As If We Needed Another Reason To Boycott CRS Collections!

Last month the Catholic Relief Services, ever on the cutting edge of crusading for true justice and charity (Stop that snickering right now!  Shame-shame!), issued a clarion call to the Trump administration to address what it holds to be the most crucial issue of the day.  Is it the murder of babies in the womb?  Is it the ever-encroaching demands that flagrant gays are making on Christians to celebrate their perversions?  Oh, wait - CRS itself has been caught harboring gays.  None of these.  They are clamoring for an end to - climate change!

The CRS, with the USCCB, sent to President Trump a letter to that effect.  They said, "Sadly, environmental issues can be politicized for partisan agendas and used in public discourse to serve different economic, social, political and ideological interests."  They should know for they are the experts in doing precisely that at the bidding of their puppet-masters and sugar-daddies.

With the Catholic Climate Covenant, they are lobbying for support of the Green Climate Fund and Paris agreements, both of which really promise to be huge drains on cash as they further empower the United Nations.  I for one note with pleasure that the President plans to remove us from the Paris agreements and to curtail funding of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Some might remember the Catholic Climate Covenant as promoting a progressive stunt called the Lenten Carbon Fast.  I can no longer find their version of the "carbon fast calendar" online, but other similar calendars exist that feature the same nonsense as did the CCC version.

• This gem from the Global Catholic Climate Movement urges us (see March 19) to "let our dishwashers breathe".  Ladies and gentlemen, if you notice your dishwashers breathing, might I suggest that you call an exorcist?  What these envirowhackos do not consider that it is that "energy-intensive drying cycle" that sterilizes the dishes, helping to prevent the spread of germs.
• Some Catholic envirowhackos from Austrilia have their own calendar, one that has particular focus on their locality.  On March 23rd they suggest the consumption of kangaroo meat as opposed to beef or lamb because, well,..methane!  Need we go into detail?  Bad little cattle!  Bad little sheep!  Killing the planet via flatulence!

So that is one way that the Catholic Relief Services is squandering the donation dollars of faithful Catholics. Pleading with their higher-ups has proven to be an exercise in futility.  The only language they seem to understand is that of "$ ka-ching $".  It is our silence with regard to that language that they need to experience.  

Speaking of "donation dollars", the second collection for the Archdiocese of Washington during the weekend of March 25-26 will be for the CRS.  That is in addition to the lenten Rice Bowl shakedown.  As we are boycotting the rice bowl thing, let's boycott this as well and in the same way.  I suggested what to do with the Rice Bowl two weeks ago.  I'd suggest putting that same note in your envelope and dropping that in the collection basket this weekend.

Priestly Formation Document - Its Sinister Context

With this post I'd like to delve more into the problematic guidelines for priestly formation that were recently released; see yesterday's post.  Some good people don't see the harm in what was said in the guidelines per se about concern for the environment.  As I said yesterday, I think it's necessary to look at them in the context of other proceedings from this papacy to date.  Together they paint a very ominous picture.

In addition to Laudato Si, many questionable statements were issued and deeds committed by the Vatican, many with the cooperation of anti-life forces.  Recall that last month the pope addressed the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, calling for the creation of "a regulatory system that included inviolable limits and ensure the protection of ecosystems".  Will seminarians be brainwashed taught to shill for these "regulatory systems"?  Also recall how the pope waxed lyrical about the UN summit on climate change last year.  He, the Vicar of Christ, stated that the summit was "humanity's last chance to thwart climate disaster" and that the world is at "the limits of suicide".  Will seminarians be forced to parrot that crap?  Will they be forced to teach that "global warming is a sin" that must be "atoned" by recycling and carpooling?

Will they be forced to promote the Catholic Climate Covenant?  That was a bit of a fad a little while ago and may well make a comeback.  Let's look at the Catholic Climate Covenant in light of some very troubling facts unearthed and exposed by Michael Hichborn of Lepanto Institute.  Sarah Spengeman, Program Director of CCC, is a member of Emily's List.  That organization exists for the sole purpose of helping elect pro-abortion women to political offices.  The Lepanto page shows the online evidence.  Additionally, Spengeman's social sites show her to be sympathetic to women's ordination and homosexual perversity.

I bring up the matter of Sarah Spengeman for she is only one of the anti-God activists that new priests, thanks to that ill-considered "gift of the priestly vocation" thing, will be forced to promote (even if only indirectly).  They will also be forced to portray "climate change" as sin, thus obfuscating the true serious nature of sin.  In fact, the very acceptance of the notion of "climate change" as fact may be its own sin against honesty, for by no means is "climate change" settled science and it is outside the competency of Church hierarchy to pronounce it settled.  So it seems that our seminarians will be coerced into preaching a progressive agenda that has nothing to do with scientific truth, let alone the salvation of souls.

