Are The Majority Of US Bishops Pro-Abortion?

That question above is not facetious.  I am quite serious when I ask that.  Consider the following.

While Mark Houck's situation continues to develop, we are learning of yet another antic by Federalized Bullies for Intimidation (FBI).  Brian Gibson, director of Pro-Life Action Ministries, revealed to LifeNews that FBI agents harassed two of his team.

Recently Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute released a report revealing the overtly pro-abortion activities of Faith in Action, a recipient of CCHD grants totaling $500k.  I said "overtly" because Faith in Action is quite blatant about their support for baby-slaughter, their displeasure at the Dobbs ruling, etc.  I needn't rehash the report, but suggest that readers study it.  When I started looking at the recipients of CCHD grants, I wondered how the CCHD could be so negligent as to give Catholic money to organizations despite their pro-abortion leanings.  Now I realize that CCHD gives them money precisely because they are pro-abort.

Four years ago I chronicled the Archdiocese of Washington's weird attitude towards local grassroots pro-life activists.  The steps they took against us did much to undermine our ability to save lives at the various abortuaries within the archdiocese.  At the time I thought they were being incredibly stupid.  I no longer believe it was stupidity.  A few months ago, when the Dobbs decision nullified Roe v Wade, the reaction of Cardinal Gregory was somewhat less than jubilant.  He said a few laudatory things about it, but then segued immediately into a "seamless garment" soundbite.  He blathered on a bit about "ending divisions" more so than ending the slaughter of millions of babies every year.  News flash!  As long as evil exists in the world, division is not only inevitable.  It is absolutely necessary.  Under no circumstance can we seek unity with those who espouse such monstrous, barbaric evils.

All these things, by themselves, don't seem that indicative of much.  They do when considered in their totality.

Men's March In Baltimore November 14th

MEN!  BE THERE!

Breaking - Dept of Justice Storm Troopers Haul Away PA Pro-Life Activist From His Home In The Wee Hours Of This Morning

Mark Houck is a pro-life activist in Pennsylvania and the founder/president of the King’s Men (see thekingsmen.org) He has been going to the Planned Parenthood mill known as the Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center in Philadelphia every Wednesday for four hours.  On October 15, 2021, Houck was there with his young son and another prayer partner.  A male deathscort, 72 years old, was there to rush women inside the mill so that their babies could be killed. 

The deathscort took some time to harass the young Houck boy.  Mark repeatedly told the deathscort to stop harassing his son.  The boy walked down to a corner and the deathscort followed him.  Houck pushed the deathscort away from his boy.  At that, the deathscort pulled a dramatic flop scene then rushed into the mill.  All this was recorded by Planned Parenthood’s security cameras.  Soon thereafter Houck got served with papers.  The following winter, there were three different court dates.  For the first one, the pro-life attorney couldn’t be there.  The next date the pro-abort attorney didn’t show.  The judge then said if the pro-aborts didn’t show for the third date, that he would throw the case out.  The deathscort himself failed to show so the case was indeed thrown out. 

That should have been the end of it, but the Department of Justice got involved.  They were looking for a possible FACE violation.  The video taken by Planned Parenthood showed that to be nonsensical.  Pro-life attorneys have a copy of said video.  Moreover, the attached Google-Earth picture also makes a lie of the FACE charge.  Any possible corner where the altercation took place is far enough from the mill entrance to render a FACE charge farcical on its face. 

That didn’t stop the ever-intrepid feds from borrowing tactics from the Nazi Gestapo and springing into action, as it were.  On Friday, September 23, in the morning at 7:00 AM, 20-25 armed men barged into the Houck residence.  They dragged Houck out in handcuffs in front of his wife and children.  They took him to the Federal Detention Center at 6^th and Market and arraigned him.  They put him in handcuffs and leg shackles.  They chained him to a table for four hours.  Afterwards they let him out on his own recognizance. 

If any of this sounds vaguely familiar, it should.  Recall this post from five months ago.  Refresh your memories regarding the pro-life activists who engaged in a rescue at the DC mill of Cesare Santangelo on Oct 20, 2020.  Armed agents of the Department of Justice burst into the homes of these pro-lifers, also in the wee hours of the morning.  They too were let go after putting them through a harangue. 

At the time of this writing, legal strategies are still being weighed and considered.  Obviously, this is a breaking situation so we’ll advise as is deemed best.

Bishop Barron Declares Bob Dylan A "Spiritual Poet"

Well, I have to give the somewhat lackluster bishop some credit where credit is due.  Dylan may well be a spiritual poet.  The million-dollar question is, for what spirit does Dylan produce poetry?  I grew up during the sixties and know very well the answer.  Michael Matt does a nice job unpacking the mess that Barron puts forth.

By the way, here's another sample of Dylan's "spiritual poetry" that Matt didn't mention.  It really is quite telling.  As far as being explicitly Christian in the eighties, I'll take that into consideration when he repudiates his left-wing warblings.

Bishop Barron, your feeble attempts to be "with it" are a farce".  Surely you can find better models for spiritual poetry.  How about John of the Cross?  Maybe Blessed Herman the Cripple?  St Thomas Aquinas?  There are others, as well, who wrote Catholic masterpieces that have withstood the test of hundreds of years.  Give it up!  You are a successor to the Apostles.  Please have the sense and sobriety of one.

Francis Rebuked For Overt Heresy

Two events happened within the past few days.  While they were disjointed from each other, both served to make evident the heresy that the current occupant of Peter's chair is promulgating.  Bergoglio erroneously stated that Pelosi and others, in their present state of mind, could be admitted to Communion.  Several clcrgy and some prominent lay people spelled it out, utilizing Canon law, that Bergoglio uttered heresy.  The letter can be read here. From theologians, Saints and Doctors of the Church throughout the centuries, we have reasonable basis to believe that even if Bergoglio's election to the papacy was valid (and that is somewhat doubtful) that he has, by this heresy, forfeited the papacy.  We of course must pray for his immortal soul as well as those whom he led astray.

The other event revolves around Francis' participation in this "Congress of World and Traditional Religious Leaders" gabfest a few days ago.  The official purpose was the seeking of world peace.  In reality, it's all about the establishment of a one-world religion as part of the great reset.  Of course this "religion" would be solely focused on the world as we see it, with nary a thought about eternity beyond the grave.  They believe not in an afterlife, nor do they believe in any supreme being, let alone the One True God.  The Masonic pawprints are all over this as well.

So where does that leave us?

Novus Ordo Second Eucharistiic Prayer - Composed On A Restaurant Napkin

While I attend a Traditional Latin Mass on Sundays, I am constrained by availability to attend the Novus Ordo during weekdays.  Since Traitorous Custodians came out, the Second Eucharistic Prayer is by far the most frequently used at the Novus Ordo.  What is particularly troubling and peculiar is that even priests who have a relatively decent sense of the sacred are now preferring that prayer, whereas before they were using the Third and even First Eucharistic prayer.  Bear in mind that the First Eucharistic prayer is the traditional Roman Canon with a rather sloppy English translation.

