Good Bishop From Paraguay Being Thrown Under The Bus

Bishop Rogelio Livieres of the Diocese of Ciudad del Este in Paraguay has seen his priestly ordinations suspended pending the pope's decision about an alleged situation in that diocese.  It seems that a priest who had been serving in the diocese of Scranton PA and allegations arose of sexual misconduct.  It is alleged that then-Bishop Joseph Martino had the priest (Carlos Urrutigoity) transferred to Paraguay.  Bishop Livieres has defended Father Urrutigoity, stating that the allegations are unproven.

It should be pointed out that Bishop Livieres is a strong opponent of liberation theology and a strong proponent of the Latin Mass.  The number of vocations from his diocese exceeds those of the neighboring diocese.  It has also been said that Bishop Livieres took one of his fellow bishops to task owing to the latter's sexual misbehaviors.

So we have a bishop who has instilled real Catholic life into his diocese and who has not thrown a priest under the bus without due process.  For that, the long knives are pointed at him.  By the way - several years ago we had a similar situation in the United States - Scranton PA, to be precise.  The target of USCCB venom was Bishop Joseph Martino, mentioned earlier in this post.  To get some background, I'll link to my older website.  Scroll down till you see "A Real Bishop in Scranton PA".  This is no coincidence, in my opinion.  If Father Urrutigoity was involved in scandalous behavior, he's still entitled to due process and not just condemnation by innuendo.  Is the antipathy towards Father Urrutigoity, who was assisted by both Bishops Martino and Liveres, supposed to be a warning to any other bishop who may decided to remember he's Catholic and not a progressive "liberation theology" hack?

Some VERY Different Bishops

I relate below some recent incidents regarding three US bishops: one disgraceful and the other two causes for rejoicing.  I'll start with the bad news first.

Sit down, please.  Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York praised a college football star for coming out as gay.  You read that correctly.  Michael Sam of the University of Missouri football team announced he was gay.  This is Cardinal Dolan's response: "Good for him.  I would have no sense of judgment on him. God bless ya. I don't think, look, the same Bible that tells us, that teaches us well about the virtues of chastity and the virtue of fidelity and marriage also tells us not to judge people. So I would say, 'Bravo.'"

We do understand that Cdl Dolan is congratulating the young man for celebrating his mortal sin?  He claims to have "no sense of judgment".  Yes he does - only the "good for him" is a positive judgment on this young man's road to eternal perdition.  He will bear responsibility for Sam's soul if he doesn't remember he's a bishop.  But enough of him.

Bishop Michael Barber of the Diocese of Oakland (CA) dismissed two dissident priests from Newman Hall.  One of them is openly gay.  This diocese, being in California, is heavily infested with homophiles.  They are in a snit.  Let's pray and thank the good bishop for beginning the purging process in his newly assigned diocese.

A little north of that in the Archdiocese of Portland, Archbishop Alexander Sample announced that his archdiocese would join the coalition to oppose same-sex "marriage".  There is a ballot initiative afoot to that effect.  You will notice that the article to which I linked has a decidedly progressive slant.  Again, thanks and prayers are in order.  Recall that four years ago, when Archbishop Sample was Bishop of Marquette, he asked wildly-dissident Bishop Thomas Gumbleton not to speak in his diocese.  Sample cited Gumbleton's erroneous positions on homosexuality and women's "ordination" as reasons.

Bishop Paprocki Administers Truth To His Flock And Draws Ire Of Progressive Reprobates

On June 12th the Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield (IL) issued guidelines to his churches regarding those who openly flout Church teaching to the detriment of their souls.  I link to the original letter now.  Among other things, he has instructed his priests to obey Canon 915.  For ease of reference, I'll copy/paste it below.

Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

That's not so complicated, is it?  Among other things the canon means that those who are flaunting themselves in their commission of mortal sins are not to be assisted by the ministers of Holy Communion in the commission of sacrilege against the Eucharist.  The purpose of this is several-fold:

• It prevents the sinner from incurring the guilt of yet another mortal sin.
• It protects the Eucharist from profanation.
• It prevents scandal to other faithful Catholics
• It hopefully will drive home to the flagrant sinner the need to repent and to make a good confession so as to escape the danger of eternal damnation.

With all the talk we're hearing about "mercy", we can see that the application of Canon 915 is an act of mercy.  However, some progressives who call themselves "catholic" are in a blather over the good bishop's much-needed directives.  I link now to one such hissy-fit at New Ways Ministry.  I'll highlight one paragraph that illustrates the author's (Robert Shine) abysmal grasp of both reading comprehension and basic Catholic morality.

It is discrimination to target LGBT people when, in a certain sense, all Catholics could be deemed “manifest sinners.” Who among us, including Bishop Paprocki, does not publicly sin at different moments? Yet, funeral rites are not denied to Catholics who pay employees an unjust wage, publicly advocate for the death penalty, or deny climate change.

Please refer to Canon 915, as written in its clear, concise manner.  Shine completely, and I think deliberately omits key descriptors of the sins that would call for the remedy of Canon 915.  Those descriptors are, "obstinately persevering", and "grave".  Shine is right; faithful Catholics do openly sin from time to time.  However, these faithful Catholics will not "obstinately persevere" and most likely the sins will not be "grave" but venial.  As we do have decent dreads of sin and its impact in our lives, we will get ourselves to Confession as soon as possible and we will make amends.  Thus the remedy of Canon 915 is not appropriate in those cases.