Goodbye, Archdiocese Of Washington Pro-Life Office!

Read the Catholic Standard announcement here.  Oh, it all sounds nice and rosy, with all lightness and sweetness.  But is it?  Consider that now they will operate under the dubious auspices of Catholic Charities.

We've written a good bit of about Catholic Charities in the past - some of it in the recent past.  Read below..

• In August of 2010, an agency of the Arlington Catholic Charities was giving assistance to an illegal immigrant who had been arrested on drunk driving charges.  That ended only when the man, again drunk, was in an auto accident that caused the death of a nun in the other car.
• Sister Carol Keehan (need I remind anyone of her treachery?) sits on the board of Catholic Charities USA.  At the Catholic Charities Centennial Gathering last September, she was awarded a "Centennial Medal".  Check out the link for the Obama-philes amongst the honorees.
• DC Catholic Charities' board is rife with Democrat/pro-abort donors - at least, as of last year. 
• Catholic Charities has glommed onto the "climate change" hoax by joining the "Catholic Climate Covenant" 
• Albany Catholic Charities did a needle exchange program with drug addicts.  No treatment of addictions, just the dispensing of new needles.
• Three years ago, an employee of the Richmond (VA) Catholic Charities took an underage client of Catholic Charites to get an abortion - with the prior knowledge of the bishop.
• A recent "Centennial Medal" awardee is Fr. Theodore Hesburgh - a dissident priest who has done much to undermine the message of the Church.  Read the link.
• Catholic Charities USA operates on a $4.2 billion budget.  About 67% of that is from federal grants.  Do you think that there might be just a few little strings attached to all that loot (which, by the way, comes from the wallets of already-strapped taxpayers)?

That's quite a dismal picture - and these are just the problems of which I'm aware.  Now consider that a pro-life ministry is being placed under the thumb of this left-wing group that is obviously beholden to the feds.  What's going to happen the next time another Keehan or Hesburgh is wined and dined at a CC function?  Will the good people who currently work in the pro-life offices be forced to attend, smile and clap for these pro-abortion dissidents/heretics when the latter receive awards and accolades?  Will they be able to speak out forcefully against pro-abortion and anti-morality legislation?  I think we know the sad answers to those questions; they'll either muzzle themelves or lose their jobs.

To my fellow Catholic pro-life activists within the Archdiocese of Washington, I suggest strongly that you look for avenues of pro-life endeavor that are independent of your parishes.  The parishes must necessarily answer to the powers-that-be; now that will ultimately be Catholic Charities.  I'm not necessarily saying that you should separate entirely, but you certainly should not confine your activism to parochial or arcdiocesan initiated projects.  Be prepared to walk away if need be.

The Standard piece is set forth as a happy announcement of change for the pro-life activities of the archdiocese.  "Happy announcement"?  Try "obituary".

Archdiocese of Baltimore Social Ministry - Brainwashing For Progressivism - Part 1

On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Archdiocese of Baltimore hosted its 45th Annual Social Ministry Convocation.  Instead of Mercy High School, the location changed to Calvert Hall College Hight School.  It's not far from Mercy, where it had happened for quite a few years now, just a few miles north off Loch Raven Boulevard.  One wonders why they felt it necessary to make the switch.  In reality, Calvert also seems to be inclined to coddle various perversions among its students.   Under the "about us" section of the page, we see a sub-header for "diversity, equity and inclusion".  We know what these buzz words signify.  From that page we read (copy and pasted here) "We endeavor to instill in our students respect, understanding, and appreciation for all individuals, regardless of race, sex, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, socioeconomic status, age, or religion. "  So in practical terms, what does that mean?   Does that mean if some young gal thinks she's a guy and changes her name from Ellen to Allan, can be admitted to the school under those pretenses and share a gym locker room with 15-year-old biologically-born males?  Inquiring minds (like donors and parents) would like to know.  But I digress.

When we discovered what was about to happen last year, one of our friends attended that thing to see how bad it was going to be.  The Archdiocese of Baltimore, regrettably, lived down to the expectations.  This blog covered that quite a bit, and the mess was written up in the March-April 2023 issue of the Defend Life newsletter, starting on page 4.

I attended the mess myself, and another faithful Catholic did the same.  When I registered, I had to write a $25.00 check to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  I was quite revolted at the idea, but did so to gain admittance.  The beginning prayer service was in full swing by the time I got to the auditorium.