Of the Eucharistic prayers in the Novus Ordo rite, the Second is the shortest, most stripped-down version.  I think that is a key reason why even the more reverent priests are being strong-armed into using that one.  Here is some background regarding the Eucharistic prayer that was hastily thrown together in a restaurant.

Biden Slams Conservative Republicans While Francis Slams Traditional Catholics

Quite the parallel, isn't it?  Why, one might think it to be a coordinated effort to remove obstacles to the New World Order.  That is what the evidence indicates.

Maryland, Decadent Maryland

Maryland has long been known as a bastion of liberalism, with a goodly number of its citizens swallowing progressive kool-aid and wallowing in mental and spiritual muck.  I live in Maryland and am bemused by all the sheeple who continue to wear the masks, although the mandates have been lifted for some time now.  Many go so far as to wear them when alone in their cars with the windows rolled up.  They have been well-trained - or they are just virtue-signaling.  Who knows?

A priest in Great Mills, MD (St Mary's County) was charged in August for three counts of indecent exposure along an interstate.  He was allegedly flashing several male victims.  He admitted to the incidents and was placed on administrative leave.  There will be a hearing in October.

We are also aware of a late-term abortion mill about to open in Prince George's County.  Frankly, I'm surprised to be hearing of only one since the demise of Roe.  Maryland is so friendly to baby-killers so I'd think many would be flocking here to ply their trades.  Perhaps this PG mill is just the first.

Pro-life people, remember to get out and vote this November.

More Clarity Regarding The Death Penalty

In regards to my post last week regarding the heretical "papal intentions for the month of September", I post this video for your consideration.  It is occasioned by the recent murder of a woman named Eliza Fletcher as she was jogging.

Again I emphasize that to call the death penalty "morally inadmissible" is to utter an objectively heretical statement as it runs counter to Church teaching.  We can debate its applicability to given situations.  That is something we can never do with abortion, since abortion is always the deliberate taking of innocent human life.

If we waver and state that Church teaching can be reversed with regard to capital punishment, we allow the erroneous notion that the Church's teachings can also be contradicted and mutated in other areas.  We see that Humanae Vitae is already in the Vatican crosshairs.

See the danger?

Dear Leader Biden, Fearful Of Red Sweep, Summons The Thugs

Yesterday in Philadelphia, Biden delivered what he called a speech.  It was really a panicked screed against conservatives who look askance upon the obvious cheating in 2020.  Notice that he called us "MAGA Republican extremist".  If there's anything "extremist", it's the usage of the office of the Presidency to slander millions of Americans who want to bring this country back to some semblance of moral and fiscal sanity.  For all his denunciations of politically-motivated violence, he has absolutely nothing to say about the violence that Antifa wreaked upon the nation in 2016 when Trump was declared the victor over Hillary Clinton.  There indeed is panic in his voice and words: panic that his socialistic and anti-American schemes will be stymied.  More importantly, the panic is being felt by his handlers: the ones who fed him that yarn to spin yesterday.

I will post the Biden screed.  Below that I will post an analysis by Michael Hichborn.  Throughout his piece, Hichborn asked the question "to whom was Biden talking".  I agree that this was nothing short of a rabble-rousing diatribe, calling to "action" all the antifa, BLM, corrupt government agencies, and other lowlife to action should conservatives win the November elections.  Trump endorsed quite a few candidates; 92% of those whom he endorsed won their party's nomination and are going to the general elections in November.  We saw that in Maryland, where Trump-endorsed Dan Cox won the GOP nomination for the gubernatorial race over Kelly Schultz, the RINO-anointed "heir" to Hogan.

To the White House snoops who are reading this: would you please remind your Dear Leader that the United States of America never was a pure democracy?  Our Founding Fathers rightly feared a pure democracy, knowing it would devolve to mob rule.  Rather we are a constitutional republic.  Please tell him that, for he keeps calling the USA a democracy.  This is one of the more minor ways in which he embarrasses himself and the Constitution that he is sworn to uphold.  By the way, while your Dear Leader was spewing nonsense about "threats to democracy", Steve Bannon's home was swatted for the second time.  This swatting is a real "threat to democracy", no?

Now the videos.

September's Poop Video - A Travesty Against God's Justice

H/T Canon 212

In September's Poop Video, Francis calls upon all Catholics to "pray for abolition of the death penalty".  Here it is now.  Below that I will explain why I believe this is supremely wrong and spiritually poisonous.

So much error.  So little time.  But I'll do my level best to unpack this crap.

I've written much about Francis' dalliance with heresy in calling for the abolition of the death penalty.  I need not rehash those writings in this post.  If the reader would like to dismiss my writings as simply the opinion of some "rigid rad-trad", go right ahead.  Will you say the same of previous popes, some of them canonized and beatified?  How about two prominent Doctors of the Church: Augustine and Aquinas?

I believe this poop video schlock isn't just about the death penalty, per se.  In fact, Francis' animus towards the death penalty is simply a trial balloon, to see how much he can get away with completely twisting Church teaching to be just the opposite of what it's always been.  The death penalty is a relatively easy topic for him to use, since many Catholics are ambivalent towards capital punishment.  Their own feelings towards the matter obscures their perception of the larger picture of the totality of Church teaching.  If Francis can work his wiles with the death penalty, it would be so much easier to attack other areas of Church teaching.

And those attacks are starting.  Last month the Pontifical Academy for Life, led by homophile Archbishop Paglia, released a document called "Theological Ethics of Life: Scripture, Tradition, and Practical Challenges".  This tome calls into question the Church's teachings on contraception.  The question is, what will Francis do with this?  It appears that many of the PAL were not aware of this document.  So only a few concocted this thing in a rather secretive manner.

So this poop video appears to be an attempt to condition Catholics to passively accept more attacks on Church teaching, but maybe it's worse than that.

Not only is Francis announcing his attempt to mutilate the Teachings of the Church regarding the death penalty, that is, to commit heresy, but he is trying to con Catholics into formal cooperation with his sinful intentions.  For many Catholics who are ignorant of the tenets of their Faith, their personal culpability may be mitigated somewhat, but I doubt that it is fully erased for the heresy does exist and they would be giving their assent to it.

We now know there are proceedings underway to change the Church's teachings regarding the sinfulness of contraception.  If Francis succeeds into duping Catholics to go along with disregard for Church teaching regarding the death penalty, it's all the more easier to convince these same Catholics that "Church teaching can change" regarding contraception.  Of course we know from our 50+ years of history that the status of abortion will soon follow that of contraception.  Recall that last week, Francis confirmed and renewed Father James Martin's appointment as advisor for Vatican communications.  Recall also that after the Dobbs ruling, Martin released a tweet in which he said, "a one-minute-old zygote is not the same as a nine-month-old baby about to be born".  Yes, he did have the nerve to say that.  But maybe that's because he knows his higher-ups are of the same mind-set as he.

I certainly cannot join in prayer for that "intention".  Truth be told, I stopped praying "for the pope's intentions during my morning offerings.  Instead, I pray for his conversion to the One True Faith.

