Be sure to click this link ("The Dolan Diagnosis") on Wednesday Dec 4th at 8 pm eastern time. He will address the latest Dolan gaffe about the Church being an "Obamacare cheerleader", among other things.
I just saw this as it appeared on Father Z's blog (this links to the pdf of the archdiocesan statement). Not too long after that came Voris's response to this attempt to silence him.
There are a number of things to consider. While Michael Voris is the "front man" of RealCatholicTV.com, he is not the owner. The owner is Marc Brammer who resides within the Diocese of South Bend (IN). That to me means that the website is under the jurisdiction of Bishop Kevin Rhoades, not Archbishop Vigneron.
It's noteworthy that the Detroit press release was not signed by the archbishop but by the archdiocesan communication officer. Both Brammer and Voris have made overtures for meetings with the archdiocese but to date they have been ignored.
So why, oh why, is the Archdiocese of Detroit rattling its saber against RealCatholicTV?
Could it be that RealCatholicTV.com has been right-on and upfront in calling out the heresy and heterodoxy within the structures of the Church (most notably the USCCB)? Could it be because of the various CIA presentations that have outlined the origins and designs of the CCHD, the decline of Catholic higher education, etc? You know, there is a bunch of dissident priests within the Archdiocese of Detroit advocating things such as women's ordination, and touting the gobbly-goop spewed forrth by such "katholics" as Hans Kung, Joan Chittister, and the American Catholic Council. They call themselves "elephants in the living room". This bunch has their own website. Where's the press release from the Archdiocese of Detroit to corral this bunch? I don't see it either. And some bureaucrat in the Archdiocese of Detroit has the gall to set his/her target sites of RealCatholicTV?
Or...could it be that the Detroit chancery thinks Voris is hitting a little too close to home? Perhaps the video below, detailing how a Detroit parish drank the "happy holidays" politically-correct kool-aid, hit a little too close to home - especially since Voris supplied the parish's phone number to call. Might this be the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" in the eyes of the archdiocesan bureaucrats? Click here if you can't see embedded video.
As you listen to this Real Catholic TV segment on progressives and their nature as social terrorists, think of today's previous posts on NARAL, Fr Pfleger, the mass media and yes, the Messiah Most Miserable.
As I've said on a number of occasions, I'm in front of a Planned Parenthood every Saturday to pray and sidewalk counsel. Several good people are also out there. Opposing us are "clinic escorts"; many of these are young college-aged women. Every now and then we see a young girl being coerced into the abortuary, terrified and frightened. She is obviously being coerced by the people dragging here there (boyfriend, parents). Afterwards we remonstrate with the deathscorts, asking them how they can call themselves "pro-choice" in the face of what they just saw. We usually see stony-faced stares. That's the nature of what they're doing. Some might say, "they mean well". Whether they "mean well" or not is irrelevant. They are doing evil, and that is what counts. It's in the "pro-choice" nature.
NEWS FLASH! "Nice" is not a word found in the Bible. It is not listed therein nor in Sacred Tradition as being a virtue! The same goes for "being positive". Here's another one - "Unity" is not a supreme good, as it must be based on objective truth. All that being said, here's some sober truth that we all need to hear. If the following seems harsh to you, pray to the Lord to give you some intestinal fortitude, some thickening of your skin, and some calcium in your spine. After the events of this weekend, you'll need these qualities, with fidelity to the Lord and His Church, lest you be swept away. Now watch...
Of course what I said above goes double for the clergy. We pray that you be true men of God and his Church, as opposed to minions of the USCCB, etc.
Real Catholic TV has launched a new series called "Catholic Investigative Agency". Its premiere was made available last evening. In this episode, Michael Voris takes an in-depth look at the history of Alinsky, "community organizing" and its entanglement with the Catholic Church.
One aspect of all this network was previously unknown to me. I knew Msgr Jack Egan was a disciple of Alinsky and was instrumental in the formation of the Campaign for Human Development. He was in Chicago, of course. What I did not know was that when Egan was finally booted out of the Chicago chancery, he was taken in by Father Hesbergh of Notre Dame! In fact, Egan set up shop there for many years thereafter. Doesn't that shed new light on the Obama commencement scandal? It's no wonder now that our protests availed nothing!