Shortly thereafter, the beginning panel discussion took place.  The panelists are pictured to the right.  I will name them, left to right.  The first lady is Giuliana Valencia-Banks, Chief of Immigrant Affairs for Baltimore County.  She was not a member of the panel but was simply the discussion moderator.  The panelists are, moving to the right:

• Father Matthew Buening, pastor of St Matthew's on Loch Raven Boulevard and Archdiocesan Coordinator of LGBT Mininstries
• M. Gayle Briscoe, Baltimore City Organizer for Bridge Maryland Inc
• Erin Younkins, Director of Office of Life, Justice and Peace for the Archdiocese of Baltimore
• Jose Aguto, Executive Director of Catholic Climate Covenant

I will give some background on some of these people and/or their organizations, not in order of their appearance in the line-up.

We'll start with Ms. Briscoe's organization.  Bridge Inc, as evidenced from their website, is a community-organizing bunch affiliated with Gamaliel Inc.  I've written a bit about Gamaliel before; among other things, it is with them that a young Barack Obama got started in "community organizing".  As you read that anthology of posts, you'll notice Gamaliel's ties to CCHD.  To whom did all us convocation attendees have to fork over $25 to attend the little gab-fest?

Let's look at Catholic Climate Covenant, shall we?  Readers of this blog will recall that I've written a bit about them in the past. Exposes on them and other such organizations have shown them to be into the promotion of population control, one-world government, and earth-worship.  One can often get a decent sense of the organization by looking at its board of directors.  Notice that Stephen Schneck sits on that board.  At one time, Schneck was co-chair of "Catholics for Obama".

Then we have Sister Patricia Talone, of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.  They are headquartered in an office suite in Silver Spring, MD.  I remember several years ago that some of us picketed them when they hosted New Ways Ministries for one of their meetings.  A gander at this site makes plain their own disobedience to Church teaching on sexuality.

Moving onto Father Buening, some background is in order.  He succeeded Father Joseph Muth as Pastor of St Matthew's church when the latter was forced to retire by Archbishop Lori.  Muth had been there approximately 20 years.  During that time, he led St Matthew's down the primrose path of all manners of gay-coddling.  He even led a contingent from St Matthew's in several of Baltimore's gay pride parades.

After Muth left and Buening took over, many of us had hopes that he would restore some semblance of the Catholic faith to St Matthew's.  I am not so sure of that now.  During the panel discussion, Buening remarked how he met "holy gay and trans people".  FULL STOP!  One cannot be "holy" while continuing to reject the very nature of how God created them, and that is precisely what those engaged in sexual perversions are doing.  Moving on, he said his ministry was about "listening, hearing stories, accompanying people on a long and winding road..."  Then he lamented how the Church has been "condemning and judgmental...I started to feel very strongly that we as a Church need to change this, not just with dry catechesis, but love and relationships."  

Fr. Muth

Let me pause for a little unpacking. First, don't we all hear echoes of Francis in this speech, what with all the talk about "accompanying" and "dry catechesis versus love"?  Accompany?  To where, precisely?  Moreover, this "dry catechesis" is God's word and commands.  Without these being promulgated clearly and often, the sexually deviant person will be "accompanied" straight to hell.  All are welcomed into the Church, but all must come in via way of repentance, and that means repentance from sexual perversions of all sorts, including the LGBTQ categories.

The last question for the panel members was who inspired them the most.  Father Bruening stated that his inspiration was Father Muth, his disaster-laden predecessor at St Matthew's.  He also gave a shout-out to Muth for he was in attendance.  In fact, Muth was seated just a few rows in front of me.  Truth be told, when I first noted him as I sat down, I thought he looked somewhat familiar.  As Bruening spoke, the bulk of the attendees broke out into a rather loud yet dismaying applause.  Such adulation revealed the regrettable mindsets of too many Catholics. 

Thus the panel discussion ended and we all headed to various workshops.  They will be the topic of subsequent posts.

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!

Climate Change - More Sinister Than A Mere Hoax

Real Catholic TV has released its fourth episode of "Catholic Investigative Agency".  In this installment, they go into detail about the true nefarious nature of the "climate change movement".  Voris explains that the organizations promoting this belief fall into three categories:

1. Those promoting population control
2. Those promoting world governance
3. Those promoting earth worship

He explains why the "climate change" mindset has its roots in the eugenics movement.  By the way - if you haven't done so already, please purchase and watch Maafa 21.  Both this movie and this CIA episode reveal that eugenics originated in the U.S., and that Adolf Hitler was inspired by what he saw here.

The episode can be found here.  I urge you to watch it in its entirety.  Towards the end, Voris describes how the USCCB is being hoodwinked into promoting this dangerous mindset.  Some examples of their naivte include their "Catholic Coalition on Climate Change" and "Catholic Climate Covenant" (remember the lenten carbon fast?)  Granted, this clip is long, but if we are going to fulfill Our Lord's commission to bring about a Culture of Life, we must understand the current "lay of the land", and we must be willing to invest the time needed to gain that understanding.  In this clip, Voris makes mention of supporting documentation, which can be found here.  That too is worth examination.

