Guess What Criminal Activity The CCHD Helped To Fund??

Remember this debacle from last week, when so-called "peaceful activists" stampeded onto the front lawn of a Kansas state official?  Well, it turns out that the donations of unsuspecting Catholics, "courtesy of the CCHD", went towards financing this mess.  As you watched the video, didn't you wonder just how a bunch of poor, oppressed immigrants were able to afford those buses, shirts and signs?

First, a "shout-out" to the National Association of American Lay Catholics.  It was their blog post that tipped me off to the CCHD connection with the mob scene last week.  I assume it was they who visited the photo section of Sunflower Community Action's Facebook page and discovered its partnership with Communities Creating Opportunity, the Kansas affiliate of PICO.  As you examine the pictures you can see both the shirts worn at the Kobach house and the CCO logo.

PICO received $150,000.00 from the CCHD.  Here it is right from the USCCB website.  Notice the praise heaped upon PICO for their "established track record of grassroots organizing".  I'm sure enough of those "tracks" were left on the Kobach lawn last weekend.

Do NOT give one penny to your local CCHD collection (if your diocese is still conducting that charade).

USCCB Trolls for "Good Works of CCHD" - In Vain!

In a November 13th press release, the USCCB website braggs that "Diocesan Projects Highlight the Good Works of CCHD". Well, let's take a look!

We first hear about Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS). Right off the bat, we learn that they're a PICO affiliate. Looking at the PICO site under "latest news" we see them extolling the achievements of "Massachusetts faith leaders" in securing commitments from Barney Frank and the Fed Reserve to keep families in their homes. Now doesn't that just make your heart go pitter-patter? After all, Frank et al have done such a stellar job in keeping families in their homes over the past year - right? (Please stop snickering right now!) Of course they're all gung-ho for the Obama Death Bill that passed the House last week. One of their affiliates went so far as to lament the fact that good people with common sense are finding their voices and protesting this nonsense. And the USCCB calls this a "good work"? Let's proceed.

We now examine Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network. Its mission statement states, "Our initiatives help eliminate discrimination based on immigration status to ensure all new Americans can fully participate in building a more united and sustainable Minnesota economy." Let's translate the politically-correct gobblygoop into plain language. "We don't care if you break our laws! You can have a piece of the pie bought by law-abiding Americans simply because we're such nice suckers!" Again, I fail to see how this is a "good work".

Let's move onto Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless (two of them from Minnesota?). All they seem to do is foster the naive notion that government can and should take care of all human needs. Read their position paper to that effect. Look under "income security" and "health security". What we have here is a blatant violation of the Catholic principle of subsidiarity - a principle that the USCCB seems to hold in disdain.

As I said in previous posts, I believe that the CCHD is beyond reform simply because the purpose behind its very establishment was nefarious from the beginning. As I read such tripe on the USCCB webpage, I am all the more convinced that the USCCB itself should go into the dungheap of infamous history.

More Shady Business As Usual At CCHD

The Diocese of Oakland California, in its latest edition of its paper, the Catholic Voice, unabashedly announces that some more of the "usual suspects" are receiving national CCHD grants.  From that article we read, "A relatively new organization called Genesis, an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation, received a national grant of $30,000 toward its efforts to address “public policy issues that deny opportunity and enhance concentration of poverty” in Alameda County, said the Rev. Scott Denman, pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Oakland, who is the chair of Genesis." (emphasis mine)  Yes, they are affiliates with the Gamaliel Foundation, the progressive organization from whence the Messiah Most Miserable launched his pernicious "community organizing" career.

There's more.  Again from Catholic Voice we read, "Another group, Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR), received $35,000 from CCHD. Its mission is to develop leadership among low- and moderate-income adults of southern Alameda County in order to empower them to participate in the decision-making process in local governing boards and committees that deal with issues such as education, housing, job training, violence prevention, health care, immigration and youth development."  They're a bit more discreet with this organization; the CV doesn't reveal the COR is a PICO affiliate.  This bunch (PICO) was founded by Father John Baumann, S.J., who was trained in Alinsky's organizing techniques.  Yep!  CCHD national money is going to dubious "community organizing" groups, be such donations ever so quiet.

Speaking of "community organizing" rackets, there is talk of the Republican-controlled House launching a real investigation into ACORN.  Watch this clip from Fox's "Follow the Money", here.

