The Weaponization Of Excommunication - Who Should Be Excommunicated?

In the Diocese of Chur (?) in Switzerland, the local bishop will not discipline three parishioners gave Consecrated Hosts, that is, Our Lord Himself, to their dogs.  The bishop's name is Joseph Vonamane, and has instructed his priests not to condemn LGBTQ behavior.  The 1983 code of canon law attaches automatic excommunication to certain offenses, among them being desecration of the Holy Eucharist.

In the LifeSite News clip, Westin quotes the bishop as excusing those parishioners for they "did not act with sacrilegious intent".  So everything is just hunky-dorry over in Switzerland, right?  Well, hold that thought as we consider another situation where the excommunication sword is most definitely being rattled in iss scabbard.

As most of us know by now, the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) will consecrate new bishops to relieve their aging bishops.  They do not have an official papal mandate to do so, despite their attempts to obtain one.  The Vatican has thus far remained obdurate.  Many are puzzled by this strong-arming from the Vatican.  I am not.  Ladies and gentlemen, the SSPX, owing to their fidelity to traditional liturgy and Sacred Tradition, remind the current pope and his aficionados of the sinfulness of their own disregard for the Deposit of Faith.  The SSPX, by their very existence, rightly rebukes the progressives who are attempting to destroy the Church from within.  They want the destruction of the SSPX.  That is why they won't approves of the ordination of SSPX bishops.  

Faithful Catholics have been pointing out the utter folly of denying permission to the SSPX for the ordination of those bishops.  I will not rehash what they say here, but recommend them to your reading.  My blogging colleague at Les Femmes makes the point that supplied jurisdiction can and often does override strict adherence to official jurisdiction.  She cited examples such as English priests ministering to the faithful under the reign of Elizabeth I.  Maike Hickson points out that it is the Vatican's tinkering with Tradition that is the true cause of disunity, not the SSPX's attempts to preserve Tradition.

Rorate Caeli published a piece authored by the Canon of Shaftesbury that explained why the proposed excommunication of the SSPX simply doesn't pass canonical muster.  I will quote one key passage: "Furthermore, for a canonical act to constitute schism, there must be a positive will to separate from the Roman Pontiff or to refuse submission to his authority (cf. Canon 751). This is an essential element of the offense, not merely an aggravating circumstance. Bishop Athanasius Schneider and other reputable canonists have argued persuasively that the SSPX lacks this intent entirely. The Society professes full submission to the Roman Pontiff, accepts his doctrinal primacy, and explicitly does not seek to establish a parallel hierarchical jurisdiction."

Pope Leo!  Listen up!

The SSPX has repeatedly stated that they have no positive will to separate from Rome.  Even Rome itself does not dispute that.  Now let's go back to the situation broached in my first two paragraphs, where parishioners literally tossed Our Lord to their dogs.  The Code of 1983 (linked in my first paragraph) lists as one of the acts that can incur automatic excommunication the desecration of the Eucharist.  That did happen, yet the local bishop refuses to act because they "lacked sacrilegious intent".  So if the errant parishioners are being cut some slack because of their lack of malicious intent, why is such courtesy being denied to the SSPX?  Boys and girls, can we say "hypocrisy" and "double standards"?

Let's look at Pope Leo himself and his visit to the Mosque of Algiers last month.  Upon entering, he removed his shoes and expressed "gratitude for being in a place that represents the space proper to God".  It should be noted that others inside that room kept their shoes on.  Recall also that last October, the pope gave a "prayer room" to Muslins inside the Vatican.  He facilitated prayer to an idol at best, and perhaps a demon itself.

Now go back to that list of excommunicable offenses.  I see "apostates, heretics and schismatics" listed therein.  Is the pope himself excommunicated?

Here We Go Again! Sanctimonious Catholics Threatening To Boycott Elections - And Consequences Be Damned

Mid-term elections are upon us, and already some Catholics who imagine themselves to be oh-so-pure are talking about abstention from these elections.  I've never beheld such a smug group of people actually thinking that their shallow self-righteousness is actually a virtue.  I have blogged many times about this in the past, including why I believe that Catholic morality actually commands that we cast our vote for the candidate who will at least due less harm than his/her opponent.  

