Not-At-All Catholic Reporter Gets Its Undies Bunched Over The Traditional Latin Mass

 I came across this on Father James Martin's facebook page.  As you can imagine, he too got the vapors over the appeal of the Traditional Latin Mass.  Here is the article: "In Came Latin, Incense And Burned Books, Out Went Half The Parishioners".  It's not more than a glorified hissy-fit, and it's an admission of their own failures as much as the appeal of authentic Catholicism.

One Mad Mom did her own excellent critique of the NCR's hysteria, and I suggest that you read it.  I will supplement it with a few of my own observations.  

First, my own attendance at the Traditional Latin Mass had been slowly increasing in frequency before the pandemic.  When the mainstream bishops cowered before the magistrates during the onset of "restrictions", the Traditional Latin Mass literally became the only game in town, as it were.  Only those Masses was I able to attend, if only in my car, and receive actual Holy Communion.  For the first 8 weeks, I drove 2.5 hours each way to attend Mass.  Of course Holy Mass is worth it.  By God's grace I have not had to settle for spiritual Communion once on account of the pandemic and nonsensical "regulations".

The NCR piece starts by quoting Maria Lichtmann, a "religious scholar".  I googled her and discovered that she has a bit of a resume, peppered with all sorts of nods to her own dissidence.  What would an academic career be without a stint at Georgetown University?  On page 2 we see that there she taught a course called "The Problem of God".  On the same page we see her affiliation with the dissident bunch Pax Christi.  On page 5 we see that she authored a paper entitled "My Search For The Goddess" and on page 6, "Saint Paul Reexamined: The Case For Women Priests".  So of course this woman would find the presence of authentic Catholicism to be "strange" and perhaps even threatening to her shaky beliefs.

The parishioners who abhor tradition are conducting Mass in an auto body shop.  Like One Mad Mom, I hope the bishop clamps down on that.  Anyway, the article quotes Father John Hoover, one of the two priests who says Mass in this setting, probably illicitly.  He states that after the homily, he invites parishioners to talk of their spiritual struggles.  Not after Mass, but after the homily, as in "before the Creed" and "during Mass"?  These shenanigans are prime examples of why these parishioners don't value the Real Presence nor Our Lord's One True Church.

I could go on and on.  Suffice it to say that both Father Martin and the Not-At-All Catholic Reporter have given to the One True Church an unintentional salute, acknowledging that their efforts to dismantle and desconstruct the One True Church are being successfully opposed.

Deo Gratias! Father Michael Pfleger FINALLY Removed From Ministry!

 Dissident Chicago priest Fr Michael Pfleger has finally been ousted.  I've written about him and his antics much in the past, and always wondered what hold he had over Cardinal George that kept the latter from removing him.  One might have thought his crack about "snuffing out" that gun shop owner would have gotten him expelled, if no laicized.

It took a sex abuse allegation to purge the Archdiocese of Chicago of a cancerous priesthood.  I do not offer an opinion as to the veracity of the abuse allegations.  I regret that it took so long to eject Pfleger and to end his spiritually poisonous "ministry".

Our Parish Times Allows Pro-Abortion Dems To Wax Sanctimonious About Racism

Today I picked up the January 2021 issue of Our Parish Times.  At one time it offered a refreshing difference from the tired propaganda found in the Catholic Standard.  Such is no longer the case, as you will soon see.

On page 3 we read of "The Persistent Challenge of Racism" by Carmela Cowgill and Bill Beard.  I did some searching on Cowgill.  At one time she was parish council chair at Resurrection Church in Burtonsville, MD.  Her Facebook page evinces a focus on progressive causes.  Most disturbing are her political contributions to Joe Biden and Act Blue.  The latter contributions were earmarked for specific candidates, including Chris Van Hollen and some non-Maryland candidates.

The other author is Bill Beard.  On his twitter page (wrbeardjr1) he describes himself as "husband, father, social justice advocate..".   The rest of the page is a progressive screed.  We see a tweet to petition the bishops to stop attacking President Biden, but further down we see another tweet congratulating Cardinal Gregory for attacking President Trump.  Hypcrite much?  Of course he too contributed exclusively to pro-abortion candidates, such as Biden, Pelosi and others.