Of Hysterics Against The Latin Mass And Horrid Red Hats

Below is last week's episode of the Anchor Team.  Michael and Alyssa Hichborn spent the bulk of the time on the conversion of Shia  LaBeouf and his subsequent interview with Bishop Robert Barron.  It is an hour and twenty minutes long and I myself am in the process of listening to it (in chunks).  Here is the link.  From what others tell me, LaBeouf brings the focus on the Traditional Latin Mass as being a key factor of his conversion.  He learned of it as he was preparing for his role as Padre Pio in a biographical movie of the saint.  Hichborn tells of his impressions of Barron's reaction to LaBeouf's account.

From what Hichborn says, Barron's reaction to the Latin Mass is somewhat similar to what Molly Olmstead wrote in the Slate a few days ago.  Here is her screed.  In addition to being informed of what she says, you'll also have the added benefit of mortification of your sensibilities as you take in both her ignorance and arrogance.  She says the Latin Mass is "controversial", as if that is a bad thing.  The fact is that for centuries, the Catholic Faith has always been "controversial" enough in the eyes of those set in their sins that they have always striven to mock and persecute us.

However, these days the persecution of faithful Catholics is coming from quite a few prelates.  We just saw several questionable bishops receiving their red hats from Francis, one of them being Robert McElroy of San Diego.  I've written a lot on him in the past.  Towards the end of the Lepanto clip, the Hichborns discuss some ominous theories that could well have solid basis.  There's talk of Francis appointing a "papal co-adjutor", owing to his failing health.  Cardinal Cupich, who has his own long litany of insults to the Faith, seems to be a top contender for that role.  Should that happen, there's a decent possibility that McElroy would be moved to Chicago, to further cement that archdiocese's descent into disbelief and debauchery.  In fact, all these appointments place many souls in jeopardy.

As mentioned in my previous post, it is high time that faithful Catholics stood up to the tyrants that are literally in our midst.  Some are already about that important task.  One such effort in the DC area will occur Saturday Sept 17 - a pilgrimage for the restoration of the Latin Mass.  More details can be found here.

Next Saturday, Sept 3, this same group will be conducting a Rosary Rally at 10 am outside the Papal Nunciature.  The address is 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC.

Resisting The Destruction Of The Mass Of The Ages

The trashing of the Traditional Latin Mass, along with those of us who attend that mass, continues unabated.  Listen to this screed uttered by Father Brendan Hoban, who occupies an influential role in the Irish Synod.  In that interview, it's no surprise that he eschews his clerics as he mocks young traditionally-minded priests for wearing their cassocks.  He "despairs of these young priests".

We will have to resist the de facto tyranny.  There are places where the Traditional Latin Mass is still offered.  You will have to locate them and decide on a course of action.  Perhaps you'll even have to have underground Masses if the local prelates are particularly draconian.

As lay people, we don't have much voice - but we do have some.  We can speak to them the language of money - or the cessation of money, to be more precise.  A couple who are in the Diocese of Arlington penned an open letter to Bishop Burbidge and the Remnant newspaper published it.  I link to it here and urge you all to advise your prelates that your money donations may well cease.  

I realize that one of the Six Precepts of the Church is to "support the work of the church".  In past times, we have always assumed that this precept was fulfilled by regular contributions to our parishes and diocese.  But that precept doesn't stipulate that.  In fact, by no stretch of the imagination can the suppression of the Mass of the Ages be construed as "the work of the church".   Rather, support those priests who do offer the Traditional Latin Mass.  If you can't find any, there is always a pro-life pregnancy center or some worthwhile charity that actually helps marginalized peoples, like a food bank.  

Like Mr. and Mrs. DeSimone, we must be up front to our prelates, stand up to them - not anonymously - and advise them that if they don't honor Quo Primum then they will receive not one red cent from you.

Rembert Weakland - God Have Mercy On His Soul

Today we received news that Archbishop Rembert Weakland, former prelate of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, died early this morning.  The legacy he left is one of damage to the Faith and damage to many victims of sexual abuse.  In fact, not only did he cover up for abuse perpetrated by other priests, but he himself was guilty of vile homosexual crimes.

For all the damage that he wreaked upon the church, it appears that he did not suffer any consequence that is commensurate with his crimes on this side of the grave.  But now he is on the other side and he had to face Our Lord. 

It is the same Lord that each and every one of us will face sooner or later.  We all will be called to account for what we did and didn't do.  Some of us will be called to greater account than others, owing not only to greater responsibility but also greater gifts.  The fullness of Holy Orders is one such gift that comes with great accountability.

Let us pray that God have mercy on his soul.  Let us pray that in his final moments, that Weakland came to final repentance.  Let us also take lessons from this and be mindful of the states of our own souls at all times.

A Sober Look At The Rosary Weapon Screed

Fellow faithful Catholics, we've had our grins and chuckles since that article appeared in the Atlantic, but I think it's time to understand what's going on here.  In reality, this portends future dangers if we don't take this, and larger problems, seriously.

It seems that every time some tyrannical regime tries to ascend in power, they decide to target a demographic group to act as scapegoat.  The scapegoat group is often a minority group within the locality in which it finds itself.  The tyrants use the scapegoats as a rallying target at which most, if not all, the other groupings can unleash their mob-like hatred.  Of course the tyrants are mistakenly perceived to be champions, having duped the populace at large to target the scapegoats.

We saw this play out in the French Revolution, as bloodthirsty mobs lopped off the heads of their hated aristocrats and yes, Catholic clergy and religious.  Just a scant 85 years ago, Adolf Hitler riled the Nazis against Jews, eliminating 6 million of them (along with other "non-Aryans") before the end of World War II.

Would-be tyrants of our current times are now drawing bulls-eyes on the backs of their chosen targets - Catholics who are faithful to the traditions of the teachings of Jesus Christ that have been taught for centuries.  I think we saw that play out quite a bit after the Dobbs ruling was leaked, with the vandalism and even destruction of churches and pro-life pregnancy centers.  Some of those were operated by protestant, but by and large, it was Catholic institutions that were targeted.  They still are being targeted.

Now we see the bigotry being played out in once-reputable publications.  Yesterday the Atlantic magazine published an anti-Catholic screed entitled "How Extremist Gun Culture Is Trying To Co-Opt The Rosary".   The author, Daniel Panneton, is a Canadian who rails against "homophobia", "masculinist anxieties", "the hostility towards liberalism and secularism inherent in traditional Catholicism" and "far right fantasizing about killing activists".  Meanwhile, I detected nary a peep about all the destruction and vandalism against Catholic institutions of late, let alone the threats uttered by "Jane's Revenge".  Certainly he said nothing about the attempt on Justice Kavanaugh's life.

Frankly, I'd expect something like this coming from academia in Canada.  What concerns me is why Atlantic would choose to publish this.  Bear in mind that Nazi hatred against Jews began rather innocuously, with the publication of propaganda such as Panneton's article.  What the Nazis, and now Panneton, used was one of Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals", the 13th rule to be precise.  I quote: "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)"

Panneton's article isn't just an isolated screed by one lone nutcase.  Look at it in historical context, even if that history is just in the last month.  I am somewhat dismayed by the cavalier and jocular attitudes that I am seeing among faithful Catholics.  Yes, the Rosary is powerful against evil, but we must not take pleasure in the attempts to demonize us.  If we as Americans fail to use our rights to insist that we not be the targets of religious bigotry, then we will see ourselves and our children consigned to social and even literal ghettos as it becomes increasingly dangerous to live our Faith and bring others to it.  Yes, I know that Christians in the very nascent Church did that, but they had no choice.  We do.  Will we fritter that away while we shoot off silly memes that actually affirm Panneton's statements?