Dreamer Advocates Are Dupes For Alinskyites And Blasphemers

From Catholic News Agency, we read that yesterday about 100 protesters - many of them religious - engaged in a "Catholic Day of Action with Dreamers" at the Russell Senate Office Building.  Approximately 40 of them engaged in civil disobedience, prompting their arrests.  According to the article, it was "an event planned by Catholic social advocacy groups".  Really?  And who might these be?  Two of them are from the "usual gang of suspects".  Reading on, we find that they are:

• PICO - They are one of several "community organizing" rackets operating under the philosophy and methodology of Saul Alinsky.  Much has been written about them; among their many harmful pet causes is - or was - the promotion of Obamacare.
• Faith in Public Life - a leftwing front organization funded by George Soros
• More progressive groups (many featured on this blog) are listed here and here.

The third is something called the DC Catholic Coalition.  Since I hadn't heard of them before reading this article, I decided a search was in order so I googled the name.  I came up with a facebook page belonging to something called "Catholic Coalition".  The memes on the page of this ostensibly "Catholic" organization leave something to be desired - like basic morality, for one.  Here is one, and I regret the offense to sensibilities.  However, we need to see the mentality behind the leaders of this "Catholic Day of Action with Dreamers".

The blasphemy is obvious.  There are more on that page, and some of those are worse than the one to the right.

That is the only link I saw to something entitled "Catholic Coalition".  If the DC Catholic Coalition is not affiliated with this facebook one, please provide proof, along with members' names.  I believe these are one and the same.  Even if they aren't, the PICO and the FPL affiliations by themselves show that the leadership of this "dreamer" sit-in do not adhere to the True Faith.  These squalid associations are typical of those who glom onto "seamless garbage" idiology.  The Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once quipped that Judas was the "patron saint of social justice".  He was right and time again we see this played out.  We faithful Catholics will continue to expose their lunacy.

More CCHD Follies At The Bishops' Meeting!

As if we needed yet more reasons to deny them another penny of our hard-earned money, the CCHD committed some more nonsense.  Well, I suppose they're just being who they are.

From the National Catholic Reporter we read the CCHD bestowed upon Rosibel Mancillas Lopez the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award at the bishops' meeting in Baltimore on November 14th.  Cutting through the NCR's liberal-code talk, we see that she helps illegal immigrants continue to break US law.  Although this young lady is studying law, she seems to have little appreciation for it - and she seems not to have much grasp of Catholic morality as she thinks she has.  While she talks of "the rights of immigrants", I see absolutely no mention of the immigrants' corresponding obligations to obey the laws of their host country. 

When she complains that "immigrants are stripped of their human dignity just because they were born in a different part of the world", she misstates the matter to the point of being absolutely disingenuous.  It is not a "stripping of human dignity" to insist that they obey the rule of law that is enjoined upon one and all who live and seek to come to this country.

As you read the NCR article, you'll notice that Lopez got her start in a church affiliated with the San Diego Organizing Project.  If you've read any of Stepanie Block's articles, you'll recall that it is a PICO affiliate - in other words, a "community organizing" bunch.  PICO lent its support to the Obamacare bill that is ensconsing abortion into our cultural landscape with our tax dollars.

Further down the article, we read that Lopez was commended by Bishop Soto - the same bishop who wrote that lame excuse for a rebuttal of the American Life League's well-documented report on the current dismal state of affairs at the CCHD.  I dealt with that here. 

By the way - after you read the NCR article, read the comments at the bottom.  They're quite heartening!  Many people are seeing through the smoke and mirrors of the CCHD.

Enough of Lopez.  In an earlier NCR article, you can read how the "CCHD wants to woo back bishops who left the reservation campaign".  As you read this, just imagine a scene from the "godfather" movie, where the old man says "I'll make an offer he can't refuse" or something to that effect - you get the point!  Does that mean there's arm-twisting going on in Baltimore even as I type this post?

FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS GIVE TO CCHD!

BOYCOTT THE CCHD COLLECTION!

USCCB - Damaging the Church

In this clip below, Michael Voris of Real Catholic TV explains how the USCCB's cozy relationship with the Democrat Party damages the Church and undermines her teaching authority.



Let me mention something.  Some have looked askance upon my calling for the demise of the USCCB, even claiming that the laity have no right to do so.  I take issue with such opinions for the following reasons.