Getting back to the article, we see that after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, several parishes formed "listening groups" to discuss racism..  I have heard no formal, official determination that racism was a factor in either of those deaths.  To make a long story short, after these gab-fests ended, they decided to embark on a "necessary journey to examine our Christian response to racism".  So they held "virtual racial justice sessions", complete with dissident speakers such as Sister Simone Campbell and Steven Schneck.   Recently, Campbell stated that Biden has a "very developed approach to abortion".   She calls rescinding the Mexico City policy and restoring Planned Parenthood funding "very developed" because she too supports baby-slaughter.  I've written about this "nut nun on the bus" quite a bit in the past.  As for Steven Schneck, I too have written about this guy who supports pro-abortion candidates.  His role in these "sessions" was to "examine racism and Catholic social teaching in light of the then-ongoing presidential election process".  I wonder just how subtle was the shilling for Biden during these sessions?

I just picked up this issue of Our Parish Times today and thought this would be a quick stroll through that edition.  It isn't.  How much more progressive propaganda will we find later?

My Challenge To Catholic Men's Societies

Last Saturday I posted about the sacrilegious attack on Holy Mass in Columbus Ohio, and the pathetic reaction to the thugs by the Mass attendees.  It appears that the men in that contingent simply allowed the thugs to run riot through the Church.  They were stopped only by the police; who knows how long it took them to arrive?

It dawned on me today that there are several Catholic men's organizations operating today.  Do any of them deal with these kinds of matters?  Are they contemplating any strategies?  I speak not only of the Knights of Columbus, but also newer ones such as That Man Is You and Exodus 90.

I looked at their websites just now and saw no signs of them even paying attention to such attacks - attacks that will only increase, given the current political climate that is our new reality.  They seem to be focused on personal holiness and family life, but that's it.  Ostensibly they are about promoting authentic Catholic manhood, but being an authentic Catholic also entails paying attention and addressing the spiritual and moral ills that plague society at large.  Last Saturday we had a case of those spiritually malevolent forces literally barging into our Churches.  How long will it be until they cause upheaval in your parish Mass, or even barge into your homes?  That will happen if they perceive passivity on our parts  - the men in particular.

In Spring of 2019, pro-abortion Mark Shriver gave the commencement address at Mount St Mary's in Emmitsburg MD.  I tried desperately to get a group of Catholics who would give a few hours of their Saturday morning to picket that mess.  I approached some men in my parish, but they excused themselves by saying that their TMIY chapter was going to watch one of their movies and discuss it afterwards.  I said nothing, but the irony struck me.  Here they were, choosing to talk about Catholic manhood while passing up an opportunity to actually do Catholic manhood.  I am not belittling the need for Catholic men to gather for fellowship, but I do question the reluctance to join a once-in-a-while opportunity to put their skin in the game, as it were.

As you saw in the linked post, I was not alone.  A group of young men from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition Family and Property were there.  These men are often out in the streets, confronting evil as they see it; I've been privileged to join them at Georgetown University, too.

In all of this discussion about Catholic manhood, has there ever been discussion or even a thought about the responsibility to defend against unjust aggression?  That is a responsibility particularly incumbent upon fathers and men.  Are these groups going to broach matters such as:

• De-escalation skills
• Crowd-control techniques
• Restraining aggressive individual
• Martial arts
• Weapons usage

My hope and prayer is that this episode in Ohio can serve as a "wake-up" call so that Catholic men will actually take up their mantle, even if it involves rancor and even danger.  Some persecutions can be staved simply by standing up to aggressors in a firm manner.

Lesson From Columbus Ohio - Catholic Laity, Time To Toughen Up

Yesterday, at St Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Robert Brennan was celebrating Mass for pro-life efforts.  Yesterday was the 48th anniversary of the infamous Roe v Wade decision by the Supreme Court.  About 200 people were in attendance.

A little bit into the Mass (probably during the homily), 8 pro-abortion thugs with signs barged into the Mass, making their way up to the altar.,  Bishop Brennan, intrepid shepherd that he is (cough!), fled the pulpit.  Please note that this same Bishop Brennan has a penchant for sending orthodox and/or pro-life priests away for "evaluation" and the such.  That might explain his cowardice.  I should point out that this Bishop Robert Brennan is not to be confused with Bishop Mark Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charlestown in West Virginia.

My questions about this situation do not have to do with the feckless bishop as much as they have to do with the adults in the congregation.  I'm sure the police were called immediately, but between that phone call and the time that the police arrive, much damage could have been done.  The thugs should never have been allowed to advance as far as the altar.  Not only might they have damaged property, but worse, they might have actually committed sacrilege against sacred objects, and perhaps the Blessed Sacrament Himself.

The article states that about 200 people, including children, were present.  Assuming 50 of those people were children, that still would have left 150 adults to deal with 8 thugs.  That's almost 20 Catholics per pro-abort thug.  I would also venture a guess that there were more than 8 able-bodied men that could have blocked and/or restrained those miscreants until authorities arrived, with others video-recording the events for legal protection and/or action.

