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.

Maryland Catholic Conference Errs (Again) With Death Penalty

In today's Catholic Standard, page 3 in print and online here, the Maryland Catholic Conference is beating its chest over its faux-victoire regarding the abolition of the death penalty in Maryland.  I stated my case clearly how the abolition of the death penalty actually runs counter to Church teaching and Evangelium Vitae in particular.  I needn't rehash all that here.

I also stated in that post that there is an effort underway to petition this abolition to the next Maryland referendum.  I signed that petition, no doubt to the consternation of Mary Ellen Russell.  In the Standard article, read that little insert of hers that's designed to cajole faithful Catholics into eschewing the referendum petition.  She talks of the repeal of the death penalty as "an integral part of our pro-life efforts to uphold the sanctity of all human life."  No, it is not!  I'd strongly suggest that she study Evangelium Vitae and notice that there is a world of difference between the inherent evil of taking the most innocent human life - that is, murder and the exercise of legitimate authority a charge laid upon it by God Himself.

She then takes a direct pot-shot at the referendum effort itself, saying "the referendum will only divide the prolife community and drain scarce time and resources from other more important prolife goals".  Well, guess what, Ms Russell?  On both counts here, it's the Maryland Catholic Conference (under your less-than-stellar leadership) that stands guilty as charged!

Maryland Catholic Conference - Careening Towards Irrelevance

Some might think my title is overly harsh.  Actually I think it's rather mild as it may be lurching towards dissidence.  For those who have been keeping an eye on the state Catholic Conferences, along with the USCCB, this is no surprise.

On January 19th the Holy Father released a statement that made plain that Catholic agencies should refuse partnerships that would indirectly support activities opposed to Church teaching.  He is confirming what so many faithful Catholics have been saying all along regarding the questionable alliances concocted by the "social justice" arms of the Church bureaucracy and of the insipid toadying to prominent pro-aborts done by Church prelates.

On page 3 of the Jan/Feb edition of Our Parish Times appeared an article about the Maryland Catholic Conference and its choice of priorities.  What are the top two in the headline?  "Death penalty repeal" and "Catholic school support".  The third most popular was "gun violence".  The word "abortion" was not to be found once in this article and while "stem cell research" was mentioned, there was no clear explanation that embryonic stem cell research is a form of child murder.

I knew the "death penalty repeal" appeal could make the MCC susceptible to the temptation to involve itself in all manners of squalid associations.  So far I'm proven correct.

I discovered that tonight Maryland Citizens Against State Executions held their 2013 Rally and Lobby Day.  See the link for further details.  You'll see that they act contrary to the Holy Father's Jan 19th directive against lending indirect support of sinful activities.  In this meeting, the MCC has allied itself with:

• Equality Maryland
• ACLU
• NAACP (and various chapters)
• Progressive Maryland
• Amnesty International

All of these organizations promote baby-murder and perversions of sexuality and family life.  This evening the Maryland Catholic Conference, once again, sold its soul.

Below the jump break I'll post two relevant videos so...

Maryland Bishops And Catholic Conference Join The Chorus Of Illegal Immigrant Panderers

Here's the garbage action alert that I received from the Maryland Catholic Conference a few days ago.


 Take Action 
Instead of going to school, playing with friends, and enjoying time with family, tens of thousands of children from Central America flee their homes embarking on a dangerous trek north to the United States.  At the same time, nearly 40,000 young mothers with children have also entered the U.S. and are being placed in detention centers. 
Many unaccompanied youth suffer a lack of educational and economic opportunities, and ultimately flee due to violence from organized criminal networks in their countries, which has increasingly stained and strained the fabric of their societies.  The breakdown of the family unit, caused by the absence of physical and economic security, has also caused children to find safe haven with family members in the United States.

Please raise your voice with this action alert to help protect these vulnerable children and mothers by contacting your U.S. senators and representative. For some background on the issue, read the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's  testimony before Congress. 