What I suggested on Facebook is that we go to Atlantic's page and report the article as hate speech, for that is what it is.  Write a "letter to the editor" at theatlantic.com.  Fellow Catholics, please don't just engage in guffaws and bravado amongst yourselves.  Below is my letter to the Atlantic.

I am saddened that in this day and age a publication of your caliber would stoop to publishing such slanderous screed.  To portray Catholics faithful to their centuries-old traditions as "violent", "racist" and "paving the way for terrorist attacks" is nothing short of religious bigotry.  Indeed, it smacks of the propaganda that Nazis published against Jews as they were ramping up their attempts to marginalize and ultimately imprison and execute millions of them.  It wasn't long after those publications that the infamous Krystalnacht happened.  Now Catholics too are seeing their churches and buildings burnt and vandalized, with great escalation after the Dobbs ruling was leaked.

Would you publish any other such diatribe against Muslims?  Jews?  Hindus or other faiths?  Somehow I think not.  Why then would you publish such trash against Catholics?  Decent people demand an answer, and a repudiation of that article in your next issue.  Thank you for your time.

Please act now and be praying those Rosaries.

Attack The Traditional Latin Mass, Attack Life And Civilization Itself

"I believe that were it not for Holy Mass, at this moment the world would be in the abyss, unable to bear up under the mighty load of its iniquities."  St Leonard of Port Maurice

"It is easier for the world to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." St Padre Pio

Frankly, I'm not at all certain that many Mass-going Catholics appreciate the truths voiced by these two saints (and probably other saints as well).  Otherwise, I really don't see how they could be so blasé regarding the attacks on the Traditional Latin Mass.  If they appreciated the importance of the rituals, genuflections, use of the sacred language of Latin, etc, they wouldn't be so careless and sloppy regarding the Novus Ordo Mass, let alone the Traditional Latin Mass.

One class of people do understand the importance of the Mass as laid out by Pope St. Pius V in Quo Primum.  That is, those who are working tirelessly to dismantle the Sacraments, Doctrines and other aspects of the Church's patrimony.  It is the progressive clerics (and/or their puppet-string pullers) as they seek to bring about this "great reset" and the resulting "new world order".

I believe that Desiderio Desideravi was released to stymie the graces flowing from the Traditional Latin Mass.  There can be no other reason for the vindictiveness that lies in every word in that document.  Even the Washington Post, no bastion of tradition and conservatism, was taken aback by the harshness in which Cardinal Gregory is implementing this deadly directive.

One Peter Five published a series of articles by Jose Ureta, who analyzed DD.  He noted that it was a step in the same direction initiated in Vatican II, where there was less focus on the Passion and Death of Our Lord in favor of the Resurrection.  It doesn't take much of a theology degree to understand how that minimalizes the harm done by sin.  One obvious consequence is the mindset that sin is seen as something that need not be avoided - a complete departure from past - and correct - understandings of sin.  It also reduces the importance of the priest as "alter Christus" and overly exalts the role of the laity.

Recall the principle "lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi".  Recall also that the Mass is the most sublime worship we offer God, and that the Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our Faith.  The anti-God forces know what they are doing when they attack the Mass of the Ages.  It's high time faithful Catholics woke up and faced the truth so they can act accordingly.

The Anchor Team Addresses McElroy, The Raid On Trump's Home And Other Matters

Tonight Michael and Alyssa Hichborn pondered the significance of naming Bishop McElroy a cardinal and how that plays into what appears to be Francis' larger schemes for fostering the great reset.  As you listen to this, you will get the sense that we are at a fork in the road, the two directions being vastly different.  The situation for western civilization looks grim, but not completely hopeless.  The progressives wouldn't be thrashing about as they currently are, were they really smug about an inevitable victory.  This is a clarion call to continue your Rosaries and other prayers.

Unpacking The US Bishops' Love Affair With The Minimum Wage

Thanks to Canon 212, I came across this very informative article regarding the history of the minimum wage, particularly as it pertains to the US Catholic bishops.  It's worth a read.  I wrote a post five years ago regarding, among other things, the bishops' fascination with distributive justice.  This is just one of many ways they have become shills, and even partners, of the left.

Is The Church's Teachings On Contraception In Francis' Cross-Hairs?

While returning to Rome after his recent trip to Canada (a disaster in and of itself), Francis gave yet another lackluster plane interview.  The official transcript is on the Vatican website.   The question of concern is towards the bottom.  Even more concerning than the question is the answer.

In actuality, the question was one that would have been answered with a simple "yes" or "no", with "no" being the correct answer.  Francis never answered the question.  Rather, he segued into an overly wordy session of verbal diarrhea.  Read it for yourselves, as he blathers about "development of doctrine".  Somehow he manages to badmouth faithful Catholics who hold to the Church's timeless traditions.

Francis incorrectly invoked Saint Vincent of Lerins as the latter spoke of doctrine.  Catholic Answers has an excellent article that unpacks Francis' misquote of St. Vincent.  Please read it.  I need not rehash it here except to emphasize that doctrine, as it develops correctly, will always clarify truth.  Never will authentic development of Church doctrine lead to its contradiction.  Please recall that is what Francis did when he attempted to change Church teaching regarding the death penalty.  The Church had always recognized the death penalty to be a legitimate option to be used by civil governments in the restoration of justice.  Francis falsely stated that the death penalty is "intrinsically evil".  Not only is that false, it is rank heresy.

As I said in earlier posts, I think Francis used the death penalty matter as a trial balloon to see how much heresy the faithful were willing to swallow before coming to see that Francis might be an anti-pope.  At first glance, it appears that his gambit worked.  Now with him potentially rattling his saber against several papal documents condemning contraception, it appears that more are willing to consider the sad possibility that an anti-pope rules the Vatican.  How much more before faithful Catholics wake up?

How Many Perverts Does Catholic Relief Services Employ Anyway?

That question came to mind when I saw this post from  Religion Clause.  Here is the court decision to which they refer.  When I first saw this, I thought that "John Doe" was probably Rick Estridge.  Several of us bloggers wrote on this when we learned that this "same-sex-married" guy was employed by CRS as a Vice President.  But that was back in 2015.  Estridge resigned from CRS after he was exposed and has since taken employment elsewhere.

Therefore I think it most probable that "John Doe" is yet another gay who was obviously known as such by CRS leadership and directors from the first day of his employment.  These individuals are thumbing their noses at Church teachings regarding marriage, sexuality and homosexual conduct.  Yet they get hired by CRS.  Just how many are there?

More to the point, why does CRS continue to exist?  Why do our parishes still hold in-pew collections, as though we should support those living in mortal sin?