Shine also makes another error in assuming that liberal positions on several pet issues of the progressives, e.g., death penalty and climate change, are binding on the Catholic conscience.  They are not.  In fact, I've gone to great lengths to detail why I believe the progressive position on the death penalty may in fact be a sin.  To insinuate that divergence from these liberal positions warrant denial from Holy Communion is to sin against honesty and the Traditions of Holy Mother Church.

Let us recall, of course, that New Ways Ministry has itself been condemned by the Church and its dribblings carry no weight whatsoever.  However, it is helpful to see the intensity with which they wail and gnash their teeth when a Catholic bishop such as Bishop Paprocki is faithful to his sacred trust and utilizes his authority to protect his flock from the wolves of progressivism and heresy.

Good Bishop Or Bad Bishop?

Today's Vortex touches upon the question of what constitutes a "good" bishop versus a "bad" bishop.  At 6:00 he quotes from Pope Francis.  This blog and many others attempt to fulfill that suggestion - and humbly implore "the milk of grace, of doctrine and of guidance" - without obfuscation or confusion - from the Holy Father.

Long Knives Out For Another Good Bishop AND Franciscan Friars Of The Immaculate

We've seen the unceremonious sacking of both Cardinal Burke and Bishop Livieres of Paraguay.  Now it looks as though Bishop Robert Finn is the latest in the progressive cross-hairs.  Eponymous Flower has listed some of his accomplishments in the Diocese of Kansas City - St Joseph.  Here are a few (please read the whole list)

• Promoted Summorum Pontificum and offered the Extraordinary Form of the Mass
• Raised vocations to a 40-year high (Bishop Livieres did that too.  Is increased vocations now considered to be a liability in the Church of Nice?  I suppose so, if the young men are orthodox).
• One that EF missed is that he formally asked the "National Catholic Reporter" to stop calling itself "Catholic", owing to its embrace of heresy and dissidence.  No doubt that set some teeth on edge at one of the "church of nice's" favorite rags.

Finn's administration has not always been stellar. In 2011 he failed to report to the authorities a priest who had pornography on his computer.  But why is Finn being fly-specked while someone like Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg FL is given a free pass?  Remember that the latter had to spend thousands of dollars to various, uh, "partners" in legal settlements AND he gave the green light to Michael Schiavo as the latter murdered his wife Terri in his diocese.

The Vatican recently sent Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergrast to "investigate" Bishop Finn while the latter was in Rome.  His investigation basically consisted of polling people by asking "do you think Finn is fit to be a leader"?  There's no hint that Prendergrast was the slightest bit interested in the 2011 incident.  So what is that about???

That's the story of the Vatican progressives baring their teeth at Bishop Finn.  Now let's look at their ongoing malicious vendetta against the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.  Six of the Friars had sought incardination under other bishops and were awaiting dispensation from their vows to the FFI.  They did not receive those dispensations.  Rather, they received suspensions "a divinis".  That is a sanction reserved for the most grave matters; moreover, it is a sanction that is subject to strict due process under canon law.  Commissioner Fidenzio Volpi observed none of the due process regulations; he delivered the suspensions with no regard to the processes of Canon Law.

None of this is any accident.  Moreover, it is unreasonable to presume that Pope Francis had no knowledge of these matters.  Some, in attempts to give to the Pope the "benefit of the doubt" have to resort to all manners of denial and logical contortions to the point of engaging in intellectual and yes, spiritual, dishonesty.  It's high time that rose-colored glasses were stripped from all faces.  If we're going to lift up our Church and her leaders in prayer, we must be relentlessly honest about the faults of all concerned.  Else our prayers will be so much pious but ineffectual fluffy-puff-stuff.

Father Altman's Vocation Threatened By His Bishop - Action Needed

Almost two weeks ago, Father James Altman was interviewed by Church Militant.  The video is below.  In that video, Father excoriates the bishops for their dereliction of duty on account of the covid-hysteria.  Please note that at the 10:00 mark, Father praises his own bishop, William Callahan of La Crosse (WI) for at least staying open.  In other words, he contrasts his bishop to the other US bishops.  Might this have made Callahan so uncomfortable that he felt compelled to kick Father Altman to the curb in order to get back in good graces with his bishop-buddies?

On Friday, May 21, Bishop Callahan relieved Father Altman of his priestly duties and asked for his resignation.  His final Mass at St. James the Less Parish was two days later - Pentecost Sunday.  Below is his homily from that Mass.  Callahan is accusing Altman of being "divisive and ineffective".  Could Callahan possibly be more ambiguous and nebulous about those charges?  I applaud Father for initiating a canonical challenge to that bogus charge.

So what can we do, besides prayer, which we should all be doing anyway?  Phone calls, emails, and letters are necessary to these two individuals.   First, contact the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.  His contact information is given here.  Let them know politely but firmly that it is Bishop Callahan who should be disciplined for trying to get one of his priests sacked for simply telling the truth and providing the Sacraments to his flock.  Second, contact Bishop Callahan himself.  He needs to be rebuked for how he is treating Father Altman.  He needs to be reminded that he is a bishop who must answer for the manner in which he carries out (or fails to, as the case may be) his sacred duties.  Lastly, those in the Diocese of La Crosse can advise their bishop that they will no longer contribute their hard-earned money to someone intent on destroying the vocation of a good priest.

