John Sweeney - God Have Mercy On His Soul

John Sweeney, former president of both the AFL-CIO and SEIU, passed away on Feb 1st.  A picture from the Baltimore Catholic Review shows him receiving the Medal of Freedom from the Messiah Most Miserable.  Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why?

One of my first forays into street activism was a picket of a Catholic Charities gala at which Sweeney was being honored.  At the time he was still president of the AFL-CIO.  Ostensibly that union fought for the rights of workers - but they were for the slaughter of the unborn babies of those workers.  While he was president, the union demanded of employers that they include contraception coverage.  Their webpage linked directly to that of the NOW.  Of course the Review would jibber-jabber about Sweeney's faith and how it educated his labor advocacy while ignoring Sweeney's defiance of the Church's laws regarding contraception and the rights of unborn children.

By the way - if you read my other posts regarding Sweeney, you will notice that now-disgraced Theodore McCarrick was quite chummy with Sweeney.  McCarrick was present at that gala that we picketed.  He must have felt bad about the reception that we gave Sweeney so he decided to honor Sweeney later.  We picketed that event, too! 

The Catholic News Service piece was also published in the Catholic Standard.

Bishop Paprocki Rebukes His Treacherous Brother Bishops And Their Slavish Devotion To Labor Unions

In their June 27th decision regarding Janus vs AFSCME, the US Supreme Court stated that public sector employees cannot be forced to pay union dues when these unions support political positions with which they don't agree.  It seems very simple; the average worker should not be subject to extortion by labor unions in exchange for their jobs.  After all - the worker has his/her rights of association, speech, religion, etc, correct?

One would think that the Church would uphold that right - but a few days later, the USCCB bewailed that ruling.  "Why", you may ask.  The USCCB revealed how they operate.  They get a fair amount of $$$ from these unions.  If the unions cannot extort it from unwilling workers, well, that means less $$$ for the USCCB.  Let's not forget how much the USCCB is in the pockets of their sugar-daddy puppet-string holders.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki remains (so far) the only voice of sanity who reminds his money-grubbing brother bishops of what Rerun Novarum had to say of the legitimate role of labor unions.  Too many of them support abortion, sodomy and a whole host of anti-God positions.

John Sweeney, Labor Boss

One of my first forays into activism against the rot in the Church occurred in 2002, when some of us protested the Catholic Charities gala in the Dupont Circle area of Washington DC.  Why?  Because Cardinal McCarrick (heard about him a lot these days) was the co-chairman of the gala along with his buddy, John Sweeney, then head of AFL-CIO.  At the time, AFL-CIO was pushing for labor agreements that would provide for contraceptives, and their web page linked directly to that of NOW.  Moreover, we all know of the insidious SEIU; enough has been written on this blog.

When the USCCB goes so far as to issue such releases, they only show what lemmings they are for progressive money bags.  I cannot say they undermine their own credibility, for they long since forfeited the last shreds of credibility they once had.

DC Catholic Charities' Mysterious Gala

Today, at Mass in a local parish, I discovered that the DC Catholic Charities is having its annual fundraising gala this evening.  Maybe I missed it but I recall no mention of it in the Catholic Standard.  It is here on their website, but immediately I noticed something very odd about it.  Nowhere do I see mention of a keynote speaker.  In the past, they have had some extremely questionable honorees.  In 2002, for instance, they honored John Sweeney, then president of the pro-abortion AFL-CIO.  He had been president for several years and still the AFL-CIO site directly linked to NOW's site.  So given their propensity to rub elbows with all sorts of seedy characters AND their rather coy silence regarding tonight's program, we will not be surprised if DC Catholic Charities indeed grovels at the feet of some pro-abort and/or dissident celebrity.

By the way, I went to their facebook page to see if there were additional details about this evening's shin-dig.  I didn't see any, but I saw where they promoted the Soros-funded "March for Our Lives".  However, I don't see one peep regarding the Sex-Ed-Sit-Out that is scheduled for April 23rd.  If parents are going to let their kids out of school, the reason might as well be to prevent progressive poison from polluting their brains and corrupting their morals.  In fact, I don't see mention of it on the USCCB site or any diocesan websites; if I've overlooked one, please advise.

If anyone has any info on this evening's event, please advise via the comments section.  In the meantime, please boycott the in-pew collections of all these so-called "Catholic charitable outreaches".

