Appeal To The Pope

A petition has been put online to beg the Holy Father to stand unambiguously for the Teaching of Jesus Christ in regards to marriage, family and sexuality.  It is the "Filial Appeal To His Holiness Pope Francis On The Future Of The Family".  Signatures are being collected in anticipation of the next Ordinary Synod On The Family.  So far over 55,000 haves signed.  Signers include:

• Cardinal Raymond Burke
• Bishop Athanasius Schneider
• Joe and Ann Scheidler
• Rick Santorum

I must say it is a very sad day when we must petition a Vicar of Christ to fulfill the mission that we should reasonably hope is already in the forefront of his mind.  Events of the past few months cause us to fear otherwise, the latest being the news that the Pope approved and ordered published the disgraceful interim report from last October's synod.  But it is what it is and we must speak out and yes, stand up to the progressive poison that pollutes the Vatican from the top on down.  In 1972 Venerable Fulton Sheen stated quite plainly that it is up to us, the laity, to save the church in spite of the clergy.

Please sign the petition and spread it to all your own contacts, asking them to do the same.

Catholic, Conservative And American

Stuart Shepard is not Catholic, but his words do have the ring of truth.  I haven't put up a Stoplight in a while, so here's some food for thought.

From The Maturation Department - Pope Francis Approved Interim Report Before Publication

Do you remember the disastrous Extraordinary Synod of the Family that was held last October?  You might recall that in the middle of it, an interim report was issued regarding the proceedings up to that point.  One would never know it was a Catholic document as it was full of heresy.  This post of mine links to the English translation that's on the Vatican website.  Here is some more immediate commentary.  You might just take a look at my posts during October 2014 (and the linked sites) for more details.

There had always been some question as to how much Pope Francis knew about that interim report when it was released to the public.  LifeSiteNews quotes from Aletia who was informed in an interview with Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri that the Pope knew the contents of the report and approved its publication.  The Cardinal stated, "The documents were all seen and approved by the Pope, with the approval of his presence.  Even the documents during the [Extraordinary] Synod, such as the Relatio ante disceptatationem [the preliminary report], the Relatio post disceptationem [interim report], and the [final report] were seen by him before they were published." (emphasis mine)

If that is the case, the Pope deliberately let heresy masquerade as a legitimate Church document.  Recall that this interim sin-nod report:

• talked of valuing homosexual orientation
• advocated to allow those living in adultery to receive Holy Communion
• blathered nonsense about the "positive aspects" of living in a homosexual relationship, i.e. mortal sin

Does this not put so many events of the past few months in a new light?  Events such as:

• Summary dismissal of Cardinal Burke, who spoke against the interim report and who had contributed to the book "Remaining In The Truth Of Christ"
• The private audience with the lesbians last week
• His "be like rabbits" crack
• His rebuke of the soon-to-be mother of eight

We do have the promise from Our Lord that His Vicar will never solemnly promulgate error.  However, there are many other ways that real harm can be done.  You might recall that the lesbians were emboldened by his "who am I to judge" crack.  And then there's the cop-out of "pastoral practice": the nonsense that dissident bishops use to disobey Canon 915, to neglect preaching on the evils of contraception.  All these "maturation" efforts (and there will be more to follow!) seem to be calculated to brainwash Catholics into accepting the thinking behind the interim report.  Even the way the report was released and the sin-nod conducted speak of a "ram-rod" effort to distort Church teaching in regards to marriage, sexuality and family.

I now link to a very worthwhile statement by the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.  They state well Our Lord's teachings on these matters.

Smuggling Sodomy Into The Church - Or Is It Just Barging In?

On January 24, the Pope welcomed into the Vatican two lesbians, one of them who mutilated her body to look like a man's body.  She calls herself "Diego".  Because she probably legally changed her name to that, I'll call her that.  With her was her accomplice in perversion; they plan a "wedding".  Emboldened by (among other things) the "who am I to judge" quip, she wrote to the pope.  He agreed to meet them privately.  I link to three accounts, all from differing perspectives and view points: Rorate Caeli, Remnant, Washington Post, Belfast Telegraph.  They agree on the basic chronology of events.  Most notably, Diego asked the pope if there would be a place for her as she is today.  She reports that the pope embraced her.  Nowhere do we read any indignant accounts from her of the pope even gently chiding her for mutilating her body, pretending to be a man and for her plans to mock marriage with her lesbian accomplice.

Some "take-aways":

• Diego and her partner in sin apparently received from the pope much more discreet treatment than did the poor mother who is/was pregnant with her eighth (during the rabbitgate interview).
• Recall that there are individual with whom the pope declined to meet:
• The founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
• The Dali Lama (mustn't upset Red China!)
• Some liken this meeting to "eating with sinners as Jesus did".  But Jesus publicly called them to repentance at the same time.  There's no evidence of that happening here.  Why?  Is this all part and parcel of the "maturation" that the progressives want us to undergo as they prepare for next October's sin-nod?
• Just a week before this incident, America magazine published a piece entitled "A New Theology of the Transgendered Body".  Read it.  Realize that America is under Jesuit control.  I find the timing of this article and that of this meeting to be rather (ahem!) interesting - just a tad too much to be a coincidence.

Today Michael Voris released another "Mic'd Up" entitled "Smuggling In Sodomy", discussing how sodomites wormed their way into high places in the Church.  Nowadays they aren't so much being "smuggled in" as much as they are brazenly barging their way through the Church.  Recall, for example, the lesbians holding their "wedding reception" in a Knights of Columbus hall in Indiana.  Shamefully the Knights there are acting as cowards, but that's another problem.

The Second Half Of Last Week's Papal Double-Header

Over a week ago I posted on an in-flight interview that the pope gave while en route from Sri Lanka to the Philippines.  My focus in that post was the regrettable remark he made that made regarding the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris.  In that post I alluded to a "double-header" as there were two topics being discussed, each with its own papal gaffe.  With various other things popping up, I'm just now getting to the other half of that in-flight interview disaster.