Bishop Vasa: USCCB Has No Intrinsic Authority

Let me say that I am glad that I can follow the previous post with this.  The previous post related the deplorable behavior of a bishop in undermining Catholic teaching.  Several days ago, Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Oregon made clear that the USCCB contains no intrinsic authority.

This quote from Lifesite News sums it up nicely.  Bishop Vasa said of USCCB documents, "Such documents do not become normative for a particular diocese unless the bishop, either explicitly or implicitly, recommends them.”   Additionally, he made clear that no bishop has any obligation to adopt USCCB documents.

He then went on to give his evaluation of some USCCB documents.  He made clear that he believes that at least some are inferior and lead to confusion regarding authentic Church teaching.  The article calls to mind the similar stance assumed by Bishop Joseph Martino, Archbishop Raymond Burke and others who found it necessary to contradict the USCCB.

I salute these good bishops for standing for orthodoxy in the face of the progressive-infested USCCB.  I do have a minor difference.  I see no good in the USCCB, as it is overrun with nefarious elements and thus think it better that the whole cabal be disbanded, and its resources put to better use - but that's just my opinion.

Bishops - Good And Bad

Let's start with the bad first so that we can end this post on the good side.  The German Bishops' Conference, under Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has formally declared it permissible to commit sacrilege against Holy Communion.  They are allowing Protestant spouse of Catholics to receive Holy Communion "under certain conditions".   Of course sensible people understand that "under certain conditions" is a polite way of saying "allowing the camel's nose to get under the tent".  We know where that leads.  Remember that at the infamous 1930 Lambeth Conference, the Anglican church permitted the use of contraceptives under "limited" circumstances.  Now the Anglicans and many other church bodies brook baby-murder, gay clergy, etc.

No one may permit that kind of sacrilege - ever.  If Cardinal Marx retains his position of influence, we can very well glean the pope's own attitudes towards the Eucharist - and perhaps towards God Himself.

That's the bad news about bad bishops - now for some good news about good bishops.

I've lauded Bishop Thomas Paprocki before on this blog.  He is the bishop of Springfield, IL.  In his diocese resides Senator Dick Durbin, one of the most rabidly pro-abortion faux-katholycs.  Bishop Paprocki recently announced that Durbin was not to be admitted to Holy Communion until he repents of his support of baby-murder. The straw that broke the camel's back appears to be Durbin's vote against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. 

Imagine that!  A bishop obeying Canon 915 and instructing his priests to do the same.  Let us pray that other bishops follow suit and that the wolves at the USCCB learn a thing or two from him.

USCCB Designates January As "Poverty Awareness Month"

Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, who champions the much-disgraced "Catholic Campaign for Human Development", announced a media campaign to "promote a better understanding of poverty in America" according to this Catholic News Agency Report.  If I am to believe this report, it seems that this campaign is full of errors.  Frankly, given the CCHD's abysmal record, the report sounds all-too-typical of the CCHD.  Wait!  Here's the USCCB site itself!

Bishop Soto's statement starts with, "Our culture of life begins with a love that binds us to the hopes and joys, the struggles and the sorrows of people, especially those who are poor or any way afflicted."  It actually starts with God's commandments, particularly those regarding the engenderment of life.  There is no "culture of life" when the unborn child is torn from his/her mother's womb to die a brutal death.   There is no "culture of life" when the faculty by which life is engendered, that is, sexuality within marriage, is abused.  There is no "culture of life" when the sick or elderly are subjected to a clarion call to end their own lives.  The Culture of Life must begin with the protection of all innocent life against these fatal attacks that are now legally sanctioned in much of the world.  Any calls for "binding with the poor", such as Bishop Soto puts forth, must occupy a lower priority.

He continues the error by stating, "We march with immigrant families toward a society made stronger and safer by their inclusion. We embrace the mother and her unborn child, giving to both of them hope and opportunity..."  Notice the order of priorities!  The good bishop has it precisely ass-backwards!    He is also regurgitating the discredited "seamless garment" tripe.

You might remember the report on the CCHD that was produced by the American Life League.  The USCCB tried to discredit it - and failed miserably.  I picked apart the USCCB statement; read here.  I mention it because Bishop Soto, as head of that office, would have had input, perhaps control of the USCCB statement.

Thank You, Bishop Morlino

Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison (WI) has asked the faithful in his diocese to receive Holy Communion on the tongue and while kneeling.  He wishes to have this transition accomplished by next autumn.  I haven't heard any talk of this, but I don't see how this can be accomplished without the restoration of the communion rails.

Bishop Morlino has also increased usage of the ad orientem position and he has returned the tabernacles to front and center of the altar.

This good bishop is to be thanked and emulated.  I believe the Latin phrase goes like this (forgive any misspellings): lex credenti, lex orandi, lex vivendi.  We are not going to have any real return to the Faith until the Mass is restored.  Bishop Morlino has taken important steps.  I hope and pray that many more bishops will follow his lead.

Progressive Bishops Continue To Mow Down Faithful Priests And Laity

Many of the nation's bishops have adopted two golden calves as objects of worship.  These two are: 1) the normalization and even exaltation of every manner of sexual perversion and 2) all attempts by Antifa, Black Lives Matter, etc to erase every vestige of western culture and, by extension, Christianity.  Many years ago when my eyes were just opening up to the evils plaguing society, I thought the bishops were just being timid when they did not lead the charge against these evils.  Now I realize, to my sadness, that they are in fact actively defending and even promoting these evils, often with swift ruthlessness.

