The Dreaded Exhortation Draws Near

It has been announced that the much-dreaded post-synodal exhortation (called Amoris Laetitia, "Joye of Love") will be published April 8th.  All reports are that the thing will probably be much worse than originally anticipated.  It will be trumpeted by Cardinals Baldisseri and Schonborn - both progressives.  Cardinal Kasper, another progressive, has already promised that this thing will be "revolutionary".  Sadly, I believe him.

Here are reports from Eponymous Flower and two from Catholic Family News (here and here).  Take a look at these.  For now, let's focus on the one from Eponymous Flower, for in it is a phrase that I find quite curious: "The letter is the result of double Synod on marriage and family, which took place in 2014 and, 2015. It is to replace the Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio  (1981) by Pope John Paul II."

Replace?  This is the first time I ever heard of a predecessor's writings being replaced.  I can understand "being supplemented" or even "being clarified", but this makes it sound like the writings of a previous pontiff (and a canonized one at that) is being declared obsolete.  What gives with that?

The first CFN article states that we faithful Catholics must pray, learn our doctrine and be prepared to publicly resist the approaching menace.

Carhart Carnage Department - Eighth Woman Hospitalized As A Result Of The Butchery In Germantown

Less than two weeks ago I made mention of the seventh woman to be hospitalized by abortionist Leroy Carhart; that happened March 20th to be precise.  Exactly ten (10) days later on March 30, an ambulance pulled up to take yet another woman to Shady Grove Hospital.  That makes eight of them to go to the hospital as a result of an abortionist ripping their children from their wombs, and sometimes ripping the wombs themselves.  One of those women, Jennifer Morbelli, died.  Another woman died at his Nebraska abortuary and two others were injured there.

LifeSiteNews reports that this is the fourth woman taken away from the Germantown location since December.  I believe they are correct.  So lately one woman has been taken to the hospital every month.  Let's do some math here.  Say that Carhart takes in 8-10 women every week at Germantown, or 32-40 women every month.  That means that every woman who submits to Carhart's butchery at Germantown has at least a 2.5% chance of being taken away in an ambulance.  That's quite a high percentage.  Any woman who goes to Carhart is playing Russian Roulette with her life - never mind (for now) the fact that she is party to the destruction of her own child, with all the attendant post-abortive stress that will be hers for many years to come.

What will it take for the Maryland Board of Physicians to do their job and close down this hell hole?  Will another woman have to die?  At this rate, that tragedy may happen sooner rather than later.

Forget The "Tone"; Just Tell The Truth Unabashedly

Many of us are quite aware that because of political correctness, many of our so-called places of "higher learning" are nothing more than nursery schools for overgrown toddlers.  That point was driven home as we watched the spectacle at Emory University.  Slogans favorable to Donald Trump were written in chalk in various places, causing some delicate little snowflakes (laughingly calling themselves "students") to have emotional meltdowns.  Because they saw this hated slogan (careful!  I'm going to type it!  Brace yourselves!) "Trump 2016"  (deep breaths, now!), they grabbed their security blankets and headed to their "safe environments" where they could huddle together in fear while sucking their thumbs.

The Catholic Church is no stranger to this silliness.  Those of us who speak the truth have been reviled by others as being "mean spirited" and "negative", etc.  Note that we're rarely challenged on the substance of what we say, just how we say it.  I myself have received such vitriol and thus can attest to the truth of today's Vortex.  Because it's not in youtube format (at least not yet) I'll link to their page that has the video.

Regarding the flack that I've received, I've not been one to just meekly accept the bull-crap.  Certain individuals can attest to that.  Today's Vortex inspires me - and I hope many others - to rebuke the wimps/bullies who seek to silence us and to redouble our truth-telling.

Should Jesus have softened His "tone"?

Church Militant On Mother Angelica

Church Militant TV posted today a panel discussion on Mother Angelica's history and the legacy that she left faithful Catholics, especially those of us who engage the Church and culture in electronic media.  Again we pray for her repose and for her intercession and guidance as we carry on.

Mother Angelica Has Passed Away

The founder of the EWTN network passed away today, Easter Sunday.  I personally take it as a favorable sign that she has gone straight to heaven.  She suffered immensely during her last years, both in her illnesses and in the horrific way in which EWTN was wrested from her capable hands and deformed into a "church of nice" mouthpiece.  Both of these would at least have greatly reduced any time she might have needed in Purgatory.