The topic of that foot-in-mouth exercise was "climate change".  On that plane, a reporter asked the pope point-blank if he thought man was responsible for "climate change".  The pope replied, "I don’t know if it is all (man’s fault) but the majority is, for the most part, it is man who continuously slaps down nature."  In other words he bought into the junk science and is playing into the hands of those who use "climate change" as a ploy to engage in "population control".  Did we see a hint of that last week with the "rabbit" quip?

A few days prior to that interview Michael Voris released a Vortex video about "climate change" and the peril that it poses for the Church and her mission of saving souls. In this video, Voris mentioned a longer expose he did on it.  I posted on it last year and now link to it.   I'll also link now to videos of a British scientist debunking the junk science behind the "global warming / climate change" scam.  I hope the pope watches it, along with the rest of the "church of nice".

Mic'd Up - The State Of The Church

From ChurchMilitant.tv

Church's Charitable Umbrella Organizations Are Decidedly Uncharitable

During the past two days I linked to stories detailing how the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Charities are serving anti-life agendas.  Unfortunately the accounts of their misuse of Catholic money continue to accumulate, and the Catholic Relief Services seems to be following suit.

The Lepanto Institute recently exposed the production by Catholic Relief Services of a sex-education program in Rwanda.  It promotes the usage of abortifacients, contraceptives, masturbation and homosexuality.  The program is called "My Changing Body" and it is produced in partnership with Georgetown University's Institute for Reproductive Health.  Ostensibly Georgetown used to be Catholic, but it too has jettisoned all authentic Catholicism from its life and is Catholic in name only.  The Lepanto site links to their full report on "My Changing Body"and has screenshots of some of the material used by that program.  It is immoral, anti-life - and funded with Catholic donations.

The Lepanto Institute learned something brand-new about the CCHD this week.  We know from many years of their misbehaviors that they've funded all sorts of anti-life and socialistic ventures, but apparently "community organizing" has taken a new turn - marijuana farms!  This is occurring in California (of course!).  The California Center for Cooperative Development received $50k to start some "medical marijuana cooperatives".  Next we hear they'll be starting some avant-garde opium dens or safe-haven needle exchange projects - oh wait! - Catholic Charities beat them to it several years ago!

Speaking of Catholic Charities, they have a new president - Sister Donna Markham.  She worked for a while at Georgetown University (there's that name again!) and then became prioress of the Adrian Dominicans.  Under her less-than-illustrious leadership, this order joined the Catholic Health Association and helped ramrod through Obamacare, in direct opposition to the bishops.  She's been associated with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, serving a term as its president.  When the Vatican launched its investigation into the LCWR, she waxed both arrogant and indignant at the Church for so doing.  Such is Catholic Charities' leadership.

I do want to highlight a few things about CCHD's ongoing linkage to Alinskyian community organizing.  It is alive and well; one must remember that CCHD was founded with the express purpose of funding socialistic and atheistic endeavors with the contribution dollars of unwitting Catholics.  My colleague Stephanie Block has done much work in exposing these "community organizing" outfits for the menaces that they are.  In this piece she exposes the linkage between the Industrial Areas Foundation with illegal immigration.  Recall that a few days ago I exposed the misdeeds of Action In Montgomery.  AIM was front-and-center with the left-wing as they were shilling for the DREAM Act a year or two ago in Maryland.  AIM is an IAF affiliate.  In her next piece detailing the Senate campaign of rabid pro-abort Loretta Sanchez and IAF's support for her, Stephanie details how Sanchez's supporters relied on the votes of newly-naturalized aliens to defeat pro-life Bob Dornan for the US Congress.

Many Catholics are unaware (or they won't accept) that their contributions to Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services and/or Catholic Campaign for Human Development actually serve to undermine the Church and facilitate death and destruction, both spiritually and physically.  It's time to say #no2cchd, #no3crs and #no2cathcharities.

From The Maturation Department - Rabbitgate And Rotagate?

You might remember that at the close of last October's sin-nod that Pope Francis gave an address.  In it he said we had a year to be brainwashed into swallowing the undermining of Tradition regarding marriage and family "mature".  Almost immediately the "maturation efforts" began in earnest and the bile continues to spill.  The rabbitgate incident is just one of the latest installments in our "maturation lessons".

It cannot be difficult to discern what is meant by "rabbitgate".  We all recall the interview during the trip from the Philippines to Rome last week.  When I put my post onto facebook I got all sorts of scolding, with folks claiming that I was just going with mainstream media and that the pope really didn't rebuke the poor expectant mother.  I was also remonstrated for not considering the sources.  Well, guess what, "first-hand sources" indicate that he rebuked her for being pregnant.

I link now to commentary from Mundabor.  He in turn links to a video produced by Louis Verrecchio; the latter shows video of the actual interview, with the Pope speaking Italian.  Both Mundabor and Verrecchio are Italians who speak the language.  Both verify the Italian verb for "rebuke".  So now irrefutable proof exists that the pope rebuked a pregnant woman for - being pregnant.  Just what good did he expect that rebuke to accomplish?  If the woman was already under stress owing to previous c-sections, the last thing she needed was more stress as she tries to carry the pregnancy through to birth.  For all the yap and yammer about being "pastoral", I cannot see how that papal behavior filled that bill.

Vatican damage control has leaped into action (they're getting a lot of practice these days).  We heard yesterday from the Vatican's State Department that "Pope Francis was surprised that his words on responsible parenthood were not widely taken in the sense that he intended them."  The rest of the article is just as ridiculous.  NEWS FLASH!  When millions of people, all from widely differing perspectives and languages, are gleaning very similar, if not identical messages, perhaps the fault for that lies not with the listeners, but the delivery and/or content of the message itself!  Got that??  I would ask why they haven't learned from confusion caused by previous disastrous interviews, but I think I know the answer.  Confusion is precisely what they want - confusion regarding God's first command to mankind to "be fruitful and multiply", confusion regarding marriage and sexuality, confusion regarding the transmission of life.  In other words, we're supposed to "mature", a la "sin-nod" style.