Of Pachamamas And Western Grannys

Taylor Marshall asked some questions about Francis (I don't know if I can call him pope any longer) and his obvious sin against the First Commandment.  First he asked if Francis can be called "Vicar of Christ" after this stunt, for in participating in pagan rites, he and the cardinals in attendance most likely excommunicated themselves.  Second, he asks how he could ban the Traditional Latin Mass yet still allow pachamama and western-granny idolatries to abound.  I don't think they are contradictory at all.  Everything he's done has as an objective the deconstruction of the One True Faith.  In actuality, that can never happen simply because God Himself cannot be moved aside.

Don't mess with this
western Granny!

Afterwards, Francis headed back to Rome on a plane and gave another interview.  Yep!  Here we go again - another episode of high-altitude-induced verbal diahrea!  Apparently we who hold to Tradition have "dead faith".  If by that he means that we don't believe in these pachamamas, western grandmothers, four directions, climate change and the such, I'll wear that badge with honor.  This is the same interview where he attempted verbal tap-dances in response to a question about contraception.  I touched on this Wednesday.  In that example of the death penalty, he called evil what the church has always held to be a good.  Now with contraception, it appears that he is preparing to call an intrinsic evil a good.  All this is heresy.  God's teachings cannot change for God Himself is immutable. 

Perhaps that is why he dislikes Latin.  Latin is a dead language.  The meanings of its vocabulary cannot change.  Thus prayers offered in Latin mean exactly the same as they meant centuries ago.  Here is an excellent article on the subject.

We must not only pray, but resist.  Attend the Latin Mass.  Withhold donations where the Latin Mass is restricted.

The Traditional Latin Mass, And All The Church's Patrimony, Threaten The Pope And His Progressive Agendas

Let's recap events of the past few weeks - events that involved the attempts to quash the Mass of the Ages.  Cardinal Cupich effectively suppressed the Institute of Christ the King, evicting them from their Chicago church for which their congregation raised  $4 million  after a 2015 fire damaged it.  Meanwhile in Inverness IL, at Holy Family Catholic Community (site of the guitar blessing) a lay person gave the homily at Pentecost Mass and soon afterwards, the whole place erupted in dance music and blowing bubbles.  To date I have heard nothing of Cardinal Cupich bringing this bunch to heel.

He has no words of admonishment for Father Pfleger either, after this latest debacle of a mass.

A similar injustice happened in Benedict, MD after Cardinal Gregory's tyrannical edict;   Those attending the Traditional Latin Mass there raised $250k for renovations and decorations.  Now they will have to go elsewhere to attend the Latin Mass.

Any honest person can only surmise that those trying to suppress the Latin Mass are simply full of spite.  Yes, that includes the pope.  Read this and this to see how some faithful Catholics are calling out this obvious pettiness and hatred.  There is quite a succinct comment on social media regarding the fanaticism with which the pope is grinding his axe against the Traditional Latin Mass.  It reads:

Have you noticed how often, in the last 18 months, the pope’s off-the-cuff comments have focused on traditionalists? There are 50 grave problems in the Church that need major papal attention, and THIS is what smolders on his mind constantly? PF's priorities are clear in this: to heck with all those other problems. It’s the 1% traddies who need to be 'dealt with', not the 99% of dreadful masses, the 99% of heretical 'catholic' colleges, the 99% of degenerate bishops, etc. Even if traddies were wrong in loving Tradition, his inattention to the vastly larger problems is mind-boggling."

This obsessive and seemingly disproportionate campaign against the traditionalists is in fact perfectly logical. Pope Francis realizes that the only effective resistance to the modernist remake of Catholic doctrine, morals, and liturgy is coming from this zealous minority, who have shown every sign of growing numbers and influence. Remember, it is creative minorities who change the course of history, not the majority who float along with the spirit of the age.

What is at stake is not merely "liturgical preference" but the dogmatic structure of Catholicism, the historical-theological continuity of the Church, and the soundness of Christian morality. His tactical hits in all of these areas show that the ultimate aim is the transformation of the Catholic Faith into something quite, quite other than it has been.

That is why our opposition to his entire agenda, which has TC as its poster-child, must be inflexible, determined, and indefatigable, and why "obedience" must be tendered only to what is true and good, not to what is false and wicked.

Actually only the first paragraph is the viral comment.  The other paragraphs are the thoughts of Peter Kwasniewski.  So there is a broad attempt to tear down all Catholic worship and teaching - including morals.  Eric Sammons echoed similar theories.  The interview to which Sammons alluded can be found here.  By the way - notice what he said about "true doctrine progressing".  Now remember how the pope erroneously, and probably sinfully, condemned the death penalty as intrinsically evil?  I opined then that he was floating a trial balloon with that, to see how Catholics would react, given that many of them are themselves confused about the death penalty.  Apparently he was pleased enough with the results of that experiment to start broaching contraception.  If he does, by some Jesuitical verbal trickery, manage to hoodwink the faithful into thinking that contraception might be acceptable in some circumstances, we'll have deadly history repeating itself.  We'll be having the 1930 Lambeth Conference all over again and that could actually lead to the horrors of baby-slaughter being condoned by Church hierarchy. 

One would hope that would be enough for some timid souls in the hierarchy to declare Francis an imposter to the papacy.  Note that I am not a sedevacantist for I do not believe Benedict's "resignation" to have been properly performed.  My blogging colleague at Les Femmes posted on the situation in her home diocese of Arlington, site of one of the recent draconian attacks on the Faith.  She challenges her priests, as I do the priests in my own Archdiocese of Washington, where Cardinal Gregory has been chomping at the bit for his turn to beat down faithful Catholics.   

We laity have a responsibility to positively resist, too.  Prayer and fasting are necessary, but by no means sufficient.  Ora et labora.  I post below a note from another Arlington Catholic to the chancery.

One language the corrupt bishops understand and heed is money.  We must use ours to good advantage, and sometimes one must starve the beasts.  Not one more red cent to these wolves in shepherd's clothing.  It's high time we stop kissing the hands that slap us and rob our children of their patrimony.

Arlington's Burbidge Quashes The Traditional Latin Mass

Today Bishop Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington published this edict in the Arlington Catholic Herald.  The 21 locations where the Traditional Latin Mass was celebrated have been reduced to 8; that's about 1/3 of the locations.  They are simply implementing the hatred that Pope Francis has for the Mass of the Ages - a Mass where true worship is offered to God and that shows the so-called "conciliar reforms" to be an utter travesty.  I think that last point irks the progressives the most, for the graces from that Mass are a more formidable bulwark against the new-world-order great reset.  At least they understand that last point, and that's more than can be said for the otherwise-goodhearted folks attending the Novus Ordo.  They remain blithely oblivious to the spiritual battle raging about them, often blinding themselves deliberately.

No more can we content ourselves with offering wimpy, whiney little pleas to these bishops.  We must resist them and do so now.  Let's take example from this incident of 30 years ago in France.

Kamala??? How Could You???!!?! Say It Isn't So!!!

(In case this really needs to be said, the post below is satire.)

LGBTQA(append your favorite letters here) persons must still be in shell-shock, suffering PTSD after Kamala Harris, utterly stabbed them in the back in this clip.  Under the guise of defending Roe, she let her bias be shown.  Here it is, if you dare watch it.