Chris Jackson, who writes Hiraeth In Exile, has an excellent treatment of the subject matter.  While I haven't looked at the Michael Matt podcast myself, what Jackson says about the need for Catholics to vote, even if none of the candidates is eligible for canonization, is on the mark.  It is entitled "Political Surrender Is Not A Catholic Virtue".  Please read it and pass it around.

An Open Letter To Archbishop Lori Regarding The Upcoming Satanic Revival In Balitmore

Below is an open letter to Archbishop Lori regarding the subject matter of my previous post.  While indeed laity must take action, the primary responsibility for any action resides with the local prelate - that is, Archbishop Lori.  Therefore, in addition to the actions suggested by the American TTP, I'd suggest pleas for action be placed with Archbishop Lori.   Contact information is here.

Your Excellency, by now you must have heard of the planned "Satanic Revival" that is currently scheduled to take place in the Mobtown Ballroom during the weekend of May 1 - 2.  As you can see, it is an open celebration of satanic worship.  I link now, not only to the site of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, but that of the satanic temple itself, so that you can see that what I write is not mere hyperbole.

Your Excellency, you are among the successors to the Apostles, charged primarily with the salvation of souls.  That is to say that you are charged with protecting them from Satan and his wiles, and guiding them to Eternal Salvation through the One True Catholic Church.  What this "revival" entails is not only blasphemy and sacrilege on an unprecedented scale, but the further ensconcing of a satanic foothold in your archdiocese.  Please note that they will admit people into their event only if they surrender their souls to Satan; in other words, attendees must formally consent to be damned.

As Archbishop, you do not have the option to ignore this event, to dismiss it as a mere conglomeration of crackpots and eccentrics.  The spiritual peril is real and horrific. Yet as I peruse the website of the Baltimore Catholic Review, I see not one peep about the spiritual danger about to descend on Baltimore in less than two weeks.

At the very least, there should be calls for Catholics to engage in serious prayer regarding this "revival", prayers both in reparation for this upcoming and previous outrages against Our Lord and His Church, and to pray that this event is canceled before it can begin.  Protest can be lodged with the owners of the Mobtown Ballroom; the American TPF site gives contact information for area Catholics to use in that protest.  I understand that the American TPF site will have a presence outside the Ballroom on May 1; area Catholics could join them in prayer.

As noted above, this letter is open and is published.  Any responses, or lack thereof, will likewise be made public.  Thank you for your attention to this critically important matter.

Your Excellency, silence and passivity in the face of this evil is NOT a moral option for you, simply because this demonic debacle will literally happen just a few miles from the Baltimore chancery.

"Satanic Revival" To Take Place In Baltimore May 1-2

The American Society for Tradition, Family and Property has issued this alert for all Catholics, and indeed all who call themselves Christian to pray and take strong action against literal satan-worship from happening in Baltimore on May 1-2.  The announcement and suggested action steps are in that hyperlink.  However, I will reproduce it below.

On May 1, the Satanic Temple plans to hold an event called the Satanic Revival at the Mobtown Ballroom in Baltimore. This will be their first national event since SatanCon in 2023.

This diabolical program includes:

•       A talk titled: “The Satanic Pulpit: Sinful Testimonies.”
•       A Ceremony of Infernal Pride
•       A drag performance
•       A concert by the Pentagram String Band
•       A study session about the “Satanic religion.”

Furthermore, all of the event’s attendees are required to surrender their souls to Satan.

In response, the American TFP has launched a petition urging the owners of Mobtown Ballroom to cancel this blasphemous program. We need to let them know that it is unacceptable for any venue to invite the Evil One under its roof.

No words can describe how evil this is. Satan has no place in the public square—you and I both know that. And that is why taking action is not optional.

In addition to signing the petition, please contact Mobtown Ballroom and respectfully urge them to cancel the “Satanic Revival” immediately.

Here is some contact information you can use. Please be polite, but firm:

Phone number for Mobtown Ballroom

 (443) 699-3040

Sarah Sullivan, Co-Owner of Mobtown Ballroom

sarah@mobtownballroom.com

Michael Seguin, Co-Owner of Mobtown Ballroom

michael@mobtownballroom.com

Let us pray to Saint Michael the Archangel and ask him to crush the devil’s head once again!

As you can see, anyone who wishes to attend must literally surrender their souls to the devil, thus incurring risk of eternal damnation. 

The American TFP is organizing a protest of this event (if it goes on as scheduled) to offer reparation for the blasphemies and sacrileges that will happen during that event.  As I learn of details, I will post them.