Please watch it by clicking the link below. It is about 1 hour and 20 minutes long (that's why it's not on youtube). However, it is well worth the time spent. http://www.realcatholictv.net/cia/
The underlying philosophies of liberals and progressives, according to Michael Voris, is that man's problems can be solved by man alone. They refuse to admit that man's problems originate in man's fallen human nature, fallen through Original Sin. Of course, they also try to erase God from the equation. We find this also in humanism; the Humanist Manifesto (in all its versions) is quite a study into their mental paradigms. We also see this type of erroneous mentality in progressives within the Church. They hold that the Church's primary mission is to solve man's problems - or what they perceive man's problems to be. Hence we see the money in the USCCB being waylaid to all sorts of anti-life organizations in the name of "socal justice".
We can also thank them for presenting to Catholics such horse manure as the "lenten carbon fast". Notice as you read that thing that there is no reference to eternity - no mention of heaven or hell, no mention of our need to secure eternal salvation, which has always been an authentic goal of Lent.
In these next two clips, Michael Voris talks about those Catholics who emphasize the "horizontal" dimension of our religion to the exclusion of the Divine aspect of our Faith. Of course we know the latter is the more fundamental, and it is that which will last into eternity. He calls those Catholics "practical Catholics". I won't use that terminology, since our Faith is in actuality very practical precisely because it is based on the eternal truths of God. Rather, I'll call them "pseudo-Catholics", for indeed if they don't adhere to the Magisterium, to the teachings on the Last Four Things, to the necessity for the Sacraments (celebrated properly) and to the Magisterium's teachings on life, marriage, and other moral issues, their faith is based on falsehood.
You'll see in the second clip where he makes it a point to show that these pseudo-Catholics or nominal Catholics within our structures actually cause a de facto schism within the Church. Some strongholds of pseudo-catholicism (I'll use the small "c") do include the USCCB (not all employees, but certainly the majority of the governing forces within), Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. Now for the videos.
This blog and those of many other good, faithful and knowlegeable Catholics (some listed to the right) have detailed the plethora of known problems with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Unfortunately, it seems that every few days another problem is discovered at the USCCB. I use the adjective "deadly" because the CCHD, over the years, has funnelled money to organizations that promote abortion. It isn't that much of a stretch to see that those dollars were most likely key factors in the deaths of those children slaughtered vis-a-vis abortion.
Below we will watch a Real Catholic TV clip to understand a little more the insidious nature of those organizations who chant the mantra of "social justice" but who, in reality, accomplish just the opposite.
Deal Hudson recently wrote a piece about faithful Catholics "throwing tea bags at the USCCB". In that article, he spells out some of the damage that the USCCB has done to the Church in the USA. This type of article, the videos from Real Catholic TV and the information found on various blogs (including this one, thank you!) are shining some much-needed light on some sinister cockroaches.
Well, now the USCCB and cronies are getting ansty and angry. They know the more they are exposed, the more likely the possibility that their power and wealth will diminish. Watch the latest video from Real Catholic TV as Voris expounds on this.
The US Catholic article that Voris mentions is here. Here's a telling comment by Bryan Cones, the author. I quote, "I get why some Catholics choose to be single-issue voters on abortion, and if that's where their consciences lead them, they should. But I still argue that I'm on solid moral ground in considering the broad swath of issues when I vote, as well as exercising prudence in choosing the social policies that I think will have the most effect for the sake of the poor and weak, including the unborn." That says it all, doesn't it? Frankly, it shoots his credibility right down to you-know-where.
Gee-willikers! Hudson gets this treatment because he sheds light on the misdeeds of the USCCB. Some of us are calling for the abolition of the USCCB. US Catholic, bring it on! As the video above makes very clear, we are loaded for bear! (Oops! I realize that isn't very "carbon-fast friendly! Mea culpa!)
In this clip below, Michael Voris of Real Catholic TV explains how the USCCB's cozy relationship with the Democrat Party damages the Church and undermines her teaching authority.
Let me mention something. Some have looked askance upon my calling for the demise of the USCCB, even claiming that the laity have no right to do so. I take issue with such opinions for the following reasons.