KAMALA HARRIS: "Women are getting pregnant every day in America, and this is a real issue." pic.twitter.com/hWErnMztJf

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 24, 2022

Now that you've picked yourselves off the floor from your fainting seizures, I'm sure you all see the transphobia here.  But for those still in denial, I'll spell it out.  But please bear with me, as I can scarcely (sob!) utter these horrific words!  Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, dared to assume the gender of pregnant persons everywhere!  The horror!  How could she be so insensitive to the 58,273 (at last count) other genders that are documented to exist?  What she uttered was..was transphobic hate speech!

Poor progressive snowflakes everywhere are now scurrying for their "safe places", clutching their security blankets!  Will they ever recover from this cruel betrayal?  Well, a nice governmental payout for the emotional damages just inflicted will ease the pain nicely, I'm sure - but I digress.

In related news, men everywhere nick their chins while shaving.  Dang!  See how the kamal has compromised my politically correct talking points?  I just assumed the gender of shaving persons!  Off to the reeducation camps for me!

Now I will turn off the satire.  This ditzy broad and her equally incompetent boss have no business occupying their high offices.  They must be given their pink slips in 2024.

What's Really Motivating The Pope's Trip To Canada??

You can scroll past the initial count-down

This clip gives more insight as to why smudging is pagan, unacceptable for Catholic usage.

Pope Francis : Eat Less Meat To Save The Planet

Mind you, he's in Canada right now planning to commit horrible idolatry during his "penitential pilgrimage".  His pushing of the "climate change" hoax, along with other aspects of the Great Reset, continues with no restraint.

I guess it does make sense that he is asking us to eat less meat.  With his hatred of the Traditional Latin Mass, he is seeking to starve us spiritually.  Why wouldn't he ask us to starve ourselves physically?

By-the-by, in honor of all the pope's planet-saving, I had meat loaf for dinner tonight!

Today's Gospel Warning For The People Of Canada

We've known for a few weeks that the pope was planning to travel to Canada as a "penitential pilgrimage".  Well, it will be a penance for decent Catholics to endure the spectacle of what is to happen.

I understand the pope's plane arrived shortly before noon today.  He'll hit the road Monday, that is, tomorrow (Monday) when he visits Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton.  There he plans to participate in a smudging ceremony.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Please read that link and understand that "smudging" is a ritual meant to appeal to nature gods, to "mother earth".  A term for "mother earth" in another language is pachamama.  Now where have we heard that word before?

As that LifeSite article explains, smudging is sinful in many respects, and mortally so.  First, it is an act of idolatry, a sin against the First Commandment, as it gives reverence to false idols.  Sacrilege is also involved when a Catholic cleric is involved, especially the Vicar of Christ.  If it takes place inside the church, that church becomes profaned and probably should be reconsecrated.

Today's Gospel for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Traditional Latin Mass) is an appropriate warning to the Catholics of Canada.  It is taken from Matthew 7: 15-21.  I will reproduce the Douay-Rheims version below:

 [15] Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [16] By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.[21] Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Sometimes the false prophets dress as shepherds, too.  If this smudging debacle does occur, we will have to do acts of reparation for the idolatry and sacrileges that will be committed by these clerics, pope included.  He is allegedly doing this to "ask forgiveness" from Canada's Indians.  If he goes through with this, her really will need to "ask forgiveness" for the judgment that he will bring on their heads.  Bear in mind that the covid nonsense happened very soon after the pope allowed pachamama to profane the Vatican; I don't believe that's a coincidence. Canadian Catholics, please protest.

DC's Cardinal Gregory The Latest To Bare His Teeth At Faithful Catholics Attending The Traditional Latin Mass

We've been anticipating this for quite some time, especially after Cardinal Cupich stated that the Institute of Christ the King would be personae non gratia starting August 1st.  Well, here it is - the official assassin's bullet from Cardinal Gregory.  It is just as draconian and tyrannical as is Traditionis Custodes.

Read that thing.  He starts off with a lot of compliments for those attending Latin Mass, but it's really just a butter-up job.  After dispensing with those pleasantries, Gregory gets down to business.  To wit:

• Traditional Latin Mass can only be celebrated in three non-parochial locations in the DC diocese.  St. Mary's in Chinatown, where the Traditional Latin Mass has been celebrated for many years, is not one of them.
• They can only be celebrated on Sunday - in other words, no Latin weekday Masses.
• Priests must apply for permission to celebrate the Latin Mass, even as a private Mass
• Masses for Christmas, the Triduum, Easter and Pentecost must be celebrated in the Novus Ordo.  The TLM is forbidden for these holy days
• All other sacraments must be administered in the Novus Ordo rites.
• Scripture readings must be given in the vernacular, with a translation approved by the USCCB.  Since the readings are always repeated in the vernacular, I can only suppose that giving the readings in Latin will be forbidden.

Why would these prelates wish the obliteration of the Latin Mass?  At those Masses, one can understand the majesty of God and the immensity of the Sacrifice of Christ.  The latter happens at each Mass, albeit in an unbloody manner.  The attendees are there to worship God, not to have warm-fuzzies types of experiences.  Yes, there is community, but that happens after Mass, in the church lobby.  There is always reverential silence before the Blessed Sacrament.  By the way - young people are flocking to these Masses after having been gypped so long by Novus Ordo Masses with their stripped-down prayers and human-centered atmosphere.  The Latin Mass is the Mass of the Ages, having produced saints for over 1,000 years.

I started that last paragraph with a question.  The following sentences described benefits that should give the prelates pause in their attempts to quash the Latin Mass, but in reality they are the very reasons why these prelates, many of them progressives and/or masons, have a visceral hatred of that Mass.  They not only lack supernatural faith in God, but actually harbor animosity towards Him.  Even the Washington Post looks askance upon Gregory's vindictiveness towards the Latin Mass.

Vox Cantoris reproduced an open letter by Archbishop Vigano who unpacked the implications of Cupich's assault upon the Catholic faith.  That was before Gregory pulled his stunt today, but I believe what is said about Cupich also applies to Gregory.  He is correct in saying that neither Cupich, nor Gregory, nor even the pope have any right to deprive us of the Mass of the Ages.  The bull of Pope Saint Pius V, Quo Primum, states quite as much.

So once again we are put in the position of having to resist clerical tyranny, but resist we must.  The tactic of "going along to get along" is simply not morally permissible.  So what to do?  First, find a Traditional Latin Mass in another diocese.  They are happening in northern Virginia and Baltimore.  Take yourselves - and your money - there.  Yes, it seems like money is one of the few languages these corrupt shepherds understand, so we must speak it.  Keep protesting the chancery.  Raise protest, especially at events where the cardinal appears; in those cases, be respectful but firm.

Maryland Primaries - A Happy Result

Maryland's primary elections took place yesterday, so they are (mostly) come and gone.  I'll get to that "mostly" part later.  As I comment on the results, I'll omit the Democrat side (again mostly) for the Dems are equally deadly to unborn children.