My blogging colleague A Washington DC Catholic must be on the same list.  Read the commentary on his piece.  These progressives do like to omit that teensy detail about the flagrant violation of our borders.

Naturally this week's Catholic Standard joined in the propaganda campaign.  It featured an article about the opening Mass (celebrated by Cardinal Wuerl) for the (so-called) National Migration Conference.  He made it a point to mention that most of us are descended from immigrants; what he decided to omit was that our immigrant ancestors obeyed the laws of their host country, complying with all requirement for immigrants at the time.  That is a far cry from what is happening now, and to try to draw some parallel between then and now is ridiculous, if not downright dishonest.

As expected, progressive CINO MD governor Martin O'Malley opined that any deportation of the kids would send them to "certain death"  (like the 90+ that are aborted every day in Maryland, Marty??).  However, several hours later, he told the Obama cartel that it should not send any of these kids to a former Army Reserve Center in Westminster MD.  The citizens in that conservative area of Maryland rallied and (with the assistance of Andy Harris) made plain to the governor that this would not be in the best interests of the citizens and their families.  For once, O'Malley saw the light of day.

That refusal of O'Malley's (a rumored presidential hopeful) must not only have been galling to the Obamanistas, but must have been most embarrassing to the left-wing-leaning Maryland bishops and the Maryland Catholic Conference.  Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at the MCC when they heard that news!  And to think that this kind of common sense was displayed in the liberal loony-bin known as Maryland!  Will miracles ever cease?

By the way - not all of these "kids" are kids.  Many of them are gang members and other adults posing as children.  Do our bishops care, or have all those HHS and DHS grants caused them to turn blind eyes to that fact?

And Speaking Of "Zombies",

I read the February 24th edition of the Catholic Standard and was once again appalled at the zombie-esque chanting of the liberal/progressive mantras that polluted the pages of a supposedly "Catholic" publication.  Where to begin?  I suppose it doesn't matter, since all this mess has a common theme.

This is a long read, so....

Maryland "Pro-Life Victory" A Sham

The Maryland Catholic Conference is calling the recent repeal of the death penalty in Maryland a "pro-life victory".  Really???  Seriously???   What about the real death penalty in Maryland??

While the MCC and state legislators were celebrating and giving "high-fives" to each other, another 95 babies were slaughtered in abortuaries across the Free State.  Yes, approximately 95 babies are murdered vis-a-vis abortion in Maryland - with the support of many of the legislators who repealed capital punishment.

How many executions occurred in Maryland over the years?  According to Maryland's own statistics, 85 men were executed from 1923 to present.  Obviously that's less than 1 per year: 0.94 to be precise.  With 95 babies being murdered every year, that makes 34,700 per year.  Once again, the Maryland Catholic Conference displays an abysmal lack of perspective just in terms of arithmetic as they wax lyrical about a legislative body that largely condones the murder of innocents.

There's a larger issue here, one that eludes the folks at Maryland Catholic Conference.  Mary Ellen Russell, executive director of the MCC stated the case although she doesn't acknowledge the impact of what she said.  She said, "the test of whether the death penalty can be used is not the gravity of the offense, but whether it is absolutely necessary to protect society."  Right there she acknowledges that capital punishment is permissible if "it is absolutely necessary to protect society".  However, thanks to their short-sighted (and progressive leanings of the "social justice" cabal), they have just removed a means of societal defense that would otherwise be available to protect society from dangerous criminals.

There is a malevolent pattern in recent actions of the Maryland legislature.  It's seen in the repeal of capital punishment and it's also seen in the push to cripple our exercise of Second Amendment rights.  In both cases, the progressives are acting to tie our hands when it comes to defending ourselves, our families and our society against dangerous thugs.  In fact, the thugs who call themselves "doctors" while plying their murderous trades are no doubt joining in the celebration of the death penalty repeal.  Why?  Simple!  They no doubt realize that in a saner time, they would be considered eligible for capital punishment.

