After only 37 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict against the shooter of late-term abortionist George Tiller. Found guilty of first-degree murder, his killer now faces life in prison. Pro-life groups have strongly condemned the killing.
[1/30]
The following are some highlights from a recent speech of Archbishop Charles Chaput...
* "God has never been more absent from the Western mind than he is today. Additionally, we live in an age when almost every scientific advance seems to be matched by some increase of cruelty in our entertainment, cynicism in our politics, ignorance of the past, consumer greed, little genocides posing as 'rights' like the cult of abortion, and a basic confusion about what – if anything at all – it means to be 'human.'"
* "While many people in the developed world still claim to be religious, their faith – in the words of the Pontifical Council for Culture – is 'often more a question of religious feeling than a demanding commitment to God.' Religion becomes a kind of insurance policy for eternity. Too often, it is little more than a convenient moral language for daily life."
* "Much of modern technology isolates people as often as it brings them together. It attacks community as easily as it builds it up. It also forms the human mind in habits of thought and expression that are very different from traditional culture based on the printed word. And that has implications..."
* "It is very odd that in the wake of the bloodiest century in history – a century when tens of millions of human beings were shot, starved, gassed and incinerated with superhuman ingenuity – even many religious leaders are embarrassed to talk about the devil. In fact, it is more than odd. It is revealing."
* "This is the kind of Being – once glorious, but then consumed by his own pride - who is now the Enemy of humanity [the devil]. This is the Pure Spirit who betrayed his own greatness. This is the Intellect who hates the Incarnation because through it, God invites creatures of clay like you and me to take part in God's own divinity. There is nothing sympathetic about Satan; only tragedy and loss and enduring, brilliant anger."
* "If we do not believe in the devil, sooner or later we will not believe in God. We cannot cut Lucifer out of the ecology of salvation. Satan is not God's equal. He is a created being subject to God and already, by the measure of eternity, defeated. Nonetheless, he is the first author of pride and rebellion, and the great seducer of man. Without him the Incarnation and Redemption do not make sense, and the cross is meaningless. Satan is real. There is no way around this simple truth."
* "We live in an age that imagines itself as post-modern and post-Christian. It is a time defined by noise, urgency, action, utility and a hunger for practical results. But there is nothing really new about any of this. I think St. Paul would find our age rather familiar. For all of the rhetoric about 'hope and change' in our politics, our urgencies hide a deep unease about the future; a kind of well-manicured selfishness and despair. The world around us has a hole in its heart, and the emptiness hurts. Only God can fill it."
* "...but the really essential questions, the questions that determine everything else in our life as Christians, are these: Do I really know God? Do I really love Him? Do I seek Him out? Do I study His word? Do I listen for His voice? Do I give my heart to Him? Do I really believe He's there?"
* "We have an obligation as Catholics to study and understand the world around us. We have a duty not just to penetrate and engage it, but to convert it to Jesus Christ."
* "The Love which moves the sun and the other stars. That is the nature of the God we preach. A God so great in glory, heat, light and majesty that He can populate the heavens and call life out of dead space; yet so intimate that He became one of us; so humble that He entered our world on dirt and straw to redeem us. I think we can be forgiven for sometimes running away from that kind of love, like a child who runs away from a parent, because we simply cannot understand or compete with that ocean of unselfishness. It is only when we give ourselves to God that we understand, finally, that we were made to do exactly that. Our hearts are restless until they rest in Him. We should not be afraid to believe and to love; it took even a great saint like Augustine half a lifetime to be able to admit, that 'late have I loved thee, Beauty so old and so new; late have I loved thee.'"
[1/28]
The fight over church closures in Ohio is continuing with the recommendation by Cleveland's Landmarks Commission that six additional Catholic churches be "designated as historical city landmarks, which would give them some protection against demolition or structural changes." Many Catholics welcome the government intervention to save their parishes, but the diocese opposes the plans, calling city proposals "extremely offensive." The issue may ultimately be resolved through the courts.
[1/27]
Recent news highlights include...