The USCCB's Corrosive And Deadly "Social Justice" Teachings With Their Poster Boy John Sweeney

Yesterday John Zmirak published an article called "The Myth Of Catholic Social Teaching".  I commend it to your reading.  He basically states that the Magisterium speaks infallibly on matters of faith and morals.  Some issues such as abortion and contraception involve the direct commission of mortal sin.  Those are intrinsic evils; no amount of debate is permissible.  We do not commit murder - period.

There is also the matter of care for the poor.  That is a charge laid upon us.  However, good people can disagree as to the best methods to implement such care.  Sometimes it's clear that those in high places of the Church are exercising faulty logic in their approaches to matters such as alleviating poverty, etc.  In those circumstances, we are not obliged to give obedience to those directives as they do not carry magisterial weight.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said so himself when he attempted to have a letter delivered to a US bishops' meeting.  It said - in part - "not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion."

It is becoming all too clear that the USCCB advocates progressive positions on matters such as illegal immigration, self-defense rights, and even the atrocities being committed by Muslims in the Middle East.  I blogged on the muslim matter last week, chiding the USCCB for urging more useless "dialogue" with thugs.  I've no doubt that the USCCB dismisses my words.  Sadly, they probably also dismiss the words of Archbishop Emil Nona, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul.  He and four other Mosul bishops have been driven from their dioceses, along with countless thousands of their flocks.  He warns that what we see there could well be a harbinger of things to come in the western world - that means us, folks!  I will quote the archbishops's own words: "Your liberal and democratic principles are worth nothing here. You must consider again our reality in the Middle East, because you are welcoming in your countries an ever growing number of Muslims. Also you are in danger. You must take strong and courageous decisions, even at the cost of contradicting your principles.  You think all men are equal, but that is not true: Islam does not say that all men are equal. Your values are not their values.  If you do not understand this soon enough, you will become the victims of the enemy you have welcomed in your home."  King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has issued his own, very similar warning.

I think there are two things Archbishop Nona is trying to say.  First, the US bishops must stop their simpering and groveling pleas for "dialogue".  They are an abysmal waste of time at best and at worst, they serve to distract us when we should be preparing for real action to protect our families and our very culture.

Second, we must stop "welcoming them in our homes".  That means we must stop the floods of immigrants that pour across our borders.  Make no mistake about it; the bulk of illegals are young men, not helpless little waifs.  How many of these young men are muslim terrorists?  We don't know because there is no effective screening of those who cross the Rio Grande.  But again, we hear the USCCB telling us to "welcome the stranger".  Never mind that these "strangers" may well be murderers awaiting their orders from their muslim commanders.  By the way - there are reports that ISIS groups are in Mexico, planning an attack on the US with car bombs and the such.  USCCB, shall we "welcome those strangers"?

A gentleman named John Snyder posted an article on Crossmap a few days ago, taking the USCCB to task for their stance on gun control, given the threats of terrorism that are looming in the United States.  I quote one salient statement:  "USCCB should terminate its disgraceful support for the criminalization of private handgun possession. Such criminalization would eliminate the ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves from criminals, including terrorists.  Catholic clergy should abandon pacifism and see reality for what it is. People need guns for protection. As Christ Our Lord proclaimed, 'The man without a sword must sell his cloak and buy one,' according to Luke 22:36"  Hear!  Hear!

So why, oh why, does the USCCB insist on parroting the Obamanista's talking points on illegal immigration, muslims and gun control?  In a word, follow the money, for the USCCB certainly does.  I wrote an article for Defend Life recently (look on page 7 of this link), detailing the obvious links between the USCCB shilling for porous borders and allowance of everyone crossing the Rio Grande.  The money trail was so blatant; they aren't even trying to hide it.

There you have it.  One consequence of the USCCB's wrong-headed stances on these issues will most likely be an increase of murders, if not outright terrorism - both because they favor unfettered admission through our borders AND the removal of our ability to defend ourselves and our loved ones.

"But that's merely conjecture!" some might say.  Fair enough, but it's reasonable to believe this to be a very solid probability.  AND we have evidence of current corrosion of faith and morals by USCCB-esque social teaching.  That evidence comes from the mouth of the corrosion victim himself - John Sweeney!

John Sweeney
Thank USCCB social teaching for this!

Sweeney was recently honored by the AFL-CIO for his union work.  The erstwhile head of both the AFL-CIO and SEIU, at that award function, credited "Catholic social teaching" for giving him the impetus for his work.  I've detailed a lot of his work here and here.  The second link details the two occasions in which I led pickets of Sweeney public events.  I know I gave you a lot to read, so I'll close with a picture showing the beneficial impact of "USCCB social teaching" on John Sweeney.