ADDENDUM:  Perhaps the MCC staffers are reading the Not-at-all Catholic Reporter.  Yesterday their columnist Bill Tammeus questioned why true Catholics spend so much energy trying to stop abortion as opposed to the death penalty.  Why?  According to this dubious sage, the unborn child is just "a bundle of cells" whereas the criminal is a human being.  What a guy!

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 Implicated In "Catholic Spring" Scandal?

A friend of mine sent to me this link from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.  He was rightly intrigued by the direct reference to the Maryland Catholic Conference (along with individuals skulking the corridors of the Archdioceses of Washington and Baltimore), named on this WikiLeak-provided email from Christopher Hale (with John Podesta receiving a copy).

I decided to do some net-surfing regarding leadership at the MCC, starting with the Administrative Board.  From the Archdiocese of Baltimore we have Steve Kearney.  He's also on the Board of Directors of Maryvale, a Catholic girls' school in Lutherville MD,  On that list he is identified as being owner of Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs, LLC.  Looking on the FEC website, we see some rather telling political contributions from this owner of Kearney O'Doherty.  Every one of them is for a pro-abortion candidate.  Consider the Kratovil ones.  In those races, Kratovil was running against the Catholic pro-life Andy Harris; in other words, Kearney was contributing towards the defeat of a pro-life Catholic.  In this link we see that Kearney is identified as a "spokesman for the Archdiocese of Baltimore".  So the Archdiocese of Baltimore had as a spokesman someone who donated to supporters of baby-murder!  Isn't that...special?  The MCC repeats that error by retaining Kearney as an advisor.

In the Archdiocese of Washington section, we see one Vincent Burke, an attorney in Bethesda.  He's contributed to Connie Morella.  Below him is an all-too-familiar name: Msgr Enzler.  He's been featured earlier in this blog.  James Soltesz' contributions, with a few exceptions, are towards pro-abortion candidates: Obama, Wyn, Shriver, Hoyer, Morella.

Bonnie Phipps is by herself in a section called "Catholic Hospitals Serving Maryland".  Phipps has contributed to Elijah Cummings, Frank Kratovil, Mikulski, Cardin.

Now I've written quite a bit about the Maryland Catholic Conference over the years.  Notwithstanding some token efforts of theirs regarding abortion, they spend inordinate amounts of time, energy and money promoting the progressive positions on:

• amnesty and benefits for border-crashing scofflaws 
• gun control
• capital punishment
• Running interference for the state legislature when they want to tax us to the whazoo.

So who are Christopher Hale's contacts within the MCC who are ready to do his bidding?  As we can see, there are several possibilities: of which we know.  We do know that as faithful Catholics, we must take anything coming from the MCC with copious grains of salt.

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!

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 Sides With Annapolis Democrats For State Funding Of Planned Parenthood

President Trump has promised to defund Planned Parenthood.  That will happen whenever the GOP can find the spinal fortitude to defang Obamacare in its entirety.  Trump had offered to retain funding of Planned Parenthood if the latter ceased abortions.  Showing their claim of abortions being only 3% of their business to be a lie, the national office of PP balked at that offer.  So now PP will be defunded; that is, our tax dollars will not go to that murderous cabal.

The progressives who crawl through the halls of the Maryland state legislature are determined to come to the rescue of the Planned Parenthood operations in Maryland.  From the Baltimore Sun we read the sordid tale. The senate bill sponsor is Richard Madaleno from Montgomery County, openly gay despite (or maybe because of) his Jesuit high school education.   Knowing the state of Maryland politics and the progressive slant of much of the population in Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Baltimore City, none of this is a surprise.  Indeed it is quite typical.

If you scroll down to the bottom of the Sun article, you will notice an unconscionable dereliction of duty on the part of the Maryland Catholic Conference.  They pretend that because "abortion isn't being funded" then they need not oppose this funding measure.  By their silence and refusal to join decent people in opposition, they are in fact supporting the funding of Planned Parenthood, be that support ever so tacit.