* The Diocese of Phoenix is revising their marriage preparation requirements, lengthening the preparation time to 9 months and - they hope - better preparing persons for marriage
* Recent "Tweets" that some claimed were from the Vatican were found to be impersonations. No word yet on who may be involved
* LifeNews.com reports that the major networks ABC, CBS, & NBC once again ignored the large pro-life rally on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade which was attended by "tens of thousands" of pro-lifers
* The Holy Father has reassured Haiti that the Church "will remain - and not only in these moments of great commotion - alongside the people who have been so sorely tried by this tragedy, and will, to the limit of her powers, help them regain the chance to build a better future"
* The funeral held this past weekend for Church leaders who died in the earthquake in Haiti was attended by hundreds, including Archbishop Dolan who said that the apparently untouched crucifix in front of the ruined cathedral "brought [him] to tears". More than 150,000 people are now believed to have fallen victim to the devastating earthquake, which also injured or displaced millions of people
* The previously announced book on Pope John Paul II has been released. The book indicates that the late pope practiced mortification, including self-flagellation. The book also reveals that Pope John Paul II would resign if he became incapacitated. The book was authored by the postulator ("main promoter") of the late pope's cause for canonization. The cause itself has been marked with some controversy. While many have been anxious for the popular pope's canonization, others have expressed unease with the fast-tracking of his cause and have called for a more critical examination of the late pope's novel actions and teachings [Related User-Submitted Article: "Great" Popes: When a Pope Should Be & Should Not Be Called Great]
* A recent Washington Post article has created a stir portraying "ordained" Catholic women as "faithful Catholics". Of course, the pseudo-ordinations undergone by these feminists prove precisely that they are not faithful Catholics. In fact, their supposed "ordinations" are entirely invalid and confer absolutely no power whatsoever on these disobedient women. The Church's teaching against women's 'ordination' has characteristics of infallibility and will never be subject to change, despite the dissenters' seemingly relentless efforts. [Related: Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests]
* The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter has announced that the Pontifical Consecration of its newly built chapel at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary is scheduled to occur on March 3, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. (CST). The consecration will be celebrated by Bishop Bruskewitz, with Cardinal Levada, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in attendance. The FSSP website states that "Any and all the faithful are cordially invited and are most welcome to attend this joyful event and enjoy refreshments afterward." Their site also notes that the Pontifical Consecration and Mass will be televised live on EWTN.
[1/26]
Recently released details concerning a possible miracle attributed to Pope Pius XII are causing controversy - but not about this pope. According to a CNA account of the purported miracle (drawn from an Il Giornale article), the husband of a woman diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma prayed for Pope John Paul II's intercession, but instead of receiving help from Pope John Paul II, the man had a dream in which the late pope - with a "serious face" - spoke to him, saying "I can't do anything, you must pray to this other priest..." Several days later, the man saw a picture of Pope Pius XII and realized he was the one that Pope John Paul II spoke of in his dream. After praying for Pope Pius XII's intercession, the man's wife - pregnant at the time - was "miraculously" cured of cancer. Needless to say, the comment attributed to the late Pope John Paul II that he "can't do anything" to help has stirred controversy. While many have sought fast canonization of the popular pontiff, whom some call "Great", others have urged that the process be suspended in favor of a more critical examination of his novel actions and teachings.
Related User-Submitted Article: "Great" Popes: When a Pope Should Be & Should Not Be Called Great
[1/22]
Relics previously thought to be the charred remains of St. Joan of Arc are, once again, being called into question. The artifacts had been labeled "Remains found under the pyre of Joan of Arc, maiden of Orleans", but according to results of recent scientific tests, the remains have "relatively little chance" of belonging to the 15th century saint. A previous test also concluded that the remains were not hers. Furthermore, the historical record (e.g. "After death her ashes were thrown into the Seine" - Catholic Encyclopedia) calls into question the possibility of any existing remains.
[1/21]
The following are some highlights from Pope Benedict's recent activities...
* The Pope has reconfirmed Cardinal Bertone as Vatican Secretary of State even though the Cardinal has passed the age limit for resignation
* The Holy Father participated in the traditional blessing of lambs on the feast of St. Agnes. The lambs have the honor of having their wool be used in palliums
* Pope Benedict reportedly told a rabbi that he has finished his second book on Jesus of Nazareth
* The Holy Father has asked for prayers for unity during this week of prayer for Christian unity. He notes that unity is "first and foremost a gift from God"
* The Pope appointed a female, Flaminia Giovanelli, as under secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
[1/21]
Add another one to the "parents can't be to careful" file... A former music director for parishes in IL has been arrested for allegedly storing child p*rn on his personal computer, along with his roommate. A diocesan spokesman has confirmed that the former music director "underwent an extensive background check before he was employed at either church" and reportedly gave "no indication of any problems (and had) no arrests in the past." Although there are apparently no reports of inappropriate behavior with children, parents may still find it unsettling that one who is alleged to view child p*rn may have had access to their children through the church choir.
