"Hate what is evil" (Rom. 12:9)+

It's hard to say whether lack of faith or poor catechesis are more to blame, but apparently many of today's Catholics have entirely lost their moral compass. A recent Gallup poll showed that...

* 40% of 'Catholics' find abortion morally acceptable (vs. 41% of non-Catholics)

* 67% of 'Catholics' find fornication morally acceptable (vs. 57% of non-Catholics)

* 71% of 'Catholics' find divorce morally acceptable (vs. 66% of non-Catholics)

* 61% of 'Catholics' find having an illegitimate child morally acceptable (vs. 52% of non-Catholics)

* 54% of 'Catholics' find homosexual relations morally acceptable (vs. 45% of non-Catholics)

Perhaps if Scripture readings at Novus Ordo Masses regularly included passages such as the following - rather than the "feel good" passages parishioners usually encounter - we would not suffer so many dissident Catholics...+ [Note: All passages below are from the New Testament]

* 1 Cor. 6:9-10: Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

* Rv. 21:8: But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

* 1 Jn. 3:8:Whoever sins belongs to the devil

* Heb. 10:26-27: If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.

* Gal. 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

* Mt. 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

+Reminder: Scripture references and translations may vary. We make no guarantee regarding any item herein. We recommend reading Scripture in full context in an appropriate Catholic Bible. Consult appropriate, competent Church authorities for assistance in interpreting / applying Scripture. Interpretation and application of Scripture should not be contrary to the perennial, official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. Do not take Scripture passages out of context. Do not inflict or wish harm on yourself or others, break laws, take unsuitable/incautious or inappropriate/drastic actions, or take figurative items literally. We are not responsible for any interpretation / misinterpretation, application / misapplication, use / misuse, etc. of Scripture. Use of site is at your own risk and is subject to our terms of use. Click here for important cautionary statement and other important terms/information

[3/30]

What nerve!

Apparently certain Portuguese bishops think they are free to openly and blatantly contradict the Pope on matters already decided by the Church. No wonder that even secular news agencies consider the Pope's "worst enemies" to be those inside the Church. In one recent case, a bishop said that a moral evil could be "ethically obligatory"! Another had the nerve to say that Pope Benedict's orthodox comments were "equivalent to consenting to the death of many people” - despite the fact that empirical evidence proves otherwise. Another bishop said that some persons "cannot avoid" having intimate relations! One Portuguese bishop said the Pope's advisers should give him "more learned advice". Perhaps these advisers could give "more learned advice" by suggesting the removal of certain bishops? [3/30]

How do they sleep at night?

Would you stay with your doctor if he failed to tell you about serious risks associated with treatments he gave you? Would you change health plans if your insurance carrier required that doctors not advise you of these risks? Ten dollars says Obama wouldn't stay with such a doctor or health plan. So, how can he nominate a judge who has ruled against laws requiring women be informed about health risks of abortion? How can it be an "undue burden" to learn about these risks? Where is the so-called compassion for women? How do these life hating 'public servants' sleep at night? [3/28]

Archbishop Burke's Recent Comments

Catholics who are refreshed by hearing orthodox Catholic prelates speaking plainly will surely appreciate the recent comments of Archbishop Raymond Burke, formerly of St. Louis and now Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura ("leader of the Church's supreme court"). These comments included statements that Canon 915 clearly forbids administering Holy Communion to those publicly and obstinately in grave sin ("The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations"), that laity should pressure their bishops and priests over the scandal of notorious sinners receiving Holy Communion ("I would encourage the faithful when they are scandalized by the giving of Holy Communion to persons [who] are publicly and obstinately in sin, that they go to their pastors, whether it’s their parish priest or to their bishop, to insist that this scandal stop"), that when a president promotes and implements anti-life legislation he could be "an agent of death", and that "President Obama uses this word 'hope' in a way that for us is very disturbing. We need to have hope, the hope that is founded in Jesus Christ, alive for us in the Church; Jesus Christ who gave His life for everyone without exception, and with a particular love for the suffering and for those who are the most defenseless." His comments were given in a recent interview with an anti-abortion activist & convert, Randall Terry, and shown to the National Press Club in Washington on March 25.