•  First, I point out that I and many others find serious and even fatal fault with the organization known as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  It is the conference itself that we find to be innimical, not the bishops themselves, who are the successors to the Apostles
• This blog, and many others, over the past few months, have amply demonstrated the ways in which the USCCB advances left-wing causes.  Such include its unconscionable support for the Obama Hell Care Bill, a measure that will foster widespread abortion and euthanasia should it ever become law.
• The ongoing funnelling of Catholic dollars into groups such as ACORN, PICO, Gamaliel Foundation help foment the left-wing policies of the Democrats.
• The powers-that-be within the USCCB that have actively endeavored to hinder obedience to Canon 915
• The shady circumstances surrounding the beginnings of the USCCB
• The USCCB, and other national conferences, are less than 50 years old, coming from the Vatican II Council.  They are not immutable and are not immune from lay challenge
• In the face of all the afore-mentioned points, the laity have not only the right, but the solemn responsibility to petition the Holy Father for the abolishment of an organization that has shown itself to be beyond reform and has shown itself to be a threat to the faith of its Church, children, etc.

I have, at the right, put a petition that should be signed to urge the Church to at least cease funding of the CCHD.  Please sign it.  Comments (even anonymous ones) welcome, within the guidelines.  Thank you.

Bishops - From Scandalous To Heroic

First, we'll get the scandals out of the way.  That way, this post can end on an upbeat note.

Rorate Caeli has broken the news that in Argentina, two lesbians will have their "daughter" baptized in the Cathedral of Cordova.  They received the authorization of Archbishop Carlos Nanez.  On that same day, the two lesbians will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Ponder all this for a second.  The Sacrament of Confirmation confers grace to live out the Christian life in a more committed fashion.  The confirmandi vow to do so.  But their perverted lifestyles already render such vows an abysmal lie.  They are now in a state of mortal sin.  No sacramental grace can accrue to them and they most likely will be committing sacrilege by presenting themselves for Confirmation.  Regarding the baptism, one condition for baptism of children is that the parents promise to raise the child in the Faith.  They will, in fact, be raising the child to embrace the mortal sin of homosexual relations.  In other words, they may well be facilitators for that child's damnation, barring some intervention in that poor child's life.  Now consider that all this is occurring with the authorization, if not blessing, of Archbishop Nanez!  Is he a bishop or cowering politician??

The second piece of episcopal nonsense is brought to us courtesy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (so what else is new?).  They are calling us to pray and fast - for what they consider to be immigration reform.  Of course that clarions call would be for a pet project of progressives - not for anything mundane like - I dunno - maybe the slaughter of 3,500 babies every day via abortion, the attacks on marriage, Obamacare being crammed down our throats..those sorts of boring things.

This coming Tuesday bishops from all over the country will be gathering at Nogales AZ to offer Mass for those immigrants who died while trying to enter the United States illegally.  In other news, we see that amnesty rallies will be occurring all over the country this coming weekend.  But of course the Mass and these rallies are totally unrelated; we know - we just know in the depths of our li'l naive hearts that there is no coordination going on between these progressive groups!  No-sir-eee!  Ahem!

Enough with the bad.  Now for some good news (for a change).

In July of 2011, Father Jerry Zawada, a Franciscan Friar in Milwaukee WI "concelebrated" a Mass.  The word "concelebrated" is in quotes for the other "celebrant" is a woman pretending to be "ordained" by some "woman priest" bunch.  The Vatican, specifically the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has spoken.  Father Zawada is no longer permitted to function as a priest, and he must retire to a monastery run by his order to spend the remainder of his life in prayer and penance.  At this time, Zawada appears to be defiant.  It remains to see what further action will be necessary, but the Vatican is showing healthy resolve here.

More good news!  The Not-At-All Catholic Reporter snivvels reports that Oakland (CA) Bishop Michael Barber has changed the leadership of Holy Spirit Parish, which serves the campus of University of CA at Berkeley.  The poor little progressive "community" (you mean it isn't a parish?) is "angry and mystified".  While they all grab some hankies and shed some tears, let's look more closely, shall we?  It appears that the bishop wants "new direction" and some of this "community" don't understand.  Why, it has all these delightful little accouterments:

• LGTB groups (In other words, a gay "matchmaking" service)
• Dance ministry
• Taize prayer
• Just Faith
• membership in Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action - a member of the Alinskyian PICO network 

All five of these are signs of a parish headed straight towards progressive hell.  God bless Bishop Barber for his courage in standing up to the progressive lemmings that are so prevalent in Berkeley.