All in all, the RINO crowd in Maryland got their comeuppance last evening.  Solid conservative Dan Cox trounced Kelly Schultz to become the GOP nominee for Maryland governor.  This was a direct rebuke to Larry Hogan.  In standing against the mask mandates two years ago, Dan Cox was slated to speak at a rally in western Maryland.  He was threatened with arrest by the Maryland State Troopers if that talk continued.  The troopers are under Hogan's authority.  He has also been solidly pro-life.  Sadly the same could not be said for his opponent, Kelly Schultz.  While she started her career as pro-life, she back-peddled in preparation for the gubernatorial race.  This is one example of trying to please so many people that in the end, no one is pleased.

Michael Peroutka will go to the general election for the position of Attorney General.  I know of no shortcoming on the part of his opponent Jim Shalleck and supported the latter when he ran for State's Attorney in Montgomery County.  I believe Peroutka will bring a better sense of adherence to the Constitution in enforcing law.

Neil Parrott will face David Trone for the MD District 6 seat in the US House of Representatives.  Judging from these votes, Parrott has a real chance of winning the general election.  Bear in mind that the district maps have been improved to remove at least some of the gerrymandering.  Besides him and Andy Harris of District 1, I haven't a sense of the pro-life bona fides of the GOP candidates for the other US House seats.  Suffice it to say that we need the GOP candidates to win, if for no other reason than to help remove the Speaker's gavel from Nancy Pelosi's hands.

In the first paragraph of this post I said that the election was mostly over and that I would mostly disregard the Democrat side of things.  Here is the one exception.  In Montgomery County, Marc Elrich faced quite a few opponents.  One of them, David Blair, is surpassing Elrich by over a thousand votes.  There are still a few mail-in ballots to manufacture count.  Wouldn't that be a lovely comeuppance for him to be beaten by a fellow Democrat?   Recall that Elrich moved to fund abortion in Montgomery County to the tune of one million dollars (of our tax money) and was endorsed by Pro-Choice Maryland.  If Blair beats him for the nomination, that will be a plus in and of itself.  Whoever wins will square off against Reardon Sullivan, who won the GOP nomination for that office.

Now that we have a decent slate of candidates in Maryland, we'll have to work to put them in office this November.

The Duties Of The Church And Of Catholic Citizens

A few months ago, Father Ripperger gave a talk regarding the duties of the Church and how the Church's (those in the hierarchy) failed, beginning in the early part of the 20th century.  He pointed out that what happens in the Church in terms of sin or virtue is reflected in the world at large 40 or so years later.  I think common sense should tell us that.  So many think that things went haywire only in the 1960s.  However, the rot started long before then; it just became impossible to ignore anymore starting in the 1960s. 

In this follow-up session, Father outlines what he believes should be our strategy.

Notice how he believes that it's too late to avert the chastisement - the full brunt of it.  However, because this was most likely released before the Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v Wade, I think the information at Father's disposal at the time this talk was given may now be obsolete.  I don't think the overturn of Roe and the subsequent outlawing of abortion in several states can possibly have no impact on the chastisements to come.  Evil was dealt a setback; that's why so many pro-aborts and progressives are marauding against churches and pregnancy centers.

As far as his proposed strategy, I did find some things upon which I look askance.  Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall hearing anything about Our Lady of Fatima's urgent request for the daily Rosary from each and every Catholic.  Also apparently missing is our duty to bring the truth of Christ into the public sphere.  Among other things, that necessitates political involvement; as United States citizens, it is our solemn responsibility to utilize our rights to at least retard the flow of evil in society.

Maryland Catholics of voting age thus have a duty to get to the polls tomorrow for primary elections and select candidates who will stand for God's truth regarding the sanctity of life and sanctity of marriage and human sexuality, not to mention the rights of parents to influence their children's education, not to have sinful vaccines thrust upon them, the right to defend themselves against unjust aggression, etc.

Elections In Maryland On Tuesday July 19

If the Dobbs decision has any impact on us, it should be to drive home all the more that local elections are just as important (if not more so) than federal elections.  Maryland will hold its primary elections this Tuesday, July 19.  Every local seat, from the governor on down to county governments, is up for grabs.  Of course, on the Federal level, every House seat is up and Chris Van Hollen's US Senate seat is up for grabs.  He's running again, but as St. Peter said when the Eleven were about to select a replacement for Judas, "may another take his office".

I won't address the Democrats too much since they are all rabid pro-aborts who take their marching orders and talking points from "on high" - or "on low", as the case may be.  I also won't try to address all the races on various ballots - just the ones that will be on my ballot.  If you are reading this post, you have the capacity to google your various candidates and do your own due-diligence research.

As governor, Bob Hogan's performance has been a lackluster disappointment.  However, we must remind ourselves of the havoc that would have been wreaked had self-styled socialists taken the State House.  We have the opportunity to change that - and no, not via Kelly Schultz.  I am casting my vote for Dan Cox.  He has stood for us against the vax and mask mandates, for common-sense border control, for our Second Amendment rights, and for the babies.  He is endorsed by Maryland Right to Life PAC.  For US Representative, I am voting for Neil Parrott for the same reasons.  Also endorsed by MD Right to Life PAC is Michael Peroutka.  He and his brother Steve have often taught courses on the United States Constitution and supported pro-life efforts in Maryland.

As far as the Maryland state legislature goes, MD Right to Life endorsed no candidate for districts located in Montgomery County.  I am not surprised.  No GOP candidates appear on the official sample ballot that I received.  I believe the same situation exists for Prince George's County.

For the United States Senate race, there are eight candidates vying for the chance to be the GOP nominee for that office.  MD Right to Life PAC states that a number of them espouse pro-life positions.   That is true.  Thus, to make a selection, one must look at candidate positions on other issues.  That should be possible to do by googling their names.

I am in Montgomery County and can tell you that Mark Elrich simply must be ousted as County Executive.  Via his diktats, Montgomery exercised the most draconian rule over its citizenry by ridiculous mask mandates that went well over the national and state bounds.  He pulled police officers from troubled county schools and put in "social workers".   When the Dobbs draft opinion was leaked, he promised to divert our tax dollars, $1 million to be precise, towards abortion funding.

I will be voting for Reardon Sullivan as the GOP nominee for County Executive.  In all other county slots, the candidates are unopposed.

The Montgomery County Education Association is a branch of the progressive National Education Association.  If you want hints for whom to vote, download their "apple ballot".  Then compare that ballot to your official sample ballot and make sure you vote for the "apple ballot" opponents.  This one now shows the Board of Education candidates for whom you should not vote - rather, vote their opponents.  This is necessary to keep out "critical race theory", gay-indoctrination, etc.

See you at the polls!

Why Progressives Hate The Idea Of Defense Against Evil

Thanks to Canon 212, I came across this very interesting article regarding the insane progressive push to hamstring our abilities to defend ourselves: from threats against our persons, our communities and our nation.  The call-out sentence sums things up quite well; "A fearless citizen with the will and means to defend himself is a threat to left-wing bureaucrats who want to boss him around".  That is why New York City is hell-bent on prosecuting for murder that shop-keeper who defended himself against someone who might have murdered him.  That is why they are all having snit-fits after the Supreme Court ruled that we do not have to "show cause" for exercising our right to bear arms.