First, I point out that I and many others find serious and even fatal fault with the organization known as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is the conference itself that we find to be innimical, not the bishops themselves, who are the successors to the Apostles
This blog, and many others, over the past few months, have amply demonstrated the ways in which the USCCB advances left-wing causes. Such include its unconscionable support for the Obama Hell Care Bill, a measure that will foster widespread abortion and euthanasia should it ever become law.
The ongoing funnelling of Catholic dollars into groups such as ACORN, PICO, Gamaliel Foundation help foment the left-wing policies of the Democrats.
The powers-that-be within the USCCB that have actively endeavored to hinder obedience to Canon 915
The shady circumstances surrounding the beginnings of the USCCB
The USCCB, and other national conferences, are less than 50 years old, coming from the Vatican II Council. They are not immutable and are not immune from lay challenge
In the face of all the afore-mentioned points, the laity have not only the right, but the solemn responsibility to petition the Holy Father for the abolishment of an organization that has shown itself to be beyond reform and has shown itself to be a threat to the faith of its Church, children, etc.
I have, at the right, put a petition that should be signed to urge the Church to at least cease funding of the CCHD. Please sign it. Comments (even anonymous ones) welcome, within the guidelines. Thank you.
Real Catholic TV today brings us a history lesson. It points out that when Catholics were arriving in this country, they found that the Democratic party's principles were more in union with theirs. However, after the 1960s, the Democrats veered leftward as a result of the so-called "cultural revolution" (more like devolvement). The Democrats began to embrace abortion, gay rights and other moral stances at variance to those of the Church. The relationships between Church leaders and Democratic leaders remained the same, however. The USCCB was started at about that time, and the bishops hired many of these liberal Democrats to run the USCCB. In other words, the foxes were given the keys to the hen house. Please watch below.
We (other bloggers and I) have been looking a lot (and aghast) at the various associations that the USCCB chooses to keep. An objection to that examination that I hear is "but those groups don't define the USCCB and thus the USCCB shouldn't be judged so harshly!" However, do you remember your parents warning you, "you shall be known by the company that you keep"? The same principle applies here. Please watch today's segment from Real Catholic TV.
Now either we have to believe that the majority of bishops are a bunch of lovable but naive dunces, or we have to conclude that they are at least giving grudging (but informed) consent to the goings-on at the USCCB. If there are other alternative possibilities, please advise.
First let me do a little follow up on the seventh installment, where the USCCB's participation in the LCCHR's fund-raising dinners are discussed. A little digging around their website revealed even more disgusting detail. These fundraisers are called "Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinners". Indeed, the USCCB did participate in the 2007 dinner. As the word "award" implies, awards are bestowed upon selected individuals at this dinner (quite a common practice across the board). Are you breathlessly wondering just who was deemed worthy of such honor in 2007? Well, feast your eyes! Bill Clinton was one of the three honorees at that dinner, the dinner that the USCCB helped put together. We know that at that time, Bill Clinton was the most pro-abortion president (the Messiah Most Miserable has since usurped that title from him).
Let's look at other dinners and other honorees. We see Tom Daschle, Connie Morella, John Conyers, John Sweeney, Tipper Gore, Ralph Neas. None of these folks, due to their public pro-abortion stances are fit to receive any acolade from any Catholic organization. Yet the USCCB, as part of the LCCHR, has bestowed such honors upon them. Why?
At least one bishop is publicly asking this, and similar questions. When interviewed by Lifesite News, Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Oregon had this to say about the USCCB/LCCHR relationship: “I am not well enough versed in the 'politics' of such associations to make any criticism of the motives or justifications which might be provided but, on the face of it, I would have to agree that support of this organization and an active endorsement of its principles and purposes would appear to be problematic.”
Below is another segment from Real Catholic TV. Discussed therein is the "Catholic Social Ministry" gab-fest that ended today (hopefully with paltry attendance). Michael Voris examines the questionable organizations that were allowed to be exhibiters at this affair. He also suggests that folks sign a petition to reform the USCCB, courtesy of the Reform CCHD Now Coalition. I'd have to go a step further and call for its total abolishment, as I truly think the USCCB is too far gone to be salvaged.