I certainly saw it in my own parish during Lent of 2012, when Father Marcel Guarnizo was swiftly ejected from the Archdiocese of Washington for refusing Holy Communion to a flaming lesbian.  Cardinal Wuerl and then-Auxiliary Bishop Knestout didn't even put on the pretense of an investigation.  The summarily expelled him.  In light of more recent revelations concering both Cardinal Wuerl and then-Cardinal McCarrick, who still resided in the ADW at the time, I wonder if they were trying to prevent an expose of their own antics.

Errant prelates still continue to punish the priests in their charge who are actually acting like priests.

Father Daniel Maloney was chaplain at Massachusetts Institute of Technology when he openly questioned the wisdom of making a de facto martyr out of George Floyd, and if racism really was a factor in his murder.  I too have been raising that question.  The video leaves little room for doubt that Floyd was murdered.  However, not all murders are motivated by racism.  Was his?  Maybe, maybe not.  The prudent, rational course of action would be to await a professional, thorough investigation into the incident before pronouncing judgment, one way or the other.  For daring to question what is obviously the politically correct stance on the matter, Cardinal Sean O'Malley committed a sin of rash judgment against Father Maloney in rebuking him and "asking" - ordering - his resignation.  One Mad Mom posted the entirety of the "offending" email in her piece.  Read it.  Where, oh where, is the offense in that?  The comments section of her piece is also worth a read.

Let's shift attention to Texas and to Father Clay Hunt, who serves as chaplain for the prison ministry of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.  He is being punished for reaffirming the church's teachings on homosexuality.  Bexar County officials issued a proclamation recognizing June 29, 2019 as "Pride is Bigger Than Texas Day".  Father Hunt publicly called them out for contradicting God's commands.  Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller has removed Father's faculties to offer public Mass.  Father Hun't sister is trying to raise funds via gofundme for a canonical lawyer to defend him.

Now let's go to Lexington, Kentucky where Bishop John Stowe is celebrating "gay pride month" and actually apologized for the Church's obedience to Jesus Christ regarding the intrinsic evil of homosexuality.  Yes, he really said that and the video is embedded in the LifeSiteNews piece.  This is clearly a blind shepherd leading blind sinners to hell.  Giving comfort to mortal sinners as they commit mortal sin is itself seriously sinful.  We saw the same thing with Archbishop Gregory when he went on record praising the dissident group Fortunate Families.

By the way - if the name "Stowe" and "Kentucky" rings a bell, it's for good reason.  He is one of the Kentucky bishops who attacked the Covington boys after they were accosted by the activist.   He's also affiliated with the Association of US Catholic Priests, an organized cabal of dissident clergy.

Stowe is affiliated with a bunch called "Association of US Catholic Priests", AUSCP for short.  As you can see from their web page, those initials might as well stand for "American Union of Socialist Catholic Priests".  Look at their pet causes: racism, climate change, death penalty, women priests,etc.  Odd!  I see nothing regarding the death penalty for unborn infants!  By the way, watch that video featuring Fr McAleenan.  Yes, he is a priest despite manner of dress.  Frankly, I think it's just as well that these progressives don't wear clerics for they certainly don't talk as real priests.  He admits that the younger priests aren't enthralled with the "social gospel", owing to the influence of Pope Francis' two most recent predecessors.  But according to McAleenan, Jesus' mission was all about "healing" and "being registered to vote", yada-yada, nothing about redemption from sin, eternal salvation, sacraments, etc.  Of course they are trash-talking Archbishop Vigano.

Church Militant highlighted one good bishop this week, Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo.  He formalized the excommunication of Beverly Bingle, who went through a mock ordination and is now pretending to offer bogus "sacraments".  She is being coddled by AUSCP.  AUSCP is headquartered in Thomas' diocese.  He is warning his priests and the Catholics in his diocese to stay away from AUSCP.

I know there are some who think the nation's bishops were simply playing the cowards in the face of governmental orders to cut off their congregations from sacramental graces.  Truth be told, I think those orders fit in quite nicely with their attempts to remake the Church into an arm of the New World Order.

Bishops - From Scandalous To Heroic

First, we'll get the scandals out of the way.  That way, this post can end on an upbeat note.

Rorate Caeli has broken the news that in Argentina, two lesbians will have their "daughter" baptized in the Cathedral of Cordova.  They received the authorization of Archbishop Carlos Nanez.  On that same day, the two lesbians will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Ponder all this for a second.  The Sacrament of Confirmation confers grace to live out the Christian life in a more committed fashion.  The confirmandi vow to do so.  But their perverted lifestyles already render such vows an abysmal lie.  They are now in a state of mortal sin.  No sacramental grace can accrue to them and they most likely will be committing sacrilege by presenting themselves for Confirmation.  Regarding the baptism, one condition for baptism of children is that the parents promise to raise the child in the Faith.  They will, in fact, be raising the child to embrace the mortal sin of homosexual relations.  In other words, they may well be facilitators for that child's damnation, barring some intervention in that poor child's life.  Now consider that all this is occurring with the authorization, if not blessing, of Archbishop Nanez!  Is he a bishop or cowering politician??

The second piece of episcopal nonsense is brought to us courtesy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (so what else is new?).  They are calling us to pray and fast - for what they consider to be immigration reform.  Of course that clarions call would be for a pet project of progressives - not for anything mundane like - I dunno - maybe the slaughter of 3,500 babies every day via abortion, the attacks on marriage, Obamacare being crammed down our throats..those sorts of boring things.