Now onto rotagate  Recall that a few months ago, Cardinal Burke was relieved of his post as head of the Roman Rota and shuffled to the Knights of Malta.  The bulk of duties of the Roman Rota is to hear cases for marriage nullity.  Shortly before the October sin-nod, Cardinal Burke co-authored a book called "Remaining In The Truth Of Christ".  I have a copy and urge all to get their own.  Cardinal Burke's piece is entitled "The Canonical Nullity Of The Marriage Process As The Search For Truth".  In a nutshell, Cardinal Burke cautions against tampering with a process that has developed over hundreds of years: a process developed to rigorously search for the truth behind individual cases.  What he wrote flies in the face of the tinkering that was proposed at the sin-nod.  My strong suspicion is that the Cardinal was removed from all positions of real influence at the Vatican owing to his standing for truth in the face of the progressive juggernaut underway there.

This past Friday the pope met with the Rota (sans Burke) as they begin a new year.  Among other things, he urged Rota member to "have great care and sensitivity to the importance of a formed conscience – or lack thereof – in regard to the nature and purpose of marriage, and the ways in which conscience can affect the very validity of marital unions.."  Whether he intended to do so or not, he just gave divorcing couples a Mack-truck-sized loophole to have any kind of marriage declared null.  Would that statement have been made if Cardinal Burke had been in the room?  Did we hear more "maturation" going on?

CCHD - Linked To Abortifacient Distribution In Montgomery County MD

On Sunday I posted a link to the work that Lepanto Institute is doing regarding CCHD's underhanded funding of organizations that are either directly funding anti-God activities or partnering with other such organizations.  On that page was a link to the list of 2014-2015 CCHD grantees, and I'll post that link right here.

In all honesty, I'll inform you that what I relate below is not the result of my research but that of another faithful Catholic of Montgomery County MD.  I've not received permission to divulge their identity.

Almost at the very top of that list you'll notice that Action In Montgomery, within the Archdiocese of Washington, received $75,000.00 of your donation dollars (not mine for I ceased donating to CCHD decades ago).  Please note that AIM is a local affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, founded by Saul Alinsky himself (note - the IAF site has scrubbed all mention of its history, but the wikipedia piece reveals the inconvenient truth of the Alinsky-IAF linkage).  Its leadership team is composed of representatives from various organizations.  One of them is Identity, Inc.  Identity was co-founded by Diego Uriburu, who is its Executive Director.  Recently the White House selected him for honors as a "Champion of Change".  As the blurb indicates, Uriburu is considered to be a proponent of "the rights of latino, immigrant and LGBT communities".  That is to say he openly advocates to have homosexual conduct legitimized.

Last year the Washington Post ran an article detailing how Identity insinuated itself into several Montgomery County schools with the stated aim of "teen pregnancy prevention".  While the article mentioned one of Identity's partners, Mary's Center, it failed to mention another - Taya Health Connection.  I refer readers to their Facebook page and website.  They do dispense contraceptives, Plan B and the "morning after" pill.  The latter two are abortifacients; they induce early abortions.  They are also in the same building that houses Planned Parenthood: where I've been praying for the past 10+ years.  While I'd hope that Taya doesn't refer to them for abortions, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that is occurring.

So there we have it.  The CCHD is funding AIM, which is in turn partially controlled by organizations that are dispensing abortifacients.  It's just another reason to say #no2cchd.

By the way - as you examined the "leader" list of AIM, you might have noticed that two others are connected with St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Gaithersburg.  The Catholic hierarchy of MD has been wrongly enamored with the DREAM act, also championed by AIM.  I can only surmise this was a motivation for St. Martin's to jump on the AIM bandwagon.  I point this out to illustrate how the Church hierarchy can and does embroil itself in squalid networks when they seek to glom onto progressive causes favored by the anti-God forces in our culture.

Vortex Weighs In On The Indiana Knights Of Columbus Scandal

A week or so ago I came across news that a Knights of Columbus council in Madison Indiana was planning to let two lesbians conduct their "wedding reception" in their ballroom.  To prevent redundancy, I invite you to review this post.  Michael Voris put out a Vortex that deals with this matter and he too urges us to contact the Knights, insisting that they prevent this scandal from occurring.  I noticed he gave the phone number of the council offices; accordingly I have updated my flyer to include that information.  I still urge all to contact all the Knights officials listed thereon.  By all means, share this information with other good Catholics.  Now the Vortex...

The Three Unhelpful Monkeys

There's a blog piece by Tom Peters being bandied about, apparently with the aim of stifling honest examination of some papal gaffes such as the most recent ones regarding Catholics being "like rabbits" and publicly scolding the poor expectant mother.  It is called "Feeling Devastated By What Pope Francis Says?  Try These 3 Helpful Keys".  This is not his first post written with the aim of keeping rose-colored glasses over people's eyes as they acknowledge the ever-burgeoning mess that is growing in front of them.  A little over a year ago, I commented on earlier "rose-colored-glasses" pieces that he wrote.  Rather than reinvent that wheel, I link to it here.

Let's look at this latest, shall we?  We'll start with what Peters calls "the three keys".

1. The pope will not change Church teaching.  We do have the Lord's promise that no pope will ever solemnly promulgate error.  But much damage can occur in other ways (a point often overlooked).  There can be the careless words about punching people and chiding expectant mothers who are experiencing difficult pregnancies.  There's the mistreatment of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate and the awful sin-nod of last October.  I could go on and on; you get the point.  A pope does not have to be a formal heretic to inflict much damage.  By virtue of his office, his carelessness and flippancy can cause much scandal to the point of the damnation of some souls.
2. (Speaking of oratorical styles of other popes) "If you expect Pope Francis to speak as the previous two popes, you will be devastated".  For most of us, that's not the case.  The role of the Vicar of Christ demands, though , speech that is crystal-clear, unambiguous, and without any trace of nuance.  We benefited from that not only from John Paul II and Benedict XVI, but from the great majority of pontiffs throughout Church history.  They all had their "styles", but most of them subordinated their personal speaking preferences for practices that led to clear communication with their flock. 
3. "When Francis speaks to the mainstream media, he is choosing to speak to non-Catholics".  I'm sure Peters sincerely believes that, but on what basis?  Why should anyone else believe that? No matter.  Regardless of what the pope may "choose", the whole world is always his audience.  We wouldn't be having these discussions if that weren't the case.  No one who speaks to reporters and into microphones can pretend that only a select group of people will be his audience.  In his case, the whole world is his audience; nothing will change that reality.  At best, it would be recklessly imprudent to focus only on one sector of the populace - if indeed that is his intent.  I for one discern no reasonable strategy behind behaviors that have been shown, time and again, to wreak havoc among a large segment of his world-sized audience.