And now for our last courageous bishop - at least for this post.  Madison (WI) Bishop Robert Morlino has reaffirmed canon law that states that at the Holy Thursday service, only men may have their feet washed by the priest (it is permissible to omit that washing altogether).  This is significant in light of the fact that Pope Francis himself broke that law when he washed the feet of some Muslim women during Holy Thursday services last year.  It was anticipated that the Pope's actions might spur similar disregard for Canon Law on the part of prelates and priests.  That appears not to be the case in Madison.

Is Pope Francis The Mouthpiece And Face Of World-Wide Progressivism?

From One Peter Five we read that a few days ago, at the World Meeting Of Popular Movements in California, Pope Francis released a letter that:

• publicly praises the Alinskyite organization People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO for short) 
• advocates open resistance to President Trump's attempts to bring order to immigration in the US
• falsely declared that "muslim terrorism does not exist"

At that same meeting, Bishop Robert McElroy of the Diocese of San Diego snarked, "President Trump was the candidate of disruption.  Well now, we must all become disrupters."  McElroy was appointed by Pope Francis to his current position.  Since then he has stated that adulterers and gays should "utilize the internal forum of conscience" when it comes to receiving Holy Communion; in other words, this errant bishop is lulling these mortal sinners into heaping more mortal sin on their souls, rendering even more distant the prospect of eternal salvation.  I've written on McElroy in the past.

I would urge careful study of the first two links to understand how this California meeting is setting the stage for "community-organizing" rackets funded by George Soros to dominate the affairs and priorities of the Church hierarchy.  Indeed, the 1P5 piece voices the opinion that since Hillary Clinton has been effectively jettisoned from prominence, that the mantle of "front-man for progressivism" has fallen on the all-too-willing shoulders of Pope Francis.  

There is cause for that opinion, it seems.  Recall how wikileaks played a role in the defeat of Hillary Clinton as emails were leaked that detailed all sorts of nefarious deeds of the Democrat cabal.  From Gloria TV we now see another revelation from these emails: that Clinton, Obama and George Soros orchestrated the "resignation" of Pope Benedict XVI, using bribery and blackmail to oust him and usher in Pope Francis.  At the time I suspect that they didn't think that Pope Francis would be the front-person for anti-God progressives as they fully expected Clinton to win the White House.  But since both Clinton and Obama no longer wield official sway, the pope could be seen as someone to fill that void.  I regret that he seems to be performing aptly in that role.

Last month LifeSiteNews published a piece called, "2016: The Year That Pope Francis Finally Showed His Hand".  Several of us saw that earlier than 2016 as warning signs did abound. Even to this day, some Catholics refuse to accept that all may not be well with this papacy despite all evidence to the contrary.

Understanding that in most cases "personnel is policy", let's look at some of the seismic shifts in personnel.  We've noted the ouster of Cardinal Burke from his positions at the Vatican.  Now he's been jettisoned from the Knights of Malta while being slandered in the process.  We see Cardinals Muller, Sarah, Pell being treated as though there were targets drawn on their backs.  Meanwhile we see dissidents like McElroy, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Cupich being elevated to roles of responsibility.  Today Judie Brown of American Life League lamented the de facto dismantling of the Pontifical Academy for Life - a council in which she was a member for fifteen years.  Most of the prominent members of that council - including Cardinal Caffarra, one of the "dubia cardinals" - took strong exception to Amoris Laetitia and the confusion caused by it.

In the past 2000+ years of Church history, the Church has had to deal with pontiffs who didn't live up to their office and who in fact were quite evil - Alexander VI comes immediately to mind.  While we cannot say for certain that such is the case now, we'd be dishonest to pretend that the same couldn't be the case now.  We need to pray for the Church and its leaders - many of whom have thrown in their lot with anti-God progressives and wreaking havoc on the faith of millions. 

More Banalizing Of Lent In The Archdiocese Of Washington - This Time Over Guns

In today's bulletin from St. John Neumann in Gaithersburg, MD, page 4 bottom-left, we see an advertisement for a "Lenten Gun Violence Prevention program".  It's supposed to be held at St. Francis of Assisi church on Thursday April 3rd.  Oddly enough, I do not see it on St Francis' online bulletin (as of this afternoon).