These are issues that deserve close consideration as we all approach the November 2010 elections.

USCCB Admits That Money Is Behind Its Kvelling About Trump's Order

Although I saw the reprint on the website of the Diocese of Green Bay Wisconsin, it is an article published by the Catholic News Service - the official media outlet for the USCCB.  Read it, paying attention to the last few paragraphs.  Their big concern is the reduced funding that the USCCB might experience, along with USCCB jobs.

Now, once again, guess who's really paying for all this resettlement?  One of those funding sources can be found staring at you from your mirror.  Your tax dollars are being diverted to the USCCB for the benefit of poorly vetted "refugees" while many of you are struggling to support your own families.

Meanwhile, some so-called "Catholic" leaders scribbled off a letter to President Trump touting the "seamless garment" nonsense as authentic Catholic teaching.  With immigration are progressive pet projects such as abolition of death penalty, climate change junk science.  Let's look at some of these organizations, shall we?

We examine the web page of Columbian Center for Advocacy and Outreach.  Immediately you can see their focus.  They address the progressive hot-button issues, while uttering not one peep about baby-murder, euthanasia, evils of homosexual conduct, protection of marriage.  Are we surprised?

Then there's Catholic Mobilizing Network.  I always find it helpful to browse an organization's board of directors to get an understanding of the mindsets of those running the group.  Immediately we see trouble in the presence of Ralph McCloud.  Not only has he presided over the diversion of Catholic dollars to anti-God organizations as long-time head of the CCHD, but he was treasurer of the campaign for Wendy "Abortion Barbie" Davis to the Texas legislature.  Put his name in the search box at the top of this blog.  One of their sponsors is the Congregation of St. Joseph.  They too are all about progressive causes, with an unhealthy smattering of new age poison thrown into the mix (see here, scroll all the way down).

Regarding some of the other organizations, just put "Catholic Climate Covenant" and "Leadership Conference of Women Religious" in that search box to see just how far they have wandered from the One True Faith.

If anyone from President Trump's administration is reading this, please be assured that the letter you received and the racket emanating from the USCCB is not rooted in the Catholic faith.  Real Catholics are delighted that President Trump is in the White House.  Mr. Gorsuch's nomination seems very promising.  We thank the president for taking action to control the immigration situation in the United States.

Refreshing Change At The USCCB?

As I mentioned before, John Carr is leaving his post as Director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the USCCB.  As I wrote before, Michelle Boorstein thinks we're worried.  I suspect she's the one who's beside herself at this time.  A few days ago it was announced that Carr's replacement will be Jonathan J. Reyes.  He's a former director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver, who made plain his beliefs that evangelism and Christian charity are inseparable.  Moreover, he's a former vice-president of Christendom College, a traditional Catholic college that has yet to accept one penny of government funding.

Much of the Catholic blogosphere is overjoyed by this appointment.  I'm happy, but my optimism is guarded.  Folks, I just don't trust these nameless bureaucrats at the USCCB.  If they manage to hog-tie Reyes, he won't be their first victim.  Moreover, bear in mind that after January, John Carr will be setting up shop at Catholic University.  Those unfamiliar with the layout of Washington DC probably don't realize that the USCCB offices and Catholic University are within easy walking distance of each other.  Carr could still make his influence felt; the impact of a 25-year tenure doesn't just vanish overnight.

So pardon me for sounding cynical, but I'm not prepared to break out the bubbly just yet.  However,I believe the optimism generated by Reyes' appointment will be justified if:

• Ralph McCloud, current national director of CCHD (and former campaign treasurer for pro-abort Texan Wendy Davis), is fired and replaced with someone with traditional credentials similar to Reyes's
• Serious, immediate and palpable reforms are made to the CCHD grant-awarding processes - with transparency
• Reyes dismantles that Catholic Climate Covenant boondoggle
• Reyes expels Just Faith from the social concerns offices of all levels of Catholic ecclesiastical structures
• The mishmosh known as Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship is replaced by a clear, unambiguous document that clearly lays out the necessity of voting for pro-life, pro-traditional-marriage candidates and the sinfulness of voting for a "pro-choice" candidate.

This list of needed reforms is by no means exhaustive.  I'll be happy if he can make steady progress on these.  Who knows?  Maybe I can cease calling for the abolition of the USCCB!

Progressive Poison At Blessed Sacrament In DC

Yesterday as I parked my car on Western Avenue to attend Mass at Blessed Sacrament (just off Chevy Chase Circle) another Mass-goer came from behind me and parked his car on Quesada St, just outside the church's side door.  He got out and went in.