This coming Tuesday bishops from all over the country will be gathering at Nogales AZ to offer Mass for those immigrants who died while trying to enter the United States illegally.  In other news, we see that amnesty rallies will be occurring all over the country this coming weekend.  But of course the Mass and these rallies are totally unrelated; we know - we just know in the depths of our li'l naive hearts that there is no coordination going on between these progressive groups!  No-sir-eee!  Ahem!

Enough with the bad.  Now for some good news (for a change).

In July of 2011, Father Jerry Zawada, a Franciscan Friar in Milwaukee WI "concelebrated" a Mass.  The word "concelebrated" is in quotes for the other "celebrant" is a woman pretending to be "ordained" by some "woman priest" bunch.  The Vatican, specifically the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has spoken.  Father Zawada is no longer permitted to function as a priest, and he must retire to a monastery run by his order to spend the remainder of his life in prayer and penance.  At this time, Zawada appears to be defiant.  It remains to see what further action will be necessary, but the Vatican is showing healthy resolve here.

More good news!  The Not-At-All Catholic Reporter snivvels reports that Oakland (CA) Bishop Michael Barber has changed the leadership of Holy Spirit Parish, which serves the campus of University of CA at Berkeley.  The poor little progressive "community" (you mean it isn't a parish?) is "angry and mystified".  While they all grab some hankies and shed some tears, let's look more closely, shall we?  It appears that the bishop wants "new direction" and some of this "community" don't understand.  Why, it has all these delightful little accouterments:

• LGTB groups (In other words, a gay "matchmaking" service)
• Dance ministry
• Taize prayer
• Just Faith
• membership in Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action - a member of the Alinskyian PICO network 

All five of these are signs of a parish headed straight towards progressive hell.  God bless Bishop Barber for his courage in standing up to the progressive lemmings that are so prevalent in Berkeley.

And now for our last courageous bishop - at least for this post.  Madison (WI) Bishop Robert Morlino has reaffirmed canon law that states that at the Holy Thursday service, only men may have their feet washed by the priest (it is permissible to omit that washing altogether).  This is significant in light of the fact that Pope Francis himself broke that law when he washed the feet of some Muslim women during Holy Thursday services last year.  It was anticipated that the Pope's actions might spur similar disregard for Canon Law on the part of prelates and priests.  That appears not to be the case in Madison.

Support Bishop Paprocki

Pro-abortion CINO's in the Illinois state legislature are working to pass an extremely deadly abortion-rights bill.  Bishop Thomas Paprocki has decreed that those CINO's may not receive Holy Communion in his diocese; he singled out by name the Illinois Senate President and the Speaker of the House.  Moreover he ordered his priests not to give them Holy Communion, should they dare present themselves for it.

Note what just happened.  Paprocki invoked Canon 916 when he directed that the pro-abortions not present for Holy Communion.  Canon 916 speaks to the laity.  This is not the first time I've heard bishops make this proclamation.  It is, however, the first time that I've heard a bishop order his priests to deny Holy Communion to pro-aborts.  This is Canon 915, that speaks to the ministers of Holy Communion.  Correction: Several decades ago, Bishop Rene Gracida, then bishop of Corpus Christi, put some pro-aborts under interdict.

As one can imagine, Bishop Paprocki is taking a lot of heat for his proclamation.  I daresay that a good portion of that heat might be coming from brother bishops.  Let's sign this petition to publicly support this bishop for acting like a bishop.  We pray that others follow suit.

Bishop Athanasius Schneider To Speak In Archdiocese Of Washington Saturday Feb 14th

During the past few months I've written a bit on Bishop Athanasius Schneider.  He, along with Cardinal Burke and others, has done the Church an immense service by shedding the light on some of the pig slop that oozed from the sin-nod last October.

For that reason I was delighted to read in Rorate Caeli that Bishop Schneider will be speaking in the Archdiocese of Washington this coming Saturday at 2pm.  He will be at Annunciation Church located at 3810 Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington DC.  The topic of his talk will be "Some Aspects of the Renewal of the Church and Its Liturgy".

Please spread the word and attend yourselves.  This good bishop deserves a hearing.

Support Bishop Olmsted

On May 17th, I relayed the action that Bishop Olmsted took when a renegade administrator of a Catholic hospital gave permission for the mortal sin of abortion to be committed in her hospital.  He pronounced Sister Margaret McBride excommunicated.  As you can imagine, the good bishop is under vile attack by the mainstream media and dissidents within the Church.

American Life League has launched a website for the express purpose of mobilizing support for Bishop Olmsted.  It is http://www.supportolmsted.com/.  Please visit it and sign the online petition.  A large showing of support will not only encourage him but will show the world that faithful Catholics will once again act as the Church Militant.

Father Guarnizo's Faculties Suspended - Time To Take Action

Today, at the 9:30 Mass at St John Neumann parish, Father LaHood read a letter from Bishop Barry Knestout announcing the suspension of Father Marcel Guarnizo's priestly faculties.  Did I say the letter was penned by Bishop Knestout?  Let's not kid ourselves!  This letter came straight from the top - Cardinal Wuerl.  I'll bet my bottom dollar that all Bishop Knestout did was change the wording slightly (so that he could call the letter "his" with a straight face) and sign the thing.  I really don't think he's to blame, as he is vowed to obedience, as is Father LaHood bound to obedience in reading this thing with the introductory comments.  I recorded it so you can listen to the entire thing right here.