I've been involved in several facebook discussions regarding this situation.  Some people are actually defending the inaction of the congregation, stating that "Jesus didn't resist" and/or that the congregation shouldn't be expected to put themselves out to protect the church.  They forget that the Church on earth is the Church Militant, not the "church milquetoast".  Others, I'm happy to say, understand that the laity need to start stepping up to the plate and to develop action plans to deal with these situations when (not if, but when) they happen in our own parishes.

I will now say a word to those who are trying to justify passivity, laziness and/or cowardice by saying "Jesus didn't resist when arrested".  Jesus Himself told us why.  He reminded the disciples that He could all upon legions of angels at a moment's notice, but wouldn't because the plan of redemption had to be fulfilled.  Therefore, this does not excuse us from the responsibility to resist evil and prevent sacrilege to God's houses.  I certainly am not advocating violence, that is, unjust use of force against attackers.  However, we may and must defend the Church and other Christians via blocking attackers and/or restraining them until legal authorities can take over.  Men have simply got to be prepared to step up to the plate.  They (and all of us) must purge from their thinking the idea that Jesus was a prototype of the hippie-peacenik of the 1960s.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

It is incumbent upon each and every parish to come up with plans to deal with these disruptions when they happen.  Under a Biden administration, these incidents will likely increase, so let's plan now.  Of absolute necessity will be the recording of any such events.  Have at each Mass someone who will bring a camcorder and be alert to use it the moment a situation arises.  The ushers should be trained in detection of potential trouble, de-escalation of trouble, crowd-control and disruption control techniques.  If they are unwilling to involve themselves in this, what is the point of them being ushers?

When I received the Sacrament of Confirmation, the bishop lightly slapped us on the cheek.  That was a reminder of our duty to endure and to deal with suffering for our faith, a reminder that we are the Church Militant.  I understand that feature has been removed from the Sacrament now, a sign of the lower expectations being placed on Catholics. 

Catholics of our generation (and succeeding ones) have, in a sense, had it too easy.  We've become spiritually and morally flabby.  That usually results in lack of physical courage and endurance as well.  We simply have to stiffen our spines, thicken our skins, and harden our noses.  We, each and every one of us, must get used to the idea of skinning our knuckles and getting some dirt under our fingernails.  These episodes will increase.  We need to deal with it - NOW.

So Now The Revelry Starts

Right now I'm just talking of the disgusting behavior of Catholic clergy, as they slobber all over President Plugs and the Kamel.  First the USCCB released a statement, which for them was actually relatively decent.  While they slathered it on thick with their congratulations and enthusiasm about progressive issues, they at least acknowledged, albeit weakly, that Biden's support of baby-murder, gay #mowwidge and anti-Catholic bigotry "would advance moral evils.."

Weak as the  statement was, it was direct enough to knot the knickers of Cardinal Blaise Cupich, a favorite of both Pope Francis and the now-disgraced Theodore McCarrick.  He harrumphed about it all over Twitter.  Apparently the statement didn't reek of enough "collegiality" for him.  Too bad!  By way of background, I remind my readers that this same Cupich, while Bishop of Spokane, would not allow his priests to participate in the 40 Days for Life campaign.  He almost carries on like he's pro-abortion!

Then before the actual inauguration, there was the Mass at St Matthew's cathedral in northwest DC.  Besides Plugs and Kamel and their spouses, several Congressional leaders were in attendance, at this invitation-only Mass.  Wanna bet that Plugs and Pope Pelosi marched right up to Holy Communion?  The homily was given by Fr Kevin O'Brien, president of Santa Clara University and a Jesuit (of course!).  You can read that drivel here.  By the way - take a gander at those pictures.  I don't see much "social distancing" happening!  Do you?

In related news, Biden has saddled us with the Paris Climate boondoggle and will strike the Mexico City policy and let illegal immigrants in.  This is just the first 24 hours!

Joe Scheidler - Requiescat In Pace

Today, January 18 2021 early in the morning, Joe Scheidler passed away from pneumonia at the age of 93.  He and his wife Ann are the founders of Pro-Life Action League, pioneers in exposing the truth of the violence of abortion via pictures of the tiny murdered children.

I was fortunate enough to meet him several times when he came to the DC area, and one of those meetings happened outside an abortuary where several of us offered prayers and counseling.  He was always supportive of our efforts to end the horror of abortion in our localities.

I will post below a tribute to him, created several years ago.  The narration is by Joe himself.  Those who really wish to honor him would do well to go to your local mills and offer prayers and assistance to abortion-minded women.

