Yes, indeed! This is designed to coincide with Lent. This nonsense can be found
here. (Note - Should this embarrassment mysteriously "disappear", please notify via "comments" and I'll post it on the old website). Let's look at some of these precious gems of wisdom. The source of this stuff? Appearances can be deceiving; I'll discuss that at the bottom.
On Friday Feb 19, it is suggested that we go meat-free. Well, actually, that's not a suggestion, as the Church fast rules stipulate that we abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays. Posting that in this context obfuscates this morally-binding Church precept, especially since there's no mention of that on subsequent Fridays.
Look at March 1st! Here's yet another piece of evidence that these folks have swallowed the climate change koolaid. If you're in the air travel industry, I won't blame you if you have an ecological bone to pick with the originators of this, since they advocate that we not fly to our destinations (do they live up to that themselves?). On March 10th, we see that the USCCB types took a page out of the playbook of the Messiah Most Miserable and suggest that we keep our tire pressures set so as to conserve fuel, blah blah blah. On March 31st, we're encouraged to replace incandescent bulbs with CFL's - you know, the things that are filled with toxic mercury!
From where did this crap originate? Some of the culprits are obvious. One is the
Interfaith Power and Light, billing itself as "a religious response to global warming". It's based in San Francisco; that should tell you a lot. It links to the United Nations Environmental Sabbath Service; here's an example of
its lovely prayers to whatever.
That was the national group. The Greater Washington IPL uses the website
greenmychurch.com. Right on the front page we see a problem, and that problem is called the
Washington Ethical Society. Click on
that page and they'll tell you up front that they are humanists
In a previous post, I link to the Humanist Manifesto; read that link and you'll see why humanism is so dangerous to the eternal salvation of those who embrace it.
Did you notice anything interesting as you looked at that calendar? The home page for that thing is the website of the
Leadership Council of Women Religious. Go to the "mission statement" and look at the picture. What are those things draped over the shoulders and why does it look like the woman to the right is wearing a chasibule? Go to the "history" page and scroll to 1979. It sure sounds like Sr. Theresa Kane is giving what-for to Pope John Paul II, saying that she "sensed the need of some women to articulate their growing concern about being included in all ministries within the church." Yep! She was bucking for the ordination of women.
The name "Archdiocese of Washington" and its "Environmental Outreach Committee" are prominently printed at the top right-hand side of this thing. I went to the archdiocesan web site and searched "Lenten Carbon Fast". It does not appear in the ADW website. Moreover, the url clearly indicates that the Leadership Council of Women Religious has it on theirs. Is it ever-so-slightly possible that the LCWR is using the ADW name in an unauthorized manner?
Whoever authored this nonsense is only succeeding in trivializing Lent as a time of authentic spiritual renewal. Lent is a time of turning to God and engaging in truly beneifical practices such as increased use of the Sacrament of Penance (see our "Light Is On" post), engaging in prayer. If you truly are looking for sacrifice that fulfills just about all the Works of Mercy (both spiritual and corporal), I can think of none better than to go out and pray the Rosary in fron of your local abortion mill. To the right is a link to Lifeguard, where you'll find helpful hints and locations where there is already an effort that you can join.