We also know that Father Thomas Uzhunnalil was crucified by ISIS on Good Friday.  He died a martyr's death.

While we pray for the repose of the souls of both these witnesses for Christ and His Church, we can ask their intercession for the Church Militant that they have now left behind.  Eternal light grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

I post now a video in which Mother gave some progressives a much-needed rebuke.

Solemn High Mass For Easter In the Tridentine Rite

This Mass occurred in 1941 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Chicago.  The clergy are of the Order of Servites (hence the cowls).  Then-Mgr. Fulton Sheen is narrating for the video.

Pope Francis Revised Canon Law And Broke It Anyway

Until Pope Francis ascended to the papal chair the Pontiffs had always obeyed Church law by restricting the washing of feet to Catholic men on Holy Thursday.  They respected the authority of the Church that devised canon law and in so doing assented to the purpose of the washing as a reflection on the sacerdotal priesthood which is open only to men.  Of course too many bishops (mine included) have flagrantly disobeyed this canon law as they tried to portray themselves as oh-so-inclusive.

Ever since he assumed the papacy, this pope has broken Church law in this regard.  While no one gainsays his authority to change canon law, we must still acknowledge that there is a huge difference between amending Church law and violating Church law.  The former is done while respecting the existence and purpose of canon law.  The latter shows abysmal indifference, if not utter contempt for the authority of the Church and of the previous leaders who crafted these laws.

This past January Pope Francis announced his amendment of Church law to allow for the washing of women's feet on Holy Thursday.  While it is truly regrettable to undermine the linkage to the sacerdotal priesthood we do acknowledge his right to do so.  Now look closely at his statement that he made while so doing: "After careful consideration I have decided to make a change to the Roman Missal. I therefore decree that the section according to which those persons chosen for the washing of the feet must be men or boys, so that from now on the pastors of the Church may choose the participants in the rite from among all the members of the People of God."

Take note of the underlined part for that is crucial.  It does mean that those chosen, man or woman, must be Catholic.  That is straight from the Pope's mouth.  Those are his words from last January.

Today the pope broke canon law once again.  This time, though, he also broke his own word.  Vatican Radio announced that today during Holy Thursday services, the pope washed the feet of quite a diverse (Note!  My clever usage of the word "diverse" should win me some brownie points with the p.c. crowd!) bunch.  Included in that hodge-podge were Muslims and Hindus.  So he went outside the bounds of "people of God", violating his own precept.  One wonders why he bothered to go through the trouble of amending a law that he violated anyway.  Did he do so just to mock it?  I think that's a fair question.

Can this example of disregard for Church law be a harbinger of what we can expect when the exhortation is released?  Will that also be chock-full of "pastoral" changes?  If so, these "pastoral changes" often serve as trojan horses to allow doctrine to be ignored to the eternal peril of all concerned.

During this Triduum and Easter, when we commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus and the institution of the Church, let us pray that the efforts to undermine the Church from within and on high are thwarted.

What Has Gotten Into The Drinking Water At Aleteia?

Pewsitter published today two rather dopey articles from them, straight out of "church of nice".  Both of them purport to give "meaningful" (be careful of that word "meaningful" for it is full of subjective gobblygoop) ways of preparing for Easter.  One author shares how his family prepares by turning off electrical conveniences and using only candlelight.  The other talks about "being present".   None of these concepts are bad in and of themselves - but they have nothing to do with the essential truths of Easter.

Laced throughout these two pieces is a theme of "what can we get from Easter".  In fact the second author writes, "I want to taste and touch and feel every moment of this Holy Triduum, this pause in our year, this gift that allows us to celebrate the fact that we have been saved."  Taste? Touch? Feel?  Seems rather sensual, wouldn't you say?  It certainly betrays a focus on subjective experience.  Except for the word "saved" there is no hint whatsoever regarding eternal salvation.

I've no need to tell regular readers what happened.  Christ laid down His life for us to ransom us from the power of sin.  His Precious Blood was shed for our redemption.  He rose from the dead; Scripture says that was a type of "first fruits" of salvation.  Three Sacraments were instituted: Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Penance.  I'm sure I'm missing other important aspects, but "feeling every moment" and other "smell the flowers" stuff is not on that list.