He closed his piece with what he called a "powerful work of the Holy Spirit..the largest Mass in history".  Yes, he is referring to this debacle, where no doubt the Body of Our Lord was literally trampled underfoot as Sacred Hosts were being passed around like so many chips and crackers. 

Now I realize that some might be "devastated" by this post.  Well, deal with the hard truth as you grab your Rosaries and pray for Holy Mother Church.

Does The Pope Disdain Large Families?

There is something about planes and microphones that make for a toxic combination for Pope Francis.  A few days ago I said his latest trip (at the time) was an occasion for two serious gaffes.  I haven't even gotten to that second gaffe before this latest, during his return trip to Rome from the Vatican.

While affirming the Church's ban on contraception, he said that Catholics don't have to "breed like rabbits."  That phrase is his.  The Holy Father just insulted millions of Catholics who are generous with life and who welcome their children, often with considerable sacrifice.

He gave a "case in point" when he recently encountered a woman who had seven cesarean sections and was pregnant with her eighth.  He admitted to scolding her for conceiving, telling her "that was an irresponsibility" and judging her for "tempting God".  Consider:

1. The child whose conception the Pope lamented, exists.  He/she is in the image and likeness of God.  Mother Teresa said once that saying there are too many children is like saying there are too many flowers.
2. The Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ, has just lamented the conception of a child.  I hope and pray that this child never learns of this, that the Holy Father held his/her existence as a "temptation of God".
3. How many abortions did the Holy Father unwittingly justify today?  How many "health of the mother" abortion excuses did the Holy Father aid and abet?
4. In case the Holy Father hasn't noticed, western civilization is suffering a population atrophy.  Parishes are closing right and left because of the dwindling population.  In light of this he did the worst thing possible: belittling faithful Catholic parents by saying that they breed like animals.  In fact, they are fulfilling God's command to "be fruitful and multiply".

I for one salute my Catholic and Christian friends who have large families.  They are the hope for our Church.  The real irresponsibility lies in disparagement of these holy families.

Gross Sacrilege At Papal Mass In Manila

This happened last Friday at the Papal Mass.  Our Lord, in the Eucharistic Host, was manhandled, grabbed, mauled, passed about like a mere cookie.  How many particles - or whole Hosts, dropped to the ground, only to be trampled?

If distribution of Holy Communion cannot be done without due reverence and solicitation for the Real Presence, it shouldn't be done at all!  There's no sin in some not receiving: better that than the sacrilege that you'll see as you watch!  What an utter travesty!

BREAKING! John Kerry To Open School Of Diplomacy!

(Note: What follows is satire.  If it bears any semblance to factual truth - and it may happen - I'm not to blame!)

It has been leaked to me that upon his departure from the State Department, John Kerry will share his vast wealth of diplomatic knowledge and experience with the rest of humanity.  Following the stellar success of the James Taylor Impromptu Diplomatic Seminar, Kerry will share with us poor peons the secret to world peace and the Age of Aquarius.

He has secured the assistance of other learned professors from the 1960s and 1970s - and a few of them are known to us!  To learn more, click the jump break!

Catholic Charities And CCHD - Their Scandal Counts Are Ever Mounting

A few days ago I posted the discovery of Lepanto Institute that the director of a CCHD grantee organization (to the tune of $40k) performs same-sex marriage.  That gives us all an idea of his moral compass and how he might choose to misuse the grant that was garnered from the donations of Catholics in the pews.  On the same day, my friend and Catholic Media Colleague, Stephanie Block, published an article in Spero News Forum exposing yet another CCHD grantee called CAFE in New Mexico.  I won't rehash it here; please read it yourselves.  I will point out something she mentioned and that is her plans to expose other grantees in the future.  I'll post these as soon as I see them.  If you would like to do some research on your own (and I highly encourage it), the CCHD 2014-2015 grantee list is online at the USCCB site.  Take a look.  You may wish to download this pdf to your own computers in case it (ahem!) "mysteriously" disappears from the USCCB site!

Not to be outdone in scandal production by its CCHD cousin is Catholic Charities.  They too are rife with their own scandals; of these I have written in the past.  The latest (ht - LifeSiteNews) is their choice of president - Sister Donna Markham, O.P.  She comes with much sordid baggage.  I don't want to re-invent LifeSiteNew's wheel here but I will point out that as prioress of the Adran Dominicans, that order joined with the Catholic Health Association to press for Obamacare.  That order deliberately promulgated the lie that abortion would not at all be facilitated by Obamacare.

Speaking of Catholics shilling for Obamacare, I see that Sister Carol Keehan remains on the Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities.  I wonder if she brings her Pen of Perfidy to the board meetings?

Do not give either of these organizations a penny of your hard-earned money during those in-pew collections .  Same for Catholic Relief Services.  Just say #no2CCHD and #no2CatholicCharities and #no2CRS.

Some Catholics Confused Over The Charlie Hebdo Massacre

I'm sure by now we've all heard that in Paris last week, Islamic terrorists massacred a large part of the staff of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine for mocking the Islamic faith.  To be accurate, many of their cartoons are offensive, and yes, the Catholic faith has been the target of their work that is often pornographic.

What troubles me (besides the obvious vicious murders) is that some faithful Catholics are stating that they are ambivalent regarding the murders precisely because of Hebdo's Catholic-bashing.  Let me state that I believe two issues are being conflated, with gross disservice being done to truth.

The two issues being inappropriately intertwined are 1) the indecent output of the magazine and 2) the brutal murders of the magazine employees. Number 1 does not have anything to do with number 2, and certainly does not justify murder in the slightest. When we mention the two in the same breath, we can give the impression that we condone the murders out of "offended religious sensibilities" or at least we think the guilt of the murders is mitigated by "hurt religious sensibilities".