Marylanders! Two Terrible Bills Are Being Pushed Through The MD Legislature! Your Voice Needed Monday March 30

Two horrible bills are making their way through the Annapolis state legislature.  They both require IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NOW!

The first is HB 1131.  This bill, in effect, would legalize infanticide: that is, out-of-birth-canal baby-killing.  Medical professionals who report such deaths would be penalized.  As of today, it has been referred to the Judiciary Committee.

The second is HB 0649.  From the bill synopsis on the MD General Assembly site, we read "Authorizing the Commission on Civil Rights to enforce a prohibition against discrimination and retaliation in educational institutions based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or marital status; establishing the powers, duties, and limitations of the authority of the Commission on Civil Rights to enforce the prohibition against educational discrimination; establishing a private right of action"  

Right there, we see that private faith-based schools could be forbidden to operate in conformity with their religious beliefs.  In short, they would have to disobey God to conform to all sorts of "sexual orientations" and/or "gender identities".  Among other things, teachers and officials could face pressure to utilize make-believe "pronouns" under threat of legal action or even school shut-down.

The goal of both these bills are to advance anti-God and anti-life agendas while actively stifling those who would stand against them to honor God.

Testimony from any Maryland citizens regarding HB 0649 be accepted Monday 3/30 - that is, TOMORROW.  Please go to https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/MyMGATracking/WitnessSignup.  If you don't already have a profile established, please do so now.  It's actually quite easy.  Make it a point to do so.  Your voice actually does matter - especially in an election year.  I will have more to say on the upcoming MD elections in a future post.

Kermit Gosnell And Paul Ehlrich - Two Evil Men Have Faced Their Creator

Paul Ehrlich wrote in 1968 a tome titled "The Population Bomb".  It helped foment the myth that there are too many people on Earth and that measures had to be taken to forestall that.  Of course those measures included contraception and abortion.  He predicted something called "the great die-off" that was supposed to happen during the 1980s.  Well, forty years later, we see the lunacy of that prediction.  Still, the overpopulation myth continues and has even infested the Vatican, as evinced by their embrace of "sustainable population".  Ehrlich died on or around March 19, 2026.

Five days later, late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell joined him in death.  He murdered thousands of babies, and was convicted of murder after it was demonstrated that he snipped the spinal cords of three of his tiny victims after they survived the abortion process.  In his office were jars filled with body parts of murdered babies dating back for several decades.

These two men were clear menaces to civilization and to innocent life.  Pray that God granted them the gift of final repentance.

Saint Patrick's Day 2026

That is what tomorrow is.  Consider that Saint Patrick's main mission was the conversion of the Irish people to Christianity.  He and other notable saints were quite successful, and Ireland became, for a long time, a bastion of the Catholic faith.

Sadly, that is no longer the case as both baby-slaughter and sexual perversions are legalized.  The snakes that St Patrick drove out have returned.  

Let us refrain from the debauchery and silliness that too often characterizes this day (and I am thankful that tomorrow is not a Lenten Friday, meaning this Lenten abstinence won't be mocked).  Instead, let us pray and work so that the Catholic faith will thrive in today's culture.

Not One Cent To The Catholic Relief Services Collection This Weekend

In most US dioceses, the second collection at this weekend's Masses will go towards the Catholic Relief Services.  This includes Baltimore and Washington DC.  This blog, the Lepanto Institute, and other faithful Catholic sites have cited numerous reasons over the years how this outfit, along with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Charities and others have funneled millions of dollars towards progressive organizations that spread both spiritual and physical death and destruction.  And no, they didn't just naively give over the cash.  They were founded with the express purpose of undermining Holy Mother Church.

Below is a podcast from the Anchor Team expounding on the harm being done by CRS and others, as well as the history behind these cabals.  Encourage your fellow Catholics not to put one red penny in that basket.

To Commemorate Black History Month, DC Auxiliary Bishop Commits Sacrilege Against God's Holy Name

At a Mass to commemorate Black History Month on Feb 21, DC Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell took the occasion to sin against the Second Commandment, committing sacrilege against God's holy name during his homily.  He made a rather cheesy quip off the Latin word for God, Dei.  To wit (clipped from the Catholic Standard): 

Then in his homily, Bishop Campbell spoke about the “Agnus Dei,” (Latin for “Lamb of God”) sung before the distribution of Communion.