I could not help but notice as he drove past me the garish rainbow-colored "Obama" bumper strip on his car.  I realized he was in desperate need of some education.  Fortunately I always carry a supply of  Wisdom on Windshields.  It is an educational flyer that can be placed on the car of the obviously oblivious fellow Catholic.  I placed it on his car and went into the church myself.  I was dismayed (but not too terribly surprised) to notice that this man was the lector for the Mass.  By the time I left Mass, he had already driven away.

Before I continue with what I saw at Blessed Sacrament, I'll say a few words on behalf of  Wisdom on Windshields.  It's particularly helpful if you see such a sight but are rushing into Mass and/or not see the car owner.  No problem!  Just deposit a Wisdom on Windshields flyer under the wiper or in the car door (make sure it can't blow away).  You can download it here and have it handy on your own computer.  Print it out and always carry a supply with you to Church, as you'll never know when an opportunity will arise to educate an ignorant fellow Catholic.  Those of you in other areas of the country should feel free to copy the language to your own letterhead, if that will be more helpful to your local situation.  Understand that the distribution of this flyer is an exercise of the Spiritual Works of Mercy of Instructing the Ignorant and/or Rebuking the Sinner, depending on the knowledge/culpability of the recipient (which we of course have no way of knowing).

I resume my discussion of Blessed Sacrament.  I picked up a parish bulletin.  Because it was Saturday, the bulletin actually was for the previous weekend.  Here it is.  Now go to page 4 and look at the left-hand column.  Why, oh why, is anything by Sister Joan Chittister being put forth as being suitable reading for Catholics?  At Blessed Sacrament, is any responsible adult monitoring the goings-on at the parish library?  I ask not only because of their dubious offerings but because I understand that it was the library that invited both Chris Matthews and Mark Shriver for their book-signings (both of which we picketed, by the way).

Moving down to page 5, on the right-hand side, we see that Blessed Sacrament is touting a celebration of Earth Day.  "Well, so what?", one might ask. The problem is that the Washington Interfaith Network is spearheading this.  WIN makes no bones that they are the DC-area affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation.  As you look on their webpage, you'll see that they were "founded in 1940".  By whom?  Well they weren't always so coy about that little detail.  The fact is that the IAF was the flagship organization founded by Saul Alinsky himself.  The wikipedia (correctly) states that among the many people he influenced was Barack Obama.  He also influenced Msgr Jack Egan, who was instrumental in establishing the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Now not only is the bulletin giving credibility to Alinskyites, but notice something else about the ad.  They want to "reduce storm water pollution".  Sounds nice, doesn't it?  Well, the Maryland parishioners might want to take notice of that one in light of the "rain tax" with which Annapolis just saddled us.

I decided to take a look at this weekend's bulletin.  Go to page 4.  You'll see unabashed shilling for gun registration and the Catholic "climate covenant".  Meanwhile prominent parishioners sport Obama stickers on their cars and the librarian hosts katholyc pro-aborts to sign their books on Church property.  Boys and girls, what is wrong with this picture?

More on Origins of "Carbon Fast" Schtick

The blog "What Does the Prayer Really Say?", in their own posting about the lenten carbon fast, linked to my original posting with the comment by the IPL person.  Some of the comments on that blog doubted the responsibility of the Archdiocese of Washington for its part in this nonsense. 

You might have noticed on that blog that I had my own doubts.  However, subsequent circumstances removed those doubts, and I'll now explain them.  Immediately after I published that post, I sent an email to the ADW webmaster to inquire into the matter, seriously thinking that their name was misappropriated.  I instructed my email handler to return to me a "read receipt" when the email was read at the other end.  I sent that email in the evening, and thus was surprised to receive back, within the hour, my read receipt.  The very next morning, at 8:15am, I was notified of the comment from the IPL person.  I could be wrong, but I believe the timing of these two events is too coincidental.  Could it be that the thing was read, certain ADW parties were notified, who then put in a request that the comment be submitted to me?  If that's true, that indicates very close working relations between the ADW and this IPL group.  Even if that's far-fetched, we've seen no repudiation of this "carbon fast" on the ADW website.

Enough of that.  There's another group that has their fingerprints all over this (and all over this as manifested in other dioceses in the US and England).  It's called Catholic Climate Covenant.  Click on that, and the very first thing you see is the accusatory question, "Who's Under YOUR Carbon Footprint?" (emphasis mine).  My!  Aren't we just a bunch of callous slobs!  Well, we must be!  Why?  Because...because..well, they say so!  That's why!  And don't you forget it!

Now watch that movie!  It's hillarious!  According to this sorry excuse of an educational flick, if we drive our cars and run our hot water faucets, we create electrical storms and cause draughts and joblessness!  It's more swallowing of the junk science.  It does mention that we Catholics have the obligation to care for the least among us who have no voice - hold that thought!