Some attitudes of faithful Catholics are evidenced in a post by A Blog For Dallas Area Catholics, with whom I usually agree.  Unfortunately he seems to put the Charlie Hebdo staff on the same moral par as their jihadists.  Later in the article "Tantem Bloggo" opines that "our modern culture likes to pretend that freedom of speech is a sacred right" and that "error has no rights".  Well, error may have no rights, but erroneous people do, and while "freedom of speech being a "sacred right" may well be debatable, I'd hope he can agree that freedom of speech is a civil right.  Else, how can he and I be confident that we can both write our blogs without governmental molestation?

I've seen other Catholic sites calling into question "unfettered" freedom of speech.  If I can find them again, I'll post links.  Anyway, if they call into question such speech, how do they suggest such speech be controlled?  Who would they suggest should do such controlling?  Do they understand precisely why such a cure might be far worse than the disease?

Pope Francis regrettably falls into that error.  On his way from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, the pope gave another in-flight interview.  I really dread these, and especially this one as it is a "double-header", but the the second part will be its own post.  I link to the NBC article that has the text and video of the interview.  He said "one cannot insult other people's faith" and that if a friend "utters a curse word against my mother, then a punch awaits him".  I find that crack from the Vicar of Christ utterly lamentable and disgraceful to Our Lord.

Of course the Vatican Press Office flew right into "damage control mode" (they get a lot of practice these days), saying the pope was "speaking in a friendly intimate manner among colleagues and friends".  Odd!  When I do that, we are not shoving microphones and cameras into each others' faces!  I could pick this thing apart in a million pieces but I'd veer too far from my main points.

Do we see here how the pope condones the murderous impulses, if not acts, of the jihadists?   The White House contradicted the pope here, saying "no act of public expression justifies violence".  Never in ten million years did I think there would come a day when I would have to side with the White House - particularly this White House - over the Vatican.  I suppose stranger things have happend, but as the saying goes, "the broken clock is correct at least twice a day".

The pope also stated that "every religion has its dignity".  Well, no.  Islam. because it is a murderous

ideology, has no dignity whatsoever.  What the Islamic terrorists did in Paris to the Charlie Hebdo staff is simply typical for them.  No amount of curtailment of free speech will prevent them from carrying out "jihad" or whatever they call their rampages.  To the right are more victims of Islamic violence - these from Nigeria.  Now did any of them engage in satiric speech against Islam and/or Christianity?  Maybe they did, maybe they didn't.  Either way, it doesn't matter - not for these Nigerian victims, not for the Charlie Hebdo victims.  My fellow Catholics - will you please stop conflating the two issues as outlined in the third paragraph in this post?  To continue in this confusion will only aid and abet the terrorists as they seek to silence and destroy us all.

Leader Of CCHD-Funded Organization Performs Same-Sex "Marriages"

The Lepanto Institute reports that a recipient of $40,000.00 from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is led by a clergyman that performs same-sex "marriage".  The organization in question is the Inland Empire Sponsoring Committee.  Its president is Michael Fronk, who happens to be pastor of First Christian Church in Pomana, California.  Both Fronk and the church he leads show themselves to be facilitating the abomination of homosexual conduct, as you can see on Lepanto's page.

Because the local bishop defunded another aberrant organization, there is hope that he will also defund this one as well.  Still, this incident is just the latest in a long string of such scandalous grants in CCHD's history.  This is not a "failure to vet" on the part of the national CCHD, which is still headed by the scandal-ridden Ralph McCloud.  They know full well what they're doing.  It's high time we all, once and for all, said #no2cchd.

The Scourge Of Sodomites And Homophiles Within The Catholic Clergy

As you watch this Vortex and hear mention of the term "gay-friendly clergy", think on the events of Lent 2012 at St John Neumann Church, within the Archdiocese of Washington. This is my parish so I'm quite acquainted with the circumstances.  To state that Father Guarnizo was back-stabbed by gay-friendly officials in the DC chancery is an understatement.  Here is an anthology of posts for memory refreshment.

Montgomery County Official Colluding With NARAL To Facilitate Murder Of Babies

Today LifeSiteNews revealed that they obtained proof that Maryland NARAL colluded with George Leventhal, Montgomery County Council president, in the County's legislative effort to cripple pro-life pregnancy centers.  The article links to a series of emails between Leventhal and Jodi Finkelstein, Maryland NARAL president.  I'd encourage you (particularly Montgomery County citizens) not only to read the emails but to download the pdf onto your own computers.

While the news is disgraceful, it is not at all surprising.  In December 2009 I recorded much of the hearing regarding the bill.  If you go to my archives  of that time period you'll see a whole collection of video.  One of those posts discusses the obvious bias of George Leventhal and his arrogance towards pro-life citizens who testified against the legislation.  Of course NARAL has endorsed him during election times, no doubt giving him lots of award and motivation for facilitating baby-murder.

But George Leventhal and his pro-abortion cronies aren't the only ones who are helping NARAL spill more babies' blood.  In one of her emails to Leventhal, Finkelstein outlined some strategies.  At least some of them were taken from a NARAL publication entitled "Choice Action Kit - Unmasking Fake Clinics - A Step By Step Guide".  It's a 56-page tome and I happen to have a copy.  On page 2 of this publication are some acknowledgements; one of those acknowledged is the Midwest Academy.  A woman named Helen Booth started it and is an unabashed leftist.  As I said in this post three years ago, her husband addressed a USCCB conference.  Consider: they aided and abetted NARAL in their misdeeds.  Why would the USCCB invite her or her husband to address Catholics?

We can also ask this question: why did the Catholic Campaign for Human Development ever deem the Midwest Academy worthy of a grant?  Here, courtesy of Michael Voris and company, is an expose of CCHD's underhanded practices.  In a nutshell, what all this means is that Catholic donors unwittingly funded pro-abortion attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers.

I would hope voters would remember this collusion during the 2018 elections.  However, Montgomery County is infested with progressive lemmings so I don't hold much hope.  Sadly I don't hold much more hope for the USCCB and its CCHD.  They both should be dismantled before they continue to sabotage the Church further.