[1/21]
According to CRS, there has been a "tremendous response" to the appeal for aid for Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake, both internationally and from the United States. In addition to financial assistance, CRS Chairman Archbishop Timothy Dolan asks persons to "Please keep in your prayers the people of Haiti and those who are working so hard to bring them aid and comfort"
[1/20]
The doctrinal discussions between the Vatican and the SSPX apparently continued on Monday January 18, according to news reports. While details of the meeting are scarce, they have reportedly "started to deepen the themes of the agenda in the doctrinal talks" and plan to meet again "in mid-March"
[1/20]
CNA is reporting that Cardinal Schönborn issued an apology to Bishop Perić over the Cardinal's recent "private" visit to Medjugorje. The Cardinal's visit has "aggravated the turmoil in the diocese", which is already "plagued by dissent". The faxed "handwritten letter of apology" was issued shortly after Cardinal Schönborn's private meeting with Pope Benedict, a meeting which took place on January 15. The beginning of the letter has been made public. It reads:
"Your Excellency, Dear Brother in Christ. I have received your letter from January 2 of this year. I am very sorry that you got the impression that my pilgrimage has disturbed the peace. You can be sure that this was not my intention."
Related: Marian Apparitions at Medjugorje: True or False?
[1/19]
The attempted assassin of Pope John Paul II, Mehmet Ali Agca, has been released from prison. Upon his release, the attempted assassin - who is believed to mentally ill - stated, in part, that...
"I proclaim the end of the world. All the world will be destroyed in this century. Every human being will die in this century"
He also reiterated his claim to be Christ.
In recent statements, he indicated his supposed desire to be baptized as well his plan to "write the perfect gospel". He has also sought multi-million dollar book deals for his story.
Pray this man stays far away from Rome!
[1/18]
A senatorial candidate's remarks that pro-lifers "probably shouldn’t work in the emergency room" is being viewed as a "wake-up call" regarding threats to religious freedom. The U.S. Senate candidate Martha Coakley (D-Mass.) said in a recent interview that "The law says that people are allowed to have [religious freedom]. You can have religious freedom but you probably shouldn’t work in the emergency room." Her comments have been "sharply criticized" in Catholic circles.
[1/16]
Some long-needed clarity has finally arrived regarding the ecumenical movement. In the annual plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed that the conversion of Anglicans into the Catholic Church is "is in no way contrary to the ecumenical movement", affirming that "rather, it reveals the ultimate aim thereof, which is the realisation of the full and visible communion of the disciples of the Lord"
Deo Gratias!
Related: Ecumenism: Q & A | Necessity of Being Catholic for Salvation | "Figuratively Speaking: There once was a vacuum cleaner salesman..." (Guest Article) [see far right column]
[1/15]
According to an AP report, the elderly Cardinal who was injured in the Christmas Eve security incident at St. Peter's has been released from the hospital and is in "good" condition.
[1/15]
The following is a brief update on the situation in Haiti after the devastating earthquake...
* The exact number of victims is unknown, but estimates say 50,000 were killed (including the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince), while another 3 million were left "injured or homeless"
* The devastation in Haiti (population 80% Catholic) includes "the cathedral, the archbishop's residence, all the great churches, all the seminaries"
* Earthquake survivors have been forced to remain outside due to safety concerns, even sleeping outdoors overnight
* Nearly 1 in 8 of all priests in Haiti are reportedly either dead or missing
* Catholic Relief Services will send more staff to Haiti to assist in relief efforts
* Observers have described the devastation as "immense" and "unimaginable"
* Some looting has already broken out and there is "very little visible presence of the police"
* At least some good news: Various emergency supplies were "stockpiled" since the neighboring Dominican Republic "had a mild hurricane season"
* CNS has provided a list of Catholic agencies accepting donations for relief efforts (see link on site labeled "Catholic aid agencies accepting donations for Haitian relief efforts") [Commentary: One should support good Catholic relief organizations rather than non-Catholic religious charities. For more on this topic, try the user-submitted article: "Please Don't Do That! Reasons Catholics Shouldn't Lend Their Support To Non-Catholic Efforts"]
* There will be second collection nationwide this Sunday to assist in Haitian earthquake relief efforts
[1/14]
Recent news highlights...