Go and see who the coalition members are.  It's the usual gang of suspects: Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services, Leadership Council of Women Religious and - at the top of the list - the USCCB's Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development.  That's headed by - John Carr!  We've heard that name before now, haven't we?

Again, he has also been linked with the Center for Community Change, that has helped fund abortion-promoting organizations.  How is that helping to care for the least among us who have no voice, namely, the unborn who are slaughtered vis-a-vis abortion, to the tune of 4,000 daily?

Regarding the Real Catholic vidoe in the post below regarding the "social justice" scam, this is a prime example of which Voris was speaking.

Biden Says "Keep The Faith"

No, my fellow Catholics!  I hate to dash your hopes, but Plugs was not talking of his own much-neglected Catholicism.  He gave this pseudo-spiritual exhortation to environmental activists at a "Green Ball".  And why should the climate change nazis wax hopeful?  Because, in Biden's own words, the Messiah Most Miserable and his Minions Most Mindless will compel us to "finally face up to climate change".

"Faith"?  Isn't that a quality found in those adhering to some religious/spiritual tenet?  I thought the climate change folks were all about purely scientific proofs - so why would they be hearkening back to faith?  Could it be that environmentalism has indeed become - its own religion???

Well, there be skeptics among us, I daresay.  One of them is NOAA, who show that average temperatures have been holding steady for some time now.

Lent is not that far off.  Soon we'll be hearing clarion calls from USCCB progressives urging us to climb onto the Catholic Climate Covenant bandwagon.  We'll be prepared to skip that ride.

Left-Wing Bloggers Are Reacting To Uncensored Truth

The Catholic left-wing mainstream media are bunching their undies over the fact that  their monopolistic stranglehold  over the flow of information to faithful Catholics has been broken.  They cite specifically LifeSiteNews, Church Militant, and Crisis magazine.  Frankly I think that we  smaller bloggers have had our hand in this too, and I find it curious that they omit mention of George Neumayr.

WherePeterIs.com is a site run by one such left-winger, Mike Lewis.  In his post yesterday, he comments on an article  by Michael Sean Winters, in which Winters plays Chicken Little by accusing us of fomenting schism.  Apparently Winters is suggesting that the bishops, in their November USCCB meeting, address the all-important question of "to what degree are the seeds of a de facto schism being sown within the U.S. church?"

So that is what he suggests should be the diversion main question instead of minor matters such as:

• "How many of us in this USCCB meeting need to resign yesterday over our coverups and even personal commissions of homosexual rapes?"
• "How will we bring fidelity and discipline back to  the celebration of the Sacraments?"
• "What steps will we take to begin immediate obedience to Canon 915?"

But those things are such trivialities, you see?  They don't amount to a hill of beans comparied to facilitation of border crashing, governmental gun-grabs from decent people, climate change (more on this later), etc.

So this Mike Lewis doesn't like us mean old "extremists" spouting "dangerous narratives".  Let's take a look at Mr Lewis.  His bio sketch at the end of his site indicates Maryland residence - not too surprising.  Looking at his Linkedin profile, we see that he's Director of Operations at Catholic Climate Covenant.  He appears to be relatively new at that organization so he wasn't there when I and other "extremists" exposed their shenanigans.  Maybe had he looked at what we said, he might have had cause to pause.  But maybe they were right up his ally anyway.  Lewis is also a frequent guest on Mark Shea's radio program.  Mark Shea is another left-leaning pundit who has from time to time had hissy-snits to hurl our way, with language that some could call "colorful".  I refuse to link to his stuff for Patheos pays its bloggers according to the click counts accumulated by the sites.

We are getting their attention; that is why we are seeing all the temper tantrums.  We can surmise that others of good will are being given food for thought as well.

USCCB To Spearhead Meeting Of Katholyc Social Justice Warriors

In February 2018, the USCCB will be hosting the "2018 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering".  What will they be discussing?  How about the wanton slaughter of thousands of babies everyday via abortion?  That's going on 2 million babies in the US alone that have been murdered since 1973.  But no, that's not going to be mentioned at this "gathering".  How about the encroaching of gay sexual perversions in our culture as these people maul and mutilate anyone who dares to live by their Christian principles?  That too doesn't rate a blip on this "gathering's" radar.

So if they aren't taking of matters that are intrinsic evils and that threaten the very moral fabric of our Church and civilization, how do they plan to waste three days?  Why by talking up three of the favorite progressive fronts causes: racism, immigration, environment.