Let me say a word now to friends who may be wishy-washy regarding the Second Amendment, thinking that it's the government's job to protect us.  The Supreme Court ruled in 1948 that such was not the case, although modern progressives lie through their teeth to pretend that it is.  Consider that the United States Constitution puts constraints on the government so that it does not unjustly deprive innocent people of the right to life, hearkening back to the Declaration of Independence that stated that God endowed us with that right.  With the passage of abortion laws, governments at all levels in this country arrogated from God the prerogative to deprive innocents of their lives.  In so doing, they assume tyrannical personas.  So many pro-life people realize, even if only instinctively, that they have no recourse but to rely on their Second Amendment rights to defend ourselves against governmental tyranny, if it should come to that.  To do so, we must have the means adequate to meet modern threats. 

Let's take a look at the death penalty (again).  I've written much on that over the years.  Here is a link that detail why the clamor to end the death penalty is its own sin.  Please read them.  I will post below tonight's episode of the Anchor Team.  In it, Michael and Alyssa Hichborn mention that the clamor to end the death penalty might be a manifestation of the progressive attempt to dispel belief in hell.  I wonder if the progressives' attempt to dispel the Just War theory might be a way to dispel belief in the incompatibility of good versus evil.

Pro-Abortion Arson Strikes Catholic Church In Bethesda MD - Men, Time To Take Church Defense Seriously

Early Saturday morning, July 9 2022, arsonists set fire to St Jane Frances De Chantal Church, located on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda.  Two nearby protestant churches were likewise vandalized, but De Chantal suffered the brunt of the damage.  I am now linking to two accounts: one from the Catholic Standard, the archdiocesan paper, and the other from Catholic News Agency (not to be confused with the now-defunct Catholic News Service).

There is a most peculiar disparity between the two.  CSA carries more of the remarks made by Father Samuel Giese.  The CSA quotes Father Giese's offering of a probable motive for the arson: "I believe that this is because of the Church's stand on the issue of life — when it begins and that it should be protected — and that this is one of the manifestations of the deep divisions right now within our country, that there are those who believe that we do not have even the right to practice our faith.  "   Why, oh why, did the Standard not make mention of this rather obvious circumstance?  

Last month the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center was vandalized with paint bombs and egging.  A bunch calling themselves "Jane's Revenge" seems to be behind this.

Last week, Tom Brejcha and his wife Debbie found their home vandalized while they were away.  Brejcha is a founder of the Thomas More Society, a Catholic pro-life legal association that has helped many pro-life activists.  Fifty thugs from the "Reproductive Justice Union" spray-painted his house, damaged his garden,   Police officers were present - and did absolutely nothing.   Because the Society is based in Chicago, it's quite possible that this incident took place there too - or in a suburb.  Doesn't it make you wonder why the police were there?  If it wasn't to protect citizens from the vandals, were they instructed to protect vandals from citizens?

It's clear that we can't rely on church or civil authorities to protect our churches and homes.  As far as churches go, I reiterate suggestions that I made a few weeks ago.  Men of a given parish can and must organize amongst themselves and devise concrete plans to protect their churches.  They will have to do so independently of their pastors - that is, outside their control.  They should devise schedules for keeping physical watch over the church premises - off the property, if need be.  Moreover, if trouble should brew, the man on watch should have a cadre of others upon whom he can call at a moment's notice.  They should become proficient in some sort(s) of martial arts.  They should immediately divest themselves of the silly and ungodly notion that the use of force is inherently evil.  God did not call us to be "catholicized hippy-flower children".  We are the Church Militant - not the church mellow.

We take up the Sacraments, the Rosary, Brown Scapular as our spiritual weapons.  They do not preclude other weapons, if need be.

The Pope - Pro-Abortion?

Fifteen or so years ago I would have thought the question to be preposterous.  No longer.  The Pope allowed Nancy Pelosi to receive Holy Communion in defiance of her own bishop and his tepid response to the overturning of Roe v Wade, hosted various pro-aborts in the Vatican over the years, and still retains Father James Martin after the latter tipped his hand with his "zygote" quip.  A reasonable person might suppose  that he has some pro-abortion sympathies.  He certainly is progressive in other areas.

Please watch the Remnant video below.  This pope has no moral credibility at this time.

Even In Maryland, The Democrats Are In A Panic

Dear readers, below is the front and back of a mailer that I received a few days ago.  I am a registered Republican, so I don't know what impelled this DGA Action bunch to waste their card and postage on me.  But they did, so here it is.  Please look it over, and you'll understand why I laughed when I read it.

Please note that the Maryland primary election hasn't happened yet, so it's not certain that Dan Cox will be the GOP nominee for Governor.  Frankly, I hope that will be the case, but I sure have no crystal ball when it comes to predicting electoral results.  Do the DGA folks know something that I don't?  They may be correct on this.  I've seen Cox campaigning and reaching out to the voters: something I haven't seen from Kelly Schultze, the RINO anointed heir to Hogan.  She didn't even bother to show up at any of the candidates' debates.

So maybe Andrew Whalen has some insider information regarding the primary.  Else why would he be using Cox's candidacy to gin up fear among the Democrat base (such as it is)?

Notice also how this Whalen guy is trying to drum up votes for the Democrat ticket in Maryland.  He doesn't put forth any real Democrat vision for the state: no goals, no proposed direction, no solutions to any problems, nothing.  The best he can do is play the fear-monger while acknowledging that Cox does have a plan and proposed direction for Maryland.

Also notice that he faults Cox for "being 100% pro-life".  He doesn't even bother with the "anti-choice" canard.  So if he thinks it bad to be 100% pro-life", does he advocate being 100% pro-baby-murder?  Mr. Whalen did quite a job in revealing the mindset of the Democrat party these days, and I am not being facetious.

Here's hoping we see more panic attacks like this.  The card asks, "Are you prepared for Trump conservative Dan Cox to be your next governor?"  I certainly am; it would be a welcome breath of fresh air in Maryland.

After Roe, Opponents Are In Strange Places

I will suggest that you watch the following two clips.  The first is tonight's episode of Lepanto Institute's Anchor Team.  There are a few seemingly disparate items that do have a common theme.  In the first part, Michael Hichborn details the connection that exists between the Association of United States Catholic Priests and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  The first is outright heretical and the other tries vainly to maintain a semblance of Catholic identity.

In the next segment, Hichborn elaborates on the damage done by the Vatican as it signed onto the Paris Climate Agreement.  Its effects will include the scarcity of food as costs to "go green" will grind the economy to a halt.  Given what one of the statements said on the now-destroyed Georgia Guidestones, I strongly suspect that to be the idea. 

Another segment concerns the aftermath of the June 24th ruling and how to strategize the next steps in the fight against abortion.  Hichborn made reference to a LifeSite news interview with the Thomas More Society.  Here is the article, and embedded in that is the second clip.

The common thread in all these that I perceive is that while we have turned a corner with Roe's demise, we still have a struggle ahead of us, with many in power arrayed against us.  Sadly, among our opponents are those wearing miters and even white vestments.  We must continue to pray our Rosaries and beseech God's mercy.