Pausing to reflect on those three letters, Bishop Campbell said, “DEI means God is diversity, He is equity, and He is inclusion.”

No, He is not some foil for politically-correct jargon, and His Holy Name cannot be used for some banal stunt.  The Second Commandment is: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.  This commandment is not simply a prohibition regarding cursing and profanity (although that is included).  It means that His Name is not to be used as a gimmick to push destructive ideologies; and that is what DEI is.  See these sites:

•  https://www.nationalreview.com/2024/11/trust-the-science-dei-is-dangerous/
•  https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/dei-has-failed-we-do-not-need-more-it

Are the bishops that beholden to their Democrat sugar-daddies that they dare use God's name in such a flippant manner, openly making an idol out of DEI?

Speaking of kissing up to left-wing ideologues, we see, again in the Catholic Standard, how the hierarchy heaped tributes on the recently-deceased Jesse Jackson.  Of course we must pray that he has somehow attained final repentance for the salvation of his soul, but the man long since demonstrated that he was anything but a "reverend".  But look at the Standard's piece on him.  In the subordinate clause of a sentence, they made one mention of his embrace of baby-slaughter, but then pretend that his "work in the area of racial justice" somehow overshadows his horrific shilling for abortion.  Speaking of "racial justice", he would have had to be a complete moron not to understand that a higher percentage of black babies are thus murdered as opposed to white babies.

The whole article is filled with smarmy, toadying praises by supposedly Catholic leaders who completely disregard the horrors that Jackson helped inflict on countless babies of all races.  Jackson needs our prayers, not ridiculous groveling at the mention of his name.  Perhaps all this serves to show just how little our hierarchy really values our unborn children.

Varying Opinions Of Lenten Fasting

I think that many of us are all too aware of the "dumbing down" of various Church disciplines, including those called fasting and abstinence.  When I made my First Holy Communion, the Vatican II council was still in session.  That means that the Sacraments and various disciplines were still "pre-Vatican II".

We were required to fast for three hours before Holy Communion.  As I was a small child, I was exempt from the stricter Lenten fast.  Fish on Fridays was always the norm, however.  Vatican II and its misapplications began to be made manifest while I was twelve years old, so I was never obliged to engage in the strict Lenten fast.

That was also the time when there was much upheaval and "dumbing down".  I won't rehearse them all, but suffice it to say that when I rediscovered Church patrimony, I was by far not alone in lamenting the de facto disappearance of ascetical discipline.  That lamentation, however, came with its own spiritual perils.  Quite a few traditionalists, in their zeal for restoring Church disciplines, seem to make it a point of pride - and I do mean "pride" in the harmful sense of the word - to pursue rigor and to chide others for not conforming to their particular standards.  In other words, sometimes the pendulum swings too much in the opposite direction.

A year or two ago, a well-known podcaster, during Holy Week, announced that he was going on a "black fast" for Holy Saturday.  That is, he would eat no solid food nor take liquid nourishment.  Then he challenged his listeners to do the same, to "not be wimps".  Hmmm... Isn't that interesting, in light of today's Gospel, where Jesus exhorted His followers to fast and not to make their fasting manifest?  Since when did a fast become an occasion for swaggering bravado?

Today, Ann Barnhardt, whom I do hold in respect, published an unfortunate piece regarding fasting.  It is actually factually inaccurate.  She states that "fasting means to not eat any food whatsoever".  That's not how the Church has defined it - and I'm talking about the Church's definition for the past several hundred years, not just since Vatican II.

I am now going to post links to other sites so that I don't have to "reinvent the wheel", as it were.

• https://voxluci.com/catholic-fasting-rules-then-vs-now/ 
• https://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2022/02/history-of-lenten-fasting-how-to.html 
• https://fatima.org/news-views/pasting-part-7-fasting-in-the-1900s-pre-vatican-ii/ 

Only for a short while was Ash Wednesday taken to be a day of total fast.  The typical fast day in Lent was a meal after Vespers was prayed, with two smaller snacks (not summing to the regular meal) were permitted.  No warm-blooded meats were to be consumed.  The fast was binding on adults between the ages of 21 to 59 years, while abstinence bound those from 14 on up.

One might have certain convictions about their need to observe a more rigorous fast.  That's fine.  However, we dare not imagine that our convictions are somehow binding upon other Catholics.