This has all the hallmarks of being a push for gun control under sanctimonious trappings.  Let's visit "Heeding God's Call" website, shall we?   Here we have their "litany of commitment".  After a bunch of yammer that purportedly mourns the victims of violence and sympathizes with their families, we get into the meat of the thing.
Leader: Now is the time to end the senseless killing of our boys and our girls, our men and
our women.
People: Now is the time.
Leader: Now is the time to cease the profligate sale of assault weapons and all multiple
firing guns, weapons meant only for murder

Where, oh where, do we read in this lovely litany about appropriate punishments for those who engage in violence, regardless of tools used?  How about, "Now is the time to sentence violent criminals to life with hard labor and without parole and perks?"  Did I just overlook that part?

On page 6 of this document, this "covenant of commitment", they lament the culture they lament the "unrestricted proliferation of guns in our communities".  Under what rocks have they been hiding for the past few decades?  Gun control and regulations have burgeoned, making onerous the purchase of firearms for good citizens.  Moving on down, they lament the eight children killed every day (supposedly) by guns.  Nary a peep is said about the thirty-four hundred children murdered by abortion daily.  There is a key cause of other manners of violence.  That has led to a coarsening of morality, a devaluation of life in the minds of too many.

Lisa Delity of Heeding God's Call will be one of those leading the event at St. Francis of Assisi.   In 1994 she lost a brother, Michael Miller (FBI agent) to a murderer wielding a gun.  The write-up for Mr. Miller is found on the FBI page.  It states that the man who murdered him and other law enforcement officers, Bennie Lee Lawson, was already a suspect in a triple murder.  Why was he not behind bars?  Might that lack of detainment have been part of the problem?  So he got a gun.  Here's a news flash for bleeding hearts everywhere.  Criminals break laws - even (surprise!) gun control laws!  Lawson himself died during that 1994 shootout.

Delity, in 2008, issued a statement lamenting gun violence - and capital punishment.  I'm sure the irony escapes her.  At any rate, Lawson is not going to be able to murder any more people.  It already sounds like he had six to his charge - and no "gun registration" would have stopped that.

Rabbi Sue Levi Ewell is on Heeding's Coordinating Committee.  She's also an unabashed lesbian.  Then there's Rabbi Linda Holtzman (part of Heeding's Executive Committee), who is/was a member of something called Rabbis for Obama.  These two gals certainly aren't "heeding God's call" when it comes to His Laws on marriage, sexuality and life.  Their moral credibility is zilch.  And they help lead a group that pontificates about guns?  These "rabbis" are two reasons why "Heeding God's Call" will not be taken seriously by faithful Catholics.

Then there's Bishop Kermit Newkirk.  One of his other hats is that of leader of Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild (POWER).  That bunch is a branch of the Alinskyian PICO network.  We knew we'd find at least one of these "community-organizing" types lurking around.  Another "Heeding" director, Bishop Dwayne Royster, is also with POWER.

They also have a penchant for having "prayer vigils" outside of gun shops.  That's like having "prayer vigils" outside of car dealerships to curb deaths by reckless driving.  Such tactics do nothing to address the real issue - the violent criminals who use guns and any other weapon to wreck violence.  They insist on dancing around that "elephant in the living room" called the revolving prison door.  By the way - I wonder how many of them have "prayer vigils" outside of abortion mills, where real murder occurs?  Don't worry!  I won't hold my breath waiting for an answer.

Any organizations that allows lesbians, obamaphiles and Alinskyian devotees into its leadership ranks has nothing to contribute to any Catholic's faith and morals.  When Catholic "social justice" groups give them an audience, they lend credibility to the groups' dissidents and deviants.  That is unacceptable.

George Soros: Puppet Master For Hillary And The Vatican?

When I wrote my post this past Sunday (two days ago) about the anti-life motives of the climate-change crowd, I asked the question "how much Soros money is in this Catholic climate movement thing".  Some news today gives the answer to that question: billions of dollars.

Elizabeth Yore, an attorney affiliated with the Heartland Institute, wrote an article that was occasioned by some proceeds of the wikileaks data dump.  In the information was also details of plans to leverage Pope Francis' influence to sway the presidential election to Hillary Clinton.  Through his Open Society Institute, Soros planned to grant $650 billion to PICO and Faith in Public Life to engage the bishops regarding "income inequality": that is, apologetics for socialism.  Yore's article appears in the Remnant and on LifeSiteNews we see more details.