Go to the bottom of that and see who some of the speakers are.  Sister Patricia Chappell was at one time the Executive Director of the dissident Pax Christi USA.  Kim Daniels fancies herself to be an "apostle".   Here are some of the participating organizations.  Of course we'd expect CRS and CCHD to be involved.  We also see the Catholic Climate Covenant.  Look at what is included among the workshops: "Best Practices in Responding to Racial Unrest"?  Well, along that vein, I'm happy to remind one and all that the Messiah Most Miserable is gone from the White House and his anointed "heir" was roundly defeated; that should keep some pot-stirring at bay.  So there must be other workshops not listed.  In light of my previous post, I wonder if one of them might be "How SJWs can wisely use bribery"?  That would be taught by CCHD personnel.

I refer you now to an article entitled "Dissenting Catholic Charities: Organizing For The Left".  It perfectly describes these SJW-faux-katholyc groups.  This so-called "Social Ministry Gathering" is a "case-in-point" example of the efforts of which Mr. Warner wrote.  I may have more on this gathering later, especially since it's happening in Washington DC.

More "Inconvenient Truth" For Climate-Change Diehards

As mentioned before on this blog, many Catholics of the progressive "social justice" cabal have glommed onto the "global warming / climate change" hoax.  Either they're unsuspecting dupes or they are using it to advance their own agendas.  Read these posts, and the material to which they link.

Last month the Financial Post published another rebuttal of the hoax, detailing how the data was deliberately skewed to present the viewpoint deemed politically correct.  And for this the USCCB and some whacky nuns wanted us to unscrew our lightbulbs and eschew plastic bags?  Will they finally wake up and admit their error?  Don't bet on it.  Too many of their buddies at the Catholic Climate Covenant would then be out of jobs!

Nun-Sense From A LCWR Order

They are the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, to be precise.  Another blogger, Over the Rhine and Into the Tiber, caught a screen-shot of their webpage that clearly links to Catholics for Choice, who are obviously promoting baby-murder.  Go over and take a look.

Not too surprisingly, the Skewers of Charity pulled down that rather embarrassing link.  One might say they scrubbed their site.  But if that's "scrubbing the site", they did a lousy job because approximately 60% of those links are to some questionable outfit.  Here's a smattering from the "church and political systems" page that had contained the CFC link.

We start off with the American Catholic Council.  One thing I'll say is that they're honest in their disobedience in calling for "women's ordination" while waxing lyrical over "the spirit of Vatican II".  Did I say "honest"?  Maybe not, for while they bray and bleat about their conference in Detroit in 2011, they fail to mention that the Archbishop of Detroit forbade them to use Church property and forbade his priests to have anything to do with that mess.

Moving on, we see Call to Action (evicted from the Diocese of Lincoln by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz) and Catholic Climate Covenant.  We also see Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, co-founded by Sebelius operative James Salt.

We also see Sojourners, founded by Jim Wallis.  He recently came out in support of the perversion euphemistically called "gay marriage".  Also notice the plethora of "community-organizing" outfits.  Many of these you'll find in the American Life League's report on questionable CCHD grant recipients.  I don't have time or space to delve into each of them; I leave it to your initiative.

Last week it was announced that Pope Francis concurs with the April 2012 assessment of the LCWR by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  Of course many of the usual gang of suspects are having hissies over it.  No doubt they're surprised to find out that the Pope is, well, the Pope!  Given what we just saw - professed religious promoting baby-slaughter - these people are in desperate need of reform.

Rancid Souposiums

A monthly email from the Archdiocese of Washington's Department of Charity and Justice is promoting something called "Sunday Souposiums" put on by the Franciscan Monastery.  Some further research indicates that the "soup" might contain just a smidgen of rat poison.

The Franciscan Mission Service gives some insight about past "souposiums".  One held in January featured as its main speaker Sister Margaret Mary Kimmins.  She is the board president of  Franciscan Action Network.  Now read that home page for an eyeful of dissent.

How NOT To Honor St Francis Of Assisi

Today is his feast day.  St Francis is the founder of the orders that bear his name and by extension, the other orders that are the offshoots of those.  I link now to an article detailing the saint's life; of course there are more on the internet as well as countless books besides.  I'd urge careful, thoughtful study of these: first, to learn what his role in the Church was and second, to diffuse some of the pseudo-pious legends and sayings surrounding him.  The latter might be born of enthusiasm and admiration for him, but all too often the enthusiasm sheds boundaries of reason and actually wind up trivializing the saint's life.  I will now delve into some common gaffes:

• "He's the greatest imitator of Christ who ever lived".  I recently saw this on the internet, but it is by no means the first.  Here's the problem: a rather serious one.  The word "greatest" is an adjective of comparison.  If that statement were true, we must also admit its converse: "All other imitators of Christ are inferior to St Francis".  Whoever conceives these statements therefore sits in judgment over the sanctity of every Christian who ever lived.  That's extremely presumptuous at best.  Only God Himself is in a position to make any sort of declaration like this.  The following is similar.
• "St Francis is the most saintly of the Italians, and the most Italian of all the saints."  I suppose the first part of this canard is less innocuous than the one in the first bullet, for at least its originator sits in judgment of only those of Italian descent and not the whole of humanity.  The second part of this thing invokes some rather silly and shallow stereotypes of Italians.  I suppose it has to do with popular notions of Italians being spontaneous and effusive in their gestures and vocal inflections, often given to displays of emotions.  Surely these stereotypes have nothing to do with the more low-key, scholarly saints like Thomas Aquinas..oh, wait!  Last time I checked, St Thomas Aquinas was an Italian!
• "St Francis of the bird bath"  I don't see these so much now, but at one time they abounded.  This probably has to do with the incident of him preaching to birds, and they flocked to hear him.  This is one notion that has as an effect (hopefully unintentional) of trivializing him into a mere nature-lover.  The next and last one has no veneer of piety whatsoever and no faithful Catholic would be caught dead dabbling in this.
• "St. Francis the envirowhacko".  I wish I was making this up.  The environmentalists among us have arrogated to themselves St. Francis' name to legitimize their environmental idolatry, with all its anti-life underpinnings.  Take a gander of the job that the "Catholic Climate Covenant" has done with Franciscan imagery, being so arrogant as to call their pledge to idolatry the "St Francis pledge".

If St. Francis had to do any purgatorial pit-stop after his death, I'd be willing to bet that knowledge of the aforementioned lapses of intelligence in his name would have been part and parcel of his mortification.  Let us ask his intercession, and that of all Franciscan saints, that our Church be restored to fidelity to Christ's immutable teachings and leave behind the fantasies of the "god of surprises".

Yippee! It's Earth Day!!

Yes, it's that annual day set aside by envirowhackos to engage in gaia-worshiping debacles.  Sadly, but not too surprisingly, some progressive katholycs (like Catholic Climate Covenant) are participating in the idolatry.

Oh, I can see that some are going to whine and complain about how "mean-spirited" I am, and that I never help them out.  Well, let me set things straight.  Here are some videos to help us all get in the proper frame of mind to celebrate this most solemn of days.

Here we have Earth First teaching us, by example, how to snivel over trees.


Here's some music that shows the (lack of) beauty of the envirowhacko mindsets.  This is from a "people's climate march" three years ago.  I understand one will happen today downtown.  Hopefully the music will be better than what you see below.  I can't see how it could possibly be worse.


Finally, we'll end with an ode to Laudato Si by Louie Verrecchio.

Confess Your Ecological Sins NOW, You Rigid Reprobates!!

Remember Father Lefty Goodvibes?  Yes, him!  That post was a satire that I posted to point out the absolute banality of the "lenten carbon fast" that was promulgated by Catholic Climate Covenant and other envirowhacko groups.  At the end of that post, I expressed my hope that it was only a parody.  Sadly it's closer to truth than fiction.

We are hearing from the Scam-azon Sin-Nod that we need to "recognize our ecological sins" and come to "ecological conversion".  Now I'm all for not wasting food, electricity and other resources and for properly disposing of garbage, but what these people are proposing is just more of earth worship pantheism.

Speaking of "ecological sin", just how did these "synod fathers" get to Rome from their various homes?  Did they trek across the European continent on foot or horseback?  Did the ones domiciled in other continents sail across the seas?  Please tell me that they didn't (gasp!) fly in planes, thus belching all that plane exhaust in the skies!  The scandal - making such huge carbon footprints!

Here's a novel concept for the ones who persist in this nonsense!  They can advocate for the ban of artificial contraception.  Evidence now exists that estrogen from the Pill is leaching into the waterways, affecting fish so that they cannot reproduce.  It's a win-win!  They can preach against actual mortal sin while satisfying their ecological pet peeves!  Think that will happen?  Neither do I, but I remain open to being pleasantly surprised!

Meanwhile, Father Goodvibes' confessional light is on!

Guess What Today Is??

If you said "the third day in the Easter Octave", some might chide you for being archaic and not with it (whatever the heck "it" is).

You silly geese!  It's Earth Day!  Did you let this stupendous event go by, as I almost did (stop yawning!)?  I think we can be grateful that April 22 is during the Easter Octave this year; else the politically-correct yammering about the Catholic Climate Covenant would be much louder than it is now.  As it is, the nonsense reigns at Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase.

By the way - read about Ira Einhorn who claims to be one of Earth Day's founders.  He's a convicted murderer!  What a guy!  He holds human life cheaply, obviously.  Why give him and his crackpot notions any moral credibility?