Please pray for the repose of his soul, and consolation for his family.  Also, ask his intercession for those of us still in the realm of the Church Militant who continue the fight for the Culture of Life, soon to be rendered all the more difficult under the looming Biden-Harris tyranny.

Rebuke The Sinner

The title states the First Spiritual Work of Mercy.  The properly educated Catholic will understand his/her responsibility to administer these, and the Corporal Works of Mercy, diligently.

When we reach out to others in prayer at abortion mills, we exercise many of these works of mercy simultaneously.  Some are emphasized more than others.  Today we caught sight of the abortionist of 1111 Spring Street, Silver Spring, MD.  He tried to dash past us, but he heard these few words that we were able to utter before the doors closed behind him.  Let us pray that he and others will heed our words of rebuke.

MD State Senator Mike Miller Has Died - Pray That He Repented Before His Death - Lori Reacts Disgracefully

Thomas "Mike" Miller, who was a longtime President of the Maryland State Senate, died today.  Regrettably he was just another poster-boy of the pro-abortion katholyc crowd.  In 1991, he helped ram through Senate Bill 162, a bill that codified Roe v Wade in the State of Maryland.  When I say "rammed through", I do mean that he twisted arms to get that to happen.  We pro-life activists managed to get the thing petitioned to the ballot, but in liberal la-la land Maryland, it passed during the 1992 election.  Thanks largely to Mike Miller, Maryland is now an abortion hot-spot, attracting the likes of Leroy Carhart.

And yes, Miller claimed to be a Catholic.

Given Miller's anti-life and anti-God tenure in the State Senate, why, oh why, did Archbishop Lori see fit to pen this slobbering "tribute" to him?  Read it!  What little crumbs did Miller toss towards the church hierarchy to inspire Lori to make a fool of himself?  "Extraordinary legacy of leadership"?  "All he did for the Church"?  "Example of courage"?  Is that what Lori calls Miller's paving the way for largescale slaughter of babies in Maryland?  In all that drivel, I detected not one hint that we should pray for God's mercy on Miller's soul; that is Lori's largest dereliction of duty in penning that slop.

Miller just died today so I'm sure funeral arrangements haven't been formulated.  One positive aspect of the Covid hysteria is that it tends to discourage large public funerals.  We hope that is the case.  Of course prayers and Masses must be offered for his soul.  A private funeral would be most appropriate in this case.

Should Hogan make an exception for Miller (if he does, so much for equal treatment under the law) and should any Catholic clergy participate in some gaudy extravaganza, we may need to be present.  At any rate, let us pray for God's mercy on Miller's soul.

Not-At-All Catholic Reporter And Its Trump-Hating Temper Tantrums

Here's one of their pieces of horse-manure, sniffing that Catholics who supported President Trump need to (wait for it!) "confess our complicit in the failed coup".  They are shamelessly trying to make hay out of the violence that happened inside the Capitol.  It is unknown at this time just who instigated it, and why the Capitol Police actually opened the barriers to those people.  But left-wingers are not keen on letting facts get in the way of their pet presumptions.

They list a few Catholic leaders and alternative media outlets as "having blood on their hands" for daring to suggest the obvious - that the election was stolen not only from Donald Trump, but the millions of people that voted for him in a landslide.  I for one congratulate those organizations and individuals who drew the venom and ire of the Not-At-All Catholic Reporter; coming from them, such vituperation is a badge of honor.  

As an aside, another NCR whine-session took particular umbrage at Father John Zuhlsdorf.  Father has rightly dubbed NCR as "the fishwrap".  The author, Phyllis Zagano pouts because Father has criticized her and other dissidents.  Let us cry her a river.

They do let off with a few gems of pure silliness.  "a pro-life movement unwilling to exclaim 'black lives matter' is not a pro-life movement".  Oh, really?  Does that silly rag exclaim that all lives matter?  How about the black babies murdered via abortion?  How about the victims of black-on-black violence, or are those deaths only tragic if perpetrated by white criminals?

Then they have the audacity to call Joe Biden "a decent man".  Yes Biden - the guy who:

• unabashedly pro-abortion
• supporting the trashing of authentic marriage, to the point of officiating at a gay mockery of marriage
• can't keep his hands off little girls
• is in cahoots with his corrupt son Hunter

That list could be longer, but you get the point.  The NCR talks of the "long, arduous task".  Will Biden even be in office long enough to do anything long-term, or will the Camel take over in a matter of months?

I'll soon be dealing with DC's Catholic Sub-Standard.  I understand that they are belching forth similar noxious gases.