Karen Nelson, President of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, is quoted as saying  "that under federal law, the money used to provide abortions is kept strictly separate from the money that pays to provide other health care."  Mary Ellen Russell, Executive Director for the Maryland Catholic Conference, repeated that falsehood by saying of the proposed bill that "its requirements are the same as those under the federal law barring the use of money for abortion."

Both of those women know better than that.  They both have experience in working with not-for-profits (as do I) and know full well how various funds within a non-profit interrelate with each other.  It involves a concept known as fungibility - a concept of which both Nelson and Russell are quite aware.  Several years ago, Michael Hichborn produced a video that explains the concept quite aptly.  Please watch it; this post continues below the video.



We know what motivates Nelson to lie through her teeth; but what motivates Russell to do the same?  Whom do they think they're deceiving?  What is driving MCC to acquiesce to the pro-aborts on this?  Who or what is causing them to play the moral cowards?  Are they being told that funding for some pet "social justice" project will be curtailed?  Are some of their perks in Annapolis being threatened with discontinuance?  Do they not care that Planned Parenthood's baby-killing apparatus in Maryland stands to be funded with our tax dollars?  We can only guess and those guesses might well be very accurate.  Whatever the answers might be, it is no wonder why faithful Catholics do not take them (nor their national counterpart, the USCCB) seriously.

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.

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,...

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!

Maryland Catholic Conference And Its Bishops Smear Shame On Themselves Once Again

For the past few weeks, pro-life Maryland citizens have been conducting a petition drive to get HB937, the "Abortion Access Act" on the November ballot for general vote.  We needed 25,000 valid signatures by May 31st.  Sadly, we did not get that number, but failed by only a very thin margin.

Sadder and even infuriating is one key reason why we didn't make that threshold.  When approached for their assistance, the Maryland Catholic Conference decided that the referendum couldn't be won, so they refused to contribute to the effort.  The three area bishops likewise refused to cooperate.  Consequently the bulk of the pastors would not allow petition signatures to be collected in their churches.

The organizers of the petition drive believe that had all the churches been available for signature collection, that we would have succeeded in meeting that threshold and would have been well on our way to obtaining the total of 75,000 signatures.

While the signatures were being collected, I checked the MCC website a few times.  Sure enough, there was not one mention of the petition-collection drive.  The MCC's dismal dereliction of duty was in fact a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Let's rehearse some of the provisions built within HB937.  First, it will allow non-physicians to perform abortions.  It will force insurance companies to fund abortions, without any co-pay or deductible limitations; that would impact health policies that the Church and MCC provide their employees, wouldn't it?

Now that HB937 cannot be challenged, it will pave the way for more butchery of babies and their mothers.  For their inexcusable refusal to allow good people to combat this, the leaders of the Maryland Catholic Conference, the three bishops included, may well have blood on their hands in the coming months.

USCCB an Accomplice to Hell Care Bill - And We Should Be Silent??

When I first started this blog three months ago, a colleague suggested that I keep posts to 200 words or less.  Given the complexity of this topic, I may not be able to implement that suggestion in this post.  However, I ask you to bear with it and follow along.  The topic is crucial and calls for more than just a perfunctory treatment.

On page 7 of the December 17th issue of the Catholic Standard is a column by Archbishop Wuerl ("Believing What the Church Believes") speaking on the bishops and their authority.  As I read the last four paragraphs of the article, I wonder if this article runs afoul of the canonical rights and responsibilities that are proper to the laity.  The following is one quote that caused me to raise my eyebrows:

"Yet, when it comes to matters of faith and morals, when it comes to giving necessary practical prudential guidance, it is the responsibility of the bishops to lead. It is also the responsibility of the clergy and faithful to recognize that leadership."  I've no problem whatsover when it comes to giving obedience to the bishops regarding faith and morals when they teach in union with the Holy Father; the Magisterium has always taught that.  However, when it comes to matters of prudential matters, even the Magisterium recognizes that these are matters over which good Catholics can (and often do) disagree.  There seems to be an overlooking of the rights of faithful laity to their legitimate opinions, particularly in matters regarded as secular - such as the health care debate being waged in Washington at this very moment.