Yore mentioned that in 2015 both Vatican officials (Cardinal Maradiaga key among them) and Soros personnel collaborated on an Apostolic Exhortation on Climate Change and backing for the Paris Climate Treaty.  I wrote a bit about that at the time, noting the progressives that were wined and dined at the Vatican; see this anthology of posts.  In that first post I wrote, "I would like to think that the Vatican is just being naive and easily led when it comes to climate change.  However, I now believe there are powerful forces within the Vatican - the same ones controlling the USCCB - that are pulling puppet strings and doing their utmost to promote progressive agendas upon the whole world."  Now we know, and it makes perfect sense.  In USANews, we find remarks that Soros made about himself, remarks that seem to be quite candid to say the least.  He apparently holds himself to be some sort of "god" who controls Hillary and most likely the Vatican.  Obviously he's got the "god" part wrong, but he does wield massive influence over the leftwing in this country and in the Vatican.

The realization of Soros' influence at the Vatican seems to put many things in a new light:

• The bizarre resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
• The personnel shake-ups at the Vatican: Burke out, the formation of this "gang of nine", with Soros ally Maradiaga at the helm
• The none-too-disguised manipulation of the two family sin-nods

Of course they may all just be coincidences.  But there's so many of them - like so many dots out there just begging to be connected.

We must pray for our Church, and we must understand just what is happening to her in order to do so.

CCHD And CRS - And Time To Boycott The CCHD Collection Again - Say #no2cchd

My Catholic Media Coalition colleague Stephanie Block recently published an article entitled "What Is Going On With Catholic Relief Services?"  I urge all to read it, as well as previous blog posts here regarding this entity.  She points out that CRS has a history of providing only real aid to needy people overseas, but has been going astray since it started receiving government funds in 1961 and then it started spouting "community organizing noises" like its CCHD cousin.  So what induced CRS to accept government funds?  I suspect such acceptance was merely par for the course, owing to the fact that CRS, like CCHD, is under the direction of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  There are some who hold out a hope that these two organizations can be reformed.  Not I.  The entire USCCB needs to be tossed into the garbage.  But that is way in the future.  Right now we have another related duty that requires immediate attention.

Right now the federal government is operating under reduced capacity.  While the federal government has shut down many times in the past, never has it shut down under such a petulant man-child like Barack HUSSEIN Obama.  Life could go on as normal were it not for the fact that he and his Minions Most Mindless, particularly those in the Senate, are doing all they can to maximize discomfort to vulnerable people: aged veterans, military families, etc.  All during this, though, folks are beginning to wake up to the fact that Obamacare will be an unprecedented disaster.  But how did Obama get to the position that he currently holds?

In large part, we have the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to thank/blame for this mess.  Over the years, they have diverted millions of dollars (mostly collected during the November collection) to "community organizing" organizations who have in turn helped Obama and other progressives advance their political careers to where they know are in positions to inflict incredible damage.  Think ACORN, Gamaliel Foundation, PICO, etc - just a few of the recipients of Catholic cash.  Put "Catholic Campaign for Human Development" or "CCHD" in this blog's search box for much more information (actually, those phrases are hyperlinks).

Traditionally the CCHD collection was held in November throughout the US.  Because of the well-deserved criticism and the resulting boycotts of the collection, some dioceses have been holding their collections at other times (and even disguising the names, as did the Archdiocese of Washington) to catch us off-guard.  The DC collection was held in August, but was met with our "say #no2cchd" campaign.  Most of the nation's dioceses, however, will still conduct their CCHD collections in November - in other words, next month.  Click on the above link for more information.

Perhaps if the CCHD collection had dried up a few years ago, Obama's career might not have gotten off the ground.  Let's ensure that no other progressive lout derives benefit from our collection dollars.

We Have The Right Kind of Enemies

That's what we of the Catholic Media Coalition seem to have acquired, as a result of spreading the facts regarding the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the sorry state of their affairs (pro-abortion alliances, funds going to all manners of dubious recipients, heavy influx of tax dollars, etc).  Catholics United, another cabal of left-wing Catholics, has started an online petition in defense of the CCHD and as a backlash against both the Reform CCHD Now Coalition and the Catholic Media Coalition.  As this blog is a member of the latter, I say to the Catholics United bunch, "Thank you for that honor!"  For indeed, being attacked by folks like that is truly an honor.