In this installment, Voris states that the USCCB supported the LCCHR in its fundraising activities and was listed as a supporter. To me, that's reminiscent of the members of the Montgomery County Council who were listed as "partners of choice" in the program of Maryland NARAL's most recent chocolate gala.
He then sets forth the suggestion that maybe the time has come to put the USCCB out of its misery. Now I remind one and all that the bishops are successors of the apostles and their authority, as individual bishops, was established by Christ Himself. Not so any "council" or "conference", as stated by the Holy Father himself. Please watch.
I've already made plain my opinion that the USCCB should be abolished.
Below is a video that elaborates more on the recently-discovered link with the left-wing Leadership Council on Civil and Human Rights, along with an eloquently-written letter from a faithful Catholic who, like you, is concerned about the direction in which the Church is headed in this country. He/she vows to act, and so should we all.
The post below makes plain the real issues with which we're trying to deal in regards to the USCCB and its ties with organziations that are part and parcel of the culture of death. The John Carr matter is but one sign of the corruption of the USCCB; he attracts our interest, however, because of his high position within the ranks of the USCCB.
Some good people, however, are being hoodwinked into believing that this is "all about John Carr". One of them appears to be Father Frank Pavone, president of Priests for Life. Such confusion is displayed by this blog entry of his. Please read it and leave your own respectful comments; you'll see that others already have.
Tom Peters of American Papist, now CatholicVoteAction.org also seems to have swallowed the koolaid about John Carr being personally attacked. He states also that (and I quote), "the situation has not been helped, either, by the sensationalist reporting at RealCatholicTV.com, which in a recent report claimed that the allegations of misconduct at the CCHD was what Pope Paul VI was referring to when he warned that the “smoke of Satan has found its way into the Church” … seriously?" Yes, Tom, seriously. We are looking at the truth of the matter. If the subject matter being examined is by nature so scandalous as to render its reporting "sensationalist", well then, so be it. We take the truth as it is, not as we'd like it to be. Tom states that "I don't follow RCTV directly but American Catholic does" But Tom, you're the one commenting about it. Doesn't it behoove you to look at these videos? I'm posting the whole series as clips are published. Please examine them here, or go to RealCatholicTV's youtube page to see their whole collection. All, I suggest that in this case, also, to please leave comments for Tom at the end of his posting.
The title of this segment is "By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them". These fruits can be summed up thus: KA-CHING $$$$ ! Please watch.
Michael Voris touches a bit about the "Catholic Social Ministry" meeting scheduled for now at the Hyatt Regency downtown (and I pray that it is snowed out). That's in the news segment. Then he opens up the Vortex by opining that the bishops "don't get it". I disagree slightly. I think the bishops do "get it", but are merely playing dumb as part of their damage control attempts. He does, however, expose the duplicity of the bishops as they try to portray our examinations as a personal attack on John Carr. Voris makes plain that such is not the case.
Check back often, and look at the other blogs to the right-hand side. Please be sure to consider wisely your decisions regarding the in-pew collections.
Continuing with our series, courtesy of Real Catholic TV, we examine the nature (apparent and hidden) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Please watch below.
One thing Mr. Voris makes very clear is that the USCCB, as a body, has no teaching authority whatsoever. It cannot define Church teaching, nor can it clear up interpretations of the same. That belongs to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, which was headed by Cardinal Ratzinger before he became Pope Benedict XVI.
Another aspect that should be examined is their financial picture. On their website (for now!) is their audited 2008 financial report. Take a look at it, especially page 5. Look at the revenue section and notice the two biggest income categories: national collections and (wait for it!) government contracts/grants! That's not all. Drop down to the operating expenses section and notice the two biggest categories there: grants and donations and some mysterious thing called "sub-recipient government contract expenses". I'm not making this up. Add the amounts from each of the pairings. Isn't it interesting how the totals almost equal? Now just think of this unsavory reality; a great deal of money comes from the government, and a great deal of money is given to ACORN, CCC, etc. Curious, is it not?
By the way - you should be able to save the financial report to your own computers, as it is simply a pdf file. I'd suggest doing so (I did), since Mr. Voris has warned us that the USCCB website has been rapidly mutating rather rapidly to expunge "embarrassing" information.