* Reports indicate that more than 600,000 people have already made reservations to see the Shroud of Turin which will be displayed at the Cathedral of Turin this year from April 10 - May 23. Pope Benedict is scheduled to view the Shroud on May 2.
* According to new study by a sociology professor at Texas Tech University, persons who have multiple tattoos or body piercings were significantly more likely to "use illegal drugs, get arrested on criminal charges, fornicate with multiple partners, or cheat at college". The study's author notes that "escalating levels of body art acquisition and social deviance seem to be concurrent phenomena."
* A documentary film is being made about Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the traditionalist bishop who ran afoul of Church authorities by consecrating four bishops without an apostolic mandate
* Under-population crisis: According to a report from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, elderly people worldwide will outnumber children in 2045, significantly impacting taxes, healthcare, and the labor pool
* Reports indicate that there has been a "mass exodus" of liberal Catholics in Austria. A dissenting group claims the departures began when the Pope lifted the excommunication of a controversial member of the SSPX. A diocesan spokesman, however, attributes the departures to "church tax" that is collected in that nation.
* A Jewish rabbi has suggested that since Pope Pius XII did not lay down his life, he is not a saint. He said, that "Jews perceive as insensitive the idea that anyone who did not put their life on the line at that time can be considered saintly or as warranting a move in that direction." They apparently are not swayed even by the mounting "piles of evidence" showing that that Pope Pius XII's efforts were instrumental in saving many thousands of Jews - not to mention that his efforts of behalf of Jews did put his life at risk.
* In a recent interview, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship has stressed the liturgy as the center of the life of the faithful which has "first priority", saying that all else comes after. He says that the "great contribution" of Pope Benedict is his "leading us to the truth of the liturgy" and that it is an "urgent duty" to correct liturgical abuse. He also reminds that without tradition, the Church would be "converted into a changing human institution"
* A Georgetown University professor who is a consultant to Pope Benedict XVI's Council for the Laity has written an article blasting Obama's controversial, homosexual activist, "Safe Schools Czar". The article states that "The appointment of a 'czar' like Kevin Jennings is one way in which President Obama can ensure the influence of homosexual-rights-activists in important places – like our nation’s public schools – without the president’s having to pass a law, or even hold a Congressional hearing, both of which might generate public attention and opposition."
* Archbishop Niederauer of San Francisco has attempted to set the record straight regarding pro-abort 'Catholic' Pelosi's comments regarding "free-will" and abortion. He reminds that "the exercise of freedom does not imply a right to say or do everything" and that "it is entirely incompatible with Catholic teaching to conclude that our freedom of will justifies choices that are radically contrary to the Gospel - racism, infidelity, abortion, theft. Freedom of will is the capacity to act with moral responsibility; it is not the ability to determine arbitrarily what constitutes moral right." He reminds that "free will cannot be cited as justification for society to allow moral choices that strike at the most fundamental rights of others. Such a choice is abortion, which constitutes the taking of innocent human life, and cannot be justified by any Catholic notion of freedom."
* Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani spoke on the "grave responsibility" that parents have to raise their children in the faith. He reminds that "Raising them in the truth is to know that sin is the true enemy. From a young age we must make them see what sin is, how it is manifested, why it is sin, and of what it consists. And at the same time, we must teach them that Jesus has come with his life to reveal to us the kindness of his love, his forgiveness and his help. They should learn to forgive and to ask for forgiveness"
* A liberal Jesuit magazine has published a piece defending the proposed new translation of the Roman Missal (Novus Ordo) in response to a priest who argued against it. The article defending the new translation discusses the matter from the writer's vantage point as a former participant in the ICEL translation effort (where, he says, "Ideology, it seemed, had taken precedence over accuracy"). He writes that "So much of what I have witnessed or had described to me by eyewitnesses has been nothing shy of a betrayal of the council’s great vision and, in my judgment, largely responsible for the rapid emptying of the pews." He also reveals that he assembled a team to replace the prevailing translation ("a paraphrase instead of a translation") with a new translation, which he says was received with "hostility" by the bishops' committee, but enjoyed "guarded interest" from Rome. Using the example that "If a man is told by his physician that he must lose 50 pounds or face serious problems, he must 'turn back the clock' to the time when he was lighter in order to save his life", he says "that is what the church at the highest levels is calling us to do." He even speaks of "very positive reactions" to the new translations over the past year which he says are "a vast improvement over the uninspiring, banal and all-too-often theologically problematic texts we have been using for nearly 40 years."