If you want some chuckles, do read that petiton.  It starts out by saying, "I am proud of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.."  It reminds me of some of the pro-death clinic escorts with which I deal every week.  Every now and then I'll show them pictures of their fine "work" and ask them if they're proud.  Some actually say that they are proud as they look at the poor broken little bodies.  In many ways, though, the CCHD is responsible for turning those little babies into tiny corpses because of their partnerships with ACORN, PICO and other pro-abortion outfits.  And Catholics United is proud of that?  More on Catholics United later.   Now see proof positive that ACORN and Obama are intimate pals.



Now let's look at Catholics United in general.  Clicking on that link, we can now tour its website.  As we scroll down, we see that they are behind the Obama Hell Care Bill that would bring about euthanasia-pushing death panels as well as ensconce abortion in our social structure - to say nothing of socializing and rationing medicine and assuming divine prerogatives over our health. 

The next article down from that is where we see them scold some bishops who had the audacity to question the masterpiece of the Messiah Most Miserable.  They even had the gall to accuse them of distorting "the essential role government has in serving the common good."  I suppose they never heard of the principle of subsidiarity.  Some of the signers of this screed are: Fr Charles Curran, whom Pope John Paul II had dismissed from Catholic University for teaching aberrant theology, Fr. Thomas Reese, whom Pope Benedict XVI fired from his position at America and Doug Kmiec, ex-prolifer turncoat.  Great bunch of fellows!  Such credibility!

The next article down is a call to American Life League to suspend its "Bury Obamacare with Kennedy" campaign.  Speaking of Kennedy, they also mourn the "loss of Kennedy's passing."  While we certainly pray God's mercy upon his soul, we certainly lament the great harm done by Kennedy in his relentless pursuit of liberalized abortion.

Now click on "about us".  I have found that section of an organization's web page to be most illuminating, as it shows the philosophical bent of its key players.  We see, for instance, that James Salt, their "director of organizing" worked on Kathleen Sebelius' campaigns.

Readers, please keep praying and working.  We're having enough of an effect to cause a backlash.  Ora et labora!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monkey Business As Usual At CCHD

"Comprehensive Immigration
Reform"!

Today the Catholic Campaign for Human Development announced that it will grant $800,000 to "mobilize for comprehensive immigration reform".  The announcement was made by none other than Bishop Jaime Soto, chair of the bishops' CCHD subcommittee; I've written before regarding his (mis)statements.

As you read down the USCCB press release you'll notice that the Alinskyian PICO, a major supporter of the anti-life Obamacare bill, will receive a huge chunk of these latest grants.  I said "latest grants" because this expenditure brings the total immigration-related grants to $3,500,000!  Yep!  $3.5 million!

Read the report uploaded by the Reform CCHD Now Coalition.  In it you'll find more egregious wastes of your donation dollars.  The damage done is more than just mere waste.  The CCHD is knowingly and willingly misappropriating your donation dollars to organizations working to undermine the Church and the salvation of souls.  Don't donate one more penny to them.

Let me also say this to my colleagues.  Let's cease calling for the reform of the CCHD, for it is rotten to its core and foundation.  Rather, let's call for the abolition of the CCHD.

CCHD Shenanigans Again!

A press release from the American Life League reveals that the Archdiocese of San Francisco's CCHD has "investigated" the San Francisco Organizing Project (a PICO affilate) and thinks it's worthy to receive the hard-earned money of local Catholics.  They want to expand children's access to "health care".  In other words they want to make available to children contraception and abortion.

Perhaps they are thinking that because our attention is focused on the Obama Hell Bill, that they can resume their profligate funding of leftist organizations?  I thank the Good Lord that ALL is alert to them.

Open Letter To Bishop Bransfield Regarding CCHD

Bishop Michael Bransfield oversees the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV.  This letter was penned by my Catholic Media Coalition colleague Jim Fritz.  It's worth a read.  Tomorrow do NOT contribute to the CCHD collection.  Say #no2cchd.

                                                                                                November 22, 2013

Most Rev. Michael Bransfield

Bishop of Wheeling - Charleston

1300 Byron Street

Wheeling, WV 26003

Dear Bishop Bransfield;