaining why I believe that support of illegal immigration is inherently sinful.  I still do.  For those reasons I believe that the USCCB's "call-in" campaign was likewise inherently sinful, for the specific reasons stated in that post.  In that post I wrote "One troubling aspect about the hierarchy's embrace of progressive positions is that church authorities too often strike hands with politicians who foment the Culture of Death."  That happened at Blessed Sacrament earlier today, as I learned in its bulletin yesterday.  The only difference is that this time it was not an errant politician, but an errant priest.

Go to page 3 of the linked bulletin, bottom left.  You'll see that this morning they hosted Father Peter Daly, former pastor of St. John Vianney from Prince Frederick, MD.  Because he's retired and no longer pollutes the pages of the Catholic Standard, I haven't had occasion lately to write about him, but in the past I sure did.  In one post, I commented on an article that he wrote for the Not-At-All Catholic Reporter, in which he publicly condoned homosexual acts.  This is the sort of person that Blessed Sacrament thought qualified to teach their parishioners.  They've hosted both Chris Matthews and Mark Shriver in prior years - appearances that we picketed.

Here's an oddity about Daly's selection as a speaker.  He lives in Prince Frederick Maryland.  That's southern Maryland.  Between that and Blessed Sacrament is a two-hour drive each way.  What?  Blessed Sacrament couldn't find a more local illegal-amnesty shill?  In loony-liberal Montgomery County, these people abound.  That truly puzzles me.  Why?