In the last paragraph, His Excellency comments on the oath uttered by the newly-installed pastor to the Pope and College of Bishops, he states "so should every member of the faithful make the same profession. We are called to adhere with an internal acceptance to what the Church teaches because it is the Spirit guiding the teachers of the Church, the bishops, in their proclamation of the faith."  Some care might be required here, lest there be confusion between the "College of Bishops" and the "United States Conference of Catholic Bishops".  I don't know if these two terms are meant to be used interchangably, but if they are, the expectation of obedience of the laity to the USCCB is frought with many problems.

It has been demonstrated on this blog, by the writings of the Catholic Media Coalition and others that the USCCB's leadership has shown dangerous predelictions towards quasi-socialistic goals for society.  Previous entries on this blog and those of like-minded blogs have documented quite extensively that the USCCB's so-called "charitable arm", the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, have funded dangerous socialistic, atheistic and pro-abortion "community-organizing" groups that have helped the most pro-abortion politiican in US history, Barack Hussein Obama, ascend to the White House.

As a corollary to Obama's seizure of the White House, he also wants to grab control of the health care of each and every person in this nation and bring it under draconian governmental control.  And yes, it will allow for unfettered abortion.  Sadly, but not surprisingly, the USCCB supports the Hell Bill, sans abortion funding.  They state that if the abortion mandates are removed, that this health bill will be in compliance with Catholic social teaching.  See my previous post on that.  I also posted on the Maryland Catholic Conference and their trolling for the Hell Bill.

Two excellent articles have been written on this topic and I'll now link to them.  One, posted on the website of the Catholic Media Coalition, is entitled, "For Whom Does the USCCB Speak in the Health Care Reform Debate?"  The other is entitled, "Subsidiarity: Where Justice and Freedom Coexist".  Both are worthy of thoughtful study.

Both of these authors emphasize the need to understand the Catholic principle of subsidiarity.  They point out correctly that those wielding power in the USCCB hold this fundamental principle in contempt.  The first article quotes from 1 Samuel 8:10-18.  I urge you to read it, as it states quite clearly God's displeasure with centralized government, as often that government usurps His role in society.  Our Founding Fathers understood it.  However, as we have rushed towards abandonmnet of God and of Christian morals (particularly in matters of life and sexual ethics), we have looked to the government to be our task-masters.  We have become morally weak and flabby and crave a "nanny" to care for our needs in our laziness.  As history tries to teach us, there will always be some smooth-talking tyrant who is all-too-willing to oblige such a deadly request.

The author of the second article states where a Catholic News Service (a branch of the USCCB) columnist twisted the principle of subsidiarty with this quote:"The Church’s teaching of subsidiarity insists that higher levels of government and social organizations must take action and do what individuals and smaller groups cannot do for themselves." Of course that's not true.  I remember having an almost identical conversation with a staffer at the Maryland Catholic Conference, where he flat out pooh-poohed the principle of subsidiarity.  He has since moved on to the USCCB; I don't know if he is still there.  At any rate, have you noticed that "advocacy for the poor", at least in the eyes of these socialism-adoring "Catholic" agencies really means badgering the government to throw money at whatever the concern may be? 

That's exactly what the USCCB is attempting to do with the Hell Bill - to take our money and throw it towards the government, ostensibly to solve a problem.  In reality, they are turning a blind eye to the babies and to the elderly and other vulnerable individuals who will be killed outright or have their care rationed away from them.

I'll close this with anothe quote from the first article, which in turn is a quote from Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville: “A man’s admiration for absolute government is proportionate to the contempt he feels for those around him.”   That does sum up the USCCB's attitude towards us.  They've even gone so far as to attack Rush Limbaugh for speaking out against liberal malfeasances (read my earlier post).

I think it's way past time to dismantle the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Maryland Catholic Establishment And Religious Liberty

There are some signs that the hierarchy in Maryland may be waking up to the malevolent intentions of progressives towards those who profess Christianity.  The most recent issue of the Catholic Standard seemed to be devoted to this very real threat..  See here for a statement issued by the Maryland bishops.  See here for an interview with Mary Ellen Russell, the Executive Director of the Maryland Catholic Conference regarding this matter.