[1/14]
The respected Vatican analyst Andrea Tornielli says that a progressive Brussels prelate will soon be succeeded by the country's "most traditional bishop." Although the likely future Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels presently heads the "country's smallest diocese", it "reportedly boasts half of Belgium's 70 seminarians." The prelate is said to be an "enthusiastic supporter" of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. Deo Gratias!
Related: Summorum Pontificum Info.
[1/13]
The Blogs Editor of the Telegraph Media Group suspects that Scottish bishops may "secretly wish" the Holy Father wasn't visiting. Although he admits it may seem "a crazy suspicion to harbour", he cites one "church source" that says "They want an easy life, and Benedict spells trouble for them. They are wedded to the outdated and discredited liturgical practices of the 70s and all that spurious inclusiveness." The source says to "Expect a polyester-style folk liturgy which will put Scotland to shame after what happens south of the border."
[1/13]
Observers note that a federal court trial over California's Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment passed by voters which declared that only marriage between a man and a woman is recognized in that state, may have an impact in "determining the future of marriage in the entire U.S." The trial kicked off Monday (1/11) and is ultimately expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, regardless of which side prevails.
"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination." (Lev. 18:22)
[1/11]
The elderly Cardinal who was injured on Christmas Eve when a mentally ill woman jumped the security barrier to approach the Pope is said to be in "excellent" condition and is expected to be released from the hospital the middle of next week, according to the Director of the Holy See Press Office.
[1/11]
Religious tension in Malaysia has increased as the violence against non-Islamic religious structures has continued. At least nine structures have been firebombed or otherwise vandalized since a controversial court ruling permitted a Catholic newspaper to use the word "Allah" as a translation for God. The court ruling, which has angered many Muslims, has been suspended.
[1/11]
The following is from Pope Benedict's speech to members of the Diplomatic Corps...
"Creatures differ from one another and can be protected, or endangered, in different ways, as we know from daily experience. One such attack comes from laws or proposals which, in the name of fighting discrimination, strike at the biological basis of the difference between the sexes. I am thinking, for example, of certain countries in Europe or North and South America. Saint Columban stated that: 'If you take away freedom, you take away dignity' (Ep. 4 ad Attela, in S. Columbani Opera, Dublin, 1957, p. 34). Yet freedom cannot be absolute, since man is not himself God, but the image of God, God’s creation. For man, the path to be taken cannot be determined by caprice or willfulness, but must rather correspond to the structure willed by the Creator."
The Holy Father also noted that...
"Sadly, in certain countries, mainly in the West, one increasingly encounters in political and cultural circles, as well in the media, scarce respect and at times hostility, if not scorn, directed towards religion and towards Christianity in particular. It is clear that if relativism is considered an essential element of democracy, one risks viewing secularity solely in the sense of excluding or, more precisely, denying the social importance of religion."
[1/11]
The Rorate-Caeli blog has highlighted a survey concerning the (already well-known) decline of Catholicism in France, the 'eldest daughter' of the Church. The survey indicates that the number of French who attend Mass once a week was "no more than 4.5% in 2009" and that "63% of practicing Catholics think all religions are the same."
Pray for France!
Note: Earlier story here ("God Help France")
Related: Mass / Holy Eucharist | The Importance of Being Catholic: Combating Religious Indifferentism
[1/11]
Should you need a chuckle, consider reading news accounts regarding Archbishop Burke's upcoming talk at the 40th annual Red Mass at St. Mary's Basilica in Arizona. A couple examples...
1- "One of the Catholic Church's most controversial figures, Archbishop Raymond Burke..."
2- "Divisive bishop to speak at Red Mass"
If you didn't know any better, what might you think of such a person? Truth is, he's an orthodox, faithful prelate who takes the Catholic faith seriously. Perhaps that is why he was made the "chief justice" of the "Catholic Supreme Court" and is "one of the highest ranking Americans in the Vatican."