You'll hear towards the middle of the clip that "the issue discussed did not have to do with the distribution of Communion two weeks ago.  The issue pertains to actions over the past week or so."  Then Father proceeds to read the letter from Cardinal Wuerl Bishop Knestout whoever.   He announced the suspension and that it was taken after he "received credible allegations that Father Guarnizo has engaged in intimidating behavior towards parish staff and others that is incompatible with proper priestly ministry."

Why, isn't it just the most peculiar of coincidences that these "credible allegations" are coming out of the woodwork on the heels of the Holy Communion issue two weeks ago?  Father Guarnizo has been at the parish a year now - so these "intimidating behaviors" are now just beginning to surface?   Just what is the nature of these "intimidating behaviors"?  Who are the offended parties?  Unless we see some real basis of these allegations, I'm willing to bet that - none exist!

I think we bloggers did too good of a job in revealing Ms. Johnson's utter lack of credibility.  It certainly did her no good that there were other eye witnesses at the funeral Mass that contradicted her account of the events there.  Thus the Archdiocese cannot act upon Ms. Johnson's complaints without being tainted with her lack of credibility.  In other words, Plan A is shot, so they come up with Plan B.

So where are all these offended parish staff?  Let's hear from them!  If you post, don't do so anonymously for I will ascribe to it no credibility whatsoever.  But I don't think there will be any such posts, for I believe there is really no such subject matter.

In the title of this post I said it's time to take action - perhaps it's way past that time.  What do I suggest?  Well, if you read the blog posts of A Washington DC Catholic, you'll see he suggested it first.  I'm talking of suspension of your Cardinal's Appeal pledges.  I agree with the other blogger when he says that's the only language that the bureaucrats in the chancery seem to understand from us.  Of course let the chancery know precisely why they should not expect one more penny from you.  Contact information is here.

So what to do with that money?  Recalling that we are bound, under the Precepts of the Church, to support its work financially, I'd suggest taking that money and giving it directly to a Catholic and/or prolife cause that you know to be worthy of your donations: a crisis pregnancy center, a solid seminary, soup kitchen - there are numerous worthy candidates for your donations.  Clearly "the work of the Church" does not mean throwing good priests under the bus when they uphold Canon 915 and I for one will not support that.

Two Disgusting Episcopal Kiss-Ups To Obama

First, let's look at the Diocese of San Bernardino in California (ht Creative Minority Report).  Bishop Gerald Barnes issued a letter on March 11 to Catholics in his diocese.  In a nutshell, he urged the uninsured in his diocese to purchase Obamacare.  Because he is aware that Obamacare contains within it mandatory abortion and contraception funding and coverage, the bishop was urging Catholics in his diocese to violate their Catholic consciences and to violate Catholic moral teaching.  A key sentence:  The Affordable Care Act is now part of civil law and as faithful citizens we are obligated to follow it.

No, Your Excellency!  You have it precisely ass-backwards!  As Catholics, we are obliged to disobey any "civil law" that runs contrary to Catholic moral principles.  One can only wonder what carrot is being dangled in front of Bishop Barnes' face to induce him to browbeat good Catholics to capitulate to the Messiah Most Miserable.

Speaking of "capitulation to the Messiah Most Miserable" let's look at the second kiss-up.  This time it's the USCCB doing the groveling (they almost have this down to a science).  Archbishop Kurtz, current president of the USCCB, along with Bishop Pates commended Obama and John Kerry for "initiative to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".  Frankly I'm not sure what good they've done, but that's not the point of this post.  The two bishops wax lyrical about "achieving peace", turning willfully blind eyes to the fact that both Obama and Kerry are two of the biggest war-mongers alive.  The war is abortion, with a casualty rate of over 3000 babies every day murdered in the US alone.  When the bishops start developing a laser-like focus on that moral evil, they just might regain their credibility and do some actual good to achieving peace and more importantly, to saving souls.

Pray for our shepherds - and cry out when they err publicly.

God Works Through "Curmudgeonly Bloggers" Again!

Last week I highlighted a Vortex episode that exposed a planned Qu'ran reading during Holy Mass in a Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC.  Again, when light shines, the cockroaches flee!  We just learned that the bishop of Charlotte, Peter Jugis, ordered that the planned debacle be canceled.   We thank the good bishop that he protected his flock from this planned exercise in blasphemy and heresy.  We thank God for His intervention, and we also thank Him for allowing us in some small way to be His instruments: both in enterprises such as the Vortex, Lifesite News, etc, the efforts of bloggers, and the efforts of all who alerted Bishop Jugis to malfeasance in his diocese. 

The internet and our usage of this critical tool has proven in this case, and in the Notre Dame case (see previous post) to be pivotal in correcting serious error.  We need to use this tool well.  Please see the Vortex episode below for more explanation on how the laity can use the internet for good.  Click here if you can't see embedded video.

Catholic Bishops Clearing The Field For Satan

Last week, Bishop Mark Beckman of the Diocese of Knoxville (TN) asked that all prayers before and after Mass be discontinued.  He specifically targeted the Prayer to Saint Michael.  That prayer is one that Pope Leo XIII specifically mandated after his vision that warned of an upcoming onslaught against Holy Mother Church.  Only a blind fool and/or outright liar can deny that such an onslaught is raging around us.  Even more insidiously it rages within the hierarchy of the Church, apparently championed by the pope and too many clergy; the current Amoris Laetitia synod is just the latest manifestation.  