While I certainly welcome these signs of early awakening here, I still am concerned that the Maryland Catholic establishment is not acknowledging how it exposed its own throat - and ours - to those who seek to marginalize us.  In fact, it still continues to make itself vulnerable to the secular elements.

It's no secret to anyone who reads this blog that I have often decried the regretable tendencies of the various state conferences for seeking government grants for this charity or that cause.  I believe that is one key reason why the Maryland bishops are reluctant to deny Holy Communion (as Canon 915 enjoins them) to prominent pro-abortion politicians because the bishops fear the loss of "text-book money" or some other state grant.  So they allowed themselves to be muzzled - a little here and a little bit there.  Then they're shocked (just shocked!) when the pols tighten the noose just a little bit more.

If the Maryland hierarchy is serious about securing relgious liberty, it simply will have to go "cold turkey" and divest itself immediately of all governmental funding, no matter the level of government from which such funds originate.  Its protestations of the loss of religious liberty will ring hollow as long as the bishops and conferences have their snouts buried in those governmental pig troughs known as "grants".  Let's hope the withdrawal process starts immediately.

Maryland Catholic Crybabies Don't Like Getting Called Out

On Monday, I shined the light on how the Maryland Catholic Conference absolutely stonewalled our efforts to petition a dangerous abortion bill to referendum in Maryland.  A few days later I was examining their facebook page and noticed them suggesting that we contact our legislatures to reduce gun violence - in other words, they wanted to stir up a gun-grab.

As a comment to that post, I rebuked them for their duplicity and linked to that blog post.  Well, lo and behold, I received this gem from Facebook (broken into three pieces).

If you compare my post with their "standards on spam", you'll see that there is no way an honest person could construe my post as "spam".  Frankly, I don't think Facebook would have picked this up on their own.  Whoever manages the social media pages at MCC probably had a snit (or maybe his/her boss had the snit) and reported my comment as "spam", knowing that they acted in rank dishonesty.  

MCC, here's a suggestion - If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.  Understand that your complete dereliction of duty in regards to the petition drive WILL have consequences.  Now we're not like Chuck Schumer who gins up thugs to assassinate Supreme Court justices.  We will simply do things like shame you for your indifference to the babies and urge area Catholics not to contribute to any statewide or nationwide collection efforts.  

The Maryland Catholic Conference is just a state-level version of the larger USCCB.  I suggest that both be dismantled immediately.

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.

Maryland Catholic Conference's 2018 Voters' Guide

In the June 14th issue of the Catholic Standard appears Maryland Catholic Conference's 2018 Voters's Guide for the Maryland primaries that will occur on June 26th.  It isn't on the Standard's site (yet) but it is on the MCC site.  When you get to that site, click on the "2018 Elections" menu.  If you need a reminder of your legislative district, click on the "general assembly" link to the left to be taken to a tool to learn your district number.

The usefulness of this site is, at best, limited.  Take, for example, the governor race.  You'll notice that most of the candidates did not respond.  Either they disdain the Catholic vote; Hogan is running unopposed in the Republican primary so this questionnaire is moot for him.  I hope and pray that he does answer the questionnaire that pertains to the general election this coming November.

If you look at the responses from Madaleno and Vignarajah, they appear to be identical.  So if one just uses this MCC guide for voter information, they won't understand that Madaleno is morally unqualified to be Maryland's chief executive and in fact most of the Democrats are, owing to their pro-abortion support and shilling for sodomy.  But you wouldn't know that if you just relied solely on the MCC guide.

I did some research on some candidates two weeks ago.  By no stretch of the imagination is this a comprehensive treatment of the various candidates.  I urge you to do your own homework before the elections.  You might start by googling their names and looking at their own websites.

As you do your research, please pray that God's will be done.  Encourage others to do the same.  Get out and vote on June 26.