Recall what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said - there are areas regarding prudential judgment in which we can disagree with Church leaders.  Many times, particularly with the USCCB, we must oppose them outright.

Catholic Bishops For Obama

John Sweeney - pals with
Cardinal McCarrick

I post below the jump-break two Vortex videos dealing with the dubious politics and squalid alliances of too many bishops (there are laudable exceptions but they are too few and far between).  As he talks, one cannot help but think of the horrible example set by Cardinal McCarrick.  Several times I've had occasion to picket events at where he was publicly rubbing elbows and chumming it up with notable pro-aborts: labor-boss John Sweeney, Ted Kennedy and of course Sister Carol Keehan.

With the second video I could not help but recall the disgraceful treatment that the Archdiocese of Washington (led by Cardinal Wuerl) meted out to Father Guarnizo when the latter obeyed Canon 915 in February 2012 at my church (see my Feb/March postings).  Is it any wonder that western civilization is heading towards hell in a handbasket?

To watch the videos

CUA Faculty Affiliated With Catholics For Obama

My colleague, "An Archdiocese of Washington DC Catholic" pointed out that Mark Tuohey, a CUA faculty member, is affiliated with Catholics for Obama.  Well, so is fellow CUA professor Stephen Schneck.  Both, by the way, are also on the Board of Directors for Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good,

Look in the middle of the page - Sister Jamie T. Phelps.  Sister??  Here's a brief biography - she too has been affiliated with CUA.  Will her Dominican superiors speak truth to her?  Don't hold your breath!

Also notice that John Sweeney, buddy of Cardinal McCarrick, has voiced his support for a pro-baby-murder candidate.  I'm not surprised.

It looks like we might have to boycott the second collection for CUA - until its leadership finds the will to rein in (or maybe fire) its pro-abortion faculty.

CCHD And Planned Parenthood - Both With Ties To SEIU

Planned Parenthood and the Service Employees' International Union have some interesting ties.  For instance, PP of Oregon voted to unionize under SEIU.  That article intimates that other PP affiliates may consider unionizing with the SEIU.  One might wonder why Planned Parenthood employees might be motivated to unionize.  There have been no scandalous complaints regarding wages or other such matters (at least, none that have been allowed to make the news).  Another tie between the two organizations might explain matters a bit.  Kirk Adams, SEIU's International Executive Vice President and Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, are husband and wife.

Prior to her tenure at Planned Parenthood, Richards was president of America Votes, a coalition of progressive organizations to elect progressive candidates (including the Messiah Most Miserable).  Andy Stern, a past president of SEIU, was a driving force behind its founding.  That's another significant SEIU/Planned Parenthood tie.  I'd like to point out now that while he was at SEIU, Stern had an assistant named Tom Chabolla.  He still serves in that capacity to the current SEIU president.


John Sweeney, Oct 2008



Here is a sketch of Kirk Adam's professional career.  As you read it, you'll notice that he went back and forth between SEIU and the AFL-CIO.  Someone else did that, too.  Remember John Sweeney?  He was president of SEIU, then moved on to be president of the AFL-CIO.  He's also quite chummy with Cardinal McCarrick of Washington, DC.  In 2002, Sweeney and his wife, along with the Cardinal, were co-chairs at the annual Catholic Charities gala.  Several months later, Cardinal McCarrick honored Sweeney at a Mass at St Mary's Church in DC, just outside Chinatown.  Because Sweeney supported abortion and gay rights, I led pickets of both events.   Last February, Sweeney received the Medal of Freedom from the Messiah Most Miserable himself.  Perhaps the picture of Sweeney to the right sheds some light as to why Obama might have been so inclined to honor Sweeney.

So what does this have to do with the Catholic Church?  More than one might think.  For instance, prior to his present position, Chabolla served as Associate Director of Programs for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  John Sweeney is a consultant for the USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, which oversees the CCHD.

So the CCHD seems to have in common with Planned Parenthood a purpose to further the leftist aims of the SEIU, AFL-CIO and other organizations: aims to normalize baby-murder, sodomy, and the usurpation of God's role in our lives by an increasingly atheistic government. 

Please consider these reasons sufficient to boycott your next CCHD collection.

Gay-Rights Advocate Influences USCCB

In one of their postings yesterday, Lifesite News published a litany of the insults to the Faith proffered by John Sweeney, president emeritus of the AFL-CIO.  I link to it here.  I've commented on many of the items listed therein, but they bear repeating.  It must also be stressed that this man continues to exert considerable influence at the USCCB - particularly in the CCHD office - acting as a consultant to the USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.  No one who shills for the homosexual lobby has any place consulting the bishops on the shoelaces to put in their shoes, let alone "domestic justice".