He set forth his case against prayers before, during and after Mass.  No one can doubt that additional prayers should be banned from the Mass proper, but before and after Mass?  Is he that worried that parishioners won't feel "welcomed" if the sanctuary doesn't become a de facto gab-fest hall before and after Mass?  And by the way, if all chit-chat pandemonium does break out after Mass, what's to stop some Mass attendees from spontaneously praying the St Michael prayer (Hint!)?  How about the Rosary before Mass, as is often the custom at various parishes? 

The bishop's phrase "noble simplicity" hearkens back to the post Vatican II document Inter Oecumenici, that gave directives on implementing the so-called "spirit of Vatican II" into the liturgy.  While it suppressed the set of prayers mandated by Pope Leo XIII, it never banned any and all prayer before and after Mass.  Mind you, it did other damage; it turned the altar around to diminish the obfuscate the sacrificial nature and purpose of the Mass and removed the Latin language, but it never forbade prayers before and after Mass.  It certainly didn't jettison the prayers mandated by Pope Leo XIII himself.

In other related news (yes, it is related), the Archdiocese of Denver Archbishop James Golka ordered Father Ripperget to cease all public ministry for one year, starting immediately.  Anyone who has heard Father Ripperger speak understands that Father is solidly orthodox.  Father is also an exorcist.  Listen to the interview in the second video on the LifeSite page.  Might this be an indication of the motive behind the silencing?  We know that many of the bishops sexually prey upon boys and young men.  Many of that type are also involved in occult activities; might Catholic clergy be among that number?

Consider together the two situations that I mention in this post.  What is the common denominator?  On the one hand, we are seeing a prayer removed that Pope Leo XIII mandated for protection from demonic activity.  On the other hand, we see a priest silenced who is both an exorcist and who speaks the truth regarding spiritual warfare.  It sure sounds like there is an effort afoot to clear the playing field so that satanic forces can have a heyday.

Oddly enough, there are some who might otherwise be called sensible who are trying to downplay the serious ramifications regarding the silencing of Father Ripperger.  I have seen some internet posts (and I refuse to link to them) making light of serious concerns, basically saying, "Oh, pish-posh!  The silencing of Father isn't so catastrophic!  After all, he could use a break and this will probably be for Father's own good!"   

Father's own good?  Really now?  I strongly suspect that "Father's own good" was a driving motive behind silencing him.  I simply refuse to wear those rose-colored glasses.  "Father's own good" does not excuse the action nor does it mitigate the harm that will occur to the Church at large.

I'd suggest two things, in addition to your daily Rosaries: 1) Keep an eye on this situation.  Somehow, I think there will be attempts to surreptitiously elongate that one-year span of silence, if not outright canceling him. 2) Faithful Catholics in the Archdiocese of Denver should cease any and all donation to their diocese.  It seems that money (or lack thereof) is the only language to which they will pay attention.

Bye the bye, during the same time period, the Restore Tradition Women's Conference happened in Littleton CO.  Rachael Mastrogiacomo was slated to give a talk.  She commence her talk, criticizing the Novus Ordo Mass, Pachamama, and the hierarchy.  In the middle of her talk, the microphone was cut off and very soon after, found her presence rubbed from the conference schedule.  The local bishop, the one mentioned at the top who tossed the prayers to St Michael, was reportedly influential in that decision.  Fortunately Anthony Stine and Chris Jackson expsosed this.

Open Letter To Bishop Burbidge

This letter was authored by my blogging colleague at Les Femmes.  It is well-written and her points are well-taken.   I want to expound on the analysis put forth by Father Murray.  He refers to the decree and explanatory notes as a "canonical mess".  I will take it a step further.  Unless those who inhabit the Vatican are a bunch of bungling boobs, they know what they put forth isn't worth the paper on which it was written.  I believe they are bluffing.  Regrettably many good Catholics are swallowing the swill  - hook. line and sinker.

BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

July 13, 2026

Your Excellency,

How grateful I am for your vocation to the priesthood and the privilege of calling you my spiritual Father. We met only once several years ago after Fr. Clarence Trinkle’s funeral at St. John the Baptist. I left by the front door thinking to slip away quietly, but you were standing alone next to the hearse only a few feet away. I stopped, genuflected and kissed your ring, introduced myself, and thanked you. I considered our brief exchange providential and was delighted to receive a personal blessing. I recall that meeting today as I write in grief over the recent decree of excommunication of the SSPX bishops. Since my purpose is not to defend the Society consecrations, I will not address that topic.

What I want to address today is the decree and explanatory note with regard to the laity which imposed canonically invalid punishments on those of us who continue to attend SSPX services. Locally, a priest announced at Mass that those who stop going to the SSPX immediately need take no further action. Those of us who continue to attend are excommunicated and have two levels of action required to be readmitted to the Church depending on our status. His statements and instructions were erroneous and conflict with canon law which illustrates how a problem grows when it begins from error.

Fr. Gerald Murray, a highly respected canon lawyer, called the decree and explanatory note a “canonical mess.” The Dicastery failed to follow the requirements of canon law:

“In the decree, there’s a warning. We call that a canonical warning not to adhere to the schism. That’s (just) a warning.”...“Now, the next question is, what specifically are you supposed to do so that you don’t adhere to a schism? That level of specificity is not given. It has to be an act. It can’t be a mental attitude because you don’t judge the mind of people unless it’s been expressed in words.”...