Update: Burke apologizes that comments were used to attack bishops, but not for substance of his comments (story here)

[3/26, updated 3/27]

God Help France

Recent polls paint a dire picture of the Church in France, a traditionally Catholic nation. Not only do a large number of French 'Catholics' want the Pope to "step down", but over 80% of those surveyed want the Church to change its position on abortion & birth control. Many French 'Catholics' also want the Church to change its teachings on divorce and sodomy. Perhaps they would also like Jesus to change his teachings to suit their sinful inclinations? Wake up, France. [3/24]

They Don't Really Want Choice

Those who claim to be "pro-choice" once again display their true colors - they don't want a woman to make a real choice - they want her to have an abortion. If they truly wanted a woman to make a choice, they wouldn't seek to prevent her from viewing an ultrasound of the child in her womb. They'd rather have her think it was a "blob of tissue" than see the fingers, toes, and face of her child. As reported by LifeNews, "When used in pregnancy centers, ultrasounds persuade most women to keep their baby." But so-called "pro-choice" advocates don't like this "choice" - so they oppose bills like the one Sebelius is under pressure to sign requiring that pregnant women be given the opportunity to view an ultrasound. Some put forth the excuse that it "creates more obstacles to women already facing a tough decision." They also don't want pregnant women to receive information on the health risks posed by abortion. Since when does limiting information help a woman make a choice? Clearly, they don't want her making a real "choice". Rather, they simply want her to kill her baby. But then again it isn't too surprising that those who advocate murder also consent to lies and deception. [3/18]

More Faithful Translation of Novus Ordo: A "systematic and well-managed dismantling of the vision, theology and ecclesiology of Vatican II"?

It's hard not to scratch one's head over comments such as "Critics say the new, more literal word-for-word translation [of the Novus Ordo] is part of an attempt to roll back the progress made decades ago" and over concerns that the more faithful translations might "alienate" persons from the Church. One priest finds it troubling that the Pope isn't listing to "critics" and is concerned that the Pope may suffer "another major embarrassment" by correcting Mass mistranslations. Things are surely backwards when making a translation more accurate could be construed as a major embarrassment that might alienate persons from the Church. Should not these persons rather have been alienated when the less accurate translations were "forced on the people in the pews" (as the above mentioned priest refers to the introduction of these more accurate translations)? Further, should the Pope be more concerned about "critics" or faithful sons and daughters of the Church who are entitled to accurate and orthodox translations of the Missal? Was St. Paul nervous about what his critics might think? Was Jesus? [3/17]

Will Chinese Government Block Access to Vatican Website?

With the announcement that the Vatican website will soon include the Chinese language, fears are circulating that the site may be blocked by the Chinese government. As reported by Reuters, "China's communist government does not allow its Catholics to recognize the Pope's authority and forces them to be members of a state-backed Catholic organization." It is believed that the site may be blocked by the Chinese government if it finds anything to be "objectionable or unsavory" - e.g. criticism of the Communist Party, reports of nominations of bishops, discussion of the supremacy of the Pope, etc. Pray for the persecuted Church in China! [3/16]

No More Ecclesia Dei

Pope Benedict's letter concerning the lifting of the SSPX excommunications has been released. In that document, written in the "highly unusual style of a heartfelt personal letter", the Pope states that it is his intention "to join the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei'...to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." This Commission had previously been where parishioners could go for recourse if their pastor & bishop did not facilitate their request for the Traditional Latin Mass. Also in the letter is the Pope's observation that "At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them - in this case the Pope - he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint." No doubt that many faithful Catholics are familiar with this unfortunate truth. [3/12]

Gingrich’s Conversion

It is expected that Newt Gingrich will soon convert to Catholicism. It is not yet clear how his marital situation will be resolved as he is on his 'third marriage'. Of course, for his current arrangement to be a valid marriage - among other things - it would require that both his previous unions be invalid (i.e. not true marriages) and require that she also have no previous valid marriage. It is also not clear how he could be welcomed into the Church if he persisted in a gravely sinful situation (e.g. if either of his first two 'marriages' were deemed valid but yet he remained with his current 'wife'). His 'current wife' already professes to be Catholic. [3/10]

The Worst Crime in the World?

Apparently, SSPX Bishop Williamson has committed such a serious crime by his holocaust denial as to have his apologies 'scorned' at the Vatican. He is also been barred by Cardinal Mahoney from even entering churches in the Los Angeles diocese. In addition, according to Cardinal Mahoney, Williamson "is not - and may never become - a member [of the Catholic Church]". Ironically, in Cardinal Mahoney's diocese, one may find predatory priests welcomed, dissenters welcomed, practicing homosexuals welcomed, pro-abortion politicians welcomed, etc. One may also find that Eucharistic abuses - that is abuses against the very body of Christ - are tolerated in the diocese. However, apparently, holocaust denial is a more serous crime that bars one from even entering a church and ever becoming a member of the Catholic Church. God help us! [3/10]