To Prevent Indiana Knights Of Columbus From Facilitating Mortal Sin..

Last week I posted on the disgrace in which the Knights of Columbus council in Madison Indian will heap upon itself UNLESS they rediscover their Catholic identity.  In addition to our prayers, they will need some words of advise, correction and even rebuke.  Their superiors need to be advised.

I post now a link to a pdf of a flyer that I'm distributing.  On it are various individuals whom I've identified as people who can effect change of plans at that council.  The flyer can be downloaded and then printed and/or shared among your own circles.  Please do so .  Please contact these individuals.  Perhaps we can prevent this travesty.  Thank you.

Pope Francis - "Church Teaching Can't Open People To God's Love"???

In yesterday's homily, Pope Francis said that "courses in yoga, zen meditation, even extensive studies in church teaching and spirituality can never free people enough to open their hearts to God and His love" - quoting from Catholic News Service.

Say what????   Of course yoga and zen won't lead anyone to God's love; in fact they'll do just the opposite for these lead to idolatry.  But to mention these in the same breath as church tradition is to place all three on the same level.  To do so is a great disservices to the truth and will cause much confusion and even disdain of the development of Catholic intellect.

The quote goes on.  "Only the Holy Spirit can move the heart and make it docile to the Lord.."  Well, without a modicum of knowledge of Church tradition, how does one discern the action of the Holy Spirit from that of something else?  Does not the teaching and spirituality of the Catholic Church originate from the Holy Spirit and God's own word?

Why the setting up of false dichotomies between this "movement" and the Sacred Tradition of the Church?  Only harm and confusion can arise from this.  Pray for Holy Mother Church.

Father Pavone Addresses Maryland Pro-Lifers

Last evening I attended a talk given by Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life.  He touched upon his opposition to the Obamacare contraceptive mandate and why he will not obey it.  I also recorded it.  Here it is.

Now A Prelate Utters Yet Another Horrid Statement

Nearly nine years ago in the Diocese of St Petersburg, Florida, Terri Schiavo was deliberately starved to death by order of her adulterous husband.  Jeb Bush, current presidential wanna-bee, was governor at that time and did nothing of substance to save her life.  He has demonstrated his utter lack of moral courage and his ineligibility to be considered presidential material, but that topic will be saved for another time.  We now turn our attention to Bishop Robert Lynch.

Bishop Robert Lynch was the local ordinary at that time, and still is.  Not only did he stand by and do nothing, but he issued a statement that literally gave Michael Schiavo a blessing to continue to murder his wife.  He uttered not one peep of condemnation for the murder that was taking place in his own diocese.  Read the incredible statement here.  I might also point out that he forbade his priests to minister to Terri in her last days.  After her death, he would not allow the Schindler family to conduct any memorial service in his diocese.  HOWEVER - he did allow Michael Schiavo to marry his long-term concubine in a diocesan church.  What a guy!

Fast forward to today.  Bishop Lynch is undoubtedly participating in the "maturation effort".  Remember - Pope Francis said we had one year to mature before the next October synod!  On Tuesday he issued a statement in which he opined that the Church needs "humility in light of same sex marriage".  You might be wondering just what the hell he means by that; well, read on.  Here's a choice statement that begs for unpacking.  "Therefore, I do not wish to lend our voice to notions which might suggest that same-sex couples are a threat incapable of sharing relationships marked by love and holiness and, thus, incapable of contributing to the edification of both the church and the wider society."

• "Threat"?  I won't comment on the individuals involved per se.  We cannot deny that their sodomite situations are serious threats - to the concept of marriage, family life and yes, to those participating in those perverted relationships.  Those engaging in such sins threaten their immortal souls and those with whom they claim to be "in love".
• incapable of sharing relationships marked by love and holiness  Indeed they are that incapable.  There is no "love and holiness" in mortally sinful situations.  If they continue to live that way, they are headed for hell. By their sin they disdain the graces needed for true charity and holiness.  Did Bishop Lynch flunk his Baltimore Catechism lessons?
• contributing to the edification of both the church and the wider society  What they are "contributing is NOT to the "edification" of anything.  Rather, they are part and parcel of the culture of death and damnation.  Suffering for them can only result in this life and much more so in the afterlife IF they don't repent of their sin and go to confession.

Besides his cheer-leading for the sin-nod (as you can see in his statement), Bishop Lynch may well have other reasons for shilling for the acceptance of the gay lifestyle.  In Randy Engel's book The Rite of Sodomy, she details Bishop Lynch's own sordid escapades.

Nine years ago Bishop Lynch gave de facto blessing to Michael Schiavo as the latter had his wife murdered.  Tuesday he did the same for those living in sodomy.  Will his brother bishops rebuke him?  I wouldn't hold my breath, but would love to be pleasantly surprised by such actions.

Pray for Holy Mother Church and her leaders.  Shine the light of truth.

Words And Deeds Of Some Very Good Prelates

Among the bishops do exist some real champions of the Faith.  Today I have learned of some actions taken by several of them.

From Creative Minority Report, we hear that Bishop Thomas Tobin has declined an invitation to attend the gubernatorial inauguration of Gina Raimondo of Connecticut.  Raimondo, while Catholic, is a supporter of baby murder.  Bishop Tobin quite openly said that it would be a problem for him to attend the inauguration of a pro-abortion individual.  While the inauguration is in progress, the bishop plans to offer Mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul to offer prayers for newly elected officials.

Again from Creative Minority Report, we read of direction given to his chancery employees by Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami.  Basically he reminded them that no matter where they are, even in "off-hours" situations, that they always are representatives of the Church.  As such, they must always uphold Church teaching.  He issued this directive as same-sex "marriages" started happening in Florida.  The archbishop warned them that any conduct not in keeping with the Church's teaching - including support of so-called "same sex marriages" - could lead to a variety of disciplinary actions, including termination of employment.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, IL has ordered his churches to return the tabernacles to the center of the sanctuary of the churches.  He did so expressly to encourage prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  I might point out that Bishop Paprocki's action stands in stark contract to the ludicrous stance of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines that has expressly directed that the tabernacle (that is, the Blessed Sacrament) should be shoved away from the center into some alcove.