In other words, the decree did not excommunicate anyone except the six bishops involved. You can’t declare an entire class of people excommunicated and schismatic in an explanatory note. You must without judge their personal actions, not try to read their minds. Fr. Murray continues:

“The confessions of the priests of St. Pius X during the reign of Francis, they got faculties to hear confessions given by Pope Francis, and it was formalized in a decree or a document from the Pope. An act of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in an explanatory note cannot undo what Pope Francis did.”...

So the confessions and marriages conducted by the SSPX continue to be valid. Pope Francis’ permissions must be expressly revoked and they have not been. Again, Fr. Murray continues:

“The document about the laity, it basically assumes that lay people who attend Mass at the St. Pius X society on a regular basis or belong to one of their organizations are out of full communion with the Church and need to be reconciled and brought back into full communion with the Church. But wait a minute. They haven’t been excommunicated. Therefore, they’re not under a canonical penalty that affects their full communion, and the idea that you lose full communion because you agree with some of the things that the society says, that’s not good enough.”

Fr. Murray is not the only canonist pointing out the errors and inconsistencies in the documents promulgated by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF). An anonymous canonist explained it clearly on the Rorate Caeli website which Fr. John Zuhlsdorf summarized on his popular blog read by many Catholic laity. Most of those attending SSPX chapels are well catechized and informed Catholics aware that the documents created a “canonical mess.” The actions also seem in bad faith intended to expel all those associated with the SSPX as too troublesome to care about. I hope that’s untrue.

In 1991, Bishop Joseph Anthony Ferrario of Honolulu excommunicated and declared schismatic six lay persons who arranged for the SSPX to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation for their children. They appealed to Rome and the bishop’s abuse of his authority was overturned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith whose head was Cardinal Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI. The letter to the bishop stated:

“From the examination of the case, conducted on the basis of the Law of the Church, it did not result that the facts referred to in the above-mentioned decree are formal schismatic acts in the strict sense, as they do not constitute the offense of schism; and therefore the Congregation holds that the Decree of May 1, 1991 lacks foundation and hence validity.”

How can the laity possibly be excommunicated today for essentially doing the same thing the Hawaii six did in 1991? Attending the Masses and receiving the sacraments from the SSPX is not a schismatic act justifying a class action excommunication of the lay faithful.

What is happening at present in the Diocese of Arlington (and other places in the country) with respect to faithful sons and daughters of the Church is unjust, and uncharitable. Announcing that we are excommunicated and in schism is also untrue according to canon law. The decree and explanatory note remind me of Roe v. Wade, one of the most unjust court decisions in history. The justices found the right to murder the unborn in the “penumbra” of the Constitution. Apparently, Pope Leo and Cardinal Fernandez have found the right to abort the lay faithful in the penumbra of canon law.

Your Excellency, I beg you to reconsider the sledgehammer approach to the faithful. I have seen no reduction of the laity attending the chapel in the weeks since the release of the decree. The only result of promulgating this error-filled abuse of canon law can be further mistrust of our shepherds. Most of those who attend the Traditional Latin Mass are already evicted from churches we’ve supported with our time, talent, and treasure. Now, not only are we evicted physically, but we are spiritual outcasts whose canon law rights are ignored. And to whom can we appeal since the DDF is the perpetrator of the injustice?

We turn to you, Your Excellency, hoping and praying that you will be a voice of truth loving your sons and daughters enough to defend us against this unjust and cruel treatment. I pray for you every day when I say the rosary and when I go to the chapel holy hour for priests on Fridays. Our chapel prays for you and Pope Leo at every Mass. To whom else shall we turn for justice and mercy if not to our spiritual fathers? Please correct the errors and instruct all the priests of the diocese not to mislead the flock about the current situation. The laity have the right to be told the truth. We are neither excommunicated nor in schism and we may still receive the sacraments of Confession and Matrimony from SSPX priests. The situation is tragic enough without spreading error. Please correct the situation for the good of the souls for whom you are responsible.

Sincerely in Christ Jesus,

Mary Ann Kreitzer

copy to:

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia
Selected priests in the Diocese of Arlington

LETTER TO THE APOSTOLIC NUNCIO OF THE UNITED STATES

Most Reverend Gabriele Giordano Caccia
Apostolic Nuncio of the United States
3339 Massachusetts Avenue N.W,
Washington, D.C, U.S.

Your Excellency:

Please find enclosed a letter I wrote to my ordinary, Most Rev. Michael Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, VA and published as an Open Letter. At present some of the priests of the diocese, with the approbation of the bishop, are telling their congregations that those who attend SSPX chapels are excommunicated unless they immediately stop attending. We are also being described as schismatic. In addition, the diocese is saying we must meet certain conditions to return to the Church.

The accusation is false. My husband and I attend the SSPX chapel in Linden, VA, but we have not left the Church. We simply want to practice the faith as it was taught by the apostles, martyrs, saints, and doctors of the Church without novelties and errors. We accept all the teachings of Holy Mother Church taught through Scripture and Sacred Tradition. We honor the Holy Father and accept all those papal pronouncements that accord with the faith as taught through the millennia.

We request that we and thousands of other lay persons attending Society chapels be assured that we are neither excommunicated nor in schism. We also request that Bishop Burbidge be instructed to stop his priests from upsetting the faithful by spreading the canonically false statements that we are outside the Church as excommunicated schismatics. That accusation is neither true nor charitable.

Thank you for your attention to this very serious matter.

Sincerely in Christ,

Mary Ann Kreitzer

Copy to: Most Reverend Michael Burbidge