Bishop Morlino Stands Out From Sickening Reactions From His Brother Prelates

Among the "sickening reactions" are those from Pope Francis himself.  I'll get into that.  First let us take a look at the open letter that Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Wisconsin issued.  This is a letter that I urge you to download to your own machines.  He openly states that the scandal is homosexual in nature; it's the "elephant in the living room" that so many of the prelates refuse to acknowledge.  Why do they refuse to acknowledge it?  Perhaps they themselves are engaging in mortally sinful sodomy and/or they are being blackmailed on account of it.  Or perhaps they are simply cowards who don't want to buck politically-correct societal sentiments for fear of backlash or losing donations.  Pray that more bishops may face and state the facts as candidly as Morlino.

One such questionable prelate is Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta GA.  He decided to appoint three priests as "diocesan spiritual directors" for victims of clerical abuse.  One of those "directors" however, is pastor of an extremely gay-affirming parish.  This parish holds social events for GLTB "couples" and hosts booths at "pride" events.  Isn't this more of the "foxes guarding the hen houses"?

In the Diocese of Syracuse NY sits a bishop, Robert Cunningham, who three years ago opined that the rape victims of these pervert priests share culpability.  Mind you, he was specifically speaking of 7-year-old victims, giving the excuse that they had attained the use of reason.  So I suppose he thinks female rape victims are culpable as well?  Generally in these cases the perpetrator is bigger than the victim and can easily overpower them.  Did Bishop Cunningham not consider that?  Or is he actually trying to excuse misconduct?  I wonder if it's his own misconduct (if only his cowardice) that he tried to justify?  What is truly mystifying is why he still sits in that chancery.  Why hasn't the pope removed him?

Some of the pope's appointments have been similarly mystifying.  From LifeSiteNews, we read that he recently consecrated as bishop a Portuguese priest who supports a nun in her promotion of abortion and homosexuality. He himself claims that Jesus "didn't establish rules".  That of course is a flat-out lie.  To those who think that the pope could not have known this about Father Mendonca, I reply that is absolute rubbish and an exercise in self-deception on your part.  If LifeSiteNews could glean these facts that are publicly available, so too could the pope.

The Vatican finally issued a statement regarding the scandal unearthed by the downfall of a major supporter of the pope's election- McCarrick, of course.  The statement said that the Vatican is in "shame and sorrow" over the mess and to the victims "the pope is on their side".  So what?  Big deal!  Who cares what the Vatican says?  The real question is what will they do?  So far they haven't done much. 

Thank You, Bishop Morlino

Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison (WI) has asked the faithful in his diocese to receive Holy Communion on the tongue and while kneeling.  He wishes to have this transition accomplished by next autumn.  I haven't heard any talk of this, but I don't see how this can be accomplished without the restoration of the communion rails.

Bishop Morlino has also increased usage of the ad orientem position and he has returned the tabernacles to front and center of the altar.

This good bishop is to be thanked and emulated.  I believe the Latin phrase goes like this (forgive any misspellings): lex credenti, lex orandi, lex vivendi.  We are not going to have any real return to the Faith until the Mass is restored.  Bishop Morlino has taken important steps.  I hope and pray that many more bishops will follow his lead.

Prayers Of Thanksgiving For These Bishops

Over the past few days reports have come in regarding three US bishops who have been taking stands to restore Tradition in the Church.

First, let's touch upon Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison (WI).  In accordance with Cardinal Sarah's directive, he announced his decision to offer all his Masses ad orientem - that is, facing the altar and not the congregation.  Moreover, he made that announcement with respect to Masses in the Ordinary Form.  According to 1P5, when the bishop made that announcement, it was plain to him that the congregation was happy to hear that.

Another bishop who has offered Masses ad orientem is Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln (NE).  His diocese, as a result of his fidelity to tradition (and similar fidelity of his predecessor, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz) has resulted in a large number of men aspiring to the priesthood in his diocese.  In an interview to Catholic World Report, he attributes the large number of vocations to fidelity to tradition and to the prayers of cloistered nuns.  As I read the article, I was struck with the revelation that Bishop Conley participated in Operation Rescue during its early days.  Read the article for some cogent words of his regarding the current political and cultural situation of the United States.

The final bishop that we'll consider for now is Archbishop John Myers of the Newark archdiocese.  After one of his priests came out as gay and started shilling for the lgbt agenda, the archbishop disciplined him by suspending him.  Father Hall can no longer offer public Mass nor can he present himself as a priest.  The priest seems to have had his nose thrown out of joint, judging from his tweets.  Let us pray that he repents, lest he endanger his immortal soul.

Let us pray for these prelates, that they stand firm against the sniping that they might well be enduring from some of their more progressive brothers.  Let us pray, furthermore that others emulate their examples.

By the way - here's a video contrasting Mass offered in the Tridentine Rite against, well, I'm not sure what those debacles were.  Which one do you think will attract solid vocations?

Bishops - From Scandalous To Heroic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two Bishops Acting Like...Bishops!

In my previous post I focused on the bishops' conferences both in the US and the UK.  I am pleased to note today's news of bishops on both sides of the Atlantic speaking truth.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has made known his advocacy of "gay" marriage.  He received a very direct rebuke from Bishop Joseph Devine of the Diocese of Motherwell in Scotland.  From Lifesite News we read that the bishop called Cameron a "disciple of Nero" and wondered out loud how Cameron could expect anyone to trust or respect him.  The bishop concluded by saying "we will take no finger-prodding from anyone or any group devoid of moral competence."  To that I can only add "AMEN"!

Meanwhile, in the Diocese of Madison (WI), Bishop Robert Morlino has banned two renegade nuns from offering spiritual direction or holding workshops in any of the Catholic churches.  Sisters Maureen McDonald and Lynn Lisbeth have been dabbling in new age nonsense and espousing indifferentism.  According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Bishop Morlino has banned some others from speaking due to errant teachings - including some men (lest some accuse the bishop of sexism!).

Talk about a breath of fresh air!!