LifeSiteNews reports of a recent interview given by Cardinal Raymond Burke.  In this interview, the cardinal explains how the Church has been damaged by radical feminism.  Among other worthwhile words, the Cardinal stated that the introduction of "altar girls" has discouraged boys from taking that role and may have inhibited priestly vocations among them.  Father Z has an analysis of that interview, too.

Pray for these four prelates, as the progressives do have their long knives drawn and pointed at them.  Pray that many more may follow their examples.

Did Mario Cuomo Go To Heaven Or Hell

Of course that's a question we cannot answer.  We pray for God's mercy on his soul, for he did much to foster the culture of death in this country, despite his professed Catholicism.  We do, however, have to look askance at the preposterous claim of Father Robert Barron that we may have "reasonable hope that no one is in hell."  No we can't for such claims contradict the words of Jesus Christ Himself.  Consider today's Vortex.

Questionable Statements From A Cardinal-Designate

As most have heard by now, Pope Francis appointed several new cardinals, mostly from the southern hemisphere.  For the most part, I haven't heard too much about them and am now starting to gather some information.  It is disconcerting.

One cardinal-designate is Archbishop John Dew of Wellington, New Zealand.  Catholic Phlly reports on his wish for a "pastoral approach on the Eucharist".  These days, anytime I come across that word "pastoral", red flags fly in my brain and usually for good reason.  He seems to think that if Catholics who are now excluded on account of their adulterous situations were permitted to receive Holy Communion - without the necessary repentance and sacramental Confession - the Church would be "enriched".  How???  Does he mean "enriched" as in receiving financial contributions from them?  There certainly would be no "enrichment" for those mortally-sinning Catholics who would incur the guilt of sacrilegious Holy Communion.

I gather from the article that Dew was at last October's sin-nod, and he helped the event live up to (or down to, more accurately) the nickname with which I dubbed it.  He stated after hearing from 25% of Catholics responding to questionnaires  "'It’s impossible when we’re told that because we’re using contraceptives we’re intrinsically evil or that we’re living in an irregular situation — the language is so negative that it doesn’t help us.’  My intervention was: Let’s not be concentrating on rules, but looking for language that helps people and encourages people in their journey toward God.”

Let's unpack this piece by piece, shall we?

• First of all, no one is saying that these disobedient Catholics are "intrinsically evil" as persons.  HOWEVER - they are disobedient for they are committing intrinsic evils when they use contraception or live in adultery.  
• "The language is so negative that it doesn't help us".  Help them in what way?  To have nice warm-fuzzy feelings about their sinful conduct?  That kind of "help" only greases the skids as they slide rapidly towards eternal perdition.
• Let me state this now, for the umpteenth time.  We need to recognize this "positive versus negative" paradigm as the satanic lie from hell that it is.  Whether a statement is regarded as "positive or negative" has more to do with the subjective emotional reactions of the recipient of that statement to the same as opposed to objective truth or error of said statement.  The "positive versus negative" paradigm is, at best, useless in evaluating statements or courses of actions.  It often is a tool of the devil to inhibit the promulgation of objective truth.
• "Looking for language"?  Try the language of the Church and the great preachers of Catholicism that has been used for the better part of 2,000 years.  I refer the archbishop to the Gospel of Mark.  In it is recorded the first word that Our Lord uttered as He started His public ministry.  REPENT.  If repentance is not the first step, there is no more "journey towards God."

If anyone has information about the other soon-to-be cardinals, I'd appreciate hearing of it.  Until then, let's be faithful to the Sacraments, the Rosary and the authentic traditions of Holy Mother Church.

Our Lady Of Fatima Must Be Obeyed TO THE LETTER

I found this video online and believe it deserves consideration.  It's an interview of the late Fr. Malachi Martin.  Please note very carefully Our Lady's words, that Russia must be the object of papal consecration to her Immaculate Heart.  It never sufficed to have a blanket consecration of "the world".  Apologists for this approach can never seem to answer why the popes declined to specify Russia by name, as Our Lady requested.

Unless our pontiffs garner the courage and resolve to consecrate RUSSIA to her Immaculate Heart, they cannot claim to be obeying Our Lady of Fatima, purported quotes from the late Lucia Dos Santos not withstanding.  I too believe that grace departed our Church (although I don't believe that can happen in totality, owing to the sacraments and our Lord's promises), but much harm is being done and many souls are being damned.  That is why we must pray and receive the sacraments so that we can be channels of God's grace to our Church - and we must speak out to call our Church to repentance.

PS - The previous post shows just a few examples of what will continue to happen should Our Lady of Fatima continue to be disobeyed.

Belgian And German Prelates Promulgate Heresy Unfettered

Last week it was announced that Johan Bonny, Bishop of Antwerp (Belgium) made public his dissidence from Catholic teaching by promulgating his opinion that same-sex couples should be recognized by the Church.  He has gone so far as to hint that these couples should be allowed to adopt children.  This post from Angelqueen has more details.

At the bottom of that post you'll see an equally disgusting quote from the rector of the Catholic University of Leuven, Rik Tors: "Do not underestimate the significance of this. Bonny advocates a change in long-held unshakable principles, something that the dogmatic pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI no bishop could afford to do."

Let's take a look at what Torfs said.  He said that Bonny felt free to mock his own bishop's miter under this pontificate, not being "free" to do so under the previous pontiffs.  There might be truth in that.  Both John Paul II and Benedict XVI upheld the teachings of Jesus Christ and, like true successors to St. Peter, expected the bishops under them to do the same.  I'll emphasize this also; what Torfs stated as being "long-held unshakable principles" are much more than that, as they have originated from God Himself and cannot be flouted without severe consequences, even if those consequences happen only in the afterlife.

The German Bishops' Conference, led by Cardinal Reinhard Marx (a key player in last October's sin-nod) issued an official statement calling for the admission of Catholics who have divorced and remarried without annulment, i.e., those living in adultery (let's call it what it is) to Holy Communion.  In other words, they want to facilitate for those Catholics the sin of sacrilegious Holy Communions.