Let's look at what's not mentioned in these two articles as ways of preparation for Easter - ways that have been promoted by the Church for hundreds of years.

1. Confession.  In the comment section of the second article, one reader does mention it.  It seems he/she wants to remind the author of that.
2. Prayer. For the first author, I wonder if family prayer was more emphasized.
3. Fasting.  There are 40 days during which that should be done, not just the last week.
4. Almsgiving.  How about prayer in front of an abortion mill?

On the surface, what these authors wrote might seem somewhat harmless.  However, if the most one can say about a given object is that "it's harmless", then I'd tend to wonder about any benefit from the same.  I don't think it's harmless at all.  To imply that such "fluffy-puff stuff" ideas are in any way on a par with authentic preparation for or significance of Easter poses serious dangers of obscuring the truth of our salvation.  Yes, we are talking about eternal salvation versus eternal damnation: truths that transcend "nice experiences".

I'd be willing to bet that similar examples of sentimentality exist.  While they may seem rather innocuous, I'd hope that no one would assume that the things suggested therein are in any manner on a par with the Catholic understanding of Lent and Easter.

Another Courageous Priest - In Montana

Normally I would be loathe to link to anything from New Ways Ministry, but they seem to have the only account of this incident.  Of course, being advocates for perversion, they will be putting onto it their own warped perspective.  I needn't rehash the entire account here but will attempt to shine the light of the Teaching of Jesus Christ onto the matter.

Two years ago, Father Spiering of St. Leo's Catholic Church in Lewistown MT had denied Holy Communion to two gay men who pretended to be "married".  He also expelled them from parish apostolates.  A number of parishioners got into a huff; several members of the choir, including the director, immediately resigned.

It seems that an elderly member of the parish also had her nose put out of joint.  Her own son was engaged in ongoing sodomite mortal sin.  She passed away and expressly asked that the choir director - who had stomped off on her own volition - be allowed to lead the singing.  A former pastor, who was obviously sympathetic to the gays, defended the woman's "right" to sing.  Father Spiering said "no", correctly stating that no such "right" existed.  Do consider that Father Spiering, as pastor, had complete responsibility for the occurrences in that parish and for the upholding of the Teachings of Jesus Christ.  He and the former pastor argued, but Spiering stood his ground, stating that he would ban the former pastor from the parish if necessary.  He informed the family that he would be conducting the funeral.

Enter now the wimps of the local chancery.  Father Peterson, vicar general for the Diocese of Great Falls - Billings, conducted the service and allowed the ex-choir director to lead the singing.  He himself is a personal friend of the deceased woman's family, presumably including the gay "couple".  In other words, he undermined Father Spiering's authority in that situation.  He acknowledged Father Spiering's canonical rights, but said the actions weren't "pastoral".  Don't you just love that word "pastoral" and how it's used to justify all manners of disobedience to Our Lord?

The New Ways screed closes by stating that "Father Spierling's minsterial competencies and role in active ministry should be questioned".  The fact is that New Ways Ministry is steeped in dissent from the Teachings of the Church.  As far as "ministerial competencies" are concerned, New Ways simply doesn't know apple butter from cow pie.  That won't stop them from calling the diocese and screeching at them to remove Father Spierling - much like they did to Father Marcel Guarnizo of my own parish four years ago.

Just as I suggested yesterday that we support Father Mann, so too must we support Father Spierling.  Many of my readers will recall the similarities between these two cases and what happened to Father Guarnizo.  Please - we must raise our own voices in defense of good priests.  Here is the contact information for the Diocese of Great Falls - Billings, headed by Bishop Michael Warfel.

Please spread the word.

From The Carhart Carnage Department: Germantown - Seven And Counting

Yesterday, March 20, at approximately 6pm, two emergency vehicles pulled in front of Germantown Reproductive Health Choices.  Shortly thereafter, they wheeled out a young girl who had started an abortion procedure earlier that afternoon.  She was taken to Shady Grove Hospital.  At this time her condition is unknown.  Maryland Coalition for Life has more detail, including video.

MCL urges action to move the political movers and shakers.  I think the other occupants of Germantown Executive Park Terrace need to be held accountable for tolerating this atrocity and murderous conduct in their midst.  If any readers conducts business with an outfit headquartered therein, please ask them what they are doing to eradicate baby-murder from their midst.