For a little more ...um...fun... try comparing media accounts regarding this faithful prelate with articles concerning prelates who have publicly dissented from Church teachings. A betting person might wager one would see outright praise - or at least muted acclaim - for the "progressive" prelates, without a hint that such prelates were "controversial" or "divisive" (unless, of course, they made a point to decry the "unjust" Church teachings that their 'hero-like' prelate disagrees with).
Gotta love that oh-so-impartial secular media.
[1/11]
A personhood measure in Nevada recently suffered a setback as a state judge ruled that a one-line (14 word) ballot measure was too broad and covered more than one subject. The simple pro-life measure which was rejected read: "In the great state of Nevada, the term 'person' applies to every human being."
Regarding the ruling, the judge said, "The issue to me is, are we adequately informing voters on what they're voting on" and claimed that "There's no way for the voter to understand the effects of the initiative."
Cynic's translation: "Truth be d*mned. Who cares if they're persons? We don't want to have to give fellow human beings rights if doing so might interfere with our materialistic lifestyles."
The decision is expected to be appealed.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." (Jer. 1:5)
[1/11]
The Church's freedom in the U.K. may be severely threatened by a controversial equality bill according to a new report by "the leading charity – backed by a legal opinion from a leading QC". It is feared that the bill will make it illegal for the Catholic Church and other Catholic organizations and charities to hire and fire based on allegiance to Church teachings. For example, a Catholic charity may be prohibited from firing openly gay employees and they may be forced to hire non-Catholics. Also, the Church may be prevented from hiring only male, celibate priests. The fact that the Church has important reasons for maintaining priestly celibacy (click here) or the fact that the male gender is essential for the valid transmission of priestly orders (click here) may not prevent such practices from being considered "illegal" under the controversial equality bill that is likely to severely threaten religious freedom in the country.
[1/11]
LifeSiteNews is reporting on an "insightful analysis" written by "one of the world's best-known critics of the Harry Potter series." The critic says the popular Twilight vampire novel series "dangerously twists evil into good and may even be demonically influenced." He notes similarities between the vampire book author's experiences and the Harry Potter author's experiences - both received ominous "inspiration" for their work (the vampires author heard "quite literally, voices in my head" as she wrote and had a "terrifying conversation" in a dream; the other author says "The character of Harry Potter just popped into my head, fully formed" and claimed the books "almost wrote themselves", an experience she called "quite spooky"). The critic also notes that both novels are "permeated with occultism", and that both writers were novices before authoring these books (both are now multi-millionaires). Looking at their similar experiences and the occultism in the works, the critic asks, "Based on this, it's appropriate to wonder, is there a supernatural source behind these revelations?"
The works have been condemned by various persons in the Church (including the Chief Exorcist of Rome, Father Gabriele Amorth, who said, "Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil"; Cardinal Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, who said, "It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly"; and Monsignor Franco Perazzolo of the Pontifical Council of Culture who referred to the recent vampire film as "a moral vacuum with a deviant message"). Unfortunately, both works are "immensely popular", even among some Catholics who fail to see the moral dangers - in fact, many Catholics even allow their children to be exposed to these works which are "permeated with occultism".
"Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pt. 5:8)
[1/9]
An uproar has developed over an image of the disgraced former Archbishop of Milwaukee, Archbishop Rembert Weakland, which appears in St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. The homosexual former Archbishop of Milwaukee - "the most liberal bishop in America" who "wore his dissent as a badge of honor" - is no stranger to scandal. The former Archbishop shuffled around priests who faced abuse allegations and also paid "hush money" to a seminarian he had an affair with. He just recently published a controversial memoir and claims he had "no understanding" of the criminal nature of s*xual abuse of minors, and indicated that he "accepted naively the common view that it was not necessary to worry about the effects on the youngsters: either they would not remember or they would 'grow out of it'". Accordingly, victims groups are upset about the image, commissioned in 2000, which "portrays the former archbishop alongside images of the Virgin Mary, St. John and various other figures including children." The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has, unfortunately, defended the image even though it claims that its "priority remains to work toward healing and resolution. Identifying ongoing sources of pain is important to that process." Church leaders: Heal our pain - smash the image! One can't help but think Church leaders in a holier age would have already done so - without having to be told.
[1/9]
Posts