Vox Cantorus has another quote from Bonny.  Note the theme of allowing polluted secular culture to dictate Church practices - a common theme these days.  The Germans believe they have particular impetus to do so, to increase their revenues from Germany's church-tax.

In September of 2013, the Holy Father excommunicated an Austrilian priest for conducting himself as one after his faculties had been suspended.  They were suspended because he advocated various heretical positions, among them "same-sex marriage".  In light of that, one must wonder why he lets Bonny, Marx et al carry on with their shenanigans while he has sacked Cardinal Burke who is an exemplary champion of the Church.

Latest Cowardice From Knights Of Columbus In Madison Indiana

Recall my post yesterday regarding the shameful capitulation of the Knights of Columbus #934 in Madison Indiana to the lesbians.  I mentioned that the Knights' own Facebook page corroborated the ThinkProgress report of the situation, and linked to that page in my "sorry spectacle" remark.  If you click on it now, you'll notice that the link no longer works.  I know of only one explanation: the Council either took down their facebook page or designated it for private viewing only.  No doubt the light was shining on too many cockroaches there.  They could not stand the scrutiny and rebukes of decent Catholics.

Also recall that I saved screenshots of the two posts in question, as I had a hunch that they might try such a stunt.  Unfortunately I only have posts and comments through 10pm last evening so many comments are now locked away.  But what I have is better than what these less-than-knightly cowards are allowing us to see.  I present to you now a file with several jpgs for your viewing.  Let me point out that at the time the KofC page was not only open to public viewing but also public commenting; I myself left several comments after I captured the images.

Why did they take this page down?  Do they think they will escape the scrutiny of faithful Catholics?  If so they are sadly mistaken.  I urge one and all to contact the grand knight directly.  If anyone knows the district deputy and state deputy, please advise for they too need to take action.  Of course contact the local bishop; his information is on the previous post.

The cowardice currently being displayed by this council is a factor behind the erosion of our religious liberties.  With "friends" such as Knights of Columbus Council #934 in Madison IN, who needs enemies?

Indiana Knights Of Columbus Council To Rent Hall To Lesbians - ACTION NEEDED

Today's Pewsitter pointed to a ThinkProgress article that revealed an impending scandal in which a Knights of Columbus council in Madison Indiana plans to participate.  It seems that a lesbian couple approached KofC Council #934 last September and solicited their ballroom for their debauchery celebration (I refuse to call it a "wedding reception") to be held on April 18, 2015.  The couple did render a deposit at that time.

At first, I found it hard to believe since ThinkProgress is unabashedly progressive.  Because they alluded to a Facebook page operated by the KoC council, I called it up.  Regrettably the ThinkProgress article is factually correct, as corroborated by the KofC Facebook page.  See the sorry spectacle here, the two posts dated yesterday.  (UPDATE - Council #934 removed their page from public view.  See this post for some of the posts/comments that were archived.)   As you read through the comments, you'll see plenty of gay activist trolls vomiting forth their mental and spiritual poison.  I congratulate and applaud those commenters who are upholding Church teaching thereon.  Oh, by the way!  Should those two posts "mysteriously disappear" or the Facebook page cease to be public, please advise for I saved screen shots of those posts with their comments (to date).

A few days ago the Council contacted the couple and stated that they could not rent their facilities to them as this celebration contradicted church teaching, and that the deposit would be refunded.  Apparently an uproar ensued, no doubt ginned up by gay activists.  The council's response?  In conduct unbecoming of Catholics, they caved.  As of now, they will allow the reception to occur on their premises.  Moreover, the council says they won't charge a fee at all, owing to the "confusion".

There is confusion - moral confusion,  that is.

• First, when they were first approached by the lesbians, why did the council accept the deposit as though they should seriously consider the matter?  No consideration was needed as they were being asked to cooperate with mortal sin.  The couple's request - and deposit - should have been immediately refused.
• Does this council understand that formal and material cooperation with mortal sin is itself a mortal sin?
• Where is the KofC chaplain in all this?  Is he complicit in this sinful conduct?  I speak here of the conduct of the KofC council here.
• The council plans to let the couple use the hall with no charge.  That means that every dues-paying member of that council is subsidizing this celebration of perversion against their will.

We need to take action to stop this travesty.  Some can be done by anyone regardless of location.  Here are suggested steps.

• Contact the Grand Knight of that council.  His information can be found here.  The address of the council is here.
• This council is located within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, headed by Archbishop Joseph Tobin.  His contact information is here.  Please ask him to have this thing cancelled. 
• I'm sure this has occurred to members of that council who are rightly disappointed with their leadership.  They may wish to withdraw from that council and affiliate themselves with another if their leaders don't abide by their Catholic faith.
• Perhaps other Knights, particularly those in leadership roles, may wish to discuss with their brother knights in council 934 the errors of their ways.

This thing is still 3.5 months away - plenty of time to prevent profanation of Catholic property IF we act now.  We hold these two very confused young women in prayer that they'll see the error of their lifestyle.  But even if they don't, there's no valid reason for the Knights of Columbus Council 934 of Madison Indiana to cooperate formally and materially with their mortal sin.

First Post Of 2015 - MD Board Of Physicians Displays Some Good Judgment

It's nice to start off the new year with news that a Maryland governmental agency has followed common sense as opposed to political correctness.  The Baltimore Sun informs us that Dr. Lawrence Egbert has been stripped of his medical license for "helping" six elderly MD residents commit suicide then covering up the evidence of his "assistance".   A question I have is whether or not he'll face criminal charges.  The "assistance" in which Egbert engaged is more accurately called premeditated murder.  In a saner time, he would have been facing the death penalty.

The Sun, being a bona fide liberal rag, segues into the "cause" of "assisted suicide".  I think I'll substitute that sanitized pc language with what the action is - unbridled murder.  A state legislator from Montgomery County, Heather Mizeur, made the legalization of murder a campaign issue when she ran for governor (losing to Anthony Brown in the Democrat primary).  That, in addition to being an unabashed lesbian, would make her a prime candidate for the medicine of Canon 915.  Yes she is Catholic but I digress.

The current political climate in Maryland would tend towards permission of unbridled murder.  We pray that the election of Larry Hogan may signal some rebirth of morality and common sense.