Not only have I written on this man before (both here and on my earlier web page), I've led two pickets of Catholic functions at which Sweeney was specifically honored.  Present at both those events was Cardinal McCarrick.  His Eminence has displayed regretable tendencies to hang out (often flagrantly) with Catholics who support abortion and sodomy - but I digress. 

Here are links from three earlier blog posts.
http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2011/02/and-speaking-of-zombies.html
http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2011/04/dissent-fest-at-catholic-university-of.html
http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2011/05/sweeney-gets-dressed-down-at-cua.html

When I started the website, I linked to a letter that I sent to Cardinal McCarrick, expressing concerns held not only by me, but by many faithful Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington.  Here it is.  Note items 4, 7 and 11.  All have to do with John Sweeney; 4 & 11 describe the two picketed events.

Despite all this, John Sweeney continues to enjoy a place of considerable influence over the CCHD.  Did I say "Despite"?  Perhaps I should have said "Because of".  I no longer believe that the denizens of the USCCB are ignorant of a mole in their midst.  I now realize that they are merely welcoming the kindred spirit that they see in John Sweeney.

This is all the more reason why not only the CCHD, but the USCCB should be dismantled.  At any rate, not one red penny should be given to the CCHD second collection (for those localities who have not yet had that collection yet).

Sweeney Gets Dressed Down At CUA Symposium

In late April, I advised you of a "symposium" on Rerum Novarum to be held at Catholic University of America on May 2-3.  I opined that it would be nothing more than a progressive brain-washing session.  It turns out that is precisely what it was, and the speakers didn't bother to conceal their agendas.

Accuracy in Media has a report on what transpired.  (By the way - I forgot to mention in that April post that prior to his taking over the AFL-CIO, Sweeney was CEO of the SEIU).  Sweeney went into a tirade about the governor of Wisconsin reining in the runaway unions there, going so far as to insinuate (incorrectly) that Scott Walker was out of step with Jesus Christ Himself (Of course the "separation of church and state" crowd has uttered not a peep - surprised?  But I digress).  Behaving like the typical arrogant progressive wonk, he then proceeded to badmouth the Catholic University itself, calling them "union-busters".  Watch that video on the AIM site, as well as the others.  For those who can't see embedded video, click here for the Sweeney clip.

But apparently Sweeney got his comeuppance right then and there.  CUA officials read a statement that accused Sweeney of lying, leaving Sweeney stunned into silence.  Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at that meeting!   Now here's some more delicious irony.  That statement was read by Stephen Schenk, chair of the department that sponsored the symposium.  He apparently was ordered to read that, and he must have done so reluctantly.  Bear in mind that Schenk sits on the board of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good - a group that draws significant funding from George Soros.  Moreover, he was one of the lead writers in the letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner that accused him of being out of step with Church teaching. 

I'm sensing a common theme here.  Various progressive wonks with ties to progressive atheist billionare George Soros accuse conservative officials of "not following Catholic teaching" because they don't throw money at unions and governmental bureaucracies.  Georgy-boy seems to have lots of fingers in lots of pies, doesn't he?

Getting back to the rebuke that Sweeney received, I haven't learned yet of where a full text of that can be reviewed.  I'd love to see it.  My hat's off to the CUA officials who caused that to be read to Sweeney's face.  I only hope that Cardinal Emeritus McCarrick doesn't see fit to assuage Sweeney's ego with some "honor", as he did when twice we picketed Sweeney in past years.

If that doesn't happen, there's hope!  Perhaps Sweeney can pop over to the "church of earthaluia" and do some duets with Bertha Lewis (see preceding post).  That might be a nice career move for him!

Dissent-Fest At Catholic University Of America, May 2-3

Catholic University of America is hosting a conference entitled “120th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum: Church, Labor, and the New Things of the Modern World."  It will be held at the Edward J. Pryzbyla Center from May 2 till May 3.  More details can be found on this CUA page.

What we really have here is another venue from which to plug a progressive, socialistic mindset that masquerades as authentic Catholic social teaching.  It is anything but real teaching.  Let's look at the gang of usual supects that are some of the speakers at this thing.  It is quite eye-opening!

And Speaking Of "Zombies",

I read the February 24th edition of the Catholic Standard and was once again appalled at the zombie-esque chanting of the liberal/progressive mantras that polluted the pages of a supposedly "Catholic" publication.  Where to begin?  I suppose it doesn't matter, since all this mess has a common theme.

This is a long read, so....